Chapter 53
By then I was used to silence.
Though something stretched between us
like a whisper, like a rope:
my former name,
drawn tight.
- Margaret Atwood
Warnings/Bonuses: Adult themes.
245 Piccadilly Road, Greenhill. November 27, 2005. 02:39 am
Katia held herself steady by forcing herself to think about each step she took, counting each tread as she climbed the stairs. At the top she had to grip the handrail firmly, unsure if her trembling legs would even keep her upright. She took several deep breaths and pushed herself towards the open door.
Using the door frame for support, she felt around the corner for a light switch. She was relieved to find it was a comfortable enough looking bedroom. It had a bed and a lock on the door, which is all she had really been hoping for at that moment. She closed the door and twisted the key, letting herself half lean and half fall against the door.
Her skin felt alive, the surface boiling with with energy. It made her feel unclean, almost violated from the tiny tug she still felt from the urges lingering in her mind. She told herself those feeling were base and depraved, but for just a second, while she was still connected to Sophie, she wasn't sure she would have been able to control them had there been another human in the room. She scratched at her arms, as if she would be able to claw the craving off of herself.
She took a couple of shaky steps towards the bed, noting the large heavy piece of furniture out of the corner of her eye. With the scant bit of energy she still had left, she pushed the vanity in front of the door. Katia knew it wasn't enough to stop a determined vampire from getting in the room, but it still provided a bit of comfort that it would probably at least slow one down.
With that done, she crawled onto the bed, and fell quickly asleep.
245 Piccadilly Road, Greenhill. November 27, 2005. 02:45 am
Kieran dusted off the small spider that had attached itself to him as he descended the stairs. He gave a quick glance around the room and the corner of his lip curled up as he looked towards Daniel, “Charming place you have here. Salubrious even.”
Daniel replied in monotone, “It is dark and dry. What more do you require?”
“Some respect. You would leave me here, when I am doing you the favour of playing minder to that banshee of yours?”
Daniel waved his hand around the room, “It is all yours to do with as you please come tomorrow.”
“What joy. My heart sings at the possibilities.”
Daniel ran his tongue over his fang and shook his head slowly. He warned, “Now would not be a good time to practice your arrogance.”
Looking him up and down Kieran replied, “And this pity act of yours does grow tiresome.”
A soft moan distracted Daniel. Sophie was grimacing against the pain, he was not even certain if she was aware he had even come downstairs. He nodded towards her, “How is she?”
“Mending. She should be fine by tonight, but curiously, she was in far more pain than I would have anticipated.” Daniel gave him a quizzical look, prompting him to ask, “Did Katia have something to do with that?”
“I think she must have.”
245 Piccadilly Road, Greenhill. November 27, 2005. 02:12 pm
When she woke up, it was mid afternoon. The sunlight flickered through the windows, urging her up to enjoy the couple of hours she would have to herself. Even her throbbing head wasn't enough to stop her from shifting the vanity away from the door, grabbing a set of clean clothes from the pile left on the chair and heading downstairs for a shower and a cup of coffee.
Katia sighed as she descended the stairs. She really hoped Sophie had remembered to buy her some coffee.
Note: I really wanted to give you all more than this, but I've run out of time :( As soon as my visitors leave, I'll be right on with getting an update done. Have a great holiday everyone!