Hungover in Paris

I stood under the spray of water in the shower, trying to clear the ache and cobwebs from my head.  The throbbing was slowly diminishing as the warm water soothed over the back of my neck.

We had arrived in Paris over a week ago, Lydia and I.  Yesterday I remember sightseeing and browsing the souvenir shops.  I had bought a gift for Marcus.  Lydia had bought a camcorder along with some other souvenirs and we had a great time taping each other in front of Notre Dame and on the way back to the hotel.

I also remember arriving at the club but after that it gets fuzzy.  There was a lot of drinking and dancing, I know.  And I sang.  That’s right.  It was a karaoke club and I sang one of my favorite songs.  I think Lydia even recorded it with the camcorder.

I don’t recall how I got back to the hotel, but I do remember that after Lydia left I called Marcus.  I shook my head in memory, a wry smile on my lips.  I can be so impetuous at times.  But, if what I remember is right then I’m glad I did it.

What I remember of the call is that I told him I missed him, and he replied in kind.  I called him sexy and told him I couldn’t stay away.  And I think he said something about how I’d bewitched him, but I couldn’t be sure.

My smile widened and I leaned my head against the tile with a sigh.  I did miss him.  Our little ‘game’ had been intriguing and challenging and just fun.  Seeing him the night we played Dante’s Inferno had only increased my interest and I couldn’t deny that I was falling for him. 

It may be crazy and I knew there was something about him, about all of them, that was just …off, but I didn’t care, my heart didn’t care. 

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Hours later I was standing outside the small store at the musee D’Orsay waiting for Lydia to finish shopping.  I had showered and eaten, feeling much better after my night of drinking.  I now remembered why I didn’t indulge all that often.

We had set out to do some last minute shopping before heading to the museum.  We got some more presents and Lydia dragged me into a store to buy me a cell phone.  Then we made our way here to spend a few hours looking over the paintings, sculptures, and other various artworks.  I had seen one that inspired me and bought a small statue of it for Marcus that I hoped he would appreciate.

Again, ever the impetuous me, I decide to call Marcus.  I was dying to know his reaction and if my memory served true this morning or not.  Thankfully Lydia had programmed the phone with his number. 

I hit send and waited, but got his voicemail and left a message. 

‘Hi Marcus.  It’s Sera.  I uh just wanted to say hi and let you know I got this phone.  Lydia helped me.  I’m at the musee D’Orsay and I just got you something.  Well I have a few things for you actually.  I can’t wait to get home and show you.  I hope you like my gifts.’

Returning the phone to my pocket, I again settle against the wall outside the store to wait for Lydia.

I squeal and jump as I feel the phone vibrating in my pocket.  Some people look at me odd, but I just smile at them as I take out my phone.  I see a text from Marcus:

hello luv.  it was good to hear your voice once again. when will you be back?

I give a soft happy laugh and reply:

not soon enuf. i hope tomorrow. Will i see u?

A moment later I get a reply from him:

most definitely luv. send word to me once youre home. i miss you too

I feel warm inside seeing that he misses me.  I duck my head and smile as I reply:

i’ll let u know asap. i miss you too. can’t wait to see u.

He sends me one final text:

be safe & see you very soon.  Marcus

I read it and hug the phone to my chest happily.  I can’t wait to get home.

Playing with Dante

Marcus showed up at my desk the day before Lydia and I were to set off for Paris.  I blushed and fluttered around him like a schoolgirl when he asked to play the game I had given him.  It was a bit embarrassing, but that only made me blush more.  I felt so connected to this man and I wasn’t sure if he felt it too or if it were all just a simple game to him.

I took his hand and lead him to my room where I had the console for the game.  We spoke of inconsequential things like my room, Pia, Lydia and the upcoming trip to Paris as I showed him the game and we learned how to play together.  His eyes were a distraction and I played poorly, but somehow still beat him.

He mentioned briefly how he’s been alone, I ached to touch him, to offer comfort in some form.  Hell, even just to give him a hug.  I was able to make him smile and even laugh a little, however.  I hoped I brightened his day just a little at least.

All too soon he had to go, but he did mention he was looking forward to a rematch.  I watched him walk away with a huge grin on my face.

Aftermath

The aftermath of meeting Master Aro was difficult at best.  I wasn’t ashamed to say I was afraid of the man.  He was tall and imposing and with the blazing red eyes, no matter how used to them on others, it was downright scary on that man.  And that is all before my conversation with Lydia when she tells me how he had his own sister killed or some such, just to keep Marcus in line.  She still claims they aren’t Mafia, but I know they have to be something.  Maybe some kind of voodoo type clan, I don’t know. 

What I do know is that I miss Marcus.  Even though we never directly spoke, the loss of being allowed to communicate even through our game was saddening.  Not to mention the fact that I finally saw the men in person and I was even more intrigued, and attracted.  He was also tall like Aro, but with a firmer, more muscular build.  The dark hair fell in clean lines around his pale face and emphasized the red of his eyes. 

Those eyes of his looked at me and I felt like he’d pierced my soul, making me wonder again if it weren’t some voodoo clan set on stealing the hearts and souls of their fellow humans. 

But, as was my nature, I couldn’t leave it go.  I was compelled to contact him again, regardless of the consequences.  Perhaps I should not have, but to be honest, I don’t think I could not have.  I missed the contact so much that it felt as if a part of me was gone.  So I sent him a gift, a valentine on Valentine’s Day.

First, I drew and colored a card with a quote I thought appropriate from what he'd told me of his wife and what I'd heard of him from Lydia and others.

I also, on a whim, included a game.  I had seen an ad for it before and thought he would find it amusing if nothing else.  Besides, with all our talk of Dante, seeing the ad for the game seemed a bit...fated.

I had spent most of the next day making plans for a trip to Paris with Lydia.  She had been such a great friend and with all that had happened, she offered to take me to Paris with her while she explored and searched for her brother.  In a way, I was relieved at the idea, wanting to just get away for a while and clear my head of castle and the strange people here.  Of course, leaving the castle meant leaving Marcus and I wasn’t happy about that.

When I returned from an errand, I found the box I had given Marcus on my desk.  Opening it, I saw a small note of thanks from him, as well as a request for instruction on the game I’d given him.  I smiled then pulled out the velvet covered object.  Pulling the item from the sack, I gasped.  It was a lovely wood carving of a dancing woman.  

I hastily took the statue to my room and set it on the nightstand by my bed so I could see it and think of Marcus each night before sleep.  I smiled as I returned to work.