Chapter 128

Almara’s Pov

Great. I sigh. We have just under thirty minutes and the only thing accomplished is Bess is missing. “Bess?” I call out in an aggravated hushed whisper. No reply. Where would she go? She only would have left if someone gave her an order or- oh no.

Maybe the man Bess is pretending to be saw her. Delfino did just say the servants here left only thirty seconds ago, they can’t be that far away. “Bess?” I call out again. No answer. This is a waste of time.

I make my way back towards the kitchen, I could possibly see Bess there but I won’t know if it’s her or the guy she’s pretending to be. I don’t even know his name! Rather than go back to the kitchen and risk causing more confusion, I go to the bathroom.

Maybe I can hide in here for ten or fifteen minutes and then go swipe the cups from the councilmen, so long as the real servants don’t get to them first. I push the bathroom door open and hear the toilet behind one of the stalls flush and immediately realize how careless I just was.

I quickly dodge into an unoccupied stall just as whoever was in the one next to mine steps out. I peek through the crack and see the back of someone’s head, with long curly red hair. I put my hand over my head and muffle my gasp as I take a big step back from the stall door.

I walked right into where the real Claire is. “We’re lucky if we even get a bathroom break, huh?” The real Claire says, looking for some work banter with I’m presuming me. I try to alter my voice, her voice, this is so confusing, before speaking.

“Yeah, totally.” I agree, but my voice just sounds like a pathetic mockery of hers. I close my eyes and shake my head. I’m screwed.

“Wait who is this? I don’t recognize the voice.” Claire says, and I can see through the crack in the stall that she’s peering right through the door.

“I’m sick.” Is all I say in my poor attempt at concealing my already impersonated voice. I can see Claire isn’t going anywhere, instead she turns around and begins fixing her make up. I think she’s waiting for me to come out of the stall.

I pretend to make some ruckus in the stall, lifting the toilet seat go, pulling on the toilet paper. Anything to buy me some time. Until I realize I don’t even have that much tie left. Twenty minutes, maybe?

I have to get those cups, and hopefully find Bess all before this potion wears off. I can’t do that if I trap myself in this stall. I picture Arthur’s face and suck in a deep breath. I push open the stall door.

Claire turns around and when she sees that I’m her, the lip gloss falls from her hand. Her face morphs from confusion to plain terror. For a second I think she might cry, but when I hear the beginning sounds of a scream come from her, I run over and clasp my hand over her mouth.

“Shhhh.” I say, practically begging. “Shhh. I’m not going to hurt you,” Still Claire thrashes around and tries to yank my hands off of her mouth. “I’ll let you go, if you promise you won’t scream.” Though breathing heavy and eyes bulging rom their sockets, Claire manages to give a stiff nod.

I release her, but stay close just in case she doesn’t hold her promise. “Who are you? What are you?” Claire asks gripping the sink behind her.

“Well, technically I’m you.” I tell her, realizing there’s no way I can give her my real identity. “I can’t explain now. You just have to believe me, or rather believe yourself, that no one will get hurt okay?”

Claire eyes me suspiciously. “I need some explanation.” She says, knowing she can make the demands here.

“I made an appeal to the council and they gave me an answer I didn’t like so I made a potion and now I look like you so I can move freely about here without getting caught.” I blurt out. I really don’t have time for this.

“Except that you did get caught.” Claire says, crossing her arms over her chest her fear turning into power.

“Not if you don’t tell anyone.” I counter.

“What’s in it for me?” She asks. Why is every vampire so selfishly indulgent?

“A few hundred thousand dollars.” I tell her. Hopefully Roman won’t mind me using his funds as my escape route here.

“How do you have that kind of money?” Claire asks eyes widening.

“I just do. Okay? I have to go now.” I say attempting to move past her.

“How do I know I’ll get my money?” She says stepping back in my path.

“I promise.” I insist with more strain in my voice than I intend for.

“That’s not good enough.”

“Well, it’s all I got!” I say more irritated. Claire’s reaction morphs into a bit of shock, probably not used to hearing her own voice yell back at her. I shut my eyes and let out a short breath. “I’m sorry. This potion is going to wear off and I’m on a time crunch.”

Claire eyes me like I’ve become a snack. “You’re not from here, are you?” She asks but doesn’t seem to really be asking, and I know better than to answer. She begins to circle me like a prey and though my fur is gone at the moment, I know my hairs would be standing up.

“Do we have a deal?” I say, trying to keep my tone level.

“I don’t know,” Claire toys with me. “Perhaps I keep you waiting and the poison wears off. I bet you would offer me a lot more to stay quiet once I learn who you are for real.”

There was never going to be a deal. Roman’s words echo in my head. There’s no way to compromise with these soulless creatures. They only have one agenda, blood. In any other circumstance what happens next might be a bit of an overreaction, but not in this case.

I pivot on my feet and put both my hands on Claire’s shoulders and wrap left leg behind both hers at knee level. I shove her upper body back while pulling her legs toward me so that she falls backward. I direct the back of her head to make contact with the ceramic sink.

The sound of her skull hitting the sink makes my own head throb and I feel an instant of remorse, but I just keep picturing Arthur and Grace. Besides, it’s not like I killed her. Just knocked her out for a bit. For how long though, I’m not sure.

I drag her body to a bigger stall and let her lay there. Just incase anyone walks in, she isn’t the first thing they see.

I leave the bathroom and as soon as I lift my head from shutting the door behind me, I’m face to face with the servant Bess is impersonating.

“There you are!” He says.