Ice Skating (Romani Carnival)

[Anna]

Anna smiled at his response. He wanted to talk about her, but he didn’t. That was okay. He knew that she would, and that was good enough for her.

”That’s complicated,” she said, with a nervous chuckle. ”Short answer is that I needed a change. I needed to find myself a little and this seemed like the place to be, but there’s more than that. It’s - when I was in college, I had a falling out with my parents. I was attending the best dance schools in the country and I was dancing in ways they wouldn’t approve of. We’re cordial, and get along now, but - things just never felt the same there after that.” she shrugged. ”Probably doesn’t shine a good light on me, I guess.” she looked down, feeling a little ashamed.

[Cade]

Cade shrugged. "Parents don't always agree with their children's choices. It's not up to them, not their lives. A good parent should always love their child no matter what. I am grateful that my step mother and father always supported us no matter what. Even if they didn't agree with our life choices." Cade chuckled. "Mine didn't particularly like that I gave up everything after completing my residency and coming here looking for a man who may not even be my brother just so I could understand what happened to my son."

"Even if Nox rejects the idea, Moscow might be a good place to start over. Very little here reminds me of home, of Lacey or Jackson. It's as good a place as any."

[Anna]

Anna lifted her head at Cade’s words. Her shame hadn’t been because her parents had not approved, but because she had done little to repair the damage. Instead she had run. She was glad to be in Moscow. She liked it here, but still regret was there, but Cade’s words helped. Maybe she’d make an effort to call them later and catch up.

As Cade continued, his words saddened her, but outwardly she kept calm and collected. He didn’t want reminders of his wife and child. She could understand his feeling pain when he thought of them. But she hoped that he didn’t want to forget. They were a part of him, a part she hoped someday he would embrace. Maybe his feelings were a natural part of grief. She didn’t know, having never needed to mourn the loss of a loved one.

”Moscow is pretty great. You can find something for everyone. I’ve really grown to like it,” she smiled genuinely. ”Not it’s your turn. I told you while I’m here. What is it you like to do for fun?”

[Cade]

Cade chuckled. "I don't know what fun is." He took a long draw of his now cooling coffee and set it down. "Seriously, from med school to an intern to residency which I just finished there wasn't a whole lot of time to do the fun thing. And then with Jackson being sick and Lacey's death after his passing. Fun is just not on the table. Being in Moscow has been the only free time I've had in years. Before all that, fun was the garden. I always snuck in a bit of time to tend my plants, but life is too busy to keep a full garden. And here in Moscow it's too cold most of the year." he laughed.

[Anna]

She smiled at him even if it was sad that Cade didn’t have time for himself. But maybe that could be a focus for him. Something to help him find some peace. ”sounds like maybe something to look for. Try something new and find something just for you. Like…” her voice trailed off in thought. What would be something good for Cade? ”Cooking or making pastries. In the summertime you could still garden. Make some fresh veggies for your cooking?” She grinned at him. ”My mind is really on food right now. I think maybe I’ll get a pastry. Would you like one?”

[Cade]

Cade shook his head. "I'm good. Thanks." He turned and watched until she reached the counter and then returned to nursing his coffee. What else does one do on a not-date. It was too fucking cold to do much of anything. and it wasn't exactly a good time to go drinking. Not that they needed to do that. Cade hated shopping.

When Anna returned with her cheese danish he smiled. "So what do you like to do for fun?" Maybe that would spark an idea of something to do. Maybe they could find an old book shop to browser. Books always lead to good conversations.

[Anna]

Anna smiled and begin to eat her cheese danish. ”Let’s see - I like dancing, of course, music, exercising, going on walks, reading, and I enjoy binge watching classic tv shows. I also like baking cookies, and I’m very good at it!” she took another bite of her danish. ”You think any of those sound interesting?”

” There is this antique book ship I thought I might check out.”

Anna smiled. Old books were great, if expensive. ”Oh yeah! In the Enlightened District. It’s called The Old Tome or Old Scroll, or something like that. It’s on my bucket list to go! How about it? Sounds like a good time!”

((With Cade))

[Cade]

Cade smiled and nodded, that wasn't the name, close, but not quite. He had the coordinates on his wallet, he had intended to check it out on one of his wanderings through the city. "It's cold, but maybe with another hot cup of coffee, it'll keep us warm as we walk. It's easier to see the city walking than in a cab." Though he had taken a cab to get here. And he'd probably take a cab home. But a good brisk walk was good for the body. At least that's what he told himself.

Cade ordered both of them a second round of their hot beverage to go and offered Anna his elbow. "Shall we?"

***

Conversation while walking was good. Cade asked about places of interest and Anna told him what she knew, but not being native she didn't know all of it. But that's okay, Cade didn't mind.

They were still a ways from the shop and the districts seemed to get a little shadier even after leaving the Red Light district. It wasn't like it was poor, just felt more quiet, like in the movies when the forest goes eirly quiet because of something lurking in the trees beyond the path. That was the feeling Cade had.

A scream from an alley up ahead only made that feeling even worse. It was a woman's voice, though it sounded like it had been cut off with a gurgling sound.

Cade was no hero, but someone in trouble... his instincts kicked in and he rushed towards the mouth of the alley, only to stop in his tracks. A creature in the shadows held a woman by the back of her neck and was using it's long snake-like tongue to lick at the wound across her neck. It's fingers were long and sharp like knives and when it looked at them it's eyes were as black as a moonless night.

Cade took a step back and then froze. What the fuck was that?

[Anna]

Anna smiled, the day was becoming more pleasant. Anna was surprised that Cade was willing to walk, but even in the cold, as long as they kept moving, they’d stay warm. The conversation was pleasant, and Anna would point out familiar sights to him. Cade seemed better too. She had noted that after she had offered to talk about his wife, he had spoken of his family by name, Lacey and Jackson, several times. Anna hadn’t pushed. She had a feeling he needed to, but she had promised to respect his boundaries.

When they heard a scream, Anna instinctively reached for her power. It flooded her and she allowed it to envelop her. Her senses sharpened and she followed as Cade ran. The sight before her caused her to gasp. Cade took a step back. Anna, who had worked with Elyse and knew what she had done before coming to Kallisti, knew monsters existed, but had never seen one until now. Cade, probably had doubted their existence.

Anna reacted, using her power to form a lasso of air around the creature, pulling it away from its victim. It wasn’t a strong pull, but it was enough to send the creature sprawling backward until it hit the wall. Anna formed more air, making a curved cage around the creature.

”Come here, miss. We’ll help you.”

The creature ran and found itself hitting an invisible wall around it. It began to beat against the wall. Anna could feel the resistance, but here shield held. She raised her hands towards it, knowing it wouldn’t do anything except strengthen her resolve. Still, with every beat, she could feel it slip just a little.

”Get her, Cade. I’m not very strong yet. I don’t know how long I can hold it.” her voice was filled with fear and panic. She knew once that shield dropped, it was going to come after them.

[Cade]

Cade stared frozen in movement. The creature flew up against the wall and clawed at something invisible caging it. The woman ran towards her, blood pouring from her wound the fact that she could move at all was a fucking miracle. But she didn't make it far before she collapsed to the ground. He rushed to her, but she was losing a lot of blood.

They should have just let it do it's thing and move on, he thought to himself. What was it? His heart pounded in his chest and he bent down beside the fallen woman and Anna begging him to move her, to get her to safety. He placed his fingers at the side of her throat, but she was already gone.

The creature howled trapped in the cage. Did it hear the last beat of her heart?

Cade pulled out his wallet and dialed for an emergency. He spoke quickly sent a pin and then he grabbed Anna and he ran with her to the nearest building. He pushed her into the first open door he could find and locked it behind him. "What the fuck!"