Midnight Liberty League - Part I
Page 52
around her neck and started into a steady stride. As she passed by haughtily to demonstrate her command of mobility, Will watched bemusedly, shook his head, and followed her into the elevator. Vivienne punched the lobby button, eager to escape the hotel. When the elevator jolted downwards, she tripped again with a shrill squeak. She latched on to Will’s bicep with both hands, and clawed into his skin until she could stabilize herself.
“You’re never going to make it,” Will teased.
“I’m fine,” Vivienne snapped.
“Okay,” Will continued to mock playfully, “I’ll remind you of that when I have to carry you the rest of the way.”
Without being able to see her eyes behind the shades, Will was worried for a moment that he’d offended her. Fortunately, her mouth twitched just enough for him to catch her holding back a smile. They looked at each other for a second, then awkwardly turned away. Naturally, their enclosure was paneled with mirrors so neither could help but peek at the other and pretend to look away when their eyes met again. After another moment of sheepish avoidance, the doors opened and they both jumped out. They strolled through the empty lobby at a quick march set by Vivienne. Will kept checking on her, but she kept picking up the pace with increased poise.
“If only I could heal that quickly after an injury on the field,” Will remarked.
“You could,” said Vivienne, “but you wouldn’t look so good with pointy teeth.”
Once through the double doors, she stopped on the sidewalk and took in a deep breath through her nose. Independence Mall had been freshly mowed. She let the scent percolate at the back of her throat and then softly blew it out across her tongue. She turned her palms up to the cresting sun, and allowed the light to seep into her pale skin. Just as Will caught up, she moved again towards the corner and held her hand up for a taxi.
“Whoa, hey,” Will stopped her, “I thought we were going for a quick walk?”
“I think you were right about walking,” she said. “Maybe it would be better if I sit and eat first to get my strength. Do you like French?”
A cab pulled up, at which point Will no longer had a choice in the matter. This was quickly turning into a forced date. Reasserting himself, Will stepped off the curb.
“Sure,” Will replied as he opened the door for her, “after you.”
By the time he got in and shut the door, Vivienne had already given the driver instructions. The vehicle lurched out into traffic, skidded between two other cabs, and startled the head of a horse-drawn carriage as it zipped through the lights.
Once they got moving, the pair was silent. She seemed distracted by the passing city, or was at least pretending to be. As she concentrated on not being too interested, Will glanced over discreetly. Some spots on her arms and neck were still a little pink and she was certainly whiter than he remembered, but her flesh bore no more scars or dark blemishes. When she eventually turned her head back towards his side, he quickly altered his focus out the windshield. As the taxi changed course and headed towards City Hall, Will grew suspicious as he gaged their direction.
“Where are we going?” Will asked.
Vivienne answered, “A bistro on 18th. It’s my favorite, we can sit outside.”
“Yeah, I know it,” Will said reluctantly.
“Something wrong?”
The restaurant, which was situated on a public square, was only a few blocks from his house. Central to one of the shopping districts, it was a great place for people watching and being noticed. Unfortunately for Will, it was prime strolling time.
Will responded. “It’s a great place.”
That seemed to appease her as the cab approached the popular pedestrian junction. After a few more blocks they pulled up outside a large Parisian-styled bistro with colorful awnings shading the concrete pathways. Chatty couples in sophisticated casual wear were packed around small round tables on the sidewalk. The floor-length windows were all open, allowing a flood of conversation to pour out on passersby from the crowded interior. With it came the smell of freshly cut cheeses, oily meats, and the early pop of a champagne bottle.
In the square across the street every patch of grass was occupied by sunbathers, bicyclers, street musicians, richly adorned retirees, rebelliously dressed teenagers, yoga practitioners, wild packs of ambling children climbing on things, pigeon squadrons, and dog walkers trying to hold back their prowling beasts.
Will lead Vivienne through the door of the restaurant where the host quickly showed them to an outside table. They tucked themselves around the marble top to face the square, nearly bumping their neighbors on both sides. As soon as they sat, a prompt server handed them menus, took drink orders, and rushed back to the entrance.
“Beautiful,” Vivienne admired the clear sky then turned to Will, “So…”
“So…” Will repeated.
Vivienne looked quizzically at him, “You know everything about me, but who are you William Mith?”
“Me?”
“Oui.”
“Nothing special about me, just a regular college guy,” Will shrugged.
Her mouth turned sideways, reading him as she tried to coax a response, “I think not. George places a great deal of faith in you.”
“He does?”
“Mmhmm,” she said with an increasingly playful disposition. “I have heard him compliment your valor several times.”
“Huh,” was Will’s surprised reply.
“You know he never had children of his own?” Vivienne insinuated. “It is one of the reasons why he and Lafayette were so close. Le Marquis named his son Georges.”
“Yeah, I guess I knew that,” Will tried to recall.
“And you know business, and football, and history, and you go to an Ivy League school,” Vivienne pressed.
“Just hard work. Nothing special,” said Will.
Vivienne exclaimed, “Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
“Like father like daughter,” Will snickered.
“Did I quote him? Damn!” Vivienne protested with faux offense. “It is impossible to remember where I hear them all.”
Will laughed, “My dad is the same way. It’s no fun being chided with countless maxims as a kid.”
She smiled, “Perhaps, but don’t be fooled by my youthful complexion. I have experienced as much of the world as he has.”
“Really? I’ve heard he has had all kinds of indulgent experiences,” Will suggested.
Vivienne shot him a wicked glance, “I think, perhaps, you know too much history.”
“More than most at this point,” Will answered.
She hummed behind her tightly pursed lips, prying into him with catty eyes. A frisky interest reared in her soft tone. She took a sip of water, never losing sight of him over the brim of her glass.
“I knew our secret was overdue for a reveal, but I didn’t think it would be because of me again,” Vivienne remarked mysteriously. “So I suppose I should not be fooled by your pretended lack of interest in the Grail. You haven’t asked about it once.”
Will could hear her words twisting into an open-ended trap. Part first date, part job interview, she was fighting to figure him out. Her face was drawn seductively, intimidating him with vexing feminine power as she folded her fingers together and rested her chin on top of them.
“Why would I? I thought it had a will of its own,” Will toyed with her.
“I wouldn’t know,” she said, “but shouldn’t I need a reason to trust you anyway?”
“You trust me? So you think you know better than George Washington? You’re the one who’s going to get me killed,” Will protested humorously. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because you don’t have a choice Monsieur Vampire Hunter,” Vivienne whispered slyly. “Who else are you going to trust? You said yourself, you know too much.”
Will had no response. However, the punctual server arrived to suspend the conversation by inquiring after their lunch order. As he ordered he could feel Vivienne’s eyes on him still. Onc
e he finished he glanced over to find her staring keenly as if judging the pronunciation of his meal. She then spoke her request in such a speedy and dense accent that the server’s pen was noticeably frozen, in need of a moment to process what she’d said. The server then nodded and left them alone again, far too quickly for Will’s liking.
“So…” Vivienne said again.
“Alright, fine. Now that I know, I can’t go back to a normal life. I want to find it. I want to live forever. I also know that this isn’t a movie. I might actually get killed. It doesn’t really matter anyway, it’s gone,” Will answered.
“For now, but we will get it back,” Vivienne declared. “You must get it back.”
“Me?”
“Well I don’t need it, but we certainly can’t let them have it,” Vivienne explained.
“I thought you didn’t trust me,” Will countered.
“I never said that,” Vivienne replied, “but you have to convince yourself. I have seen you fight them. You are strong like they are. If you don’t fight you die anyway, and you let them live.”
“How will we find them?” Will pushed back.
“The Templars will help us. They can see all of the world’s money moving around. Now we know what to look for, and they can find them,” Vivienne theorized. “You will see. Everything will work out. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t important.”
“Well…thanks,” Will capitulated.
“Of course,” Vivienne said maternally. “I know how you feel, like you can’t talk to anyone. Believe me, I know. The things that you have seen don’t make any sense, but I am real.