Keone
Keone stood across from Angel who was particularly menacing tonight. His eyes flashed with fury, but even deeper than that was disappointment.
Keone didn't quite know what to do with himself. He'd never gotten himself in this kind of predicament where not even Death was on his side.
"You've lost her."
Keone kept his chin raised. If he were to crumple underneath Angel's intimidating look, that would have been far more shameful than anything else. "I tried my best...considering what I did, I was surprised she even allowed me around her. We made the smallest bit of progress, but...they had a secret weapon."
"Rocio?"
Keone's eyes widened with surprise, although he should have known better. Nothing gets past Angel, well, except for Renata in this peculiar case. "You knew?"
"You didn't?" Angel shot back.
Keone backed off. "I've failed you, Angel." He felt like a child as he admitted to his defeat and foolishness. "What do we do? Nirvi has her now."
Angel turned his back on Keone and began to pace. "I do not worry about Nirvi or her clan or any of her undying allies..."
"But?"
"Now that Renata is in her custody...I have begun to worry about what is to come."
Keone hated how calm he sounded, considering the alarming words coming out of his mouth. "Can we get her back?" He didn't know why he bothered asking when he already knew the answer.
"No. It'll only widen the chasm between us. Once she has found her footing, she must decide whether she is willing to stay with Nirvi or not."
"And if she does?"
"We'll have to put her down. We'll have to put them all down."
Keone shook his head.
But there was an unsaid threat between them. One that was throwing them both off kilter.
She couldn't be killed.
Diamond
She wiped her nose, wincing as the sore skin responded with stinging pain. She discarded the tissue in the nearest garbage can and dragged her palms down the sides of her throat.
The booming music from the stage was muffled in the dressing area, but Diamond could still feel the vibrations of it against her skin. A couple of the ladies were sitting at their vanities and touching up their makeup. Others simply sat on their phones. A few were laughing at some shared joke. The heavy cloud of perfume and sweat permeated through the air and stuck to the walls. She hardly noticed those kinds of things anymore.
Diamond paused before knocking politely on the door.
"Come in."
Diamond entered Natalia's office. It smelled more heavily of cigarettes in here, but she had quite a couple years ago. Natalia was reading a pile of papers, but put them down upon her arrival. She removed her readers and sighed. Her eyes raked up and down Diamond, pausing on her face.
Diamond cleared her throat. "You asked for me?"
"Want to tell me why you're crying on clients?"
Diamond looked anywhere but her. "I wasn't crying on them." She wiped her puffy, red face, self-conscious that she couldn't hide how much of a mess she was without Renata. "I'm fine."
"Well, something is wrong," Natalia countered. She leaned forward and grabbed the half-full glass on her desk. She took a long drink. "One of your lovers ignoring you?"
Diamond hiccuped at Natalia's choice of words. "I'm fine, Natalia. It's allergies."
"It has to do with Renata, doesn't it?"
Diamond started. "How...?"
Natalia laughed, although to say it was from full-on amusement seemed inaccurate. "You're both foolish if you think either of you hide your feelings for each other." Natalia finished off her drink. "Since you two walked through my doors, anyone with eyes knew."
Diamond felt frozen in place. She also felt like a fool, and knew she was too unstable to entertain such a subject. "It doesn't matter anymore. She's gone."
Natalia paused and her eyes widened with shock. "She's dead?"
Diamond shook her head. She also needed to get better with her choice of words. "No. She's okay, I think. She's gone somewhere. I don't know for how long, but she's gone."
Natalia had her cane in her hand and pressed firmly into the floor. "If she is in trouble, you need to tell me."
Yeah, she found out she can't die a year ago after being murdered, and she just went off with some vampires to see if they can help figure out what she is or at least why she is immortal. "I shouldn't have said anything." Diamond sniffled. There was no way she could tell the truth. "Everything's fine. I'm fine. Ren's fine. I should get back out there, it's busy."
Natalia's eyes were narrowed with skepticism. "If I hear you're crying on any more of the clients, I'm sending you home, Diamond." While the reply was cold, she was grateful that she wasn't being interrogated any further. Natalia wasn't known to be the warmest when it came to discussing personal issues with her dancers anyway.
"Understood."
**********
Diamond sat in her bathtub. She was still sniffling.
She ended up having to go home earlyâeven her coworkers were making comments, and they usually minded their business past the shallow topics. She was embarrassed by her inability to keep her shit together. They must have all thought she checked herself in at the hospital.
Her phone was resting on the counter, and her damn eyes kept darting toward it. Diamond was afraid that Renata would call or text, saying something had gone completely wrong. Diamond was afraid that Renata wouldn't call or text at all. She replayed Renata's regretful and tearing gaze as the car pulled off.
Diamond remembered standing there and considering whether something had physically been torn off her body because of how real the pain was.
She felt so many things toward her best friend. Fear. Anger. Lots of anger. Frustration. Love. She paused. What kind of love? Now that line of thought devastated Diamond. It meant too many difficulties and the potential of loss.
Renata even admitted out loud that their friendship could not survive another round of that kind of love. And Diamond agreed with that assessment, yet...
That kiss. It lit a fire she thought long smothered. It made her overjoyed and fulfilled. She clutched onto Renata and wasn't floating anymore. She felt secure and protected from all the true betrayals and pains of the world. Like no matter who or what hurt Diamond, she'd come home to Renata and be okay.
The soapy water in the bathtub had cooled down, so Diamond rose and unplugged the drain. She shivered as the air made her wet skin feel chilly. She grabbed the nearest robe and covered herself.
The house was so quiet. Too empty without her. If Renata were here, they'd have been snuggled up with a few drinks in them, on the search for a movie they could either scream to or cry their eyes out to.
She grabbed her phone, and she dialed Renata.
Her heart was beating heavy and fast. She was scared for what was to come, if it picked up at all. It did, but the person who answered wasn't Renata. She remembered that voice pressed up against her the very first time.
"Hey, Blue."
Her stomach twisted for a couple of different reasons. "Where's Renata?" While she was trembling, her demand came out quickly and firmly.
"Aren't you polite?" Rocio chuckled on the other end. It made Diamond shiver.
"Where is she?"
"She's in the shower."
"I don't believe you."
Rocio sighed. "I can have her call you back, Blue."
"I want to speak with her now."
"You are so demanding. You know, your little faith in me is hurtful. My sister is fine."
"Well, your sister didn't tell me about you, so, I don't trust you."
Rocio's tone lost all its amusement. "Maybe it's because she thought I'd steal you away, Blue."
Diamond started. She struggled to take in a deep breath. What kind of thing was that to say? "What are you talking about?"
Rocio was laughing on the other line. God, what a jerk! "Relax, Blue. I'm only messing. You're my sister's girl after all, that'd be messed upâanyway here, you're lucky my phone is waterproof." Diamond was trying to process everything that was said as she heard stomping, a door opening, a familiar shout of alarm, and then the rush of water.
"Here," Rocio said somewhere off to the distance, "your girlfriend wants to talk to you."
"A little privacy, please! Hello? Diamond?"
"Thank god!" Diamond had to stop her pacing to plop down on her bed. She bounced for a bit before settling in place. "Ren, are you okay?"
Her tone was tender and equally relieved. "Yes. I've been sleeping this whole time, which is embarrassing to admit. Anyway, no one's tried to murder me yet. That's a plus. Hey, I'm sorry I didn't check in sooner, Diamond."
Diamond believed how bad she felt, but she couldn't help but think about how much Renata had been apologizing to her recently. "I'm just worried about you. You didn't exactly go off for an all-paid vacay in the Bahamas."
"You're telling me." It sounded like she was moving about on the other end. "Listen, can I call you back, babe? I gotta finish showering."
"Okay, I love you." Diamond felt like it was dangerous to say such things.
"Love you too...Bye." The line disconnected.
Diamond threw her phone across the room and fell into the bed. She hid her face and her shame into the comforter.
Maybe it's because she thought I'd steal you away, Blue.
Diamond groaned loudly.