The Never Ending Evening
As Xi Xiao stormed out of his office, Emil Vasilev let out a long sigh. He studied the cigarette burning between his fingers. He stared deep into the head, gazing hard into the glowing red embers hidden beneath a cloak of grey ash. A bemused grin crossed his face as he realized what a perfect metaphor it was for Xi. On the outside she was cold and calculating, but beneath that icy veneer was a smoldering fire that could easily become an inferno. “If it weren’t for the rage, greed, twisted perversions and sadistic tendencies, you’d be one damn sexy woman,” Emil joked quietly to himself.
He stubbed out his cigarette, finished the last swallow of scotch in his glass, and got up from his desk. It wasn’t until he stood up that he realized he still hadn’t even changed out of his tuxedo. “Time enough for that later,” he thought, as he stopped and straightened his tie in the mirror. “Might as well look presentable for my guest,” he said to himself as he left his office.
Vasilev made his way to the end of the long hallway where Driver stood watch. “She awake?”, Emil asked as he motioned towards the door with his head.
“She passed out right after the doctor left,” Driver answered in a low tone, making no attempt to hide the relief in his voice that Xi had departed.
“Right, then,” Vasilev nodded. “Well, if we have to be awake, then I must insist that our guest be awake too. After all, this party is in her honor, eh? Wouldn’t do to let her sleep through the festivities.”
Driver simply nodded as he opened the door for Vasilev.
As Emil made his way into the room, his eyes zeroed in on the slumped figure in the wooden chair. She was mumbling quiet in her sleep, or whatever foul slumber Xi had bestowed upon her. Still, Vasilev needed answers. To that end, he made his way to her and swiftly kicked the leg of the chair.
“Wake up, Agent Kovalenko,” Emil said in a clear, firm voice. “I really must speak with you.”
Through the fog and razorblade headache, Eva could hear Vasilev’s voice. Were it not for the floor moving like the ocean at high tide, Eva would kill him where he stood, but alas, she was still far too incapacitated to do much of anything.
Vasilev lit another cigarette and leaned against the wall. He watched absently as he blew several smoke rings into the air.
“Well now, Agent Kovalenko. Let’s get down to it, shall we? Who the hell sent you to Monte Carlo, and what are your exact orders?”
Eva stared back at him blankly. Her mind was still dulled, but even in this state she vowed she wasn’t telling Vasilev a damned thing.
“Water,” Eva croaked in a low, broken tone.
“Water, you say? Why, yes, I will gladly get you some water, Eva. As soon as you tell me exactly what you’re doing in Monte Carlo,” Emil replied with a quick smile.
Eva managed a slight smirk as she did her best to look Vasilev in the eyes. Without a word, she slowly turned her head and rejoined the light show on the wall in front of her. While the effect of the LSD had lessened, it was still clearly present.
“Very well, Eva. I’ll give you some time to think over my offer,” Emil said casually. “Should you reconsider, inform Kovlev, and we can resume our discussion like civilized people. He’ll be right where he’s been all night.”
Vasilev finished his cigarette and turned on a heel. He gave a cavalier knock at the door and Kovlev, the Driver, let him out.
Eva sat in the chair silently.
“Kovlev. Hmmm…I was perfectly content calling him Lackey,” she thought to herself with a slight shrug.
The Beginning At Last 
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