Claire felt a little excited. Everyone she knew, besides Beast, carried a phone on them. Now she would have one too. Her excitement waned as she realized that she didn't know how to use one. She hoped it came with a manual.
It did. So she wouldn't have to embarrass herself by asking Julius how to use it. He held out her phone to her.
“I thought the blue was the nicest color.” He explained. “I've already entered my number into the memory.” His expression turned serious. “It's for my personal phone, so be careful with this, only two people have that number.”
Claire took the phone from his hand and nodded. “I won't lose it.” She told him seriously. It was a very nice shade of metallic blue, she thought.
They continued through the store, getting her pens, epapers, micro-computer, and other essentials. Again, Julius ordered everything to be delivered to the Manor, so they didn't have to carry anything. Claire kept her phone in her pocket though, she wanted to get used to carrying it around.
Julius glanced out the window, seeing that it was still raining. He bought a black umbrella for himself. “We're all done. Let's get back to the car.” He said, heading for the door. Claire followed, putting her hood up again.
He looked down at Claire once they were outside. “You are very easy to shop with, I'm glad.” He told her earnestly.
Claire giggled. “Do you know someone that's hard shop with?” She asked.
His eyes narrowed briefly. “Yes, I do.”
Claire wanted to ask who it was, but the expression in his eyes made her pause. They walked down the street in silence, heading back to the parking garage.
A bright red hovercar passed them in the street. Julius admired it openly. It was sleek and looked amazingly fast. He recognized the new Phantom II model. He had read up on it last month. He hadn't realized that it was out yet though. He would have to acquire one for himself, but only if they fixed the Phantom I's leaden steering issue.
The car turned and parked neatly on the corner, and the driver stepped out. Julius admired the driver as well. She was tall, with a pleasing figure. Her thick blonde curls fell down her back. She wore a red suit and heels that perfectly matched the color of her car.
She leaned against the car door, looking right at him. She wore dark sunglass, which he found odd, given the weather. Her perfectly shaped lips widened into a seductive smile.
A shiver went through him. Not a pleasant one that would have been his normal response to such a smile. There was something wrong here. He turned to look down at Claire.
But she was gone.
He looked around quickly, thinking that maybe she had lingered outside of one of the store windows, but she had vanished. There were people everywhere, it would be easy to hide among them and snatch Claire while he was distracted. He turned back to the blonde, suspicious now.
Her smile had widened into a grin. She pursed her lips slowly, blowing him a kiss.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. He gripped the handle of his new umbrella so tightly that the wood cracked.
He was just about to take a step toward the woman when his phone rang.
*** Claire didn't move an inch. Her breathing was quick, and jagged by fear. One iron-hard arm was wrapped around her torso from behind, pinning her small, weak arms into place at her sides. The other arm was bent under her neck, the hand holding a knife under the side of her jaw.
Her captor had seized her from Julius' side silently, in a matter of seconds, ducking into an alley and through a waiting open door. He had clamped his hand over her mouth, but it had been unnecessary since she had been much too startled to cry out.
Claire could still see Julius, his back to her, the door was open a crack. She watched him look around for her. She wanted to yell out to him, but fear had paralyzed her voice. It flooded through her brain, shutting her body down. She didn't dare breathe too loudly.
She gave no resistance when her captor began pulling her backwards, edging away from the door. The knife point dug into her skin. She was in shock though, and did not feel the pain. Suddenly a loud click echoed through the dark room, and her captor froze. He released her immediately. She stumbled forward and turned around.
Her eyes widened in shock. Someone stood behind the man who had kidnapped her. They held a large silver gun to the back of his head. What surprised her most was who it was.
“Jacqueline.” Claire gasped, weak with relief. Jacqueline kept her gun pressed into the back of the man's head. “Don't move, and you'll live.” She said tersely. Her other hand was on her phone. She put it to her ear. As soon as the other line picked up, she said. “I've got her.”
*** “Claire?” Julius asked as soon as he picked up the phone. He was extremely grateful that he had gotten her a phone earlier. She must have called him from wherever she was being held.
“I've got her.” Jacqueline said in his ear. He blinked in surprised. “Jacqueline?” But the line went dead.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye. “Julius!” Claire ran up to him. Relief washed over him. He was just now seeing how panicked he had been, with the sudden cease of it. He looked up as Jacqueline stepped out of the doorway in the alley. She held a man at gunpoint.
“Oh!” Claire gasped.
He turned to her. She was frowning down at her mantle. As he watched a bright red drop fell from her chin, splashing onto a button.
Without thinking, he knelt down in front of her. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her chin up, exposing underneath her jaw. A shallow red gash stood out against her pale skin. Blood oozed from it, rain mixing with the blood and running down her neck. She winced in pain. It wasn't a deep cut, but it would leave a scar.
A scar.
A scar marring her flawless, perfect, pale skin
A red haze swam over his eyes. His head snapped back to the man Jacqueline had subdued. Without realizing the movements that got him there, his umbrella was lying in the street and he had the man pressed against the wall, his feet hanging a foot from the ground.
Julius held the man up by the throat. He noticed no distinctive features about the man, he couldn't see through the haze over his eyes. Adrenaline coursed through him, urging him on, and he held the man effortlessly.
Only a few seconds had passed, but the blonde was back in her car. Jacqueline opened fire on it. There was a loud sound that hurt Claire's ears. She covered them with her hands. That wasn't a sound that an energy gun made.
The red hovercar swerved out of control and shut down, two holes in the hood steamed. The blonde exited the car, taking her chances on foot. But Jacqueline was amazingly swift in heels, and her shoes were a bit more sensible than the blonde's stilettos.
Soon she had the fleeing woman on the ground with her face pressed into the pavement, arms pinned behind her back. Claire turned back to Julius. The man he held was struggling weakly. His eyes bulged and his face was slowly turning blue. He was grasping at Julius' arm, trying to wrench himself free, but it was like trying to move stone with a feather.
Claire's eyes were wide with horror. Her stomach turned strangely. She was watching someone die...
She forced her numb legs to move, to run up to Julius. “Let him go!” She cried, panicking. She grabbed his free hand and pulled, but he didn't notice her. The strangled man gurgled vainly. “Please, Julius, you'll kill him!”
Julius turned his head to her then, slowly. His face was a cold mask. His eyes were unforgiving and uncaring. “So?” He asked softly.
Claire recoiled. Shock filled her chest, making her breathe heavily. She felt like she was hyperventilating. “Please.” She gasped. “You're frightening me.” Her blue eyes were wide with terror.
With effort, he slowly blinked the red haze from his eyes. He turned back to the man in his grasp. He had passed out. With a look of deep disgust, Julius released him, letting him fall to the floor.
He breathed in slowly, deeply, calming himself.
Claire stared up at him worrie
dly, still gasping sharply.
He turned to her and knelt down with exaggerated gentleness. “Are you hurt anywhere else?” He asked her softly, trying to soothe her. He reached out slowly to take her shoulder, but stopped, leaving his arm outstretched halfway. Two fingers from his other hand traced down the curve of her cheek, an inch away from the skin.
Claire shook her head, unable to speak. She looked directly into his eyes, and began to slowly calm down. She was captured by those eyes. They were so soft, the total opposite from the hard cold look that had frightened her. They soothed her rattled nerves.
Relief was so apparent in them, as was a deep protectiveness. She felt like a doll, prized by the collector above all others, who had just taken a tumble off her shelf, but was caught just before hitting the floor. Julius was afraid to touch her, in case she would shatter anyway.
She found her voice hiding under her heart, once it had calmed down. “I'm fine.” She assured him hoarsely. Rain was pouring down now, but he didn't heed it. His hair was wet and dripped, his jacket was ruined. It was odd, how she noticed these minute details when everything seemed to be spinning out of control.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out his handkerchief. He pressed it gently against her wound. She brought her hand up, still looking into his eyes, and held the handkerchief in place.
In the next instance, he had wrapped his arms around her small frame, holding her closely, but still with unbearable gentleness. He leaned his forehead on her shoulder and laughed shakily. “I was worried.” He said, more to himself than to her, as if discovering the words for the first time. Or perhaps, the feeling behind them.
Claire couldn't even blush, she was still in shock. She didn't have the mental resources to even move. She could only stare straight ahead, her eyes wide, her hand pressed to her wound.
What had just happened?
How was that cold, heartless Julius the same one that was so weak with relief right now?
She couldn't answer that, so her brain just went numb, to get away from the questions. To get away from the memory of that cold, hard look.
Jacqueline walked over then. “Excuse me, Sir.” She said quietly, kneeling next to them.
Julius backed off, and Jacqueline was inspecting Claire's wound. She reached into her jacket, pulling out a mini-medkit. She sprayed Claire's cut, then swabbed a liquid bandage over it. “The scar should fade completely in three months.” She said slowly, but firmly. She was talking to Julius, cautious, but without the stutter. Like someone who was trying to calm an easily enraged hound. “If it doesn't, it can be removed by laser.”
Julius nodded, not speaking. He stood and retrieved the umbrella, he stared at the cracked handle ruefully.
After a moment, he spoke, and his voice was calm, indifferent. “Dispose of the male, collect the female.” Claire's mind was still numb, so the words did not register.
“The police will arrive in roughly forty-five seconds.” Jacqueline informed him briskly. “Leave now, I will clean up here.” She took the broken umbrella from his hands and handed him hers.
He opened it, frowning. “I said no bodyguards today.” He reminded her calmly. He looked directly at her.
Color seeped into her cheeks. “T-technically, Sir, bodyguard isn't in my job description.” Her nervous stutter crept back into her voice.
He leaned close to her, putting a hand on her cheek. “Thank you.” He said softly. Then he turned and took Claire's hand, leading her down the street. “I'm buying you another cat.” He called behind him.
Jacqueline watched them go. She pushed her rainspattered glasses up her nose. “Th-thank you, Sir.” She said quietly. “B-but, I don't need another cat.” Her voice was drowned out by wailing sirens as police vehicles flooded the street.
*** Claire's numbness carried her two blocks. Her brain buried the details of the day's unpleasantness deep into her subconsciousness. Her memories of it were fuzzy now, and fading.
She didn't believe any longer that Julius had been about to kill that man. Of course not. Julius wouldn't do something like that, especially not in front of her. Her brain sent out a rush of endorphins, soothing her before panic could set in again.
Everything was fine now. There had been a close call, that was all. She had almost been kidnapped, but she was safe now. She began looking around her surroundings. They were close to the parking garage now. She felt tired, but she didn't want the day to end on such a bad note. She looked around for something to distract her.
She paused outside of a bakery, dropping Julius' hand. She stared into the window. Everything was so pink. And there were hearts everywhere. Heart shaped cookies and cakes. Various pies decorated with candy hearts in red and pink and white. Puffy pastries with pink cream filling.
She felt her stomach rumble just looking at everything. That pear from this morning felt like it was years ago.
“Coming?” Julius said, ahead of her. She sighed and turned back to him, to head back to the parking garage. It had been a long day, Julius would want to head home as quickly as possible, before something else happened.
But he had his hand on the bakery door's handle. Claire blinked at him in surprise. “You want to go in, right?” He asked, suddenly unsure.
Her brain processed what he was saying. This was just the distraction her subconscious needed, and it seized the opportunity at once. She smiled happily, a shadow of relief in her eyes.
“Yes!” She ran over to him. He opened the door for her.
Warm air assailed them when they entered, driving away the chill on their skin from the rainy day outside. Claire inhaled deeply, the air smelled like hot cocoa. She walked up to the clear cases that ran down the middle of the bakery while Julius shook out his umbrella by the door.
Julius glanced around the room, his eyes traveling over the cases and the small tables along one side of the bakery. It was filled mostly with women, though there were a few couples, given the holiday.
There were no threats here. His own mind was burying his feelings from before, the coldness, the panic, and the relief. The coldness he was used to suppressing. The panic was something he hadn't experienced often, but at least he understood it. The relief was something new, that would have to be examined at a later time.
He looked around at the decorations. Such a gaudy show for such a silly holiday. Half of his maids took the day off each year.
Valentine's Day was one of the few holidays that had survived the last two hundred years since the Great War. It was also called Lover's Day by some. It was tacky and superficial. He had never celebrated it. He tried to ignore it as much as possible, but it was everywhere.
Julius felt that the date was all wrong. The calender had changed after the war. The High Empress had implemented a new calender after she created the city. Julius believed that Valentine's Day must have originally been celebrated in the summer before the calender change. It seemed highly unlikely to him to celebrate love when it was cold and dreary out.
Every head in the bakery was turned to them. He had expected that, eyes usually followed him wherever he went. He had underestimated just how much attention Claire was getting over him though. He knew that her hair and the mere fact that he had adopted her would be immediately exciting to anyone. But all day today he had seen just how much people were enthralled by her.
She was even a target. His mind shied away from that thought. He would think on it later.
Now, every eye was on her, conversations were spoken over the small tables in whispers. Julius still caught a few snatches though.
“...how adorable she is...”
“...really adopted her?”
“Never would have thought of him as a father...”
“...poor thing is an orphan.”
“...kinder than I realized.”
“...think that's really her hair color?”
Claire hurried back to him excitedly. He felt that strange relief again, seeing her smile. Her face had been so blank before, it
had made him uneasy. He wondered what kind of mark today's incident would have on her, other than the physical scar under her jaw.
“I don't know what to choose, please come help me.” She took his hand in both of hers. He smiled at her indulgently, allowing himself to be led over to the cases. This sparked more gasps and whispers from their onlookers.
Julius was pleased. He was getting a return on his investment after only two short weeks. And in an unexpected way. He hadn't realized that by adopting Claire, the people's opinion of him would be softened. He had always been either hated outright or grudgingly accepted as being cruel but fair. His decisions were hard ones, and he had always gone with the most efficient solution, even if it didn't make him popular.
He hadn't realized that brilliant, cheerful Claire would have such an effect on his popularity. He would have to take advantage of this as much as he could.
But then his attention was taken by Claire again. She frowned at the cases. He knelt down in front of her. “Maybe you should ask the attendant for help, I'm sure she knows what tastes best in her own bakery.” He told her gently. He reached into his jacket, pulling out his slim wallet. He pulled out a silver card and handed it to her. “This is yours, to do with whatever you like.” He said. “One of the things you will learn from me is handling your own finances. To do that, you need your own source of income.” He held the card out to her between two fingers.
Claire took the card from him, still frowning. “If I am in charge of my own finances, then why didn't I pay for my uniforms? Or my schoolbags and the phone?” She asked him.
He smiled. “As your guardian, school things are something that I must provide for you. This is just for the extra stuff.”
Claire thought it over. “I suppose...” How much more was he going to give her? She guessed that she had to accept her role in the Upper Class. She had to do more than just look the part. Having a lot of money didn't really interest her though. Something deep inside told her that she had always been that way, it was something she had probably picked up from her parents. It was becoming more and more clear to her that they had probably never been Upper Class.
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