Either E Or S Class: I Will Kill All Vampires.-Chapter 34: Ch : The Gala [2].
In summary, it was about to get interesting.
All heads turned in their direction and there was a momentary lapse in the Orchestra’s tone — but only for a second as they regained their rhythm.
They moved with the grace of an angel, ignoring all eyes even while all were turned to them.
Selene gulped down hard, nails digging into Levi’s arm who was right by her side.
Levi slightly raised a finger in their direction, curiously, "who are they? They look familiar."
She slapped his finger down, "Those are the division heads, and they look familiar because they’ve interviewed you before, remember when you came back from the Stormrend."
"Ohh, that’s where"
He shot his two brows up.
The heads closed the strange and uncomfortable distance between them and the rest of the party.
The gala continued to its regular beat— except for one thing.
One of the heads kept stealing glances at Levi, noticeable glances that didn’t even look discreet.
Levi tapped Selene’s arm, pulling her out of the conversation with a fellow elite.
"Who’s that and why’s she looking at me?"
Levi asked.
The woman started to walked up towards them.
"Oh shit," Selene cursed, "Here’s a breakdown of everything, her name’s Celine Dubois, she’s not a head in the original sense— her husband is but after he died she took the role...
She has no experience with vampires whatsoever, she’s arrogant, ignorant, rude and outright disrespectful but if you test her then she’ll bury you so deep even a sonar won’t detect your bones."
She rushed through the entire five minute rundown in about thirty seconds before walking away with the muffled words, "I’m not dealing with her today."
Levi let out a long sigh, brought his hands to his temple but just as he turned—
There she was.
A woman in about her fifties, evident from the slight sag of her cheeks, the wrinkles on her forehead and the bend of her pointed nose yet she turned to cover it all up with an excessive amount of blush.
She spoke first, her French accent heavy.
"Ahh, so I finally get to meet ze eenfamous Levi Kane een ze flesh."
’What?’
He thought before piecing together, her name and her face, that she was French.
He hadn’t previously noticed as she didn’t speak much during the Stormrend mission debriefing.
He shook the thought off before stretching his hand out for a handshake—
He quickly receded his arm but her hand was already out to meet his—
Her hand hung out as if frozen, her expression slowly souring.
Levi had to think and think quick, instead he closed the distance between them and placed an air kiss on her right cheek then same for the left.
When shifting from right to left cheek— he caught a glimpse of her face and almost facepalmmed himself, he looked utterly ridiculous.
But there was a reason for the instant change, he was still wearing the needle ring— so if he had shaken her there was a possibility her grip would’ve been too strong and the blood would’ve injected into her.
Claire made it clear to him that it was still a prototype, it still couldn’t differentiate between ’draw blood’ handshake and ’don’t draw blood’ handshake.
And judging from her slightly wrinkled hands, her grip would’ve definitely activated the ring and so his only other option was to give her the classic French greeting and hope she accepted it—
Surprisingly, she did.
She drew back her hand with grace as a smile etched itself into her features.
Everyone noticed, a short but unison head whip from most in their direction. But only for a second.
Celine’s eyes widened with joy, "are you of French descent too?"
"Oh, no" Levi waved her off, giving a snug smile, "I just appreciate the culture."
"Très bon, feenally, someone weeth a leetle culture een zis deeveesion."
She said gladly, "Ahh, joost watch your back, mon ami... zis place, eet has layers, simple on top but full of secrets beneath.
Eef you evair need a favour from one of ze ’eads of ze deeveesion or a very reech lonely woman, meet me."
And with a wink, she turned on her heels and stepped away.
Levi let out a long sigh, like he’d been holding his breath the entire conversation.
[Levi, are you done kissing old ladies?]
Levi turned around instantly, to see where the familiar voice was coming from.
[Oh my God, you really are retarded, it’s coming from the comm in ear, it’s Claire.]
Levi tugged on his jacket, sharpening his gaze and taking a quick survey of the room— Claire was nowhere to be found.
He casually brought a hand to his ear, subtle enough to avoid attention, "Claire, what the hell are you?"
[Not all of us are ’The Infamous Levi Kane’, so it was actually pretty easy for no one to notice me when I’m not important.]
He winced at her words, "That’s pretty bleak."
[Well, unfortunately, it’s also the truth.]
"How about Jace?"
Jace’s voice ran through the comms too
[I’m here, just curious to see how long you two were planning on doing this for?]
Claire scoffed, [Are you in position?]
[Yes, ma’am, I’m on the second floor keeping lookout just in case.]
Jace answered.
"Uhmm, what’s the plan here guys?"
Levi asked.
Even though he could see her, he could swear that Claire rolled her eyes.
[I’m backstage, or the area for backstage, behind the orchestra, I’ve got in the mansion’s system and I have the loop ready...
It’s a fifteen second space between the guard switches— that’s all you get, fifteen seconds, once you miss it then we have to wait for the next hour—]
Jace cut her off, [We get it. When’s the next switch?]
Claire continued.
[Check your watches.]
In unison, they all brought their left hands to their faces, it was 11:55 PM—
[At exactly, 11:59, and thirty seconds in, they’ll switch.]
"So where’s the archive even located?"
Levi asked.
It was Jace who answered.
[On your left—]
Levi turned his head.
[You see that service entrance that leads downstairs, where the workers are going and coming from? That’s where the door is.]
"And if I get caught?"
Levi asked honestly.
[Please, for the sake of mine and yours, don’t get caught.]
