The Summoning (Sleep Token FanFiction)

XXIX - Fall For Me

The car was a mini limo, all black and looking more like a hearse than anything. That seemed to fit their aesthetic. The driver stood on the other side, the car humming at the curb. 

IV held the door of the car open for me and we nodded to each other. As I ducked into the back seat, I watched as IV made a show of bowing to Vessel, inviting him into the car. Vessel gave another deep bow, this time with sarcasm, before stepping in and scooting closer to me. The seats were curved around the empty space in the center and there was a mini bar to the right, lit up with small neon lights. 

II, sitting near the bar, began perusing the amenities at the mini bar before finding what he was looking for. IV stepped in, sitting across from II after closing the door behind him. 

I became distinctly aware of how close Vessel was sitting next to me and jolted, hand falling over my chest as II popped the cork from a glass bottle. Vessel turned his head to me, but didn't look at me as I sighed with relief. I didn't know why I was so on edge. 

The driver started the car and we were off, cruising at a relaxing pace down the road toward the venue. As I sat back in my seat, eyes focusing on Vessel's hands clenched in his lap, II scooted closer and offered me a flute of wine. 

I took it with a small thank you, voice muffled under the hum of the motor. 

"I had them put Moscato in here for you." He mumbled before shifting back to the little bar and pouring IV a glass. 

My cheeks heated and I brought the glass close to my face to hide the blush. I couldn't believe he thought of me enough to prepare the mini bar. 

When I took a sip, it was light and crisp. I didn't know why I was on edge, but I was determined to not let it get in the way of the night. II handed glasses to IV and Vessel respectively and they nodded in thanks. IV scooted to the edge of his seat and raised his glass, eyeing me.

Smiling, I leaned forward and clinked my glass with his, realizing Vessel was watching us with a keen eye before IV offered the same to Vessel. 

Vessel took in a breath, jaw clenched, and gave a polite smile, raising his glass to touch IV's. He sat stiffly, one hand fisted in his lap and the other around the glass. When the car went over a bump, his fist unclenched long enough to raise and grip the spot under the window. 

Looking down to the space between us, I scooted a bit closer and raised my glass next to him. When he looked me over, his pupils were near pinpricks before settling on my eyes. 

"To a good night." I nearly whispered, keeping his eyes and smiling encouragingly. 

He swallowed, watching me before slowly raising his glass to touch mine, eyes not leaving my face. A muscle in his jaw twitched before he nodded to me in agreement. 

It was understandable for him to be nervous in cars after what had happened to him and my heart ached at the thought, leading me to be more bold than I had thought I could be. 

I reached across him and took his hand from under the window, he stiffened further at the touch, but seemed to relax little by little as I rested our clasped hands over his thigh. 

I leaned back in my seat, trying to pretend my heart wasn't a bird fluttering around the cage that was my chest and watched out the window behind II.

~~~~~~~~~~

Vessel, ever eager to be out of a moving vehicle, stepped out just as the car rolled up to the venue and offered a hand to me to help me out. 

The venue was gorgeous. A historic building with rising columns interrupted by angelic sculptures rose to the sky. There was such intricate carvings up the entire facing and I had to crane my head up to see up to the top, though it was shadowed by the gathering night. It certainly was old architecture, but seemed to have been restored to its former glory recently.