it off.
* * *
It wasn’t Jessica, but another girl who answered the door when Ashi knocked. Like everyone else in the building, she was lovely. However, she was wearing an ankle-length ball gown that looked like it belonged on the set of a star-studded 40s glamour movie. Even without the heels, the Amazonian blonde would have towered over him. Her makeup was thick but tasteful, her lips very red and currently curved in a disapproving frown as she looked him up and down.
“Can I help you?”
Ashi stared up at the woman and tried not to let his surprise show in his expression. “Is Jessica in?”
He was pretty sure this was the first time in his life he’d ever felt intimidated by a woman.
She continued to frown down at Ashi for a very long, very uncomfortable moment. Finally, she tossed her long hair over her shoulder and stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. Despite the mellifluous quality to her voice, her tones were anything but friendly.
“Wait on the couch. I will see if she is available.”
With graceful, purposeful strides, she disappeared into the hallway leading to the bedrooms. She shut the door, lowering her voice conspiratorially as Jessica, sprawled on her bed, glanced up from her textbook.
“There is a strange man asking for you. He’s not dressed very well.” That last sounded more scandalized than anything. “He’s waiting on the couch.”
Jessica had a test in the morning and didn’t have time for interruptions. However, she liked Christoph and figured he was probably running into troubles with Mouse again. Easy enough to fix.
“‘Kay. What’s with the dress?”
The other lady shrugged. “Part of the ensemble for the entertainment at Le Petite Boisson tonight.”
Jessica smirked and tossed the book on her nightstand, heading to the living room. Ken picked the weirdest outfits sometimes.
When she saw it was Ashi sitting on the couch, not Christoph, she was given pause. Warily, she continued forward, offering a cautious, “Hi.”
“Hi,” Ashi said in return.
There was an awkward pause.
“I need your help. I can repay you however you want. I am out of time and need to choose a lee—a vampire that I will be a donor to tonight. I was wondering if you knew someone who isn’t like John who is looking for a donor.”
He didn’t intend to, but right then he looked like a lost puppy.
Jessica didn’t know what she’d been expecting, exactly, but that really wasn’t it. She didn’t mean to, but she ended up staring, mouth hanging open for a second, after he finished.
“Well, uh…” she trailed off. What to say? She chose her words carefully, settling next to him on the couch. “I don’t know who is looking right now. I’d introduce you, but most of them are probably at work and I have to be up early for a test tomorrow morning. I can’t stay up and wait for them to come back. I could probably introduce you tomorrow, if you want. Or you can ask Clarisse to do it, if she isn’t looking for new donors herself.”
Ashi nodded slowly. He didn’t like to be surprised about anything, so he kept his expression neutral at the news Clarisse was a vampire. He wouldn’t have suspected in a million years, particularly after seeing her acting so… domestic when he hid in the living room of her apartment.
“All right. Thank you. If you could tell me where I can find Clarisse—if I can find her right now—I would be grateful.”
“She and Lisa share the apartment across the hall from John and Wesley downstairs.” Jessica sighed at the look on Ashi’s face when she mentioned John’s name. “Never mind, I’ll show you the way.”
With that, she rose, running a hand through her hair and stifling a yawn.
Ashi followed her. He felt like he was in a dreamlike state, but not one brought on by doing forms. A floating sensation gripped him, as if he were not part of his body anymore, or at least desperate to get away from it. And instead of the euphoria that came with the more spiritual side of his martial arts, there was only a feeling of vague unease.
As Jessica knocked on Clarisse’s door, Ashi wondered if he was going to faint.
Clarisse answered within moments. Her welcoming smile died when she saw Ashi cowering behind Jessica. This couldn’t be good.
“Evenin’, lass. What’s all this about?”
“Ashi has a question for you,” Jessica replied, her tones arch and dry. With that, she stepped aside and put a hand at his lower