Chapter Five
V's Point of View
The streets were alive with citizens full of curiosity and fear. Many hug out of their windows trying to receive answers while others were brave enough to venture to their stoops wrapped in robes and warm jackets with their night clothes underneath. I could not help the smile that pulled across my nearly non existent lips as I continued to race through the night becoming closer to the sanctuary of the the Shadow Gallery with every step. The only thing I did not figure into the endless possibilities of scenarios that could occur was the woman in my arms. I glanced down at Evelyn as she slept soundly against me trying to ignore the discomfort that ate away at me. No one had ever been this close to me since Larkhill. The thought of the institution caused a brief surge of terror to shoot through me but years of controlling my fear took over and feeling dissipated.
Soon I came to the hidden keypad in the abandoned subway tunnels that lead to my Shadow Gallery. I looked back down at the young woman in my arms wondering how I could punch the code without waking her. Shifting her slightly and supporting her weight with one leg I quickly punched in the code before sliding my arm underneath her to bare her weight once more. I gave a deep sigh knowing that I was somewhere familiar.
Quietly I walked towards the spare bedroom and pulled the covers back before laying Evelyn partially in bed. I removed her boots and purse before tucking her in. I turned one last time towards her before closing the door. I sighed as a thousand thoughts swarmed my mind making it difficult to focus in the noise. Clutching my knives I stalked towards my training room needing a few hours of training to clear my thoughts. Taking my cape off neatly folding it and placing my hat on top I began going through a few basic drills. I hummed to myself as I spun my knives and attacked my invisible opponent. Glancing at one of my many clocks I realized it was later than I thought it to be and sheathed my knives away only managing to carry two hidden on me as I went to prepare dinner. I stared at the small bundle of cookies sitting on the counter and smirked. Gordon had warned me she was different than most. Who else would have went searching after curfew for a masked terrorist just to give him cookies. My mind drifted back to the content smile on her lips as she slept in my arms. Snatching a kitchen knife out of the block I began chopping up some of the contents for dinner trying not to think too much on the woman that slept a few yards away.
If Gordon knew she were here he would never let me hear the end of it. Even though Gordon did not say exact words I knew what my old friend was scheming. An infamous playboy trying to set up his vigilante best friend it was laughable. My thoughts went back to Evelyn and even with the layers of fabric between us I had the sneaking suspicion that her skin was just as smooth as it looked. Trying to block such thoughts I began chopping the food viciously and singing. Sliding the diced vegetables in a bowl I continued to maneuver through the kitchen calmed by the enticing smell emitting through out my home. The silence was beginning to annoy me so I played one of the CD's in the seven disk player and speakers Gordon purchased for me one Christmas although I still preferred vinyl.
"Something smells delicious" A voice said startling me out of my thoughts as I gripped the kitchen knife turning towards the intruder.
I lowered the knife seeing the slightly frightened look on Evelyn's face.
"Forgive me I did not mean to frighten you"
"No It's my fault. Never surprise someone with a knife" She chuckled walking into the kitchen as if nothing happened.
I turned away from her putting my focus on the food once again. The soft hum of her voice accompanied by the music made a small smile appear on my lips.
"You are a lover of Bach?"
"I would not say lover but my mother was really into classical music. After listening to it non stop you start to pick up a few things" She smiled.
"May I help?" She questioned.
"Dinner is nearly finished but thank you" I nodded in her direction and watched through my peripheral as she took a seat at my small table.
"Your home is lovely"
"You have been exploring?" I questioned testing her depths of curiosity.
"No. I just came in here from the room you put me in but from what I have seen I can tell you are a man with exquisite taste" She smiled.
I could not help but mirror her smile from her complement.
"You think I am lying?" She questioned sounding offended.
"I am not questioning your powers of observation" I said simply as I placed her plate in front of her.
"Are you going to eat?" She questioned me. My stomach knotted and my pleasant smile vanished.
"Not at the moment but you enjoy"
"Your mask isn't just a disguise is it?" She questioned gently.
I gripped my knees tightly underneath the table and could not manage to look at her. A very rare time I was thankful for my mask that was frozen in it's jovial expression.
"Well it is late and I doubt you made all of that dinner for me. If you like I could go eat in front of the television. I promise I won't come into the kitchen until you are ready" She said with an understanding smile.
I felt a jolt of appreciation from her kind words.
"You may dine where you wish. You are my guest" I nodded managing to disguise my nervous tone.
"Maybe after you are done we could watch television I mean if that's Ok with you. It is your house after all" She smiled as she picked up her plate and drink before leaving the kitchen.
I could not help letting my eyes drift over her form as she left. She was an intriguing creature to say the least and I could not say I particularly liked how my emotions were harder to control around her. Making sure she was where she claimed she would be I placed a fair amount of food on a plate and poured a glass of drink before disappearing through a hidden passageway to my own room.
Evelyn's Point of View
I sat cross legged on a large leather couch as I turned on the television. I groaned in delight from the flavorful dishes V cooked. He was definitely a man of many talents. I laughed from a comical show that I had never watched before as I continued to eat. After I finished V did not come join me in the living room and the kitchen sounded too quiet for someone to be eating. I figured he had disappeared somewhere but it was his house he could go anywhere he wanted. A part of me did hope he would at least come back after dinner and sit with me. I placed my empty dishes on the coffee table out of the way as I sighed and stared at the television not paying much attention.
Becoming bored I stood and called out for V but not receiving an answer I decided to do some exploring. I did promise I wouldn't go into the kitchen without his permission and I did not want to break that promise on the off chance he appeared in the kitchen. Walking around the living room I found a collection of records and an old record player. There were books and book shelves everywhere you turned in his home showing he was well read. I looked through some of the books and although he had an impressive collection of Shakespeare there were books on every subject you could think of including sword fighting. I smiled seeing that the spine of the sword fighting manual looked worn and some of the letters were beginning to fade. I continued walking around taking everything in. There were a few other rooms but the doors were closed so I just walked past them until I came to a nice size room that was nearly empty. The chest and head of a dummy sat in a corner of the room and in another corner stood a full suit of armor that a knight during medieval times would wear. On the back wall were various weapons mostly swords and knives but no guns.
I walked over getting a better view of the weapons and wondered if I could pick one up. I mean this was some kind of training room so it should be alright. I reached out and picked up a sword and felt a wave of nausea come over me so strongly that I had to lean against the wall to stop myself from falling to my knees. Clenching my jaw and pushing myself off the wall I gave another glance to the open door making sure I was not seen. Casually swinging the sword I began to get a feel for the weight so I began to swing faster doing more complicated tricks. I swung at the air hearing the hiss as the metal sliced through it. The sound eased me slightly as I continued to abuse my invisible opponent. I could feel myself becoming winded seeing that it had been some time since I did intense training.
"I hate you!" I cried before throwing the sword.
"Why did you do this to us?" I whispered covering my eyes letting my shoulders shake and tears fall.
"Evelyn?" A voice questioned gently.
"Oh! V" I said in surprise wiping my face before standing to face him.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Ummm yes. I was just admiring your home. I hope you don't mind. The weapons were so pretty I could not help picking one up. Kind of silly of me I guess"
"You could have been hurt" V said as his mask stared at me but I could not make out if he was angry or not. His tone was neutral.
"I'm sorry" I said going to pick up the sword preparing to place it back where I found it when I saw V standing with a sword of his own.
"What are you doing?" I questioned slightly frightened.
V did not answer at first he only swiped the sword through the air causing a chill to run up my spine.
"I have always believed ones true self is revealed in combat. So let's see exactly who you are Evelyn Dunas" V said calmly before running towards me to attack.
I cried in alarm and dodged his attack by running away.
"Are you crazy you could have killed me?"
"Quite" He answered simply before rushing towards me again.
"V STOP IT!" I cried dodging the deadly sword but this time he did not pause between attacks and I knew I could not dodge forever.
I hissed in pain as his blade cut through my arm. The cut was not quite deep enough for stitches but I could feel blood dripping down my arm. I continued to dodge refusing to strike him when he somehow managed to back me into a corner.
"V don't please" I pleaded with him as I saw the blade coming towards me.
Before it could land a fatal blow I closed my eyes and turned my sword side ways to block the attack. He was incredibly strong and it was taking some effort to stop his sword from advancing.
"You want to see who I am so badly then fine" I nearly growled.
My steely expression pierced through the eye holes of his mask as I pushed him off of me. I raced towards him as he prepared to attack but I spun at the last second as he struck at me and ended up behind him. I expected to attack him from behind but his reflexes were unlike anything I had seen even from the most advanced swordsman. He corrected his folly quickly and we were engaged in combat as our blades rang out striking one another. This went on for about ten minutes until V managed to knock my sword out of my hand. Rolling out of the way of his swinging sword I retrieved my weapon but had slight difficulty standing as I felt myself growing weak from the loss of blood. It was not hard for V to gain the upper hand and knock the sword out of my hand once again before placing his blade at my throat. Neither one of us said anything as he continued to stand there as if debating whether to kill me or not.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" I questioned calmly.
I don't know if my words surprised him or the calmness behind them but he lowered his sword from my neck. To be completely honest I did not care if he killed me right then and there. Deep down I had no qualms about dying. Yes I pretended to be the scared timid woman that kept her head down and played by the rules because I did not want to bring attention to myself. I was done with hiding but at the same time I was done with fighting I was just going through the motions following my routine trying to give my life a small amount of purpose until it was over. I continued to stare at V covering my injured arm until my anger began to take over and I did the only thing I knew how to do, I ran.
"Evelyn!" V called after me but I ignored him as I raced out of the Shadow Gallery, although I only made it past the living room, until he caught me. Damn blood loss.
I struck at him kicking him in the chest buying me a few more seconds until he reached out for me again. I punched at him but he dodged it and blocked my other attacks before restraining me with my hands over my head and my back against the wall.
"Evelyn stop!" He demanded.
I could not control myself as I shook with sobs. Eventually V slowly released my wrists and I wrapped my arms around his neck burying my head in his chest as I continued to cry. He stood motionless for a few seconds until he awkwardly wrapped his arms around me. We stood like that until I felt my knees give from under me and my body felt like it was floating. I could hear V but his voice sounded like it was far away. I gave myself to the peace that came from the nothingness letting my world fade to black.
