AN: Here's chapter 5 in Jesse and Erik's tale. The flashback she has in this chapter occurs about two months after the deal just to provide context. Hope you enjoy and please letme know what you think.
FIVE: Traveling
I woke the next morning locked once more in Erik's embrace. Memories flooded through my mind and I gasped. I heard a soft chuckle and turned my head to stare up at the Vampire.
"Sleep well?"
"Scrumptiously," I replied sarcastically.
He laughed again as I sat up. My breath caught in my throat as I felt his finger run up and down my exposed spine. Grabbing my night shirt from the foot of the bed, I slipped my arms into the sleeves. Before I could begin to button it, he pulled me back on top of him.
"We're leaving today," he whispered in my ear.
He began to button my top for me.
"Leaving?"
"For the retreat," he said, finishing the last button.
"Ah."
He scanned me with his eyes as I climbed out of bed.
"What?"
"Can I pick your outfit?"
"Um..."
He left the room and came back holding a sleeveless sundress. It was maroon with sequins on the bodice and around the hem.
"I'm traveling in that?"
"Would you like some help? The zipper can be tricky."
I nodded, allowing him to help me out of my pj's and into the dress. I held it in place while he played with the zipper.
"One moment."
He exited again and returned with a matching pair of maroon wedges covered in black lace. I sat on the edge of the bed while he slipped them on Cinderella style.
"There. Perfect."
He pulled me over to a vanity and started doing my hair. I sat breathless while he worked. When he finished, half my hair fell in curls around my shoulders while the other half was pulled into an elegant knot at the back of my head. I stood and locked eyes with him as he ran his hand up my side, over the sweetheart neckline and stopped with two fingers in the hollow between my collarbones.
"Beautiful," he breathed and my pulse quickened.
We stood like that, my arms around his middle while he felt my pulse until someone cleared their throat behind us.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we have to get some food in her if we want to leave on time," Nadir smirked in the doorway.
Erik removed his fingers from the base of my neck and took my hand as we followed the Persian into the kitchen. Once there, I was instructed to sit while Erik made me breakfast. After setting a steaming plate of pancakes in front of me, he turned to speak with Nadir about the trip. I drowned out their conversation while I ate until Nadir checked his watch.
"We have to hurry. We're leaving in three."
The pair went to gather the bags while I wolfed down the rest of my breakfast. Once I was done, I joined them in the music room.
"Ready?" Erik asked me.
"As I'll ever be."
We stood on the platform waiting for our train to arrive. The Vampire was carrying both of our bags. Before boarding, he handed me a piece of paper with a list on it.
"Just some ground rules for you to follow on the trip. If nothing else follow rules one and two. Those are the most important."
I looked down at the list and read the first two rules.
1. Stay away from the man in the fedora-he's trouble
2. Never under any circumstances leave my side without permission
"Who's the man in the fedora?" I inquired of Erik.
"Trouble."
"Well I got that, but what's his name?"
"His name's not important. If you see a man in a fedora, stay away. Shouldn't be too hard if you're following rule number two."
I rolled my eyes and glanced over the rest of the list. We boarded the train in a first-class compartment. We were the only three people in the car. I took a seat while they put our bags in an overhead compartment. Once they finished, Erik took his place beside me while Nadir sat across from us. I absentmindedly started playing with my mask necklace. After placing it around my neck, Erik had told me it would serve as a reminder to both of us of the promise he had made. I had been paranoid for months, never daring to touch or remove it. One day I realized I had developed a habit of playing with it.
I felt two pairs of eyes staring at me and dropped it so the charm was hidden beneath my dress with only the chain visible.
"You should get some rest," Erik suggested. "It'll be a long ride."
I casually leaned over so my head was on his shoulder. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep with the gentle rocking of the train.
xXx
I was running down a darkened hallway. It was night and the Opera House was silent. The only noise was my footsteps as I hurried further away from Box 5. I turned a corner and ran into something solid. Looking up, I locked eyes with a face half covered in a white porcelain mask. I tried to get away, but he grabbed my wrist and dragged me through a hidden door in the wall and through a maze of tunnels, finally coming out in his music room.
"Let go of me!"
Smirking, he let go and I stumbled back, running into the settee. I sat down on it with an angry huff.
"I had it handled."
"Of course you did."
The Vampire rolled his eyes as he took a seat at his pianoforte. He wondered for the billionth time why he had ever made that promise. It would be so easy to be rid of the young girl on his settee and be done with the whole affair. Meanwhile, I scowled at him from my spot as he began to play. I recognized the melody immediately. My lullaby. Of course, he played it a lot better than I did, adding in complicated harmonies and embellishments until it became a masterpiece instead of a simple tune like when I played it. My eyes started drooping as I listened, laying down on my side as I watched him play. After the third time the melody restarted, I had fallen asleep.
xXx
"Jesse, wake up. We have to get off."
I opened my eyes. Nadir was gone and glancing out the window, I found him standing on the platform by our bags. Erik slid out of the seat and then offered a hand to me. He led me off and over to Nadir.
"About time. I have our bus passes here."
"Bus?"
Erik nodded, taking the passes from the Daroga.
"One more stretch before we get there."
He slipped the passes into the inside pocket of his suit coat and grabbed his and my bags. I followed the pair off the platform and over to a private bus waiting for us. Nadir embarked first, followed by me with Erik in the rear. Once our bags were in place, we took our seats. Leaning once more on Erik's shoulder, I drifted off as we continued our journey.