Flicker

  Elise hadn't even picked up her menu when Rashid began speaking to the hovering waiter. He ordered fish for both of them, and a bottle of wine in a variety Elise had never even heard of. She sat through the exchange pale and silent, trying to control the periodic shakes that ran through her, unsure whether his domineering demeanor was contrived to intimidate her, or whether it was just natural for him. She was betting on the latter, and that frightened her more.

  When the waiter left, Rashid leaned back in his chair, surveying her calmly. “You know, kitten, there's really no need for you to be so afraid. I would have thought you'd learned that during our last talk.”

  Elise crossed her arms over her chest. “Like terrifying me isn't at least half your intention with these little get-togethers?” She scoffed.

  “Not in the least,” he said mildly. “I'm far more interested in securing your willing partnership than I am in terrorizing you any further than you already have been.”

  “So, those blatant references to my past are supposed to cheer me up?” She raised her eyebrows at him, her disdain warring with her fear. No one had ever accused her of lacking a temper.

  Rashid heaved a sigh, and Elise suddenly realized that he wasn't as tall as she'd thought he was, and certainly didn't tower over her at all. Or, wait, that wasn't right-- he was a hair taller than Alex, which put him at more than big enough to tower all he wanted. She blinked at him, frowning. “Stop that,” she snapped, her anger overriding her fear for the moment.

  Now it was Rashid's turn to raise his eyebrows; he looked almost impressed. “You're young, to have picked up on that little trick so immediately.”

  “Yes, it's a gift,” she said sarcastically. “Knock off the manipulation, why don't you? You say you want me on your side, and from what I hear, we're all going to live quite a long time-- that's too long for lies and games.” Suddenly, she felt drained by all the emotions running through her. “Just say what you came to say.”

  Rashid leaned forward, his hands folded beneath his chin as he surveyed her, his eyes piercing. After a few long moments, he seemed to come to a decision about her, and he sat back, for all she could see just a regular man. When he spoke, his accented voice was devoid of any innuendo or threat. “How do you think we came to be what we are?”

  She hesitated a moment before answering, but after demanding blatant honesty from him, she couldn't very well do otherwise herself. “I suppose we've evolved this way over the centuries, to be a different kind of human.” She smiled a bit to herself. “The pinnacle of human evolution.”

  Rashid gave a tight little laugh. “I see you've met Alexander's pet, Gregory.”

  Elise frowned at him. “He didn't seem like much of a pet to me.” She would have said more, but had to pause as the waiter returned. She wasn't sure just how completely Rashid had decided to control him, so she leaned back, allowing him to set her dish in front of her. The food smelled delicious, but she wasn't particularly focused on eating. The waiter also poured her a glass of white wine, in which she had even less interest. She thanked him absently, and regretted doing so when she saw Rashid smirk in response to the conditioned social gesture. As soon as the waiter walked away, she continued a little more waspishly. “Didn't we just establish that, say, five centuries is a long time to coerce someone into doing your bidding?”

  Rashid laughed at her again, which fed her temper steadily. “You underestimate dear Alexander's charm, kitten,” he said, mockery back in his voice. “Gregory needs nothing so base. He believes, quite firmly, that the sun revolves around Alexander; he will do and believe anything that Alexander tells him.”

  Elise didn't want to believe that, but she had to admit that it was a possibility. She'd seen people do stupid things out of loyalty before. To cover the sudden drop in her stomach as she wavered in her surety, she snapped, “You say that like it's such a bad thing, but from what I hear, you have your own little cult back at home.”

  “Looking into me now, are you, kitten?” His voice was quiet-- dangerously so. “You're welcome to-- but don't come crying to me if you don't like what you find.”

  Elise swallowed hard. Reigning in her temper rather than risk baiting him into a potentially deadly confrontation, she responded softly. “It seems as if you have a different idea of how we came to be.”

  “Certainly.” With the change of subject, his demeanor altered once more; he became cheerfully casual, drawing out the moment as he slowly took a bite of the aromatic flounder arranged on his plate. Without really thinking about it, Elise did the same. “Young people these days really have no idea about religion, but when I was born, we understood the power of God. Our abilities are simply a manifestation of His will.”

  Elise froze, stunned. She'd been raised religious; her parents were decently devout, and she frequently accompanied them to church. She'd never really been sure what she believed as a child, and after her freshman year she was quite sure there was no higher power. But even still, she often attended the service because she enjoyed the quiet time for reflection. Never, in her entire life, had she heard someone speak about the Divine with such absolute conviction as she'd heard in Rashid's last statement. She blinked at him, suddenly fighting an urge to edge away; fanatics made her nervous. Still, she couldn't resist challenging him.

  “If it is your god who's gifted our race with these powers, how do you explain what happened to me?” She demanded. “You so casually reference my past, so I'm sure you're aware. Please, enlighten me.”

  The look Rashid cast her was pitying, and she swore to herself that if he said the words “God's will,” she would actually hit him with something. At the very least, she'd throw that vile wine in his smug face.

  “Did dear Alexander tell you that nasty little rape wasn't your fault? Oh, kitten, what a stupid thing to believe.” Elise's mouth fell open. She read his smirk in his eyes as his words hit her like a slap. He didn't wait for her to respond, but kept on going. “Of course you were latent, so you didn't mean to. You just couldn't help putting into those poor boys' heads that you're the most attractive, most sexy, most desirable woman they're ever going to meet. I know you didn't actually intend them to do anything with that, but that makes you a bit of a tease, now doesn't it, sweetie?” He tsked at her, tapping his finger on his cheek as he rested his chin in his hand, looking very much like a disappointed parent chastising a particularly slow child. “How exactly would you expect God to defend those helpless boys from all the powers you possess? Even as a latent, you would have been incredibly potent. They never had a chance.” He took a sip from his glass, and automatically Elise did the same. The wine's bitterness on her tongue brought her to her senses.

  Elise stood abruptly, slamming the glass down angrily. “I told you to shelve the manipulation,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

  Rashid raised his eyebrows. “Is that what Alexander does-- bend himself to fit your will?”

  Elise felt her face twist into a derisive frown as she glared down at him, thrown yet again by the abrupt change of subject. “Alex is always himself,” she snapped. Then she hesitated, however, recalling that more than once, he had done precisely that. Wasn't that what she wanted, though? Someone who would respect her wishes, who would treat her the way she wanted to be treated? But if that meant changing who he was... was he really being honest, and did she actually care about him? Besides, a little voice whispered through her mind. Wasn't I intrigued all those times when he took charge? Wasn't it exciting to play his games? I've made him give that up, haven't I?

  Rashid was watching her think, she realized as she took in his intense gaze. She wondered belatedly if she was shielding hard enough to keep him out of her head.

  “You know,” he said, his voice suddenly pensive. “I have always thought the strife in this world is caused by things being out of balance.”

  She blinked at him. When he gestured towards her vacated chair, she sat back down, too curious about his strange views to walk away at this point. Without
thinking, she took another sip from her glass, belatedly grimacing as she recalled what filled it. “What do you mean?” She asked.

  Rashid sighed, gazing out the window on the far side of the close room. “God meant for the family to be ruled by a mother and a father, equal partners. Why should the world not be governed the same way? The Queen rules our kind alone, advised only by her three heirs, with no opposite to balance her; meanwhile, the human world constantly wars within itself. There is too much division, and no stability.”

  Elise's brows were drawn sharply as she processed what he was saying. In a strange way, it made sense; she had always preferred balance and moderation as a philosophy. Growing up, she had always felt that a balanced lifestyle was best-- but really, she had no basis for comparison. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this conversation. She shook her head abruptly. “What's your solution, then?” She asked, her voice a little harsh as she tried to shrug off the idea that just maybe, he might have a point.

  Rashid smiled at her, once again somewhere between enticing and threatening. “I should think that would be obvious.”

  Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “I despise guessing games,” she snapped. “Frankly, I have half a mind to call Alex and tell him all of this. What do you think he would make of your theories?”

  He leaned back in his seat, entirely unimpressed by her threat. “You won't tell him-- because then you'll have to admit to him that you think I'm right.”

  Elise's heart jumped into her throat, and she gulped, not saying a word. Had she forgotten to shield? Or was he just guessing? If the latter, then her reaction could only have confirmed his theory. “So you think I'll lie to him for you?” She desperately clung to her anger to cover her pounding heart.

  Rashid grinned broadly. “No, I think you'll lie to him for you.” Then he sat up suddenly, the grin disappearing as if it had never been and his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that stripped away all her bravado. “But remember this, girl: if you ever lie to me, I can't answer for the consequences.”

  Elise began to tremble once more.

  Alexander caught sight of Elise through the trees, her chestnut hair shining in the late afternoon sun. Her long, black cloak stood out strikingly against the beech bark, her gray skirts swirled around her legs, and as he often did when he saw her alone, he felt a moment of disorientation, her archaic clothing making him question which century he was living now. Shaking off his thoughts, he broke into a jog, calling out to her to wait.

  Elise spun, looking as if he'd startled her out of a daydream, and unconsciously Alexander slowed, his breath catching in his chest. The bitter autumn wind had whipped roses into her cheeks and turned her lips pale. It wasn't just the pull of her power he felt-- in that moment, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

  But she was beautiful today in an icy, distant way. As he drew closer to her, he felt a frown cross his features: something was wrong with her. She was closed away from him, and though she stood paused, waiting for him, it was clear that inside they were very far apart.

  “Elise?” He asked without preamble as he came up beside her. “Has something happened?”

  She forced the smile he had grown accustomed to in the first weeks of their acquaintance, the one that pricked at him, reminding him of the agonizing secrets that had nearly broken her. Her cold-whitened lips parted to flash teeth, but her eyes shone with more than just a glaze brought by the wind. “Of course not,” she said with a short laugh, looking up at him. Her gloved hand rested against the tree, her body arched toward him-- everything about her pose was calculated to convey sincerity. She was shielding too hard for him to believe a word she said. “I was just lost in thought, I suppose.” The wind gusted and she shivered abruptly. “It's getting chilly out-- would you like to join me in getting inside?”

  Alexander stepped closer to her, wishing-- though he kept the thought carefully to himself-- that he could bring himself to pry inside her mind and find out what she was hiding. Instead, he reached out and gently raised the hood of her long, velvet cloak to cover her hair. “Yes, let's.” Abiding by her deception felt like swallowing shards of glass, but he reminded himself as he fell into step beside her that she needed time.

  “Why don't you come to my house for the afternoon?” Alex asked after they'd walked in silence for a few minutes.

  Elise hesitated, considering refusing the invitation. It wasn't that she didn't crave the sense of safety she found with him-- when she'd heard him call her across the park, it had been all she could do not to run to him and throw herself into his arms. But she didn't want to tell him about meeting with Rashid-- between having gone somewhat voluntarily and the little voice in her mind that called Rashid's words reasonable, she felt guilty right now.

  As much as she hated proving Rashid right, she just couldn't tell Alex about what had gone on in the past hour. She knew she should, but right now, with her nerves still raw from the last deadly conversational dance she'd managed to get through, she simply couldn't handle another confrontation. And if spending the afternoon at Alex's house would mean lying to him, even just for now, then she just wanted to go home. Would he be upset, maybe feel rejected? She glanced up at him; he was carefully looking ahead, giving her space to decide. If she said she didn't want to go with him, he wouldn't question her.

  Suddenly, that bothered her. When they'd first met, he'd been so dominant that he'd scared her, pushing her almost to the breaking point on several occasions. But ever since she'd broken down at his house-- it had been just over a month now-- he'd been so delicate, so gentle with her. At first, she had appreciated his care and distance, but it was beginning to feel as if he thought she was weak, too broken to play his games. Abruptly, she was angry.

  “Sure,” she said sweetly, lifting her chin to meet his gaze challengingly. “Let's go.”

  Alex raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you all right?” He asked, clearly having noticed the change in her demeanor.

  Elise gave him the predator's grin he used to frighten her with. “Oh, of course. I would just rather go get warm together.”

  Alex was frowning, but he continued to walk with her, letting her lead the way through the park and down the few blocks to his house. Elise could sense him beside her and half a step behind, could feel as his power brushed hers and he sifted through the emotions she allowed him to see, struggling to comprehend what she was thinking. “Are you angry at me?” He asked finally, as his street came into view.

  Elise cast a smirk over her shoulder. “Not at you, per se,” she said flippantly, purposely trying to get under his skin by emulating his dominant tactics. After a few more steps, she heard it click in his mind, and then he was shielding and she couldn't feel more than his presence. She bit her lip, worried for a moment that she had provoked him in the wrong way, and had actually upset him. But she was just playing, she decided. If he was hurt, she'd apologize, but she wasn't sure she could take him acting like she was so breakable anymore.

  Alex was a perfect gentleman as he ushered her up his front steps. For a moment, she was reminded forcefully of Rashid, but she cast any thought of him from her mind. Regardless of what Alex would say once they got inside, she didn't want to have to shield from him-- but now wasn't the time to tell him about her dinner meeting.

  And then they were through the door, and standing in the front hallway, at the base of the stairs. Elise turned to Alex, her hands going to her throat to undo the clasp on her cloak. She wasn't sure, exactly, what she was planning to say, but she never even got a chance.

  He was there, right beside her, though she hadn't heard him move. Her school bag thudded to the ground, and she gasped as he gripped her wrists tightly, her heart stopping for a moment. He used her arms to push her back against the wall behind the door, trapping her hands on either side of her shoulders, boxing her in. “Is this what you wanted?” He whispered, leaning so close that his lips brushed her ear.

  Elise's knees had gone weak, until the wal
l behind her and Alex's iron grasp on her wrists were the only things keeping her upright. She nodded rapidly, trying desperately to keep breathing. Her heart was racing and her mouth had gone dry, but the sensations rushing through her were of pleasure, not fear.

  She had to swallow once, and then again, but Elise managed to speak as Alex, still trapping her against the wall, began to trail gentle kisses down her neck. “I--” she gasped, and tried again. “I've missed you being like this. It felt like you were holding back, because I was broken.”

  Alex drew back just far enough that he could look her in the eyes. With him bending over to reach her neck, they were on the same level, and Elise didn't have to look up at all to meet his gaze. “I was holding back because you deserve someone who will treat you gently, and with respect,” he whispered sincerely.

  “Do you respect me?” Elise murmured back. He nodded. “Then I want this--” she struggled just a moment, trying to force her arms away from the wall, and let him feel the desire that his strength brought out of her. “I want you.”

  He let out a low groan at her words, and pressed his forehead against hers, the contact innocent and incredibly sweet. For just a second, Elise thought he was going to kiss her, and her lips parted in breathless anticipation. She had never been kissed before.

  But then he was moving, forcing her wrists together over her head so he could hold them both with one hand. She writhed, and he pressed his lower body against hers, trapping her even more thoroughly; she gave a tiny moan. And then she froze as his newly free hand found its way to her throat.

  In a heartbeat, whatever he wanted to do was done, and then he was pulling her away from the wall and she realized he'd unfastened her cloak as it fell from her shoulders. Before Elise could process what was happening, Alex swept her into his arms, and was carrying her up the stairs.