| Subject: Chapter 278 - Part 2 (16 and above) (end of chapter 278) |
Author:
KatherineG.
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Date Posted: Monday, March 26, 07:03:20am
In reply to:
KatherineG.
's message, "Dreams in the Dark continued (273>)" on Monday, March 05, 07:03:06am
He was in this condition even many minutes later, not yet discovering enough control over himself to be able to go into his dressing room. It was only once Peter discovered him, approaching casually from behind, that he finally snapped out of his shock--nearly screaming in surprise when the man quietly said his name. He had to lean against the outer wall of the building to hold himself up, turning in annoyance. "Jesus! Don't do that!" The man had always been too damn quiet, but in a situation such as this . . .
It didn't take much perusal of the actor to discover the state he was in, Peter's eyes narrowing suspiciously--words typically straightforward. "What do you know?" Given their usual situation, it was clear when a new twist had arisen.
The actor let out a long breath, trying to pull himself back together. Finally, he nodded toward his dressing room. "In here." While he was certain that the man had only arrived to inquire about the specifics of tonight's date with Susan, it had been made clear to the actor long ago that Peter was one of the endangered couple's allies. He would have to trust him, if he had any hope of protecting Nikita.
His mind was spinning with promises and fears, as they made their way inside--hoping desperately not to be noticed by any eavesdroppers. He had meant it when he had said that he would look after the pregnant woman, had always intended to. But now that the danger had been made so much more apparent . . .
He wasn't certain where to begin, once the two of them were inside, the door closed--Peter's eyes quite deep in their prying concern. Susan's brother was a few years younger than the actor, but his intense maturity could be intimidating at times. It had never surprised the newcomer that Angie was involved with the man. He was clearly just dating someone of his own mental and emotional age. It wasn't his fault that his body had yet to catch up.
It was the brother's vigilance over his sister which had always made Andrew especially cautious in his treatment of Susan. While it never would have occurred to him to take advantage of the girl--like Michael, his interest in virgins as bed partners exceedingly limited--Peter's constant presence had reminded him of how careful he also needed to be in appearances. While the actor's reputation could easily be made, if the world thought he was bedding Susan, the actress would be the one to suffer for it--her sexual innocence a major part of her image and a primary measure of the public's love. It was an irrational expectation to think that the woman would never have any sexual desires, would never find someone she wished to be with, however permanently. But the fact that it was foolish didn't change her situation at all.
He had come to respect this man, then, feared him a little, too. He had no idea what would happen once Susan finally fell in love, wasn't certain any man could live up to her brother's ideal for her; he nearly shook his head. But none of these thoughts were helping him just now.
He knew he was running from the knowledge he had just so unwillingly gained, that he was looking for some, slightly more pleasant, focus--but his main co-star's perilous situation wouldn't be aided any by such a distraction. He outlined for Peter all he had heard--as much as he could remember clearly, as well as his own interpretations. Among his many skills was a highly-detailed memory, one which had been honed early--both by a small role his mother had gotten him in a play before he had learned to read, the script memorized by her repetition of it, and his year or so of work as an understudy, memorizing every movement and nuance of those he was to fill in for, if necessary. By a few minutes later, the younger man was apprized of all he knew--and they were then left to figure out a course to take from there.
Peter, of course, understood more of the conversation than did the newcomer, was well aware of the previous attack on the couple--of Jones's place in the woman's life and of the plans the terrible man had for her. Even the name "Dorian" meant much more to him than a character in a novel--one he had never even read; his look showed his furious worry. And all of it would prove to be a far greater burden than he was certain the actress could bear.
He was just working through a million possible courses, was looking for whatever way would be best--quite used to such planning from his many years of looking after Sasha--when he was interrupted by the far more nervous actor. "What should I do? Should I go tell her about it now?"
Still, this wouldn't do--for many reasons; Peter sighed, as he looked at the man, starting to explain. "Nikita has left the lot." That summed up much of his objection, but it clearly wasn't good enough for Shears; the younger man tried again. "If you go to her, instead of on your date with Sasha, . . ." He could see that the actor was confused, but the name apparently became clear to him a moment later; this was good, at least. Peter himself could never bring himself to think of her as "Susan."
He was struggling slightly for words, as he often did when he was thinking the hardest--the lag in translation time from his native language sometimes getting in his way. Especially with someone like Shears, who--to Peter's mind, at least--needed things explained to him in the simplest and clearest of terms, it could be difficult. "It wouldn't be good," he finished. But he was quite aware that this simply wasn't enough.
It wasn't that Sasha's brother thought the newcomer particularly stupid, just deeply inexperienced; it was his major objection to any deeper relationship between the man and Sasha. His sister was learning to hold her own quite well--a fact which he was a little conflicted about, having been her guardian, literally and figuratively, for so very long--but she needed someone a little . . . deeper than Shears to really fit her personality. This man was simply too innocent, whatever he might have seen of the world, to give her what she needed. Perhaps he had simply been raised by his mother too long, was just too protected; Peter's eyes sank into him. But his sister needed much more than that.
He wasn't entirely certain whether Sasha were aware of this, but he suspected she was. Yes, there was an attraction there, but the fact that--inexperienced as she was--his sister hadn't tried to further the relationship beyond the pair's few, staged dates told him a great deal. Although he had nothing to base his assumptions on, he suspected that Sasha would move far more quickly when she really found the right man; there was a sigh. But he had yet to fully reconcile himself to this fact.
He was so caught in these momentary thoughts--the concerns which he had discussed with Angie many a night--that he almost missed the man's objection. "But she needs me!" he nearly whined. Peter just sighed again. For someone of his age, Shears really thought very little at all.
The younger man tried to explain, gave the actor what insights he could clearly form into words. "There haven't been any stories about you and Nikita in Hedda's column yet." There *had* been a few about the actor and Sasha, but Peter was trying not to think about them; they hadn't been particularly dangerous, at least. "If you go to her house in the middle of the night . . ."
"Oh," the actor interrupted softly, suddenly seeing the man's point. Still, his agitation was immense. "But I have to tell her somehow." He was certain that this shouldn't wait until tomorrow.
Peter agreed with him there, but there were other ways of alerting their companions. "Go on your date with Sasha, but cut it short." He would be there to be certain he didn't cut it *too* short; that would cause talk all on its own. "Then, we'll go to see Adrienne." That would get the information where it really needed to be.
This plan was sound but didn't settle the actor completely, his fears still driving him. "But if they attack her, before we get there . . ."
The calmer man shook his head. "No. Not so quickly. They need time to prepare an attack." He was certain of this. Even if Jones were going to change all his plans--which Peter wasn't entirely certain to be true, whatever the conversation Shears had overheard--the businessman still wouldn't do anything so quickly. And, from what he had heard of Enquist and his desire to succeed the gangster, that man wouldn't be likely to do something foolish enough to annoy Jones. He would have to wait for permission first.
If nothing else, Peter was confident in this, knew they had a little time, if not much. His gaze focused deeply, beginning to order Shears about quietly, like he might a child. "Go on your date with Sasha." His gaze was nearly hypnotic. "*Then* go talk to Adrienne."
The actor nodded blindly, before he shook himself out of it--but he did actually agree, at least as much as he could, when he thought about it. At his nod of understanding, Peter left. He could only ponder then how much better the young man seemed to know his benefactor than he did. "Adrienne," indeed. To him, the distinguished actress would always be "Mrs. Worth."
This difference actually showed quite a gap in the two men's mental ages, as Peter had always surmised. In many ways, Andrew was still a child, idolizing his mother and playing through his days. The fact that he wasn't at all aware of this fact only showed how true it was.
This truth remained, the men's plans made--another pair watching from the many shadows of the lot, as the actor and his friend each made their separate ways into the night; there was a smile on the woman's lips, the man speaking in amusement first. "They seemed to believe us."
"Of course," Madeline nearly purred, turning to smile more deeply at her companion. "It's good working with you again, Dorian." Of all the possible go-betweens Jones might use, Enquist was at least the most amusing. There was something to be said for his suave brand of cruelty.
The tutor didn't realize that her semi-appreciation of the man was caused by her own, similar approach to life, but her companion was anything but unaware. He moved in a little, allowing his body heat to warm the woman, increasingly amused when there was no apparent reaction from her; her continual coolness was always intriguing. "We could do more," he insinuated softly. He was certain that a woman such as Madeline could provide many hours of amusement.
She gave no discernable response, only watching stone-faced, as he leaned in to kiss her lips; she met the touch in no way at all, before laughing slightly, as he pulled away. "Thank you for the offer, but no." She moved around him deftly and started to walk away. Still, it was always amusing to be wanted.
His smooth voice caught her, as she was most of the way down the alleyway they were lingering in--nearly picking up on her thoughts. "I can provide you with a far more amusing time than Wolfe." The words made her stop, at least, her head half-turned toward him. "I'm sure you'd find it interesting."
There was a small smile in return, her little, hummed, "hm," her only answer. Then, she continued on her way, her plot for the night--and for the days to come--in place. Events might be moving far more slowly than she would have liked, but she was confident in her victory this time. Someday soon--someday long before Michael returned--Nikita would have lost the child, might even be dead; her smile broadened. Even if it were only the first of these which happened, Michael would lose interest, would no longer be bound to the girl; that inner triumph bloomed. And then she could work on breaking him, until he did nothing but obey her alone.
[End of Part 278]
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