Chapter Two: Meeting the Monster
Serena awoke, the next morning, to hear a loud whirring sound coming from the apartment next door. It sounded like some type of machinery, fighting to keep running, and she sat up with a grunt, throwing her blankets off. Still tired, and her hair a mess, Serena made her way to Sapphire's apartment and then opened the front door. She had free access to Sapphire's house, so she didn't need to bother knocking.
She walked into the living room and came to a fast stop when she saw Sapphire running, faster than seemed humanly possible, on a treadmill. Serena's blue eyes came to rest on the screen of the machine, and she blinked several times, trying to figure out if the numbers on there were thirty-six or sixty-three.
Sweat was dripping from Sapphire's forehead, soaking her tank top. Her face was red and determined, and she accelerated, making the treadmill protest in agony. She jumped up, suddenly, as though leaping over an imaginary log, and just barely missed hitting her head on the ceiling. She then swerved to the left, jumping like a panther, and then to the right.
"Uh, Sapphire?" Serena called.
Sapphire let out a yelp and then completely lost her speed. She slammed back, hitting hard against the wall, and then nearly tripped on the edge of the treadmill, but she did a quick spin in the air and then came to land, again in a crouching position, on her hands and feet on the floor.
"Rena! You're up early!"
"I couldn't sleep with how that thing was groaning! Were you just doing seventy?" Serena gasped.
"Seventy? Wouldn't that be rather insane?"
"And that jump! That was over three feet off the ground, straight up!"
"You know, I have this brother, Jet, that taught me all the tricks of skateboarding," Sapphire said, grabbing a towel and wiping her face as she turned the treadmill off. "I need to go shower. We need to get to work, to welcome Ripper back."
"Sapphire, I saw what you just did," Serena said, standing in front of the bathroom, blocking it, her arms folded across her chest.
"So you did. And you wouldn't believe a thing I could tell you about that, and I'm not telling you anything anyways, so…"
"I'm your best friend!" Serena snapped.
"And it's for your safety that I don't tell you anything!" Sapphire snapped back. "This is something I cannot share with you! There are some things I have to keep to myself!"
She slipped past Serena and then leaned in the doorway, a tired expression on her face.
"Rena, I really care about you, very much, that's why I can't tell you. Please just trust me when I say that."
She closed the door quietly, leaving Serena standing, very confused, outside of the bathroom.
Silently, Serena moved to the treadmill and then turned it back on. She pressed a few buttons, and her eyes widened when she saw exactly how fast Sapphire had reached.
102 miles-per-hour.
It was incredible, impossible, but how could it be wrong? Serena gazed back at the bathroom door, shaking her head incredulously as the water started in the shower.
Nothing at all was amiss when Sapphire and Serena entered the Marriott an hour later. The only thing different was that Serena couldn't, try as she might, look at Sapphire without being astonished. It made Sapphire uncomfortable, but the woman wisely said nothing, and instead moved right to work, instructing co-workers about where the move the lobby furniture and what to dust.
The hotel was exceptionally busy this morning, making matters a bit more difficult for the workers, but before 10:00 had arrived, the lobby was spotless and everything was in order. Sapphire went back to Ripper's office, wanting to make sure it was perfectly clean, and Serena settled down to reading one of her books, trying to push Sapphire's strange morning out of her head.
A few minutes passed, and then Serena had the uncomfortable feeling someone was watching her. She glanced up from her book and let out a sharp gasp when she saw a man standing right in front of her, piercing blue eyes gazing at her curiously. She leaped up, terribly startled, clutching her book to her chest.
"Mr…Mr…Ripper!" She exclaimed, closing her eyes to try and catch her breath.
"Hello Miss Serena," Ripper grinned, his perfect smile soothing Serena somewhat. "Enjoying your story?"
"I'm so sorry!" Serena gasped, shoving her book beneath the desk. "It was just quiet in here, and I thought I could take some time to…"
"Never mind," Ripper said with a wave of his left hand while his right hand went to work, tactfully placing the pens Serena spilled back in their appointed place, lined up from smallest to largest, without her noticing anything. "It's good to see you again. Is Miss Sapphire here? I need to speak with her about the business meeting tomorrow afternoon."
"Tidying up your office, sir!" Serena nearly saluted.
He flashed her one of his handsome smiles and nodded his head.
"Very good, Miss Serena. I shall see you later."
He left her, and she sat back down in her chair with a plop.
"The keyboard was right here, centered just like this. Ooh, and the curtains were drawn like so," Sapphire murmured to herself, adjusting the deep red curtains in Ripper's office and then turning to feather dust one of the lamps. She dusted that, then turned to reorganize a bookshelf.
"Miss Sapphire," a deep, charming voice spoke. "Always so concerned about my office. How I appreciate you."
"Ripper!" Sapphire laughed, turning to see her employer leaning against the doorframe, looking quite comfortable and amused. "You're back!"
"I couldn't stay away forever," he said simply. "Things have gone well since I've been gone?"
"Yes," Sapphire nodded, feeling, strangely, as though she was cornered in this room. "Serena's been doing a terrific job keeping up the front end."
"And reading vampire novels."
"I don't know what she finds so fascinating about them," Sapphire shuddered. "But to each his own, I guess."
"I suppose. Tomorrow I have Martin Dresson from the Lux Atlantic coming here for a conference," Ripper said, walking into the room and then turning around his desk so he was right in front of Sapphire. "He will be bringing employees with him, all of whom will be observing our hotel and taking notes. We will be discussing the hotel industry in Orlando and how we can better our businesses, but while we are speaking he will have some of his men roaming throughout the hotel, trying to find any inconsistencies or mistakes. I would like you to roam our hotel as well, keeping an eye on said fellows. You have a sharp eye and a keen ear, and I believe these gentlemen are going to be looking for trouble, or perhaps causing it, if you understand what I'm saying."
"I understand," Sapphire nodded.
"I knew you would. Martin is a regular rat," Ripper sighed, pulling the curtain aside to gaze out his window at the bustling city of Downtown Disney. "And you have to be light on your toes around him."
"I can dance, sir," Sapphire said, standing up straighter.
"With your figure," he said, looking her up and down, "I dare say you can."
Sapphire blushed, and Ripper chuckled.
"Go on and get back to the desk," he said with a wink. "Serena will be wondering where you went."
"She'll probably be with Whisper."
"True," Ripper grinned.
Sapphire stepped out of the office to see Serena and Whisper speaking in hushed tones over the counter. Whisper caught sight of Sapphire and immediately stepped back. He waved and smiled at her, and Serena smiled nervously.
"What did I miss?" Sapphire asked, looking over the two.
"You reached 102 miles per hour on a treadmill?" Whisper asked.
"Look, it has some quirks, all right!" Sapphire groaned.
"Sure," Serena whispered.
"Listen, we have to get things ready for tomorrow," Sapphire sighed. "Would you care to help, Whisper?"
"What would you like me to do?" he asked.
"Make sure your room door is clean. I don't know what these guys are going to be checking for."
"You know, Sapphire," Whisper sighed, moving away from the counter. "We really need to find you a guy."
"Why?" Sapphire asked, frowning.
"Because you need to learn how to relax and just have fun."
"I did have someone once," Sapphire whispered, bowing her head.
Night arrived, and with it, time for Serena and Sapphire to go home. One of the late night workers was unable to come, and so Sapphire offered to stay at work. Serena had refused, but upon learning that she had promised Whisper a date, Sapphire ordered that the younger leave, and after somewhat of a battle, Serena and Whisper left, walking to Downtown Disney to eat dinner somewhere and watch a show.
Sapphire settled back in her chair and resorted to doodling on a pad of paper. Her thoughts wandered to times long gone, to the time when Freddie had been alive and all had been well. How she missed those days of frolicking through fields and playing chase across the beach! He had been so safe, so kind, without a trace of wildness in him, except for when he was protecting his pack.
Before she could stop herself, Sapphire was asleep, her head resting on her desk. Scarcely had she closed her eyes when visions of those terrifying creatures plagued her dreams. Fangs glistened in the moonlight, screams echoed through the mist-covered air, and claws ripped through fur.
Images of Dorian raced through her mind, and the smells that accompanied him occupied Sapphire's dreams. His scent grew stronger and stronger, the smell of blood, of danger, of death…
"Sapphire! Sapphire, wake up!"
Sapphire woke up with a cry, her head nearly hitting Ripper in the face as she did so. For a few faint seconds, the scent of blood lingered, but it disappeared as soon as Sapphire blinked and looked into Ripper's concerned eyes.
"I shouldn't have let you stay longer," he scolded himself. "Let me help you up."
He took he hands in his and then pulled her to her feet, catching her when she almost fell over from exhaustion.
"It's time to get you back home. Where do you live? I'll drive you."
"I'll show you the way," Sapphire said groggily. "I'm so sorry, Ripper."
"It's all right. No need to apologize," Ripper smiled, taking her arm and leading her out of the lobby to the parking lot.
He led her over to a silver BMW and then opened her door for her. She slid into the passenger seat weakly and then clumsily pulled the seatbelt over her chest and locked it in.
"You need a vacation," Ripper spoke, following Sapphire's directions as he drove.
"Not until after tomorrow," she murmured. "I want to be there for your meeting."
"Are you certain? Because if not…"
"You wanted me to be there, so I will be," Sapphire whispered as he stopped the car in front of her apartment.
She was nearly asleep again, so he helped her out of the car, unlocked her apartment door, and then helped her into the living room. He slowly let her down on her couch, and then turned to leave, turning the light off behind him.
"Get some sleep, Sapphire," he said gently. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The girl didn't answer him, for she was already deep in her troublesome dreams.
"Sapphire! Sapphire, wake up! Hello! Sleeping Beauty!"
"Don't you know? Sleeping Beauty is in Disney World. This isn't Disney World," Sapphire grumbled, rolling over on her couch and searching for a pillow to put over her head. "Go away, Rena."
"Get up, Sapphire, and this isn't Rena, it's Whisper."
"What?" Sapphire shrieked, leaping to her feet and immediately feeling dizzy.
"The manager from the other place is at the hotel now, and Serena couldn't leave, so she gave me keys to get in here. She wants you to hurry up and get there. She says there's some…" he paused and rolled his eyes before continuing, "really, ahem, hot guy you need to see."
"Oh great," Sapphire snorted, stretching and then moving towards the front door. "Just what I need…a matchmaker."
"Yeah, and she's matching you up with my cousin."
"He's your cousin?" Sapphire grinned. "Naturally."
"Did you want me to tell you what she wants you to wear?"
"No way," Sapphire laughed. "I can only imagine what she wants me to wear. Tell her I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
Whisper left, and Sapphire went to her closet. She flung it open and pulled out a dark green blouse, a black skirt that came to just below her knee, and a pair of black heels. She rushed to the bathroom and quickly cleaned up her face. She twisted back the front of her dark hair and then pinned it in place, letting the rest of her hair wave down to the middle of her back. She then pulled on her shoes and stepped outside, grabbing an apple on her way out.
She hopped into her car and then drove towards the hotel. She didn't even think twice about Whisper's cousin, but instead focused herself on the mission at hand. She was to follow Martin's men around, seeing to it that they didn't cause mischief. That sounded reasonable enough.
She arrived at the hotel in five minutes and then parked the car and stepped into the lobby. She could see Ripper bringing the men from the Lux Atlantic into the conference room, and she moved towards it quickly, never noticing the lone man that was standing near the counter where Serena was.
Sapphire moved past the counter, but Serena's voice stopped her.
"Sapphire, wait!"
Sapphire turned, just before entering the conference room.
"Yes, Rena?"
"You need to meet Adrian."
Sapphire sighed and then glanced at the man standing near Serena. She took a good, long step back.
The man was tall, with a great deal of muscle, which was obvious beneath his tight white shirt and his open brown leather jacket. He wore somewhat faded jeans, but still, somehow, managed to have a clean appearance. He had straight dirty-blonde hair, several loose strands resting against his left eye. His eyes were captivating, a light, beautiful blue that were so intense, so scrutinizing. Sapphire had to catch her breath when his eyes met hers and he gazed steadfastly into her face. He could see right through her, it seemed. He smiled slightly, just the corner of his mouth turning up and making Sapphire feel…young, like a child compared to him.
"Miss Sapphire, I presume?" his voice asked. It was lighter than she expected it to be. Somehow she had thought he'd have a deep voice, but no, his voice was almost gentle.
"Uh, yes," Sapphire nodded, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looking down.
"Serena, why did you get me into this?"
"I've heard a great deal of good about you," Adrian said, holding out his hand. "Whisper talks a lot."
"I…I knew that," Sapphire said, avoiding his gaze as she held out her hand.
He took her hand and shook it firmly. She gazed at their hands, for reasons that she didn't understand. Her hand was so small in his, and so pale compared to his. She took her hand out of his and gazed into his eyes again, curious, somehow.
Her breath hitched in her throat. Those eyes were…strangely captivating. And that scent… She lifted her head slightly, catching a faint whiff. She drew back immediately, her eyes looking all over the place except at him. Not another one! And so handsome too! Of course he would look good! They always lured their prey in that way! No matter what happened today, she would have to avoid bleeding at all costs, or he would know what she was. A vampire had only to taste werewolf blood to know what they were and want more.
"It was nice meeting you, Adrian. Excuse me, but Ripper needs me," Sapphire said, rushing past him to Ripper.
"Let me introduce my second-in-command, who takes care of everything when I'm gone," Ripper said, putting an arm around Sapphire when she entered the conference room. "She'll escort Mr. Adrian about the hotel, showing him how things function here."
"What?" Sapphire gasped, startling herself as well as everyone else. "But…but I thought there were more! I mean, uh, sorry," she blushed, looking down.
"You okay?" Ripper asked, putting a hand on her shoulder and dusting off a piece of lint.
"Yes. Where do we start?" Sapphire sighed.
Adrian followed a close distance behind as Sapphire took him to the top floor of the hotel.
"Here we have a whole view of Downtown Disney," she said, taking him over to a large window and pointing out at the place she spoke of. "That, of course, like the Lux, is one of the major reasons we have business, aside from the Disney parks."
"Hey, do me a favor," Adrian said, leaning against the window to gaze into her face. "Just relax, okay? I'm not here to steal any secrets. I'm just learning."
"And what are you learning?"
"That you're exceptionally uptight," he smiled, putting his hands to her shoulders. "Relax."
"With the look you're giving me, you'll eat me alive," Sapphire scowled.
"Excuse me?"
"Never mind," she sighed, shaking her head.
"So tell me, Sapphire, have you ever gone down there and actually walked Downtown Disney, or have you stayed in this hotel and brooded?"
"What makes you think you can…?"
"Shh," he interrupted, putting a finger to her lips. Her eyebrows narrowed and she glared at him.
"Were you assigned to flirt, or to look at the hotel?" she asked.
"Were you assigned to be an old school marm, or to show me this hotel?"
"Why…why…you stuck up…"
"Yes?" he grinned, an eyebrow arched.
"You definitely are related to Whisper!" Sapphire huffed and then turned away from the window. She didn't even turn to see him pushing himself off the window casually and then begin following her again, this time only a couple of inches behind her. She got the distinct impression he was trying to get a good smell of her, and it made her uncomfortable. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she did everything she could not to turn around and look at him.
"You always follow women so closely?"
"My, my, you seem nervous. Mm… You smell like Freesia."
"Hmm… it's a common smell. Now back off."
He took a few steps back, and Sapphire led him to the elevator. "We'll go check out the lobby area and then the Laundromat and pool."
"Sounds good."
Once they were in the elevator, Sapphire knew it was a mistake. She felt sick, knowing what he was and thinking that he knew what she was. And now she had just locked herself in a tiny spot with him, a vampire. To her surprise, he didn't move, but leaned back against the wall and studied her face. He was thinking to himself how delightful a meal she would be, she was certain.
"I don't believe I've ever seen a woman so tense," Adrian spoke as the elevator stopped at the lobby floor.
"You don't sound like you work at a hotel."
"I do, though," he said, following her out of the elevator.
"And here we have our lobby," she spoke, cutting him off. "Beautiful, isn't it? It took five days to paint it, and the amazing design on the ceiling was ten thousand dollars. The chandelier was twenty thousand. Let me show you the gardens and the pool."
She led him outside and took a deep breath of air before she showed him through the gardens and then led him towards the pool, him never saying a word, but his eyes boring into her.
"I hope you're sufficiently impressed," Sapphire said, standing next to the pool when the tour was finished.
"So so," he shrugged.
"What do you mean, so so?"
"I'd like it better if my hostess wasn't so…serious."
"So I'm your hostess now, am I?" Sapphire asked, extremely uncomfortable with the word "hostess."
"Were you showing me the hotel?"
"Yes."
"Well, what does that make you?"
"Your tour guide."
"Ah," he said slowly, not fully convinced. "I think you're afraid of me."
"Afraid? How so?" she asked, immediately uptight.
"You won't let anyone get close to you, will you?"
"Not someone who's an enormous, big flirt like you and just preys off women!" Sapphire shouted, jabbing her finger at his chest. "I've seen way too many of your kind!" she snapped, pushing him back. "Way too many flirts like you who just want some self-gratification and don't care about anyone else. Well, what do you want me to say about you? You're gorgeous? Charming? Simply wonderful? How about this? You're perfectly beautiful when you're soaking wet!"
She shoved him back, making him fall with a terrific splash into the pool.
It seemed then as though Ripper and the other men were immediately outside.
"Sapphire!" Ripper shouted, losing his cool momentarily. "What on earth did you do?"
"He wanted to swim," Sapphire scowled. "So I helped him along."
Adrian surfaced, completely drenched through, water pouring from his shirt.
"Oh dear. I do hope that wasn't real leather," Ripper sighed.
"Sapphire! My goodness, already! What was that for?" Whisper shouted, running to his cousin and offering him a hand.
"No, she's fine. I suppose I did somewhat deserve it," Adrian said, coming out of the water, clothes clinging to him and water pouring down like a waterfall.
"You suppose," Sapphire said, folding her arms across her chest.
"That's completely out of character," Serena frowned, grabbing Sapphire's arm and dragging her into the hotel. "What is your problem? The dude's a perfect hunk, and what do you do? You dunk him in the pool!"
"That just insures I won't be seeing him again," Sapphire said triumphantly.
"Right. Hate to bust your bubble, Sapphire, but he's staying over for a little while, with me," Whisper said sheepishly.
"What?" Sapphire panicked.
"Yes, in my hotel room with me. We're going to tour the area and have some fun."
"Let's just invite the whole flock of vampires into the hotel, shall we?" Sapphire whispered, turning to go get some coffee.