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Date Posted: 22:02:00 11/27/07 Tue
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: cpe-72-224-142-55.maine.res.rr.com / 72.224.142.55
Subject: Characters & Shadows - Chapter 12
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Characters & Shadows - Cont." on 15:54:28 11/25/07 Sun

Chapter 12

She was so tired that her eyes ached. But as she stood at the French doors watching the sun come up she knew that she would not be going back to sleep. Thoughts kept swirling through her head at speeds she couldn’t control. She knew to take deep breaths, to try to relax, to sort the thoughts. But she couldn’t. Too much had happened in too short a period of time and now she was left at the mercy of her mind once again.

She was so stupid. She knew better than to get involved in any of this. But Carla had begged her to go with her to the theater. Her friend, her only friend, who Nikita adored and would do anything for – there was no way that she could have said no to her. That had started a chain of events that was spiraling quickly out of control.

And letting Michael come up last night had been the biggest mistake of them all. She took a deep breath as she went to her small kitchen to start tea. The kiss. Oh god, that kiss. He had been so close to her, invading her senses with his strength and his warmth. When he had reached out and tilted her head up to meet his eyes then it had happened. That kiss. That damned kiss.

Stupid! It was all so undeniably stupid. She knew better. Don’t get involved with anybody or anything. Don’t hide, but don’t really be seen either. A quiet life. That is all she craved, was desperate for. Just a quiet life. No hard choices. Yes her currently job was demanding and long hours. But it took up a large chunk of her life and it gave her structure. Those long endless days of a few years ago still haunted her sometimes, she couldn’t do that again. Wouldn’t do that again.

But everything she had built was at risk now. She had let down her guard and been persuaded to do something that she knew she shouldn’t by a pair of the most intense and incredible green eyes she had ever seen.

As her tea steeped she thought back to the previous night when she had relented and Michael had come up to her place. She had been upset by that Lisa woman storming into the theater like she had. Nikita didn’t understand people like that who thought that they could do whatever they wanted whenever they felt like it. Lisa had an air about her almost like the other people around her weren’t as good as she was. She was arrogant and shallow. But what right did Nikita have to judge anyone else and their actions? Absolutely none.

Michael had tried to start explaining about Lisa and who she was and Nikita had cut him off telling him that it really was none of her business. Honestly the less that Nikita knew the better. She really didn’t want to know that much about the people around her, it kept them safer that way.

But then Michael started to talk about the audition and how well she had done and how she simply had to take the part. He went on about how pleased Paul and Madeline were and how good this would be for the production. But each word brought Nikita closer and closer to realizing what she had known all along – she couldn’t do this. There was no way she could do this. It was ridiculous to even consider the possibility and she hated herself for having done just that. For a moment while with Michael, she actually had considered it. Had felt some small amount of excitement about something. She had allowed a possibility to seep back into her and now she was paying the price for it.

The ringing of the phone sharply brought her out of her thoughts. It rang only once and she immediately started the timer next to the phone. The seconds ticked down. She held her breath. At exactly 55 seconds the phone rang again, and again it rang only one time.

Her blood ran ice blood through her veins and the nausea started immediately as panic began to swell within her. Her mind screamed that it was just a coincidence. But at 5:30 a.m. it was hard to imagine it being anyone else. She wanted to run and grab a bag and begin packing. She nervously shifted from foot to foot unable to stand still. She waited, she had panicked before and it had all just been a mistake. Maybe it would be the same way this time. Maybe.

The phone rang again, right on time. It killed her but she waited for the fourth ring before she answered, “Marco?”

“Yeah, sweetie, I’m sorry it’s me.”

Any hope that she had instantly dissolved at the sound of his voice. “Is it time to move?”

His hesitation drove her crazy but she knew to listen and wait. Her life depended on it, “Honestly Nik I just don’t know.”

That statement terrified her, “What do you mean you don’t know?”

He could hear the terror in her voice, “Something is going on with him. But this time is different. I can’t get a read on what is driving him right now Very erractic decision making. It’s just not like him, he’s usually so clam and cool.”

She took a deep breath hoping to keep it together just long enough to get off the phone and then do whatever she had to do, “Does he know where I am?”

“That is what is confusing me right now. He hasn’t had a clue in three years and suddenly he thinks he’s found you, but he sends a team to the wrong place. They are still thousands of miles away from you sweetie.”

She frowned and rubbed at her temples where the headache was starting to throb, “That doesn’t make any sense. He’s too smart for that.”

“Tell me about it. I know. But like I said something is different right now and I need some more time to figure it out.”

“So what do I do?” Tears were now streaming down her face and the bile would not be kept back down for long.

“Stay put, live your life. Don’t change anything right now until I know more. Act normal, you remember normal.”

“Marco?” she heard the quivering her voice and she hated it.

“Yeah, Nik.”

“I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

In strong tones he told her what she had heard so many times before, “You beat him Nik. Someday he’ll be out of the picture permanently. Until then, live. I got your back. You hear me?”

“Yeah, she nodded and sniffled.

Marco let out a low laugh, “Besides let the bastard hunt in the wrong place and spend his money. David Fanning deserves it. I’ll call at the normal time.”

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