Saturday, March 11, 2000 8:00 PM - Alex and Siobhan

Alex straightened his tie in the mirror. The full Windsor knot might seem a bit bulbous compared to a half or four-in-hand, but it conveyed a feeling of power. The white shirt and gray suit may have fallen on the conservative side, but they provided Alex with a strange feeling of comfort. The interrogation of Mr. Iguana had taken a bit more out of him than he would have anticipated. Alex found sitting in the same room with a man whose very strength of will reduced the young vampire's powers to nil, very disquieting. Dr. Jacobs explained that a sufficient strength of will could counter the effects of Edward Iguana, but Alex had yet to find that strength within him.

The image of Raphè's sleeping figure reflected in the mirror drew Alex's attention. His lover slept fitfully, unaware of the world around him. They had not seen much of each other these last few days. Raphè spent the last three days with Master Wang as the two of them worked to free Elizabeth from Portia's influence. Alex had spent a similar amount of time with Mr. Iguana. Alex had missed his lover's touch, and the taste of his blood. He wondered if these extended absences would be the rule when Raphè began his apprenticeship on Monday. Alex turned to look at the sleeping figure, sprawled out on the satin sheets, sighed from long dead lungs, and brought a hand over his un-beating heart.

A chirping cell phone interrupted Alex's impure reverie. Alex distantly remembered the sound from his sleep, but could not rise to answer. Raphè remained oblivious to the electronic ring. Not wanting to wake him, Alex quickly moved to the nightstand and picked up the phone.

"Hello."

"Alex?" answered the thickly accented, female voice on the line. "Is Raphè there?"

"He's sleeping, Siobhan, may I help you?" Alex heard the sounds of traffic through the line, of honking cars. The young mage was hurrying through the city.

"Alex, di ya know a bloke named Marco? He says he's Elizabeth's kin."

Alex thought for a moment. She did not know Elizabeth that well, but he seemed to remember Raphè mentioning that name. "Yes, Siobhan. I believe he is Elizabeth's brother."

"Look, he just called me. Gwen's in the hospital. Apparently there was some accident this afternoon. I'm going down there right now. Northwestern Memorial."

Alex blinked then turned to look at Raphè's sleeping body. "Siobhan, is Elizabeth with them?"

"Alex, I dinnae know, and I cannae get him on Gwen's cell phone." Both of them paused. Another car honked and Alex heard Siobhan quietly curse in the background. "Alex, it's well after sunset."

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