The Millennial Game

Chapter One

Chapter One

San Francisco, California, USA

Present

"The past is never dead. It's never even past." ~ William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun

The sun was uncomfortably bright that day but the young woman had gotten pretty good at ignoring it. She tipped her head back, closing her eyes to bask in the warm light. I will miss this place.

A light tugging on the bottom of her shirt had her opening her blue-grey eyes and glancing down to see a small girl, probably only about four or five standing at her side with her fist curled into the young woman’s green tunic length shirt. The girl’s brown eyes were huge as she stared up at her. “You’re really pretty.”

She gently laughed, her eyes warming against the irritation that had flickered in them at the interruption. “Well, thank you.” Her faint accent rubbed her words.

“Bella! Bella, what have I said about bothering-” The woman’s words were interrupted with a gasp when she looked up, amused. The little girl, Bella, scampered over to her mother. “Are you Lenne Richards? The writer?”

Lenne smiled, hiding the anger she always felt at being noticed and recognized. “Yes, I am.” Although I would prefer being ignored.

“I thought so! You look so much younger than you do in the pictures. I especially love Dancing in Darkness! The way you described Jefferson and Emilia and the struggles they went through- It was almost as if you witnessed it. Was it based on a true story?” The mother’s babbling had Lenne’s lips curling wider. Ah, so she enjoyed vampire stories. That explained the daughter’s name.

“It wasn’t based on anything,” Lenne replied smoothly. “None of my books were.”

“Really? Would you mind signing my copy? I’ve got it with me right now.” The mother fumbled in her oversized bag and drew out a tatty, dog-eared copy of Dancing in Darkness. Lenne held back a wince at the state of it and reached out to hold it. That poor book. I don’t understand it when people can do that. She pulled out one of the pens she carried in the pocket of her shirt and opened the book gingerly.

She paused, her eyes meeting the other woman’s. “Who do I make this out to?” she asked quietly. The woman found herself held in Lenne’s sharply intense scrutiny. It was only when Lenne blinked that she found she could reply.

“Uh, Nicole.”

Lenne’s lip twitched almost imperceptibly. Nicole. Typical. She scrawled a quick message on the book before handing it back to Nicole. “There you are. I hope you enjoy your weekend.” She knelt down to Bella’s height and tucked a strand of ruddy hair behind the girl’s ear. “And I hope you have a great time with your mommy. Watch after her for me, will you?”

Bella’s eyes widened again but bravery gave her words. “I will.”

The smile Lenne gave the girl was genuine, if a little sad, as she stood up. Nodding once more to Nicole, she turned her back and walked away. The further she got, the more her shoulders relaxed. Just my luck to be accosted by someone with that name.

Her lip curled as she fought to shrug the anger off. This was neither the time nor place to concentrate on it. Besides, she needed to get home to pack. Her eyes flickered to the side and she dipped her head in greeting to the blond man standing next to the crosswalk. He breathed in and his nose wrinkled briefly before his expression smoothed and he returned the greeting.

“How are you today?” she asked quietly, waiting with him for the light to change.

“Could be worse. We had a wedding the other day, so we’re all still in celebration mode. I just think it’s ridiculous.”