| Subject: Chapter 263 - Part 1 (16 and above) |
Author:
KatherineG.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, November 08, 07:17:23am
In reply to:
KatherineG.
's message, "Dreams in the Dark (258>?) continued" on Monday, October 23, 07:10:30am
Extra warning: There are a few bad words here. I'll rate it 16 and above, just to be safe.
Dreams in the Dark (263/?)
by Katherine Gilbert
It was magnificent to feel peace, to know that she was loved. It was wonderful to know that--no matter where he was--her husband cared for and remembered her. Still, such joy was always threatened, her life never her own for long. She had learned that lesson shortly after her birth.
The contentment which warmed Nikita was doomed not to last; it never had. She learned this again, once she finally came back to herself--realizing that Fredericks had not moved behind her for many, long minutes; that was quite odd for the man, who tended to do his work and then stay well out of sight. She turned her head, found him staring in horror at one of the envelopes--and she realized yet again that, until she and Michael had finally overcome their many enemies, there would never be real peace.
"What is it?" she managed to ask at last, knowing that there was no victory to be found in delay. His gaze found hers cautiously, and something inside her froze. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't going to be good.
It took him a second before he answered, seeming to mull it over quietly. Finally, he forced a half-smile, starting to walk away. "It's nothing important," he claimed. But she couldn't help but notice that he was gripping the letter so tightly that he was in danger of destroying it with one hand.
She couldn't let this go, knew it wouldn't be safe. But she was also well-aware that the man's job was to protect her; she didn't want him to misunderstand it. "Carl," she caught him, his back turned to her; he stiffened, nearly having made it to the kitchen and away. "The truth. Is it for me?"
There was no answer for a moment, the man just standing there--but she wouldn't let him vacillate for long. "Do you think it's really safer, if I'm unaware of any threats? Do you think I'll understand better who to be cautious of or watchful for that way?" She saw his body sway just a hair, knew he was close to giving in; Annie was now standing in the doorway of the kitchen, watching worriedly, as Nikita made her point. "You were hired to protect me from danger, not to pretend it doesn't exist." He finally looked back to her, still so cautious--but her intelligent eyes cut deep. "I need to know."
Her argument had played with his conscience, was beginning to win him over--but it was the look she gave which told him the rest. For all that both he and Annie sometimes mothered her, their employer was not a child, had seen almost as much as they had; he let out a sigh, returning to her. But this particular turn was one her new aide understood the deadly significance of all too well.
The pair's gaze held, as he stood in front of her, whatever was left of the battle waged silently. Finally, he held out the envelope, his voice quiet. "I'm sorry." Her cautious look increased. "I didn't see this coming."
She had already known that this wouldn't be good, had used up a good deal of energy just fighting to discover the nature of this new threat. When her eyes found the envelope, and its return address--one which had been burned into her brain on a night so long ago, when she had been forced to track down her father in an attempt to save her lover's life--she nearly shrank back, stopping herself at only the last moment. If she did, Fredericks would take it as a sign to keep the missive from her. And, as much as part of her longed for such protection, such ignorance would only endanger her further.
She took the letter carefully, trembling only slightly, as Annie's worried voice caught up to them. "What is it?" Whatever the oddness of the set-up, they were all in this together.
Nikita proceeded to open the envelope, as the cook's partner answered--his voice tinged with a hatred unlike any the actress had ever heard from him. "It's from Jones." But that was the last she noticed of the couple for many minutes to come.
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