Whispers

Insecurities

Lucius leaned against a fully stocked bar that covered one wall of a lavishly appointed penthouse apartment. He held a half-full champagne glass in one gloved hand and adjusted his bowtie with the other. He had never liked how constricting wearing a tuxedo could be. The cummerbund was too stiff. The coat too heavy. His collar nipped at the hair curling at the back of his neck. He wanted to strip naked, but he didn’t think it would make much of a difference considering who they mingled with that night.

He had to admit to a sense of comfort being among his kind. He could put on his mask of being the best among them and hide the thoughts that troubled him. Thoughts he shouldn’t be having. Thoughts of a human whose smile undid him three ways to Sunday. A girl who could strip away his pretense and unravel his control.

“I can’t believe you brought me here,” he grumbled at the whisperer that stood by his side, confident in his own tux.

His gaze scanned the expensively dressed crowd gathered. It was the last place he wanted to be after what he’d discovered that night about Karina. All he wanted to do was go home. Desmond chuckled, taking a sip from his own champagne glass.

“I can’t well leave you at home and sulk,” he said, taking the words right out of Lucius’ mind.

Not wanting to clue his friend in on how he’d hit the nail on the head with his comment, he said, “How did you manage to bring us here when I clearly envisioned us going to my house? And you even managed to dress me.”

A grin like he’d won at poker graced Desmond’s face. “Just because I’m of a lower rank than you doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two. Please, give me some credit.”

“I’m impressed,” was all Lucius said.

He knew his friend had abilities. Desmond was certainly working below his potential. If he wanted, he could be right up there with Lucius, but there was something about Des staying where he was currently ranked that he understood well. Flying under the radar gave him more leeway than a higher ranked whisperer, which meant Desmond got away with more things than Lucius did. The fact that Lucius was under observation was proof of that. Dee didn’t want his best to fade away. It would create problems, chief among them a bad precedent among the younger whisperers.

“But Janika’s party?” Lucius c****d his head at the host who thankfully stood at the farthest side of the room.

Another thing he wanted to avoid, a public row with her. He’d have to show his dominance to set an example, and he was sure to be put in her place was the last thing Janika wanted. No matter how vocal she was about being powerful, it was all bark. Oh, she definitely had bite, but it wasn’t as hard or as damaging as what Desmond was capable of, for example.

She wore a gown so tight, it looked like it was painted onto her body, hugging every curve. The neckline plunged deeper than any proper dress should have. Her fake blonde hair was in a tight bun, which added drama to her heavy makeup.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about her little home invasion at my house, right?”

Desmond whistled. “Did she really threaten to kill the younger whisperers?”

“Not only that. She was trying to get into my pants, literally.”

He barked a laugh. “Were you really half-naked? I thought that was just an exaggeration.”

Lucius tilted his head and said, “Just about to get into the shower, in fact. You should have been there.” He shuddered, remembering Janika’s greedy hands on his skin. “It was as bad as being groped by your grandmother.”

“Hey!” Des protested. “Leave my grandmother out of this.”

“Oh, shut up,” Lucius whined, imitating a British accent. “You don’t have a grandmother. It’s just an expression.”

A sly smile. “But wouldn’t it be fun if we had grandmothers? I always liked old ladies knitting away in rocking chairs.”

“You never cease to amaze me.” He finished off the rest of his champagne and tapped the bar to signal to the tender for a refill.

How Janika got the youngest of the whisperers to act as servers at her party after threatening to kill them all was astounding. Must be some kind of hazing ritual, he thought. He took the newly filled glass and leaned back on the bar using his elbows.

“You know what this means, don’t you? My being here,” he said.

“One sec.” Desmond exchanged his champagne for something stronger. “Scotch neat, please.” He downed the amber contents of the square glass set before him, winced at the burn, and faced Lucius. “I thought it would be a good diversion for you.”

“Yes, but you’re beating around the proverbial bush, my friend. You know I’ve been avoiding this party for a reason.” Lucius scanned the crowd again. “I have a reputation to maintain.”

“As if you’d be less of a whisperer by being here.”

“That or I come away needing a tetanus shot.”

Desmond grimaced. “Stop being such a drama queen. You being here only shows to everyone else that you’re willing to tolerate Janika. It’s a good thing for the brotherhood. Plus, I’m sure Dee will see it as an improvement and remove your babysitter.”

He tilted his chin toward Tomas, who was speaking to a young whisperer with titian hair.

And as if he felt their gazes on him, Tomas glanced their way. Desmond plastered a goofy contented expression on his face while Lucius groaned. His stomach flipped several times, and not in a good way, when Tomas moved toward them, the young whisperer trailing behind him.

“I hate you,” Lucius whispered harshly to Desmond before he said, “Tomas! It’s good to see you.” He touched glasses with his mentor, producing a clear clink.

“You can thank me later,” Desmond replied from the corner of his mouth then touched his now relinquished champagne glass with Tomas’.

“I did not think you would make an appearance tonight, Lucius,” Tomas said in the form of a greeting. “I have to say I’m very pleased that you are here.”

“I have Desmond to thank for that.” Lucius squeezed his friend’s shoulder none too gently, producing a satisfying squeak. “I didn’t think I would be coming either.”

“Regardless, it’s good you are here.” Tomas indicated the girl with him to come closer. “Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce Sasha. She is the newest member of the brotherhood, just graduated from the tutelage of Janika. She has a promising future ahead of her.”

The girl blushed beautifully at the praise Tomas has given.

“Tomas, I would rather be underestimated than overestimated,” she said.

Her voice was smoky and sensual, the kind best used in the privacy of someone’s bedroom. Lucius finally understood why Tomas wanted them to meet. She was certainly attractive.

“JFK Jr.,” he said.

“Pardon?” Sasha’s perfectly arched eyebrows, which matched the color of her hair, came together in confusion.

“You quoted JFK Jr.,” Lucius clarified.

She blushed again. “Yes. I have been reading about him lately.”

“Kofi Annan for me.”

“A Man of Peace in a World of War.”

Lucius nodded once, impressed.

“Well, it seems like we are not needed here, Tomas,” Desmond piped in. “It’s nice to meet you, Sasha.” He gave the girl his most roguish smile. “I’m surprised you managed to survive Janika without completely falling apart. That earns a gold medal in my book.” He began to steer Tomas further into the room. “Take care of my boy here, will you? He’s been in need of good company lately.”

He winked at Lucius and walked away.

Tomas’ grin was enough to annoy Lucius for the rest of forever. His mentor was a sneaky bastard. And now, because he couldn’t be rude to the young whisperer, he had to stay with her until he could think of a good excuse to leave. Oh, Tomas and Desmond would pay. Lucius relished the thought and used it to survive Sasha, who wasn’t really that bad, but he knew who he really wanted to be with. Then the picture frame flashed in his mind again. The voices booed in unison, which had him gritting his teeth.

“Is something the matter?” Sasha asked, concerned. She’d taken Desmond’s place at his side without Lucius noticing.

To show her everything was fine, Lucius touched his glass with hers and said, “Congratulations on your graduation.” Then he took a sip, letting the bubbly liquid tickle its way down his throat.

She took a long pull of her own drink, probably gathering the courage she needed to stay with him.

After she swallowed, she said, “I’ve admired your work since leaving the nursery.”

Lucius dropped his gaze to his glass. Again it was almost empty. Whisperers couldn’t get drunk if they didn’t want to. Their bodies had a way of burning off the alcohol. All Lucius had to do was to turn off that part of his body and he’d be inebriated as fast as he could consume his liquor. Without thinking twice about it, Lucius made sure he’d get drunk that night. He finished off his champagne and ordered another, already feeling the beginnings of light-headedness.

“I don’t think what I do is something to admire,” he said, taking another swallow.

“Oh, but it is. You’re called the genius of your generation.” Sasha’s eyes widened. “The youngest whisperer to climb the ranks. You’re a living legend among all of us.”

A blush rushed up Lucius’s face from his neck. Had he eaten anything to keep the alcohol from working too fast? He grabbed a cube of expensive cheese from a server with a tray. They didn’t need to eat, but Janika wanted to make the party look authentic.

Sasha went on and on. She praised him for his ability to whisper faster than anyone in the brotherhood and how no one matched his creativity. At some point, he’d tuned her out and just nodded during the appropriate moments. But when she reached the Tommy Humphrey case, Lucius had to do something to shut her up.

“Would you care to dance?” he interrupted her very detailed account of his whispering of Tommy. She must have read the report.

The ten piece orchestra began their version of Living on a Prayer. Janika wasn’t too subtle with her obsession with Madonna. Lucius had to laugh inside at it, but he was pretty sure it was the alcohol in his system thinking for him.

The voices in his head didn’t like what he was doing to blunt the shock of what he’d discovered in Karina’s bedroom that evening. There was no way he could get to the bottom of it without alerting her to the fact that he’d been in her room. She hadn’t questioned him about how he found out where she lived, but surely she’d take offense at what Desmond led him to do.

He took Sasha’s glass and settled it on the bar along with his and pulled her to the dance floor. He hadn’t danced for more decades than he could count, so he was awkward at leading them in a waltz. But by the time the orchestra made it to the second verse, Lucius was surer of his steps despite being tipsy.

Sasha didn’t comment, too dazzled was she at having the chance to dance with him. The voluminous skirt of her elegant gown flowed like water between them. At some point, the dance floor emptied, leaving Lucius and Sasha full use of the space. He didn’t mind since it was, as Desmond put it, a great way to show the rest of them that he was fine and no longer in need of a babysitter. Sasha was having the time of her life, judging by the expression of glee on her face. She was certainly very young. She still didn’t have the wherewithal to hide her emotions effectively. Lesson number one of being a high ranking whisperer, show only a fraction of the emotion being felt, or best yet, none at all.

For the big finish, Lucius twirled Sasha around several times fast. She was little more than a blur. If she wasn’t a whisperer, she would have been dizzy by the time Lucius dipped her, his face barely inches from hers. She was breathing hard, but not from exertion. Each exhale tickling the hair that fell over his forehead.

Applause broke the moment. Lucius pulled Sasha up and gave an exaggerated bow before he indicated Sasha do the same. She demurely curtsied, holding ends of her skirt in her hands, pinkies in the air. Desmond howled like the monkey that he was while Tomas continued to applaud, nodding once at Lucius in satisfaction.

“What do you say we get some fresh air?” Lucius whispered to Sasha.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room to one of the balconies surrounding the penthouse. The frigid night air pushed back some of the flush on Lucius’ face created by several glasses of champagne. He leaned against the banister and breathed in deeply. Sasha closed the double doors behind her, blunting the sound of Like a Virgin.

“You know, you’re not like what they say about you,” Sasha said, joining him at the banister. She looked up at the starless sky. The city lights drowned them out.

“What else do they say about me?” Lucius turned around and leaned back, his legs unable to support his body weight. He enjoyed the champagne buzz, which dulled the protestations of the mob in his head. He should have started getting drunk more often if the results were like this.

“Well . . .” Sasha’s index and middle finger climbed up Lucius’s arm. “They say that you’re a loner.”

“Oh, really?” Lucius grinned.

“Yes.” Her fingers had reached his chin, tracing his jawline. “And they say that you don’t often attend parties like this one.”

Lucius faced her. “Then this must be your lucky day.”

“Oh, I think luck has nothing to do with it.” She leaned down and pressed her Cupid’s bow lips with his.

She tasted of champagne and strawberries. Lucius pushed away from the banister and cupped Sasha behind the neck so that he could pull her closer. She took this as an invitation to curl her arms around his shoulders and deepen the kiss. Lucius lost himself in the sensation of her body’s heat joining his.