I'm Coming Out! [Side Story: Exposed!]

[Enver Marshall II]

Enver Marshall II Other None Luck Chicago book signing goes well Failed

They were more than half-way done with the tour by the time they arrive in Chicago. Chicago, to anyone who knew the states, was a sister city to Milwaukee, and Milwaukee was in a lot of pain lately. Enver wasn't judging or didn't have a stance on anything that happened in Milwaukee, but the simple truth was that if Milwaukee was going through some ****, then it sure as hell meant that Chicago was going through it, or wanting to be part of it. Many, many families had members in both cities, so what a friend experienced in Milwaukee, so did that cousin of a friend, or uncle of a friend in Chicago.

The odds were against them the second they landed in Chicago. The Allurist had thought to cancel the tour while in flight, by feigning some illness or plane problems, but what if this was the distraction that Chicago needed for a night? To think of something else, other than the problems in its sister city? It could go one of two ways, and no one would know until they got to the book store the next night.

The limo driver had been late, due to 'traffic.' Giving him an evil eye, Enver made the snide comment about how it would feel to get a tip late, should he still feel generous enough to give one by the time they got to the hotel. The hotel was barely adequate and not what he had seen online when booking it. Enver asked Wilson to contact the BBB immediately about the false image it portrayed for a lot of money. When he saw his room, Enver turned back around and asked for a bigger, newer and better one. They were able to give him a suite that had been updated some time last year. It was hardly bigger, but the television was bigger. If that was something that interested him. Time would tell. The mattress sucked, as he would tell anyone the next night before they left for the first bookstore. Everything there went...good enough. There were 'lovers' and 'haters,' but they managed to leave there unscathed.

The crowd at the second store should have been a tall tale sign to turn the **** around, but Enver was going to see this through. If he could have had conservative texans on his side, surely he could have some rowdy chicago-ans behind his back too? What a naive notion and train of thought. The second he stepped out of the limo, the crowd roared to life from behind the police barriers. They were angry. perhaps not at him, but at anything that was different and not to their liking. Putting a cop in front of a crowd of people that didn't like cops for whatever reason would have set this crowd ablaze. People demanded he go back to Canada, or California where all the 'weirdos' belonged. His grin didn't falter as Enver flashed a peace sign with both middle and pointer fingers on each hand. As he slipped towards the door, shots rang out in Chicago; three, before screams, stomping and scrambling happened. A sting in his right arm exploded as the crowds came to life, shoving and pushing people out of the way to get away from the lone gunman who had shot Enver in his right shoulder. Before he could take a step anywhere, Lelantos sprang to action and soon the bookstore was nothing more than a forethought in the rear view mirror of the limo.

[Indigo]

Indigo no more than heard the shots being fired and found the rush of uniforms racing to the direction the sound came from. A gun or a vampire. In an instant of a choice t seemed they were more interested in gaining control of the gun. It was a fast effort on her part to get back into the limo just as it was about to race off. The acceleration of the engine sent her back briefly into a seat and she took it as a sign to stick where she was at.

“Are you okay?” Her eyes fixed on the wound but she stayed out of the way. Lelantos seemed to have it under control.

Wilson. Concern for the one who couldn’t easily dodge bullets or take one without having it do the damage had her moving closer to where he sat. A search of his clothing for any tell tale signs that the other two shots found him had her guessing. Just because she couldn’t see any didn’t mean that no damage wasn’t present.

“What the hell is wrong with people?” She spoke out loud while reaching for the taller man and sliding her hand at the back of his shoulder. “You didn’t get hit did you?”

Not that she could do anything about it but she would sure as hell try. Hopefully nothing was revealed if he moved forward. What would they do? Take him to the hospital or would they do a little back alley bullet removal? He was lawyer. It likely wouldn’t be his first choice of options. A hotel room with one wounded vampire and a couple others helping pry some lead out of his flesh.

Awareness filled her instantly with the scent of blood. She glanced to Enver. So far it was not the expected sweetness that a human would shed. Still it was blood and it’s scent was toying with a curse that she knew all too well could start to be an issue if she didn’t keep herself in check. Now she knew the curse traveled with her. Even if the powers were said to be less effective the farther a vampire traveled from Harper Rock the lure to blood, any blood, was in full force. She licked the surface of her lips and focused hard on anything that could distract her from the blood. All she had to do was hang in there a few minutes longer. That or claw the door next to her off it’s hinges and do a frenzied run through the streets and destroy everything in her path.

[Wilson]

Chicago. Best laid plans… and then they went to ****. He had been prepared for a bad day. He had his writs, his ceases and desist, all manner of legal documents to shove in the loud and unruly faces should they dare disrupt the book signing. But paper.. In the face of a gun, was hardly a barrier. Wilson had been right behind Mr. Marshall when he saw, rather than heard, the flash of the gun muzzle.

It was an odd sensation. Wilson saw Mr. Marshall react, he saw the Blonde Amazon Ex-wife blur into action, and in his mind, his first thought was, there was something wrong with that load. No.. not wrong.. it was an extremely high powered round, intent on doing as much damage as possible.. If it did not outright kill first. Wilson staring at the wielder of the gun, trying to memorize any details he could about the shooter, as he absently thought, the shooter could have achieved the same velocity and damage with a little less powder and create less flash, and draw much less attention to himself. What a dumbass.

Wilson, who had been holding his breath, finally took a deep breath. He felt light headed. Granted, he almost saw his client gunned down in front of him, so he put it down to the shock of the situation. Somehow, Ms. Knight was by his side saying something to him. He didn’t remember her being close to him. She was staring at his chest, he looked down, and saw blood. He looked back up at her with a confused look, “He got hit…?” His immediate thought was it was cast off blood splatter. He looked at Mr. Marshall, and realized he had been hit after all, but not enough to have caused that much splatter.

Wilson looked back down at his chest, and the growing crimson stain, thinking, ‘if i was shot.. Wouldn’t I feel it?’ He looked at Ms. Knight, the goddess of his dreams and took a step toward her, only to have his step falter, because his vision started to tunnel. Darkness was closing in. He muttered to himself as he passed out, “Fifty-five year old white male, glasses, short sleeves, clean .. shaven…”

[Enver Marshall II]

"I'm fine." Enver bellowed at everyone when they were in the limo, racing to the hotel. It was just a flesh wound, that would probably leave a scar, but nothing he couldn't take care of when they got to the hotel room. Or hell, even Lelantos could help him out with the superficial wound if need be. His hands waved everyone away and to stop fussing over him, the last thing Enver liked was being coddled or catered to. Unless he was getting a fantastic blow job. Then coddle and cater away. But this was just a scratch, or would be in a few nights time. Nothing some gauze wouldn't be able to take care of.

With all the heckling from everyone, Wilson seemed to have been forgotten about, or people just assumed he was fine and well. Enver had, but when everyone was shoo'ed away from Enver so he could scowl and brood over the series of events, it was then that he noticed Wilson had an awful lot of blood on him. Too much blood. It wasn't Enver's blood. It was impossible to be his blood. He couldn't have lost that much from just a graze. "Wilson." Enver moved from his seat, and pushed past the women and the other male, he didn't know a lot about and started tending to his lawyer. Who was busy giving a description of the shooter, that had hopefully been caught by now.

"I only know how to do CPR." Enver admitted, though that wasn't completely true. He could bandage woulds like the one he was currently in possession of, but outside of mouth to mouth and putting a hello-kitty bandaid on Grace's 'ouchies,' Enver had no clue what to do in this sort of situation. "I...don't think he's going to...we need to get Wilson to the hospital pronto." Enver said after assessing the injury, his fist pounding on the automated window that could roll up and down with a simple push of a button from either the driver, or the one renting the limo. "Hospital, pronto." Enver said as the window came down

[Indigo]

Indigo felt the car increase speed while she registered the sound of Enver’s knuckles pounding on glass. Orders were given and from there it was a wild ride through a dark tunnel while she tried to pull herself together. It wasn’t working. The blur of city lights made a sedate appearance through the custom tinted glass that protected them from being recognized. She closed her eyes hiding the brilliant indigo hues. Her full lips moved subtly while trying to talk the effects into backing down as if it was an inner beast within that she could reckon with. Cool exhaled whispers barely audible did little to achieve her goal. Her eyes opened like someone tagged the blinds over each and sent them snapping heavenward.

The interior of the chauffeured vehicle lined her visual field. All of it was closer to an acid trip than an emergency. While the scent of blood she first overlooked finally took her full attention and toyed with her in the worst possible way she felt her skin where it was material free cling to the leather beneath and behind it. Respirations increased then it was if the warmth from each exhale dropped dramatically. A sense of urgency pulled her from her dangerous self absorbed trip. Heat spread over her shoulder as she pivoted to turn finding she was catching what she thought was wound free.

“Wilson…”

The crimson spread outward through the material that proved less than adequate at absorbing it. The apple size spot was growing before her eyes and just like that it was becoming simply irresistible. Powerful and dominant the curse woke clawing from the inside. It was wrong and it was madness. He provoked it and now it was slithering slowly like a rhumba of rattlers leaving the shake of their warning ringing in her ears. Her hands fumbled with the material trying to start with the top button of the shirt but dropped down to attempt to get at the hole that she could envision delving the tip of her tongue in. All she wanted to do was see it but appearing deeply concerned was the mask she wore. Yes. That was it.Her hands would hold him back, One at the left and one at the right. It was doable. He was going to be…

The shove of cool hands at her sent her dipping to the side and moving even though she was planning on getting in closer. Enver. What was he doing? She felt the irritation finding a way up the back of her spine like something else was about to take on the task of cooling her down. No. She wanted this.

“CPR?” She mouthed while her face soured at the claim.

It was of course possible. It just seemed so far from which she had in mind. She slid over farther to give the boss some room. Now she was tempted by the combination of both bleeding and within reach. How much more was she supposed to take before she snapped?Then the call for a hospital stat came from the ground breaking author’s lips. She felt like climbing in the pile of frantically moving hands and limp body beneath and tearing it all to bloody hell. Her tongue darted out and slid over the fullness of her upper lip.

“Down, Indigo…” A voice called to her. One she didn’t recognize.

Everything became a blur of action. How she did it she had no clue whatsoever but soon her cell phone was in her aching hand. It felt like it needed to squeeze something, apply pressure and tear instead of make a call. Instead she was talking to a 9-1-1 dispatcher while looking out the window at the street signs that they were passing. Calm almost too controlled her voice came across relaying the information that a bloody male was in the limo and they were headed to the closest hospital. One man currently unconscious, gunshot to the chest. Her hand pushed through the small spaces around Enver’s body and found Wilson’s warm clammy wrist. Yes, he still had a pulse but barely.

[Wilson]

Enver Marshall II Another PC Difficult Intellectual Wilson Save his life! Succeeded

The fight to consciousness began as the various beeps and hums of the ventilator and monitoring equipment started breaking into through the fog of the anesthesia. Movement started as flicker of the eyelids, then he tried to turn his head, but it was too heavy. The most he could manage was opening his eyes.

“Well hello there Jackson..” A blond nurse smiled pleasantly at him. “I am Sheila, your private duty day nurse. Helena you will meet later, she is your night duty nurse..Mr. Marshall hired us to ensure you get the best of care.”

Wilson frowned and groggily tried to lift his hand to his mouth.

Sheila gently caught his hand. “Now now.. No pulling out the breathing tube.”

Frowning harder, he struggled against her but to no avail, “Jackson.” She said it like one would speak to an errant child. “Do you know where you are?” She paused, then nodded, “Ok.. you are in the hospital, Northwestern Memorial. Best hospital in Chicago. You were shot.” She paused, looking at him to make sure he understood.

Wilson nodded, vaguely he remembered the blast. He didn’t remember anything after that. He squeezed her hand, his way of telling her to keep going. “It was close range. You’re lucky to be alive. If Mr. Marshall had not reacted as quickly as he did, you could have bled out before help got to you. It was big caliber round, it went right through you, through the back seat and through a suitcase and into another one. But because it was a through and through.. The police have already come by once to talk to you.. And show you a lineup card, but I sent them away and told them to come back tomorrow. There wasn’t as much tumble damage. But it did shred your right lung pretty good. So that is why you are still on the ventilator and oxygen. We need to keep your o sats up. ”

Again he nodded, he could understand that now. Even if it was uncomfortable as hell and he wanted it out. He managed to shift somewhat and winced in pain.

“Now there there Jackson, you need to limit your movements.. Mr. Marshall in his exuberance in applying pressure to your wound, broke a few of your ribs, so you will be tender for a good little while. But the good news is.. You are alive to feel it.” She paused, leaned backward, to see if anyone was around, and when she knew it was clear, she leaned forward and whispered, “Is it true he’s really a vampire?”

Wilson would have sighed if he had the ability. Really? That’s what she wants to know? He weakly squeezed her hand. He did have a duty to his client. “My gosh.. Wow. I heard and read the news about it.. But deep down I didn’t really believe it.” She smiled at him. “To think.. You were almost killed by human.. And Vampire saved your life. Funny old world isn’t it?”

[Enver Marshall II]

Enver Marshall II Other None Luck Toronto book signing goes well Failed

Needless to say, due to both Wilson and Enver being injured, Toronto was off the books. No way was Enver going to risk anyone else getting hurt, or even worse. This had been an eye opening tour on both spectrum's. He saw the really, really good and then he saw the really, really bad. And even though there had been some really good moments, the bad far outweighed the good in the Allurist's mind. He could tour again at another time, if need be. Wilson had followed him on this crazy whirlwind of a tour, as did the other three and really, what happened the night before could have been far worse. Wilson could have died--hell anyone could have died. While the man was in custody, it didn't do much to alleviate Enver's concerns. Not all the world was ready yet, but some were. It would take time, but really, those that were freaking out about vampires...there wasn't much they could do about it, but get used to it. Anyone and everyone could, or was a vampire. Some kid's mom, maybe. That neighbor at the end of the block; maybe that stunt double, or someone's favorite author. His tour had been an eye opener to everyone, including himself.

These thoughts were in his mind as the woman on the phone started chewing his ear out about breaking the contract he had with the bookstore in Toronto. "I said I will refund you the money and add ten percent more for the problems you're going to receive from the last minute cancellations." Enver reminded her as he started out the large bay window and looked down at the parking lot in front of the E.R. section. The very spot he had drug Wilson into the night before. Which reminded him to talk to Ms Knight about whatever was going on with her last night. For someone who was so close to humanity due to their shared path, she looked like she was ready to devour them all last night at the sight of the blood. "Look, then sue me. I'm sure my one of lawyers will have a field day with yours and you'll be lucky to see a dime, you insensitive *****." Enver pulled the phone from his ear and hung up on the woman who was in the middle of interjecting, but had been cut off. With a shake of his head, Enver moved back to Wilson's room, which was at the end of the hall, away from the hustle and bustle of the other rooms. An added perk when Enver made the suggestion of donating a few thousand dollars for some new equipment for the hospital. From there, Enver acquired the best nurses and physicians for Wilson-apparently they didn't make enough money as it was already, and already had a team waiting to go with them to Canada when Wilson was cleared to leave. Enver already made it very clear he wasn't spending his entire time healing in Chicago.

---

It didn't take long for phones started blowing up with desires of interviews. Mostly for the man who was saved by a vampire, but a fair few for the man who was a vampire, who saved a human from another human. Enver picked and choose which ones he was going to do, disregarded others with some sort of half-*** excuse, but what Wilson did when he was feeling up to it was his call. Enver had a strong belief that the papers would be disappointed with both interviews, because Enver's logic was as unvampire like as possible. No, he didn't save Wilson to turn him at a later day. No, he had never even had the desire to turn Wilson, or drink his blood just because it was there. He reacted to another human being dying in the best way he could, because humanity was something to be cherished at the end of the day in Enver's mind. Too many vampires had lost that in such a short time, or maybe they never had it. With a phone interview completed for a paper in Harper Rock and a radio interview for his favorite channel back home in California, Enver was in going back to Harper Rock mode. The rest could and would wait. Getting home was a big priority, especially since everyone could have a target on their back right now. And death suddenly never rang truer for Enver in these final days in Chicago than it had the rest of the trip, or before it. He could deal with being sued; he suspected it wouldn't be the last time and it certainly wasn't the first.

[Indigo]

Getting back to Harper Rock was a relief. Once the unpacking was complete Indigo got to work and found reliable housing for the van full of transient artists that had rolled in from California. Wasting no time she put each one on the Apiary payroll and hoped for the best. They got the leeway of the first month of rent paid for and the means to pay for next month. What happened from there was on them. Nigel and Ross gave her a brief report on everything they didn’t want to bother her with while she was away. It would seem that word was getting out about the community program and interest from all over was coming in at a steady rate. The only disappointment was news that the arts council disapproved of the bar currently in the building since it would have to fall under the same laws applied to licensing drinking establishments. The guys didn’t fall short of being on top of it. They had some creative ideas on how to remedy it. She just had to think each over and choose their plan of action. Adley would be sought out for advice. He was just as invested as she was in what they did with the Apiary and it was a partnership on many levels including their shared visions of it’s future.

Now for the part of their return that she had dressed business casual for had arrived. Indigo glanced at her watch and then to the bed where Wilson seemed to be comfortably asleep. The private duty medical staff that were tending to him around the clock were the finest that Mr. Marshall could have been fortunate to find. It wasn’t just for the publicity. It was apparent the man believed in what he was out there promoting and he backed it up with that night none of them would forget when the shots were fired. She stood up from the chair she had spent the last hour in waiting for Wilson to wake. Quietly she found her way out of the private suite door and was greeted by one of the nurses.

“I am going to have to leave. I have to meet with Mr. Marshall.” She glanced at her watch realizing that she was going to be late if she didn’t get to her car. “If anything is needed or changes will you please message me?”
“He should rest comfortably for several more hours. If anything comes up we will notify both of you. Don’t worry.” The smile coming from the face Indigo was focusing on was genuine. It earned the same in return.
“Thank you.” She glanced back one more time to Wilson then gave a nod.

Fifteen minutes later Indigo was staring at the door of Mr. Marshall's office. A sweep of her open hand at the front of her linen jacket smoothed the minimal creases the fabric had accumulated on the ride over. Since there was no other way to deal with a meeting but to arrive and begin she did just that. Her fingers curled up and she knocked lightly on the hard surface at eye level. Once that was accomplished she did what would be expected of anyone looking at an office door that was closed in front of them. She waited.

[Enver Marshall II]

There was an uneasiness within Enver. While things didn't end all that badly, minus the exception of Wilson...it could have gone so much worse. And so he was left with a heavy load on his shoulders. There was something that wasn't quite right with Ms Knight. It was evident in the way she reacted when there was blood over him and Wilson. Was she one of those types? The kind that was afraid to get their hands dirty? What if he had needed her assistance with something? Luckily, Enver didn't. Whatever 'training' he got more than a decade ago for this continual walk on roll in a show that took place in a hospital came to his mind that night when he was trying to keep Wilson alive. And thankfully, by either a miracle, or well and truly due to him, Wilson not only survived, but remained a vampire. But what if he had needed Ms Knight?

The male shook his head as he sat at his desk and shut the top to his laptop as he reflected in silence. He didn't have a lot of these moments-silent ones with no interruption from a ringing phone, a secretary or an almost four year old. Enver laced his hands together, minus his two pointer fingers and rested those under his chin as he thought about the potential problem with Ms. Knight.

Thankfully, he wouldn't have to wait too long, because fate in the form of Ms. Knight came knocking on his door. He waited a couple seconds before clearing his voice and standing. As he straightened out his suit coat and re-buttoned it, he let the woman behind the door know she was welcomed in, with a two word prompt. "Come in."

[Indigo]

Once she closed the door her steps towards the desk and her boss behind it were relaxed. Indigo had been in this situation before. Not so much with the one who employs her but in life. Of course there were more of them lately. Especially since she took the plunge into the darkness that compromised her existence. So far her handling of each had been best in the end. Go at it head on and make no excuses. She nodded at the one on the opposite side of the desk and stood beside the chair for the seconds that it took to glance down and confirm it was empty. Part of her wondered if she would see it again. For that reason alone her indigo orbs scanned the scene in front of her before she sat down.

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.” She crossed her legs and folded them to the side. “I just came from checking on Wilson. He appears to be recovering as expected.”

That was the key point of the meeting. Wilson. It could be a dance of sorts or it could come down to her taking the lead and coming right out with what was due. An explanation of her actions that certainly would have registered with her employer. Wilson would not have recognized it but certainly Enver would have. She was effective in her expected responses but it had to have been apparent that there was something going on with her.

“I owe you an explanation.” She looked at him as she did most times. Straight faced and matter of fact. “I think it is important. I don’t want you to be in doubt of my ability to continue my position with your company.”

Now it was the waiting game. She would explain what has become an issue of sorts she has been getting a handle on. Some people had to battle the cartwheel that sugar sent them on if they hit the birthday cake too hard, some couldn't process milk. Indigo Knight had her own inner battle. She was not ashamed to admit it. So far it was going well. As well as could be expected when blood was what sent her into a writhing and hot mess. That is if she wasn't handling it which in the limo she felt she did impressively well. Willpower was a huge help. Hopefully her employer would have some measure of understanding or at the very least faith in her. She was no more a monster to fear than he was.