Anachronistic: Endless Masquerade

30 | The Price of Time

- 30 -

Allister strummed his fingers against the galley table and pretended not to notice Pandora scanning the room every five minutes. He didn't know how many more times he could ignore it, though. It was her second time since being seated and her fourth since they had entered the dining hall. He knew Pandora wouldn't want to talk about her problems, but they hadn't even ordered yet for God's sake.

        He tried to distract his mind with his surroundings. As a high-ranking member of the crew, he had never eaten in second-class before. He found the dining room to be dreadfully small. It made everything feel cramped, despite second class having the fewest passengers among it. Making matters worse was the uncomfortable seating and slow service.

        "Is it always this much of a wait?"

        Pandora didn't answer. She was once again out of her seat and craning her neck for a better view. He reached over and pulled her back onto her chair. In the span of a blink, her hand had clutched tight around his wrist. Venom spilled from her gaze. He released his grip on her shoulder and slowly she released her grip on his wrist.

        "You need to calm down, Pandora," he said, rubbing his fingers over the indents her nails had left in his skin. Luckily, she hadn't broken the skin.

        "Oh, I'm perfectly calm. But next time you grab me on my bad side I'll pull your eye out and let you see how it feels." He had no doubt Pandora would honor that threat. He made a note to stay on her good side, literally.

        "I meant about Lilith."

        Pandora's eyes softened and she dropped her head. "She's not here. She's so upset about what I did she can't eat."

        Allister moved to put a hand on her back, then thought better of it. "What did you do?"

        She regarded him with curiosity for a moment, then spun away from him. When he called her name she adjusted the chair beneath her to face away from him as well. He had mined all the information he was likely to get for the time being. A grand total of one piece. Pandora had done something to Lilith.

        The vagary of it pissed him off; he might as well know nothing. But for now, there was nothing for him to do but go back to waiting. If it takes them this long to take orders, how long will it take them to cook the food?

        Allister perked up when he saw a young woman in uniform make her way over to the table. He glanced down at the menu one final time, even though he had decided what to order fifteen minutes prior.

        "Excuse me, Sir."

        He looked up, ready to list off his choices when his stomach dropped. The half-sure smile on the woman's face gave him a bad feeling. She was a waitress all right, but she wasn't there to take his order. He set the menu flat on the table and let out a long sigh.

        "Yes, what is it?"

        "I'm sorry to bother you before your meal." The woman avoided eye contact as she spoke.

        "There's a," she hesitated, "Situation... in the back that could use your personal attention."

        The waitress's words were a weight that pressed Allister down into his chair. He knew exactly what kind of situations the head of security was called on to attend to these days. Who did it kill? The chef? A few waitresses? Whatever the case he wasn't looking forward to it.