Chapter Eight: Pixie
Abigail blinked awake. Wind was hitting her in the face like tiny needles, and it roused her from what felt like a deep hibernation. That was when she realized she was in strong arms and no where near the ground. She gasped as she clasped her arms around the neck of Constantine. "What are you doing?" she shrieked.
"I'm following orders," he smirked in return, as he kept his eye on the horizon for the rising sun. Maybe, if he had time, he could manage another snack before he had to retire for the day.
"Whose orders? I don't understand!"
He chuckled then. "If you're expecting to ever understand Raven, you're in for a long, frustrating wait."
"But why isn't he ... I mean... why are you..."
"Why am I in his place?" She nodded. "Because he has tired of you. You're never to return to the coven again."
She crossed her arms and steamed. Who did he think he is, was her savage thought. If he thought he could dismiss her like some sort of jilted lover, he had another thing coming. Constantine could easily read her thoughts, he really didn't even have to try. Again he smirked but said nothing as he made the descent toward the open door on her balcony.
She stepped out of his arms. He leaned casually against the railing. "It won't work, you know." She defiantly tipped her chin but said nothing. Constantine added, "You don't know him."
"No," she corrected. "He doesn't know me." She went over to the railing to stare out into the night. "He may be your master but he's not mine."
He leaned really close to her and whispered hot against her neck, "Yet."
Her eyes flashed. "Ever." She crossed her arms again. "If I were easily seduced how could I have resisted you?"
Ah, he thought. A challenge. He could barely suppress his smile. "Maybe I just didn't try hard enough."
"Or maybe you vampires aren't as compelling as you think you are."
That's when Constantine grew serious. "We're not all alike, Abi. I think you know that now."
Her thoughts returned to the Creature in the alley. She shivered in spite of herself. "Yeah. I guess I do."
He touched her hair. "And that's why you shouldn't return to the coven."
She said nothing for a moment as she looked into those intense brown eyes. She still hadn't decided if she could trust him. Finally she stepped back, out of their spell. "I guess I should go. I'd ask you inside but I think the general rule of logic is never extend an invitation to a vampire."
He grinned as he leaned forward to kiss her nose. "Clever girl." He hopped up on the railing.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" she asked.
"Nope," he quipped.
She put her hands on her hips. "And why not?"
"Because nothing short of full body bondage is going to keep you from the coven," he told her. She grinned at his knowing look, and then watched as he took off into the sky.
She was still smiling as she went into her apartment.
And despite what he had said to Constantine the night before, Raven's head turned every time that door opened to the coven the next night. He wanted her to stay away, but he knew she would return. And though he didn't want to admit it, he needed her to return. He just wasn't willing to admit it out loud yet.
Finally he left the refuge of the back booth to saunter over to the bar. He hadn't even ventured that direction since he had entered the coven, simply because he couldn't bear the thought of Sonja being gone.
As he drew closer, he saw a shock of red hair and it took his breath away. Only this wasn't the copper red of Abigail, this was a true red -- the color of a stop sign, he thought ironically -- and it stood out in the darkened club.
The girl had her back to him as he approached. Her redder than red hair was tied up in a ponytail, which showed the bottom layer of her hair was jet black. She had fuller curves than Abigail as well, curves that were hugged by black denim jeans.
When the mystery girl turned around, his breath caught in his throat. Though her hair was a different color, the resemblance to Abigail was stunning. She wore clunky, black rimmed glasses, three earrings in each ear and bangs that tried to hide the equally striking green eyes. Her breasts were fuller, her frame larger -- but he could sense immediately they were related. He knew it the minute he could taste her aura.
They shared the same strength. While Abi was a Gothic beauty, this girl was a Punk Queen. His interest was immediately piqued.