Time, Death & Scar Tissue...

46. Making Ready

“LUCIEN!” Kathryn was kneeling next to him holding the quilt over her breasts, her eyes filled with tears. Her voice was desperate.

“What's the matter?” He sat up and pulled her into his arms. She trembled as he held her, he began to wonder just how long he was lost in memory. He pulled the quilt away from between them and wrapped it around her shoulders. She held onto him as if he might disappear at any moment.

“You didn't answer.” Her voice was quivering. “Your eyes were open and I tried shaking you but you still didn't answer.” She started to cry softly. He stroked her back and held her tighter.

“I was just deep in thought, I didn't mean to upset you so.” His tone was soothing but she wasn't calming as he thought she should.

“But I couldn't hear your heart beating, I thought you were-” He put his finger over her lips and when she was silent he brushed her tears away.

“You were very upset, weren't you my Kathryn?” He spoke into her ear, his tone quiet but commanding. He felt her start to calm.

“Yes.” She answered quietly, she held him a little tighter and took a deep breath. He smiled slightly. He had found that for all of Kathryn's independence there were times she was far more comfortable when he was in control. Most times, like now, he didn't need to use any of his other abilities at all.

“Perhaps you were so upset the sound of your own heart masked mine.” He listened and found that her heart was still pounding, but her grip was relaxing. She took a deep, quavering breath.

“Maybe.” She admitted. “Seeing you laying there like that with your eyes half open, it just scared me.”

“That was not my intention sweet girl.” His lips brushed the side of her neck softly and she relaxed.

“I know.” She sighed and her grip relaxed. He let her be silent for awhile. When her heart had stopped racing he turned her on her side and spooned behind her, wrapping his body around hers.

“Why were you in the other room?” He whispered.

“A dream woke me up.” She said softly, he could feel her body trembling slightly on the edge of complete relaxation. His lips brushed her shoulder lightly. LaCroix was even more certain of the significance of her dreams. It was also clear that she disliked talking about them intensely.

“Was it the same as before?” One hand stroked down over her stomach. She snuggled into him.

“Not quite.” Her eyes were closed and she was managing to hold her body still, but he could hear her heart start to beat faster again.

“How was it different?” One hand massaged her breast. Kathryn squirmed next to him.

“It's just a dream.” She said softly.

“Just a dream.” He repeated. His fingers found her nipple and he squeezed softly until he felt her tense and then relax. “Why didn't you simply go back to sleep?”

“Because, I just,” she was searching for the right words. “Felt like sitting in the windowseat.” He smiled slightly. She was a bad liar under the best of conditions, but this was even worse than usual. He turned her so that she was facing him.

“Kathryn-”

“You can't protect me from something that's inside my head.” Tears were in her eyes again. He held her tightly.

“And you weren't here.” Her voice cracked as she continued. “It was so dark in here, so I went downstairs to see if you were there, and you weren't. Then I went in to the windowseat. I used to sit there when I was younger. I didn't always want to wake Grandmother when I had the dream.”

He held her until she was calm again, she nuzzled against the side of his neck and LaCroix massaged the back of her neck. She tugged at the quilt, trying to tuck it around herself more fully. He held her still and took the quilt out of her hands.

“Get in bed.” Kathryn didn't even hesitate, she got up and settled underneath the covers this time while he turned out the one small lamp. When he returned, she curled up against him and he could hear her heartbeat slow. LaCroix had admitted to himself long ago that he enjoyed the fact that she often challenged him, but his ego also loved the moments when she simply obeyed.

“Grandmother and I are going to get our hair and nails done for tomorrow night.” She murmured, on the edge of sleep.

“I'd forgotten about that. What time is your appointment?” He whispered close to her ear.

“Two. We usually leave here at around seven-thirty or eight.” He stroked her back and she shivered comfortably.

“Sleep well, dear one.” LaCroix was certain his goodnight wish went unheard. He tightened his arms around her and fell asleep as well.

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

Kathryn's nervousness grew as the daylight waned. This party always seemed to set her on edge anyway and this year there seemed to be something else in the air. An edge of something she could only call fear, but she couldn't explain WHY she was afraid. Added to that was the fact that Lucien had such high expectations of her. She was nervous that she would make some mistake or disappoint him in some way. She found herself staring at her reflection in the full length mirror in Minerva's dressing room and wondering if she could fabricate a believable illness.

The deep green matte silk gown was even more beautiful than she remembered it. Even though the dress was a very simple style it flattered her. The lightly boned corset she wore created a smooth line down under the fitted bodice that came to just below her waist. The neckline was modest by most standards. It sat on the edges of her shoulders, revealing an expanse of pale skin but no cleavage. The long, fitted sleeves were accentuated by a teardrop-shaped notch at the top of her shoulders. The only adornment on the dress were tiny, clear crystals that clustered thickly around the neckline. They faded as they descended until they disappeared completely by the middle of the bodice and sleeves. It gave the impression of frost. Her hair was up-swept with a few ringlets framing her face. The style suited her face and the style of the dress perfectly. The one flaw was the long red scratch on the side of her neck.

“Grandmother, may I borrow your cameo on the pearl-”

“No.” Minerva said quickly.

“But you know I don't have anything that suits this dress.” She glanced at herself in the mirror again. She traced the long scratch with one finger.

“Now Kathryn, you worry too much. It's only a party, it's meant to be fun.” Minerva sounded nervous. “Come here and help me with the back of this collar. I can't seem to get the hooks to meet correctly.”

Minerva always looked well put together no matter what she wore, but this year the pewter colored gown she chose made her look like a queen. The tone on tone beaded bodice ended in an asymmetrical line over her hips. A sash marked the boundary and trailed to just above the hem of the long skirt. Kathryn stood behind her and closed the few remaining hooks while the older woman sat at her dressing table.

“You look beautiful Grandmother.”

“You don't think the beading is too much? I know they're not all shiny beads, but I still worry about looking like I'm trying to shame Liberace.” Minerva patted her hair, even though it looked perfect.

“Grandmother, you say the same thing every year, and every year you look better than you did the year before.” Kathryn laughed softly. Minerva looked up at her in the mirror.

“Was that the door?” She asked.

“I didn't hear-” Minerva was on her feet, she kissed Kathryn's cheek.

“Finish your make-up, and you might want to put on my diamond and pearl earrings.” Minerva was out the door before Kathryn could say anything. She sighed, glanced in the mirror, then unlocked the armoire where Minerva kept her jewelery. It took a bit of searching through similar velvet boxes, but she found the earrings her grandmother had been talking about. She arranged the full skirt so that she could sit at the dressing table.

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

LaCroix touched Minerva's arm as she rushed past him in the hall. She jumped slightly and put her hand over her heart.

“You scared me.” She laughed softly.

“I didn't mean to. You look lovely.” He sincerely meant the compliment. Minerva was one of those rare older women that he considered attractive. She had retained her health and vitality, but many women had those things. What drew him was her attitude. She carried herself like a much younger woman, and he found that he had developed a great deal of affection for her over the past few days.

“Thank you. Kathryn looks absolutely stunning.” She looked at him for a moment and smiled. “So do you by the way.”

Truthfully, LaCroix preferred a more flamboyant style of formal dress. This idea that men must wear black or gray to be properly attired for the evening seemed to him an idea born out of sheer laziness. Nevertheless, one did have to blend in, whatever century one was in. He had added a royal blue silk waistcoat embroidered with fleur de lis designs in the same shade of blue and finished the look with a scrunch tie in the same, unadorned royal shade. Not ordinary perhaps, but not enough to stun and shock those gathered either.

“Thank you.” He smiled.

“She'll be coming out soon, if you want privacy you had better-”

“In a moment. If anyone approaches Kathryn this evening, I want you to let me know.” Minerva looked surprised.

“You can't really think she's looking for someone else. Kathryn is a lot of things but fickle isn't one of them.” Minerva looked hurt.

“That isn't what I'm concerned about.” LaCroix wasn't about to tell her the whole story, he didn't have time for that at the moment anyway.

“Well then what-” Minerva stopped when the realization struck her. “She's in danger, isn't she?”

“My community is filled with intrigues Minerva. Some surround me, and Kathryn is unfortunately a part of those.” It was as much of an explanation as he was able or willing to give.

“Anyone I don't know, or anyone you haven't met?” She said finally.

“Both. Men and women.” He said. Minerva nodded and went downstairs. He could sense her worry, but he had been able to come up with no other alternative to telling her. He entered her room silently and saw Kathryn sitting at the dressing table, putting on a pair of earrings.

For a moment he simply watched her. It was rare for him to see her in such an unguarded state when she was awake. She stood up in a rustle of silk. It was a uniquely feminine sound that, once heard, was unforgettable. He drew a long, slow breath. Kathryn gasped softly when she realized she wasn't alone. She covered the scratch on the side of her neck quickly.

“I didn't expect anyone.” She blushed and he heard her heart beating faster. “You look amazing, really.”

He took her hand away from the wound and she stood straighter.

“So do you, when you're not all hunched over.” He smiled slightly.

“I scratched myself, and Grandmother won't let me borrow any of her necklaces. I don't know why, she always lets me borrow something.” He lifted her chin and she let him turn her head.

“So I see. I think it's time that you wore your own jewelery to parties though.” He took a long, velvet box from inside his jacket. Kathryn looked up into his eyes and then reached out for it, opening it slowly. Her breath caught and her eyes widened when the light struck the necklace inside. It was a simple style, but he found that on her even the simple could appear wonderfully exotic. He noticed her lip start to quiver as she looked at the six strands of tiny pearls with a hint of golden tone held in orderly rows by spacers set with diamonds. He took the box from her trembling hands and kissed her softly, his lips playing with hers until he felt her body mold to his.

“Thank you.” She murmured.

“Your welcome, my Kathryn.” He stroked her back softly, taking in the scent of her perfume, her soap and her blood. LaCroix was certain that he would not be able to bear another loss. His lips brushed the side of her neck softly, she sighed and tightened her arms around him when they came to rest over her steady pulse. It was her absolute lack of fear that stopped him. While he regained his control, he simply held her. “Turn around, so I can put it on.” He said finally.

She moved out of his embrace somewhat reluctantly and put her back to him. He stood behind her and she watched him in the dressing table mirror. There were pieces of the vampire 'myths' that were true, pieces that were partially true and other pieces that were plainly illogical. Mirrors were one of those illogical pieces. It was one of the things that truly pleased him about Kathryn's books, she had seen that it was plainly ridiculous. He placed the necklace against the smooth column of her neck and fastened it, leaving it sitting against her skin like a collar. Kathryn reached up and touched it lightly.

“It suits you.” He whispered against her ear.

“It's so beautiful. It looks old, is it modeled after an antique?” She leaned back against him, his arms slipped around her waist.

“It is an antique.” She turned to him nervously.

“What if I lose it?” One hand held the pearls to her throat. “If the clasp breaks-” He kissed her softly and then fixed his eyes on hers.

“I have to trust your ability to plan.” She whispered, that sweet blush rising to her cheeks. He nodded with a little smile.

“The jeweler made certain everything was in order.” He looked more closely at her earrings. “Those are lovely, but don't you think they're a bit, heavy?” She turned and studied them again.

“With the necklace, yes. I know my pearl studs don't match the color of these though.” Kathryn searched quickly through Minerva's jewelery again and found a pair of simple, tiny pearl studs that were close enough in color to be an almost perfect match. “Go on down, I'll be right there. Judge Thayer should be here any minute now.”

“Minerva's escort is a judge?” Kathryn nodded.

“They've been in love for years. He's asked Grandmother to marry him several times, but she always says no. Of course it would be a mixed marriage.” Kathryn smirked slightly.

“They have different religious views?” He asked.

“Not exactly. He's a Republican, she's a Democrat.” LaCroix chuckled softly and kissed her cheek before giving her privacy.