Jodi
*I took a deep breath of the Caldwell air, the winter chill
lingering in the night wind though the calendar insisted that spring had come
to New York. Yeah, right. I bundled Sahv
tightly in a blanket to ward off the cold, a futile attempt as chubby hands tugged
the fleece back from his face and smacked at my cheek* Hey! That’s no way to
treat your mahmen on your first night on the town. *I chuckled and kissed his
fingers, anxiously watching the passing cars for any sign of Fritz. I should
have waited in the lobby. The visit had been a welcome break, finally escaping
the pit for a few hours to visit friends downtown while my hellren was on
patrol, assuring the doggen that I would at least not leave in the daylight in
case I needed Vishous. Not that I told my hellren I was going. He’d found
reasons enough to keep us home since Sahvage’s birth, the days adding up to
weeks and finally months that even the seemingly endless bustle of life at the
compound couldn’t fill. I had to leave. And it had been wonderful. The couple
had been happy to have us, having long been promised a visit and I finally
delivered but the time had started to weigh heavily watching their loving
glances and fleeting touches, longing promises spoken with their eyes. Fuck, I
missed Vishous but it felt selfish to ask him to take time from the war. I’d
reached my limit, my dour mood worsening until I excused myself, assuring my friends
that the old Doggen would be waiting downstairs already and I would stay within
sight of the lobby doorman. Anytime now, Fritz… I kissed Sahv’s cheek and
shifted his weight to tighten my hold on him, my nervousness at being out on
the street translating to a soft bounce of my arms that was more for my benefit
than my young as I waited*
Throe
[The weeks had proved to be productive. With the bastards
settled in, there had been time to effectively eliminate their own share of the
enemy. Tonight's mission however had not been to locate members of the
lessening society but to find females. Save for Zypher, it had been sometime
since any of them had fed. Scouting from his rooftop vantage, he noticed the lone
female as she exited. The young she carried was wrapped secure and he noted no
male. He frowned at this. Didn't she know there was a lunatic on the loose
killing human females? The protective instincts in him had him scattering
himself to the wind, only to reform in the shadows of the nearby alley. Stepping
out, he approached the mother only to be surprised by the scent lingering about
her. Vampire. Blinking, he paused before speaking] Good evening..waiting for
someone?
Jodi
*I gave a startled yelp, clutching Sahv tightly and spinning
toward the deep voice that had broken the silence behind me* I… yes. My ride
should be here soon. Thank you. *I glanced at the street and back to him with a
furrowed brow…he was big. Like…Vishous big. My inner alarm started sounding,
lowering its volume somewhat when he didn’t move closer, my focus shifted as my
young landed another loud slap to my cheek and giggled wildly*
Throe
[He could sense her fear..and her courage. Good. As it
should be. The female would fight for the young if need be so he stood his
ground and nodded] Good. And you live in the area? I'm sorry. I know I sound
forward but with the abductions as of late, I could not live with myself if I
did not wait with you. Would you mind? I promise to keep my distance from you
and your yo..your baby.
Jodi
*Regarding him carefully, I shifted my young who was
enthusiastically trying to squirm free, making sure I could still see the high
rise’s doorman on the lobby stairs and quickly scanning the near vacant street
again, frowning a little at my options I finally nodded and gave him a hesitant
smile* Only if it doesn’t keep you from anything pressing. I’m sure my hell…
ah, husband would appreciate it. Fritz shouldn’t be much longer. *I hope*
Throe
[The hellren slip did not go unnoticed, but to test the
waters he continued with the questions] nothing pressing...Fritz is your doggen
or your husband?
Jodi
*I mentally kicked myself for my near perpetual inability to
engage my brain before my mouth* No, Fritz is the butler. *forces a smile* My
husband is at work at the moment.
Throe
[clasping his hands together behind him to show no force
toward her, he crained his neck to get a peek of the young] I'm sure he misses the
time he could be spending with you and your....
Jodi
*I wasn’t so naïve that I couldn’t see when I was being
pumped for information, even if he was polite* Son. *I raised a hand to smooth
my young’s hair to something less unruly* I think he does miss us but, he’s
dedicated. *I smiled a little at that* Our time together is well spent. *I
bounced the young in my arms* Isn’t it, Sahv? But, we miss papa, don’t we? *Still
ready to flee at the slightest wrong move, I turned him a little* Say hello to
the nice man, little monster.
Throe
[He smiled and waved at the small boy..his own eyes widening
as he got a good look at the young's gaze. He had seen such before..the day of
the Bloodletter's death. Having to blink away the surprise, he forced a smile
back to the mahmen] he's..quite the young. He has his pappa's eyes?
Jodi
Yes, he does…*Catching the change in his face, I hugged Sahv
to my chest and took a step back toward the street, nodding slowly. “Mistress Jodi?” I jumped and exhaled in
relief at Fritz’s voice, turning toward the old doggen, his eyes cautiously
regarding my new “friend”, wrinkles deepening with his slight frown. “Forgive
my tardiness. I should like to escort you to the car now.” *grateful for the
escape I turned back to the male* Thank you for waiting with me, Mr?
Throe
[He could sense her fear growing, perhaps he had gone too
far. The appearance of the old doggen was a dead giveaway. Yes. Not a butler but
a doggen. Xcor would find this more than interesting. Nodding to the old male,
he looked back to the female and smiled tightly.] Throe...it was nice to meet
you Mrs...... [he waited although the Doggen had called her Jodi]
Jodi
Unusual name, Throe. *I returned the nervous smile* Jodi
will do. Thank you again. *beginning to follow Fritz to the car, I turned to
look over my shoulder at the male* Be careful out here, Throe. Serial killers
aren’t the only thing walking these streets at night. *with that last, I
disappeared into the sedan, letting Fritz close the door behind me and climbing
into the driver’s seat and pulling away, taking us back to the safety of the
compound to await Vishous's return home. We needed to talk.*
Throe
[He watched as she got into the back of the automobile and
considered following her but something told him they would meet again. Xcor needed
to know what he had discovered. Stepping back into the shadows, he
dematerialized to the cabin with information he was sure the leader would want
to hear.]
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