Title: Who wants to live forever (part 8)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money..
Wc: 1053
Sequel to: Expectations
AN.: A big THANK YOU to luvinmike
for being such a great beta!
Part 8:
The next day, Mike woke feeling restless. He had to find out who he was and the only clues he had were those two names: Victoria Nelson and Henry Fitzroy.
He dressed in the clothes Lucy had thoughtfully located for him and went to the living room where Adam was waiting, eating croissants, and drinking coffee.
"Morning!" he said, grinning up at Mike. How somebody could be so chipper at such an early hour was lost on him, but he had other things to think about.
"Morning. Is Lucy up already?" he asked instead.
At that moment, the eccentric lady waltzed into the room.
"You looking for me, handsome?"
Mike only shook his head at her antics.
"Yes, actually, and the name is Mike."
At this Adam looked up sharply. "You remember?"
"Not really, just a few faces and some names."
Then he turned to Lucy and asked:
"Do you have a phone book here somewhere? I'd like to check something."
"Of course, sweetie. Just a second."
Not a minute later she returned with the local phone book and gave it to him. He immediately started searching.
"So, who are you looking for?" she inquired curiously, watching over his shoulder, but Mike didn't answer.
"Aha!" he exclaimed after finding the number.
"Vicki Nelson, PI?" Adam recited from over his other shoulder, having soundlessly crept up on them.
"Yes. I think I know her." He wrote down the number and address, then stood up and walked in the direction of the front door until a strong hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Where do you think you are going?" the lean man asked.
"To Miss Nelson. She has to know something about me, so I'll ask her."
The slightly smaller man took what looked like a calming breath before speaking very slowly:
"You died, remember?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So?! What don't you understand about the word dead?! Everybody you knew thinks you left the building, passed away, made the big exit! You can't just show up as if nothing has happened! Quite the opposite, actually. You have to leave town, the county, or better yet, the whole damn continent!"
"What?!"
Here Lucy cut in.
"It isn't as bad as it sounds. Amanda has had to do it dozens of times. It is actually quite an adventure reinventing yourself, seeing different countries, meeting different people. You'll try so many things ordinary people wouldn't have the chance to do, see so much, learn so much. Don't you see – it is a gift!"
She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling, but they dimmed immediately when she caught his stony face.
"And what about my family? My friends? How can I leave them behind with them never knowing what happened to my body, not having the opportunity to say goodbye at a funeral? Not even to think about the fact that I am actually still alive?! How do you expect me to do that?!"
At that statement the other man sniffed disdainfully:
"P-leeze! Spare me your rigorous attitude! As if it would make a difference! They think you are dead. End of story! Who cares if a body gets buried or not? If it is so important, then fake it!"
"They deserve the truth!" he almost shouted.
"Well, they can't have it!" Adam growled back, giving him a look that sent a cold shiver down Mike's back. He had never seen such a savage inhuman glare, not even on a serial killer. The other man continued, whispering menacingly:
"This is not only about your selfish little self! If mortals ever find out about us, we will end up in laboratories, prodded and experimented on like lab rats!" He spat the last words.
"Do you want that?! Because I certainly have not lived as long as I have to end up that way!"
They now stood nose to nose, eye to murderous eye. But soon Mike simply had to look away because those eyes creeped him out like nothing in his life had before, muttering almost ashamedly:
"Of course not. But-"
"But?!"
"I want to at least see her one more time," he pleaded.
Adam groaned after recognizing that tone of voice. Men in love were such a pain in the ass (himself included he chastised himself, thinking of the many stupid things he did only to see his secret love smile at him)! Then he sighed and gave in.
"Alright, but just a glance. No talking! And don't tell me I didn't warn you when you have to hide in a dumpster just to keep her from seeing you!"
***
(Meanwhile)
"Everything is ready, Boss!" the feral-looking man rasped at his employer, who sat with his back to him and his crew, watching the remnants of what had been a ruby sunrise.
"Good!" was the only, short reply before the man turned slightly to the right where the old woman sat, once again consulting her bones.
"A bloody sun arises. Blood will be spilled before it sets again. Take the white queen, but beware. The knight is near, protected by the bishop, and the rook is closing in."
Then she vanished again.
"Do as planned and don't screw it up again!" the sitting man commanded and everyone quickly left the room. Shortly after, screeches of car wheels could be heard as the group hurried away.
"You know, I think you really should cancel her online chess account. Those allegories are starting to get on my nerves. I was actually beginning to see black and white squares there for a minute," came the comment from the man's side.
"Oh, poor Asteroth! You are only angry because she beat you the last few centuries in a row."
"That is so not fair! Of course she wins. She can predict the future!"
"Cute! So why play at all?"
"—"
"I think she does it because she is aware that you're listening in and knows it is a sore point with you," the sitting man chuckled.
"Funny," the priest-clad demon lord pouted.
"Oh, come on, dear brother. Lighten up! Only a few more hours and step one of our plan is executed."
"Yes!" the other rubbed his hands before pausing. "But what was that mumble about those other figures?"
The other demon went quiet and then said:
"That remains to be seen."
tbc