toc-sin

täksən

noun

an alarm bell or signal

synonyms: alert, signal, warning, sign, horn, siren

Though I was exhausted, I did find comfort in the routine of getting to work early and sneaking one of the pastries before beginning to set up. As I worked I avoided pondering the strange events of this morning. I had always been good at rising to the occasion and rolling with the punches, and this was no different. Well, maybe a little different. But it was okay.

Instead I thought about Liam and his kiss. No wonder he had been so tentative at first. I couldn't imagine completely forgetting what a kiss was like. And he had said he'd never touched a human. Who had he touched, then? The Vassal people? I shuddered at that thought. They were all so creepy, I couldn't imagine wanting to sleep with one. 

"Something wrong?"

I jumped and let out a shriek as I looked up to see the amused gaze of Percy, the new hire, fixed on me.

"What the hell!" I clutched my chest and took a deep breath. "You scared me."

"Sorry," he said with an unapologetic smirk. "Am I late? Or are you early?"

"A bit of both." I glanced at my watch. "Open the doors, will you?"

"Certainly," he said and gave a tiny bow.

I blinked as I watched his broad shoulders moving towards the door. What on earth? He had bowed exactly like Liam. Both of them did it in this way that made me think it was long habit that prompted it, but then they caught themselves part of the way down and jerked back upright.

Nobody bowed nowadays, right? Maybe in England? I crossed my arms and watched suspiciously as Percy made his way back to the counter. Maybe my recent experiences with Liam were making me twitchy and paranoid, but there was definitely something different about Percy. And it wasn't paranoia if it was justified.

"Where are you from?" I asked abruptly, peering up at Percy.

He waved his hand. "Here and there, here and there. I was just in Greece for a while, but the Seattle climate appeals to me."

"Uh huh." I studied him, but he looked guileless, wiping down machines with the air of a man who has nothing to hide. "Do you have an eidetic memory, by the way? I meant to ask last week, but I forgot. You learned everything so fast, it was amazing."

"Oh, it's possible," he said with a grin over at me. "But I've never been officially tested."

"Uh huh."

I closed my lips on my next question when the door swung open and our first trickle of customers began arriving. His answer hadn't assuaged my curiosity in the slightest. I continued watching him as we worked, and I was so absorbed in it that when I glanced up to see Liam entering the front door, it was a total shock. I noted the time and was startled to see that indeed, I had just spent three hours focused on not trusting someone.

Jesus, is this what I was turning into? I snatched up a glass and a pitcher of water, then gave a last look to Percy.

He was staring at Liam. Watching his every move as he went to the corner and deliberately took his normal seat, folding his ankles and stretching out his long legs. I glanced from Percy to Liam and back, and swallowed hard.

Noticing my own staring, Percy blinked and his customary smile returned to his lips. "Looks like your nine o'clock is here."

"Sure is," I said with a small frown. "Be right back."

I made my way across the room to Liam's table and stood over him, setting down the glass and filling it up. "Hey, Liam."

He raised his brows and flicked a glance up at me, then back over to Percy behind the counter. "I believe that young man is staring at you."

"I think he's staring at you," I replied. "He's been acting kinda weird since you came in. Definitely setting off a tocsin for me."

"Interesting." Liam cocked his head to the side and inhaled deeply. Whatever he smelled made him jerk upright, and his relaxed posture disappeared like smoke in the wind. His eyes traveled over Percy thoroughly. "Very interesting."

"Uh." I tried for a careless smirk. "He's not a vampire, is he?"

"None of us are." Liam reached up to grip my wrist, stroking his thumb over the bandage there as he returned his sharp gaze to me. "How are you feeling, Miss Jacqueline?"

"I'm fine," I said after a moment. "It's hectic inside my brain, thinking everything through, but I'm fine. Adapting."

"I expected no less of you," he said with an approving nod. Then he drew me close and tugged me down so my face was level with his. So softly it was barely a breath across my skin, he spoke in my ear. "Be careful of that young man. He is more than he seems."

I knew he was only being secretive, but his intimate whispering, no matter what was being said, sent a shaft of pleasure through me. I sighed and shifted my stance so my thighs pressed together. If he could do this without even trying, I couldn't imagine what it would be like if he actually put his mind to it.

"Got it."

Liam's eyes flicked down over my body, and he drew in a breath. Shit. His sense of smell. I hoped the currently damp panties covering my ladybits smelled good, because I had a feeling they'd be that way a lot around him.

"Espresso macchiato and a savory scone," he rumbled lazily.

I leaned in before I could second guess myself, and pressed a quick kiss against the corner of his mouth. Then I straightened up and pressed my chilly fingers to my flushed cheeks. "All right, I'll get that order in for you."

He licked his lips, his tongue tip playing at the spot my mouth had touched, and he cleared his throat. "Ah. I... thank you."

I grinned widely, hoping against hope that I'd prompted some kind of response out of his libido. Practically skipping my way back behind the counter, I put in the coffee order with Percy and got the scone ready.

"That guy your boyfriend?" Percy asked as he began building the shot.

"No, just a friend," I said with a secret smile over at Liam. He was still watching us, but a frown flitted over his face at my words. "I saw you checking him out. Are you into him?"

"What?" Percy's face looked horrified, then he schooled it into an indifferent expression. "No. No, of course not. I'm straight, I mean."

"Oh, too bad," I said casually. "He's totally in the market, and you're just his type."

"Oh." Percy blinked and finished making the drink. "Uh. Well you can tell him I'm not... interested..."

I couldn't hold back the muffled laugh this time when I saw Liam's thunderous glare. Ah, the simple joys in life.

***

She was calling me again.

I stared miserably at the phone as Jess's name appeared. I knew she was calling to see how the rehearsal had gone last night. Just being a good friend.

No. I couldn't avoid her forever. "Hey you," I said brightly into the phone.

"Hey stranger!" Jess replied. "Where the hell have you been? I've been worried about you."

"I've just been so busy, with the performance coming up and Isaac and everything," I said, feeling guilty. God, how long had it been since I had kept secrets from Jess?

Wait a second. I had the whole blood oath thing done now. Ajax knew about me. I could talk to her now, right?

"Weird things have been happening, actually," I said quickly. "Oh god, I've been wanting to talk to you about it. Liam and Ajax came over and forced me to do this weird blood bond thing. They said you did it too, with Ajax."

"Holy crap." Jess's voice got hushed. "Where are you right now?"

"I'm on the bus. Nobody else is on it, though. I'm on my way to rehearsal. Itzhak Perlman is actually showing up tonight."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I don't care about that right now," she said. "Oh god, I've been wanting to say something all week. I felt like this huge burden was on me. So weird, right?"

"Weird," I agreed. "Did they tell you anything else about themselves? Like... why? What's the deal with that? Who are they?"

"Ajax said it was some kind of a precaution, and he couldn't go into details, but all the employees had to do it," Jess said. "He showed me a clean bill of health so I knew he wasn't giving me anything. I asked Franklin about it and he said it was totally fine, quick and painless, like a 'blood brothers' kind of thing. So I went for it. But Ajax made me swear not to say anything to anybody."

"That guy is scary as hell. You're being good, right? Keeping your nose clean? Not arguing too much?"

"Well, as little as possible," she said mischievously.

My heart was sinking as we spoke. It was clear that Ajax had not been as forthcoming with her as Liam had been with me. I needed to ask Liam exactly what I could say to Jess before I revealed anything more. I didn't want either of us to end up vampire-food because we'd said too much.

"That's good." I took a deep breath. "We should just be careful. We're dealing with something we don't know anything about."

"I know," Jess replied soberly. "I miss you. I miss seeing you every day."

"You too. You working nights makes it hard to hang out."

"Maybe Friday night you can come to the club?" Jess suggested, then sighed. "No, I'd be too busy."

"How about Saturday, we can do lunch before the performance?" I glanced up and noticed the bus was pulling into the downtown exit. "I gotta go pretty soon, though."

"Ugh, I feel like there's so much to say and so little time. The rehearsal went well yesterday? Are you feeling pretty good about it? How's the viola doing? I know you haven't played it in a while."

"Yeah, it went really well. It always amazes me how great a group of professional musicians are when they all get together, you know? It's like the rehearsal is just to iron out the wrinkles, but everybody's so good there are hardly any."

"Man, that's awesome. I wish I could come watch, but you know. I gotta work."

"It's fine. I know Itzhak Perlman is my dream, not yours."

"And you're making it happen!" I could hear the wide smile in her voice. "So proud. Did I say that already?"

"Yes," I said with a laugh. "But thanks anyway. What about you? Are you still liking your job?"

"Yes, ugh, I have so many stories," Jess lamented. "Stupid busy adult lives. We'll talk about it more on Saturday, okay?"

"Definitely." I began gathering my stuff as the bus pulled up to my stop. "I gotta go. I love you."

"Love you too, weirdo."

I tucked my phone away and slung my viola case up onto my back, then made my way off the bus, calling a quick thank you to the bus driver. The hall was a brief walk away from the bus stop, and I made my way there so quickly I almost started skipping. I had a feeling this would be a night to remember.

***

Holy shit. I stood in the middle of my living room, clutching my hands together in front of me, not even moving to take my coat off and put away my viola.

I had met him. I'd really met Itzhak Perlman. I mean, I hadn't met him. But I'd seen him. I'd been five yards away from him. I'd listened to him play... and talk in that soft spoken voice of his to the director... and play, and play and play.

I exhaled a huge, rapturous sigh as I continued to stare unblinking into nothing. Not even the abrupt knocking on the door could really startle me. I just turned around and floated my way to the door, swinging it open without looking to see who it was.

Liam, of course. He stepped inside, closed and locked the door, then stood staring down at me quizzically.

"You have a strange look on your face."

I twirled in a circle on one toe and raised my arms. "Don't care, don't care."

Liam continued to stare at me, and in the face of my unrelenting happiness, his own mouth trembled and pulled up into a small smile. "Well. It is disconcerting."

"I met Itzhak Perlman!" I shouted out at the top of my lungs. I couldn't hold back anymore. "And it was so much better than I thought. They say never meet your heroes. But they are so wrong. So fucking wrong!"

I laughed, feeling drunk with it all, and pulled my viola case from my shoulder, setting it aside carefully. I began peeling out of my coat, and Liam appeared behind me, his strong hands helping slide the sleeves down.

His voice in my ear wasn't jovial anymore. "Who is this? Itzhak Perlman?" he asked as he turned to slip my coat onto one of the hooks by the door.

"Oh. Uh, he's only the greatest violinist of all time ever," I said dreamily. "He plays a Stradivarius. And he had polio as a kid. But he never let it hold him back, you know? He did everything he ever wanted to accomplish. He played at the freaking White House, Liam. And he's so handsome and distinguished. And friendly. Always smiling and kind..."

"I understand," Liam cut me off and folded his arms across his chest. "He is perfect in every way. There is no need to go on."

I blinked and looked up at him, studying his face. "Why are you here, Liam?"

"I was just... checking on you." I could swear a small flush appeared on his cheekbones. "I sensed strong emotion."

"Oh." I looked at him for another long moment, then smiled. "Come have a seat in the kitchen."

He followed me as I went to the fridge, grabbed two beers, popped the tops and set them on the table. I took a seat in one of the wooden chairs, and he sat across from me, taking the beer and pulling a long swallow from it.

"You don't need to have an excuse to come see me, you know," I said, licking my lips and tasting bitter hops there. "I like spending time with you."

"You would not rather be off playing duets with this Mr. Perlman?"

I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Of course I would! But only because he's been my hero since I was a kid. Don't you have any heroes, Liam?"

"You mean men I look up to in this idolizing way?" He waved his hand at my face. "None have ever given me such an idiotic expression."

"I see." I bit back another smile. "Well, I am an orphan. I never knew my parents. I spent most of my childhood in the foster system, which was... shall we say, less than ideal. I lived with a family who didn't really care where we went or what we did, as long as they got their welfare check, you know?"

"I see."

"Well, I spent most of my free time at the library, reading whatever I could. It was kinda my haven, you know? Home away from home. I was working my way through the biographies and I came across one about Itzhak Perlman. I don't know why in particular, but his story really stuck with me. Being paralyzed at such a young age but being so talented at the same time, rising to fame based on nothing but pure skill and passion... it was a beautiful story to me. I've always wanted to meet him, because he's the one who made me want to play the violin." I laughed and shook my head. "I got a part time job under the table working at an orchard, and saved up all my money to get this terrible, cheap violin and pay for lessons. I switched from reading to practicing, and entered all the school music programs I could. It was a real turning point in my life."

"He is your catalyst," Liam said after a pause, still looking troubled.

"Exactly." 

"I can't stay," he said abruptly. "I have to work."

"Oh..." I said faintly, tilting my head to look at him closer. I had no idea what was going through his mind. "Okay."

"I'm already late."

"Better go then."

"Yes," he rumbled. He stared at me for another long moment, then shook his head and disappeared. I stared at the space he had occupied for a long moment before a chuckle bubbled up out of me, and I began giggling uncontrollably. I knew for sure, right before he had disappeared, I'd heard that deep, cultured voice of his let out a hard, resounding, "Fuck!"

***