Sharp Teeth - Sleep Token/Vessel FF

Chapter X

I woke up and Vessel wasn't there, but he left a note and a white lily beside my bed:

"Joseph and IV asked for me and I didn't want to wake you. See you later, my dear. 

V."

His handwriting was beautiful. But how did he know that the white lily is my favorite flower? And where did he get one? I went straight to the bathroom to wash my face and as I looked in the mirror, the thoughts of the last night haunted me.

"What have you done, Ava? You had sex with a strange man. You don't know his real name, you don't even know his face! What if someone saw him leaving your bedroom? You broke your ONE RULE of never dating a coworker." I was angry at my choices and argued with myself. It felt safe last night but now I was afraid I would lose my job - and maybe my sanity.

Every answer he gave me so far was a non-answer. Deal with an ancient God? Hard to believe, lame excuse. But how else can I explain everything that happened to me? Vessel floating outside my bedroom, things moving in slow-motion when we met, him throwing Jace... things were getting weirder and weirder. Maybe a deal with an ancient God was the most normal thing in this whole story.

My stomach made a loud noise and I went straight to the breakfast buffet. Calliope, Hera, and Briggite were there too, accompanied by the new Jace, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to try and figure out if anyone saw Vessel leaving my room.

"Good morning, Espera ladies. How are you?" I smiled.

"You look radiant today, even your skin is glowing! Is that some new skincare routine you're trying?" Hera was very perceptive but I couldn't tell her that my glowing was the result of a night full of pleasure with the lead singer of their band.

"Oh thanks, Hera. I've been drinking more water than usual, maybe that's it?" What a pitiful liar I was, but she seemed to buy it.

"Water is the best skincare product invented! Keep doing that, you look amazing." She smiled at me for the first time. "This is Mark, Jace's replacement for the rest of the tour." She pointed at the quiet man and we waved back to me.

"You should know that we're changing the setlist tonight!" Calliope interrupted, excited. "Joseph just texted us, Vessel and III wanted Sugar back on the setlist and IV asked for Gods, so we're adding those two songs."

The rest of the breakfast was as normal as it could be. We talked about the concert and the tour, Hera shared she was dating someone new, Brigitte was quiet as always, and Mark talked no more than Brigitte. The girls didn't seem to be aware of what happened between Vessel and me last night so I believe he kept his promise after all.

After the breakfast, I left for the venue. Joseph asked for some shots of the fans waiting in line so I went outside. The line was immense and I could testify once more how this band was loved - or worshiped, as they would say. The first girl in the line arrived there at 6 in the morning even though the concert started at 8 pm. Other fans were sitting on the ground, trading bracelets they crafted on their own.

I was doing anything I could to get my mind off Vessel. The very thought of him walking on the stage turned into butterflies in my stomach. The concert was about to begin so I put up my best poker face.

They opened the gig with Rain, Vessel walking straight to his digital piano. When he began to sing, I noticed he was looking for something. For someone. He was trying to find me.

For so long, I have waited

So long that I almost became

Just a stoic statue, fit for nobody