San Antonio, Texas, Belmont Hotel
Tuesday – March 11th 2059 - 8:26 PM
Elsa was done, she had flown into San Antonio the night before and spent the whole day troubleshooting an issue with the local office. Gladhanding and making the right moves with the regional manager and trying to get the regionals team on board with what corporate had in mind. She was ready to have some quiet time alone. The only thing she wanted to do was take a long bath, order room service, and forget about the day. Not to mention, forget about that other place. It had been too long since she had been home. Getting out of the UBER she walked the short distance to the entrance of the Belmont. The only place in town corporate would approve her staying in. It was in downtown and wasn't cheap, but she wasn't paying the bill anyway.
As she entered the lobby she wished she could rent a car and go home for a couple of days. She was only two hours away by car. The thought of spending a few days with her own kind again, sent shivers down her spine. This life she had chosen was a difficult path. One that separated her from her dear family. For some that wouldn't be a terrible thing. But for her kind it was nearly a prison sentence. But it was her choice, and she did enjoy her life in Boston. For what felt like the millionth time she told herself the costs were worth it. But being this close to home, her heart yearned to just drop all of this and go there.
She was about to enter the elevator when she heard a familiar voice call her name. She turned to see Hope standing a few feet away from her, dressed in comfortable clothing. Instantly she brightened, not seeing family was a difficult burden. So, seeing Hope was exactly what she needed right now. She ran the few steps to her dear friend, and without warning hugged her dearly.
"What on earth are you doing in Texas! Oh, I don't care, I am so glad you are here Hope."
She started to ask if she had dinner yet, but stopped before saying two words. Elsa hadn't seen the serious look on Hope's face until she left the tight hug. That was when she noticed, and was instantly on guard. When she asked what was the matter, Hope just asked if they could talk upstairs. Hope didn't say another word until they were in the hotel room. Elsa was upset herself wondering what on earth had happened that would make her friend so serious. Hope wasn't generally the bubbly sort, but she was always full of smiles around her. Elsa had dozens of ideas floating in her head. But it wasn't until she fully closed the door that she discovered the cause.
"Elsa I want the truth, why did you push me towards your brother. If you knew the two of you were carrying such a secret, why? Don't you think I deserved to know, before I fell in love with him!"
Elsa was slightly exasperated; she didn't seem so upset the last time they saw each other. But then again Hope had been drinking that night, and she had lots of time to think about this. Still, something must have happened for her to be so upset.
"Hope I didn't want to deceive you, it's just we have to be careful. If we tell others, even people we love and trust, it puts all of us in danger. Not just me and Gerold, but all of us. Are you having second thoughts about joining? If you are worried about how it will change you, I can answer any questions you might have. I have lived this way my whole life."
Elsa put all her remaining charm and warmth into her words without intending to. She genuinely cared a great deal for Hope, not just because she was her friend. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt just how right Gerold and Hope were for each other. And a part of Elsa was looking forward to the day that her dear friend could see life though her eyes. It would change her, to that there was no doubt. But Elsa believed the core of who Hope was would remain. Elsa sat in the chair while hope paced near her. The look of anger mixed with concern changed on Hope's face. Now it was replaced with uncertainty. Elsa asked if Gerold was ok, now worried something dreadful had happened to him.
"Elsa I lied; he never told me what the secret was. Just that he had one and that it was big. He said he wouldn't tell me until he got back from his trip. Elsa I can't wait that long, it is killing me guessing and worrying! What are you and Gerold hiding from me? Tell me this instant if you ever want me to forgive you. Otherwise, I am going to walk out this door and you and Gerold will never see me again. I swear it! I mean it Elsa, I do."
Blinking in shock, Elsa took a long breath looking into her friend's eyes. What Hope was asking for was no small thing. Her indecision finally caused Hope to act, and she grew angrier. She started towards the door, which put Elsa into a panic. There was no way she could be responsible for losing her best friend AND the woman her brother loved. He would never forgive her for destroying that relationship without fighting for it.
"WAIT HOPE! Please!"
Hope didn't turn around she stood there with the door half open and one foot poised to exit. Elsa stood and walked over to her slowly and deliberately. Taking extra time to think of what she would say. It caused Hope to let out a frustrated sound. When she turned her head, she was looking back at her friend with an expression that worried Elsa. She was furious now, more so than she had ever seen her.
"Please H, don't go. I wanted to tell you…please believe that."
It had been a long day and what Hope was asking for was difficult. In far more ways than Hope could possibly imagine. Her friend let out another sigh and closed the door. Leaning up against it looking directly at her but without the warmth and care she normally did. Clearly she felt wronged, and in that moment Elsa had to admit she had every right to be. It wasn't fair to her to be kept in the dark like this. And Gerold, the idiot, had left her in this position. He should never have asked this of poor Hope. No woman could be asked to simply wait like that. To be told something horrible might be on the horizon for them, and then just leave for half a year.
Looking around the room Elsa took a breath and walked over to the small fridge that contained alcohol. It wasn't for Hope, it was for Elsa, she needed some liquid courage right now. Breaking the seal on the mini bottle of Irish Whiskey it tasted horrible going down. It wasn't her normal drink of choice but right now it would have to do.
"Is it that bad that you resort to drinking Jamesons?"
Elsa smiled and laughed but it didn't last as Hope wasn't amused by it. She wanted her answers and only those. It was still confusing for Elsa. One moment all was right in her world. Her best friend was poised to enter the life with her and Gerold. What they were doing out in the world was dreadfully hard. Not taking solace from the bonds that formed or heeding the powerful call of the aqua. A call that spoke to her very heart and spirit like nothing else. Elsa and Gerold had rejected all of that, in favor of following their dreams. Yet for Elsa she would always be what she was. That she could not fully ignore, nor could she lie to herself and pretend she was normal like Hope. Elsa looked at her friend and realized that in a way she had allowed herself to be blinded by what Elsa wanted, rather than what her friend did. Elsa had grown up with all brothers and had always dreamed of having a sister. The moment Gerold had fallen for her best friend it felt like she had gained one.
"I am sorry H, I can't imagine how hard it had to be for you. Gerold was an idiot for leaving you like this. I could throttle him if he wasn't…"
Hope interrupted her and pointed out that it wasn't just Gerold she was upset with. She reminded Elsa that she could have told her long before it ever got this far. Elsa lost control of her hands as they flung about. She was like this when she was upset and right now she was scared she would say the wrong thing.
"I know, and I am sorry. Hope you have to believe me, I would never hurt you. But this thing we live with its not something we can ignore."
Elsa put her hand out and asked her friend to set close. To be able to explain herself the way Hope wanted, required it. Hope was reluctant at first, unsure if complying would delay the answers. But a second after she sat, Elsa then proceeded to take her hands gently. She took a breath and said a small prayer that her friend would understand what happened next. At this point Elsa wasn't worried about giving Hope her answers. It was in what came after, that was what really troubled her. Would she still be her friend? Would she think her mad, and run from the room? Or worse, would she hate the thing that Gerold and Elsa really were. When she discovered the real being that hid behind the pretty mask she wore.
There are things in this world that can't be explained. They can only be experienced. And to answer Hope, well it required her to see it rather than be told. Elsa had long since discovered what it was like to be what she was. That realization had come when she was a little girl. She had, like Gerold, learned to adapt and even master to some degree her ability. But unlike many of her siblings she had never once done this with one who didn't know what to expect. The thought that she would lose this friendship, devastate her brother, and possibly get her friend hurt…. or killed. But there wasn't time to consider carefully her actions. Hope had made that decision for her. She swallowed hard and put away her terror at what may come, and pushed forward.