“I’ll see you tomorrow, 5pm sharp. Not a minute later.” He said simply, and turned sharply in his heel walking back into his building without breaking a stride.
Amelia watched Kristoff’s retreating back, and realized he had just made it clear he wasn’t going to just let this go. A traitorous part of herself was thrilled. Turning to go to the metro Amelia brushed her fingers over her lips, and rushed into the cold.
It seemed to take longer to get home that night, and all Amelia could do was replay the last few hours. Each time the tape rewound, the more certain she was that she had actually hurt Kristoff. Oh, and maybe, that he was right. She’d defined herself by her vengeance for so long, that when something that had the potential to completely overshadow it came along, she ran. But then it was her sister’s death and her quest that had brought them together. She couldn’t just betray Mona for a hot guy… and even hotter sex.… Amelia face-palmed, sex was not the issue here.
Banging her head on the plastic seat in front of her, she felt miserable and self pitying. She was so wrapped up she missed her stop - the stop she’d taken for six years - and bought herself more time to walk home in the cold.
Slamming into her apartment Amelia felt around in her jacket pocket for the phone Kristoff had given her and pulled it out. She studied its black body for several minutes, should she call Kristoff back and explain? Ask him if they could start over, if he’d like to come over and stay at her place. No. Why would he come here, Amelia thought bitterly, her home was a split board shanty compared to his. She threw the phone on the couch in disgust.
“Someone’s home early.” Jack called from his room. Amelia cringed and started patting her hair - did she have sex hair? Jack strolled out drinking from a can of Guinness, seeing her he smirked. “Speaking of early, the walk of shame is supposed to be done in the morning - not the same night.”
“What are you implying?”
Jack took a big swig of the beer, “I think you know. And I know, you know, I know - who you were with…And from the looks of it things worked out just the way I predicted they’d be. He used you and put you out.”
Amelia began to laugh bitterly, “Oh no, you have it all wrong. I used him and left.”
“What?”
Amelia threw her coat on the couch to join her phone and walked over to the fridge for a beer. “We had sex, I said that was fun, and I left. Easy peasy.”
“For someone who did the walking, you don’t seem terribly happy.”
“I have better things to do than mess around with rich playboys.”
“While I’m not going to dispute that luv, it really isn’t like you to be callous.” Amelia popped the top on the Guiness and threw half back. “Oi, don’t waste that - that’s the good stuff.” Amelia’s eyes strayed to her phone briefly, if Jack would just leave she could brood more effectively. “I think the lady protesteth too much. As much as I think Kristoff is -seems to be from first meeting - a wanker, it’s not very nice to use people.”
Amelia shrugged.
“Which is why,” Jack continued, pausing to down the rest of the beer, “I think it’s not that you don’t like him - it’s that you like him too much.” Amelia took another gulp of her beer and glared at him. Jack sighed deeply. “I’m not trying to plead the bastard’s case - you know how I feel about you going ‘round with him - but maybe you should step back and consider your reactions to this whole thing - yeah?”
“Are you done Dr. Phil?”
Jack threw the empty can at the trash can, missing. “Whatever. Not like it doesn’t work better if you jilt the tosser.” He turned sharply and returned to his room.
“I’m not jilting him,” Amelia yelled after him.
“To quote you Americans ‘whatever biotch.’”
Amelia slumped against the counter and looked toward her phone again. Should she tell Kristoff that? Was she being insensitive? Amelia’s gaze hardened. Mona came first - then, maybe, she’d pursue something with Kristoff. She should have realized any emotional entanglement would confuse their teacher-pupil relationship.
With a decisive nod, Amelia pointedly turned away from the couch and the phone lying on it. She’d sleep on this, and figure out how she felt and if she wanted to fix her mistake. She sighed and carried her empty can to the trash, then bent to pick up the can Jack threw. Bastard.
But sleep didn’t come. If she wasn’t over analyzing the whole thing, she was reliving it in full detail. Every touch and whisper echoed across her flesh turning her small hairs on her arms. To make matters worse the sweat from their fight lingered on her skin and she smelled of Kristoff and sex.
Amelia snarled at her overactive imagination and got up. To fight the way these invisible touches chased her, she decided to take a cold shower and scrubbed herself roughly with lavender bodywash on a loofa. By the time she got out of the cold water Amelia’s skin was an irritated red and she bitterly realized that she was now even more awake than she had been before the shower. With resignation, she gave up the struggle and decided to go work on her sculpture. Art had always been a solace. She tucked her dark brown hair up inside a stocking cap, bundled up against the cold, and went out to burn off the echos of conflict in her heart.
Chapter 16
When Amelia got to the warehouse, Kolya was still there, and she popped in to say hi. He looked up from whatever he’d been doing and smiled vaguely. Why couldn’t she have been attracted to Kolya? He was quieter, sweeter, less overwhelming…less compelling. She sighed. There in was the rub, he was just less of what she found impassioning. Kolya cocked his head, a disturbing mirror to his brother, especially when they shared the same face. It heated her cheeks in remembrance of the night before.
“You look like you have something on your mind,” Kolya said, still holding his paintbrush. “Would you like perhaps to come in, sit down and talk a bit? It might make you feel better.”
Amelia glanced at the stool, still out from when she’d sat for him, and she shrugged dropping her coat to the floor. Sitting down on the slightly uncomfortable seat she lapsed into silence. Kolya continued his painting, seemingly lost in his own concentration.
After about fifteen minutes had passed, Kolya lowered his brush and turned back to her unexpectedly. “I do believe in comfortable silences when appropriate, but you are not giving that off, so why don’t you just tell me?” Amelia blanched, how did she tell someone’s brother - someone’s twin brother - that she’d slept with his sibling and screwed it up. “Let me start,” Kolya said patiently tapping the end of his brush against his sensuous, grinning lips. “You slept with my brother and…” he said as if waiting for her to finish the sentence. Amelia jerked and her eyes grew wild.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to, I just can tell.”
Amelia was mortified, “How did you know?!!”
“Twins know everything about each other, now move on. This isn’t as awkward as you are making it.”
At the statement about ‘awkward,’ Amelia blanched, and Koya looked interested. “Not much for sleeping around I see. It makes sense. You having some morning after jitters?”
“I’m not sure I can discuss this with you…”
“You obviously need to talk to somebody, why don’t you go talk to a friend then?”
“Don’t really have any close friends anymore…”
“Then, as I consider myself your friend, get on with it. Forget I’m his brother.” Kolya responded gesturing with his brush.
Amelia was doubtful about the idea she could very well forget such a thing when the two were identical, but she breathed out and tried. “Well… I did sleep with your brother, I mean I didn’t plan on it, but…”
“Do you usually plan these things?” Kolya smirked. Amelia blushed and looked at the floor. “Did you want to sleep with him?”
“Yes.”
“Was he rough or inappropriate, did he upset you in some way?”
Amelia examined her boots. “No.”
“So what exactly is the problem?” he asked cocking his head curiously.
“Iyelledathimandwasacompletebitchbecausethewholethingscaredtheshitoutofme.” Amelia stumbled out as quickly as possible in the tone of voice of a rabid chipmunk.
Kolya’s eyebrow raised again, “Now that you’ve gotten that out, let’s try saying it slowly enough that people who are not tree-hopping rodentia can understand you.”
“I yelled at him and was a complete bitch because I think the whole thing scared the shit out of me.”
“Didn’t have room in your life for a little change of your controlled world?”
“Kind…of…and besides he’s only visiting…and you all are aristocracy! I’m a failed witch…I can’t just wait around for him to leave me.”
“Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren’t you?” Kolya said with a sort of tenderly mocking tone. “These all sound rather flimsy as excuses go. Really, I’m just hearing the same thing over again. ‘I’m scared because this is successfully distracting me from my search for revenge’ - and you’re not sure you’re sorry. To simplify: you’re wallowing in fear and guilt.’”
Amelia grimaced and looked at the wall. “Lay it all out there why don’cha,” she grumbled.
“I’m also guessing you have already realized this yourself.”
“…Yeah.”
“How long did it take you to come to this conclusion?”
“The second after he kissed me goodbye.”
Kolya shook his head and smiled darkly. “You’re fine.”
“No I’m not fine, I insulted him and said nasty things and was utterly cruel.”
“But he kissed you goodbye.” Amelia gave him a ‘so what’ look. “I’m going to give you a little piece of advice - a little insight into Kristoff. - He’s stubborn and he’s driven. It doesn’t take just one time telling him off to push him away. If he kissed you goodbye, it was probably just him warning you that he hadn’t listened to a word you’d said whatsoever. It’s annoying, especially when he does this to family. You can never tell Kristoff anything, and in the best case he just pretends he has listened and goes off to do whatever he wants anyway.”
Amelia chewed her lip. “Why would he even try? He has tons of girls, pretty girls, to pick from. It wouldn’t be worth the effort really to chase me around when he could just go to a club and beckon.”
Kolya laughed dryly. “I’m glad you think my brother is so debonaire.”
“No, I’m not saying, that is …you aren’t…”
“Don’t worry, my ego is not offended. More often than not, I’m the one guilty of your charge. Empty sex is easy, giving a shit is hard. But,” he continued. “Really, you’re describing me. To expose my unattractive side - I don’t like to involve myself with others if I can at all avoid it. Family is one thing, everyone else is expendable. Relationships end inevitably and it’s easier if, when they do, you didn’t really care in the first place. But Kristoff is different, he’s … picky. He doesn’t let people in very often - but then occasionally he does. And when he does, it’s with fanatical loyalty and dedication to the person he has opened up to. I think he’s a fool. No offense.”
“Um, none taken…I think.”
“Settle yourself, if I did not like you enough to make an effort to be friends with you, I would certainly not have let you get within five feet of my brother. Much less close enough to sleep with him. Not because I patrol his sex life, but rather because he’s the one most likely to get hurt. You didn’t hurt him.” Kolya scoffed. “You just challenged him. He will probably like that better in the long run with the sick twisted way his mind works.”
`“I can’t decide if you’re helping me or insulting me.”
“I’m helping you. Just because I think Kristoff goes about his life foolishly, doesn’t mean I can’t think that he makes better and worse mistakes. And on his range of mistakes, you’re a hair closer to a good decision than not.”
“But, you still think I’m a mistake.”
“No, perhaps I’m saying this wrong. Let me try again. Getting involved with anyone at all is a mistake. But if he has to go off and do it, you’re a good choice. You are kind, and have a good heart. … however, you can be misguided,” He added the last in a bitter murmur, confusing Amelia. “But, you are irrationally loyal to those you care about and you aren’t a lobotomized club slut. Simply, I approve as much as I am capable of.”
Amelia looked at Kolya doubtfully, not sure she had understood his complete monologue, “Ok.”
“Now,” Kolya said, putting his brush away. “I hope I helped a little, it has been an utter pleasure sorting out my brother’s love life,” he sighed in a kindly mocking tone. “I’m sure the two of you will work it out. But I need to go to bed so I can work tomorrow. It’s five in the morning.”
Amelia stood and walked over to Kolya, and threw her arms around the tall man in a big hug. “Thanks.”
Kolya grinned toothily. “I wouldn’t tell Kristoff you did that, he’d be quit put out.”
“Why? It’s not like he’s here and it’s not like it’s a big deal for me to hug you.”
“I will warn you once, by nature, he’s very possessive.” Kolya smirked. “Most of our kind are.”
“Males?”
“Uh, yes…exactly.”
Amelia was confused but shook it off to walk Kolya to the door of the warehouse and waved him goodbye. She smirked when she saw a Karmann Ghia idling for him outside. The sky was starting to go from black to slate grey, the sun would rise in an hour. Amelia considered going home to go back to bed, but discarded the idea. Passing back inside, Amelia decided to surprise Kristoff with the first clay prototype of her sculpture when he got in. A kind of apology for bailing on him .
Chapter 17
Amelia was awoken by a familiar voice and someone shaking her. “You’re asleep on the job Amelia.” Amelia looked up blearily. Kristoff stood before her where she had fallen asleep on his desk hours ago, giving in to exhaustion. “Do you even own a bed? I always find you sleeping on the job. First on your stake outs, now this.”
Amelia narrowed her eyes. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been here since three am. I was here even before Kolya left.”
Kristoff’s eyes narrowed, “What did you two do at such an hour? Did he get you to pose again?”
“So what if he did?” Spat Amelia back. Oh this was going well, she’d hoped to smooth things over from the last night, but they were already at each other’s throats.
“Then you’d have been sitting around naked with my twin brother, after you stormed out of my bed,” He bit out. Then he breathed and and snarled, “And you smell like him too.”
“I have no idea how you smell him on me, but I did not pose for him, we just talked. I gave him a hug. That’s it.”
“So, if you get mad at me you go running to Kolya?”
“Ac-tually,” Amelia said self righteously, “I came here to get some work done and just ran into him. I didn’t go looking for him. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Kristoff searched her face, and gave a sharp nod accepting her words, then he changed the topic. “So what did you get done?
Amelia goggled, as usual he had turned on a dime and just threw out the fact that he’d spent the ten minutes before insinuating she’d gone to his brother after sleeping with him.
“Well?” he said impatiently. Amelia sat back, appalled by his nerve. Then shaking her head, she pointed to the now completed three-d copy of her sculpture draft. He eyed it carefully.
“Very nice.”
Amelia crossed her arms with a snort. “You blow hot and cold like a frigging broken thermostat.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Amelia fought the impulse to roll her eyes. “So what’s on the agenda for tonight. Masterrr? More hand to hand? Knives again?”
He grinned wickedly for a moment, looking into her eyes with a banked fire, forcing her to remember the heat of the night before. Am
elia shifted in her seat. Then Kristoff’s eyes seemed to flash back to normal and he picked up his camera from the desk. “We’re going back to the Brooklyn bridge to retake the photos you screwed up.”
“Stop wasting time, I need to kill the bastard who killed Mona, and you said you’d train me. The photos we took that night were good enough.”
“Good enough is not acceptable in the pursuit of beauty, we can work more on your technique later. Let’s go.”
“I’m not with you to pander to your namby-pamby art ideals. You said you’d help me with Mona!”
“I also said that the cost of my time was your co-operation in my artistic endeavorers. In the four years you have stalked this Nikolais you have gotten no closer to his apprehension. A few hours working on life over death is just what you need. What will you do with yourself next year with no vampire to kill? Will you go back to being a coffee slinger or return to what you should be doing,” He nodded his head at the miniature sculpture meaningfully. “I may be here to give you your revenge. But I hope by the end of this you’ll have a better life to go to as well.”
“Oh shut up, let’s go so we can get this out of the way.”
Kristoff laughed softly. “That’s the spirit…”
Somehow, the underside of the bridge looked even more threatening when lit with the last of the blood red sunset casting shadows from the struts above. Amelia eyed the large corrugated drain pipe beside her, all the city’s ferals would be coming out to hunt in only moments - the minute the sun was truly gone. She worried that these tunnels might be a waking nest if that was the case. Kristoff seemed unconcerned. Amelia chaffed her sides to get warmer, and looked around nervously. Kristoff, as usual, looked like he had all the time in the world.
He snapped a shot of the water and carelessly began talking, “As you are so adamant we not waste your time - we’ll have a little lecture hall. Ferals - also known as Revenants - are stupid.” He looked around and shot the dying light rippling haphazardly over the stagnant water. As he squinted through the lens he continued. “They are slower and they are without any logical thought or planning. Basically they’re just big sharp shark mouths on decaying bodies.” He glanced up, from his shot. “The easiest thing to kill in the supernatural world.” He turned back to his work took the shot and paced away, talking as he went. “The only problem with them, is their bite, or scratch - it causes a virus related to the vampire virus. A kind of necrosis.”
A Guide to Vampire Hunting: ...and other failures (Alchemy Inc. Book 1) Page 11