Welcome to Gaia! ::

Follow up to: A Friend's Absense

The sun still hung above the horizon when Xyla slipped from Zinkenite’s office in the Dark Kingdom. It lingered low on the western horizon, painting the sky in tones of rose and amber, suggesting it was somewhere around eight in the evening.

That awkward in-between sort of hour.

Too late to still be laboring behind a desk, at least for anyone with a sensible work schedule, and too early to retreat for the night. Most families would likely already be clearing their dinner tables, while those with only themselves to feed were just beginning to consider what sounded good for supper.

Her first stop had been Phedre’s home.

The quaint brick house wore its age gracefully. Wrought-iron railings framed the front steps, and ivy had begun its slow conquest of the weathered masonry. Yet despite its welcoming appearance, the home itself felt asleep. No lamplight glowed behind the curtains, nor did even the faintest sliver of light escape beneath the front door.

She lingered only long enough to confirm what she’d already suspected before slipping silently back into the evening.

From what little Xyla knew of the Senshi of the Succubus, she had never struck her as someone content to let the hours drift idly past and instead seemed more likely to spend the evening indulging herself somewhere in the city than tucked away at home.

The question, then, was simply where.

Xyla considered her options with care since time was a luxury she could not afford to squander.

In her few visits, the Succubus revealed very little of herself, but had given off the impression that she possessed a taste for finer things. There was a refinement about her, even the cake she had brought for Zinkenite had been crafted with meticulous care. Each detail suggested someone whose tastes leaned more towards elegance rather than excess.

“Now then..” she purred. “Where does one hide when they are not hiding?”

Not a bustling cafe or crowded pub. But somewhere with crisp linen tablecloths and candlelight that softened the edges of a difficult day. A place where conversations never rose above a murmur, and where a person carrying burdens too heavy for others to see might steal a few hours of peace.

Destiny City was a vast place for one as small as she was, but at least she had an idea of where to start.

One by one, Xyla padded along stone ledges and roof tops, peering into restaurants whose patrons never once thought to glance upward. The first, an Elk Club of sorts, yielded nothing but businessmen lingering over expensive bourbon, while the second hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner and was filled with laughter too loud to belong to the woman she sought.

"Where, oh where, does a heavy heart choose to rest when home is too quiet?" Xyla wondered aloud.

Minutes turned to hours as the pastel-painted sky turned dark, and streaks of colorful light cut through the sky.

Just when it seemed that her efforts had been in vain, and that she might as well go back to Phedre’s home and wait on her doorstep, Xyla happened upon a quaint storefront with an elegant brass plaque that read Trattoria Bellastella.

Warm amber light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating polished mahogany, white linen, and the gentle glow of candles dancing inside crystal glass. She could hear the muted sound of a violin playing inside and quiet clinks of silverware against porcelain as a waitress worked to clear one of the tables.

There.

Seated alone near the window was Phedre with a half-finished plate of ravioli that sat untouched before her, while a glass of red wine rested in idle fingers. Her gaze wasn’t on the room around her, nor the passing pedestrians outside, but somewhere far beyond both. Almost as though she had come seeking company from the silence of an empty home.

For several minutes, Xyla remained perched atop an empty bench across the street. She simply watched... and waited... fully expecting Phedre's gaze to drift toward the window at any moment. Yet it never came. Whatever occupied the woman's thoughts held them with unwavering determination.

A faint sigh escaped the mauvian. “Either I have become remarkably ordinary..." she purred to herself, "...or your thoughts have become remarkably loud."

If Phedre would not notice her from without, then she would simply have to greet her from within. Unfortunately, restaurants had an unfortunate habit of frowning upon feline patrons.

With a graceful hop, Xyla slipped from the bench and disappeared into the shadows between two neighboring buildings. There, tucked safely within a secluded alcove, she abandoned her feline guise in favor of her glamour.

She crossed the street and entered the refined establishment as if she belonged all along.

The hostess greeted her with a practiced smile, only for it to falter when Xyla continued past without so much as acknowledging her.

“Ma’am?” she called, hurrying after her. “Ma’am, excuse me!”

Xyla merely lifted a hand in a dismissive wave, never breaking stride as she maneuvered her way between linen-draped tables and softly murmuring patrons. Every eye she passed lingered a moment too long as conversations fell to silence until she came to a stop beside Phedre’s table.

With impeccable manners, Xyla offered a graceful curtsey before drawing out the empty chair opposite her and settling into it as though she had every right to be there.

The flustered hostess finally caught up, her face flushed from embarrassment. “I-I’m terribly sorry, ma’am,” she stammered, looking between the two women. “I’ll fetch the manager right away and have her removed.”

If Phedre found the intrusion unusual, she gave no indication. Her expression remained composed, betraying neither surprise nor annoyance as she regarded her unexpected, but known, guest.

Rather than feigning ignorance and pretending she didn’t recognize the mauvian in glamoured form, Phedre raised a hand and shook her head slightly. “No need, she will not be staying long.” Her deep blue eyes were like sharply cut sapphires and just as cold.

Xyla placed a hand above her heart and let out a small gasp as if she’d been wounded, but both knew she was just pretending to be hurt.

“If you change your mind, please let me know.” The hostess retreated; however, Xyla did catch her glancing over her shoulder a few times from the reflection in the window.

Once the few remaining patrons went back to their own meals, she leaned forward, resting her elbows lightly on the tables as she steepled her fingers before her as if she had all the time in the world and had every intention of spending it here.

“You are more difficult to find than an answer to my riddles," Xyla mused.

“Just imagine how much harder it would be if I were actually trying to hide.” Phedre took a sip of wine before setting the flute back down on the table and sliding the half-eaten plate of lobster ravioli and asparagus towards her uninvited guest. “I’d offer you a drink, but I suspect you’re too young.”

The gesture drew quite a look of amusement from Xyla. A single brow rose in wordless appreciation before she helped herself to a sample of the offered food, savoring it as though the conversation could wait.

“Why are you here?” Phedre’s expression was difficult to read as she watched the mauvian eat as if she hadn’t had a decent meal in more than a week. At least she was polite about it and did not make a mess. Even went as far as placing the napkin on her lap, which was a surprise.

Xyla dabbed the corner of her lips with her napkin before setting it aside. “I could answer,” she smiled, her eyes gleaning with quiet mischief. “But I’d rather show you.”

“And if I have other plans after I’m done here?”

The question startled a laugh out of Xyla because she was certain there were none. It wasn’t mocking, rather the soft, melodic sort of sound that escaped before one realized it had. “Then let us hope your plans are patient,” she replied, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Mine are, regrettably, bound to the hour.”

Phedre regarded her over the rim of her wineglass. “You’re asking me to follow you without knowing where we’re going.”

Xyla tilted her head to the side and gave an innocent shrug. “We can consider it an exercise in trust… or an adventure.” Her smile widened into that recognizable Cheshire-like grin. “Whichever you prefer or sounds less troublesome.”

“I do not enjoy playing your games, Xyla. I’d prefer to go home,” she stated quite pointedly.

The mauvian’s expression softened, though the smile never quite left her. “I know.” She folded her hands neatly atop the table. “And if home were where you needed to be, I would gladly walk you there instead.” Her golden gaze drifted toward the window where she could faintly see meteors streak across the night sky.

“But some moments are discourteously brief.” Xyla paused. “They do not wait for tomorrow simply because today is inconvenient.” Similar words were said to Zinkenite before she left and held true in this moment as well.

“I’m only asking for a little while. Home will still be there when we’re finished.”

A part of Phedre wanted to dig in her designer heels and refuse, but another part of her was curious just enough to make her hesitate. “Fine… But I’ll only give you an hour.” She still had a meeting tomorrow that would be terribly difficult to get out of if she did not retire at a reasonable hour.

“That should be plenty, though I suspect you may change your mind.”

Phedre’s stomach twisted with a heavy feeling of dread, knowing that nothing good had ever come from being in the same vicinity as this particular cat. If it were Abby here instead, that would be something else entirely. But it wasn't, and perhaps was the main reason she felt hesitant to accept the request.