P, page 8
I momentarily regret the loss of my long shower today but perk back up as I start routing around for my perfect me outfit. I'm feeling the steampunk investigator vibe today. I pull out my black leggings and a black and rust colored striped shirt with a stand collar and long ruffled sleeves. A black choker and my black Camille lace up boots top off my look for the day. I lay them out on the bed and jump in the shower to get this show rolling. Fifteen minutes later I'm applying black eyeliner and a russet lipstick. I pull my hair into a bun on top of my head and add a black lace and pearl hair clip to the side of it. I look myself over in the mirror and call it good.
When I come back out and enter the kitchen I see Avalon making breakfast already. He has fried potatoes with onions and peppers in one pan, another filled with sizzling bacon and he's already serving up what looks like a farmers omelet. I am so going to feast this morning. I go to the fridge and pull out a container of orange and a bottle of grape juice. Lifting both toward Avalon I wait until he points to the orange juice and put the other away. I fill two glasses and take them to the table then come back to make a cup of coffee because the beautiful man has already made the pot.
A few moments later, while I am sipping up my go juice, Avalon brings the plates of food out to the table and I am ready to dive right on it. Most days I wake up and I'm just ready to go, but on the days that I've been sleepwalking I notice I need the coffee early and a bigger breakfast. I always wonder if I do anything while I'm walking around that takes so much energy. I lift my head up when I hear Avalon talking to me.
"So, there are some things I want to, well no, I need to talk to you about but I'm afraid that will put us right back at square one and I really don't want that. " He says, picking up his glass of juice and rolling it around.
"We can't go back to square one because in square one I thought you were a rude, possibly insane, stalker. Seeing as how you slept over, washed dishes and cooked breakfast, I'm going to say there isn't a whole lot of squares you can go back to. " I tell him agreeably.
"Remember I tried very hard to tell you, to prove to you that I am a vampire and that you are not human either." There is apprehension there but I'm not going to attack him. Not yet anyway.
"It would be very hard to forget that. Are we revisiting that already?" I ask.
"Some things have come to light and I don't see anything else to be done except to pursue the matter until it's clear to you. I also believe wholeheartedly now that the women in the painting are definitely related to you. No doubts, Prayer, not one." He says seriously.
I hold a piece of bacon and narrow my eyes at him. I take a bite and chew slowly and deliberately, staring him down while I wonder why he's back at this so strongly this morning. I had already said I'd help him with his paintings and if that woman was an ancestor of mine we'd have no evidence to compare it to so why is he still so focused on that.
"Out with it Avalon, what happened? Did you get another phone call? Are your people giving you more trouble for not snaring me into your group? Club? Cult? Whatever you have." I ask as nicely as I can.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. I was just lying on the couch staring around the room thinking a lot. I never did close my eyes.” he says tentatively. I know he’s not finished so I just wait for him to continue and after several moments he finally does. “You didn’t sleepwalk into the living room, Prayer, you teleported. You were sleeping and you didn’t wake up but you weren’t there and then I watched you materialize out of nowhere.” He said warily.
“Teleported. I teleported into the living room. Honestly, every time I think you’ve capped the limits of your imaginary world you open a new door. How about we just skip this part and we move on to the researching of your art mysteries.”
“Could you please tell me what you think I can possibly gain from lying to you about any of this? Why would you even want to know me if you think I’m manipulating you into a lie or suckering you into a hoax? What advantage do I get? What is my payoff for these fabricated stories?” he asks, obviously frustrated with me.
“I don’t know, Avalon. I’ve been trying to figure that out. Let’s see what I have been dealing with shall we? We don’t even have to recap the last two days of our association, we can just jump in where you want me to accept that vampires are real, you are one. Shifters are real, the guy on the phone, Sebastian, he was a wolf. I am also not human and while I am sleeping I teleport from room to room without waking up. No, I honestly cannot figure out the point of all that nonsense. I should shove you out of the door and out of my life, but I can't. Literally cannot make myself do it. So give me a damn break and let's get to work on your art. "I said almost desperately.
"Prayer, the painting, finding the others, none of it means anything to me or my kind of I can't even convince you that you are one of us. There's no hope of getting through to them if I can't get through to you. " He said dejectedly.
I stare at him. I can't help it, I just stare at him because seriously, what am I to do with this? What person would believe any of this? So, now he doesn't want my help with finding his information because I won't be convinced that we live in his make believe world? What do I do? I know what I should do is kick him out and call my therapist. I'm sure he would have a lot to say about the last two days. I can't though, every time I try to form the words it's like my mind puts a clamp over my mouth. This is so ridiculous. I am entranced by a man who thinks he's a vampire and I'm, well he doesn't know what I am. I am screaming so loud in my head right now.
Outloud I ask "So you don't want my help, do you want to leave? Say no." Dammit. What the hell. "I mean if you want to leave, which you don't, right?" Oh my God, Prayer, something is wrong with you, I shout at myself. Clearing my throat I insist I will say it this time. I stare at Avalon who is looking mighty confused, yeah sorry buddy, me too. "If - you - would - like - to - leave, I will not understand, I will not be okay." I slap a hand over my mouth, stand and run to my bedroom. I have no words.
Avalon
I stare at the empty chair that had up until a moment ago held the woman who is constantly testing the limits of my sanity. Even if I had never scented her and figured out she wasn’t human it would have been a dead give away when she shimmered into an empty space right before my eyes. She is the one teleporting around while she is asleep and yet she is also the one in denial that anything besides humans exist.
Also, what is this mixed message game she is playing now? Leave, don’t leave. I’m not leaving. How does she not already know this? Everything about this woman boggles my mind on a continuous basis. I need to go find her. I need a shower and a change of clothes which means a trip to the hotel but with the way she's acting I'm worried about what she'll think if I leave. Getting up I head towards the back rooms where I've seen her go. There are three doors down the hallway. Two on the left and one on the right. I open the first one on the left and it's her extremely purple bathroom. The little half bath she has in the front of the house isn't even close to this extreme with the lavender so this must be her private bath. The next door down should be her bedroom then right.
I open the door and look inside at more purple and see her lying on the bed, her face in her hands, shaking her head back and forth. Is she crying? What the hell happened? I walk over to her and sit down next to her and touch her back lightly. I'm not good at this. I can argue points and opinions but I don't even know what happened or what's wrong with her.
"Prayer?" I don't really know what to ask. I mean I don't even know what happened. She lifted her head up and looked at him. I realize with relief that she isn't crying but she looks completely bewildered. "What is the matter?"
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't understand what's happening. What are you to me? Do you know what happened out there?" She said pointing toward the door.
"You asked me if I was going to leave and then you got upset" I shrug, "that's the extent of my knowledge." I tell her honestly. I'm just as befuddled as she is, maybe more so since I have no idea what started it.
"I tried to ask you if you wanted to leave. I tried to give you the option to leave, because I won't buy into your fantasy world. Even though I could logically think of reasons to tell you to leave me alone and go away, I couldn't make the words come out. So I tried to give you the option, so it could be your idea, but I couldn't even do that. My mouth just contradicted itself, I wasn't doing that on purpose. " her eyes got so big while she was talking.
"I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying you want me to leave?"
She nods her head momentarily but then firmly says "God, no."
"And you're not doing this to mess with me? Because you think I'm a crackpot or something? You honestly want me to go, you just can't say it? Like being hypnotized or something like that?" What is this woman trying to tell me? At this point I can not tell her I'll walk away, it's not possible after I've seen what she does. But I hate the idea of distressing her as well, causing her to be uncomfortable around me.
"No, Avalon, I do not want you to leave. For some reason I can't understand, even a little bit, I need a man who I've known for two days to stay with me. Now who's the crazy one? I'm here telling you I don't believe a word you're saying and please don't leave me. " She groans and buries her face back in her hands.
"I'm not leaving you, Prayer. I can't, even though you think it's based on a lie, I can't leave you knowing what I know. But, even if I could. I don't think I'd want to. " I said, being honest with her. I reach my fingers over hers and pull them off her face. I brush the hair away and lean down and place a kiss on her forehead. "Come on now, I have to go back to my hotel" I smile and run my fingers over her cheekbones lightly when her eyes get big and round, "for an hour or so. I need a shower and a change of clothes. You might actually send me away for real if I don't clean up soon."
"Can I come with you? Oh my cheese, I'm one of those people. No, it's okay you go. I'll wait here. In my house. Where I live." She said dejectedly.
Adorable. The only word to describe her right now. Well, no. Adorable, beautiful, absolutely delightful with a touch of unimaginable. She's so distraught by her clingy behavior but besides making keeping an eye on her so much easier it's also endearing. I kiss the top of her head before pulling back and standing up. I don't know why she thought I would have an issue with her going but I'm not going to drag her with me just so I can shower and change.
"If you want to come with me it's fine, Prayer. I just need a shower and change of clothes. If it will make you happy I'll grab all my things while I'm there and bring them here. Just don't worry." I try to reassure her because what else am I to do?
"No, you go ahead. I'm acting like a big baby, or whiny brat, I haven't decided. It'll be fine and yes, ridiculously clingy and oddly possessive as it sounds I would like very much if you would bring your things here. " She says.
"I won't be long. Then we can plan what we're going to do about those paintings if you are still up to it. " I say walking to the door.
"I'll be up for anything by the time you get back. You can bet on that. " She had put her face back in the pillow and sounded all mumbled but I was able to make it out.
I leave her house and walk back to the hotel which had been conveniently located only three blocks from Prayer’s job. There are several people in the lobby waiting by the elevator and my room is on the fourth floor so I take the stairs. It'll be faster than waiting for all the stops and traffic off and on. When I get to the room I go straight to the bed and pull my bag out from underneath. I pull drawers open and toss everything except the change of clothes I'll need after my shower.
I turn the water on and take one of the fastest showers I've ever taken. I don't usually spend a lot of time relaxing in the shower but this is especially speedy. I want to get back to Prayer as soon as I can. I realize it's not just to comfort her, it's also where I want to be. I get out of the shower drying off and pulling on clothes. I am reaching for my shirt when I feel it. The static sizzle in the room. Just tiny particles of energy floating around me. I turn around in circles not seeing anything and growing concerned. I hear a gasp and turn around again to see Prayer standing in front of me. In my hotel room. Oh, this is going to be..
"Holy shit on a stick! What just happened? Avalon, what happened? Where am I?" Her voice is getting higher and higher and her eyes are almost popping out of her head. I'm not sure if she's going to faint or just collapse to the ground but she is shaking and weaving back and forth. I grab a hold of her and pull her against me so if she does collapse she won't fall. She looks up at me and she tries to smile. "I guess you took too long, huh." She says as her legs go out from under her.
Chapter 8
Prayer
So that just happened. I don’t know what it was but I know it happened. I had been pacing my room back and forth.. I didn’t even want to go into the living room while Avalon was gone. I couldn’t believe I was missing him and I couldn’t stop thinking about him and wanting to be with him. Suddenly a strong image of him came into my mind and that same pull to be with him except I could feel it so much stronger. Like part of me was missing and I had to get it back or be miserable. I had closed my eyes just focusing on Avalon and the next thing I knew I was standing in front of him inside his hotel room. A hotel room I didn’t even know the location of so no chance in me trying to tell myself I might have been sleepwalking.
What do you say at a time like this? ‘Oh, I’m sorry. It seems you were right about non humans and me being one.’Or wait, maybe I am human but just have the ability to teleport. Yeah, no. I know that’s not it. But what do I say? I’ve been giving him such a hard time and honestly if it hadn’t been quite literally popping in on him I still would be, oh let’s face it I all but called him a liar. I look up at Avalon holding me against him and realize if he weren’t I’d be on the floor. Shock maybe? Then again, it could be all the effort it takes to dematerialize and re-materialize in another location. Who knows. Obviously not me. I owe him something though.
“I’m sorry, Avalon. I’m sorry for not believing you about me.” I say sulkily.
“But you believe me now? It’s important, Prayer. You believe me now?” He asks hopefully.
“I don’t see how there is any question as to what to believe. I was in my room and then I was in your hotel room." I tell him honestly.
"Do you remember what you were doing when it started happening?"
"I know what was happening with me but I don’t know what made this," I motion to myself and then motion around the room,"happen. I didn't do anything. " I don't want to tell him that I am so obsessed with him that my body jumped the boundaries of time and space to find him. Ha! To think at one point I thought he could be a stalker. I certainly have the traits to become one.
Avalon is watching me and I see him start biting the corner of his bottom lip. His fingers start tapping on my back absently and there is no doubt he has questions. The thing is either I don't have answers or I don't want to answer them so I'm going to try and redirect this. Of course considering the magnitude of what has happened, me changing the topic depends entirely on his willingness to allow it.
"You've showered." Well that was intelligent but I just noticed he has no shirt on and he is still holding me against him. My mind has gone blank now and my fingers are sliding up his arms to his shoulders without my conscious consent. My eyes are locked on his and I notice as an awareness sparks in them and they darken ever so slightly. His body tenses under my hands but he sets me firmly on my feet, kisses the top of my head, steps away and pulls his shirt over his head. I watch, feeling like that should be at the very least a misdemeanor crime, as he covers up that beautifully designed body.
"I have. I have also put all my things in my bag so I can check out of here if that's still what you want. I can stay with you but if you changed your mind I can stay here, whatever makes you happy and comfortable." He says sitting on the bed next to his very large duffel bag.
"Please don't ask why just yet, but I have a feeling it's imperative at this point that you stay with me. Are you ready to go then? Is there anything else you need to do?"I ask steering away from the questions I'm not ready to face
"Anything else I have to handle I can handle from your house. We can go now." He stands up and takes my elbow in his hand guiding me, stops and grins wide at me. "Do you want to use the door this time?"
"You know, I think my way is faster but since I can't do it on command I'll just go the old fashioned way with you." I tease back at him. I wonder at the ability of, well not the human brain I guess, but whatever I am to just keep rolling with the punches. As if two days ago I wasn't just a receptionist in a locally owned day spa who's biggest concern was temperamental clients.
Avalon opens and holds the door for me to proceed through and I wait to follow after him because I've never been here before and don't know the way out. There is one thought that keeps running through my mind. It's Avalon. It has to be him. For all the fates or destiny or whatever you believe in has brought us together, there is no doubt that the ability awakened inside me is in direct relation to Avalon. I have never been in this hotel. I didn't glitch out in my bedroom and show up in the lobby.
I came directly to him. In front of him. It was him and I'm not ready to deal with that yet. I'm astonished to learn that I am far more ready to deal with not being human than I am to do with what is happening with me and this man. Oh shit. A thought just occurred to me and I am dazed it hadn't hit me yet. If what he said about me was true, and to at least some extent it obviously was true, then what about him being a vampire. Oh my cheese. Oh my cheese is he really? We are in front of the elevator when I whirl to face him and say "Show me your fangs."
