Seeing Double Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Toronto
“Vicki?”
“Yes, Coreen?” Came Vicki’s muffled reply. She was doing some spring cleaning and at the moment was hidden from view, under her desk.
“Want to grab a bite to eat?” she asked hopeful to get Vicki out of the office for once and maybe sneak in some questions about her family and Bethany. “It’s just such a nice afternoon today and we are pretty slow…” a note of hinting in her voice.
Vicki’s head popped up from under the desk, a slight curse coming out of her mouth as she banged some part of her body on the edge of the desk. Her ponytail was in slight disarray, bangs falling into her eyes as she tilted her head to the right. It reminded Coreen of when a puppy just staring at someone tying to decipher what it was being asked of them. She held back laughter but a small smile broke over her lips. Vicki got up, dusting herself off as she said,
“Sure why not?” walking around the desk and perching on the edge, “But after I make some progress in my attempt to clean and get a little organized in here.”
Coreen’s smile faltered slightly then she perked back up,
“No problem, I’ll help you out. It shouldn’t take more than an hour and by that time when we go there won’t be any lunch time rush to compete with.”
Vicki smiled back at Coreen, “Alright then, lets get moving.”
She and Coreen had become closer over the last six or so months. After everything that had happened, Vicki bringing her back, Mike leaving and Henry leaving; Vicki had become a hallow shell for a while. Coreen was there every day not matter how many times Vicki had threatened her, in one way or another, to comfort Vicki and help her cope.
Vicki had changed, that much was obvious; she had lost quite a bit of weight which was easy to see on her already slender frame. Her cheeks had slight hollows, the bags under her eyes were more predominant that they usually were and she just seemed so frail now, like she just didn’t care anymore. Coreen knew whenever said anything about it to Vicki she would be snapped at and they might have a slight argument but, she always won out because after she and Vicki would go out and get food.
Although they spent more time together outside of work Coreen knew Vicki was holding back and not fully coping with Henry’s move and Mike’s abrupt coldness toward her. She just wondered what she did in her off time. She ended days early now, her excuse was now that Henry was gone she didn’t need all those crazy cases walking in while she kept late hours.
Soon the hour had gone by and Vicki’s office was transformed from what Coreen had described as her file cabinets and desk throwing up, to a shining and organized work space.
“Well, that was nice.” Vicki said a smile on her face, “I don’t think I’ve done that much work on organizing in a long time. I forgot how much work it was but in the end it’s worth it.”
She walked over to her desk and opened the middle drawer reaching for her keys when she paused, her eyes glazed over.
Coreen came over to see what was holding Vicki up in her office, the smile on her face falling. Vicki was standing at her desk looking down at a picture, walking over to her Coreen looked at her concerned.
“Vicki? Are you okay?” She looked down at the picture Vicki held.
It was of her and Henry one night while the three of them had gone to dinner. Henry’s arm was around Vicki’s shoulder; his face angled down towards hers, his ever present flirtatious smirk present but his eyes said much more. Vicki was looking at the camera a smile on her face her had entwined with the one draped over her shoulder.
Coreen looked at Vicki, her eyes held unshed tears, her nose getting pink from holding back the emotions she just needed to let go of.
“Vicki?”
She looked up at Coreen, immediately the walls came up. She blinked her eyes and Coreen noticed a slight violet flash in them just before Vicki looked back up at her.
“Sorry, I was grabbing my keys and saw this.”
“Vicki, I know you’re hurting. Maybe we should talk about it.”
“Why? It’s not going to change anything Coreen, he isn’t coming back.”
“But-”
“Look, I appreciate your concern. I really do but I’m done feeling like a sad little school girl whose boyfriend just dumped her. We were never together anyways. I don’t really have a right to be mad or that upset that he’s gone.” Her face had taken on a slight flush but her eyes said much more. That she missed that man in the picture more than she’d ever know herself.
“Alright Vicki but, if you ever want to talk.”
“I know. And thank you.” Vicki said smiling. “Now come on, let’s go get some food before we waste away.”
Coreen returned her smile but though to herself how Vicki already looked like she was wasting away. Following her out, Vicki locked the office door and they were on there way.
They ended up stopping at a local café that served any and everything. Ordering two iced teas their waitress left them to look over the menu. They made small talk, avoiding the one subject that really needed to be discussed. Their waitress came back and took orders and a slight argument emerged from their table.
“No, no, she’ll have the bacon cheese burger and fries.” Was Coreen’s quick reply to their waitress. She glanced at Vicki out of the corner of her eye, suspicion crossing her features. Vicki’s face was slightly shocked then started to harden.
“No.” She said firmly, “I’ll just have the chicken Cesar salad.”
“Ignore her, and make that two bacon cheese burgers but I’d like chili cheese fries.” The waitress looked back at Vicki for a moment then scurried off.
“Coreen!” Vicki said with disbelief, “What the hell are you doing?”
“What does it look like? Ordering food silly.” She replied her perky tone hitting a nerve with Vicki.
“I mean what’s with changing my order? I don’t want a burger.”
“Oh come off it Vicki.” Coreen said moving her hand back and forth. “Even if you don’t want it you need it. You haven’t eaten all day and look at you!” She said throwing her arms out, “You’re wasting away.” Her hand falling onto the table, “You rarely eat anything I know you don’t. You’re always drinking coffee or saying you just ate. I see the food in the trashcan you know.” Her tone of voice accusing, her eyes holding Vicki’s as she waited for a reaction.
Vicki didn’t say anything, looking way from Coreen’s knowing stare, then looked back up at her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I always drink coffee in large quantities throughout the day; you’ve known that since I hired you. And for your information I do eat. Just because you don’t see me scarfing down Chinese everyday doesn’t mean I’m not eating. And have you ever had a day old sandwich that’s been sitting out for a day?” Her tone of voice rising, her face hardening, lips thinning. “I’d appreciate it if you’d just back off.” Rising from her seat she grabbed her jacket and bag.
“Vicki, wait.” Coreen said grabbing her harm to keep her from storming off, “I’m sorry. It’s just…I’m worried about you. Is that a crime?” She asked her voice slightly cracking.
Sighing Vicki replied,
“No Coreen it’s not. But there are times when you need to let me be.” And she walked out of the restaurant, leaving behind a distraught Coreen.
****************************
Vancouver
It was about eight o’clock as Henry was walking down the streets of his new neighborhood becoming familiar with his new surroundings when he sensed it. He was being watched; he looked through the crowd but couldn’t pinpoint it. Finally he saw her standing on the corner at a crosswalk. Vicki, no, Bethany, looked at him, amusement shining in her eyes along with something else. As he began walking towards her a smile broke across her lips. Although he knew it wasn’t Vicki, his heart still skipped when he saw Bethany, everything in his body recognized this person to be the woman he loved but he knew better.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m allowed to walk on the streets in the evening aren’t I?” She asked raising her an eyebrow at him. “Or have you come to kiss and make up for the other night?”
“I have nothing to kiss and make up for. But I do know that you had better tell me who you are and what your connection to Victoria Nelson is.”
“You’re in no position to demand answers from me vampire.” She replied her eyes throwing icy glares at him. “You have no idea who I am.”
Growing annoyed Henry grabbed her by the throat.
“What do you want with me? With her!?” He said urgency and threat in evident in his tone as well as his face.
“Careful now Mr. Hot Temper,” she said, her breath catching slightly as his grip tightened. “She feels what I feel.”
“I don’t believe you,” Came his reply, eyes black now “I think you’re here to harm someone I care for and I intend to fix that.” He said.
Bethany smiled, well smiled as only one could while their throat was being grasped by one very pissed vampire. “Are you willing to take that chance? Kill me, you kill her.”
Doubt crossed Henry’s face but he knew he couldn’t risk it. His grip loosened, she smirked then she vanished.
“Damn it!” he shouted.
****************************
Back in Toronto.
Vicki had walked around town for a little while, running her argument with Coreen through her mind again and again. The sun was setting and she was still fuming slightly when she stopped walking and looked at where she was. Looking up at the building all her emotions hit her hard, hurt, anger, fear, loathing, contempt and pain; she had walked all the way to Henry’s old building. Clenching her fists to her sides she turned around and walked back towards her office. By the time she reached her building it was dark outside. She went into the office and grabbed a few things one of which being her bottle of whiskey.
Before leaving the office she looked around for a moment, memories haunting her as she looked to the couch where she and Henry had sat a year ago his hands holding hers as they spoke of the newly acquired art work on her wrists. A smile graced her lips as she remember the two of them sitting at her desk as he became jealous of the incubus who had charmed Vicki with poetry and then his quick departure as she told him he could take out the trash on his way out. Her smile faltered when she remembered when he had come to tell her he couldn’t forgiver her for her actions with the Incan mummy. The memory of his departure from Toronto after she had chosen to save Coreen instead of sending Aseroth back to hell flew through her mind. All of a sudden it hit her, their conversation in the office right before he left and her admission of love and she couldn’t deal with all the emotions that came back to her running through her.
She quickly went to her bathroom keeling down she pushed the door closed. The sounds of gagging, coughing coming from the small room echoed in her office. A few moments later the flushing of the toilet and water running from the faucet could be heard. Vicki stepped out of the bathroom, a hand covering her mouth slightly. She locked up the office again and went up to her apartment.
As she walked up the stairs she stumbled, and began coughing. Dropping the stuff she had been carrying. She felt as if someone was choking her, she began struggling and gasping for breath. The push on her throat constricted making it harder for her to catch a breath. She grabbed at the invisible force on her throat panicking, the pendant on her necklace glowing. Then it was gone just as quickly as it had begun. She fell to the steps gasping for breath she looked around her. No one was in the hallway, in front of her or behind. She couldn’t figure it out. Too spooked to figure it out she gathered her things off the stairs and quickly went up to her apartment.
Two thoughts ran through her mind as she went up the stairs, what was Bethany up to and she wished more than anything that Henry could be there with her.