I well and truly never believed this evening to come, but it has. I suppose in truth, it has been coming for almost four years now. I pondered the two suggestions Amalea gave me and decided one would be much more difficult to prove than the other, so decided to just settle for what most humans do in regards to this. Nothing more and nothing less.
It is strange to me that one can acquire the needed paper work from a bookstore, among other places of legality, but a bookstore? I picked up the necessary documents and began the paper work. I must profess that some questions, I needed Diederik's assistance with. He was most understanding and kind, and admitted that many of people run into these sorts of scenarios. Still, I admitted to him vocally that I had never imagined such a time to come. He just looked at me as if I had said the most peculiar thing imaginable.
With the paper work finished and the fee paid, I was told that thirty days is the magical number for situations such as these. There are services and rules to be followed during this time frame, most of which would not be difficult to follow. I suppose if one was around, it would be a little more difficult, but given that one is not...most things seem very easy to follow and adhere to. Then, after thirty days, things can progress and then it takes yet another thirty days for the order to be granted, after the decision (if in one's favour) has been made.
So, it seems as if nothing will be decided until after the new year. Not much can be done about that, as I do not wish to enthrall anyone to progress the process faster, as I still have need for Diederik...so patience is needed in this matter. Not that I have anywhere to go, or am in need of any haste. Not in most regards, but it will be difficult in public venues at times.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
I have come to the realization that many of those I sired, whose presence I can still locate, are not returning to the city.
This brings me a little bit of sorrow, and envy at the same time. But almost two years have passed for some, three for others. The city has changed dramatically, there really is no need to return, if I am honest. Perhaps they are wiser then most.
Alex is thrilled for the new addition of Amalea. Even Cosimo has made his presence known. I wish I could offer her more in the form of a welcome, but...
I am going home soon. Well, what was home once.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
Doc and I head to Las Vegas tomorrow. I am a little leery, not of the trip, or going with Doc, obviously, but the Elvis phenomenon is quite real, I have discovered through many online resources. The music is not he worst I have heard, but it is hardly a symphony. We will have to be very, very careful to avoid these impersonators while on our extended weekend. Doc gifted me an early Christmas gift, a relic which I no longer need to feed if I am smart and wise.
As usual, I have left Diederik in charge. He usually is, but when I am around, I take a more active approach on the business front. He has informed me of some...issues lately with our security, but is working on taking stronger measures to prevent such things from happening again. We shall see. I have confidence in him, but he is no whiz with the internet.
There is a ball coming up soon for the Christmas season. Charles has asked me to go with him. Banecroft will be there, he is the one hosting it. I am interested in seeing just who he is and what he is really up to.
Still no news about the divorce. I finally came 'clean' if you will and told Doc about it. He laughed at me more or less, and seemed not to be bothered by it. Diederik says that 'No news means good news,' and I have heard that before. So, I believe him for now.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
We are in Las Vegas...and I am hardly amused with the current events. I was under the impression we would be avoiding all things 'Elvis,' but it seems that Charles has had a change of heart on the idea. I will get to that in a minute.
The flight was.....horrible. I love children, I really, really do, but there is one child that could go missing and I am quite certain that the world would be a much better place without them. Or at least, the world would not notice that he was gone. He kept kicking our chairs while he played on some electrical device that may, or may not have had an untimely demise. His parents were blissfully unaware while they slept, or had their noses in their laptops. I asked him kindly, three times to stop. And he never did. NEVER! If there was a genuine spawn of Satan, I found him on our way there.
Then, there was an issue with the car. Charles was...irritated, I suppose. In truth, a car, is a car, is a car to me. As long as one can get from point A to point B, safely in the large tin-apologies, plastic contraption, then they are all the same to me. We had to settle for some vehicle that people can barely climb out of-well, that most people can barely climb out of, but given my petite frame, it was not all that difficult for me to exit the vehicle. I am certain I heard Charles say some choice words as we got out at...
A wedding chapel!
And not just any wedding chapel (I will get into other thoughts later on that), but one that was Elvis themed. As they showed off the 'packages,' with their pictures of each location for a 'Dream Elvis Themed Wedding,' I was well and truly mortified. It was all...garbage! The décor was cheap, the flowers plastic. PLASTIC! And of course, who would be officiating such a lovely occasion? AN EVLIS IMPERSONATOR.
Firstly...I am so upset at that entire ordeal for so many reasons, that I had to take a breath and close my eyes. All I need to do is poof into thin air for a few hours, or days. What was he thinking? Taking us to a wedding chapel, then expressing the desire to buy a package, but leave out the actual purpose for being in said wedding chapel? The man looked at us as if we were insane, and while I at times question my sanity, all I could do was mirror his look. Then...I saw him. I saw the imposture. He was heading to the bathroom, donned in some gaudy white outfit with big sun glasses and jewelry galore. I believe he had more than I did, though mine is certainly quality and not quantity. I mean...I suppose I do not even understand the reasoning for even going there in the first place. As soon as I saw the fake Elvis, I wanted nothing more than to go to the hotel—which leads me to the next dilemma.
I do NOT want to be in this...******* hotel. I feel as if Doc is...is this his way of, as the modern people call it, breaking up with me? If so, he did not have to spend all this money to accomplish the task. Instead, I am in a ridiculous suite with Elvis EVERYWHERE. Literally, everywhere. He is in the bathroom. A wall décor near the bed-my bed, because Doc conveniently picked the other room which only had a picture he could pull down if he wanted to. But, I get the wall applique that's looming near the foot of my bed. Animal print everywhere. Bold colours, everywhere. This room should be gutted, and an interior decorator hired, promptly. There is even Elvis on the kitchen table, not that either of us need to eat, but there he is, staring up at me as I walk by. Watching me. As ridiculous as that sounds, because they are all inanimate objects, but all I can 'see' is Elvis everywhere.
Everywhere.
I may very well strangle him, or drown him in the whirlpool bath tub in our room. Both sound...delightful. Even if it will actually do little but give me a moments satisfaction.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
Elvis was at my feet. Staring across the entire width of the room, seeing everything. Half way through the daytime hours, after restless tossing and turning, I moved to what I thought was an applique and was sorely mistaken. Elvis is actually...painted on the wall. I had tried to remove it, but as I scratched at the outline of Elvis with my thumbnail, I soon discovered that I could not remove Elvis from my life, or the bedroom.
I had hoped a shower would make me feel better, but..there he was. I put a towel over the top of the frame, but I knew he was still there. Once upon a time, I would have been grateful for a quick dip in water, given the way of things, but this was hardly satisfying.
I am so tired that I do not want to do anything. I want to curl up in bed and sleep. And dream of being anywhere but here. Yet, I do not want to stay in the suite, given Elvis is on every wall, on random surfaces, and even on the coffee cups. Coffee cups! This Elvis phenomenon in Las Vegas is a genuine thing it seems.
This is the absolute worst weekend get away ever. Not as if I take many, but I am completely over the concept. Remind me to never suggest another one, any time soon. Or ever. I plan on confronting Doc later tonight, before he takes me to some other Elvis themed ordeal. I wonder if Elvis does funerals, since Doc seems to be a fan....
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
I may have reacted poorly when confronting Charles. Still, it was not entirely my fault. I was in a cordial mood when I left my thoughts here last, but as soon as I made my way from my room to his, every single thing Elvis changed my mood completely.
I do not hate the individual that was Elvis, but there are impostors everywhere in this city. I mean, I suppose I understand being someone you are not better than anyone, but this...whatever this is, is taking it to the extreme. I believe all the imposters suffer from some sort of psychological disorder.
With all my anger and spite, not once did I ask if Charles was wanting to terminate our arrangement. I suppose part of me was not ready to hear that possibility. It can wait until we return to Harper Rock, if that is the case. I really cannot fathom it being anything else. Why else would he sabotage our entire weekend get away?
I digress.
There was water everywhere. The lights started flickering, the ice machine in the freezer kept making ice, the toilets kept flushing. I tried to take a breath to calm down, but all he did was just stand there. He didn't even deny sabotaging our weekend-not that I had said as much...but he just stood there. As if he were dumbfounded.
I am still irritated at the wedding chapel stop. I am aware what an asshole he can be, but...I am not implying anything, or suggesting anything either, but there I was, surrounded by hideous decor, an individual that Alexandrea warned me about, one of many I am trying to avoid and all I could think about was how to gently tell Charles that I cannot get married, legally. I am still divorced and that I am in no way shape or form ready to embrace that life again. How does someone say, I am flattered, but no thank you? Oh, I remember how that conversation goes. I was stuffed in a casket for nearly two decades when I politely declined Reynold's proposition all those centuries ago. Do I think Charles would do something such as that? Of course not, but I can imagine an individual's pride when they suggest such a thing and then they do not get the answer they seek out. Would it end our...arrangement?
Diederik called tonight. I missed the call, so he left a message. He says Cosimo has not shown up to work for two nights now. I have placed a call out to his cellular device, but have not heard from him yet. I suppose he and Athena are busy with the holidays and themselves. I hope so. Perhaps when things are calm here, it is something I can broach to Charles.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
Tonight's event was quite pleasant. Charles took us to a show and I enjoyed it immensely. I was perhaps more quiet than he would have liked, but I was waiting for an act from an Elvis impersonator to happen at any time, in reality. Thankfully, that did not happen.
Diederik told me that Cosimo did not show up again to work. It is quite out of character for him. He is far more responsible than that. If he needs time off, he could have it, and he knows it. I fear something is wrong, in a grave sense. I tried to reach out for him, or more specifically his location, but I believe I am too far away from Harper Rock to pick up on such a thing. I texted him again, with no reply.
I decided to broach Charles about it and there were a great many theories that he indicated. He does not know Cosimo well; at all, really, so I cannot find error in any of his shared thoughts. Perhaps I am over thinking it, but I have my doubts. I am certain he would have answered me by now.
I am still pondering how to approach things in a tactful manner in regards to this weekend. Perhaps it is best to let things play out as they will and say nothing at all. I do not want to damage another room-I doubt they will allow either of us back to Las Vegas if that happens.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
Still no word from Cosimo, but another message, this time in the form of a text from Diederik. Cosi is still a no show at work. I called the airline last night to see if we could take an earlier flight, but that was not possible. But,while I was on the phone with them, I asked for our seats home to be upgraded from economy to something better. Anything better than sitting in front of a brat who is kicking our chair the entire time.
No, this is not how I imagined things going on our trip. Perhaps this was not the right time for a long weekend away; with Doc in a political run and now Cosimo 'missing.' Never mind the holiday aspect. Which reminds me to somehow subtly mention how Amalea might want to spend time with him for Christmas and how he should make a point to do so.
It seems as if Doc is trying to make amends, so to speak, due to the Elvis mishap. It is a very kind and appreciated gesture, but...things are not quite the same. I do not know if it is me, him, or us. Perhaps all of the above. As I stated before, I may have reacted a bit too strongly. I cannot recall if what happened in his Bourbon Bar was nearly half as bad as what happened in the Elvis themed room. I doubt it. Which means, I may have very well scared Doc, which is why things are as they are too. Something has certainly changed things, I believe.
Perhaps the next time we go somewhere it will go better. If there is a next time.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
The Christmas season was...strange. On a few fronts. Charles and I went to the Mayor's Christmas event, and the host was absent. Poor form I must say. Not even an apology in regards to his absence. Some people have no tact or basic decency. Hopefully, that means that in a few years time, during election time, Bancroft can get the boot and who knows...perhaps a vampire who is not afraid to show their face could take the position of mayor?
Then, I was gifted a peculiar gift, to which I tried to return and was told to keep it more or less. I am still not comfortable with the gift, but I suppose leaving it sit in a jewelry box is harmless enough. And then, to make matters worse, the very same night, when Amalea and I ave Charles his gift, we learned that he does not like spiders and that the gift was...perhaps too much for him. I beg to differ, but I hope in time he will take the gift that has been offered and utilize it. Especially if he is to become a public official.
As the trip approaches, I am having second thoughts on the fact that I had not asked Charles to accompany me at any point on the trip. Not that I am concerned something will happen while I am in England in any aspect, but I could be gone a while. But, that is purely selfish and potentially clingy, so I say very little on the matter. And in truth, he has things he should be doing here. Spending time with Amalea, and working on his campaign. While I may have more faith than he does, it is still important he focuses on it. If he does not win, it is not for lack of trying or effort upon his part.
Why are you taking me through troubled waters, I asked? Because your enemies cannot swim, he replied.
