Josephine felt Johnathon go still beneath her touch, and her face looked troubled as she withdrew. As she watched the second father figure in her life walk out the door, she sighed and leaned against the doctor’s desk. Wondering if she even should have bothered returning to London while it was in this state, Josephine then walked towards the door to Johnathon’s office. Watching him leave in a hurry, she wrapped her arms around herself and wondered if she had gone too far. She couldn’t recall the last time she had seen Dr. Bianchi so disgruntled, and it was quite unsettling. Her father was wrapped up in the case, Dr. Bianchi seemed more than a little upset his wife was gone, and Josephine was left alone despite her father’s wishes. Glancing at the book on the desk, she frowned. She would need something much more upbeat. Smiling suddenly, she thought of her audition. Walking quickly out of the office, she called to Milly “Please tell Levi I will be at the academy!” With that, she bounced down the steps of the manor and headed to the academy.
(Thread Change to Downtown)
Her trying to act all professional had clearly gone to waste. As soon as he realized she was in the room he ran to her and spun her around. The way he looked at her took her breath away. It made her feel like she was the most important person in the whole world because he looked genuinely happy and that was all that mattered to her. His hands remained on her waist which pleased her. She laughed and looked down shyly. Sam was anything but shy, but Levi seemed to have a strange effect on her. When he asked his question her smile lessened, but her expression remained casual. “I had to run out and get something. Who was that woman?” she asked, curiously, but quickly to change the subject off of what she’d been doing this morning. He did not know that she was a vampire and she planned to keep it that way, nor did the rest of his family. Working for a family of angels made it hard being a vampire and she didn’t plan on telling any of them anytime soon. Even though she hated lying to Levi. He pulled away from her and she tried to not look too disappointed. They shouldn’t act like this anyway, especially when his father was just in the other room. She accepted his kiss with a bright smile. “Ball? Oh, right.” Sam had nearly forgotten. She didn’t like the thought of him going to a ball looking his most handsome and dancing with other women, but she wanted to be helpful. “Lead the way.”
(( you can thread change(: ))
Levi waited until they were out of his father’s office to entwine his fingers with Sam’s. He pulled her close to his side as he led the way to his room, various maids and butlers watching with mild interest. He rarely invited women to his room unless they were council members to speak privately.
Pushing his door open to his room, he kicked the door shut and turned to face Sam. Smiling, he reached down to brush his fingertips to her cheek and murmured “I’m glad you’re here…I want to look my best for Phoebe. It’s bad enough I have to force her to go.” Pecking her forehead, he turned around and walked towards his closet to sort through clothes. As he pushed clothes around, he responded to her question. “She is…a friend of Detective Blaine’s. Johnathon has found out some interesting information regarding her background and wants to run some of his own medical tests.” He let it go at that and pulled out a simple black and white suit. He wasn’t one for these affairs, and he really just wanted to focus on more alone time with Sam. Placing the suit on the bed, he then waltzed back over to Sam with his cheeky grin. Crossing his arms, he winked “Would you like to dress me? I’m sure you’ve already imagined me naked…” He gave her another gentlemanly kiss on the forehead, but it took all his strength not to sweep her into his arms.
It was a silent ride back from the Cathedral for Johnathon, Reginald and Vivian, as all were traumatized by what they had seen. The Detective’s face was grim, and he constantly drummed his fingers on the door wanting to make the driver go faster, for his concern for Josephine was now the first thing in his mind. Vivian’s face was white like a sheet, still feeling sick about the state of the body that was hanging from the cross. She had not been so badly affected by the murders before this, but for some reason, this one had a significance to it, she found hard to understand. Johnathon sat opposite Vivian, and his body swayed with the movement of the carriage, his eyes searching her face, wondering if she had figured it out yet. Did she wake up to the fact the girl was an angel? And if she had, should Johnathon reveal the truth of his lineage?
The Bianchi Manor – Foyer
Maid Milly heard the bell chime for the front door, and scurried to get it, shocked to see the state of the Doctor and his companions. The Detective and Johnathon were covered in dirt, while Vivian looked like she had seen a ghost. Johnathon helped carry in the vampire killing kit, and set the shovel against the wall, as The Detective ran into the Doctor’s office, crying out;
“Josephine!…Josephine!”
<3>
As a maid in the Bianchi Manor, Lydia was well aware of the chaos that happened within the enclosed doors. With a sigh, she stared at the house and recalled her moments of peace at the fountain in town. She had noticed the lovely Josephine was in town, and she was walking with a troubled gaze towards the ballet academy. She was murmuring words of encouragement to herself, her nerves clearly getting the best of her when she spoke of the audition to herself. The maid had found it unusual that she would be traveling alone, but it was none of her business. Shaking her head, Lydia adjusted the bun on her head and walked into the house. Raising an eyebrow, she took in the appearance of Reginald Blaine calling for Josephine. Glancing at the Doctor, her eyes fell to the kit and then the shovel he placed against the hall. Smiling slightly, she asked “Digging for treasure?” She gave Vivian a slight nod of the head, wondering what had gotten her panties in a twist. Returning her gaze to the detective, she stepped towards him and placed her hand on his arm “Detective, I don’t know why you believe she is here, but I have recently seen Josephine downtown. She was walking by herself to the academy and was speaking about an audition. She looked quite nervous and scared.” Shrugging slightly, she turned to the doctor “Shall I fetch some tea for your guests?” Folding her hands in front of her, she looked from one man to another. Lydia had no idea that Josephine had run away to her audition, angry at her father for not being there and hurt by Johnathon’s reaction to her.
((…I knew that. XP oops))
Sam looked at him when he took her hand, but said nothing. It was a friendly gesture, but she was sure the other maids didn’t think so. There was no harm in it for him because they would think that she, not he, was the slut. She rolled her eyes at the ones that were staring at them, remembering that she did not care what they thought of her. Only Levi mattered. They made their way into his bedroom and she smiled up at him. She allowed herself to lean into his touch as he brushed her cheeks just slightly. If she were human she would have definitely gotten goose bumps. Since she wasn’t, she just felt very pleased with her situation. That was until he spoke. Right. Phoebe. That must have been who he was taking to the ball. This shouldn’t bother her. Levi was her closest friend. Her only friend really. Him having such a… beautiful date should please her. She should be happy for him. “Once she sees you in this, you won’t have to force her to do anything,” she assured him. Sam loved a man in a suit. She was not a huge fan of dressing up herself, only doing so when necessary, but she absolutely adored it when Levi needed to. She ran her hands over the suit that he set on the bed and then looked at him just as mischievously as he was looking at her. “As much as you may enjoy that, I believe you learned how to dress yourself at a very young age, Mr. Bianchi and if you still need help after that I’m afraid no one will be able to help you,” she responded with a smug look. If anyone heard her speak like that to someone of his status she would be in huge trouble. But she knew Levi wouldn’t mind.
Johanthon turned to hear Lydia ask if they had been digging for treasure. It was a comical question, that deserved a quip in response, but Johnathon was in no mood for playing games. “Oh this? For digging up the un dead at the Cathedral.” Vivan shuddered and took out the wreath of garlic cloves and promptly hung it around her neck. She trotted into the office, after the distraught Reginald, who was searching the observation room for Josephine.
“She’s not here. Maybe she is with Levi in his room.” He suddenly became angry. “I’ll kill him!” Johnathon picked up the shovel and said,.”Do I need to use this?” Vivian snatched it off him and put it back against the door. “Will you both calm down?”
“NO!” they yelled in unison. During which, Lydia kindly placed her hand on the Detective’s arm and said quietly;
“Detective, I don’t know why you believe she is here, but I have recently seen Josephine downtown. She was walking by herself to the academy and was speaking about an audition. She looked quite nervous and scared.”
That was it. The Detective took off out the door, leaving Vivian standing there, wondering where to go, or what to do. Johnathon took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. Lydia was kind enough to offer to get tea, but the Doctor had another type of drink on his mind; Brandy.
“I’ll be in my office, Lydia. Thank you anyways.” He marched in there, and Vivian side stepped, much like a crab, following him in, not wanting to be left alone, not with Vampires and Demons on the loose.
<3>
Lydia watched with raised brows as Detective Blained took off out the door. Turning slowly, she looked at the nervous Vivian and a small smile graced her lips. “It seems the lady will need some of my famous tea…” As the doctor marched into his office, she disappeared into the kitchen to prepare some for her. Lydia was masterful at creating teas that were both soothing and quite delicious, almost medicinal. Oftentimes she was showing Josephine how to make herbal remedies when Levi or Johnathon did not have her attention. As she clanked around the kitchen, she began the process of making the tea. Minutes passed before she emerged from the kitchen, tea and cookies in hand on a platter.
Doctor Bianchi’s Office
Lydia stepped into the doctor’s office, a warm smile on her face. “I understand you did not wish for some tea, sir, but the lady looks as though she has seen a ghost.” That was her only hint towards the investigation, as Lydia was not only a shifter, but a renowned clairvoyant. She sensed the presence of the dead angel hovering outside the manor impatiently, and Lydia sensed she was scared. Waving off that thought, she looked towards Vivian with her maternal smile. “Some tea to calm the nerves, dear. Though Dr. Bianchi is quite gifted and I’m sure he will have you feeling better in no time.” Looking between the two, she took a seat in front of Dr. Bianchi’s desk. Reaching for her own cup of tea, she took a sip and sighed contently “Well, it’s perfect.” Glancing at the doctor, she gave him a knowing look. As Lydia held the ability to know a great many things both as a clairvoyant and a shifter, she had the knowledge the doctor was always welcome to use.
Levi chuckled at Sam’s boldness, his hands reaching up to unbutton his shirt. Turning around to face her, he continued to smile and shook his head “Someone ought to give that arse a good whooping, Samantha.” He stepped towards her and looked down at her beautiful face as though he were assessing it. With his shirt completely unbuttoned and opened, he reached down to caress her face again. His eyes searched hers before murmuring “If I could, I would take you, Sam. You are the only one who makes me completely happy.” He placed yet another kiss on her forehead, but this time Levi allowed his lips to linger. They brushed over her soft skin lovingly before he turned around and walked back to his bed. Pulling his shirt off and sliding his pants down, he muttered distractedly. “I have to leave soon. Would you mind fetching Phoebe? We can’t be late.” With that, he went about the task of dressing himself silently.
She couldn’t help but smile when he did. She refrained from making another comment when he said what he did, because anything that came out of her mouth would be wildly inappropriate and she always got caught up in her thoughts whenever he used her full name like that. Sam absolutely hated her name, hence why she went by ‘Sam,’ but out of Levi’s mouth it always sounded so beautiful and she couldn’t help but love it. He looked down at her. Sam was tall, but Levi was taller. She couldn’t help but let her eyes linger at his bare chest, before looking back up at him when he touched her face, so that she was looking back into his eyes as he told her he would take her if he could. This made her smile, but didn’t make the situation any better. The fact was he could not take her, but it was nice of him to say anything. She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead, lingering there longer than he had before and opened them when he left to go change his clothes. She nodded, reluctantly, as she kept her eyes firmly on his face as he changed, before turning around and going to find out where Phoebe was staying.
Phoebe’s Room
Sam knocked on her door before walking in. It was her house more than it was this Phoebe girl’s so she didn’t bother waiting for a response. “Miss Phoebe? Levi has requested you as soon as your ready. He doesn’t want to be late for the ball.” She took this opportunity to look the girl over. She was even prettier than she had realized before and this still managed to bother her quite a bit. All she could do was try to keep her irritation out of her voice and stare politely at the girl as she tried to get her to meet back up with Levi so they could go to the stupid ball together.
