Bradley, and she knew he didn't share that information. Only the very few in her inner circle knew the sun wouldn't harm her, and it was going to stay that way. So she arranged for the private flight.
It was amazing what having money could accomplish.
She awoke from yet another nap somewhere in the middle of hour fourteen of the seventeen-hour journey. She hadn't exactly slept during the flight. That was simply impossible. Frequent naps were the best she could do. Anxiety was a major factor. Even beyond the terrible sensation of flying, there was the simple fact that she wasn't looking forward to being in New Delhi. She supposed it was an honor, being invited to fill in for Bradley, engaging with such influential members of their race. Still, she'd rather be in Baltimore wearing her sweatpants.
Another reason she couldn't sleep was the sheer absurdity of the travel conditions. It was a strange atmosphere, being the only passenger aboard a 747.
Opening one eye, she saw the two flight attendants, standing near the bathrooms. They were sharing stories about their families. Denise, the older of the two, laughed as she rested her hands on her knees. Liz was animated, her hands waving, as she discussed her dog running through the house after a bath.
Victoria had gotten to know the two women quite well over the past fourteen hours. Two flight attendants were perhaps two too many for a flight with one person, but that's what her money bought. She imagined it was simply for the buyer's sanity. Being completely alone, with only two pilots locked away in the cockpit, didn't sound like something that would read well on a brochure.
The words were never spoken, but Denise and Liz knew exactly what Victoria was. Everyone involved in the flight did. People that were in the business of private airline travel knew their clientele. Neither attendant batted an eyelash when Victoria asked for an empty wine glass, and poured a bottle of blood from the cooler she kept on the floor next to her.
The airplane shook slightly, a normal occurrence the entire flight. It was a sensation she would never get used to. She must have let out a tiny squeal as she gripped the armrests with both hands. Denise stayed behind as Liz approached the vampire, concerned.
"Victoria?" she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, sweetie, are you okay?"
She laughed at the term of endearment. A woman centuries younger was trying to console her, like she was a child. She was glad every window on the plane was covered. The sky was the last thing she needed to see.
"I'm fine. We're surrounded by the ocean, ten thousand feet in the air, where people aren't supposed to be. But I'm okay."
Liz laughed and sat in the seat next to her. They both had plenty of room, since it was first class. Liz frowned at the movie playing on the screen in front of them.
"This is terrible," she said. "Want me to switch it to something else?"
"No, thank you. I'm not really watching it. But please, leave it on. I like something moving in the background."
"Uh, Victoria?"
"Yeah?"
"You're breaking the armrest."
She looked down to see she'd loosened the armrest, nearly ripping it from the seat. It was nothing that couldn't be fixed, but she was embarrassed regardless.
"Shit. I'm so sorry."
She waved away her concern. "Don't worry about it. We'll just say it was like that."
Victoria laughed. Having Liz nearby definitely helped, which was no doubt a part of her job.
"So, is this a big business?" Victoria asked. "Flying around people like me?"
Liz kicked off her shoes and got comfortable. Leaning into the aisle, she saw Denise was content alone up front, sipping on water.
"It's bigger than you'd think. Mostly just private party type stuff. And of course the eccentric, snobby rich guy, and whoever he's trying to show off for."
"How do you know I'm not
It was amazing what having money could accomplish.
She awoke from yet another nap somewhere in the middle of hour fourteen of the seventeen-hour journey. She hadn't exactly slept during the flight. That was simply impossible. Frequent naps were the best she could do. Anxiety was a major factor. Even beyond the terrible sensation of flying, there was the simple fact that she wasn't looking forward to being in New Delhi. She supposed it was an honor, being invited to fill in for Bradley, engaging with such influential members of their race. Still, she'd rather be in Baltimore wearing her sweatpants.
Another reason she couldn't sleep was the sheer absurdity of the travel conditions. It was a strange atmosphere, being the only passenger aboard a 747.
Opening one eye, she saw the two flight attendants, standing near the bathrooms. They were sharing stories about their families. Denise, the older of the two, laughed as she rested her hands on her knees. Liz was animated, her hands waving, as she discussed her dog running through the house after a bath.
Victoria had gotten to know the two women quite well over the past fourteen hours. Two flight attendants were perhaps two too many for a flight with one person, but that's what her money bought. She imagined it was simply for the buyer's sanity. Being completely alone, with only two pilots locked away in the cockpit, didn't sound like something that would read well on a brochure.
The words were never spoken, but Denise and Liz knew exactly what Victoria was. Everyone involved in the flight did. People that were in the business of private airline travel knew their clientele. Neither attendant batted an eyelash when Victoria asked for an empty wine glass, and poured a bottle of blood from the cooler she kept on the floor next to her.
The airplane shook slightly, a normal occurrence the entire flight. It was a sensation she would never get used to. She must have let out a tiny squeal as she gripped the armrests with both hands. Denise stayed behind as Liz approached the vampire, concerned.
"Victoria?" she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, sweetie, are you okay?"
She laughed at the term of endearment. A woman centuries younger was trying to console her, like she was a child. She was glad every window on the plane was covered. The sky was the last thing she needed to see.
"I'm fine. We're surrounded by the ocean, ten thousand feet in the air, where people aren't supposed to be. But I'm okay."
Liz laughed and sat in the seat next to her. They both had plenty of room, since it was first class. Liz frowned at the movie playing on the screen in front of them.
"This is terrible," she said. "Want me to switch it to something else?"
"No, thank you. I'm not really watching it. But please, leave it on. I like something moving in the background."
"Uh, Victoria?"
"Yeah?"
"You're breaking the armrest."
She looked down to see she'd loosened the armrest, nearly ripping it from the seat. It was nothing that couldn't be fixed, but she was embarrassed regardless.
"Shit. I'm so sorry."
She waved away her concern. "Don't worry about it. We'll just say it was like that."
Victoria laughed. Having Liz nearby definitely helped, which was no doubt a part of her job.
"So, is this a big business?" Victoria asked. "Flying around people like me?"
Liz kicked off her shoes and got comfortable. Leaning into the aisle, she saw Denise was content alone up front, sipping on water.
"It's bigger than you'd think. Mostly just private party type stuff. And of course the eccentric, snobby rich guy, and whoever he's trying to show off for."
"How do you know I'm not
Similar Books
