Sharp Teeth - Sleep Token/Vessel FF

Chapter XIV

The insistent ringing of my phone tore me from sleep. Alan! I was in debt to my friend as I'd been avoiding him for days.

"Alankazam!" I said, my voice hoarse with sleep.

"Oh wow, she lives! Are you ok?" His voice was deeply worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I've been a terrible friend lately. The last days have been...a lot, to say the least. But I'm free today and have lots to catch you up on. Want to meet?"

"Sure, meet me at our spot. And you better have a good explanation for everything. A little birdie told me you snuck into the band's dressing room. I want to know everything. See you in an hour!"

Who the hell told Alan that? The line went dead, and I felt Vessel's fingers brush through my hair.

"Morning, dear. Was that Alan?" He was already awake and I wondered if he slept at all. "I miss the little guy. He's dedicated, that's for sure. We'll get him back once his arm heals."

"Are you not satisfied with my work?" I snapped, raising an eyebrow.

"Do I look like I'm not satisfied?" He smirked, kissing my forehead. "Honestly, I prefer your photos to Adam's. But we need a videographer, and he's undeniably talented. Wouldn't it be nice to work with your best friend?"

"Yes, it would. Alan's important to me. In fact, he's the only one I'm truly worried about keeping secrets from. I can't exactly tell him about Sleep, or us being immortal, can I?" I tried my best puppy dog eyes, hoping it would work.

He chuckled a rich, dark sound. "Unfortunately, no. Humans can't comprehend what we are. But you can tell him you're my girlfriend."

I let out a nervous laugh. "Girlfriend? Is that what we are?"

"Girlfriend, partners, soulmates... Labels are just words, my love." I felt his eyes piercing mine through the mask.

"We'll talk about that later," I said, forcing a smile. "I have to meet Alan. See you back here tonight?" I had to be strong and not give in to his charms again. Otherwise, we might as well spend an eternity loving each other while our mission is not fulfilled.

"Yes, I have a special place to show you. Until then, my dear." We kissed goodbye as I entered the shower. The remnants of Vessel's body paint, smudged by my touch last night, vanished instantly and his skin became pitch black again. He exited the room, likely to meet with II, III, and IV.

___

I joined Alan in our special spot - the Cafe D'or, a place we have visited so many times the worn leather chairs and wooden tables seemed to hold memories within their nooks. Alan and I spent the afternoon indulging in chocolate cake and steaming cups of Lady Grey. Telling him half-truths was hard - he asked me questions about our first date, Vessel's past, and why they never revealed themselves. I told him as much as I could, and a genuine happiness bloomed on his face seeing my happiness. Being with Alan made me forget about the whole Sleep thing for a couple of hours, and my anxiety was pushed to the back of my mind. Satisfied with my explanations and excited about returning to work, he waved goodbye as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Reaching for my phone to call Vessel, I received an automated voicemail message. He was struggling with using it as he didn't have a phone before we met - this was my first gift to him. I just needed quick ways to communicate, but answering the phone wasn't a high priority.

Back at the hotel, I sit in the hallway, a nervous knot tightening in my stomach. Vessel was always punctual and I didn't have to wait long. The people around us seemed unaware of the imposing figure walking towards me – shirtless, covered in black paint, a cape flowing dramatically behind him, and a mask hiding his face. Maybe he could glamour himself not to be seen all the time?

"How was your day, my dear Ava?" He offered his hand, whisking me away from the hotel at a quick pace.

"It was pretty good. I love Alan's company and we've known each other forever, so lying to him was tough. But I understand the weight of our secret, and I want to protect him."

"No need to apologize," he said gently. "It was for the best. Speaking of cheering you up, I have a little surprise." He jerked his chin towards a gleaming Harley Davidson parked outside. "Climb on board, love."

We roamed through the streets of London, the cool spring breeze whipping through my hair. After a while, Vessel took a turn onto a deserted, winding road. At the end stood a solitary structure – not quite a house but not big enough to be a castle, something in between. The path leading up to it was filled with trees that formed a natural arch overhead. He parked the Harley as we approached the house, offering me a hand to help me down and removing my helmet though he wasn't wearing one himself.

"Welcome to my favorite place, Ava." He said, his voice low and thrilling. "This is where I spend most of my time when we're not on tour."

The moonlight revealed a stunning wall made of grey bricks, the central large window adorned with a vibrant stained glass panel. The door was made of wood - oak if I were to guess - carved with the same golden runes written on their clothes and instruments.

Vessel spoke a few words in a language I didn't understand, and the door creaked open as if by magic. The grand living room unfolded before me, and my eyes spotted a beautiful black piano. A magnificent chandelier hung directly above it. The floor was made of white marble and the walls were painted black. I noticed an elegant red velvet couch nested carefully to the left of the piano, inviting me in.

I stood speechless as Vessel moved towards the piano, his fingers brushing over the keys. He started to play and his melody washed over me like a wave.