 CHAPTER 2 (section 4) copyright © 2001, S. Y. Affolee Mina had taken them to the second floor to their rooms. The room that Adrian had been given had an odd hotel feel to it, a generic lamp, dresser, and bed. Even a mediocre watercolor hung on one wall. The drapes were pulled shut. He peeked outside, seeing that the room was facing the front of the house. The surrounding neighborhood was completely dark except for a few lights. Should get some sleep, he absently noted to himself. Instead, he opened his overnight case and laid out some clothes into the empty drawers. Simone had taken the room next door. It was connected to his by a small door, that unlike the butler, had an excellent ability to blend in with the bland wallpaper. In fact, he did not see it at all when he first glanced around the room. And odd and disturbing thing since he rarely if ever missed any details. He wondered if Simone knew. He left the rest of his things on the bed and walked to the door, standing for a moment, hoping that he would not scare her. He knocked softly. No one answered. He knocked a little more loudly and then decided to try the doorknob. It turned easily under his hand. Simone’s room was nearly identical to his except for the color of the walls and carpet which were a dull burgundy. The lamp at the end of the room was on, leaving a small pool of light around a desk. The door to Simone’s bathroom was open, the light streaming out. Adrian started retreating back into his own room when he noticed the lumpy bed. She was curled up on top of the sheets, her own overnight bag dumped into a neglected pile at the foot of her bed. Her shoes were lying askew on the floor. The kittens had evidently followed her. Three of them laid along her back, snoozing. The fourth black kitten was curled up on the pillow, suddenly turning his head so he could watch Adrian with unblinking yellow eyes. “She’s asleep, isn’t she?” he mouthed. The kitten laid his head between his paws and closed his eyes. He shook his head amused and went over to the bed to watch his partner sleep in a bed full of kittens. He reached out a hand as if to touch her hair, but only hovered a few inches above her. Her eyes remained closed, oblivious to everything and anything. He remembered that during that morning when she had made a brief entrance before dashing into her office, she had looked weary and tired. Adrian usually tried not to pry into her personal life, but was left wondering. He turned off the lights in the room for her and went back to his room. “Good night, Simone. Sweet dreams,” he whispered. He closed the connecting door. |