Part 22 (1/2)
”I thought you would be on your way to New Mexico?” Seraphim asked.
Hannah felt a bit taken aback by his strange expression. ”I wouldn't go without seeing you.”
”Then when is your flight?”
Hannah forced a smiled. ”Dying to get rid of me?”
When he didn't reply, she felt a combination of sadness and embarra.s.sment that quickly turned to irritation. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with him? Why would he bother helping her if he didn't want her? Why had he visited her in the dream?
”Are you always this enthusiastic around a woman you love?” the Baroness asked. By the look in Seraphim's eyes, he was as shocked by her observation as Hannah. ”Do you always interfere in people's relations.h.i.+ps?” he asked.
The Baroness smiled too sweetly, not at all upset by his comment. ”Only when I see something blatantly stupid going on.”
”I thought you had an appointment with Jules?”
”Of course.” The Baroness slipped past them, then glanced over her shoulder at Hannah. ”Did you still want me to ask Jules if he'll give you the test?”
”Yes,” Hannah stated, ignoring Seraphim's questioning look. One way or the other, she wanted a shot at becoming a vampire. Their race owed her that much.
”What test?” he demanded, though she saw by his expression he already knew.
”The compatibility test.”
”I never said I'd change you.”
”No. You didn't.”
For the first time he dropped his aloof att.i.tude. His pale eyes held hers, and she felt him dipping into her thoughts.
”I told you not to do that!” she snapped. ”You had no complaints the other night.”
”How dare you expect to pry into my mind whenever you feel like it? Have a little respect for my privacy, even if I am a lowly mortal!”
”Why didn't you go home with your family?” he made his way toward the elevator.
”Because I thought you'd want to see me, too.” Tears threatened, both from sorrow and humiliation. ”But I guess I was wrong. Maybe you were just another John after all.”
”That's not true.” He paused, reaching for her face. She stepped away, glaring. ”Hannah, right now is a bad time, that's all. I have business -”
”What business? What exactly do you do, Seraphim? You never told me.”
”I can't talk about it.”
She stared at him. ”That almost makes me afraid to know.”
”Perhaps it should.”
”I've been honest with you, Seraphim-not that I've had much of a choice. You can read my mind. But the least you can do is give me the same courtesy. Or maybe I'm just being thick headed.” She backed away. ”You're making it obvious you don't want anything to do with me. It might have been nice if you'd given some kind of clue, though. But I suppose, why should you when you've had a dumb mortal to screw in your dreams. Was it funny? Did you have a nice laugh. It was nice of you to help out me and my family in the meantime. It was a better tip than Sir Edward's other clients gave me, that's for sure.”
Seraphim raised his eyes to the ceiling. ”How can I expect maturity from a child? Don't tell me you believe all that, Hannah.”
”What am I supposed to believe? I've gotten warmer welcomes from snakes!” He reached her in two strides and pulled her into his arms.
”Don't!” she snapped, trying to push away, but he wouldn't allow it. Her only choice was to accept his embrace.
”Hannah, right now I can't have anyone in my life. Don't ask me to explain.”
She nodded, her cheek resting against his chest. It would be the last time. She understood that now. Her arms tightened around him. ”I won't. Thank you for what you did. Bye.”
She stood on tiptoe and brushed his mouth with a chaste kiss before slipping from his arms and heading for the door through which the Baroness had disappeared.
”What are you doing?” he called. ”Going for my test.” ”But I said...”
She paused, staring up at him. ”You're not the only vampire in the world. I don't want to be human anymore. If I can have some of what you do, I'm taking it. No more s.h.i.+t from men like Sir Edward for me, Seraphim. Next time, I won't need anyone's help.” She used her thumb to wipe traces of her lipstick from his mouth before stepping through the door.
Taking a seat in the waiting room, Hannah stared at the door, her heart pounding. Part of her prayed for him to step inside and tell her nothing had changed between them. He didn't.
Hannah picked up a magazine and flipped through without really seeing any of the words or photos. Weeks ago, she wanted nothing more than to see her family safe. If she had that, nothing else mattered. Though she was relieved they were all free, something else did matter. She felt as if part of her life was gone with Seraphim, and she didn't understand. Why did he have sudden change in feelings towards her? Had she been completely stupid not to have noticed? Impossible because there was nothing to notice. He'd been warm and loving to her when they'd last met. What had happened between then and now?
”Hannah?” A small, slender, suit-clad man stepped through the waiting room door, the Baroness behind him.
”Dr. Kane?” Hannah asked, standing and extending her hand.
He shook it gently and motioned for her to follow him to an examination room.
”What happened?” the Baroness asked when Jules left them alone for a moment.
”Seraphim's gone. He won't change me.”
”The fool,” her friend muttered under her breath.
”No, I think I was the fool. He's hiding something. Maybe. Or saying he can't discuss his job might just be another lie. I don't know.”
”It's the truth,” the Baroness said.
Hannah glanced at her sharply. ”How do you know?”
”I can't go into detail, but he's in a very dangerous line of work and he usually can't talk about it.”
”Is it illegal?” Hannah shook her head. ”That was stupid. What laws apply to vampires?”
”There are laws. True, usually mortal authorities have little guidance over us, but we have our own laws and those who enforce it. Suffice to say, Seraphim is part of the law.”
Hannah's eyes widened. ”What is he? Some kid of spy? A vampire spy. Weird.” ”I can't go into detail.” The Baroness smiled.
Jules stepped inside and approached Hannah. ”This won't be very painful. I just need to take some blood. You're lucky. Dr. Matthew Winter himself will be reading your tests.”