"O mistress mine, where are you roaming?

O, stay and hear; your true love's coming."-From Twelth Night

Chapter V

Chinese Whispers

''You did what?'' Penelopé yelled in my face.

''Look, at least I he didn't come...I mean, woah, I could have gotten into bigger trouble. So you should be pleased... I'm in good condition,'' I smiled smugly.

''Good condition? Baby, you nearly collapsed when you came in,''Penelopé said, lowering her voice, which had a touch of worry to it.

''Ok...I'm sorry. I won't do it again...but I don't really have a choice, Penelopé. I mean, one way or another, I'm going to be his next target. He wants to get rid of the Illuminati, and who better to start with then the leader's daughter? I can't just stay quiet and pretend nothings happening. I just simply can't do that. Ok?'' I said in a rush.

Penelopé looked at me, her head tilting to the side as her black curls fell on her face.

''Fine. But promise me one thing, Giselle,'' She answered.

''Anything...anything. Jut let me do this, please,'' I begged.

''Promise me to never put yourself in such positions. Never put yourself in a life or death situation. Like you did...earlier,'' she continued, ignoring my previous begging.

''Thank you, so much,'' I gushed, as I hugged a very stiff Penelopé. That's when I heard a very fake sounding cough intterupt us.

''Am I interrupting anything?'' Violeta asked. I gave her the biggest mean glare ever.

''Oh shush,'' I said to her, in a mocking tone, unable to control my smile-failing to look evil.

''Haha. And you thought I would fall for that. Oh Giselle, you have yet to learn about your dear, darling Violeta,'' Violeta said, putting on an elderly woman's voice.

''Yeah, whatever. Look...I still can't forgive you for what you said you know?'' I said, reffering to earlier on, when she bragged about our 'incident' in the woods to Penelopé.

''Yeh, I really could care less, cause' in the end of the day, I know you can't live without me,'' She replied, with a wink. I just stuck out my tongue at her. How mature, I know.

''Ladies. On your best behavoir please,'' Penelopé said, walking away from us, disapearing into the living room.

''Giselle...you will not believe what I'm about to tell you...it's about...Claude,'' she said, sounding said. When she said that, I started crying. I knew what was coming next. Claude was dead. Oh shit. I am going to commit suicide, I swear.

''Please...oh my God...please...no...is he...dead?'' I asked, the crying making my voice sound like I was choking. Violeta just looked at me as though I were an idiot, and started and laughing like mad.

''No, no. It's nothing like that. Actually, you'll probably wnat him dead after this...but Nicola just texted me, saying that he found out where you are. He escaped from her in Italy, and went to London, after finding out something fishy was going on. When he arrived in London...he saw you weren't there...soo...according to Nicola...he's probably on his way,'' she finished in an uneasy voice.

''Bull shit!'' I shouted.

''What?''

''I said bull shit. This is bullshit,'' I repeated, striding off into the kitchen, grabbing the portable phone. I dialed Nicola's number.

Ring. Ring. No answer. I was about to put the phone down, but just then I heard a guys voice.

''Hello...who's this?'' asked a deep, sultry voice.

''It's Giselle...'' I said, thinking I got the wrong number.

''Holy Shit! No way! Giselle? As in Giselle Valerio?'' the guy practically yelled into the phone.

''Yes...who's this...'' I asked, starting to get freaked out.

''It's Oliver you idiot, who else has voice of an angel like mine?'' he asked, chuckling.

''OH my God! Oliver! I'm soo sorry...I didn't recognise your voice at first. How are you?'' I asked, surprised it was him.

''Well...I'm quite good actually. How are you doing my lovely?''

''I'm fine. Actually, if I said that, I would be bullshitting you,'' I said, changing my sweet tone of voice immediatly.

''Why? What's wrong? God, I swear, If some guy out there is messing with you, I'll be right over,'' he replied, getting angry.

''No, no. It's just that...look, is Claude there...with you and Nicola?'' I asked.

Silence.

''No...he, um left I think. Yeh, he-'' but he didn't get to finish. Muffling sounds and swearing came from the background. I heard Oliver shouting out things like 'Stop grabbing the phone, goddamit' and stuff like 'go away...Jesus Christ'.

''Hello? Giselle?'' Answered a chripy voice.

''Nicola! Thank God...look, where is Claude?'' I asked urgently.

''Gislle, please don't get upset, but he left, earlier for London. His probably there already...Giselle?Hello...Giselle-'' I cut her off as I hung up the phone, picked it up again, and dialed on Claude's mobile number.

''Hello? Claude?'' I asked, in an urge to hear his voice.

''Giselle? Giselle, is that you?'' A smooth, mesmerizing voice asked. Claude. I got goosebumps all over again, even though I've heard his voice for almost three centuries now.

''Yes...it's me Claude,'' I smiled so much, I think a blind person would be able to tell.

''Giselle...I've missed you so much...I...I want to be there with you, why did you leave so soon? Without a trace? Why Giselle, why?'' He asked, sounding as though he were about to cry.

''I'm so sorry Claude. I really am...it's just that...I...um, I missed Penelopé...'' shit I was bad at lying. Haha. I couldn't even fool myself.

''Giselle...own up. Why are you really there?''

He got me there.

''What do you mean? I came here to visit Penelopé,'' I replied, my voice shaking, letting out a nervous laugh.

''Giselle, I think I've known you long enough to be able to tell when your lying,'' he said in a warning tone.

''Fine, goddamit! I came here, because Vincent's here...I'm after him, and this time, I'm not letting him escape...it's a promise I've made for myself,'' and that's when the waterworks began. Why now? Man...I sound like such a wuss.

''Giselle...I love you, you know that, right?'' He asked.

''Yes, I know that,'' I replied, sniffling, as I wiped my tears away on my sleeve.

''And because I love you oh so much,'' he began, his voice lightning up, making me giggle, ''I want to be there. So expect me to be there in about 2 days time, maybe even less...because your driving me into utter madness.''

''Oh really? And why's that exactly?'' I asked, my voice extremly flirty.

''Well...first of all, I miss looking into a Goddess...and I miss those very delicous lips...and that elegant grace...and the fiesty attitude...and moon light dancing...love, the list can go on...and on...and on...''

''Please, do carry on...I miss hearing your voice...'' I pleaded, my eyes closed, as I listened to his voice. He chuckled into the phone.

''I never knew I would be able to go insane over a loved one, to the limit as to where I whisper sweet little nothings to myself in the night,'' he whispered. I couldn't stand it anymore.

''Claude...please, come. God, I can't stand this anymore...I need you,'' I confessed.

''I'll be there faster than you'd ever guess...I promise,'' he laughed.

''Good, because another month and 2 weeks without you would be like hell.''

''Well...I guess we've come to an end to our conversation...allthough, I wold prefer it if it never did end,'' he driffted off.

''Yeh...me too,'' I whispered.

''I love you,'' He said.

''I love you too,'' I replied, smiling.

''Bye...I'll be there soon,''

''You better,'' I said. He just chuckled.

''You needn't worry love,''

''Ok, I'll take your word for it...bye...'' I said.

''Bye,'' he replied, and hung up. I dropped the phone back into it's place, and started crying like a ditz again.

''What's wrong?'' Violeta asked, as she rushed in with Penelopé.

''Nothing...I just had a chat with Claude,'' more like neverending, love sick conversation.

''Aww, baby. Don't worry, you'll see him soon,'' Penelopé jumped in, hugging me tightly.

''I guess this is the time where we have a group hug?'' Violeta asked, as she hugged us both.

''Er...you guys are kinda choking me...''I gasped.

''Oh sorry,'' they chimed together.

''Claude said...he said he's coming here,'' I said, straightening myself out.

''Oh good!'' Violeta said.

''No...it's not good...he knows,'' I retorted.

''Why?'' Penelopé asked, concerned.

''Because I didn't want anyone to know. It wasn't meant to be like that...the only person who knew was Nicola, and she had sworn to secrecy, keeping Claude occupied whilst I was away...trying to keep his mind away from me...but it turns out no one can outsmart him,'' I shrugged.

''Why didn't you want anyone to know?'' Violeta asked.

''If people like Claude or my dad, or even Penelopé knew, they would never let me do this. Ever...hell, they would probably even lock me up somewhere to stop me, they're that mad,'' I said. Penelopé just gave me a very baffled look.

''Well, I guess we would just have to wait and see what happens next, won't we?'' Violeta asked.

''What happens next? Darling, I already know what's going to happen next...'' I replied, with a huge smirk.