Well, It Was a Nice Night
#Vote#
A lone figure walked along the paved path. The full moon shadowed his every graceful move. There was no haste to the purposeful gait. But that this being had a destination, it was clear. He moved through the night as if he were a part of its secret intricacies. As if he belonged there. Among the shadows and darkness.
Another watched his progression. A slender, almost ethereal shape. She watched and waited.
*****
The room was lit with a cheerful ambiance. Although the lighting was soft, there was a festive feeling in the air. Annie Callahan could not stop admiring all the wondrous objects found in the many nooks and grannies of the ultra-modern motif.
“You have excellent taste, Christopher.” She smiled up into the dark brown eyes that watched her so disarmingly. Had now since her arrival a half hour ago.
“You should have known him a few centuries back.” Alex Wilder had leaned conspiratorially to the woman’s vicinity, his tone one of teasing affection. “He came from the lower end of–”
“That’s enough information.” Christopher Colton cut his friend short. “You know how nosey reporters are. Give them an inch.”
“Hey!” Annie felt at least a modest protest should be voiced. “Inquiring minds want to know.
It’s part of my charm.”
“It definitely is that.” Christopher bowed minutely, lifting his glass in a mock toast.
“Speaking of which...” Annie felt a little of that reporter coming to the fore suddenly. “See?” Christopher shrugged well developed shoulders; his smile only just held.
“Is this really your birthday?” She asked, making it known; that was all she had intended to ask. “That wasn’t so nosey, now, was it?”
“Christopher celebrates anything and everything.” Alex found a chair, parking his ass in its comfortable contours. “Any chance to fabricate an occasion? He’ll take it.”
“How do you know this isn’t my birthdate?” The question seemed viable to the older vampire. “You haven’t known me for all that long a period, you young whippersnapper, you!”
“But remember, you celebrated your birthday a couple of months ago. Around Halloween, wasn't it, which," Alex made mention,
“Seemed somehow appropriate to me. I don’t see my gift displayed prominently either. Just to let you know.” The younger being glanced around the rooms aimlessly. “A little tacky, if you ask me.”
“A black lace teddy doesn’t fit into my recurring theme.” Christopher narrowed his eyes at the other being’s cheek. “I looked fabulous in it, though. You are right.”
“I posted the pics to the Net.” Alex grinned at Annie’s lifted brows. “But no, seriously, I got him a toaster.”
She laughed musically at the being’s wit.
“What are you complaining about? The celebration is on me. A toast then...” Christopher held up his glass, the red substance swirling elegantly in the crystal glass.
Annie was growing accustomed to the reality that the substance was not wine. She was always very careful not to react or show emotions with these beings.
“To good times and old friends.”
Alex inclined his head to his friend’s honorable mention, lifting his glass to salute such regard.
“And newfound ones.” Christopher included Annie Callahan in the moment.
“I feel honored.” The woman smiled brightly, unsure exactly what she was feeling these days, were she honest with herself.
Her emotions had been tangled and confused since she had learned these creatures actually existed...her thoughts jumbled and perplexed of late.
Her usual clear-headed, precise thought patterns were a thing of the past in most aspects of her life. Except work, of course.
Alex Wilder could sense her turmoil. It was a natural process, however. It had taken him several months to resign himself to what he was. To acclimate...to accept. He could respect her state of uncertainty.
“A night of merriment and frivolity!” Christopher continued, having bowed formally to Annie’s statement. “That is what we are promised. Dinner for the lady, in a most chic, not to mention overpriced, establishment.”
Annie giggled infectiously, trying hard not to be charmed by all the attention Christopher lavished upon her this evening, but try as she might, she found herself enjoying herself completely and liking the company immensely.
“Followed by tickets to the exclusive...” Christopher wanted to impress this woman. Not for his sake, but that of his friend, whom he knew was very fond of the human, in more ways than Alex Wilder would admit just yet.
“Not to mention sold out.” Annie’s mouth was agape, for she had read the event on the stubs she had been handed. "How did you
ever-"
“Child’s play, child.” Christopher waved such a rhetorical question aside, feigning boredom. “Where was I before she so rudely interrupted my eloquence?”
He found he enjoyed making the female smile. Alex seemed to be in a good mood as well. The stress of the last few weeks finally melting away.
Cornelia had been one hell of a b***h of late. The least Christopher could do, he felt, was to offer a little light source of amusement to these two. If any two individuals ever needed it...
“He knows people who know people.” Alex crinkled his nose at Annie’s inquiring stare. He was enjoying her enjoyment just as much as she seemed to be.
He was fishing for another giggle. His reward came, and he was hard-pressed not to chuckle with the woman.
His senses tingled, and he seemed to vibrate to her very being, despite a stern warning to himself to be more circumventful in his reaction to her. He could smell her essence, her scent. It surrounded him and he felt great!
“The must see show of the year!” Her eyes were wide with wonder and delight.
“The decade...easily.” Christopher corrected with tainted modesty.
“Oh yeah, decade!” Alex agreed wholeheartedly, feigning amazement.
“Well, it is!” Annie could find no fault in Christopher’s statement.
“A female after my own heart.” He glanced at Annie Callahan. “Although, you might be hard-pressed to find that particular organ after so long a period of inactivity. My other organs are in perfect working conditi–”
“Christopher.” Alex scolded superficially, uncertain that it was a place to go so early into the evening’s celebration.
“Ah.” Christopher took the veiled hint gracefully. “He says I have to be on my very best behavior tonight. Bummer, huh?”
Annie laughed throatily. “So out of character. Alex, why torture the poor man?”
”Oh, I like her.” Christopher walked away, searching for more refreshment.
Annie grinned over at Alex Wilder.
“I am truly impressed, not to mention a little intrigued.” She told the truth, sensing the rapport between the two beings. “Not to look a gift horse in the mouth...”
“Does she mean me?” Christopher asked pleasantly from across the room.
Alex shrugged playfully. “Had she said, horse’s ass...”
“One for the whippersnapper.” Christopher poured his beverage delicately so as not to bruise its flavor.
“Why me?” Annie asked. “Why was I chosen to accompany two such handsome, urbane gentlemen on such an auspicious occasion? Not that I am complaining, not at all!”
“Oh, this is merely the prelude.” Alex arose, stretching his lanky frame out to its full height. “He likes to start slow and build. This all ends days from now in an orgy type scenario with cops and call girls, and a really good video release on YouTube.”
“I’ll be famous!” Annie quipped. “Get my good side.”
“All sides look good to me,” Christopher mentioned, sauntering across the ridiculously expensive carpet.
“My toga party days ended in...” An attractive scowl touched the intelligent forehead. “Well, the Sixties, actually. I am much more refined now. My tastes have matured.”
“Which means a weekend at the Playboy Mansion as opposed to the Chicken Ranch?” Alex questioned innocently.
Annie bit her lip to keep the smile from her full lips. She cut amused eyes to her host.
“How you paint me, Alexander.”
Both beings’ smiles faded instantly as a feeling swept through their psyches.
Christopher’s body stiffened as the scent carried on the night air. Alex hastily sat his drink aside, his entire person poised and alert.
For what? He could not have said.
Christopher’s dark eyes scanned the area, his manner quietly intent. He sat his glass aside more slowly, moving closer to the human, his senses strained...attuned.
Annie watched the two individuals, uncertain of what was coming down, but she knew something was terribly amiss.
“What the hell,” Alex had no clue as to what he was feeling. He only knew his entire nervous system was overloaded, “...is it?”
He looked to his friend for answers.
The tension in Christopher’s already defensive posture increased as the seconds ticked by.
Suddenly, his guarded eyes snapped upward, his focus on the balcony overhead.
Alex had not heard a sound but followed the being’s stare.
Annie’s eyes widened in shock.
Christopher stepped around the female, placing himself between the newly arrived menace and the frail human. Alex noted the uncharacteristic gesture, his senses reeling with dread suddenly. He forced his attention back to the balcony.
It had dropped silently onto the terrace, landing on its haunches, then arose gracefully... eloquently molding into a dark silhouette complete with billowing cape and a dark, penetrating stare.
It was taller in stature than Alex, with a stockier build. A suppressed power emanated from the being.
“Why are you here?” Christopher seemed more tense than usual, but other than that, his demeanor stayed calm and collected. Alex took hope from the fact, the being had broken the eerie silence.
“You know the why of it.” The deep, chilling baritone was almost soothing to Annie’s ears. It sent a tingle down her spine, causing her to catch her breath in her throat. There was an ominous threat to the sentence.
The creature moved forward slowly.
Alex instinctively retreated a step to better access the situation before he reacted. He took in the opponent’s size and steely manner.
Alex sense danger.
There was a dark quality about this being. An unmistakable foreboding.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up as the empty, brooding stare was transferred to...
Annie drew in a hasty breath, a feeling of terror washing over her. The look had made her blood run cold, her heart beat wildly in her chest cavity. She moved closer to Christopher and was happy when Alex moved closer to her.
“She has known for months.” Christopher snapped his waning patience. “The Masters are not so stupid to think... she could have revealed our existence many times over, had she wished.”
“Masters?” Alex had heard the rumors. These things did not truly exist, surely. And what could they want with his Annie if they did?
He sought the older Vampire for instruction and information.
“I do not question. I only obey.” The cold gaze shifted to Alex Wilder. “The blame lies with this one! The fault is his!”
