Anam Cara | Ian Kabra

[10]

The low, constant growl of the engine was rather soothing, the vibration of the car as the woman placed her head against the window bringing her to close her eyes. The wind howled out of the confines of the car she was in and she almost dreaded having to go out in such a harsh weather even though she knew she wouldn't have to stay outside for long. Elvira Stewart felt at peace as she looked at the houses they were driving past in order to reach Amy's house, where the small annual Christmas reunion between the Cahills - a group of friends from different branches - would be held.

She already knew who the people that would be there would be. Amy Cahill would surely be there and so would Hamilton Holt. She hadn't seen these two in the few months after they had carried out their mission in Rome successfully. Amy's brother, Dan Cahill, would be there, as would Eva Peterson, Dan's girlfriend, a girl she had yet to be introduced to properly. Jonah Wizard would also be there and so would Sinead Starling. She had heard Sinead's siblings, Ted and Ned, would also be there, although she didn't remember meeting them. All of them would already be in the house. She would be one of the last people to arrive, with the last person set to arrive in the early hours of the morning.

"Natalie?" Elvira asked softly, her eyes remaining closed.

Natalie Kabra glanced away from the street and to her friend sitting at the passenger's seat briefly before she looked away once more, her grip on the steering wheel tight, long, red nails standing out against the dark interior of the car, her dark skin and dark clothes. "Elvira?"

"When did you say Ian will arrive?"

Natalie didn't bother hiding her smirk as she glanced at Elvira. She shook her head briefly. She had known Elvira and Ian were made for each other a while now, she hadn't expected them to care about the other as much as they did though, especially not so soon. It had only been a few months her brother and her best friend had started dating - or as close to dating this could be called, as they saw each other more when it came to business than anything else, at least that's what she thought - and she genuinely hadn't expected them to show that much devotion to one another so soon.

She had expected it from her brother. She had seen it before. Ian was that kind of guy that bonded quickly with those he chose to be with and once more, she had seen it happen. She had lost count of the times he would start talking about Elvira as they had dinner or in between the day when something reminded him of her. She hadn't quite expected the same level of devotion from Elvira, to the point where she would ask about him at random moments or mention him in talking. Then again, she supposed she should have expected it. After all, they were supposed to be soulmates. She should have known they would think about each other, mention each other in conversation.

All that only reminded Natalie she was single - which was absolutely ridiculous considering she had the potential to become a model, regardless of the fact she preferred being a spy to a place in the modeling industry - although, she planned on changing that soon. It wouldn't be much hard work for her.

She stole one more look at Elvira and rolled her eyes as she took in the smile on her lips before she answered. "We'll be asleep by the time he comes. Unless you plan on waiting for him to come."

"I am."

Natalie rolled her eyes once more. Soulmates. How insufferable and adorable can one person get just by thinking of another person, really? She glanced at Elvira once more. And to think I was under the impression she didn't let people in.

"You do know they are going to tease you, right?"

"They would tease me regardless," she murmured as she looked over at her, "Hamilton somehow found my phone number and called me in the middle of the night on the day Ian and I celebrated one month of our relationship to let me know love could be a destructive thing and I should give up while I still could."