Matthew was beginning to feel a drain on his body as the night wore on. He did his best to maintain his composure, but he was glad to hear when the last dance was called. He danced with Erin and she was giddy with excitement (still) but disappointed the night was ending already. She followed Matt's lead on the dance floor and closed her eyes. Perfect would be her way of describing the evening.
Matthew escorted Erin to his car which was parked in the lot (they planned for this ahead of time). He was glad to have finally made his way into the car exhausted and the headache only seemed to be getting worse. He just needed to sleep, hopefully he wasn't catching something he thought to himself. He turned the ignition and the old car roared to life and they started their way back to the Octagon House.
Erin spoke the entire time, Matthew was struggling to listen to her. He shook his head trying to snap out of the fog that he was slowly finding himself in. Before he knew it he had pulled in front of Erin's house. The drive to her house a daze.
Erin was satisfied to know that her parents weren't outside. She leaned over and pulled Matt to her and kissed him hard. She wanted to let him know through the kiss how pleased she was with this night. She was hungry for his kiss, but from her peripheral vision she saw the porch light flick on and she knew that her parents would be there. She let go of the kiss waiting for Matt to come and open her passenger door. Matt walked her down the drive like a true gentlemen. Erin noted that while her parents were not on the porch they were just on the other side of the window peaking at her and Matt.
She wanted to roll her eyes and shout at them, but knew it would kill the mood. When they got to the porch, she took a step closer to him closing the gap and grabbed his hands. "This was magical, it was beyond perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better night, thank you." Erin might as well have been sparkling for the way her face lit up as she recalled the evening. Her smile large and her eyes bright just waiting for his next move.
Matt ignored the blinding headache and smiled at her, glad that he could be with her, glad that he had not disappointed her. He leaned in for a gentle kiss on the lips only a few seconds long. In his mind the crack was growing larger and his headache seemed to be getting worse. "It was good to spend the time with you. Erin take care. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Erin nodded her head and ran back to him and hugged him, tightly. "You are the best." And then disappeared into her home. Matthew waited a moment before heading back to his car and then heading back to his home. He just needed to rest, he would feel better tomorrow he thought.
It was just after 1 am as he drove up to the Octagon House. He parked the car as normal and was surprised that nobody was there. They always came and greeted him? Sleep wasn't necessary to them and the time wouldn't matter. He pushed the door open, thats odd he thought.
***
A driver held open the door for the well dressed man, "Sir."
The man entered the vehicle without saying a word. The driver closed the door and started the sleek black nondescript vehicle. The driver had been briefed and started the journey North of the private airfield. He drove the vehicle the speed limit, if he were to get pulled over his boss would surely kill him, particularly when the boss was so close to his goal. The boss didn't like the authorities in his business it became far too troublesome!
The man in the back lay his head against the cool leather seats and closed his eyes. He wasn't tired as he was far too excited to be. He waited centuries for this moment. To have the girl and more importantly her power. He took a deep breath and the mere thought of it was going to send him over the edge. But, he didn't have the girl yet he had to wait only a little longer. This was the closest he had been in ages. He let the girl slip through once, but not again. Never again. She was his. He squeezed his fists at his side angry that he had let her slip away once. He licked his lips and look out the window. As he watched the city pass him he realized how this hour car ride would feel longer than all the years he had been alive.