for isnt_the_same

[chesstotem]

The night Ariadne met Aubrey, things didn't turn out as they were supposed to. It started out just fine - they met in the bar they'd agreed on, chatted inside for a while about nonsense like the weather, then stepped outside to talk business.

It was as though the dark figure had been waiting for them - Aubrey was right in the middle of a sentence when suddenly a tall figure swooped in out of nowhere and descended on her like a rabid dog. Ariadne screamed as the person - thing - whatever it was - ripped her throat out, and the next thing she knew she was running blindly back towards the street, something warm trickling down her temple. The time that followed was fuzzy - she knew she must've ran for a while, because she was out of breath, but then she was in a cab (the cabbie was giving her a funny look, maybe to do with that warm trickle), and then she was at a hotel, getting more funny looks as she stumbled into the elevator.

Then she was pounding on Arthur's door, praying to whatever gods might be listening that he was inside.

Comments

[isnt_the_same]

"Look, I'll be fine. How many times do I need to say it?"

[chesstotem]

"'I'm fine' isn't what you say to explain how you're doing and feeling. It's what you say when you don't want to answer the question," Ariadne said quietly. "It's not an answer, it's an evasion." She reached up, to touch his face. "If there's something wrong, I wish you'd just tell me."

[isnt_the_same]

"I can't," and with that Arthur walked away from her. "There's a gun strapped to the underside of the coffe table if you need it," he said before walking out.

[chesstotem]

"Arthur -" Hurt in her eyes, she followed him from the room, not even noticing that she was still in just a towel. "Wait - can't you at least tell me where you're going and when you'll be back? And - how I'm supposed to know it's you when you do get back?"

[isnt_the_same]

He sighed and turned out just as he reached the front door. "I shouldn't be gone for more than an hour. And I'll text you when I'm on my way back."

[chesstotem]

"Arthur." She gripped his arm, looking hurt and confused. "I'm sorry."

[isnt_the_same]

"There's nothing you should be sorry about," he said. He take a step out of her grasp and then opened the door.

[chesstotem]

She stepped back, her arms wrapping around her middle as she nodded. "Be careful. Be back soon."

[isnt_the_same]

"I will," he said briskly before walking out and closing the door behind him.

[chesstotem]

When he was gone, Ariadne finally came to herself enough to remember she needed to get dressed - and it was only a few minutes before a knock on the door signaled the arrival of her food. She cautiously accepted it, then sat down to eat and sketch.

She didn't know for sure what she was drawing when she started, but as the lines slowly began to resolve themselves, a rough sketch of Arthur started to appear. Eventually, it turned into a sketch of the two of them, holding hands and looking happy.

The sketch was nearly complete when Ariadne dozed off where she was sitting at the desk, her head on her arms, the drawing half-pinned beneath them.

[isnt_the_same]

It took almost two hours to find someone Arthur could feed on. When he was taking the cab ride back to the hotel, he texted Ariadne that he was on his way.

[chesstotem]

She didn't even see the text; her phone was on silent across the room and she continued to sleep.

[isnt_the_same]

When Arthur got back, he went up to the room and opened the door. "Ariadne?" He called out as he closed the door behind him.

[chesstotem]

"Mm," she mumbled, sitting up with a start, looking bleary-eyed. The drawing slipped out from under her arms and fluttered to the floor.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur walked over and picked up the sheet a paper. He looked at it for a second before handing it back to her. "I need to sleep. Wake me up if you need anything, alright?"

[chesstotem]

"Of - of course," she said, still looking a little bleary. She stretched, then moved to the sofa which was more comfortable for sleeping.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur walked into the bedroom and stripped down to his boxers before getting into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately once he had hit the pillow.

[chesstotem]

Ariadne dozed off quickly as well, but woke a few hours later when she heard a noise out on the balcony. She got up, frowning, and went to investigate.

She opened the blinds, then slid open the door and stepped outside, listening. There was a gentle breeze, but it wasn't strong enough to make any kind of sound.

She stood there for a couple of moments, and was just about to turn back inside when someone - or something - grabbed her, out of nowhere. She managed a surprised yell before a cold hand clamped over her mouth and nose, and a mouth pressed close to her ear. Her nostrils were suddenly filled with the reek of rotten meat and the metallic tinge of blood.

"Hello, little girl," a voice hissed. She tried to struggle, but whoever it was, was far stronger than she could ever hope to be.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur smelled it first before hearing Ariadne's scream. He shot up out of bed, still dressed in his boxers, and went outside to the living room. "Ariadne?" It was empty. The only clue to her disappearance was the open balcony door.

[chesstotem]

"Sshh," the voice whispered as she whimpered in fear, no idea what to expect next.

[isnt_the_same]

"Ariadne?" He called out louder. When he walked out onto the balcony, he found her, but she wasn't alone. "Let her go and I won't kill you."

[chesstotem]

When she saw Arthur, she tried to yell again. There was no way he would be able to take this guy.

"Why, Arthur," the man said, his voice sly. "I didn't know you'd developed concern for cattle. I'm almost glad of my mistake the other night; it means I get to make you watch her die. How fun."

[isnt_the_same]

"Let her go, Malcolm," he said as he tensed up. "She's not the one you're looking for. It's me."

[chesstotem]

"Oh, I don't know about that." He buried his nose in her hair and took a deep breath. "She smells so sweet. I can't believe you haven't fed from her. Maybe I will, and I'll tell you how it is. She would enjoy it, too. All my vessels do, until they realize they're going to die."

Ariadne, unable to comprehend what her captor was talking about, but aware enough to know he was planning to kill her, started to cry.

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur watched as tears welled in her eyes and fell. "Don't make me say it again. Let her go or you lose your head."