Claire, still smiling, covered my hand with hers as it laid on her forearm, "Maybe, but I was also thinking somewhere a little warmer. Australia or New Zealand." She glanced at me, motioning for us to start walking, "I want to live somewhere there is large bodies of water. Nothing soothes me more than sitting on a hill top, or mountain top, looking down at an ocean or lake. Something about it makes me feel free." She took another sip, moaning like a happy little kid at the thick chocolate in her cup. "What about you Kit?"
I shrugged, "Never thought about it, so I guess my simple answer is. Wherever you are, is where I want to be." I leaned into her, chuckling, "My, aren't we both sappy right now."
Claire laughed with me, nodding, "We are. Perhaps it's time to move onto the museum? Or is there something else you would prefer to do?"
I smirked, looking down at the old cobblestones, "Claire, I don't think I can answer that question without being inappropriate." I squeezed her arm, looking up in her amber eyes seeing the same things I was thinking reflected back. "We should at least try and do a few things on this beautiful day before we lock ourselves up in the bedroom until morning." I wanted nothing more than to spend the entire day, or weekend, in bed with Claire. It had only been a few days since defiling her childhood bedroom, but I always ached to be with her. Serum or no serum, I would always want Claire and continue to try as much as possible to one up her. I did want to spend the day doing all the things she suggested, touristy things, lunch and dinner, but I also wanted to slowly torture the woman as far as I could. Maybe inspire her to revisit the intense passion of our first time together, but without the sadness and anger I had brought that night. I wanted to redo that night the right way. I had made it my mission in the cafe to rile Claire up to that point throughout the day. Aside from than that, it was fun to fluster the always so put together woman.
Claire sighed dramatically, "Remember this when I am boring you to death ranting about how I think the evolutionary theory of how dinosaurs died is completely inaccurate. I still think man and the birth of the caveman might have contributed to the creature’s demise." She waved her hand absently, "See, already becoming painfully boring."
I laughed, "If you haven't bored me by now, Claire, I don't think you ever will." I said it half serious, hoping to get a rise out of the blonde. I was enjoying this free and silly Claire. A far cry from the quiet, intense doctor and senator I had seen the most.
Claire's face dropped slightly, obviously taking my comment seriously. She paused in her steps, "You think I am boring?" Her tone suggested she might be offended by my comment.
I bit my bottom lip to hide the grin and continued the ruse, I turned to face Claire, shrugging, "Maybe." I stepped closer into her space, pushing her arms open so I could move even closer. Our faces were inches apart, I could see Claire swallow hard, trying to stay upset with me, but was failing as I leaned forward. I let go of my bottom lip, my mouth curling into a half smile, "I'm kidding, Claire." She squinted at me, I moved closer, my nose brushing her cheek as I spoke in her ear softly, "I think you're brilliant. Beautiful inside and out, insatiable in your intellect and with your love for me." I pressed a light kiss under her ear, "You are far too sexy to ever be boring, especially when you make me cry out your name as I am under you, naked."
When I heard her gasp, I leaned back, but not before letting my lips graze her flushed cheek. Smiling as I walked out of her arms, successful in shutting the woman's brain down and rendering the beautiful genius speechless. I grabbed her hand, pulling her after me. "Do they have dinosaur bones at this museum like they do in D.C.?"
Claire stumbled over her words and steps until she recovered, coming to walk by my side, "Um, yes. They have a complete Tyrannosaurus Rex display and a few others." She soon found her bearings and began to ramble on about how the bone marrow of dinosaurs was being analyzed to possibly hold genetic information that may unlock more of the world's mysteries.
I listened intently, the only mystery in my mind was the one of how I was so lucky to have found Claire and her love.
________________________
The natural history museum was a marvel on its own, let alone the incredible collections it held within its walls. The modern exterior of the building lead one into halls and walls filled with worlds long forgotten. It was a far cry from the old feeling of a school trip the D.C. museum always gave me.
Claire headed straight to the mineral exhibit while I took in the architecture, mumbling something about wanting to see the rare tourmalines on display.
I followed her, shaking my head at the way she suddenly became that tall, lanky girl with big glasses excited to be in her true element. Rushing about and rattling off the vast amount of knowledge she carried. We passed the polar bear exhibit, stuffed penguins sitting on fake ice bergs, mingling with the large stuffed bears as if they were good friends. I suddenly thought of Norbert, deciding when everything had reached a complete calm, I would go back to see my little friend, tell him thank you. Thank you for being that final clue I needed to open the door and let the world in, let Claire into my world. I also suddenly wished I had packed him along.
Claire looked over her shoulder, grinning like a fool, pointing ahead of her, "Its right around this corner."
I nodded and slowly followed, my mind was drifting back to a hard reality. In the morning I would have to sit down and read all the files from Rebecca and start the overwhelming task of finding Alistair. Benson's foreboding warning clicking around in the back of my thoughts like a broken fan blade running on high. A constant nagging.
I found Claire hovering in front of a large glass display case containing a wide range of gemstones still embedding in their natural stone encasements. She turned her head as I walked closer, pointing at a flat oval stone that was green and pink. The two colors fading into each other in a way that amazed me that nature could do such a thing.
"This a watermelon tourmaline. One of my favorite gemstones in the world." Claire drew her finger down to where the two colors met and faded away. "When I was nineteen, I went to the Smithsonian while my father and mother were at senate meetings for the steel industry. I had to cut through the mineral exhibit to make my way over to the evolutionary section. I had been researching Darwin and human evolution as I was in the starting phases of my project. I needed to understand the foundation before I began to tear it apart and rebuild it."
Claire smiled, waving me closer, "The Smithsonian has that massive piece. The one with two large conical shaped stones coming out of a dirt, rock base. All the tiny little spires of new growth crowning the bottom?"
I nodded, signaling I knew the one she spoke of. I had to sit next to the thing a few times babysitting that helmet haired Congresswoman during a few charity benefits. I never paid it much attention, I was too focused on ensuring I didn't asphyxiate on the stink of rich colognes, perfumes and the general stink of pompous assholes.
Claire grabbed my elbow, "This isn't the same one, but it's close in the coloring. But this gemstone inspired me. Gave me the ultimate idea of placing the new organs on top of the older ones. You see how the colors seem to ignore yet accept each other? One always being more predominate than the other?" She pointed at where the pink of the stone in front of us covered most of the stone before it faded into the green edges. "It gave me the idea, that if nature could do this, so could I. I could introduce a new color into an old one and the body would accept it. Fading away in time." Claire shrugged, "It was a silly romantic idea when it struck my young eager mind, but all I needed was the inspiration, it took me a decade plus to finally make it a realization."
She tapped the glass lightly, "This simple rock is the reason why Beth, Emilana, and Rebecca came to be. All because I wanted to defy nature while becoming a part of it. I have always wanted one of these stones, they are just so hard to obtain." Claire rolled her eyes, "Well the perfect ones I want. The Smithsonian won't sell."
I looked at Claire, mouth slightly agape at what she just said, "Wait, are
you telling me that you approached the Smithsonian and offered to buy that giant one they have?"
Claire nodded sheepishly, turning to lean against the brass railing separating viewers from the glass, "I did. I left Oxford and was full steam on getting the project started with Dr. Zehren. Hitting walls left and right, I needed inspiration. Figured having it in my lab would help."
I chuckled, "And how much did you offer them?"
She looked down at her feet, folding her arms, "A billionaire heiress never tells her secrets." She looked up at me, pushing off the railing, glancing one more time at the stones, "Maybe when I get married, I can have tourmalines instead of diamonds." She smiled tightly, taking a slow breath in before looking in my eyes. Something in the way she looked at me, sucked the air from my lungs and made my heart throw itself up into my throat.
There was an awkward pause, a strange silent tension falling in the small space between us. I wanted to ask her if she wanted to get married, what her thoughts were on kids, houses, dogs, mini vans or SUV's. The domestic questions I never thought to ask over what is the passcode to the panic room or how do I disarm the steel window barriers. I only had Claire in my life for maybe two months, a few weeks as her girlfriend, but as I stood in front of her, hearing her say when I get married, my heart pushed my brain out of the way. I opened my mouth to ask her all the questions, when an older woman walked up to us.
"Excuse me girls, may I help you with anything?" The French laden accent carried the voice over to us.
Both Claire and I turned to the older woman. Dressed in the uniform of the other museum staff, a dark blue blazer, grey trousers, white blouse and a name tag on her outer lapel announcing her name was Marie.
Claire smiled, standing up straighter like she did when she became the Senator, "We were just looking."
Marie nodded, "I noticed. I wanted to come over and ask if you two would like a guided tour of the rest of the mineral exhibit. We have a few more new additions in the tourmaline family near the west wall." Her French accent was thick, but not so thick either of us had trouble understanding her. It also made her voice a little more soothing and gentle, making one want to listen to everything she had to say. It wasn't hard to figure out why she was a tour guide.
I looked over the woman out of habit. She looked to be in her early seventies, pure white hair cut in a conservative yet modern cut, she was slightly bent over with age. She was wearing thick bifocal glasses with a slight tint to them. The way she squinted told me she probably had cataract issues in her blue eyes made grey by the lens tint. She smiled at both of us in a way that told us she definitely had grandchildren. Nothing about the woman sent my gut into worry or concern. Marie was apparently a bored retiree who worked part time at the museum.
Claire shook her head, "We will be fine, thank you." She dropped her arms, "Could you tell us when the museum closes today? And where the restrooms are?"
Marie smiled, looking at her watch, "Of course, we close in a half hour for lunch and reopen at one." She spun her tiny gold watch before tucking it under her sleeve. "The ladies room is over to your right next to the quartz."
Claire smiled, "Kit I will meet you up front? I just need to use the restroom."
I nodded, watching Claire walk away, still lost in the ball of questions and ideas she left in me with a simple comment about marriage. I would have to ask her at lunch where alcoholic beverages could be easily accessed if I lost my nerve.
God, I was nervous if I was thinking of drinking.
"Pardon me, but isn't that the American Senator Avondale? The one who had a terrible incident a week ago? Shot in front of her office by a masked man?" Marie's soft question snapped me out of my haze, swinging my head to the older woman who was squinting in the direction Claire went.
I felt my skin tingle at the question.
Marie turned slowly to me, a genuine innocent smile on her face, "Her face has been all over the papers. News travels slowly to us since Switzerland still remains neutral in the world's affairs. The main reason why I left Paris for here after the war." Marie placed a shaky liver spotted hand on my shoulder, "My heart went out to the dear girl." Marie emphasized her words by placing her hand over her heart and shaking her head softly, in a display of affectionate disgust at those who dared attack Claire. "I read about all the charity work she does for children and museums like ours. Always giving back instead of taking, an admirable thing these days. A rare thing as well. It's terrible to think anyone would want to disrupt the life of such a lovely girl. The world is a strange place that I no longer understand."
She paused as I began to relax, it was expected that a shooting in the American Senate would reach all the corners of the world. Especially since the media had purported it to be a terrorist attack with links to a group that had ties in Europe as well. All mixed truths and lies, but it provided a headline for the world. Marie was just a kind old lady who clearly craved human contact by the way she rambled on gently.
I folded my arms across my chest, smiling, "She's recuperating from the incident. Geneva is good for that, from what I understand." I left it at that. Hoping a small tidbit would chase off the old woman, I wouldn't tell her anymore or who I was.
Marie winked at me with a smile, "Yes, we are well known for our healing air and privacy. Probably why all those rich people hide money here." She laughed at her own joke, "Alas, I understand. She is quite beautiful in person." She dropped her hand from my shoulder, "Can I say, I noticed the way you two look at each other. It makes me think of when I met my Henri during the victory celebrations at the end of the war." Marie took a step back, "You should marry her before it's too late."
I shot the older woman a confused and nervous look, I hated when people could read my emotions. Made me wish I had paid more attention in some of the academy classes on interviewing and body language. Even though I knew that the way I looked at Claire a blind man with a blindfold could see what I felt for her. Regardless, it still irked me.
Marie held her hand up, noticing how I tensed up suddenly, "I might be old and my eyes might be cloudy." She tapped the side of her glasses, "I can still see the important things. Love is important." Marie clasped her hands in front of her, "You shouldn't waste any more time. Before you know it, you will blink and all of this will be gone." She stepped back, "Enjoy the rest of the exhibits." Marie turned and shuffled off to the left, greeting another tour group in German. Stopping to tell them about the mineral exhibit.
I stared at the old woman until she disappeared completely. Her words were a perfect narrative of what I felt and what Claire and I had been enduring from the moment we met. I had already blinked too many times, and wasted too much time. I sighed hard, folding my arms across my chest before walking through the museum and to the front lobby.
I let the old woman's advice sink in to my heart, she was right. I was done wasting time out of fear.
***********
A shadowed figure stood in the dark basement of the museum. Opening a thick steel door in the far corner of the back wall. A damp, small closet where the museum kept old display materials for galas and events. Stepping over a large lump covered in a dark stained sheet of canvas. It flicked on the hard fluorescent lights of the room. Illuminating the small storage closet, the shadowed figure bent down with ease to the lump, pulling back the corner.
A smirk fell across the shadows face when she looked at the wide blue eyes of a dead older woman under the stained canvas, naked except for her bra and underwear. A large open gash to the bone across her forehead made the shadows smirk grow, the blood staining the edges of perfect white hair. Marie's blank face staring up at the shadow hovering over her lifeless body.
Marie's thick glasses were set back on her cold, grey face. "Thank you my dear. You were right, this was one of my best disguises." The voice was void of any accent or softness. Replaced by a hard rasp that was neither male nor female. "I will let them have this last beautiful day. Soon, the good doctor and her love will find out how
close Alistair Montgomery can get without them noticing. Hopefully with disastrous results." He laughed quietly, "I do hope I can ruin an engagement announcement with a death announcement, or two." Alistair patted the dead woman's shoulder, "This was a lovely chat, but I must be off. I need to heed my own advice, time is truly wasting."
The corner of the canvas was tossed back over the dead woman. A white wig, followed by a perfect mask of Marie was thrown on top. The tour guide uniform quick to follow, making a morbid thump sound as it landed in a ball on the canvas. Alistair stood up, plucking a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt and a hooded black leather jacket from a duffel bag. Alistair dressed quickly. As the hood came to rest around the dark blonde hair, Alistair reached back into the duffel bag, pulling out a black, red, and white bottom half of a kabuki mask.
Alistair then turned to a shiny steel cabinet, catching the reflection of a twisted face. One with thick pink and red burn scars carrying up from the neck and around a set of tight lips. Alistair stared at the mangled reflection before slowly placing the mask on, removing the sight of the scars. Replacing it with the demon smile, accentuated by the four bright fangs. The dead blue eyes blinking with tears. Alistair bent down quickly snatching up the empty duffel bag and slamming the lights off with a closed fist.
Chapter 29
Lunch was skipped, not on purpose, but on the sole fact Claire and I had gotten lost in the small shops along the edge of the city. The woman was adamant on getting me to spend money on clothes, since I had once again packed poorly. Throwing short sleeve t-shirts and one more hoody in my bag while rushing to leave San Diego. Geneva wasn't nearly as bone cold as Washington was but there was a constant chill in the air that nagged at me and it had begun to snow lightly around the sun’s rays here and there. We chit chatted as we walked, discussing how she wanted to see Davey before dinner, even after I told her he wanted to avoid us until we were properly reunited, mumbling about how he will never sit on any couch in any of our houses ever again. Claire blushed and laughed softly, saying that she couldn't blame him, then awkwardly moved the conversation to the weather and what I might want for dinner.
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