Charlotte After Dark

Chapter 48: The Head Praetor

Previously on ... Charlotte After Dark: At their first lesson Charlotte unsuccessfully attempts to garner more information about Joaquin's past. After an uneventful lesson cut short by Luca's demand to see Joaquin about a surveillance video, Charlotte encounters Malcolm Darrow and lies to him about coming to the empty parlor to read. Luca reprimands Charlotte for being in the west wing of the house and warns her about the consequences of being deceptive in his house. Luca seems more tense than usual.

Charlotte meets Cormac in the park of Lycaon's Corner where he informs her that Audra has gone missing after attending dinner at Luca's house. Charlotte tells Cormac about Audra's warning and they discuss their relationship. They rekindle their relationship, even if there is a possibility it may only be temporary. Cormac leaves Charlotte with a warning: you are being watched...

Charlotte awakes in the middle of the night to hear Luca arguing with Joaquin over a set of threatening pictures he has received of which she is sure involves her somehow. She vows to garner some intelligence from Joaquin at their next lesson, but he rebuffs her easily warning her to focus her attentions elsewhere. Charlotte manages to steal the photos from Joaquin's jacket pocket as he is paying attention to the music player and goes off to her room to prepare for her lesson with Abel. Upon looking at the photos she discovers that someone has been paying close attention to her, even being able to take pictures of her as she sleeps.

Later in the evening Charlotte attempts to wrangle Andrew into her plights by gaining information about Sergei Mikhailov, who she is sure is behind the pictures somehow. Andrew warns Charlotte that she isn't involving herself in something more aptly avoided but she still presses on. While they discuss the matter of Sergei Mikhailov, the two find themselves under the eye of Praetors as they enter the Libery Bell Pub and set their sights on Charlotte...

***

"They're looking at her," Sitka's words rung out like an echo as my eyes met the pale eyes of the tall, blonde Praetor that stood at the bar. The bartender had his finger pointed in our direction while the Praetor thanked him. I felt an icy chill come over me as the chill of his stare made me more than uncomfortable. Again, the entire room seemed to get colder as if he was sucking all of the warmth out of the entire pub.

A petite woman with dark brown hair cut into a bob appeared behind the now-shunned Praetor as he followed the other, and Andrew grew tense, straightening his back and stiffening himself like a dog on the scent of game. He took in a sharp breath, his eyes lingering only on her. His green eyes followed her every move as she came closer and closer to us.

"As if this couldn't get any worse," Sitka muttered to himself. "Of all the place, she had to show up here."

"Who is she?" I asked Sitka, my voice low and curious as I kept my eyes on the leader of the pack of Praetors. I didn't know who they were or what they were, but by the reactions of everyone in the room I knew I should be concerned, especially now that their sights were directly on me.

"Petra Westgate," Sitka sighed.

Andrew didn't seem to hear our conversation, his gaze and attention only on her. Petra. Andrew's reaction could only mean that it was that Petra. Her features were angular, but inset into her face was a beautiful pair of eyes the color of sapphire that surveyed the room. They even put Audra's eyes to shame. Her line of sight fell on me first, but quickly made a beeline to Andrew. Her gaze was short before returning it to the back of Allon Coburn's head.

This was about to get really awkward.

The Praetors stopped at our small table, surrounding it like a phalanx to prevent any of us from leaving. I felt like a trapped mouse but kept my eyesight on the main Praetor, Beauregard Callendar. His stare was even more distressing now that was closer to me than ever. An overwhelming sense of despair came over me as his gaze paralyzed me.