Chapter Seventeen
I definitely had to find a new hobby. Staying up all night was starting to get plenty boring and downright lonely. It was too late to practice, and missing classes had me without any homework to do. I drew up a To Do list, with ideas on how to spend my time, but nothing sounded good. With Bridget out with Rob and then at work, I had too many hours to fill before the dawn. Too many hours to reflect on that kiss in the alley.
Though I didn’t particularly need to, I took a long hot soak in the tub. Instead of going for Jane Austin or Margaret Mitchell, I couldn’t help but pick up a different sort of classic to keep me company. Louis and Lestat kept me entertained through two refills of the tub. Thanks to my body’s new make up, I didn’t even get all pruny.
Without anyone else home, I didn’t particularly worry about walking from the bathroom to my bedroom without a robe. I was still winding the towel around my body as I reached my room, and froze as I found Bishop standing there by the window. We stared at each other across the room, and I wasn’t sure which one of us was more embarrassed.
“You said come over…” He turned his back, shoulders stiff and rigid.
“I said I needed to talk to you, I didn’t say anything about popping into my bedroom uninvited,” I hissed, fingers clumsily scrabbling to tuck the end of the towel in.
“I didn’t think you’d be so… naked.”
“Where else should I be naked but in my own bedroom?” I muttered, digging into my dresser to look for something to put on. Even though I was reasonably covered up, I still felt plenty vulnerable in just the towel. I settled for a simple white nightgown with pretty eyelet lace around the bodice. While my comfy pj’s still felt nice against the skin, I found I didn’t crave the warmth as much, especially after a hot bath. I didn’t even need to sleep with socks on anymore.
“I’m sorry, I should have knocked first. Maybe I should go…”
“Don’t be silly, you’re already here.” I caught his arm to keep him from going for the window and I felt his body tense at my touch. “You couldn’t have seen much anyway.” I tried to keep my voice light, but as he turned around, I had my doubts over how much he’d seen from the look on his face.
“Right,” he nodded, eyes sweeping over my body with undisguised hunger and I wondered if the nightgown had been the right choice. Maybe I should have gone with a Snuggie? It might have made things easier for both of us. All too soon, he regained his composure and the moment passed. “You ah, you said you needed to talk to me about something important?”
“Oh right. Is there anything you want to tell me about where you went last night after I saw you at the club?” I could tell he hadn’t expected that question at all by the way his brow crumpled in confusion.
“No, should there be?”
“No violent altercations I should know about?”
“I didn’t say that, but I’m not in the habit of having to account for my time or my actions to anyone,” he replied sternly.
“I’m not in the habit of having the police show up at my door accusing me of murder either, so I suppose it’s a night for new things.”
“Who did you kill?”
Something about the way he asked it really irked me. No surprise whatsoever that someone had died. As though he fully expected me to be capable of such a thing and was merely annoyed at being dragged into it. “No, that’s what I’m asking you,” I scowled.
“It just so happens that I didn’t kill anyone,” he scowled back. “Last night.”
“Well someone did, and the police came here to ask me about it.”
“Why do they think you’re involved?”
“Because it was my ex, Trent who was murdered.” I launched into a brief rehash of the conversation with Detective Lucas, grateful to see I had his interest at least, and that annoyed look had disappeared from his face.
“What do you think, does that sound like a vampire related death?”
“It could be. Anytime you see neck trauma, it’s a fair assumption, but you don’t normally see that with a beating. Torture yes, but not a general beating.”
I didn’t want to know about his experience with torture, and gladly glossed over that. “You really don’t know anything about it?”
“No, I give you my word, the guy wasn’t even on my radar. Though it sounds like maybe he should have been,” he frowned.
“Is it possible that I killed him and blanked it out?” The question had plagued me for the past couple of hours.
“I’ve never heard of that happening before, but I suppose it’s possible,” he shrugged. “Look, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The cops don’t have anything on you, you said he didn’t even really suspect you. I’m actually a little more worried about this guy that showed up at the auditorium that same night. You said you didn’t get a very good look at him?”
“No, he was half in the shadows, but I could tell he was tall, and I did see he had blonde hair and blue eyes. Though how I could have managed to see his eye color from such a distance is beyond me.”
“I’m starting to think you only saw what he wanted you to see.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s very unusual for you not to remember the vampire that turned you. It’s not that strange to be disoriented at first, but there’s no reason to block it out entirely.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could remember him, but… I’ve got nothing. Just a jumbled dream, and I still didn’t get a good look at his face, or hear a name.”
Bishop was silent for long seconds as he paced the length of my bedroom. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I toweled off the damp edges of my hair while he wrestled with it. “You did well with what you told the police, though I would have rather you’d kept The Hart out of it. Thanks for keeping my name out as well.”
“I figured you and Aleksandr probably wouldn’t want the police poking around in your business.”
His face changed at the mention of the Russian, the cold mask reasserting itself, and I braced myself for the mood swing I knew couldn’t be far behind. “Something came for you from Kursik,” he said softly, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small envelope.
“For me? How did you get it?”
“He must have checked up on you. My address is listed as your residence, remember?”
“Oh, right, thank you,” I nodded, accepting the stiff envelope, immediately tearing into it. Inside was a small white card covered in smooth, flowing script.
Something to remind you of the old days. I look forward to spending new days in your lovely company. Please do me the honor of joining me tomorrow night for cocktails. Eternally your servant - Aleksandr
“Huh. He wants me to meet him for drinks tomorrow night.”
“That’s not all he wants,” Bishop muttered.
“Huh? What do you think he means, ‘something to remind you of the old days’?”
“He also sent over this.” He produced a black lacquer box with a gold clasp. With a surge of excitement, I opened it, the breath whistling through my teeth as I beheld the ornately carved cuff bracelet worked in gold.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, immediately slipping it onto my wrist. I wasn’t any kind of expert, but it looked like an original piece, very old and very valuable. The symbols on it reminded me of my ring, and upon comparison, some of them were identical.
Bishop’s face gave nothing away, but his voice sounded strained. “It’s… I had no idea he… I didn’t think it was his to give,” he managed to get out.
“Why? Do you recognize this piece?”
“Yes, it belonged to my Sire. But I haven’t seen it for a long, long time.”
“Your Sire?” My mouth dropped open in surprise. I’m not sure why, but I hadn’t expected his Sire to be a woman. Of course it made perfect sense, but it threw me for a loop. “Maybe she gave it to him?”
“She must have.”
“You don’t think he took it, do you? I’d hate to accept a gift that shouldn’t belong to me.”
“No, it’s yours, it’s right that you should keep it.” His eyes remained fixed on my wrist.
“If you say so,” I replied, watching him carefully. “So you know Aleksandr then? From way back?”
“Not very well, it’s been fifty years easy since I last laid eyes on him, but I’ve seen a dozen vampires like him. Ruthless, power hungry, he’s not to be trusted.” There definitely wasn’t any love lost between them, but I wasn’t sure why.
“I’ll keep that in mind then.”
“Wait, you’re not going out with him, are you?” His expression darkened.
“Why not? Maybe he’ll have some answers for me, look at this thing. It’s obvious he’s got connections with the older vamps. I’m hoping I can get him to talk to me a little about them.”
“I don’t think he’s interested in you for conversation.”
“Does that surprise you? That a rich, powerful man might want to spend time with me?”
“Vampire. Not a man, it’s not the same thing at all.” Bishop seemed more and more agitated, and I could tell he was scraping for an argument to talk me out of it.
“So what? I’m a vampire too. I’m stronger than I look, remember? I’m sure I’ll be fine. Besides, I have a feeling he might know something about who my Sire is.”
“He thinks you’re hundreds of years old, remember? He’ll find your game of twenty questions suspicious. Besides, Kursik won’t have any more information than I do.”
“You don’t know that, Bishop. I still think it’s worth a shot.”
“Don’t do this, Anja.” His hands slid up my bare arms as his voice took on a pleading cast, and I fought what those eyes did to me.
“Can you give me a reason, any reason at all why I shouldn’t go on a date with the rich, good looking vampire who wants to ply me with gifts?” To be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to Aleksandr since that night, especially not after the kiss in the alley with Bishop. Kursik might be attractive, but he also scared the hell out of me. Okay, so I was using the invitation to try and provoke a response from Bishop, but it was the only tool I had at my disposal.
“I told you, he’s dangerous.”
“That’s not what I mean. Can you give me a reason to hope for anything better?” My eyes pleaded with him to forget his silly objections and admit he felt something for me too. Something more than obligation, or the heat of the blood. I felt his thumbs brush across my skin, and for a moment I thought he might break, but he was more stubborn than I gave him credit for.
“I can’t.”
“Then you don’t get to tell me who I can and can’t go out with.” I pulled away from his hold before I did something stupid like try to smack him. Or possibly kiss him. When I turned around again, he was gone.