Penthouse 10:00 am
“Well, I see you’ve finally decided to wake up. You were out late,” Levi teased as Murder walked out of her bedroom. He was laid out on the sofa in shorts and his robe looking rather miserable and pathetic.
“Were you worried?”
“No... yes, maybe a little. You had the one of strong chin with you. I figured you’d be fine.”
“I was better than fine. That was perfect.”
“You work quickly for certain.” She hit him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She held up her fist again.
“Ow! Don’t do it! I only meant that you seem genuinely excited and happy. Is he? Are you choosing him?”
“It’s too soon for that. I mentioned it. And he didn’t bail immediately, but I’m afraid to rush him. He’s perfect, though. I’m going to say something crazy.”
Levi raised his eyebrows at her. “Well? Say it!”
“I think I’m falling in love with him.” Levi felt her forehead and acted like he was checking her for injection marks or bruises.
“In four hundred and seventy years I’ve never heard you say that. ‘He’s a gorgeous man,’ yes. ‘He’s sweet,’ sure. ‘She made my toes curl,’ a couple of times.” He laughed. She didn’t. “You’re serious…”
“Absolutely serious. He’s the only person I’ve instantly trusted as much as I trusted you the first day we met. When he asked me to take off my mask, I just did it. When he questioned me about my healing, he did so without judgment. He just held me. He needed to know I wasn’t a blood-sucking killer, but that was as far as he cared about it.
He might be the one. I’ve just got to make sure he feels it, too. Right now, he’s getting the chemical rush of romance. That one we aren’t quite as susceptible to. But here’s the thing, Levi. He makes me giddy like a schoolgirl. I have to be careful. You have to help me be cautious. I’m not sure I can control myself.”
“Giddy, wow. I’m so jealous. I want to be punch-drunk in love.”
“I think it’ll happen if you stop sitting in this room all the time. I have a lot to get done. I have two shows to play this weekend.”
“All while not getting shot.”
“Yes. Grant is bringing Maxwell and another old policeman friend tonight — Davis, I think? — to help him watch. But I’m playing something special for him, so I do need him to watch the show, too. Can you help me with that?”
“Yes, I will. Wow. Giddy.” He shook his head.
Dominick Hotel lobby 8:30 pm
Grant walked the hall listening to the fans talk about his new friend and watching for any suspicious activity.
These people were all really into her music. Some talked about songs he knew. Covers. And others were talking about elaborate backstories they read on her website.
She’d made lifelong fans out of them in a very short time. He could relate. He heard a young man talking to a young woman.
“Lady Dreamscapes looks 25, but she has an old soul.” Grant smiled.
“You have no idea, kid,” he mumbled to himself. He was flagged down by a woman with very long, honey-brown hair. She asked him if he was security.
“Kind of. I’m with the artist’s security detail.”
“Good. I can’t find my son. He’s 15, yay tall, and lanky.”
“I don’t mind helping, what’s his name?”
Dominick Hotel Ballroom 9:30 pm
Murder’s set was going beautifully.
Grant really enjoyed the music. It was eclectic; there were rock and pop elements. All of it had this old-world feel. Lots of waltzes and other odd little pieces he couldn’t describe but seemed familiar enough.
Her style gave a sense of mystery and wonder even to songs he’d heard a thousand times. She’s a genius.
The song ended and he clapped, whistled, and cheered.
“This next one is for Grant. One of my favorites. A Thousand Years. It’s by an artist I adore, Christina Perri. Grant, if you’re wondering what you mean to me… just listen.” The crowd cheered. Grant blushed as he stepped ever so slightly backwards to try and disappear into the crowd.
She played the piano with a microphone hanging over her head. It was very clean and free of additional effects, unlike most of the other very experimental-sounding songs.
She sang of destined, fated, and eternal love. A thousand years... A thousand more...
Grant’s eyes got wet. He smiled. He had heard the song before, but the way she sang it made him wonder… Was she as crazy for him as he was for her? He wondered if he could be the love of her four hundred and eighty-something year life. What a responsibility. He decided right then and there he’d do his best to earn and deserve it.
Penthouse 10:00 am
Murder awoke in Grant Noble’s arms. They had stayed up most of the night talking, and kissing of course, and had fallen asleep looking out at the penthouse’s amazing view.
She thought about how nice it had been that their night had been so normal. So calm.
She laughed remembering Giselle leading a group of dancers off stage left. It was more of a riser, but she wasn’t going to complain.
Life was perfect. Just like it was most of the time. Having Grant was the icing on top of a really fabulous life.
Sure, there was a time when she and Levi had wandered the English countryside looking for scraps. She’d felt the daily fear of death in the Wild West, and in times of war.
Not being able to die of starvation somehow didn’t make being hungry feel any better. She thought numerous times that maybe that was the point of the curse. That someone hungry, or lonely, or crazy would suffer until they fell on a sword or blew their brains out. That’s enough of those kinds of thoughts.
It seemed no matter how happy she was, her mind swayed toward the macabre and grim end of the details. Maybe that’s what it means to be damned? She wondered if it was true about curses. Would she meet the creator of her curse again in hell? Was there any way to redeem a cursed soul?
Dominick lobby day 2 8:30 pm
Grant walked the halls around the ballroom. Something felt strange. Maybe, being a detective instead of a beat cop, he had gotten used to looser schedules. Was doing the exact same thing in the same place two days in a row weird now?
“She’s an old soul.” He heard from over his left shoulder. There’s that same woman again. She was walking down the hallway peeking around corners like she was looking for something. He didn’t remember them finding her son.
The two shows were intended to each cater to half the ticket holders from the show that was interrupted. It’s supposed to be different people here than yesterday. What is going on? The woman walked up to him and waved a hand in front of his eyes.
He had never felt such a sensation. A wave washed over him that felt like the air of a warm spring day. She snapped her fingers at him, and he turned to follow her. He had no interest in doing so, but he did it all the same. She stopped just inside an empty ballroom, and so did he.
She straightened his tie and collar, and as she did, he saw her blink out. Much like the static of an old VHS cassette. In the static, he saw her as another woman. A woman with red hair so dark it was almost black.
She had a necklace with a symbol on it and wore a brown dress with a deep square neckline.
In an instant, he realized what he was looking at, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. He couldn’t move or speak. He wanted to run and to cry out a warning to Murder. He could do nothing, he was imprisoned in his own body.
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