The Immortal Queen

Harcos

****** Catherine’s POV ******

We have been talking for a few hours about nothing special, just catching up. I think we were too afraid to disturb the peace by talking about touchy subjects. Besides, it felt good to just enjoy his company after these years apart. He has been refusing calls and giving me his full attention. It felt really nice. To be honest, I was surprised we weren’t in bed yet, since our relationship was always so physical, but I guess he feels the same as me, like we are getting to know each other all over again. This time with no secrets between us. Well, almost no secrets.

He is going on about how the police is starting to look at his actions with mistrust. They think he is someone who has been rising through the mob ranks but nowhere near the top, especially since they think he is young. The truth is he is at the top and has been for centuries. One way or another, with different names, sometimes invisible to the public for years, but he has always played a very delicate game and nowadays, with all the technology and surveillance, it’s getting almost impossible to hide his identity.

I’m trying to focus on what he is saying but there’s always a part of me thinking about Adam. Fate probably wanted me to choose him instead, but then why put Stefano in the same spot as well? Is there something I am missing? And at that restaurant? I’m supposed to be safe in there, it’s my Warrior’s business. My Warrior… Kane has been neglectful in his mission to protect me and his silence is bothering me.

- Why were you there at that restaurant today? In fact, why are you in Washington at all? – I interrupted Stefano in a brusque manner.

- Well… - He seemed a bit taken back by my interruption. – I have been in Washington for over a year now, I relocated here to tone down my presence. I was getting too big in New York. I was at that restaurant because I have been there once before and I liked it. The environment is very disc…

- When were you there? – I interrupted again. The anger I am feeling is making me forget my manners. Why didn’t Kane warn me? It’s his job to watch out for Stefano and Adam and today I find them both eating at his restaurant.

- I was there about two weeks ago, if I’m not mistaken. Catherine… what’s wrong?

- I’m just surprised to find you here in Washington and bump into you in the same restaurant, that’s all. – My acting skills are usually better than this, but I’m distracted. I’m thinking furiously about the time frame. I haven’t heard from Kane for about two weeks either and I have been kind of isolated from everyone for over a year now. I trusted my subjects to take care of things while I was preoccupied with matters… I guess I was wrong.

- That’s not all. I searched for you for 4 years and I never found a clue. Not. One. Single. Clue. – He locks eyes with me and I see all the frustration and despair there. – For someone with my resources, that is saying something. I should have guessed that meant you were way more than the simple girl you presented yourself as. I always knew you were sneakier and way more intelligent than you showed me, but this tells me you have resources too, perhaps even a network or security team. You had to be aware of my movements so you could avoid me, but you sound extremely surprised that I have moved to Washington.

- You are not just another pretty face, are you? – I asked him, smiling. That was one of the first things he told me when we met. He was always really observant behind his joker façade.

- Catherine… Tell me. – He is not smiling. He recognizes my attempt at deflection.

- Alright… It’s not easy for me to be honest and to reveal my secrets. I have hidden my real identity, my past, my name, everything even from loyal subjects and friends I have known for centuries. – I pause to watch him digesting what I have just revealed. He opens his mouth to ask something but then seems to change his mind and motions me with his hand to continue. I abide by his request.

- You were right. I do have some resources and I have people who work for me. That’s why I was so astonished to know you have been here for over a year and that you were in that restaurant before, because I should have been informed! Something is going on and I feel like it has been going for a while now and I’m just realizing it at this moment. It’s my fault because I have been apart and secluded for this last year.

- You said ‘subjects’… ‘Loyal subjects’… What do you mean? And what about the restaurant Harcos? What’s so special about it?

At this point, I got up and went to the window. All this sharing felt so unnatural to me. Perhaps I just hide things now out of force of habit. Stefano also went for the hard questions. I barely stifled a snicker thinking he would make a good FBI agent. Even better than Adam, I believe. Adam is still too righteous and has this inflexible black and white vision of life. My fault for sheltering him too much. No matter how I might feel about him and my lousy plan of hiding from him, Adam is still an Immortal and my responsibility.

Stefano’s cell phone ring interrupts my thoughts, but it doesn’t make me turn around, since I’m expecting him to just reject this call as well.

- Agent Reeves, twice in one day. Maybe I should ask for a restraining order.

This made me turn around. Adam. Something’s wrong. Stefano looks at me while listening to what Adam has to say and I watch his expression darken.

- Exactly where I was sitting? So not a coincidence? – He looks at me in a calculating manner. – We will be there right away. Yes, we. I believe my lunch companion must come with me as well and even though it is my name there, I think she is more significant to this story than me. Later. – He hangs up the phone, probably cutting Adam midsentence and stares at me.

- Tell me, Catherine. What’s going on with this restaurant? I find you at Harcos today and not much later someone goes and kills everyone in there.