Time, Death & Scar Tissue...

44. Simple Plan

Kathryn seemed deeply asleep, but the light kiss he placed on the nape of her neck roused her more than he expected. LaCroix told himself that it would wound her passion if he refused her, but as he lay there afterward, his lips lightly pressed to the small oozing wound next to her nipple, he admitted to himself that he treasured these moments with her even more than he treasured his need for revenge. Her hand rested lightly on the back of his head and even after the small wound had stopped oozing he left his head against her breast. His fingers lightly caressed her lower stomach. He listened to her heartbeat and when she was close to sleep he moved away from her carefully.

She gave a plaintive little whimper and he recognized it as the sound she made just before she fell asleep, but didn't want to be without him in those final moments. He brushed his lips over hers and cradled her until she fell asleep again. He covered her carefully and held her consciousness there as he washed and dressed for the second time, selecting clothing that hadn't recently spent time on the floor. Kathryn lay on her side, her knees drawn up, she sighed comfortably in her sleep. He restrained himself from kissing her again said good evening to Minerva and headed out into the darkness.

*~*~*~*~

LaCroix stood in a deep shadow across the street from Elsbeth's brothel for the second night. Just like the night before, he watched men and a few women, mostly mortal, enter. It surprised him that he saw very few of these customers leaving. Elsbeth was many things, but she was not stupid. He knew all of these people weren't killed in the name of feeding, but it surprised him that she would run an establishment that customers would want to remain in once their business was concluded. Perhaps the centuries had given her a kind of mercenary wisdom she lacked previously. He glanced at his watch and knew he should be getting back, something kept him there though. Presently he saw the reason for his hesitation. The young, nervous-looking immortal who guided him to Elsbeth that first night was crossing the street, and heading directly for him.

LaCroix watched her with an appraising eye. The girl was probably less than eighteen mortal years, though that had become increasingly harder to tell. She crossed the street in the cold without a coat. Even though his kind were not susceptible to frost bite they were susceptible to questions. It seemed that this one had no one to teach her the finer points of living in a mortal world.

“M-Mr. LaCroix?” Her voice quivered as she approached him. Even without instruction the young understand the power of an ancient.

“Come closer.” He backed down a nearby alley and watched as she followed nervously. She was too frightened to try to hurt him, but he hadn't seen empires rise and fall by taking unnecessary chances. When they were both thoroughly cloaked in shadow he stopped and waited in silence. “Are you under the impression that I have all night?” His words seemed to hang in the thick stench of the alley, and they made the girl jump. For a moment he was thought she might run away, without telling him why she would seek him out in the first place.

“Elsbeth thinks she got away with following Miss Paige.” She blurted out. LaCroix's eyes narrowed.

“What is that to you?” His voice was still frosty and carefully controlled, but she had piqued his curiosity.

“Nothing in itself.” Her eyes were down and she was trembling. He knew the cold wasn't affecting her, but rarely did he reduce anyone to trembling with so few words.

“Then why come out here to tell me?” His tone was softer, something in the way she held herself reminded LaCroix of Kathryn.

“Because I hate her.” She lifted her eyes and the amber glow that flashed there revealed her anger. “I can't hurt her any other way. Maybe I can't hurt her this way either, but at least I know I tried.” Her vehemence surprised LaCroix. He kept the emotion off of his face.

“Isn't she the one who made you?” He walked around her, appraising.

“Yes, but-”

“And you would betray her?” She was trying to be still, but not succeeding. That didn't surprise him.

“I never wanted this.” He caught the flash of her eyes again and then she did her best to keep her face hidden.

“The sun will be up in a little more than twelve hours.” His voice was calm. “Or perhaps you would like my assistance?”

“That's not what I mean.” She responded quickly.

“Then maybe you should be more clear about what you mean.” There was a practiced edge in his voice now. Certain people could get vast amounts of information with smiles and soft words, he found vague threats were usually more effective. His heels hit the pavement rhythmically as he moved.

“That part's not so bad. It's weird, but I'm getting used to it.” She said quietly. “I didn't want to be beaten, or starved. I never asked to be sold to disgusting old men. If I wanted all that I would have stayed with my mother and stepfather.” She was trying hard not to cry, he stopped in front of her and lifted her chin.

“But you stay.” He said.

“I stay because I don't have anywhere else to go. She mostly just makes me answer the door now, and keep records. She says I'm not good for anything else.” She was trying not to look directly into his eyes. She shrugged a little. “I guess it could be worse.”

“And you haven't fed recently.” His eyes narrowed. She shrugged again and tried to still her trembling.

“She didn't like my dress last night. She said I looked too Puritanical and people wouldn't spend money.” The admission sounded like something that she was profoundly embarrassed about.

“I must leave for the moment.” He said, brushing past her.

“But I haven't told you-” She began, he heard her trotting after him.

“I will return. You will let me in to the house and you will show me proof of your accusations. If you have nothing you will be very sorry you approached me.” LaCroix didn't wait for her response. If he waited any longer he would be late for dinner. He could care less about the servant, but Kathryn and Minerva would question where he was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In a way, he was glad that Kathryn developed a slight headache soon after dinner and decided to go to bed early. It saved him from manipulating her into it. Each time he forced her will it became more and more difficult for him to justify it to himself. He arrived at a little after four-thirty. These were the hours in the morning where the world seemed to draw a breath and hold it. One could be assured that the only creatures moving around were either the hunters or the hunted. The street was deserted, the girl had the door open before he knocked. She led him into a small office that looked as though it was furnished from discount stores and garage sales.

“No one ever comes in here, not even her. She says it's far too common for someone of her position.” He turned the lock on the door anyway and fought the urge to tell this one about all of Elsbeth's commonalities.

“I know you've had no instruction, but it's considered good manners to introduce yourself before you launch into a conversation.”

“Sorry.” Her eyes had a hollow look to them and he could tell that she still hadn't fed. “I'm Amanda.”

“Not Mandy?” Perhaps the girl wasn't completely feral after all.

“No.” She answered quickly. He got the impression that there was more to the story, but this wasn't the moment to hear it.

“I presume that you have proof of the allegation you made earlier?” He sat down in a plastic chair in front of the desk and waited. Amanda took a deep breath and opened a blue personal planner.

“These are all of her personal appointments, hair, nails, anything she does that she doesn't charge for. Her spa appointments are planned weeks in advance, always on the same days and shifting times as the length of the days changes.” She slid the book across to him and pointed out a changed appointment. LaCroix's face remained impassive, even though he realized the shift would have put her there at the same time as Kathryn and Minerva. “There was no reason for her to switch the day. She didn't have a client scheduled, she didn't even see anyone during that time.”

“How would she have known?” He glanced through the pages, noting the completeness of record, and the unwavering schedule of appointments. He had to go back six months to find another one that was rescheduled, and that one had a note to see the client ledger. Amanda shrugged.

“You know her. She's like a squid with sticky little tentacles everywhere. She probably offered a favor, or blackmailed someone with a previous one.” She opened another, larger book that was equally neatly kept. “These are the nights she attended the opera and the ballet. That was strange in itself because she hates those kinds of things. Then when I saw so I figured it couldn't be that that she was itching for a dose of culture.”

“And what did you do to confirm that suspicion?” He looked at the journal she offered and noted that not only was the client's name listed, but also any special predilections he might have. He also noted the rather significant price reduction, presumably because they didn't get what they requested. He had known enough prostitutes to know that prices were never reduced out of the milk of human kindness. Amanda smiled slightly.

“She thinks of me as invisible most of the time, and I think she forgets about my hearing being better now. I listened to her bragging to Charmaine that you were stupid, and only a man. She said she could wrap any man around her little finger, especially since you started letting a mortal drain your power. She's going to that party tomorrow night. I know she's planning something, but she's been quiet about whatever it is.” LaCroix turned the page and noted the long list of names for the following night. He also noted that there was far more than met the eye to this Amanda.

“Are these all of her whores?” He asked, Amanda looked at the list.

“Yes. The house will be closed.”

“I don't see any Amanda on this list.” She was starting to tremble from hunger. One of greater age or more training might have been able to control it better.

“I'm not going. She doesn't trust me not to embarrass her.” He took a silver flask from inside his jacket and held it out to her. She looked at him uncertainly.

“I need you to concentrate on what I'm telling you. If you don't feed you'll collapse and be of no use to me.” She took the flask and put her back to him to drink. He knew there wasn't enough in it to quell her hunger, but there was enough to ease the worst of the pain associated with it. He glanced around the dreary little office while she swallowed every last drop she could get from the flask before handing it back to him.

“Thank you.” She said quietly. The drawn appearance was still present, but the trembling stopped and her eyes seemed clearer.

“Will these men be returning here?” He tucked the flask away without acknowledging her thanks. She looked at the ledger.

“No, it looks like the women will be dropped off between two and four. Marie and Cecile will be staying at the hotel with their clients, they will be back by ten in the morning it looks like. They're with regulars so they'll probably spend the whole time.”

“They aren't vampires then.”

“No. There is only one other who isn't, Candace. She'll be coming back with the rest of them though.” Throughout this explanation he detected no hint of deception from Amanda, and the more time he spent with her the more he became convinced that with guidance she would go far.

“I am prepared to offer you shelter and guidance in repayment for your information. I will arrange for travel and for you to be met when you arrive. After that I owe you nothing. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” She looked as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

LaCroix made arrangements for Amanda's travel in one simple phone call. The rest would be a bit more complex, but that would wait until he had privacy.

“A man called Kellen will be waiting for you at the airport.” He wrote down a phone number and her flight information. “Should you encounter any problems with your flight call him at that phone number. And please, feed and feed well before attempting to leave. Should you lose control while you are surrounded by mortals you will be very sorry.”

Amanda nodded and checked the hall before opening the door for him. He left quickly and quietly.

“Thank you.” She whispered as she let him out. Even vampire ears would not have caught the sound.

“I pay my debts.” He whispered back, and disappeared into the darkness.

LaCroix retreated to the relative privacy of a rooftop to make his next phone call. There were very few rules in the community anymore, but the one that had always held fast was that a vampire did not take a mortal that had already been claimed by another. The fact that he claimed Kathryn as his own was a well known fact. It took very little explanation to put the remainder of his plan in motion. There would be casualties, but that couldn't be avoided. The only thing that remained was to keep Kathryn safe until it was all over.

He returned to Minerva's fully expecting to find Kathryn sleeping soundly, but while the covers were pulled back the bed was empty. For a terrifying second he was overtaken by panic, but he clamped down on that emotion before he was consumed by it. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened for her heartbeat, the soft sound led him to the room across the hall. He found her curled up in the windowseat with a quilt around her shoulders, her head resting on the wall, dozing lightly. Seeing her delicate features highlighted by starlight made him reach out, to confirm that she was, real. His light touch on her cheek made her eyelids flutter open. She gripped his hand and smiled up into his eyes.