"Hey, are you guys about done with your private conversation?" Eliza asked aloud. "I feel like I used to when I was a kid and my mom and dad would spell things because they didn't want me to know what they were talking about."
"And what did you learn from that experience, Eliza? Apparently, nothing!" Elliott said, joking, but still slightly serious. He had learned how to work with the sassy, petite Guardian, but he didn't always like her, and since he was convinced that she was probably the one who tattled on him to Aaron, she was definitely on his list again.
Eliza shot him a glare before crossing her arms and saying, "I want to talk to Aaron, too, you know," with a pouty look on her face.
Aaron glanced at Elliott, a questioning expression on his face, before turning to Eliza. "What do you want to talk to me about?" he asked, thinking her behavior a bit strange, even for her.
"You know," Eliza replied, "Stuff. How's it going? When are you going to Billings? How's the crew at LIGHTS? That sort of thing."
Hannah chuckled, shaking her head slowly. "Eliza's full of questions tonight," she said quietly, picking her book up and returning to the fictional story that couldn't possibly be as exciting as her real life.
Eliza ignored her. "Well," she said, turning back to Aaron. "I know you said Jamie was well enough to go on a hunt, so that's good right?"
Aaron hadn't really come for small talk, but he didn't want to be rude, either. "Right. He's fine. Everyone is fine. Their hunt went well. They didn't catch the guy, but they have a good indication where he's hiding out. My plane leaves for Billings at 10:00."
"In the morning, like in a few hours?" Eliza clarified.
"Yes," he confirmed. "In a few hours. Did I miss anything?"
Eliza looked hurt again. "No," she said quietly. "I just . . . don't talk to you very much anymore, that's all."
"Eliza, we talk all the time," he replied, once again shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you feeling all right?"
"Yes," she declared. "I'm fine. I just. . . missed you, that's all."
It was Elliott's turn to laugh this time. "Eliza, you begged to go with us, remember?"
"I know," she replied defensively. "But I didn't know I was going to be sitting around, bored to tears. I thought I was going to be needed, but all Cadence has done since she got here is hang out with her other friends. And sleep. And kill a Vampire. She hasn't talked to me!"
Once again, Aaron was speechless. He chose not to reply to Eliza's remark but turned his attention back to Elliott instead. "Speaking of Cadence, is she asleep then?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "She's been asleep for a couple of hours. She was exhausted after the hunt."
Aaron nodded. "Well, I think I'll go check on her, then," he said standing.
"What?" Eliza said, a little louder than she meant to. "She's asleep."
"I . . . know. . ." Aaron said questioningly.
"Well, why would you need to check on her if she's asleep?" she reached.
"I . . ." he started but thought better of what he was about to say. Because I miss her, I want to be with her. I'm trying to get away from you. Instead, he turned to Elliott and said simply, "Elliott? Please?" and walked toward Cadence's bedroom door.
Eliza slumped back into her chair, feeling as if she had just lost a beauty pageant, her arms crossed across her chest. She glanced up at Elliott and could see by his expression that he was not very happy with her. "Aaron, does Elliott know that I told you?" she asked through the IAC, just before he reached Cadence's door.
"He doesn't know for sure. I mean, I didn't tell him. But, yeah, he knows."
"I think he wants to hurt me," she replied. "Aren't you going to physically protect your source?"
"Eliza, he's not going to hurt you. Besides, you're a very talented assassin. You'll figure it out." He disappeared into the bedroom, leaving the girl with the burgundy hair to fend for herself.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Eliza asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Elliott's eyes were like darts, penetrating into her skull. "I think you know why," he replied, his voice almost as deep as a growl.
"Don't look at me," Eliza said. Hannah wasn't paying any attention so she tipped her head in Hannah's direction, indicating it had been the blond who sold him out.
He wasn't convinced. "Just remember, payback is hell," he replied, pulling himself to his feet and walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Eliza asked as he pulled his coat out from under Aaron's and put it on.
"Out," Elliott spat, yanking the door open and slamming it behind him.
The sun wasn't quite peeking over the horizon as Aaron entered Cadence's bedroom. Only the light from the clock illuminated the space, but he had no trouble navigating with his night vision. She had pulled the blanket over herself only partially and her breathing indicated that she was in a state of deep sleep.
He stood at the foot of the bed and stared at her for a moment. Her long brown hair was tossed over her shoulder, one arm tucked under her chin, the other stretched beneath the pillow. She was still wearing the dark clothing she had worn on the hunt, and it looked fairly uncomfortable. The blanket was pulled halfway up her back, one bent knee sticking out from under it. She was on the very edge of the bed, leaving most of it empty, and it only took him a moment to decide she wouldn't mind if he climbed in with her.
Slipping his shoes off, he slowly slid in next to her, careful not to shake the bed so as not to wake her. She didn't stir at all as he lay down next to her, adjusting the blanket so that it covered the rest of her. Even with that, she didn't make a sound. He gently stroked her hair and kissed her lightly on the head leaning back on the pillows. Though he was certainly angry at Elliott for acting so irresponsibly, he was also incredibly impressed with what Cadence had managed to do on the hunt, yet again. He was also thankful that she had made it through the exchange unscathed and that he was given another chance to be with her. She never ceased to amaze him.
