It's been two weeks since the incident and Alex's life is finally getting back to normal, or atleast it was until Sebastian handed her a post card.

Before she knew it she's on a plane to Rio, and Claude apparently owns an airline.

The hacienda is right on the beach and the swell looks amazing. Sebastian decides to hold a contest only, what else does he have up his sleeve?

I hope you enjoy,

~The Dark Ringmaster

Chapter 19: The Postcard

It was late in the afternoon and light poured through the windows of the studio, it was almost blinding. Alex sighed and stretched her arms over her head. "Tired?" asked Jodi as she peeked her head over the cubical wall. Alex cracked her knuckles and replied, "Not really just tight." Jodi laughed and remarked, "You sound like an old lady." Alex glared and replied, "Look who's talking." Jodi crossed her arms and said smugly, "I'm happily married and I'm not that old." Alex turned red and began to laugh; Jodi smiled and said, "You know I haven't seen you this relaxed in a while." Alex shrugged, it had been two weeks since the incident, even though she could still remember every detail she felt safe at work. Sebastian was there protecting her, and Claude was in the distance working, which she was oddly comfortable with.

She heard a ping and looked at her Mac, "You've got mail," chimed Allen. Alex laughed, as she opened the email. Claude had sent it to her, which was surprising, "Odd I didn't even think he had my email address," she said. Jodi walked around and asked, "Who?" She stared at the sender and whispered, "Claude Faustus?" Alex sighed and looked at the email, as always Claude was being his typical overly formal self. She snickered when she read the post script, he was asking for the photos of Sebastian with the cat. She could barely contain her laugher; she didn't even think he knew about those photos. "What's it say?" Jodi asked impatiently. "He's just asking if I had time to spare, I left some materials at their house and he wanted to return them," Alex responded. Jodi looked slightly confused; Sebastian had taken her home that night, not Claude. She paused and remembered how they were acting in the hospital. "Are they, you know?" whispered Jodi nervously. Alex was typing a response when she looked at her inquisitively, "No I don't know," she replied quickly as she finished the message. Jodi sighed, there was no way those two weren't together they did look good together after all. "Oh come on Al, spill," she said quickly until she noticed a picture she was attaching to the email.

Nuzzling with a black and white cat was a garnet eyes man with raven hair. "Is that our boss?" she exclaimed and Alex attempted to hide the picture. Jodi reached over and opened the image, "Aw so cute!" she cried. Alex sighed and Jodi opened the folder, "Whoa so many pictures," she said in shock as she looked through them. There were several of Sebastian a few he had posed for and others he probably had no idea. "I can't believe our strict boss likes cats," said Jodi as she snickered. "What's so hard to believe about it?" asked a familiar voice and the pair froze. Sebastian leaned over Jodi and looked at Alex, "I had no idea you too this many pictures, they're really quite good," he commented. Alex was about to say it was because Sebastian was her model but she couldn't. Jodi took the initiative to get back to work and Alex waited to get yelled at.

However he didn't he simply looked through the images; he stopped at the one she took of Claude on the sofa. His eyes were closed and he glasses were on the table. That perfectly pressed suite was wrinkled and he seemed so peaceful. He looked at Alex and asked, "Can I have a copy?" Alex was confused for a moment until she realized what he wanted. "Sure, he's yours anyway," she said absently and then covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide and he laughed, "You really are flustered easily," he commented. Alex sighed and replied, "I can't help it, you're just so," she paused and blushed, "Beautiful" she mumbled. Even though it was so soft that Jodi couldn't hear it Sebastian heard it perfectly. He smiled and placed a folder on her desk, "What's this?" she asked and Sebastian smiled. "That is your next assignment," he replied. Alex smiled and opened the green folder only to find a postcard in it. She slowly picked it up, it was of a beautiful beach. "You want me to design a postcard?" she asked in confusion. She had become one of the most demanded graphic designers in England, with massive posters, packages and products, it seemed unusual for her to design something as trivial as this. Sebastian smirked and asked, "Where was that picture taken?" Alex flipped the post card over and replied, "Brazil, Pedra de gauaratiba."

Sebastian was still smirking as he asked, "How's your Portuguese?" Alex looked up at him in confusion, Artistry didn't handle international projects. "Great I took Portuguese in college," she replied. Sebastian smiled and said, "Wonderful, join me for lunch." Alex nearly jumped out of her seat before she remembered her appointment with Claude. "I can't Claude asked me to," she started and Sebastian snickered. She crossed her arms and realized they were in what ever they had been planning together. "Am I going to regret this?" she asked and looked up at Sebastian. He smirked and replied, "I don't think so. In fact you may enjoy yourself." Alex was intrigued by this, Sebastian was clearly up to something however she had no idea what.

Claude had finished with his cases and completed filling out for leave. "First Hannah disappears and now you are going to as well Claude?" asked Elsa, the secretary. Claude looked at her and said, "I have been planning this vacation for the past two months, before Hannah left, besides I don't have any cases open." Elsa backed off; Claude was using his signature stern voice which dared anyone to lecture him. "Where are you going anyway?" she asked after a moment. Claude smiled and replied, "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil." He then walked away and noticed William had texted him. He sighed and remembered their conversation from that morning. Even though Hannah had disappeared they didn't want to risk harm coming to Alex so they booked a vacation to Ecuador. Sebastian and Claude had been planning to go as a couple, however they figured to keep her out of danger it would be better to bring her along. "At least the shinigami will be here looking for Hannah," said Claude happily. That wasn't the most important thing he was happy about, in fact it was because a certain redhead wouldn't be able to get between him and Sebastian. He smiled and noticed Alex had sent the photo he asked for, even if the cat was in the picture it would still worth it, Sebastian was making a cute face after all. Claude finished grabbing his cell phone and brief case, he stretched his arms over his head and smiled. He was finally going to have some fun.

Alex did a few sketches of the post card; each of them came out beautifully when Allen called, "Jodi the boss wants to see you." Jodi was quick to leave her cubical and Alex sighed, Sebastian probably had a project for her. "Ugh I hate his riddles," she moaned. After a while Jodi returned and smiled, she had an envelope in her hands. "What's that?" asked Alex curiously when she noticed it, Jodi looked nervous and was quick to respond, "This it's nothing." Alex sighed, clearly Jodi was lying however she couldn't question her at this moment, she was far to busy wondering what on earth Sebastian was planning. "You still can't figure it out?" asked Sebastian. Alex leaned back and looked up at him, there was a teasing smirk on his lips and his garnet eyes were clearly up to something. "I'll tell you what, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at six, pack an over night bag," said Sebastian, he was using his persuasive grin again. It really wasn't fair that he was able to make her do just about anything with that grin. She sighed and replied, "You can't just tell me?" she asked. Sebastian tilted his head to the side and asked, "Where's the fun in that?" She began to wonder how on earth Claude was able to handle him so easily.

After a few hours of office work Alex was back in her apartment, she had been living in her apartment after the incident however she still felt uneasy from time to time. It was spotless, in fact it was almost as if she didn't even live there. "I really need a life," she sighed before remembering what Sebastian had said. He was going to pick her up at six in the morning, for a demon had an excellent sense of time, which was almost frightening. After a moment Alex grabbed her bag and threw in a pair of jeans and a tee, with her toiletries. Something was nagging at her, after Sebastian had handed the card to her, Claude texted her to cancel. It was strange, she sighed and looked over at her cameras, "Should I pack on in case?" she asked. Part of her was telling her that it would be impractical; however the other part told her she would need it. "Wait the postcard," she shouted as she turned the computer on. She typed in the location and stared, "Rio?" she asked. She flickered through the photos and stared at the waves, "That's a huge swell," she breathed and noticed how scenic it was. "Sebastian what on earth did you plan?" she asked after a moment. Would he really pull her for time to go down to Brazil, it didn't make sense.

As always Sebastian was on time however she didn't expect to see him in a loose white shirt with shells along his neck and a pair of sunglasses, he worse shorts and a silver ring around his ring finger. "So did you figure it out?" he asked as he put her bag in the trunk of her car. She slowly took a seat and replied, "I think so." Sebastian smirked and commented, "You think or you know?" Alex really didn't like this game and she replied, "I have no clue." Sebastian chuckled and drove toward the airport, "Yet you brought your passport just in case," he said. Alex sighed, nothing could ever get pasted him. "I arranged for Jodi to take care of Lin," said Sebastian as he pulled beside a Carbon Black Austin Martin. "Whoa who's car is that?" she asked and Sebastian smiled brightly as he noticed Claude leaning on it. "He did go with the Ray Bans I suggested," remarked Sebastian as he got out. The tall muscular figure grinned he was in kakis and a loose silk shirt, a Panama hat rested on his head. "We have about twenty minutes," said the man and Alex realized it was Claude. "Whoa!" she cried with shock and the pair looked at her. "What?" asked Sebastian and Alex blushed, "Claude looks really cool like that," she commented. Sebastian smirked and whispered to Claude, "See you should listen to me more often." Alex snickered and noticed a similar silver band on his ring finger. She felt strange next to them, they looked as if they had walked out of a magazine and she looked as if she'd just rolled out of bed.

Sebastian noticed her discomfort and looked at Claude, he smiled and took his Panama hat off and placed it on her head. She snickered once again he was treating her like a kid, "Thanks," she whispered. Claude simply nodded and Sebastian smiled. She always felt comfortable around them, even if they were demons. She was about to go through the gate when Sebastian grabbed her, "Not that way," he said softly before entering the VIP lounge. "You guys own a plane?" asked Alex in shock, Claude adjusted his glasses and said coolly, "No, I own the airline" Alex's jaw dropped and Claude shrugged, "It seemed like a good idea at the time," he said. Sebastian smirked and noticed how shocked she was. "Do I want to know how much money you two have?" she asked. Claude and Sebastian looked at each other; she could tell that they were silently debating. The both smirked and looked at her, "Probably not," responded Sebastian. Alex sighed and shook her head, "What's a girl to do with you two?" she asked.

The flight from London to Rio was long; she slept a majority of the way there and noticed Claude and Sebastian working on the flight. The Stewardess was beyond polite; clearly she knew who Claude was. Once they landed they seemed to fly through customs before she knew it she was standing in Rio. Claude smiled as he opened the door to his jeep. Sebastian jumped in shot gun and Alex slipped into the back. "Welcome to Rio," said Claude as he zipped through the streets. The city's pastel walls flew by, there were different scents and bright colors every where. It was a photographer's play ground. "I'm so glad I brought my camera," she said as she changed its lenses. Claude chuckled as he turned onto a privet road. Through the finder she saw people shopping a pair of guitarists and some children playing soccer. "Amazing," she said. Claude up to a beautiful Hacienda on the beach and smiled. "Wow you guys have access to the beach," she exclaimed as she jumped out of the jeep.

She could smell the salty sea air and the call of gulls was soothing as the waves pulled in and out. The wind swept in and Alex's hair flew, she smiled and Sebastian snapped a picture using a small camera. She didn't even notice, "Beautiful," she whispered. Claude stood next to Sebastian and wrapped his arms around him. "Yes it is," he whispered to Sebastian. Claude looked out at the ocean and began to count, "The swell looks amazing," he said. His golden eyes were locked on the sea and Sebastian noticed the contrast between the blue of the sea and his golden eyes. "Yeah it does," said Sebastian after a moment. Claude smiled and asked, "Do you still think you can surf or will you curl?" Sebastian smirked and replied, "Oh I can surf, the question is," he whispered and then drew in for a kiss, "Can you beat me?" he whispered. Claude smirked and asked, "What if I do?" Sebastian paused and then smiled, "I will do what ever you like," he responded. Claude felt his heart skip a beat as he stared into those mischievous crimson eyes. "And if I loose?" he asked slowly, he had a hard time finding the right words. Sebastian smirked and replied, "You do what ever I want." Claude was quick to agree and the pair dashed into the house leaving Alex on the beach.

She stared at the house as she watched Claude sprint out in a blue pair of board shorts. He had a shot board under his arm and his glasses were gone. Alex stared as she watched his muscular body slip into the water and start paddling out. Alex could see his well toned abs, massive caves and chiseled arms. His shoulders were nothing to scoff at and she unconsciously took a picture of him. She watched him line up and then drop in a beautiful wave, he shot off the top. He was low to the board and looked like a predator stalking his pray, she was impressed by how skilled he was. He was about to get some white water action when his eyes widened and he cracked up. Alex stared as Claude spat out some sea water and looked toward the house. Alex turned around to find Sebastian with a red and white board under his arm, in a pair of black square legged jammers, which clung tightly to his skin. They accentuated his hips and round bottom perfectly. Claude slowly hopped up on his board and watched Sebastian slip into the water after him, "Even though that's cheating I really don't mind," he muttered. He felt as if Sebastian was naked yet wasn't it was both frustrating and intoxicating to look at. "It looks like you're the one who forgot how to surf," said Sebastian as he paddled up next to him.

I'm so sorry for not posting sooner, I'm got swamped with evaluating entries for our county fair as well as finishing my entries. Luckily they're all done, yes there were only 8 but in my defense three of them were over 100 pages. The others were close to 50 each. Since fair is next week I will not be posting as often. I apologize but my laptop doesn't work well at our fair grounds. Odd right? I mean it's only the second largest and oldest fair on the east coast.