SurfAngel_1031

  Intent to both host a celebration and perform After Dark’s trial run, Sylvie insisted that every aspect of the building be complete and ready for New Year’s Eve. RSVP invitations were sent to Sylvie’s closest companions and new family, with a handful accepting. “I am so gd your mom and dad decided to come here and witness this, Casey.”

  “It will be the first time they have been in the same room since the wedding.” Casey took Sylvie's hand and walked past the huge office and onto the dance floor. “They aren’t fond of one another.” Casey casually and slowly spun Sylvie. “I thought it might be good for you to see what you’ve created.” Once Casey pyfully dipped her wife, she tugged Sylvie off of the floor and walked the staircase up to the loft where a podium had been pced special for the evening. “While it would have been nice to see Vivienne and Faye again, I understand why Vivienne declined.”

  “Nothing like a room full of sweating vampires.” Sylvie chuckled and overlooked her little masterpiece. “I would have liked to see Kody and meet Lucy.” She wiggled her eyebrows, “I almost made it a command.” It was a light punch to her bare arm that garnered more of Sylvie’s attention. “Hey! I didn’t do it, did I?”

  “No, but you considered it.” Casey frowned, “I felt it when Daniel got the RSVP, she signed it immediately.”

  Having been elected as the interim mayor of Colonial Heights, Sylvie knew that since this event would be the first since the rebuilding started, that Daniel had to show up and show support for the remnants of the cities old residents and the newcomers that left Richmond to find something new a little further south without all of the violence. “She probably needs the relief. I mean taking on the coordination of reconstruction amidst the loss…” Sylvie pulled Casey into an embrace, “...of Jason…has to be weighing on her.” Sylvie smiled, “It just reminds me how special you are to me, Casey Miakoda. It’s a tragedy when love fades.”

  Knowing that the evening was a celebration, Casey changed the mencholy topic. “We should probably take our pces at the door to greet everyone like proper hostesses.” Casey looked around and waved to a few of the people that were finishing up small tasks. “Running like a well-oiled machine, Sylvie. You have a knack for this, it’s much better than it used to be.”

  “I love you too, Zia-Sihu.” Sylvie smiled and slipped her arm through Casey’s and slowly led the couple back down the staircase to the main entrance. “Well, time to get into character.”

  A few minutes ter both Sylvie and Casey had made their way arm in arm down to the ornate heavy oak wooden door with bck gss and in calligraphy that artfully dispyed the name of the business. Sylvie unlocked the door and propped it open and saw the small line of people that had taken the time to RSVP and smiled. “Hello Friends and Happy New Year. Thank you for celebrating it with the new After Dark.” Sylvie stepped aside and allowed her new hostess to hand out the tasteful party favors to ring in the new year.

  Short and with her trademark spunky half-blue and half-pink hair, Daniel bowed and greeted Sylvie and Casey. “Happy New Year, Missus Mikoda’s.” Daniel winked with her coppery eyes and shining red irises. Surrounding Daniel were two stunning dies that were more interested in their iPhones than where they were, it took a healthy poke to their ribs before the two looked up. “Sylvie, Casey these two lovelies are my assistants and they refuse to pay any attention to me.” Daniel ughed. “Let’s see.” She pointed to the leggy blonde woman in a mermaid red dress. “This stunning dy is Arianne Storm, she has the uncanny ability to see other angles of a problem and can turn it around. My assistant.” Daniel wiggled her finger at Casey. “No, you can’t have her.” It was only after Casey nodded and stopped ughing, that Daniel introduced a rather pin and soft looking woman with a visible tattoo of teardrops made to be pendants entwined as a vine neckce. “Brunette and subtly lovely, on my left is Marianne Kaas.” Daniel leaned closer to Sylvie and Casey to politely whisper. “Best corporate spy I have ever met. I don’t know how she can do it, better than some of our brethren that I have seen.” Daniel stepped back and pointed inside the building. “My podium is on the second floor?”

  With a nod and a smile, Sylvie affirmed Daniel’s question. “It is. You and your lovely assistants are seated with you for the party.” With a cute purse of her lips and squint in her moon-shifting eyes, Sylvie quietly asked the important question. “Are they?”

  “You know it.” Daniel softly licked her fangs, “Now I know what you enjoyed for years, Sylvie.”

  “Oh, Come on.” Casey frowned and gred at the two older vampires. “You have to fucking kidding me, you have two and I am a three month old and your telling me I can’t have a nibble?”

  Without skipping a beat, Marianne looked up and smiled at Casey. “I’ll find you ter, Mistress Miakoda, I will save a blood drop just for you.” She winked and walked into the building and vanished from sight like a shadow.

  Once the ughter stopped, Daniel took Arianna’s arm and headed into the restaurant, “Never change Casey, I wouldn’t know what to do without your brash use of your favorite word.” She ughed, “You look amazing by the way. I see why Marianne offered.” She swaggered away. “Ladies.”

  Right behind Daniel and her blood bunnies, Amber and Jessica waited patiently. “Sylvie, Casey.” Amber walked up and kissed both of their hands. “We really needed this, so thank you for the personal invitation.” Noticing Casey just staring at her crystalline and tropical teal eyes, Amber faced her. “Yes. I have been talking with ‘The Raven’. We are taking lessons one at a time, and I am not the fast-paced learner I thought I would have been.” Amber stopped and saw the half-hearted painful look in Casey’s gold eyes. “She has asked about you, Oddly enough she told me that of all people…” Amber smiled between Sylvie and Casey. “...you would be the one that could adapt to the life fwlessly. She’s proud of you Casey.”

  A wave of visible relief washed over Casey and her tension vanished with Amber’s reassuring words. “There is a part of me that will always thank her for introducing me.” Her golden eyes now focused on her wife, “Without her, I wouldn’t have met my best friend and love of my life..or unlife.”

  Gripping Casey a little more firmly, Sylvie decided Casey’s little sexual gift earlier wasn’t as important as the tiny tribute Casey had just offered. Pressing a kiss on Casey’s rosy cheek, Sylvie’s gloss left a shiny imprint that glittered with the lighting. “Leave it.” Sylvie beamed and looked at Amber, “Oh, I have something for you.” Quickly opening her purse, Sylvie pulled out a small beat up letter and a key to a safety deposit box. “I meant to get this to you months ago when we lost Martin. He wanted you to have whatever this goes to, Amber.”

  Finally making herself known, Jessica stepped up and took the items and then bowed, “Mistress Miakoda.” Jessica then righted herself, “We will handle these with honor.” She held up one finger and smiled, “Though I have a request.”

  Confused as to what Jessica could possibly want given her retionship to Amber, Sylvie smiled and waved her free hand. “Jessica, please. No need to be so formal with me, We all lived together. I know all about you, dear.” Sylvie leaned against Casey, “Please speak.”