Part 74 (1/2)

He looked at the young woman and nearly forgot who he was when he saw her. She had strawberry-blonde hair, a fine complexion, and hazel eyes. She looked back at the place she stood only moments ago and breathlessly thanked him. ”I'm so sorry. I didn't even see that car.”

”Uh...don't worry about it.” He couldn't think of what to say next. His heart raced and he felt numb too, but held her tight and tried to focus on the flight without looking away from her.

”So what do they call you?”

”Um...Voltage,” he said while his ears reddened, suddenly realizing how childish it seemed to have a super hero's ident.i.ty.

She wrapped her arms around his neck after she glanced down. ”Thanks again,” she said. ”I'm Emily by the way.”

1:10 PM.

Both.e.l.l, Was.h.i.+ngton Vladimir followed an employee into the Calming Wake. The employee held the door open for him, Vladimir thanked him, and quickly found his seat at the table of a robust young Russian.

A cup of water stood on the table, which Pyotr indicated was for Vladimir. The Romanian greeted his friend casually as the Russian took a drink from his own cup of water.

”Where's Rachel?” Pyotr asked.

”School. And she plans to spend the afternoon with her friends should that be acceptable.” He locked eyes with his comrade and asked if they were needed.

Pyotr shook his head and said it was only a question. ”I feel that I must apologize for the task I set upon you and Rachel last weekend.” He swirled his drink counterclockwise for a moment before he said it was unfair to set them up for such a task so prematurely. ”I would have accompanied you had I been able to.”

”And what you hindered Pyotr?”

Pyotr kept his mouth shut. He left Vladimir to order a cocoa with cream which he returned with in hand as well as a small black straw to stir it. He took a sip and offered Vladimir some, who refused it. ”You really should try this sometime. They're marvelous.”

”It would be a waste as I could not taste it,” Vladimir reminded him.

”Yes, of course...” Pyotr stirred his drink a bit before he spoke again, ”Joshua is dead.”

Vladimir looked him in the eye and asked how it happened. ”I thought you did not know where he was?”

”I didn't but suddenly he was no longer cloaked from me.”

”Then you killed him?”

Pyotr shook his head. ”He was burnt to death by a third party. But I was able to see the ash and verify that it is true. He is dead.”

Vladimir sat back in his seat and let out a small sigh of relief. He then continued, ”That leaves Raphael and Constantine.”

Pyotr nodded and mentioned how they'd caught a stroke of luck.

Vladimir let a smile come upon him, ”I remember you saying there is no such thing as luck.”

Pyotr grinned, ”There isn't.”

Vladimir finished his water while Pyotr drank his cocoa. Vladimir then asked, ”Do you know where Raphael might be?”

Pyotr remained quiet and shook his head. ”Not at the moment. I've heard whispers about events that could very possibly lead us to him in Honduras; however none of them feel substantial enough for me to ask you to investigate.”

Vladimir frowned, ”Then we are still in the dark about everything...”

”It would seem so.”

Vladimir set his plastic cup away from himself before he offered a sigh of relief, ”Then our journey is nearly complete.”

Pyotr smiled, ”It's getting there.”

Vladimir studied him and asked, ”What are you plotting Pyotr?”