Act 11
*Wait, don't hang up. I'm coming. Hold on!* Katherine heard the phone ringing through her door and fumbled with the electronic key. It seemed to take forever for the green light to respond to the insertion of her card. *I'm coming, wait.* She ran through the obstacle course of her room to grab the phone, "Hello, hello, I'm here."
"I didn't wake you up, did I?" Natalie's voice came from the other end.
"No, I just got in and had trouble opening the door. What's up?"
"Well, Nick and I have just been talking and he, we think it's a good idea. I mean, would you be interested in renting my place?" Natalie looked at Nick "it just became available."
With amusement in her voice Katherine asked, "And just where are you going?"
"I'm staying with Nick" *YES!* Katherine smiled to herself. *Back on track.*
"Well, I don't know, what does it look like, how much are you asking?"
Natalie gave her the details and made plans to show her the place at 3 in the afternoon.
"That will give us both time to sleep and get up for work. Great, I've got the address. Thanks, Nat. Get some sleep. See ya later."
As Katherine placed the handset in the cradle there was a knock at the door. *Who'd be knocking at 5 in the morning?* She peeked through the peephole. *I don't believe it!* and opened the door.
"You're knocking now?" She opened it wider to let him in.
He gave her his most engaging grin. "You asked me to, remember?" He walked into the room. "Haven't found a place yet?"
"Natalie just called, I might be taking hers."
"Oh?" An eyebrow went up in surprise.
"I'm going to look at it tomorrow."
"And she's going where?" He played her game though he figured it out long ago. *So Knight is going through with it.* With a pang of regret, he flashed on Tracy. With time he might have considered the same thing. *Sometimes life gets too frustrating.*
"Yo, Javier. Come back." Katherine waved her hand in front of his face. "You guys have this great habit of blanking out. If I didn't know better I'd say you're having a seizure."
He snapped back and half laughed at her, "Now, what would you know about seizures?"
"Enough. And you're here for?"
He really didn't know why he was there. After his "talk" with Lacroix, he just needed to see her once more. "You were at the Raven earlier. I saw you go into Lacroix's office." It was half a statement, half question.
She didn't see any reason to deny it, "I was there. Are you still watching me?"
No, he mouthed the word and waited. In the muted light of the room, her eyes still sparkled and her honey blonde hair glistened. He breathed in and smelled her essence. What was it? He couldn't quite place it, but tropical islands came to mind. Her heartbeat began to echo in his ears. She was saying something, but he didn't hear her. He was too preoccupied with the sensations bombarding him. From deep within, he felt a familiar stir. He kept his distance. He didn't want a repeat of the day before.
"Javier, are you listening?" She sighed, fully aware of what was happening, "You're doing it again." She moved in front of him, not at all far away.
He forced himself to settle down, though still enjoying her aroma. It brought back pleasant memories. His eyes twinkled at her, toying with her. He took a chance and reached out his hand, running it up and down her arm.
"Yes, I was watching you. I happened to be there and there you were. So I watched you. I watched you sit down and order a drink. I watched you drink that drink and then I watched you go into his office." So there, his look told her.
"And why do you want to know what we talked about? You think it concerns you?" His aroma was getting to her. Heady, masculine, sensual. She could have blocked it out. She did so many other times, at the Raven. Yes, she did feel him there. She wasn't sure then, but now, she knew.
He nodded his head and pretended innocence. "I'm your self appointed guardian angel. You said it yourself." He stopped, and held her arm, feeling the muscles tense.
"I sensed he didn't like me. I wanted to correct that. He may prove to be useful sometime. He is Nick's master."
*He may prove useful.* The thought of Lacroix being "useful" to anyone was amusing. "He called me in after you left. He wanted to know what I found out about you."
"And you told him what?" *Nothing, Javier, because there is nothing you know to tell.*
"He's convinced you are not a witch. He was most concerned about that." She winced at his words. He knew he wasn't meant to see that but he caught it just the same. "He said something about protecting Knight and the community. He is still uneasy about you, but not as much as before." Vachon paused and studied her face. "You don't like being called a witch, do you?" He held her more tightly now, not threatening, but firmly.
She stiffened at the question. "No, Javier, I do not like being called a witch. I am not a witch. Never was, NEVER will be." She looked away. "My mother was one, I will not be her."
The look of helplessness and being lost enveloped her and on impulse he drew her to him. He whispered into her ear, "I know. I know you are not what she was." Uncontrollably his eyes began to glow and he nuzzled his face in her hair, drinking her smells, floating into her heartbeat.
She melted into his arms, feeling the heat of the moment. For a fleeting moment, she considered letting him continue. She momentarily longed to feel his blood flow into her, hers to his. Then Jonathon's face in flames flashed before her eyes and she once more pushed him away.
"No, Javier, not yet. Not yet." She looked at him and saw his frustration and the pain of being denied what he needed. Needed badly. She sunk to the bed in tears "I'm sorry, Vachon, I'm sorry."
Feeling her regret and emptiness more strongly than he should without having had her, he quickly reverted back to his human form. The need to protect her overwhelmed him once more and he sat before her, pulled her to him and cradled her. "It's ok, Katherine." It was almost a lie, but not. He stroked her hair. She stirred something inside, feelings he hadn't had in a long time. "It's ok. When you are ready. It will happen when you are ready."
She looked at him through tear-brimmed eyes. "Please understand, I can't, I won't hurt you. I don't know why I know this. But I won't allow anyone to hurt you."
He held her in his arms for awhile. Her breathing had become so rhythmic he thought she'd fallen asleep. When he looked down at her, she was staring beyond him. *Memories, my sweet one, like those that haunt me.* He hugged her closer, and she moaned. The movement brought her out of her quiet reverie, and she sat up and rubbed her face with the sleeve of her shirt.
The lightening sky caught her peripheral vision. "It's getting light."
"I know" he whispered.
"Lacroix wants you to watch me, doesn't he?" Vachon nodded. "Are you going to?"
He shook his head no. "He's on his own. I'll take my chances with him."
"If you stay with me, you'll take your chances with the Enforcers too." She ran her hand forlornly down his unshaven cheek.
He kissed her hand and stared into her eyes. "I'll be careful." He pulled her into him once more, this time for a kiss. Long and soft. "I'll be careful. Go wash your face."
He watched her walk into the bathroom. *I just don't feel it. She can't be one of us.* He pulled the bed clothes down while he waited for her. For distraction, he turned on the TV. He propped the pillows against the headboard and crossed his legs on the bed.
"You look comfortable." She said when she returned from the bathroom. "Staying?"
"For awhile. There's a big snowstorm out there." He pointed to the screen with the remote.
She watched the weatherman give the doom and gloom. An expected ten inches today, possibly more tonight. The snow was falling silently and heavily as she drew the drapes. *Thank goodness for room darkeners. Why am I going to do this? I need my head examined.*
"I've got to meet Natalie at her condo at 3. You can stay if you want. The room is dark enough, believe me. But no funny business, okay? I'm tired and I want to go to sleep."
He looked at her with the wide-eyed innocence of a Boy Scout. "On my honor, ma'am, no funny business." He patted the pillow next to him. "You'll be safe with me."
*This is too weird.* She arranged the pillow to her liking and tried to settle in to sleep.
"Sweet dreams."
"What?"
"Isn't that what you're supposed to say?"
"I guess so." She sat up. "I don't know about this, Javier. This doesn't feel right."
"I promise I won't do anything to upset you. I'll just sit here and watch the news." He pretended to be interested in the television.
"Ok, I'll believe you, but that's a soda commercial you're so in to." She lay back down and wrapped the blankets around her once more.
He leaned over her shoulder, "I promise, I'll be good. Goodnight, Katherine." He kissed her ear. Something was compelling him to stay. He couldn't place it. But he knew his place was there, for the day. Before long, they both were fast asleep.
Act 12
Somewhere around 9 a.m. a shadow darkened the hotel room door. The figure was determined to get in. His prey was inside, he knew. It would just take another few seconds to manipulate the electronic box and he would be in. Suddenly, a sensation of another behind that door flooded his mind. It was menacing. He could not do this alone. He left.
-----
The quiet noise from the door as if the lock was being forced disturbed Vachon's unusually light sleep. He opened his eyes; listened and decided it was nothing. He looked at the sleeping Katherine, serene and lost in dreams. He settled back down into the pillow and fell back into his vampiric slumber.
-----
Her alarm rang at the early hour of 2 p.m. Wearily; she silenced the annoying sound. *Plenty of time to shower and dress. I wonder how much it snowed.* She went to the window and peeked out of a corner of the draperies, careful not to let the daylight strike the bed. *Not too bad. Looks like the plows and salt trucks did their job. Mostly slush now.*
Before she left, she went over to the bed and watched the dark vampire sleep. She knew most of them gave up coffins and slept like everyone else. It was weird to see this. Both her father and Jonathon preferred the solitude of the coffin. She reached out and caressed his hands, resting over his chest, as if in death. They were cold, as expected. *Did his eyelids flicker? Well, my friend, I guess we're getting in deeper. If Charles saw this, I'd really be in hot water. Rest well.* Out loud she told him, "See you later," and she bent over and lightly kissed his lips.
Then she was gone.
A faint smile broke his face, and he continued dreaming.
-----
"I hope you weren't disturbed earlier, Miss Collins," the desk person was telling her. "Here's your mail. Our maid thought she saw another guest trying to get into your room this morning. He must have thought it was his room."
Katherine skimmed her mail quickly. Nothing of urgency. "Someone tried to get in? Could she describe this person?"
"No, I'm afraid not. She said he was dressed in black. That's about it. He was at the door a few seconds and then must have realized his mistake. I'm glad it didn't disturb you."
"No, I didn't hear anything. Thanks. Oh, by the way, I have a friend sleeping upstairs in the room. Could you ask maid service to come by later, say, after six to do the room? He's had a rough day."
"No problem, Miss Collins. Consider it done."
-----
The drive to Natalie's took a little more time than she anticipated. The roads were slicker than they looked. She drove carefully, as to not slide into anyone. *I hate winter.* She thought as she pulled up into a spot in front of the complex. Natalie buzzed her in and in a few seconds, she was showing Katherine through her condo.
"I'll leave the furniture, of course. No need to bring it over to Nick's. Well, what do you think?" Natalie was nervous. She really wanted Katherine to take the place so she wouldn't have to show it to anyone else.
"I have a dog, Natalie. Will that be a problem?"
"Shouldn't be. My neighbors have one too."
"It looks wonderful. I like that security gate, too. When can I take it over?"
"I need time to move some things out, how about this weekend?"
"Sounds good. I should be off this weekend, if things go right. I can give you a hand packing and moving if you want. During the day, that is." She smiled at Natalie.
They looked like two friends sharing secrets. Natalie gave her more details about the complex, the condo and neighborhood. It was good for the both of them to have someone to talk to. Natalie made coffee. Katherine held her cup up in a toast: "To the beginning of a long friendship".
Natalie clinked her cup against Katherine's. "I have a good feeling about this too."
Katherine looked at her watch. *Is it that late already?* "Listen, Natalie, I've got to go. We promised the Captain we'd be in early. It's almost sundown." She shrugged her shoulders. "You know."
*This is different, having someone else know about Nick. Ok, go along with it.* "Yes, I know. Drive carefully, and good luck tonight." She watched her go down the walkway to the front, then picked up the phone and dialed his number. "Wake up sleepy head. Your partner is on her way to work."
"Nat? Where are you?" Nick tried to get a fix on where he was. "Oh, yeah, right. How did it go?"
"She loves it. We're moving in and out this weekend. You better get going. See you later. Hey Nick, I love you." She hung up the phone. It was a nice warm feeling being able to say that out loud. *A little faith, a little at a time.*
----
Katherine decided she had enough time to check in on Vachon before going to the station. He was just waking up when she got to the room. "Hi." She said as she walked in.
"Did the maid let you sleep?"
"No, you just missed us making passionate love. I just got rid of the body." He teased.
"Very funny. I left instruction that you not be disturbed. Thought you might like the rest. You didn't hear anything earlier this morning, did you? The guy at the desk said the maid found someone trying to get in."
Vachon concealed a smile breaking at the remembrance of her kiss. "No, slept like the dead."
She made a face at him and swatted him with a pillow. "No, seriously, the door lock does look played with. I don't know. Someone could have been trying to jimmy it."
"How did things go at Natalie's?" He asked her as he diverted the pillow to the floor.
"Great. We're moving this weekend. I'm helping her pack, and take things over to Nick's. I've got to get my stuff out of storage, too. Want to help?"
He tried to act cool, as if he had other things to do. "Maybe." Then he smiled at her, "I'll be there."
"I've got to go, Javier. Just wanted to check on you. Will I see you later?"
"We'll see." He leaned his head against the pillow and watched her. His answer disappointed her, he could tell. "Hey, be careful out there, ok?"
"Aw, I'm tough. See ya later." Katherine told him as she headed for the door.