Eleven - Vanadine

Perched atop the roof of the Daniel Colefax rescue centre, his dark outline melding seamlessly with the night around him, Vanadine peered carefully in through the roof light, the slanted window offering him a view of the interior.

Carine sat hunched over some paperwork she was writing something on, moving the occasional sheet to another stack. One hand braced her head, her delicate fingers cupping her chin as her ringlets of hair hung down like a curtain. Vanadine felt a smile cross his face as he saw her tapping one finger on her cheek occasionally as she concentrated. The sounds of some evening radio show filtered up to his sensitive ears. One of the dogs barked, setting off a flurry of yaps and barks that dissipated into the darkness. His eyes drifted to the back of her chair where he saw she had hung his coat and feeling of needy warmth spread through him at the thought of her small frame wrapped in his old coat.

Desire crashed through Vanadine as he watched her processing the mun