Waiting

I only had to keep her busy for 15 minutes. She would probably want to make Dave lie on the bed, I thought. I went through my wardrobe at lightning speed and took the Teddy and a bra which had been part of the clothes pack that Dave had ordered for me. I also grabbed the lotions on my vanity table. I opened the bathroom door from my room and rushed to Dave's room. At the most I had one minute to try something.

I messed up the bed sheets to make it look as if someone had just had a wild romp in it and crumpling the Teddy, I threw it on the bed. I artfully draped the bra over the mirror and put my lotions on the bedside table. How I wished that I had otther feminine items I could leave around the room to make Estena feel that Dave was already engaged in another intimate relationship.

I knew that it wouldn't stop her plan, but it might delay her at the thought that she might be interrupted by the lady-friend. I then rushed out of the room, putting the latch on the bathroom door. Should she come to the bathroom, she would see the other door and know that there was another room connected.

I then put my eye to the keyhole and tried to peep to see what was happening. I saw Estena almost fall into the room when the door opened, propelled forward by Dave's weight. He was not asleep, he looked dazed and wasn't reacting at all. He looked as if he was paralyzed, just his eyes moving side to side. I was glad that, at least, he wouldn't remember any of this the next day as I was sure he wouldn't like to see himself so helpless and at the mercy of a woman like Estena.

As I had hoped, as she was nearing the bed, Estena couldn't miss the sight of the Teddy and I saw the scowl that covered her entire face. She huffed and with a last effort, she threw Dave on the bed. She paused, with her hands on her hips and surveyed the room. This time her eyes couldn't miss the bra on the mirror and the grimace that she made this time transformed her entire face to something which was very ugly. Her eyes were red and her fangs came out. If I hadn't been on the other side of the door, I would have been frightened out of my wits.

I could feel my heart beating loudly and I hoped that her senses were dulled enough with the drug for her not to hear it. For a moment I had forgotten that even she had a very good sense of hearing as a full-fledged vampire. And if she was associated to a Vetala like Mr Freere, maybe even she was used to having fresh blood. From what I had read in Nani's diary, this would also increase her strength as well.

'Why did you not realize this earlier?' I asked myself as I slowly backed away from the door, trying to put as much distance between us as I could. I saw the citrus body mist on the counter and I sprayed it around me for good measure, so that she did not catch my smell as well.

As I moved back to my room, I wondered what she might be up to and with a jolt, I realized that frightened or not, even if it would put me in danger, I could not leave Dave at her mercy.

I unlocked my door and went past Dave's room and started climbing the stairs. As soon as I knew she couldn't hear my steps, I flew down the stairs until I reached the main door. Then I started talking loudly,

'Martha, Martha darling.'

I tried to do my best impersonation of Gati and prayed that Estena did not know my voice enough to recognize me. I had said just one line in front of her after all.

Martha came rushing out of the kitchen and she had on her shawl as I hoped she would as I had seen her with it the previous night. As she opened her mouth to call out my name, I put my hand in front of her mouth and silenced her. Then I whispered, 'Dave is in danger. She drugged him and she should not recognize me.' I could see that this was a lot of information for Martha to process at the same time. So I pulled her shawl from around her shoulders and wrapped it around my head. 'Call me Gati,' I said. It was the only name I could come up with at that time.

'Oh Martha, where is my honey?'

'Oh, Miss Gati, good evening. He is upstairs in his room,' Martha said, playing along. We moved closer to the stairs and I raised my tone, at the same time visualizing Dave who must be lying unmoving on the bed. Come Estena, fall in my trap. You have to. Five minutes had already elapsed. Ten more minutes before the drug would start taking effect. She could easily take Martha and me down within seconds if she went in full-vampire mode, so we had to trick her instead.

How I wished I had Claudia's acting skills at that moment. Each year, she was the one in charge of the theatre club and would come up with great plays.

'Dave darling, where are you?' I said in a sing-song voice. 'I'm sorry that I had to leave early yesterday. But I missed you sooooo much.' Oh God, I hated to talk in such a saccharine sweet voice, it was so fake.

I heard the door of Dave's bedroom open. Bingo! I had to continue with this act for some more time.

'Oh Martha, it's so windy outside. I had a special hairdo prepared for my Dave. But first, I need some food to have some strength for my man.' Yikes, I really was an awful script-writer, but I still hoped it was a hit with my unwilling audience.

I could feel a strong gaze from the balcony of the first floor.

'Oh Martha, I saw two cups of coffee on the porch,' I then said, knowing it was not true as Martha had already picked them up and washed the dishes. 'My sweetiepie had a guest?' I asked.

Seven minutes to go.

Martha hesitated and I knew that she did not know what to reply.

'Uh, yes, Miss A...Gati, Mr Dawn had a guest.'

'Okayyy, who was it Martha? I hope that it wasn't any of those air-head bitches that always seem to flaunt their chests around him.' I knew that this would definitely make Estena bristle with anger. Riling her up might be one way to keep her busy.

I heard the door close gently again and knew that Estena had gone back to the room. Either she would try to seduce Dave to get rid of me, the love rival, or she could do worse.

'Martha, we have to do something. You are a vampire, so you would know the weaknesses of vampires. How can I weaken her?'

Martha looked to be at a loss for words.