Chapter 10.

James and I were going over the plans as a sound echoed throughout the silent apartment. Anastasia was watching us, not quite listening and frustrating us both.

Within a moment, James had pulled his gun out of his holster on his dark jeans and motioned for Anastasia to move back out of sight.

The person on the other side of the door knocked again. A teasing knock that fell flat as both pairs of our feet moved swiftly and silently towards the door.

Red energy flowed down my wrists as I stood behind where the door was open.

James' eyes met my own and we nodded at each other.

Ready.

James unlocked the door and pulled it open quickly as a voice slithered into the room.

"Delivery!"

You have got to be kidding me.

I pulled the door open harshly and glared at the bright white teeth grinning in my direction.

"Dominic. What are you doing here?" His wolfish grin spread up, almost hitting his ears. I sighed, hanging my head and stepping back to let him in.

"You are friends with more than one supernatural?" James asked me, his hands still grasping his gun firmly in between them as he eyed down Dom.

Dom strode in, body at ease and haughty, carrying 3 garment bags as if they were empty, but they were not.

"I believe he is currently having sexual relations with Aife." James' eyebrows rose as he regarded everyone in the room.

"Don't say it like that Lidiya-" Whatever he was going to say next was cut off as I leapt at him, dagger quickly forming in my hand. The fabric of his shirt was soft under my fingers as the edge of my blade became level with the soft spot below his Adam's apple.

"That is NOT my name." The words came out as a throaty hiss. Dom glanced down at the dagger, something dark shifted behind his eyes before retreating with a show of effort.

"It used to be." His voice fell flat and he threw the bags on one of the lounges in the large room. "Not that you ever told us that."

We stared each other down for a moment. Neither of us looking away.

"If I had wanted you to know, I would have told you." My voice was flat, dead. No hint of my Russian accent in it. "That word is a curse that will not come from your lips again. Is that understood?" My eyes began burning their deep red as my chest constricted.

It haunts me always.

"Understood... Red." He took a step back, taking us all in. My body relaxed slightly at this, the dagger disappearing in a dull blaze of red energy.

I grabbed the garment bags, throwing them at their respective targets.

"Let's get changed. We do not have long."

I disappeared into one of the bathrooms, taking in the blood red dress before me. It was expensive enough for us to fit in at the benefit. There were slits at the sides to also allow for movement.

I hate it when I have to do assignments in clothes like these...

But I had not been loosely trained. I knew how to do it... And I was good.

Aife had been thoughtful enough to add a few things when she had obviously intercepted the delivery I sent to my apartment.

I stared at the makeup in front of me.

I hate this part.

I set to work, choosing only basic powder, mascara, eyebrow pencil and an equally blood red lipstick. It was enough to look dressed up, while not piling on the makeup.

It was a bold look. But that was what was needed.

Besides, red suited me.

Taking a large amount of an expensive concealer, I began working it over the side of my arm and watched as my dagger disappeared as if it was washed off.

The persona required was officially born.

I slid my feet into a pair of heels that wound their way around my ankles, reasonably hidden underneath the dress.

When I joined James and Dom out in the centre of the apartment there was a low whistle.

"Just when I think I'm over you, you bring me right back in." His pupils had gotten large and his eyes deepened as he looked at me. It made my skin itch. Good or bad I could not tell. But I did not enjoy it.

I ignored Dom, moving right over to James.

"You two dated?" The blood seemed to be burning under his skin as I helped him adjust his clothes.

"I do not date." The room fell silent as the words left my lips.

I could feel the heat radiating off of James by how close we were as I studied his clothes, deciding I had chosen the right size after all. A strange feeling stirred in my chest for a moment as a brief flash of our kiss snuck its way into my mind.

"Oh... I get it now. You're interested in someone else."

I immediately stepped away from James, ears beginning to develop a warm burning that was creeping its way down the back of my neck.

"As I have said before. I have interests. I just never pursue them. I do not have the time for such childish matters."

"Because you're a weapon?" I turned away from James as soon as the words left his lips.

"Yes. Weapon first. Person... Last." I straightened, rolling my shoulders back just as Anastasia entered the room. Dom and James shared a look I did not appreciate from the two strangers.

"Is this real silk?" Her hands were moving over her pastel dress, her blonde hair naturally straight, and not as full of product as usual.

"I think it would be a little obvious if we were to go to a charity benefit in our usual clothing." Her eyes widened as she took me in.

"Oh. My. God. Were you made in a lab or something?!" I looked down at myself, not seeing what she obviously was but dismayed that I could not wear a sports bra and instead had to go without.

"It is quite possible. Other psychics have been." She stared at me, brows creasing and head tilted to the side.

"I take it back. You're a robot."

Anastasia was fidgeting as we walked up to the building. She had insisted on wearing heels, so we had to make a detour and get some.

"You're face always looks so harsh. If you wore your hair up in a bun you'd look like a librarian or a ballerina." I did not look at her as I turned the plan over and over in my head. Picking at loose ends we did not have time to fix.

One of them, Anastasia.

"Ballet is a favourite pastime of some Russian children. Some schools even teach it as an activity."

I used to love it back when I was another person.

The words could not leave my lips. But they were there.

"Did you go to school?"

"Yes. It was a requirement even for orphaned children."

Societal standing does not affect our learning.

It occurs to me that I may have been considered underprivileged. But I never felt it.

I still do not.

We were ushered in welcomingly. One look at myself and they allowed the three of us to walk through, barely glancing at their electronic lists. We were offered champagne immediately, Anastasia and James accepting.

It seemed I had branded us important. For everyone wanted to speak to "such an important looking young woman as yourself". With ease I had melded into a British accent to go with how strict everyone thought I was.

"Oh, I just love these balls, don't you?" An older woman covered in gold jewellery asked me as she was followed by younger people, eager to impress.

"Yes. It is a lovely time for lightening one's overwhelming pockets." The woman laughed as a small smile graced my face for a few moments.

"Your accent is darling! I can't believe I haven't seen you one of these before! I am certain we would make great acquaintances regardless of our age gap."

"'Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art'."

"Oh my! You're quite intelligent, aren't you?" My eyes caught on someone entering the elevator towards the back of the large expanse of a room.

Dick.

"Not nearly as intelligent as I am sure you are madam, but if you'll excuse me, there is someone here I must speak to." I made eye contact with James and nodded towards the elevators. As he turned to whisper to a frightened looking Anastasia, I was answered by the older woman.

"Of course darling, of course!"

James and I strode off as Anastasia split from us, a communication device forming out of red energy into her ear, disguised as an ear cuff. A small squeak rang out.

"Anastasia? This is James. Do you read?" I heard James mumble behind me as we both slowly and cautiously shouldered our way through the crowd like lionesses hunting for their prey in the long grass.

People moved for us. We did not even have to ask. It was the usual way that people moved around me, as if I could not be seen, but they could sense me... And avoid me.

"Her beloved friend Dick has taken the elevator to the 13th floor." I told him as the elevator came to a stop. I could see the glaring number at the top of the elevator doors.

Everything seemed to be made of glass with the exception of the metal elevator and the floors beyond it.

Good.

The guards in front of the elevators hesitated at my appearance. They did not seem to know what to do with me. "Surely you are not stupid enough to prevent me from entering?" My voice still distinctly British, they stepped aside easily.

But they stopped James.

As expected. They are not comfortable with the two of us together.

I turned around and stepped back to them. "Is there a problem I should be reporting to those that have hired your services, gentleman?"

"No one is allowed up with weaponry. Not even if they are bodyguards."

"Now now, do you really think that I would need a bodyguard? This man does not even know how to shoot. He is merely an assistant holding my weapons for me." They both turned to look at me, mystified. "Do I really look like I have anywhere to fit them?" I gestured down myself, having the grotesque response that I had anticipated.

The hungry looks on their faces said so. "Anthony! Come now! If you start anymore nonsense I will fire you immediately!" They simply stood there as I began to leave, James following me obediently.

As soon as the doors closed behind me, he spoke.

"I can't believe that actually worked!" He began to laugh, a big smile gracing his face. The laugh immediately died as a sports bra teleported to my hand.

James turned around before I even had to ask, taking great interest in the wall of the elevator, ears burning as I shimmied into it and pulled the dress back up over it. I slid my feet out of my shoes.

"So. Game plan. I get the closest, you cover my back. Sound good?" He turned back around nodding after the red glow that formed down to my fingertips filled the small space.

Twin guns with silencers in my hand, I rolled my shoulders.

"You sure we'll be able to do it silently?" His fingers busied themselves with putting a silencer over his own gun. "My experience usually tells me otherwise."

"It only gets out of hand when you lose you control."

The elevator stopped with a ting! And I stepped forward in front of James as I pushed my shoes towards the door with my now booted feet.

I threw one out into the hallway and waited.

Silence.

I turned back slightly to look at James from the corner of my eye who nodded.

At least he knows what the hell he's doing.

We advanced forward slowly and silently, my feet making no noise.

My eyes began to glow a dull red as I took in everything before me.

Then I saw them.

Through the glass 20 metres in front of us, 8 men with glowing metal guns - and more without - sitting and talking in some sort of meeting.

And there were more human-shaped figures around...

And two were heading straight towards us at both sides.

Time to see how good James really is.