The Underground City of Cinders

Chapter 3

I woke to the sound of the trunk slamming shut. Dimitri and I had been driving for the past couple hours. I didn't know what it was about this car but it had lulled me into a deep sleep twenty minutes into the drive. Looking out my passenger side window, I saw Dimitri walk over to my car door and open it. "Good morning sleeping beauty," he said with a chuckle. "Or should I say good evening?"

I stretched my stiff legs as much as I could in the car and then swung them out to stand up. I took a look around before turning to Dimitri, "Are we already there? This looks like a mall."

Dimitri shook his head and laughed, "No. We are making a short stop to get you some clothes. I didn't think you would want to run around in blood-soaked pajamas all night and besides all your clothes are at your old house."

Looking down at my shirt, I felt a blush roll across my cheeks and I tugged at my hands nervously, "We can't go back to my house and get my clothes?"

Dimitri shook his head with a hint of amusement, "No we can't. Do you realize how long we have been driving? It would be inane to turn around just for some clothes. Besides, in case you have forgotten, you are not human anymore."

I began to pout, "Well what am I going to do then?"

Dimitri waved his hand toward the building standing in front of us, "That's why we are here."

I took a good look at the building. It was some kind of boutique but I wasn't familiar with the name of the store. I was never really in the know with all the expensive brand names. I took another look down at my stained pajamas, "Dimitri... won't they kick me out if I go in there looking like this? The store looks really... uppity."

Dimitri laughed. Why does it seem like he is always laughing at me? I'm not that funny...am I? He grabbed my hand gently. "Don't worry about that. I know the owner personally. She is a good friend of mine." He winked at me and pulled me into the store.

I barely had a chance to look around before a woman walked over to Dimitri and did the whole, French kiss on each cheek thing. "Dimitri," she shrieked, "I haven't seen you in so long! Where have you been?"

Dimitri laughed, "Hey Lana. I've been around."

She grasped his hands and pouted, "You never come to see me anymore. I miss you."

Dimitri shrugged, "You know how busy I can get sometimes Lana."

The gorgeous woman standing in front of us seemed to notice me for the first time since we walked in the door. The look she gave me was almost one of disgust. I looked her over and a ping of jealousy rang through me. She was so perfect looking. She had a flawless body, a beautiful heart shaped face and long brown curls you could only get from spending hours in a salon. Without taking her gaze from me she asked Dimitri, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

He glanced over to me, "Well we need your help. We have a new member among our kind and she needs new clothes...A lot of new clothes actually. I just picked her up yesterday and I'm taking her to the city."

Her attention returned to Dimitri and her expression changed back to one of giddy happiness, "I know just what you need. Go wait on the couch by the changing rooms and I will bring you everything." After that, she disappeared into the back of the store.

I looked at Dimitri with a small amount of confusion, "Who is she? She seemed really... put together."

Dimitri took my hand and pulled me over to the dressing rooms, "Her name is Svetlana and she's a good friend of mine." Oh great. Even her name sounds gorgeous. "I've known her forever and she's been there for me when I've been in a couple tough situations."