CHAPTER TWO...
'What exactly are we celebrating, again?' Annabelle asked drolly as Claire shimmied her way into her room with a chilled bottle of Bollinger.
'Two weeks since your stalker of a dreamer has visited you that's what. And once we're through with this bottle, we are going to Fuschia to celebrate some more!' Claire said popping the cork of the bottle expertly and sloshing the sparkling fluid into two large wine glasses.
Annabelle shrugged. She was going to stop fretting as well. Her body had been as tense as a coil for the past fortnight as she wondered what and why the thing had not returned. She was determined to relax as she felt whoever or whatever it was wasn't going to come back. As she sipped her champagne, a tiny treacherous voice asked her slyly if she was truly relieved her 'dream-man' had not returned or if she did not, ever so slightly, miss his expert fingers. She shuddered mentally. She would not think of it again as her mind was even beginning to play tricks on her. She refocused on what was going on in her room and saw Claire rifling through her wardrobe.
'What on earth are you looking for Claire-bear?' She asked exasperatedly.
'Something for you to wear, that's what.' Was the sharp retort.
Belle stood up and went over to Claire's side. 'But you jolly well know I'm capable of looking for what to wear myself so move.' Belle tried to muscle her way in but Claire shoved her none too gently to the bed.
'Belle darling, you know I'm far stronger than you so sit still and lemme look for your outfit. And anyway there's no way in hell I'm going to let you choose something yourself. You'll end up picking something suitable for a funeral and tonight I intend for the both of us to wow everyone with our sexiness!' Claire yelled the last word as she pounced on the tightest of dresses at the back of Belle's wardrobe.
Belle noticed what she was holding and groaned outwardly. 'You've got to be joking I AM NOT wearing that. It's too tight!'
'Exactly, Belle darling, exactly why I'm choosing it. Hold on a second, I remember buying this for you in Italy! You've never worn it have you? Well today's your lucky day 'cuz you shall most definitely be wearing it.' Claire dropped it on Belle's laps, 'Go on. Try it on silly.'
Belle debated within herself for a second on whether she should then shrugged mentally. What the heck, she might as well wear it. She gulped down the rest of the champers to the hoot of approval from Claire and dragged her oversized t-shirt over her head. She then slid into the red halter dress and stood in front of a now gob smacked Claire.
'Well,' she demanded, 'How does it look. Oh God, awful isn't it? I should never have...'
'Shut it, you silly cow. It's bloody gorgeous that's why I couldn't utter a word. You look...stunning...in fact you've got to see this for yourself,' and with that she dragged a disbelieving Belle to the full length mirror in the hallway.
'See for yourself'.
Belle gasped at the person staring back at her. She looked amazing. The dress clung to her curves and held tightly. It pushed her breasts together to form a to-die-for cleavage and clinched at her waist making it look tinier than ever before shimmering down her hips and stopping two inches before her knees.
'Bloody Hell, Claire. I look....I mean...Whoa.' She stuttered. She looked at Claire through the mirror and saw her smirking triumphantly.
'Told you you'd look utterly fab. Come on let's book a taxi and start getting ready. We are going to knock everyone's socks off when we get there.'
***
Aleksander paced up and down his room for the umpteenth time. It had been fourteen days since he'd last seen her.
Touched her.
Smelled her coconut-scented hair.
Trailed his fingers down her soft as a feather body.
He could not control himself any longer. Elders and Consequences be damned. He was going to see her again. He marched to his wardrobe and threw on a black t shirt and black jeans. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. Humans thought that they, vampires, could not see their own reflection. Stupid beings. He absently studied his face as he spritzed a bit of cologne over him. He was ready. He turned to his window about to vault out of it and heard a tiny cough. He whirled round to see his father staring at him with an indecipherable look.
'I must say I'm a tad surprised you waited this long before going back to your human. Surprised and impressed. I see my impatience which you inherited was tampered with your mother's patience and I thank her for this.'
Aleksander ran a frustrated hand through his shoulder length dark hair. 'I'm sorry father but I simply cannot stay away. I think about her every morning when I sleep and every night when I wake. I haven't been feeding properly because all my thoughts are consumed with her. I have to see her Papa. Don't you understand?'
His father smiled, if not sadly, 'I do my son. Believe me that I, more than anyone, understands. Which is why I shall not stop you. Go my son, but be careful. You are, after all the only son I have and I want you to come back safely in one piece.'
Aleksander smiled joyfully, 'Thank you father. I shall be very careful. Thank you so much.' He hugged the man who one could mistake for his brother and flew out of the window. As he got to England, and the outskirts of Bristol, he sniffed the air. Hmm, she was not at home, definitely somewhere in their town. He looked down and saw her. He gasped and had to concentrate to stay in the air. She looked gorgeous. Her beauty was indescribable. He saw her friend, the skinny tall one walking with her into a building. Hmm, must be one of their clubs. He smiled slowly to himself. It was time he made himself visible to the humans here.
***
Annabelle and Claire walked into Fuschia already dancing to the music. They smiled at the cloak lady as they passed her their coats and paid for their entrance. They also got their VIP bands courtesy of Claire's mate who had a night at the club.
