What did you do when you were hopelessly enamored with someone who didn't have a body? Especially when you just happened to be someone whose very being delighted in all the delicious ways that flesh could be manipulated. It was quite a crux. Not that Caine hadn't fanned this flame for the better part of a century. He had fallen in love with Alec the first time they had met and even then their love had gone unconsummated, so the lack of a body was hardly the beginning of their problems. Still, through trials, conflicts, space, and time he had never stopped hoping that somehow they would find one another again because if ever there was a soul on Earth that brought out the best (and the worst in him) that soul was Alec Dresden.
It had now been too long since their reunion in the Tea House and Caine was not known for his patience. Not when it came to matters of desire. Finding a spirit was difficult, but he knew a bit more now about the way that Alec travelled through the world; ever attached to the side of some witch or another. So he didn't seek out Alec this time, instead he went in search of the young girl Andi who it seemed was Alec's new conduit to this world.
Not once did it occur to him that a high school was not the sort of place to be loitered in by strange men. The thought honestly never occured to him as he pulled the silver 1956 Jaguar Roadster into the circle driveway in front of the schools flagpoles and parked. He exited the car with the fluid grace of a cat, every inch of him dripping with all the ideas adults tried to keep out of such instiutions of higher learning. To say that he didn't fit in with the streamers announcing Homecoming and the signs for the Winter Ball would be an understatement of epic proportions.
"Excusez-moi, can you tell me where I can find Alexandra.....Ambrose."
Caine tasted the words carefully as he spoke them to the small pudgy female in the office window. She gazed up at him with wide eyes that stared over her spectacles as she stammered back at him. The way she watched him made Caine lean in closer, the smell of him a hot succulent pheremone driven presence in the small space as he caught her eyes with his own amber orbs. One palm braced against the counter as he smiled down at her and noted the many Hello Kitty decorations adorning her desk. How....quaint.
"I uhhhh......Ambrose.....uhmmmm...she should be at lunch now."
"Merci beaucoup madame."
Without giving her a chance to recover he turned and started moving through the hallways towards the closest smell of food. From behind him he finally heard her voice pipe up again and say "But sir.....sir...wait...you have to check in...you can't just..." But Caine was already rounding the corner by then and he certainly wasn't going to back track. His reflection showed in the trophy cases, a tall man with lithe hardness to his body fitted perfectly in a pair of black slacks and a blue button down shirt that brought out the perfect blonde of his hair, the kiss of gold in his skin, and the amber power of his eyes. Every inch something dangerous only to the innocent.
Pushing open the doors of the lunch room he was surrounded by the buzz of teenage hormones, their laughter, the sound of trays moving and shoes scuffing on linoleum. Pausing a moment in his confident stride he stood in the doorway and let his head slowly turn to survey the crowd of students before his gaze paused on a single blonde head ducked low over her tray. Andi was eating alone....mores the better. In motion once again he cut a line straight down the middle of the cafeteria and towards her ignoring the eyes upon him or the teachers trying to whisper to one another and figure out if he was wearing a pass somewhere on him. He only stopped when he reached Andi.
"Pardon madamoiselle. I would very much like to speak to you."
Things had been quiet ever since that night at the Tea House. Blissfully quiet and almost *gasp!* normal. Of course, Andi had spent the 3 weeks following the night in the Tea House grounded. Getting home somewhere near dawn had been bad enough but once Marcie caught sight of the punctures on her neck... well... hell breaking loose didn't begin to describe the scene at the Ambrose house. Mom's eyes had been full of worry and, worst of all, disappointment. The only thing that had kept her from being shipped off to gods-knew-where was agreeing to visit the doctor again.
And part of visiting the doctor was a fresh prescription; something to 'help her not see things'. Yeah, right. Except it just made it harder for her to make the glimmers go away, instead they became just a bit more fascinating. She tried not to take the pills but Marcie was there, making sure like some sort of prison doctor or something.
School was more of a challenge, word of the bite had gotten out, making her even more of a freak, adding 'blood slut' to the list of insults that were aimed her way in the hallowed halls of higher education. Nothing like a 'Bully-Free Zone' right?
The lunchroom was an obstacle course littered with constant little verbal digs, snickers and vicious little catcalls. She'd learned the hard way that the only way to survive was to duck her head and retreat to the furthest corner. Even the so-called freaks and outcasts didn't want to have anything to do with her.
She ducked her head over her tray, doing her best to ignore their words, to make her way to the empty table near the windows. She stumbled as glimmers flared around her, ignoring the snickers as those nearby caught her almost drunken swaying. She managed to set her tray on the table before sliding into the chair with a soft sigh.
Her head tilted, careful not to look directly at the shimmers of light that no one else could see. She could feel the leyline off to the west of her, it was close enough that she could feel its thrumming pulse, something she rarely noticed but with the medication in her system it was a distracting buzz she was unable to ignored. Without thinking she drew on that pulse, it was barely a trickle but it was an almost soothing warmth easing into her.
Since that night, she couldn't forget that sensation, not that pain of his bite but the drawing tug within her as he drew on her power, on all the things that made her... her. It made her cold, made her feel like something vital had been torn from her. The only thing that helped soothe her was when she drew on the leylines, feeling that inner fire.
She dipped her head over her tray, hiding her features as she toyed with her food, more intent on the power she drew on then her surroundings. Even so the hush and excited buzz that rippled through the lunchroom had her head lifting curiously. Someone was moving through the room, the hush preceding him, the whispered buzz left in his wake. His figure seemed lined with gold, as if the shimmers bathed him in the warmest of sunlight even here beneath the harsh glare of flourescent lights.
"Pardon madamoiselle. I would very much like to speak to you."
She stared at him for a long moment as if trying to make sense of his words, finally glancing around her to be sure that he was not speaking to someone else.
"Me? You want to speak with me?"
It was all she could do not to squeak out the words. The whispers and giggles that buzzed around the room seemed to fade as she focused on him. Another feeling of warmth altogether seemed to sweep through her, he was just sort of... delicious. A blush flared over her cheeks that thought, doing her best not to squirm in her seat.
"Did you... um... want to sit?"
-- Edited by ANDI AMBROSE on Monday 21st of November 2011 07:27:12 PM
When Andi responded with her series of questions Caine laughed. It was a sound as rich and langorious as the man himself, spilling from his lips in a warm rush. For a moment he let his eyes sweep the room behind her and he could feel the curiousity comeing from most of the crowd, budding sensuality from some, and open hostility directed at either Andi or himself from some of the boys and girls in the crowd. Youth, it was a phase that he missed not at all. Directing the attention of his eyes back on Andi he let the corners of his lips curl in a cat that ate the canary grin.
"Non, I think not petite. Perhaps it would be better if you came with me.....I think that we should find a more private place for out little visit."
How he made a very casual word like 'visit' sound as if it were an invitation to dance naked in the rain was anyones guess, but he executed it brilliantly. Off to one side he could see one of the older male teachers finally moving their way, and Caine was sure that it was in their best interest not to let the man reach them. Leaning forward his hand rested on the lunch table next to Andi's, his fingers just barely brushing hers.
"Don't you recognize me? From our visit with la reine de sorciere? The voodoo priestess? I have come to speak to you of Monsieur Dresden." The hand resting beside hers on the table lifted and turned to offer his palm towards her. "Come with me Alexandra.....I promise no harm will come to you."
Sincerity was held in the tone of that dulcetly charming voice. As his hand reached for hers he met her eyes and his own gem bright amber hues sparkled with a boyish sort of playfulness. Beckoning, that was what his eyes did, almost daring her to take his hand in hers and escape this place before their chance was stolen away by the interference of one of her teachers.
For a moment she seemed unable to decide, but there was really never a doubt in Caine's mind that she would slip her tiny hand into his. When her skin slid against his own he curled his fingers around her hand and eased her up out of her chair with another of those sinful laughs. Glancing at the teacher who was drawing near he began to walk with Andi, calmly but purposefully towards the exit of the cafeteria.
As they passed a table where the girls were staring daggers at Andi he slipped an arm casually around her shoulders and smiled at the catty females. Leaving a wake of confusion and jealousy behind them he steered Andi out of the cafeteria and through the hallways of the school as though he hadn't a care in the world for the possible illegality of what he was doing.
"Do you like convertibles Andi?"
A simple question as he held open the front door of the school and walked towards the silver Jaguar Roadster parked illegaly in that circle driveway. Opening the passenger side door he let her slip into the smooth leather interior and closed the door behind her just as one of the office staff came bustling out of the school behind them. Flashing a smile to the woman he rounded the car and slipped into the driver side. In moments he had the engine growling to life and they were pulling away from the school with the cool afternoon breeze playing in their blonde hair as he headed for the highway.
If her eyes could get wider they would have when he laughed, the sound like the spill of heat trailing along her skin, teasing sensations from her she'd never quite experienced before. It drew a fresh blush to her cheeks along with the fragile hint of a smile, his amusement too infectious to be ignored.
"Non, I think not petite. Perhaps it would be better if you came with me.....I think that we should find a more private place for out little visit."
Her breath caught softly in her throat at the implications his words seemed to stir, too innocent to not be caught up in the spell of his charisma. Rarely had she been subject to the even the most stilted teenage flirtations, the pure seduction that laced Caine's every word and movement was a force she was ill-prepared to handle. That first, barely felt touch of his skin against hers as he leaned closer had her lashes dipping for just an instant, teenage hormones always primed for chaos were in full range riot within, stirring up the most reckless of thoughts.
"Don't you recognize me? From our visit with la reine de sorciere? The voodoo priestess? I have come to speak to you of Monsieur Dresden."
Her nose wrinkled slightly as his words reminded her of that night, nodding slowly as her eyes ever so reluctantly left his features to gaze on his offered hand.
"I remember. You.... you were the one that wanted him called by her. Right?"
Ever since Mr. Dresden appeared in her life things had changed. He'd forced her to break rules she'd never considered breaking, lying to her family, slipping out in the middle of the night. At the same time though, she was finally starting to feel some sort of control over the glimmers, over her own power. He insisted she was special.... in a good way.
The tip of her tongue traced lightly over her lips, breath coming a touch quicker as she considered the dare implied in his offered hand.
"Come with me Alexandra.....I promise no harm will come to you."
"Andi... its Andi."
The soft correction was given even as she placed her hand in his, tremor dancing through her petite frame as his fingers closed around her, sending a teasing shockwave of sensation that raced from her hand through her body. She swayed towards him as she rose, in the same manner as sunflowers towards the heat of the sun. Tray was forgotten, the strap of the messanger bag that held her books and whatnot slipped automatically over her head, settling the bag at her hip while he led her from the table.
For a moment it was as if they were exiting an empty room, so focused on her companion that she'd forgotten where they were, who was watching. A murmured, "not just a blood slut apparently," hissed behind her from the table of cheerleaders almost made her stumble though, Caine's arm sliding about her shoulders steadying her against him. His presense was more then comforting and instead of being buffeted by hurt at the words anger surged within her. Perhaps it was him, perhaps it was the drugs hampering her control but with a surge the power she'd drawn within her coiled and lashed out.... cans of soda bursting behind her in a showering spray, drawing squeals from the cheerleaders and startled laughter from the rest of the lunch crowd. Had she not been lightly nestled to his side she might have stumbled, carefully keeping her gaze on the path ahead of her.
"Oops."
For once the word didn't hold shame and frustration for her lack of control. In this reckless moment, instead it held a hint of triumph. Maybe it was wrong for her to do it but.... just this once... she had given them what they deserved. This one time she was exiting the cafeteria with her head held high instead of scurrying out.
"Do you like convertibles Andi?"
Oh.... wow. His car was just as sinful as he was. She could only nod as he guided her ot the passenger door. She slid into the butter soft leather seat and couldn't help but caress the artful lines of the dashboard.
"Its... beautiful. Its just the sort of car someone like you would have."
OK, not the most brilliant statement in the world but it was true. She nestled in the seat, twisting slightly so she could watch him all the more easily. The golden shimmer that seemed to dance over him should have faded in the day's light but instead it was still there, fascinating her as it seemed to make his skin glow. OK, so maybe it was the drugs but you never know right?
"You're... special somehow. Aren't you? I never, you glow, maybe its me, just the glimmers but they're usually white bright sparkles and you're all.... gold and warm."
Was she rambling? Maybe a little, the words having come out in an almost breathless rush as if being freed from the confines of the school was easing unconscious restraints around her. A delighted smile appeared as the car rumbled to life and he guided them from the parking lot, head tipping back to let the wind race through her hair. No thought of the consequences of this little field trip, for now she was simple enjoying the moment.
There was something about driving eighty miles an hour with the top down that felt exhilarating even if you weren't the one who had just escaped fifth period Algebra. He loved the way the cool breeze teased at the curls of his blonde hair and the freedom he felt on the open highway. Andi's comments about the car could not have been more true so he didn't treat the comment as though it was silly though he didn't chuckle lightly when she said it.
"When I bought this car I did it to...how do you say?....piss off my sister Aurora. She abhors such extravagences, but I thought the same thing. From the moment I saw it I knew that I had to have it."
What Caine didn't mention was that the 1956 Roadster had been the cause of arguments, bets, debates, and general frustration for years to come between he and Aurora. Not since Christine had a car cause so much trouble. Even now Caine could hear Aurora's voice chastising him for the way that he wasted his money; her foolish wasteful brother. God he missed his sister. Glancing over at Andi he smiled and for a second flashed those perfect pearly whites in a look that was worthy of a billboard.
"You're... special somehow. Aren't you? I never, you glow, maybe its me, just the glimmers but they're usually white bright sparkles and you're all.... gold and warm."
Andi was a witch, like Tynan had been, that was part of Alec's strange arrangement that Caine understood. So he assumed that she had certain gifts to see into the true essence of a person. Most supernaturals assumed Caine was a feline lycanthrope, or something magical, but adults were really quite boring....and they never asked questions for fear of looking foolish. He rather preferred the guileless way in which Andi went about things.
"Oui, ma petite sorciere, I am special.....like you and Monsieur Dresden. Something different than all the rest."
Reaching across the narrow wood paneled central parking break he let his warm fingers lightly curl over Andi's hand. Bringing her hand up he slipped her fingers between two of the buttons on his shirt so that her fingers touched the surface of his chest. His skin was coomfortably warm, smooth except for the barest trace soft honied blonde curls. His hand rested on top of hers as she touched him and he waited a moment to let her feel the hard steady beat of his heart.
"Close your eyes ma petite, tell me if you can sense anything."
Caine was curious as the proverbial cat, wondering what the witch would feel from him if he let her. His shields were mostly involuntary, something his kind were gifted as a means of hiding their identity from the world around them. As Andi closed her eyes he let those shields slip away just a bit to reveal the essence within, a spirit of stone, the multi faceted glimmer of diamond brilliance, and a bloodline that had bonded to a cause and protected it since the times when people dwelled only in caves.
"Do you have a name for what I am?"
The thick sweetness of his french accent coated his words in decadence and brought to mind European tapestries, churches, the very places where humans had crafted creatures like him. Human ideas of what his people were cast in stone as guardians. Finally he let Andi's hand slip away again and began to exit the highway for one of the streets that would lead them into Downtown.
"The world is a very strange place Andi. You shouldn't trouble yourself with worrying that you are so very different, you will find soon enough that there are no shortages of differences on this Earth."
Once he pulled off the highway he found a quiet street to turn onto and pull over to the side of the road. Leaving the car running he smiled across at her and then climbed out of the drivers seat, body complete poetry in motion as he moved around to open the passenger side door. One hand motioned for her to climb over into the drivers seat.
"You drive Andi, convertibles were made for beautiful young blondes. That's how advertising companies sell beer after all."
Slipping into the passenger seat himself he reclined there with all the casual grace of a lazy and contented house cat. Any protests would be met only with a smile that urged her to continue. Only when she had given in and pulled away from the curb did he begin to direct their course. If the gears were grinding, if a curb was hit, he didn't make mention of it. He let her enjoy the chance to drive as he guided them towards one of his favorite local haunts.
"What do you do in that dreadful place all day? It looks tres horrible."
Eventually they would arrive at the place he had in mind. The Hotel de Marquis reeked of old money and prestige, and was the place he had stayed when he first moved to New Orleans. It's marble floored lobby and dark wood paneled rooms reminded him of home. Also, he loved the darkly lit cafe the hotel housed. They had the most succulent tasting menu and a wine list that was more than sufficient to meet his tastes.
Caine would motion her to pull up to the valet so that a man in a red vest could come open Andi's door and take the keys from her, giving her a small yellow ticket in return. Before climbing out on the passenger side Caine slipped his fingers through the arm of Andi's back pack and slung it casually over one broad shoulder. Waiting for her to join him he walked at her side with the same leissez faire that he had before, one arm casually slung over her shoulders.
"Let's have a little lunch while we chat, shall we? It's bound to be better than what they were serving you in that place I stole you from."
Brows gave a clever arch as he glanced sidelong at her and gave that deep and delicious smile.
The first rush of the wind in her hair was exciting but the exhilaration that came as the car reached cruising speed had her laughing delightedly. It was like being on a roller coaster, all breathless laughter and the impulse to cry out for him to go faster still.
When he took her hand her breath caught again, gaze turning from the rush of the road to focus on him, bright smile evolving to a more awed expression as he guided her fingers to slip beneath his shirt. She could feel the rush of blood to her face, her cheeks burning as she squirmed slightly in her seat, her fingertips feeling all the more sensitive as they almost hesistently moved over the smooth skin he kept concealed beneath tailored cloth.
"Close your eyes ma petite, tell me if you can sense anything."
His soft command was unnecessary, lashes having drifted closed as she simply savored that touch for a long moment, sensations that had little to do with sensing what he was racing through her body. It took a moment for his words to penetrate the innocent arousal such a simple touch had evoked within her, blush flaring brighter in her cheeks as she struggled to focus her senses on his essence as opposed to those other erotic sensations.
The throb of his heart seemed to pulse through her, a strong slow counter to her own racing pulse. Her lashes slit open, just a touch, letting her gaze unfocus to allow the glow that seemed to surround him shift and morph into something more. It had happened before, once or twice, silhouettes that seemed to ghost around people as if there was another hidden form to them.
"Do you have a name for what I am?"
His words guided her, lips parting softly as she sought the words to match the sensations, the hazy not-quite-defined shape that danced around him.
"You.... watch... from above. Guarding."
It was on the tip of her tongue, the faintest of frowns creasing her brow as she struggled to bring all the little bits and pieces into clear focus. Something odd about it, something that didn't fit. Protectors that looked.... evil? She blinked suddenly, some long lost fact from history class suddenly glaring into focus.
"Gargoyle?"
It was one of those odd things you remember from school, a bit of trivia that had no real impact on the world. How the ugly evil sculptures that clung to the cornices of cathedrals were actually guardians meant to protect the devout.
When he released her hand she brought it to her lips, brushing the fingertips still warmed by his skin against the tender flesh. Her head tipped slightly as she studied him before a sheepish smile appeared.
"That can't be right. I mean... you're too gorgeous. Its just.... I can't really figure out what I see."
She looked away from him, gazing at the streets around them, steeling herself for the laugher she was sure would come. She was used to it after all.
The world is a very strange place Andi. You shouldn't trouble yourself with worrying that you are so very different, you will find soon enough that there are no shortages of differences on this Earth."
His words accepted with a nod, wanting to believe them, so hard not to especially when they were laced with that sincere seduction. She looked about curiously as he guided the car to the curb, looking for a valet or something since he left the car running.
"You drive Andi, convertibles were made for beautiful young blondes. That's how advertising companies sell beer after all."
"Me?! Oh no, you don't want me to.... I... I can't... I mean.... I see things and sometimes hit them or try not to hit them so I wind up hitting other things."
She squeaked in surprise, protests spilling almost frantically from her lips even as her body seemed to obey his instructions, rising from the car to move to the drivers seat.
"I don't want to wreck your car. I mean... oh gods..."
Settling into the seat, it took a moment to adjust it for her much smaller form, drawing closer to the steering wheel and doing her best not to hyperventilate. Her hands knew what they were doing though, gently caressing the steering wheel, accustoming themselves to it size before one moved to the gearshift. Her fingers almost hesistantly touching that shaft before slowly curling around it. She sent one more helpless glance his way, letting that warm smile soothe her.
"Just... before anything happens I want to say I'm sorry... ok?"
Then she was off, hesistent at first but the precision automobile was just as seductive as its owner, subtly building her confidence as she guided it along the city streets. Within moments a smile was teasing at her lips, enjoying the snesation of the powerful craft completely under her control, obeying his directions with a slight nod.
"What do you do in that dreadful place all day? It looks tres horrible."
She had to laugh at his words, nodding an agreement.
"It is tres horrible. Its high school. Designed to torture teenagers into becoming responsible adults."
In that moment, she could laugh at the idea of school, forgetting the torment of her so-called peers and the shadowed looks of concern that always seemed to haunt the eyes of her teachers.
At his direction she pulled to the curb in front of the hotel, a moment taken to just stare up at the landmark. She'd never been here, never been inside, it was like a dream. Maybe it was a dream. Keys handed to the valet when he helped her from the car and in the next moment she was on Caine's arm, letting the warm weight of his arm about her shoulders tease warm butterflies in the pit of her stomach.
"Let's have a little lunch while we chat, shall we? It's bound to be better than what they were serving you in that place I stole you from."
"Lunch.... sure."
She was breathless again, her eyes focusing on his mouth, on that decadent smile that made her think about all those things she hadn't ever experienced. Her thumb rubbed lightly against her fingers, the once that had so briefly caressed his chest and she wondered what the rest of him felt like.
"Am I dreaming? Did I fall asleep in class?"
A sudden chill raced along her spine. This couldn't be real after all. This was too good for it to be real. Any minute now the bell was going to ring and she was going to find herself in English with everyone staring and laughing at her.
