the stare- the revealing chapter 7

 

Chapter 7

 

The Revealing

 

Erik wandered about the apartment searching for the right place to leave his poem. These written words were his thoughts that he hoped would reveal something about himself. Showing that he wasn't a bad person, just a tortured soul. One who desperately wanted peace to consume him, allowing him to let go of this eternal existence he was doomed to live.

 

At work Linda sat at her desk, she was going through some papers and getting ready to file them. Just as she went to pick up another stack she felt the presence of someone looking at her. Glancing up she saw George and began to smile. He stood and debated whether to tell Linda about what he had been doing yesterday.

 

Linda smiled and motioned for him to come over. George really liked her and didn't want anything or anyone hurting her. So for the time being he would keep this information to himself. At least until he had a chance to talk with her neighbor, Randolf. It could turn out to be nothing, so he saw no reason in scaring Linda. He smiled at her and walked over.

 

“ Hi George” Linda exclaimed as he cme near.

 

“ Good morning, Linda. You seem to be in a chipper mood today!” he stated while smiling.

 

“ I missed you George, where were you yesterday? Linda asked..... paused, then continued “ yes, I seemed to get a good nights sleep!” with a far off look.

 

George peered down at her, and said “ Is that so......... hmmmmm, so nothing out of the ordinary happened last night. I am glad you got a restful sleep, especially after all that you've gone through. So no more scares, I mean nothing seems to be terrifying you now?” George inquired.

 

With a twinkle in her eyes, she said happily “ Well last night I guess I was so tired, you know I don't think I even ate last night; and all I had this morning was some juice.”

 

“Oh Linda that's not good, you should have eaten something even if it's a piece of fruit. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you are free, let me take you out to lunch today” George replied.

 

Linda smiled, then said “ As a matter of fact I am free, and would be happy to accompany you for lunch.”

 

George silently laughed by how she responded, then said “ I'll be back in a couple of hours to get you. I've loads of paperwork, since I was out of the office yesterday. I am sure none of the others did my work for me.”

 

Linda replied sweetly “ yeah they don't dare in case it's wrong. Samuel told the other adjusters hands off all of your cases!”

 

“I guess they think I'm the best” taking his right hand, and brushing his chest. “ Better get to work then, check you later Linda” and he turned to walk away.

 

Linda sat and watched as George strolled off. Seeming to be preoccupied, but decided it may have been something personal, so she let it go. Turning her attention back to her own stack of files, making sure all the figure's were correct before filing them away. It was such tedious work, but after awhile it went by fast.

 

George's mind kept racing on all the information he had acquired. But as he reached his office saw the pile of folders on his desk all thoughts disappeared. There must have been 30-40 folders either needing there figures checked or a simple signature. His secretary was very efficient, leaving post-its with what each file needed. So George took off his jacket, and sat down to begin his work. By 11:00 he was almost done, so he phoned Linda to ask if she could leave for lunch soon.

 

Linda replied into the receiver, “ I am indeed more than ready, since I haven't adequately given my body enough nourishment for the morning.”

 

That is just how she said it to him, at first he wondered why she was talking so strangely as if possessed by someone else. He said “Okay, good see you soon” as he put the receiver down. Just then his phone rang, at first he was startled but he picked it up and spoke into the receiver. Linda took this opportunity to run to the bathroom and freshen up before they went out to lunch.

 

 

As she stood in front of the sink, she noticed the two small marks on her neck. They were barely visible now and healing nicely. Eric hadn't fed off of her in days, and now that he noticed that guy around more he backed off. Linda brushed her hair to cover up the marks were. Then she checked her make-up, she re-applied her blush, making sure she looked beautiful......or at least pretty. She smiled at her reflection, and noticed a twinkling in her eyes.

 

“ I am so happy” she replied to the person in the mirror, as if she were talking to someone else.

 

Just then the door opened and Anita walked in. Quickly Linda put her blush away then left the bathroom. As she walked back to her desk, she noticed the back of George's head. He was sitting at her desk, and assumed he was waiting for her. So Linda came up and whispered “ Just what do you think you are doing Mr. Jordan?”

 

George jumped and quickly twirled the chair around then began to say “ I'm waiting for Linda....... Ms. Jefferson I mean.”

 

Linda began to laugh loudly, then finally said “ I'm sorry, did I startle you George!”

 

His face turned bright red, George was embarrassed. He didn't recognize Linda's voice; it too was subtly changing by Erik's blood mixing with hers. This is something she hadn't even noticed happening to her. This slight alteration was one of the many changes that occurred to a vampire's body. Although Linda wasn't a full vampire yet, Erik hoped that she would be the one who could sustain all of the changes that her body was going through.

 

Eventually she would be the one to carry on the lineage for him. Time would only tell if indeed she would be the special one. And another little Crúe would be brought and raised into the world. Thus even though he himself was gone, someone would carry on in his place.

 

 

Soon George and Linda were out the door. They got in his car, and were heading down the street to one of George's favorite places.

 

Curiously Linda peered over and asked “ So where are we going to eat, George?

 

He smiled and said, “ You will see!”

 

“Hmmmmm, okay” Linda replied.

 

Soon he pulled up into a parking lot that seemed to be empty. Yet she trusted George, and would go anywhere with him. She really liked George but wondered where he was taking her.

 

“We're here!” he exclaimed.

 

Linda opened the car door, and slowly looked around. She then asked “Oh yeah........where is here? I don't see anything George.”

 

“ It's only the best place in town!” George replied happily.

 

He then walked up to a door on the ground, bent down and pulled a lever to open it. Linda read the words on the door “The Underground”, and as the door opened she saw a staircase.

 

 

George turned and said “ watch your step until your eyes adjust to the dark, my lady.”

 

“Are you kidding me, you want me to go down in that dark hole?” Linda questioned George while pointing down.

 

“Yes, it's fine. There's nothing dangerous you'll see. In fact you will be pleasantly surprised!” George said as he smiled.

 

George held her arm as she slowly stepped down the long winding staircase. It didn't take long before her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, and the wondrous room she was in. What she saw was some ornate furniture, and beautiful paintings out of the distant past. Yet there was something familiar about this place.

 

While Linda looked around, George came up behind her and said “Beautiful down here isn't it, Linda.”

 

She soaked in her surroundings, as she slowly looked at everything. For some odd reason, a part of her felt as if she were home. Even though this was the first time she was here.

 

As she turned to George, she asked him “ How did you find this place? It's totally amazing!

 

“ A friend of mine told me about this place, and since you haven't been here long I thought I'd bring you here. Come let's sit down and have some delicious lunch. They serve your favorite too!” George happily replied.

 

 

Linda's eyes widened as she said “ Really, they serve Italian.”

 

George smiled as he escorted her to a far table in the back. As she sat down, George excused himself and said “ I'll be right back, I'm going to tell John that we're here” then sauntered off toward the kitchen.

 

Linda sat there and peered around, looking over the pictures on the wall. She then ran her hand over the table; something was triggering a memory inside her. As she stared off into space, George walked up and brought her back into this reality.

 

She looked up at George, then smiled and said “ I'm famished it smells so good in here. Where's the menu?”

 

George leaned over kissed Linda, and said “It's coming, its coming.”

 

 

“Oh really George” Linda whispered, then said “ just what do you think I like?”

 

That moment he kissed her again, a waiter brought some glasses of water and basket of breadsticks. Linda's attention quickly turned, and she grabbed one then bit into it. “ Oh this is so good” Linda said as she devoured the breadstick.

 

“Slow down Linda- save room for the meal!” George replied.

 

“ Oh sorry George, you know I haven't eaten all day” she said embarrassingly.

 

George looked at her with a smile, then held her hand and said “ I know you are famished, but not for long. Lunch will be here soon.

 

Not long after he said that; a waiter brought various plates and bowls of red sauces. Linda's eyes widened as they brought more food to the table.

 

“ Wow” Linda exclaimed.

 

George spread out his hand as he asked “ Is this enough food for you?”

 

“ Quite enough” Linda answered, while the waiter poured a glass of sparkling wine for the both of them.

 

George sat back munching on a breadstick as Linda began putting some food on her plates, and began to eat. He smiled as he watched her, this turned out to be the best lunch date he ever had.

 

While Linda and George ate there lunch, Erik became restless. He began to wonder where his new beauty could be. He went to the porthole to look out. As he looked he scanned the view of the lake. To him it looked so serene, and wished he could walk with his beauty around the lake.

 

Just then a chill ran up his spine. He knew someone was watching him....... but who? Again he scanned the area, but didn't see anyone out of the ordinary.

“Maybe a walk around will help shake this uncertain feeling I have” Erik replied in a doubtful way. It was so long since he felt this way, and he began to wonder when it was the last time.

 

He turned and walked down the secret staircase and out in the open. Again he scanned his surroundings, still Erik saw nothing. So he sauntered off, then began to head to the outskirts of town. Erik was getting hungry for blood, he needed to feed soon. He figured that if he fed from someone who nobody knew or cared about, they wouldn't be missed.

 

 

Erik hated going to this side of town, as it was beneath his dignity. But the need to feed his hunger for blood was consuming him. As he strolled down the street, he began to think about Linda. He smiled as he thought about her, and wondered how she was doing. He hoped she was doing alright, and couldn't wait to see her tonight.

 

He finally arrived at the place, the seedier side of town-where a few came up missing or dead all the time. 'So one more would not be anything' Erik thought. While Erik wandered in search of his victim; George and Linda finished their lunch.

They thanked Sam the owner of the “Underground Restaurant”, and began to leave.

 

“ I promise I'll.......we'll come back real soon Sam. There is something about place, I don't know just what it is though. So I will have to come back to investigate. Oh and eat more of your delicious food too” Linda replied while looking around the place.

 

George laughed, then looked over at Sam, and said “ I knew she would love your place!”

 

Sam's eyes glistened as he watched Linda go around in circles, then said “Sì.”

 

 

George looked at his watch, then said “ Linda it's time to get back to work, don't worry we will come back soon. Maybe even this weekend for a delicious dinner.”

 

As they headed back up the flight of stairs, Linda was in awe as George opened the hatch to the outside world. George led her to his car, opened the door letting her in. Then George walked around, climbed in and drove back to the office.