Cassandra's Curse Ch. 04

Cassie moved quickly enough but it still seemed an eternity before her apartment building seemed to loom ahead. It had been long ... too long since she had been home. Nigel would probably be worried when she didn't show back up later or call in but she needed a night alone to think. This whole lifestyle was confusing her and now this ... why hadn't Nigel said he knew Raj. What was he hiding?

She buzzed the doorbell and then opened the door as the doorman let her in and then made her way up the stairs (she hated the elevator ... just the thought of being stuck in one gave her the creeps) to the top floor and her apartment that stretched out more like a small cottage, unlocking the door before stepping in and bolting all the locks behind her with a soft sigh.

If she was really honest, she would admit that she was lonely and that this life was taking a toll but she would never admit it ... not out loud at least. Tossing off the long leather jacket that she had been wearing haphazardly over the back of a straight-backed chair at the table where she never ate anymore, Cass headed towards the fireplace ... she needed warmth, something to take the chill that she could feel permeating her entire being. But it had more to do with the things going on inside of her instead of the brisk night air.

She crouched in front of the fireplace, all lights off still as her eyes were already accustomed to the dark with only the moonlight shining in from the many windows as she started the fire, only moving away when it was crackling and popping comfortingly in the hearth.

Nigel glanced up at the clock again. It was getting late even for Cass. She was usually back by this time and all the pacing that he was doing was starting to rub a trail along the carpet beneath the picture he had of Lucifer and his followers hanging on one wall. Stopping, he glanced up and it suddenly occurred to him that he needed to go looking for her. He had tried to call her more times than he could count on two hands but no answer. And damn it, he was now officially worried. Gathering his coat, he stuffed his cell phone into his pocket, checked his watch one last time and headed out of the library to see if he could find her.

Raj shook his head again to shake visions from his mind. He couldn't keep reliving it. He'd done it over and over and over again and each time it took him down a few notches. "Get over it, Raj" he kept telling himself. Each time it happened it seemed to hurt all the more. He felt like he wanted nothing more than to scream and fall to the ground crying until he couldn't cry anymore.

Nigel got into his car. There was no way he was hoofing it. He had a lot of ground to cover. Thank goodness he knew the major hang-outs of those that Cassandra would be hunting and with a full moon tonight, there would be plenty of those.

He turned towards the graveyard first; a drive by would be enough. He knew enough not to get out and go through it alone but he had to at least know if Cass was there and if possibly she had been taken down or hurt. Each place that he tried only seemed to up the worry that he felt building in him. She had to be somewhere out here! He could feel his fingers clamp down on the steering wheel as he made his way towards the park. The more he worried, the more his anger grew. He had taught her better than this.

Raj was sitting down, leaned against a tree. He didn't really remember getting there. But there he was, tucked into the shadows out of the moon's glow and he looked like nothing more than just another addition to the shadow aside from his pale face that seemed to glow in the darkness.

Nigel pulled up at the park, the headlights of his car suddenly illuminating the figure sitting beneath the tree. At first Nigel thought it might be Cassie and hopped out of the car, his voice calling out as he stood at the door, always cautious just in case he was wrong. "Cassandra?!"

Raj looked up from his steaming thoughts, actually grateful for the distraction. Some worried parent looking for a kid that didn't call home. Great, that's all he needed ... some human finding him. All the same he stood up casually, still half-blinded by the lights.

Nigel's brows furrowed as the lights illuminated the figure standing there. It definitely wasn't Cassandra but ... who WAS that? He looked very familiar ... someone from Nigel's past and for a long moment he stood there as the memories clicked through in his photographic memory before it suddenly came rushing back to him like a punch in the gut.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped away from the car and let the door shut behind him as he started to walk across the distance that separated them, his voice calling out more of a statement than a question, "Raphael."

Raj blinked a bit. He hadn't heard that name in a long time and it took him a minute to realize that the man was speaking to him. Then he realized who it was.

"Nigel ..." he said somewhat of a wary tone in his voice. He hadn't seen the Watcher in a long time. Granted, they had left each other's company on good terms, but God only knew what the Council may have beat into his head since then.

Nigel continued to walk towards him, slowing his steps as he got closer to the vampire standing beneath the tree, the headlights now casting his own shadow over Raphael. He stopped and looked him over curiously and then it suddenly occurred to him ... this was Larajie, the vampire that Cassie had refused to kill that night at the cemetery. Why hadn't he recognized him before??

Drawing in a breath, he clasped his hands before him as he added, "Or should I call you Larajie?"

Raj stilled a moment. So ... the Watcher was smart. He nodded. "Yes ... that would be about it, Nigel. You even pronounced it correctly. I'm proud of you. It's been a long time."

Nigel reached up to remove the glasses adorning his nose for a moment, cleaning them as he glanced down. "Yes, it's been a long time." Glancing up at him, he looked Raj levelly in the eye. He wouldn't be distracted. Cassandra was still missing. "Have you seen my Slayer?"

"Yes, actually. Not that long ago. About an hour or so ago. She went that way." He pointed in the direction of her apartment. "She's having a bit of a hard time understanding things."

Nigel swiveled his head to look in the direction that the vampire had pointed, thinking momentarily that she might have gone home but why? Turning his gaze back to Raphael, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened between them to drive her to her own home instead of checking in with him. "Why? What happened?"

"Well ... she wanders in the park, finds me, I didn't try to kill her. She asked questions and I answered her. She's confused over my whole situation. At least she didn't tell me I was an outright liar like a lot of others have. Since you've figured it out, you can understand how hard it would be to piece the puzzle together of one of Lucifer's line being good."

Nigel nodded some, taking a deep breath before he put his glasses back on and regarded Raphael. It had been such a long time. He wasn't sure he would be able to think of him under this new name. He made a mental note to ask him later about it. "What did you tell her, specifically?"

"I ... don't remember exactly," Raj lied. Of course he remembered. He was a vampire. They had flawless memories right down to the last little speck of dust. It was part of their curse. "I told her something about myself ... and the fact that I knew you. She seemed rather upset after that."

Nigel eyed him. That couldn't be good. No wonder Cassie had just wandered off without another word. She probably had just enough information to confuse her to hell and back. He scowled some at Raphael, knowing he was holding back information. "Why are you toying with her?" he asked point blank. "You know she senses it in you and yet you are tormenting her."

"I wasn't intentionally toying with her ... well, yes. Yes I was. Seeing how smart she is and if she can figure it out on her own. She seems a smart enough girl. Or does she have to rely on her Watcher to solve her puzzle?"

His voice was rather mocking even as he added, "Yes, Nigel ... I have a soul. The only fucking soul there is in the undead. What kind of freak am I? Hmm? A liar, a coward, a misfit ... you name it. What was it the Council called me when you brought me up in a discussion? Ah yes ... a blasphemous beast from hell toying with your head. You remember that Nigel? Yes ... they nearly removed you from council because they thought you'd lost it."

Nigel took a deep breath. He was never one to lose his temper even though Raphael's words were enough to turn him into a raging bull. How could he forget it? He had almost lost his position for standing up for Raphael and the good that he had done for the cause.

"She's not ready to deal with you or what you are. She is still adjusting to her role. And you are endangering her further with your association with Nisus. How long will it be before he comes after Cassandra because of you?"

Raj just kind of blinked, completely caught unawares by the Watcher's proclamation "Excuse me? My ... association with Nisus?" He blinked again and reached up to rub the back of his neck. Somewhere along the line there was a drastic miscommunication.

"I haven't 'associated' with Nisus for several hundred years, Nigel. You should know that better than anyone else I know. I didn't by any means regress."

Nigel folded his hands before him again, much like he was in prayer, something he tended to do when he was trying to find out information. "So Nisus wasn't the other vampire at the cemetery that night? I'm just assuming here," he said, lifting one brow slightly. "Correct me if I'm wrong ..."

Oh boy. Yeah ... big miscommunication.

Raj shook his head. "You're not wrong. It was indeed Nisus. But I ,,, " He paused at the look in the Watcher's eyes, almost expecting to see the friendship they'd shared those few years ago. That was probably the time Raj had felt the happiest when he had somebody who trusted and believed him and believed IN him. But now there was only skepticism and hurt, which could be understood. Raj had caused a lot of problems for the Watcher in the past. "I wasn't there helping him, Nigel. You know me better than that. I was going to help the girl. Your Slayer showed up at an inconvenient time."

Nigel watched Raphael for long moment before speaking. He wanted to believe him. They had been close friends, something the society had frowned upon and the main reason that he wanted Cassandra not to get too close to the vampire. She was in a state of confusion that could quickly turn into something more if he wasn't careful and watch her every step.

"I'm not accusing you, Rapha ... Larajie. I'm just trying to look out for Cassie. She's the best Slayer I've ever trained. She's got it in her to do the will of the council but she's at a vulnerable state right now. Nisus is a cold-blooded killer and you know it."

Raj nodded in understanding. "I'll take care of Nisus if he so much as even catches your Slayer's scent. And ... call me Raj, please. I haven't been Raphael for several years. Not since I no longer needed the alias when Nisus found me."

Nigel nodded, unfolding his hands to reach out one towards Raphael in friendship, something he hadn't done in a long time "Thank you ... Raj. I'd appreciate that. I'm worried about her."

Raj looked at the outstretched hand a moment. It was a rather foreign gesture to him but he reached out to clasp the Watcher's hand and nodded. "You'd do yourself a world of favor if you told your Slayer about Raphael, Nigel. Just don't tell her all. Let her figure it out on her own. She will."

Nodding, Nigel tightened his fingers on Raj's hand. "I will and you're right, she's a smart girl and eager to learn." Releasing his hand, he added, "I better go by her apartment and see if I can talk to her."

Turning to walk away, he glanced once more at his old friend. "It's good to know you are around again, Raj."

A smile warmed Raj's face. It was a real smile. "I'm around for awhile at least. Got a new place though. You'll have to stop by sometime." He winked teasingly before adding, "Go on. Go get your Slayer before she does something stupid."

Nigel chuckled a bit and adjusted his glasses. "Call me and let me know where you are and I'll come by" and then he turned to head back to his car, knowing that Raj was right ... he needed to get to Cassandra.

"Oh sure," Raj called out to him. "I'll call if I figure out those confounded phone things. I'll be glad to!"

Nigel chuckled, hearing him before he opened the car door to get back in and slowly backed away, heading towards Cass's apartment.