Part 1: The Reunion of the Princess and the Pauper
After midnight and I stared at the clock from across the room. I should have been sleeping, but sleep was about the last thing on my mind between bastard Invictus lords, a full case load at the department, and pretty much 24/7 heartburn. Whoever said pregnancy is sexy and glowing is a fucking liar. In a fit of boredom, I'd grabbed the dust buster again and started going over the area under the wetbar where the worst of the shattered wine glasses were. I'd never get all the glass up, but it was a distraction.
Then the knock came. I knew the knock off by heart. Audra's light tap, delicate but commanding, perfected almost like the woman herself. I stared over to the clock again. 12:47 am. Well, it's practically lunch time for the kindred, so I shouldn't have been shocked by the late hour.
"A minute..." I called, stuck in the position of being on the floor. Getting off the floor wasn't that easy a proposition and it was just going to get worse. I made it up and quietly to the door, looking out the peep hole to see a platinum blond vision. Sure enough. I tried to swallow the shock and nerves, not having even spoken to the Baroness in nearly a month. Perhaps my disfavour was over? I could only hope.
Trying not to look too nervous or disheveled, I pushed one scratched up hand through my bobbed black hair, trying to pull myself together a bit more than I really was, and then I pulled open the door. "...Ma'am?" I couldn't call her Baroness in the middle of the hallway, I respected the masquerade entirely too much, but I couldn't call her Audra either. Amrit had trained that out of me. Respect at all times. I was an inferior being and I should act like it. So, ma'am it was. It felt odd with Audra, it just added to the ache of distance that had come between us.
She stood in the doorway clad in her well tailored white, ruffled blouse and pencil skirt. She was the perfect picture of class brushed with Chanel and pearls. Her hair was swept back into a twist, accenting her achingly gorgeous face. It almost hurt to look at her, to remember what beautiful things in life were. To remember how much I had cared. I watched her look me over, a dump of a mess in old, oversized sweats, a bleach spotted black tank top over my noticeably pregnant torso, ratty bandaids on the dozens of cuts and bloodshot eyes. She looked like the dream wife, I looked like the horrific reality. I could almost feel the judgment in her gaze as she looked back from my personal mess to the mess my apartment was. At least most of the broken glass was cleaned.
The pause felt like an age, but finally she spoke, directly but with a warmth in her voice I hadn't heard in weeks, "May I come in?""
After a very long pause, her voice is direct, but warm. "May I come in?"
"Of...of course... you never have to ask, ma'am." I murmured, keeping my head bowed as I stepped back to reveal the true destruction of my apartment. I'd even cracked the flat screen TV. That was going to suck to replace.
She took three steps in and stopped. I wasn't certain what to except, a flurry of worry, anger, confusion, or her to simply decide the place was too messy to be graced by her perfection and walk right out. I thought I knew her, but I wasn't sure any more, so I waited through another calculated, thoughtful silence as she drank it all in.
"Did vandals break into your home?" I could hear the slight doubt in her voice. Always Audra, entirely too sweet, trying to give me an excuse to lie if I wish and not expose the shame of the whole situation.
I smiled sardonically. She should know me better by now. When didn't I own up to my own fuck ups? I shook my head, "No, no... god no. This was all me. Almost impressive, isn't it?" I gazed back over my apartment with cold eyes. "Most of the glass is up. I wouldn't take off your shoes." I warned her huskily.
I didn't expect what came next. The expression on her features turned to a wry half-smile, almost looking familiar and half pleased with the destruction before her. "Impressive for an amateur," The comment was filled with tenderness, not snark, and a touch of relief. It was like she was glad I hadn't lived long enough to be good at this sort of destruction. For a moment, my heart beat hopeful.
She nodded a little to herself. "Give it another two or three times and you'll start warming to the idea of burning everything to the ground."
I tried to hide my confusion, probably not really succeeding. So I went with sardonically deadpan. The safest emotion was no emotion at all. "...I didn't want to disturb the neighbors." I wouldn't cave. I wouldn't break again. Not in front of Audra. I was stronger than this.
Her smile seemed sincerely amused, still deepening my confusion. "That was very thoughtful of you." She took another few steps inside, only pausing at the sound of glass crunching beneath her heel. I'd have to sweep over there again. Her eyes kept searching my apartment, almost looking for a clue, maybe a motive. She didn't know already? She wrote the damn report! "A man or a mother?" When she finally asked I felt bile in my throat. She really didn't know.
Or maybe she did. I was silent, cop's mind running through all the options. Was this a test? A trap? Would I be in trouble for calling her on the report that cut so deeply? I didn't respond for a long time, but I did walk to my couch, slippered feet ignoring the glass on the floor. I collapsed down into sitting, trying to push away exhaustion. Finally, I went for what I did best. Truth.
"I...I read your Harpy report. From Long Island. I suppose I should call Rivera and say congratulations. I was a bit busy doing this first, though." I motioned to the apartment, not a drop of emotion in my voice. I had cut myself off from it all. It was simply easier that way.
"Ahhh..." She let the sound settle in the room. "Both." Audra walked past me towards the bathroom. Soon I heard the sound of water from the bathtub faucet hitting porcelain. A few clicks of her high heeled shoes later and she was back in my sights.
"Don't give him the satisfaction."
I listened to that water, considering her move. Was there calculation in it? How would a bath be calculated? In fact, there was nothing but care. I almost didn't know what to do. The simple, quiet motion of someone running a bath for me seemed nearly impossible. I swallowed against my suddenly tight throat as I looked back up to her, responding quietly.
"No, I suppose not. I haven't yet. Alder Patel keeps me busy either way. It's a good distraction."
Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Amrit. Had I hit a hard spot? She seemed to be trying to read me, but exhaustion was a wonderful emotional shield. I couldn't dare let her see resentment of Patel. After all, the woman had taught me more in two months about being a 'proper ghoul' than I had ever before learned in my life. I should have been thankful. I was burnt out. The water continuing to run reminded me quietly not all kindred were quite so unforgiving or inhumane.
"Go take a bath, and make sure to wash your hair. If you stay in there less than 30 minutes, I'll be offended."
I blinked at the order. It was the sort I had forgotten were given, tender, caring, human. Were this Patel, I'd be yelled at already for not being on the job. I drew in a slow breath, studying Audra, looking for some sort of trap. But, eventually, I just nodded. If my tenure under Patel had taught me anything, it was how to take an order.
"Yes, Baroness." I murmured obediently before pushing myself into standing. I probably looked like an abused, uncertain dog afraid to be pet. Gun-shy. It felt weird from my normally brash self, but being timid and obedient was safe.
I looked back over my shoulder once I reached the bathroom, studying Audra a moment. Quietly, I gave her a bit of a smile, the first real one of the night. I didn't have the words, but the gratitude, how much I had missed her, how much I still cared, it was all locked up in there. After another heartbeat, I turned away and shut the bathroom door, the lock turning with a quiet click. I couldn't let her see me cry.
Then the knock came. I knew the knock off by heart. Audra's light tap, delicate but commanding, perfected almost like the woman herself. I stared over to the clock again. 12:47 am. Well, it's practically lunch time for the kindred, so I shouldn't have been shocked by the late hour.
"A minute..." I called, stuck in the position of being on the floor. Getting off the floor wasn't that easy a proposition and it was just going to get worse. I made it up and quietly to the door, looking out the peep hole to see a platinum blond vision. Sure enough. I tried to swallow the shock and nerves, not having even spoken to the Baroness in nearly a month. Perhaps my disfavour was over? I could only hope.
Trying not to look too nervous or disheveled, I pushed one scratched up hand through my bobbed black hair, trying to pull myself together a bit more than I really was, and then I pulled open the door. "...Ma'am?" I couldn't call her Baroness in the middle of the hallway, I respected the masquerade entirely too much, but I couldn't call her Audra either. Amrit had trained that out of me. Respect at all times. I was an inferior being and I should act like it. So, ma'am it was. It felt odd with Audra, it just added to the ache of distance that had come between us.
She stood in the doorway clad in her well tailored white, ruffled blouse and pencil skirt. She was the perfect picture of class brushed with Chanel and pearls. Her hair was swept back into a twist, accenting her achingly gorgeous face. It almost hurt to look at her, to remember what beautiful things in life were. To remember how much I had cared. I watched her look me over, a dump of a mess in old, oversized sweats, a bleach spotted black tank top over my noticeably pregnant torso, ratty bandaids on the dozens of cuts and bloodshot eyes. She looked like the dream wife, I looked like the horrific reality. I could almost feel the judgment in her gaze as she looked back from my personal mess to the mess my apartment was. At least most of the broken glass was cleaned.
The pause felt like an age, but finally she spoke, directly but with a warmth in her voice I hadn't heard in weeks, "May I come in?""
After a very long pause, her voice is direct, but warm. "May I come in?"
"Of...of course... you never have to ask, ma'am." I murmured, keeping my head bowed as I stepped back to reveal the true destruction of my apartment. I'd even cracked the flat screen TV. That was going to suck to replace.
She took three steps in and stopped. I wasn't certain what to except, a flurry of worry, anger, confusion, or her to simply decide the place was too messy to be graced by her perfection and walk right out. I thought I knew her, but I wasn't sure any more, so I waited through another calculated, thoughtful silence as she drank it all in.
"Did vandals break into your home?" I could hear the slight doubt in her voice. Always Audra, entirely too sweet, trying to give me an excuse to lie if I wish and not expose the shame of the whole situation.
I smiled sardonically. She should know me better by now. When didn't I own up to my own fuck ups? I shook my head, "No, no... god no. This was all me. Almost impressive, isn't it?" I gazed back over my apartment with cold eyes. "Most of the glass is up. I wouldn't take off your shoes." I warned her huskily.
I didn't expect what came next. The expression on her features turned to a wry half-smile, almost looking familiar and half pleased with the destruction before her. "Impressive for an amateur," The comment was filled with tenderness, not snark, and a touch of relief. It was like she was glad I hadn't lived long enough to be good at this sort of destruction. For a moment, my heart beat hopeful.
She nodded a little to herself. "Give it another two or three times and you'll start warming to the idea of burning everything to the ground."
I tried to hide my confusion, probably not really succeeding. So I went with sardonically deadpan. The safest emotion was no emotion at all. "...I didn't want to disturb the neighbors." I wouldn't cave. I wouldn't break again. Not in front of Audra. I was stronger than this.
Her smile seemed sincerely amused, still deepening my confusion. "That was very thoughtful of you." She took another few steps inside, only pausing at the sound of glass crunching beneath her heel. I'd have to sweep over there again. Her eyes kept searching my apartment, almost looking for a clue, maybe a motive. She didn't know already? She wrote the damn report! "A man or a mother?" When she finally asked I felt bile in my throat. She really didn't know.
Or maybe she did. I was silent, cop's mind running through all the options. Was this a test? A trap? Would I be in trouble for calling her on the report that cut so deeply? I didn't respond for a long time, but I did walk to my couch, slippered feet ignoring the glass on the floor. I collapsed down into sitting, trying to push away exhaustion. Finally, I went for what I did best. Truth.
"I...I read your Harpy report. From Long Island. I suppose I should call Rivera and say congratulations. I was a bit busy doing this first, though." I motioned to the apartment, not a drop of emotion in my voice. I had cut myself off from it all. It was simply easier that way.
"Ahhh..." She let the sound settle in the room. "Both." Audra walked past me towards the bathroom. Soon I heard the sound of water from the bathtub faucet hitting porcelain. A few clicks of her high heeled shoes later and she was back in my sights.
"Don't give him the satisfaction."
I listened to that water, considering her move. Was there calculation in it? How would a bath be calculated? In fact, there was nothing but care. I almost didn't know what to do. The simple, quiet motion of someone running a bath for me seemed nearly impossible. I swallowed against my suddenly tight throat as I looked back up to her, responding quietly.
"No, I suppose not. I haven't yet. Alder Patel keeps me busy either way. It's a good distraction."
Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Amrit. Had I hit a hard spot? She seemed to be trying to read me, but exhaustion was a wonderful emotional shield. I couldn't dare let her see resentment of Patel. After all, the woman had taught me more in two months about being a 'proper ghoul' than I had ever before learned in my life. I should have been thankful. I was burnt out. The water continuing to run reminded me quietly not all kindred were quite so unforgiving or inhumane.
"Go take a bath, and make sure to wash your hair. If you stay in there less than 30 minutes, I'll be offended."
I blinked at the order. It was the sort I had forgotten were given, tender, caring, human. Were this Patel, I'd be yelled at already for not being on the job. I drew in a slow breath, studying Audra, looking for some sort of trap. But, eventually, I just nodded. If my tenure under Patel had taught me anything, it was how to take an order.
"Yes, Baroness." I murmured obediently before pushing myself into standing. I probably looked like an abused, uncertain dog afraid to be pet. Gun-shy. It felt weird from my normally brash self, but being timid and obedient was safe.
I looked back over my shoulder once I reached the bathroom, studying Audra a moment. Quietly, I gave her a bit of a smile, the first real one of the night. I didn't have the words, but the gratitude, how much I had missed her, how much I still cared, it was all locked up in there. After another heartbeat, I turned away and shut the bathroom door, the lock turning with a quiet click. I couldn't let her see me cry.