Exotic Import

[Arabella Balfour]

Warm brown eyes peered back from their own sullen reflection. Pale slender fingers slid across a window, as lights from the world below became more distinctive shapes. Buildings. Runways. Airport vehicles scurrying about collecting baggage and conveying technicians to and fro. The flight from Charles de Gaulle to Logan had been considerable in comparison to the jaunt from Boston to the international airport at O'Hare. The inclement December weather had kept them all circling for a bit longer than was necessary. She was certain that passengers from the coach section were becoming restless, children hungry and adults anxious. The delay gave Arabella the time she needed to reflect on the circumstances that had brought her here.

She had left Paris for the first time, in more years than she cared to recollect. It made her nervous. In the end she didn't know how long she would be gone either. A part of this trip was to visit with Fiona and Michele, but she was also being sent, at the behest of her own physician, to see a blood disorder specialist at the University of Chicago Hospital. The medications that she was taking to strengthen her blood were no longer helping her. She thought that she had been ready to make a final decision, to live or to die.. Once again though, she had been wrong. She just could not commit to the cost. It scared her. Leaving Paris and her companies there in the hands of her assistant, Rose, she had taken a much required leave.

The voice of the captain quietly informed them that they had been cleared to land. Arabella handed over her, now empty, wine glass to the flight attendant and accepted the freshly warmed towel, pressing it's comfort against her pale cheeks. Sliding on a bit of gloss so that she had a bit of color, she prepared to be enveloped in Fiona's world. It would be a welcome change.

After a bumpy landing, she collected her lone handbag and moved on shakey heels down the ramp and into the bustling airport.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona arrived at the airport alone. Michele was busily preparing her 'Big Suprise' for Bella, to be unveiled at just the right moment.

She was dressed very bohemian. High boots, long coat, and a floppy hat on her cropped red head. A long knit scarf completed the outfit ::

"Bella!!!" she waved, grinning like a mad pixie.

[Arabella Balfour]

Letting her fingers slide loose from their white knuckled grip on her stylish black woolen coat, Arabella lifted her fingers in greeting from afar. Her face lit up to see Fiona's familiar smile, her own grin slightly crooked to see what her friend had done to her hair.

The hat, clothes, and crop made the ageless beauty look like a waif. Somehow though, it totally worked on her with an adorable effect. 'Bella's own attire of a straight-lined, knee-length grey dress over black knit stockings and heels was almost drab in comparison. She shook her head, silky dark locks swishing, just knowing that she would have a new wardrobe before this trip was over.

Closing the distance, Arabella leaned in and gave Fiona a quick hug and a sisterly kiss on each smooth cheek. She stepped back and lifted a hand, gently tugging on Fiona's much shorter hair. "What have you gone and done now?"

With a small laugh she relented. "It's charming. Suits you perfect."

[Fiona Devlin]

"I did it for Michele." she gushed. "I'm glad you like it."

:: She caught her friend's hands and held them ::

"Is everything squared away in Paris?"

[Arabella Balfour]

Her gaze dropped down briefly, as if she wasn't quite committed to the answer. "Everything will be just fine without me. Keep reminding me of that fact, will you?"

She smiled and tucked her arm into Fiona's, heading out of the gate, toward the baggage claim and exit doors. "It's a well oiled machine over there. I can't keep using the excuse that I have to be present at all times. I need to take care of myself for a while I suppose."

[Fiona Devlin]

"Aye, and you have us to look after you."

:: She silently noticed they were being followed, but kept it to herself for the moment ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Yes, well. It won't be the first time you've taken care of me. You are the best, Fi'. I truly mean that."

As she walked she adjusted the strap on her shoulder, happening to glance out the foggy windows they were passing.

"The cold makes it worse.", she said softly, refering to her illness.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona gave her arm a squeeze ::

"We've got alot to talk about. Let's get you home first."

:: She led Arabella to the car, a white Lotus Esprit Turbo, and held the door for her with a gallant bow. Her eyes narrowed at the man in the gray sedan as Arabella got in. One of Tyler's lackeys ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Sliding her legs gracefully into the car, Arabella turned in the seat, her knees rotating to face the driver's side. As she watched Fiona approach, she caught a quick view of her friends eyes narrowing slightly, and the cause.

So they were being watched. Interesting.

When Fiona got in and they pulled into airport traffic, Arabella lifted her eyes to the rearview mirror. "Friends of yours..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: She half-smiled, half-growled ::

"They work for Tyler. She owns the airport."

:: She smirked as the traffic cleared enough for her to cut loose, and the chase began ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Fiona didn't seem overly concerned, but something about the name that she mentioned set off warning bells in Arabella's mind. She couldn't recall the specifics, but she thought maybe it was an alias. Someone she had heard of..

"It's always exciting to see you, mon cher." She grinned.

"So where am I staying?"

Arabella had protested but Fiona had won the battle. She was making the arrangements for the visit and Arabella was 'not to worry' about it. It was a lesson in torment for Arabella to just let go and not be in control of everything..

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona smiled at Bella and looked into the rearview mirror ::

"Hold on, let's lose these pests first."

:: She accelerated and shifted lanes like a professional race car driver, losing the sedan in the traffic ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Beneath her fringe of dark hair, 'Bella smirked. "If you must.." She settled deeper into the seat and crossed her legs, wrapping her fingers around the door to keep her person steady..

She had driven with Fiona before..

"They are always so friendly..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"Stupid is more accurate."

:: Fiona had that look in her eye, the one Arabella remembered when she kicked the stuffing out of some highwaymen back in France ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Not that I am not always game for a trouncing, love...." Arabella winced, "..but I did not think to come armed. Airport security and all.."

It was a jest. Fiona had taught Arabella to look after herself with or without a blade. She glanced in the rearview, they were still being tailed, and the other car was gaining, by creating chaos in the lanes behind them.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona growled ::

"I'm really sorry about this, Bella."

:: She picked up the cellphone as they sped along ::

"Macushla, we're going to be a few minutes late. We're in a bit of a jam."

:: She swerved onto a backstreet and turned onto another backstreet before stopping the car ::

[Arabella Balfour]

As the car stopped, 'Bella's eyes closed while she inwardly weighed their options. Fiona, irked as she was, was all for action. Arabella though, was not at her best. Still, weak as she was, Byron's blood was still pumping through her and she was very resourceful.

Her breath had already fogged the car window. The night air was frigid. She hated the cold..

Her eyes opened, watching the mirror. They had not lost the other car. It turned onto their side street, slowing when it spotted them. The car passed beyond the halogen glow of a street light, parking beneath the shadow of a brick building.

"Chocolate on my pillow for this. You hear..?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"I promise." she smiled.

:: The smile faded as she rose up out of the Lotus, and power walked towards the Sedan ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Arabella followed, but at a more leisurely pace, her hips rolling with the perfected walk of a courtesan, her hand folded behind the small of her back. She approached the other side of the car and watched Fiona for signals, half suspecting there wouldn't be any.. It may get very nasty.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona reached down and picked up an empty beer bottle without breaking stride ::

"You @#%*@#!!!! Get out of the car, you @#%*&@#s!!!"

:: The bottle exploded against the windshield of the sedan, and Fiona charged the lead ghoul as he hopped out of the car to make a run for it ::