With the leave during the weekends, I'm unable to write. So during the week, I will try to update as much as I can. All I could think of was this story and it made it worse when I kept watching Blood and Chocolate. So here is another installment.
- - -
River traveled down the chosen path to her complex. She, without trouble, climbed over the slick, threatening fence after disregarding the use of the key card. She found the systematic security quite obsolete at times; the fence held back very little threat of what Bucharest deemed to carry. As she landed promptly on her feet, River rose. She never seemed to be herself thereafter. What dwelled in her mind that moment was the trouble she'd have to report. Her father expected a bit of parchment in a matter of her direct arrival to Romania.
Her throat became tight as she thought of what to explain. Bucharest was a dying beauty in the light yet more marvelous in the dark; the city chosen as a direct homeland crumbled with dignity because of the Loup-garoux. Why wouldn't they try to care for it? Meaningless ideals, River thought. She was too flustered to think correctly.
River entered the east wing, climbed through the staircase to her upper apartment, and unlocked the door. Before entering, she stayed beneath the threshold. Her door wasn't fully opened though enough to expose her to the inside domicile. With her eyes, if needed to, scanned for anything out of place. Her window remained half opened, the way she left it. Curtains fluttered cooly from the entering wind, papers scattered amongst the rug from the lack of weight. River shook her nerves away.
Crossing over to the window, River stared out again. Her eyes traveled over the glowing city, and though it appeared peaceful, River knew better than to believe it. She reached up to rub the slight soreness lingering in her throat. For once, River regarded her situation.
You'll come here every night and accompany me until I find you not worthy. Everyone knows of my rules. You will too.
River's eyes shifted to the darkness. She refused to allow her inner nature to rise further than needed. The scent of Loup-garoux cloaked her body that she removed her coat unfashionably and threw it to the ground. She couldn't admit that though the smell came strong from their sweat, River tingled with excitement. Perhaps, it was from the challenge presented in that short hour. She couldn't pin point what exactly.
She settled for a hot bath before anything. River worked the lathery soap into her palms and scathingly rubbed her skin with the temporary bouquet of prickling floral scent. She crouched beneath the waterfall, contemplating. Again, she was lost in her thoughts. River had the habit of doing so too much that others deciphered her habit as a weakness. She analyzed every possibility to the extremities; she despised the notion of surprise.
River emerged from the bathroom an hour later. She loosely wandered in the bedroom before finding her desk. She sat and, without the use of lamp light, reached for the pen. Her fingers gripped with ease and the words began to form.
- - -
I arrived in Bucharest as predicted. The city hardly stirred with jubilancy to my arrival; they must not get too many thoughtful people in these parts. I took the image of a tourist as did many after taking their leave from the train. Certainly by keeping my natural being silenced the successfulness to my assignment will flourish. Forgive the lack of proper greeting to my letter. I am truly exhausted from the weary travel, and though you are likely to find the ailment amusing. I've traveled further than this, never set foot in one area at a time before leaving again. Yes, you are right about everything.
As of tonight I've managed little progress in finding the Loup-garoux. The city is shrouded with their scent that it is difficult to find their direct area of secrecy. Blood comes secondly amongst the list. They've cleverly stripped every street, every possible area from the appearance of blood. They are getting very smart. None, other than us and possibly others, could have picked up that scent. Father, I'll implore you to take my word that my visitation here must be extended by a week or so. More than likely, I'll find their hive.
- - -
River set the pen down, looked over her details, and decided that in the end, her letter was not convincing enough. She worked for another hour on convincing her father that she found nothing as of yet; she lied. That silver lie tasted bitter on her tongue, River admitted. She found it necessary altogether because her father wanted details rushed. She could not find her mind clear enough when rushed. Like many others, she enjoyed approaching things slow and slyly; that came first when hunting.
And literally speaking, this was considered hunting. River delicately folded her approved letter within the confinements of the envelope. She hadn't marked the envelope with her father's name, she instead wrote to his alias and address he requested. Her first account on the Loup-garoux would remain silent to others. She wanted to have further time to confirm that she had fallen into the hive; if that was indeed the hive. She would fail to mention her second name; Lily. Her father might chortle to that. He wanted her to be risque while under the pseudo persona of a naive tourist. However, River found the approach to be utterly impossible. She wanted to be herself more than anything within the limits of Bucharest; those orders were terminated. She must not step into the open, not yet.
When River laid in her bed, the scent emanated from the covers. Her coat lay inches from her and it clouded her mind. She rolled to the opposite side and covered her head with the blankets. The scent of Loup-garoux, both distant and near, flooded her room. River found sleep to be nearly impossible.