Augustus Baltazar, page 19
“...eyes moved!” comes the first voice from behind the mask. The hidden face pauses, examining it would seem. “No, no. This one is gone.” The helmet departs, and within the bright blue sea a cawing crow circles, anticipating, smelling dinner. The ruffled black feathers expand, the bird swooping down and darkening his vision. Is this an angel? An angel of shadows? The blackness consumes the blue, and he is gone.
“How is he doing?” Sera whispers. Mike lightly pushes the bathroom door open, checking one last time on Stu. His eyes are still closed, body cramped in the white bath.
“He’ll be fine, he just needs to rest as the bruises, swelling and fuck knows what else get sorted.” Sera opens her arms and Mike hugs her tightly, kissing her on the neck.
“Good.” She answers.
“Thanks for helping.” Mike adds, gripping her tighter. “I’m surprised this is the first time you’ve had to help with one of these.”
“It’s the second time, actually.” she reminds him. “Remember that incident a couple of years ago, when our freezer had broken just when he needed help? He had his body in the bath and arms in the sink, trying to get as much cold water as he could. I thought I was going to have to wee in the kitchen sink, given how long he was in there.” Sera tells him. Mike acknowledges the memory, chuckling at Stu’s then disgruntlement at the sheer awkwardness.
“Ah, I’m not sure he had much fun that time.” Mike half-smiles with discontent, releasing her and peering through the gap between the door and frame. Stu now has his eyes open, staring coldly into space. “Let’s leave him be.” He leads Sera by the hand toward the lounge.
Stu hears them leave, the creaky floorboard in the middle of the corridor enough evidence for him. Reaching across for his phone, he pops open his messages and, creating a new one, adds Jenny as the recipient.
Meet me at the first place we crossed paths. 7.30 tonight. I want to talk.
Stu slides his phone shut, and ponders for a moment, resting it against the side of his head. His body is back to normal now, but he needs time to think. His phone then vibrates, sending a dull throb through his skull.
Sounds good. See you later. J x
A wry smile curls a corner of his mouth.
***
Stu waits patiently in the Iron Anvil, the quiz machine bleeping as it cycles through demo videos right behind him. Over at the end of the bar is the dead woman he saw last time, her daughter nowhere in sight. She is forlorn and perched on her usual end stool, perhaps waiting for one last drink.
The creaky front door sweeps open and Jenny steps in, her face beaming the moment she spots him. He has no time to get up as she is upon him, cuddling him tightly as he struggles for balance. Stepping back, she marvels at his tight white t-shirt, chuckling at the soft jagged halo just off centre. Bringing his hand up, Stu realises his mark is smouldering, and a little hot to the touch. He then notices the sharp pain that accompanies it, clearly forgotten as he marvelled at her.
“I like that.” she smiles, pointing at the glowing entity. “Nice t-shirt.” Stu thinks about smirking but doesn’t quite achieve it, finishing his neat vodka. “Need another?” she asks, setting her handbag down and reaching for her purse.
“Please. Just a double vodka, thanks.”
“Mmm, no green fairy today?” she winks.
“Maybe later!” he half laughs, somewhat unconvincingly. As Jenny walks over to the bar, ignominiously passing an elbow through the woman perched on the end, Stu still has no answers for whatever hold this Solani has over her. It’s a new challenge, but his punishing power is something he has never encountered in the time he’s had this role.
Stroking the side of his empty glass, he smiles back at Jenny as she returns, keeping up with this game for as long as he can muster. He is surprised to see her with the same drink, and before he has chance to take a mouthful, she downs hers and slams the glass back on the table. Immediately she gags and coughs fiercely, her throat burnt and pained. Stu smirks cleverly, sipping his without a reaction. Jenny then sits, still coughing even though it doesn’t seem to debilitate her.
“How did you two meet then?” Stu pipes up. Jenny turns to him amidst another hacking cough.
“He’s so hot.” is her reply.
“Well that’s always helpful, but how did you meet?” Stu pushes.
“Silly, you introduced us, remember?” she smiles. Stu strains his eyes, surprised by the response.
“Oh yes, silly me. How are things with you two?” he then asks.
“Awesome!” she grins, coming up with another harsh clearing of her throat. “Fuck, that stuff is strong.” she gasps with an extended tongue, pushing the glass away. Taking another sip to collect his thoughts, he spies her saunter off to order another.
“You alright?” he asks as she returns with her latest double. Without answering, she clears it with one gulp, and coughs so hard she almost vomits. Stu considers getting up, but instead she gazes up at him, her blue eyes much more vibrant than he remembers.
“He’s going to kill you.” she says.
“What?”
“I said this stuff kills.” she giggles, barking once more. “Do you like this top?” She lowers the plunging neckline to expose her bright pink bra. “I took it from Aimee.” She smiles, containing the next cough in a fist. “Another?” she points, aiming for her empty glass.
“No, let’s go for a walk.” he replies.
“Good good, I like walking.” she grins, almost comically. Stu gets up, unable to look away from her pert bottom as she bends over to collect her bag. “I saw that.” she adds, sauntering out without ever having caught his eye.
As they reach the end of the alley, Jenny suddenly sprints across the road in her heels, narrowly avoiding running into the side of a passing bus.
“What are you doing?” Stu yells, checking for traffic before following her.
“Double cheeseburger!” she calls, hacking cough in tow, as she waves a fiver at two men elevated in a parked kebab van. “Loads of ketchup too, thanks.” Suddenly Stu locks his fingers with hers, and drags her away sharply, note still prised between two fingers. Warming to this move, she cuddles into his shape and dreamily looks up at him. With her this close, his scar simmers loudly. “Where are we going?” she purrs.
“For a walk, like I said.” he repeats. Their touch breaks and she wraps an arm round him, urging him to copy. He drops his arm across her shoulders, and he struggles to contain his overwhelming passion for her.
“Mmm, you’re such a good friend.” she says, digging into him. The mild discomfort is nothing compared to the searing burn eating away at his chest. “You would have gotten on so well with my grandfather...”
“I would have loved to have met him. But, tell me more about Solani.” Stu asks. “I know I introduced you both, but I don’t know him so well.”
“Really?” her voice calls from below. “I thought you two were best friends, that’s why you’ve let me have him.”
“No, that’s Mike. He’s my best mate.”
“Oh, that is a surprise. Never did like him too much.” Jenny retorts.
“Why?”
“He’s a letch. He fondled my bottom the first night I met you, when you paired me with Thomas.” Stu nods in response. “You were playing on that quiz machine in the Anvil, and Mike was chatting up some women at the bar, having drunk far too much as usual. Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?” Her face scrunches up as the words leave her mouth.
“That he does, but she’s very understanding.”
“She speaks to dead people, you know.” Jenny says. “I caught her doing it. Fucking bitch.”
“Okay.” Stu replies, processing everything that he hears. “I thought that intrigued you.”
“Only when you do it, spiller. No-one else should be bestowed with such a privilege.” she laughs. “Hey, what am I going to use this for?” she stops, breaking away from him and waving the loose five pound note in the air. Her eyes look him up and down.
“Taxi?” he posits, watching one fly by and ignoring her lusting gaze. She turns to watch it, whilst Stu watches her. She stares at it drive off, eyes narrowing as a burrowed memory stirs.
“I’d rather walk.” she grunts disapprovingly as the thought vanishes. “There you go, take me back to where Erica died. I hate that place, I hate sleeping in it, I hate being there...” Her eyes trail off into some lost place. “Take me home.” she huffs, coughing once more. “Until I find somewhere else.”
“As you wish...” Stu obeys, taking her arm gently and leading the way.
There it is again. Her mind twitches, feeling a sudden sharp pain where he touched her.
“No, wait.” She pauses, shaking him loose.
“What’s wrong?” Stu relinquishes.
“TAXI!” she yells unexpectedly, stumbling out toward an oncoming cab. It has enough time to stop, the window winding down as she leans in. The driver is annoyed with her at first, but warms quickly as he leers at her cleavage, not noticing her wiggle her bottom at Stu. He remains where he is, watching Jenny enter the car without her once glancing back. They drive away and it’s like he was never there, Jenny looking ahead and wholly ignoring him. Stu has plenty to think about, so casually begins his walk home.
Chapter Twenty
Sera opens her eyes to the stark room. The shadows are closer this time, the chilling noise of a nearby creak making her jump. She waits for something else, her breathing getting quicker. There comes another creak, and a figment scuttles into the partial light. Sera’s heart pounds like a drum, her flat palms pressed against the cold wall behind.
She shudders at the sight of this thing, remembering how scared of them she used to be as a child. She watches as the crooked mouth quivers, creaking incessantly. Throwing her hands up to her ears, she cannot keep out the hideous sounds. Wanting to close her eyes in the hope that it would disappear, she sees it scuttle closer, and reach out to touch her...
“SERA!” She jumps upon hearing her name. Realising she’s in the storeroom at work, she looks around to make sure she’s not imagining this part.
“Pinch me.” she shouts to Stacy, not noticing the poor girl staring back at her with wide eyes.
“What?” the teenager gasps. Shaking her head, she walks away. “Weirdo.” she calls out of view. Sera sighs and smears her moist brow, relieved at her return to reality.
She canters out to the floor, almost knocking into a patron. “I do apologise!” she offers in her posh accent, not having truly disturbed him. She wanders past displays of plush pillows, shelves of vibrant scented candles, and platoons of silver photo frames adorned with random smiles.
The deputy manager, Melanie, spots Sera’s flushed face, and approaches. “Everything okay?” she whispers as a customer loiters behind them.
“Yes of course. I fell asleep for a moment, sorry if I was too long.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Melanie hushes. “You’ve not been with it recently.”
Sera struggles with a response. “I’m having a few issues at home, I’m very sorry. I’ll not let it get the better of me here.” she pleads.
“Okay, if you need to talk, just let me know.”
“Thanks Mel.” Sera replies, expressing her disdain the moment she returns to the tills. It immediately reverts to a forced smile as she welcomes a new customer to the shop.
***
Another evening, another instance of Stu sitting alone at the top bar in Woktails, nursing a tall absinthe. There is no DJ tonight, no thumping bass to disrupt him. There is a background CD of progressive house playing distantly, which he can hardly hear.
Lost in his thoughts, he occasionally looks to the side as people join him, ordering their own varied cocktails. No-one engages him, mired in their own conversations. Looking over the balcony at the floor below, it’s busy down there, lots of tables occupied by diners. He spots a raven haired girl, and a redhead, but they, and any other woman he spots, are engrossed in their situations, be it with their partner or group of friends. He catches the eye of one woman, who looks familiar...
Feeling a light touch on his shoulder, he turns the other way and smiles at what he sees.
“Hey you.” he says.
“Hey.” she softly replies.
***
A naked Stu splashes his face with cold water, then repeats. He briefly gazes at his reflection, then twists the tap and dries off. He walks back to the bed, throwing the moist towel to one side.
“What’s with the cool scar?” she asks, her nude form laying barely under a sheet. Stu runs his fingers through the loose hair trailing down her shoulder.
“Car accident.” He replies, sitting beside her.
“Wow, how long ago was it? It looks quite old.” she asks, delicately running her fingers across the bobbles.
“Six years ago. My girlfriend and parents died in that crash, and this is all I walked away with.” he exhales. “It holds a lot of painful memories.”
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry.” she begs, getting to her knees and holding him tightly.
“It’s not a problem. It’s just a unique reminder.” As she releases, he looks down and runs his fingers across it. Looking back up, he draws her in to share a kiss. Their tongues tangle, and he is instantly reminded of the first time she kissed him, back in a dark alcove at the Plasma Dome. Their moment is fierce, kisses fast and passionate. He digs his fingers into her skin, setting her pulse racing. After such a steamy embrace, she sighs as they part. Momentarily keeping her eyes closed to savour the moment, she opens them and ogles him longingly.
“I’m here for you now. You can rely on me.” she tells him, taking both hands and bringing them to her breasts. “Now come and fuck me again.” she purrs, biting her lip. She lays back and he mounts her, feeding his fingers through her hair and pulling the strands taut.
***
Shaz’s Restaurant and Bar was formerly a prestigious bank, the stone floor and four equidistant spiral pillars the only remnants within the expansive open space. The left side is dominated by leather armchairs and sofas for drinkers and casual guests, arranged around oak tables of varying widths and shapes. The right side is for those dining, leather banquette seats accompanying square marble tables, each adorned with a stout candle and a small but vibrant floral arrangement. Running along the centre is an oval zinc-topped bar with both sides open to casual guests. Tonight is busy for both sides of Shaz’s, with numerous punters perched on high stools at the bar itself.
Amidst the cacophony of patrons and bustle of waiters, Jenny and Solani share their first meal together. She is wearing an expensive and exquisite form-fitting red halter neck dress which stretches down to her ankles. Her hair is bunched on the crown of her head, completely up and away from her neck. Solani wears somewhat smart trousers, his white shirt a little untucked and unbuttoned at the neck. His sleeves are rolled back, shoes new but a little scuffed already.
Jenny takes a long nip of her wine, moaning as it coats her throat. Solani has an identical glass, full to the brim but still to be tasted. The remains of the bottle is perched in an ice bucket, the outside beaded with condensation. Her plate of braised steak with a side of peppercorn coated vegetables is nearly gone, the satisfaction of such a rich and compelling meal engineering her smile. Solani, on the other hand, doesn’t have a meal. Instead he circles the rim of his tall wine with a finger, revelling in the reaction of his company.
“I must say.” Jenny starts, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. “I’ve never tasted something so exquisite.” she beams, leaning back into her comforting chair. “Stu would never have bought me to a place like this.” she says, gazing down at her plate. Solani’s contented grin sinks into a disgruntled scowl. With a flick of his loose thumb, Jenny’s gaze suddenly flips up and locks firmly on him.
“Why don’t you tell me a little about him?” Solani queries.
“Of course, sweetness.” Jenny smiles. “What would you like to know?”
“What is it about him that you are so drawn to?”
“The mysteriousness, of course.” she instantly replies. “There is so much about him that I don’t know, but am so intrigued to unearth.” Her gaze is still locked on him, her body unmoved since he averted her concentration.
“What one thing intrigues you most?”
“His deep, dark secret.” she smiles. “He has this overwhelming charm, this resonance that draws my breath away. I want to spend what time I have with him learning what makes him tick, and why he feels the need to hide behind his anger. He has so much negativity, and he knows I can help him through this. He knows I’m the one for him, the woman who can suppress his demons and help him enjoy the life he has, enjoy the people that care about him. Most importantly, I have to know why, out of every other guy I’ve crossed, he’s the only one I’ve truly fallen for.” Solani twitches two other fingers rapidly. “I’m so glad we met, Thomas. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m falling for you.” she tells him, her body now loose and a tear beginning to tumble down her cheek. “I want no-one else in this world but you.” Solani nods in agreement.
“You’ll have to get Stu to meet us, I’ve been having problems getting hold of him.” he says, attention diverted to another brunette making her way to the nearby toilets, her athletic figure a feast for the eyes in a short, deep blue dress. As he spots her, she tilts her head to catch his gaze, winking implicitly.
“Oh, that’s a shame. I know that you too are such close friends.” she smiles, delicately forking the final chunk of steak.
“Excuse me one moment.” he says, getting up. Jenny doesn’t react, instead enjoying the meat rolling around her tongue, savouring the flavour as much as possible before swallowing. Solani takes his time to reach the entrance to the toilets, just twenty feet from their table, relishing the enamoured looks that come his way from both men and women as he drifts by.
