Chapter 158 - Spy Kids

In the city of uncertainty on a shore of the cold Baltic Sea, JJ's company was my anchor as I anxiously monitored the news from outside and, at the same time, tried to not work myself up into a ball of nerves. In half an hour we were joined by Panda, who shared my state of mind, which was visible even under the veneer of exhaustion-born apathy on her face.

We all were waiting for something to happen. Never before had waiting and stayed cooped in a building been so excruciating for me, but what else could I do? I didn't even want to go outside my room, not when the hallways were full of people, just as and even more agitated than me.

I asked Elena to send me off to assist in healing again—not necessarily to Ghost, since he was still resting as far as I knew, but he wasn't the only healer around. What she told me is that most of the afflicted in need of healing right now were bystanders who didn't even know about magic before the catastrophe, and that before these people could be healed, they had to be calmed down, processed and moved out of the danger zone. And before I or any other healer could move to the place they were moved to, Elena had to make sure it was safe for us.

This took way too long, in my opinion. I wondered if the political parties already began their moves around there, if this was the reason Elena was so reluctant to send her esteemed healers out when she just did so yesterday. A part of my mind was whispering that it was an option to run out and try to do something no matter what Elena said, but I still had enough rationality left to understand just how stupid it was.

It was approximately lunchtime when my stomach began to poke at me and urge me to search around for food to eat, and screw all these pesky people, when someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, on the other side stood a young woman in a staff uniform.

"I was told to bring you lunch," she said, giving JJ a cautious glance. She had with her a rolling cart with a tray full of plates with most fragrant and delicious-looking contents.

From where she sat, Panda looked at the maid with raised brows. She didn't have to speak it aloud for me to read the amazement in her eyes. The 'you got room service here, too?' was written on her forehead in bold letters.

"Great, saves me a trip." I let the maid pass and stood next to her, watching like a hawk as she moved the plates on the table. She must've understood the hunger in my eyes, because she scurried away like a shadow when the lights get turned on, barely giving me enough time to say "no" to her "Please, tell me if you need anything else."

There was a classical full lunch, the sort of my grandpa would've fed me: first course, second course, a dessert and a compote, all in portions big enough that I knew I won't be able to eat it all, anyway. Panda must've come to the same conclusion.

"Will you share, Diana?" She threw an uneasy look at JJ. "There's just enough for two, and since JJ doesn't need to eat…"

"Yes, I'm well-fed for today." He gave her an assuring smile, one that wasn't maybe quite as assuring because of the fangs that showed. Then again, if JJ wore his glamour again—and for him it was like a second skin, it seemed—it wouldn't be.

"We share, Panda, but the soup is yours. I hope you like borscht." I lifted the plate with the second course (a cutlet with mashed potatoes) aside and paused when I saw a piece of folded paper left behind.

"What's that?" I put down the plate and lifted the paper. "A note! Just you look at that, we were left a secret note!"

This made JJ raise from his place on the loveseat and stroll towards me and Panda. "A note? Considering its placement, I imagine it was written for you specifically, ma chèrie."

I unfolded the note, and Panda leaned close enough that our shoulder brushed. When JJ's hair fell on my shoulder, the space became even more cramped.

"I think, if whoever wrote this wanted the note to be a secret from you, JJ, they failed miserably. A note… This feels like I'm in a spy movie or something." I shook my head and read aloud, "'Ditch the vamp and meet us on the roof in thirty minutes.' No signature."

"Was your life always that exciting in secret from me, Diana, or is this all as new to you as it is to me?" Panda asked, moving away and giving me back that piece of breathing space.

"Do you remember that time when JJ got a haircut?"

"A haircut?" Panda gave me, and then him, a baffled look. "No."

"It's the glamour, ma chèrie," JJ whispered in my ear. "She'd have to try very hard to notice, since she already knew me with long hair."

"Oh well," I said. "In short, Panda… I guess it was, from about the same time I hired you. Anyway… Do you have any guesses who could've written this?"

Panda just shrugged.

"Are you planning to follow their instructions?" JJ's voice grew concerned. When I pulled away and turned to look at his face, I saw this concern mirrored in his eyes.

"This doesn't look like a hostile offer. More like a secret meeting. And the only way to find out what it's all about, is to come and ask… But if they tried so hard to keep it a secret from you, they won't talk with you around." JJ's eyes darkened some more. I patted his arm and looked at Panda. "You, on the other hand… Want to come with me?"