To Assassinate an Angel

Chapter Four - Steel the heart; release the power

       

FLASHBACK

Sunday February 11th 2007

Las Vegas - Secret Location

1 AM

It was cold.  But, then again, Las Vegas was in the middle of one of its coldest months.  Pierre stood silently, dressed only in a pair of jeans and one of his many black Role Model T-shirts.  Probably pretty stupid since it was so cold.  But, strangely he didn't feel too bad.

He was in the dark waiting.  For what, he wasn't sure of, but he knew it was important.  Or so said the message he'd received whilst he was partying with some friends earlier the night before.  He was actually on a holiday to Las Vegas with Jason's sometime's girlfriend Nerelle.  A blonde 'party girl', as she liked to called herself. 

Jason had won tickets to stay in Las Vegas for a week, but because of his military duties he'd been unable to go, so Pierre had ended up snagging the second ticket for himself.  Being with Nerelle was a real blast for the young man.  She knew the best places to go to, the best restaurants, and the best clubs.  She also knew how to get Pierre into trouble.  But, it was nothing he couldn't handle.  Being the lead singer of a band came in handy at times. 

And for some reason, as lead singer of Simple Plan, Pierre had managed to escape the scrutiny of the media.  But then again, that was probably because he never pretended to be someone he wasn't.  He didn't put up an image like so many other guys in bands did.  He was just himself. 

So, there he was in a place he didn't know the name of, directed by an anonymous missive that had been sent to him on his cell phone. 

Wrapping his arms around his body, he peered into the darkness.

"Hello...?  Anyone there?"

Silence.  Pierre turned slightly, straining to hear the slightest sound.

"This had better not be a prank..."

"No.  This is no prank, Pierre Charles Bouvier."

He stilled, blinking unable to see through the gloom.  Someone moved near by causing him to jump slightly and then suddenly there was a woman standing in front of him.  He swallowed hard.

"Who...how?  How do you know my name?"

The woman just smiled at him.  She had long blonde hair and penetrating purple eyes.  Pierre noticed then that his surroundings had lightened enough for him to see where they were.  They were standing in a small courtyard in one of the larger gardens in inner Las   Vegas.  He looked at the woman.  She was wearing a simple lilac dress that seemed to flow down around her body.  He wondered why she wasn't cold.  Perhaps she didn't feel it.  But then that would be really odd.  The woman motioned to a bench close to them.

"Sit down...I need to speak with you."

Pursing his lips, Pierre moved to sit on the bench, folding his arms, a questioning look in his eyes.  The young woman moved to sit next to him and clasped her hands in front of her.

"Now, I'll answer your first questions.  My name is Annalise and I've known you for a long time, Pierre."

"You have?"

The woman nodded.  "Yes.  We've been keeping tabs on you ever since you were born."

Pierre shivered, the thought of being watched his whole life was a little frightening.  Still, his curiosity overrode that feeling.