16. How Could I?
Rain poured from the sky outside the enormous picture window as Julian leaned against it, gaze focused intently on something. He looked ridiculously handsome in his three-piece, pinstriped suit and fedora that tipped low over his intense, indigo eyes. Right now, they were glowing, and I followed the trajectory of his stare through to the busy sidewalk and sea of umbrellas.
Standing at the curb, waiting to rush across was…me. My jaw dropped as I took in the short dress and high heels that matched the brilliant red rose adorning the hat on my head. My short, cropped hair peeked out from beneath it, curling in a rim of auburn. I seemed to have no notion I was being watched until, when I finally made it across the street, I stopped, creating a split in the flow of people around me, and glanced back over my shoulder with narrowed eyes toward the window then shook my head and continued on my way.
Julian relaxed his stance, and I noticed for the first time we were in a little restaurant with checkerboard tablecloths and tiny vases with violet flowers on each table. Only a few people scurried around in white aprons, and I wondered why Julian was inside before other customers.
Following close behind, I trailed Julian to the glass doors of the entrance where a closed sign hung. “I can’t wait another second,” he said under his breath and threw it open, letting the roar of rain and people crash inside.
But before he could chase after the other me, a figure appeared in the doorway beneath a black umbrella. Hair molded into a sleek bob, and eyes outlined in charcoal, Elsa was simply stunning. She had on gloves and a huge mink stole that swept over her shoulders. Her lips were stained red as they coiled upward in a seductive smile.
“When I heard you bought a restaurant, I couldn’t believe it. It appears the little human I paid was right. Too bad I already killed him.”
“Elizabeth.” Julian’s gaze darted once to the window where he’d watched me cross the street then settled back on the woman before him. “I haven’t seen you in quite a while. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Well if you find it so pleasurable, at least step out of the doorway and let me in before my hair is ruined.”
Julian slid to the side and opened an arm toward his cozy little establishment.
Elsa’s heels clicked on the floor as she sauntered by, closing her umbrella and handing it to Julian who set it near the door. She examined the small tables and the workers who bustled around the open kitchen in the back.
“Italian?” she asked, removing her stole to reveal a low-cut flapper dress of white fringe that hugged her body like a glove.
“People here seem to prefer it to French,” Julian quipped, guiding her to a table in the corner.
I frowned as she leaned her elbows on it and dipped forward, displaying the bulge of her breasts and the deep valley between them. I didn’t know a lot about the 20’s, but I thought flat chests were the style. At some point since the 1600’s, she seemed to have decided her preference was flaunting her natural tendencies. To his credit, Julian kept his eyes on hers.
“I assume this is more than a personal visit?” he asked politely, gesturing to someone on the other side of the room with two fingers raised.
“You know me so well. And yet, is it so unbelievable that I may have sought you out for another go at that magnificent c?—”
The waiter placed two porcelain cups and saucers on the table and began tipping coffee into each. Surprisingly, she didn’t finish the sentence, just waited for him to serve and leave.
“While I appreciate the compliment, I’m sure you can and have found lovers elsewhere. What brings you to Chicago?”
Elsa sipped her coffee, watching him. “I look for a bit of excitement, and rumors of the…nightlife here reached me. When I found out you were here as well, I simply had to come so you could introduce me around. Show me the ropes.” She popped the p on her last word and wiggled in her chair a bit.
“Sadly, I live a rather boring life in your terms, currently. I am focused on pursuits other than jazz clubs and moonshine.”
“Come now, Julian, do you think I’d know about this place and not the sordid things that go on, below ground after hours?”
Julian shifted in his seat, pursing his lips in annoyance. “Gambling and alcohol are quite lucrative pursuits in the current political climate.” He sipped his coffee.
“If a lady were to want in on such action?—”
“You are welcome to join us tonight. But I am not looking for a business partner.”
“Very well.” Elsa stood and wrapped herself in her stole with a dramatic flourish. “Perhaps a personal one then. At least for a short time.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.” Julian stepped in front to open the door for her. “You see, my mate is currently incarnated. I shall see you this evening, then.”
The fury on Elsa’s face grew smug as the scene around us changed. The space we were in had no windows, low lighting, and smelled strongly of tobacco and perfume. Soft jazz competed with the buzz of conversation and the clinking of glasses. One glance toward the small stage showed a live band, and to the right sat a small but shiny bar with servers in poufy white sleeves and scarlet armbands busy behind it.
Julian wore the same suit and leaned against the corner of the counter, watching Elsa stride toward him in a tight black gown with a slit all the way up the thigh. A thick white boa draped her arms, and her breasts looked like they may pop out of the top at any second. When she reached him, she lifted a cigarette in a long black holder and waited for him to light it. Then she puffed out a cloud of smoke between them.
“Enjoying yourself?” Julian asked.
“Delightful. Though this swill you call alcohol smells detestable.” She wrinkled her nose at the man next to her as he tossed back a glass.
Julian laughed then knocked on the bar, getting the immediate attention of one of his servers. “Two from my private collection.”
In moments, two glasses of amber whiskey sat before them, and he lifted his in a toast. “When people are desperate, they don’t care about quality, cher.”
Elsa sipped. “Better. Now, what say you and I find a little privacy?”
Julian slammed his drink and straightened. “I told you, Elizabeth, not available.”
“Well, where is she then?” Elsa asked, peering around. “Surely you can’t stand being apart if she’s actually your mate.”
“She doesn’t know yet.” Julian motioned for another drink.
It was Elsa’s turn to laugh. “What are you waiting for? Torturing yourself? If that’s what you want, I can provide it just as easily. Turn her, Jules. She’ll instantly feel the bond, and if she becomes hysterical, you can tell her to behave. Done and done. It’s what I’d do. And then I’d invite others to join in the fun. I’d be open…” She trailed a finger down his lapel.
Catching her hand, Julian shook his head. “Clearly, you haven’t found your mate yet since it’s clear you don’t know how love works. I won’t change her if she doesn’t want to be changed, Elsa. And I will kill anyone who interferes.”
“Fine.” Elsa yanked her hand free and tipped back her drink. “Your loss. But what if she rejects you? She’s human, right? Humans are fickle creatures.”
“Then I would respect that,” Julian answered without hesitation. “Because I love her.”
“I want to dance,” Elsa announced and grabbed the closest man to her aside from Julian to drag him toward the small area surrounding the stage.
The scene changed again, and the day was bright and sunny. Julian wore a dark grey suit now and was outside the restaurant, whistling. I stayed as close to the entrance beneath the awning as possible so that I wouldn’t be run through by pedestrians.
I saw myself approach just as Julian did, and he stood straighter, tugging at his suit jacket. As I passed by the alleyway beside the restaurant, a figure darted from inside and snatched the small red handbag dangling from my wrist. I watched myself scream as Julian calmly stepped out, grabbing hold of the far shorter thief, and tugging the stolen purse from his hand, then releasing him to run away.
My hand had fluttered to the long strand of pearls on my chest as Julian held the retrieved goods back to me. Flustered and blushing, 1920’s Charlotte took the offered bag, fingers grazing Julian’s as she met his gaze.
Damn, I could feel the electricity from here.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Are you alright?” Julian asked, his accent peeking through.
“Y…yes, I think so. It was fortunate for me you were there. If I’d lost my purse, I don’t know how I’d survive until payday.”
“Glad to help. The name is Julian.” He reached out his hand, and the other me shook it, grinning.
“Charlotte.”
The scene changed again, though I could have watched that forever. This time, we sat laughing together at a table piled with pasta.
“It’s broken,” Julian said, indicating a watch on a long gold chain that I recognized as something that had hung from his vest pocket. Was that the watch he’d traded his blood for?
“I can fix it,” I answered, popping open the back and examining it. “I can have it back to you tonight.”
“Allow me the honor of buying you dinner in exchange,” Julian said, setting a hand over mine.
I sure did blush a lot. I wondered if that was true in this life too as I watched her suck in her bottom lip. “Not necessary.”
“But desired,” Julian said smoothly. “I’ll pick you up at eight. I’ll be taking you somewhere far nicer than my own establishment.”
“I’m not sure there is such a thing,” I teased, standing and clutching the watch.
When the scene changed, I’d expected to be having a romantic dinner with Julian, but instead, it was Julian in a jewelry store facing an elderly man with sideburns. “That one.”
The man tucked the ring, the same one on my finger, into a velvet box and handed it to him with a smile.
When the world shifted again, I gaped in shock at my own horrified face, ghostly white as I took in the speakeasy around me.
“Charlotte,” Julian blocked me before I could take the last step down into his den. “I was going to pick you up in half an hour.”
The place was less crowded than the last time we’d been in it, but judging by my face, I didn’t approve. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
“I’m glad I surprised you,” I insisted, pressing the watch into his chest. “I’d rather know the real you now then after I’d fallen for you. Don’t call on me again.”
Julian watched, heartbroken, as I rushed up the steps and away from his life. I ran to him instantly to comfort him and assure him I was here. But this was a memory, and I couldn’t change it. No wonder he said he didn’t blame me.
I turned away from him, unable to watch, and gaped. In the back corner near the bar, Elsa sat with a glass of whiskey, smiling and satisfied.
When I pulled my hand away to return to the present, a tear was winding a crooked path along my face.
“Julian.”
But instead of melancholy, his expression was pure rage, and I leaned back quickly before realizing it wasn’t aimed at me.
“Um, Julian…”
“I hadn’t realized until you found her. But she’d been in the memory all along.” The barely controlled anger shook his voice.
“Elsa interfered. She arranged for me to find the speakeasy,” I said, understanding.
Julian nodded, crushing the empty cup before him in one fist so that it shattered over the table.
This was bad. I didn’t want him going after her now, when she had the advantage of Kayora’s blood. I needed to get him to calm down, but how did I calm a furious vampire who’d been cheated out of his mate?
“You arranged for that man to steal my purse,” I accused.
Julian snapped his head toward me in shock. Good, I’d distracted him. “I?—”
“I understand why,” I said. “What I don’t understand is why the hell I cared if you ran a speakeasy.”
“Your father was a judge,” Julian answered, shoulders slumping as he stared at the mess he’d made before him. “One of the few uncorrupted ones.”
“Ah.” I waved away the broken bits and slid from my chair onto his lap, leaning against his chest. “Well, we’re here now. Together.”
“Yes,” he said, cupping my cheek. “I do not regret that. But Elizabeth?—”
“Instead of focusing on revenge, let’s try focusing on us for a change,” I said. “Everyone and everything seems to have conspired against us in each of my lives, including this one. Let’s show them all it won’t work anymore.”
“What do you have in mind?” Julian asked, an amused twitch to his lips.
“Marry me.”
Julian ran a thumb over the ring on my left finger then kissed the back of my hand. “You already said yes.”
“I mean, let’s do it soon. As soon as possible. Now even.”
“We are doing this right, Charlotte. I will not rush what has taken hundreds of years. Though I admit being married to you now sounds like a dream.”
Pulling him down for a kiss, I basked in the happiness that bloomed like a shower of rose petals around us. “Then give me one week to plan it. With magic and portals, I can do it. Watch.” I waved an arm, and the rubble that blocked the way to the front hall rose and reassembled itself, fixing the structure of his house.
“I will agree on one condition,” Julian said. “You focus equally as much on your newfound condition with Lydia and your father if necessary.”
Biting back the retort on the tip of my tongue, I forced myself to nod in agreement instead. If that’s what it took to keep him from carrying out the threat he’d made a hundred years ago to kill anyone who interfered in our relationship, then that’s what I would do.