We meet yet again. [[EZRA]]

[Ophelia Cait]

Ophelia found herself in Russia. The name on her passport said that she was Rochelle Miller, a 26 year old from Kansas. Her back history was that she was visiting her boyfriend and his family; her boyfriend had flown up several days ahead of her for business. Of course none of it was truth and no one had questioned her about anything so there was no reason to go into any sort of back story. It was just nice to have one if one needed it. Ophelia was from New York and she had driven in a rental car under another assumed name to Kansas where she had parked the car in a parking garage and changed personas and there took the flight to Russia. Of course there was no direct flight from Kansas to Russia so the plane stopped in New York and Ophelia had to change flights there. It was slightly funny and one might consider it a waste of time but Ophelia loved tying up all the strings and making sure everything was nice and neat. Who would suspect Ophelia Cyning who lived in New York to drive to Kansas to take a flight to Russia which stopped in New York to then go to Russia? Absolutely no one!

Ophelia absolutely loved Russia. She loved the air, the atmosphere, the food and the language which she could speak fluently. A thief certainly needed to speak other languages especially when they were in other countries plotting thievery. By the time Ophelia had rested, freshened up and paid her entrance to the museum it was four PM and quite dark. She just wanted to scope out the piece, just a quick walk by, scan the item she wanted out of the corner of her eye and pretend that tourist Rochelle hadn’t even noticed the piece. And then after Ophelia got a hang for the guards she would leave, get a lot of sleep and do more staking out. Ophelia would case the museum for two weeks until she knew everything, she would steal the piece during the third week and fly back the forth week from France. It was a very brilliant plan! The only real problem Ophelia would have was to get the stolen item through customs but she would use a hidden base for that. It was something she would make while in France purposely for hiding the stolen item in another item.

Ophelia was wearing traditional Russian clothing. She did not look like a tourist with her warm women’s jacket lined with faux fur and her faux fur cap. In fact she looked like an ordinary beautiful woman. Every now and then she snapped a secret photo with her cell phone or pressed a button on her bracelet.

[Ezra]

Ezra had nothing to do, which he'd gotten used to after so many years of doing absolutely nothing. But, ever since he'd met the little thief at his favorite museum, back in America, he'd known she would do something else to get his attention. And that something happened to be stealing from him. If she'd known who he was, and what he was, she wouldn't have dared to do that. At least, a normal person wouldn't, but Ophelia was different than the others. And she didn't just steal a little piece of work he'd kept for no apparent reason and tossed on the floor. She stole a ruby necklace, and one that held great importance to him. Not that he'd ever say why it was so significant to him.

So he'd kept his eye on Ophelia since that night, and followed her all the way to Kansas. She flew from Kansas, back to New York, and then to Russia. The point of that he had no idea... but Russia. Ezra loved Russia. He hadn't been there a in while, and knew that if he was going to meet with the little thief again, Russia would definitely be the place. And here's a surprise... her target was another museum. Why she stole from museums all the time, he had no idea. Maybe all museum guards were weak and pointless, not just the ones in New York. But honestly, Ezra had never been to this museum before, but he followed her in silently.

And she looked like a normal civilian, despite the hair. Everything she wore was normal clothing for the weak humans who lived there. But Ezra noticed her every movement, and that included her little cell phone pictures and the sneaky button on her bracelet. She reached out to take another picture with her phone, and he smirked slightly as he approached her silently from behind. He revealed himself to her, standing right in front of her cell phone as she attempted to take a picture.

He held up her passport, which he'd plucked out of her bag as he passed her. "Rochelle Miller," he looked her over and shook his head, "That name doesn't fit you at all. And you're from Kansas now? Well, I suppose it's enough to fool someone..."

[Ophelia Cait]

“Why am I surprised?” Ophelia muttered as she snatched her passport back from the other thief’s hands and put it away in her pocket. “You ruined my shot.” Ophelia muttered as she put her camera away. She wasn’t looking when she was taking the photos because she was trying to be inconspicuous but Ezra had been right in front of her camera. “Well, where do you suggest I should pretend to be from?” Kansas seemed to be a good place as any though perhaps she should have done a more hip state like Seattle or California.

Ophelia didn’t bother to ask what he was doing here. It was obvious that he was here to steal something. He seemed too much of a gentleman to ask what she was doing here. Besides, it was rather silly to ask a question one already knew the answer to. Though sometimes Ezra seemed to like the sound of his own voice. Ophelia did. She pocketed her phone in a pocket, placed her hands behind her back and pretended to gape admiringly at a portrait on the wall.

[Ezra]

Why am I surprised? Ezra shrugged slightly, "You probably shouldn't be. And if you're going to pretend to be from somewhere, why not your favorite place? That's what I would do, and I'm pretty sure that Kansas is not your perfect vacation spot."

He watched her as she moved, putting up her camera phone, and pretend to gawk over a portrait. He smirked slightly, and stood beside her, also staring at it. But at least he wasn't pretending to adore it even when it bored him. He remembered when that painting was made. He was there when it was first shown to the public. Although now that was a long time ago, and he hadn't thought about it much recently, but that's the only reason he even came to museums. It brought back memories that he'd completely forgotten.

He would have asked what she was doing there just to see if she'd tell the truth, but knew it was pointless to try. But he did pull out a few of her thoughts just out of habit. This was when telepathy came in handy."And despite what you may think, I'm here to get something of mine back from a friend. Not steal something else to add to my... lovely collection." He didn't know if she'd get the hint. He was going to take that necklace back whether she knew he was or not. But he also referred to her as a friend, and he wasn't sure how she'd react to that.

[Ophelia Cait]

“I don’t like to share my favorite place.” Ophelia replied smoothly as she finished with one painting and began to look at the next. Mentally she began to think of her favorite places. She had more than one. She could never see herself staying in one favorite place too long as she loved moving about. “Besides, while everyone is checking to see if I’m in Kansas I’ll be elsewhere.” She shrugged as she said such in a very, very low voice. She was speaking English and Ophelia doubted that many people could speak it.

Even though Ophelia’s passport was a fake in the sense that she had made up everything and created it herself it was real in the sense that she had gotten it from the Passport Agency. She had just lied about all her information. There wouldn’t be anyone looking at it and thinking it a fake. “I see.” Ophelia replied. “I hope you get what you came for.” It took her a few moments to remember that she had taken something from Ezra. And she had hidden it. Was Ezra referring to the object she had taken from him or had the museum a piece belonging to him?

[Ezra]

Ezra just cocked an eyebrow at her slightly as her tone changed. Why talk so low? It's not like anyone here could speak English other than them. So he imitated her tone almost exactly, "I don't think you'll have to worry about that. No one here can understand a word we're saying." He didn't mean to pick on her, but it was too impossible not to. Humans were so interesting. Sometimes he wished he was one of them, just to see if in their mind's that doing some of the things they did were even rational, at least from their point of view.

And the way she replied back, it seemed she had no idea that he had been referring to the ruby necklace. But then, about a moment later, his telepathy came of use again. She did remember, but it took a few moments for her to make the connection. But at least now she knew, or suspected that she might now, what he wanted. He smirked then, "I'll give you a hint to what I'm looking for. It's valuable, it's the color of your hair, and a very good friend of mine stole it... right in front of me."

[Ophelia Cait]

“I doubt that. Everyone knows English because America is the powerhouse country. The big bully.” Ophelia replied as she moved over to look at a statue. She hadn’t yet reached the item she was hoping to steal later. Ophelia wasn’t impressed with the work of the statue though she did admit that the artist was talented. Anyone had to be to carve something from a bloody rock. “Do you enjoy statues? I never could understand who would have the patience to carve one of these things.”

“What a hint.” Ophelia said as she turned around. Her face was blushing red as she quickly opened up her Compaq and looked in the mirror. With Ezra to her back she looked at her red cheeks and quickly applied a thin layer of powder to her face so that the red was gone. “Are you absolutely sure this good friend of yours stole it? How many people do you know with red hair like mine?” Ophelia asked as she closed the Compaq and turned around. She examined the artists name on the statue. “Do you have any proof? Maybe a photo or something?”

[Ezra]

Ezra only shrugged to her remark about the big bully country. Maybe everyone here did know English, but that didn't mean they could understand what exactly they were talking about. He was the telepath, and knew for a fact that no one there even gave a care to their existence. He followed her to stand beside the statue. If only she'd seen it being made, then maybe she would feel differently about the interesting qualities of this statue, or any other statue that a man took days and weeks to create.

"I'm not sure if enjoy is the correct word to use. I respect them, though, for their creator worked endless hours making them. Sculpting, like all true art, takes a great deal of patience that only few gifted people are given."

Ezra hadn't seen this exact statue in particular while it was made who-knows-how-many years ago. But he'd seen similar ones, his ignorant friends who didn't know what he was - like Ophelia here - were artists, and made similar works of art like this one. But they were all mortals, so they were long gone now. He still missed them from time to time, though.

The demon barely managed to hold back his laughter as she covered up her burning cheeks, as if a little powder could blind him. So at least now she knew he'd been referring to her. He still answered her question, though. Once she turned back around so he could see, her makeup had done a fairly good job covering her blush. That still couldn't hide the "please don't notice my blushing" look in her eyes.

"I don't need proof," he admitted. "I watched her take it. Despite how clever she thought she was being, it was quite obvious what she was planning to do. The only reason I didn't stop her was so I could find myself the pleasure of running into her inconspicuously and taking back what is rightfully mine."

[Ophelia Cait]

Ophelia listened to his sentence. “Do you believe people have natural talent or that the talent is formed from inherent practice?” she asked curious. Ophelia always thought that artists were taught and not made. Of course he was right about the patience it required to complete one of these ‘masterpieces’. It was also downright hilarious that the artist hundreds of years ago would be hungry, broke and then suddenly after they were dead they would be valued. They would never be able to spend a penny of their wealth their decedents squabbled over, if any even had such a right to do so. Artists practically gave their paintings away for food and shelter.

“I wish you all the luck in being inconspicuous. I’d say you were being rather obvious. But I would so like to meet another redhead, and here in Russia? What a coincidence.” Ophelia said as if she were oblivious. She quickly left the room and walked down another hall full of paintings and portraits of people, families and items long past dead. Ophelia did not want to give back the ruby; she appraised it at being worth several million dollars. It was one of the finest and largest ruby stones she had ever seen, the world had ever seen. She would not think of its location. Ezra would not steal it back from her. She would not let him. Out of thought, out of mind.

[Ezra]

Ezra thought about her question for a while. It was an interesting question, and he looked at her a moment before replying. Sure, he was born with natural talent... he was a demon. But she clearly did not know that those "mythical" creatures existed. If he were human, and ignorant like she was, he would answer in agreement to her. But, even though he hated it, he could not lie. "I like to believe that there are people out there who are born with more talent then others, but what it really takes to make them genius is a good teacher."

And that's my job, he added mentally to himself. He had taught uncountable amount of pupils in his many years. He trained everyone from humans to vampires to werewolves to were-dogs and back again. That was his thing, up until recently when he got bored and no one wanted or needed his training. But, if he could somehow gain Miss Ophelia's trust, maybe she could be next in the line of his trainees.

"I never said I was good as being inconspicuous. I just like saying the word," he admitted as he followed her down to the other hall. "Although, I believe we both know which redhead I'm referring to. Not to mention how good at stealing I am. And for all you know, I might have all ready taken my ruby back."

[Ophelia Cait]

“It is a nice word.” Ophelia agreed hoping that the topic for once and all was changed. However since the next sentence was about the ruby she groaned in her mind. “And where did you find the ruby necklace at? I see you’re implying that I took it.” Ophelia did not know how he did it but Ezra was very good at stealing. She thought perhaps that he could read minds. Instead of thinking about the ruby for even a second she thought about ‘puppies, kittens, rainbows and paintings’.

“I admit to nothing.” She replied at last. She let it slip through her mind of the warehouse she used. It was not guarded, no lights and no security cameras. It was one of her many scattered warehouses. It was a shame that Ophelia could not have the necklace with her, on her. She would have loved to wear it but it was too hot. It really was the truth, the saying, ‘there is no honor among thieves’.

[Ezra]

"Well, I haven't actually seen the ruby since you took it," Ezra admitted, giving her a slight smirk, "but I intend on getting it back later. Right now I'm too lazy." He just followed her, seeing that she was smarter than he thought. So she suspected his mind reading, that was pretty obvious after a few conversations with him. But, she didn't know about demons and vampires and werewolves and such, so he was only slightly surprised that she might actually considering believing his telepathy.

Only one way to prove it though. He actually couldn't wait to see her reaction to the next thing he said, if she even noticed it. He thought she would. Ophelia had never actually told him her name, after all, even though he had told her his. "I knew you would never admit to it, Ophelia, even though I literally watched you take the ruby off my desk. You should know there's no reason to keep denying it. I'm not mad about it. If I was, you would know by now."

[Ophelia Cait]

“You know it’s rather rude reading someone’s mind.” Ophelia replied harshly. She took note of how he had said her name. Ophelia had never given her his name. It would be easy enough to find had he followed her home and done some digging but Ophelia felt that he could read minds. “So, what else can you do? I suppose next I’m going to find out you have some special power that only you and people like you can do. That explains …” ‘the stealing’ she thought. It made Ophelia feel better to know that he wasn’t a good thief like her, he was just good because he had some extraordinary super power. ‘Like a big cheater.’ She thought childlike.

“Fine. I admit I took your ruby necklace.” Ophelia said as she rolled her eyes. She was a bit annoyed at getting caught. And now she fancied the ruby necklace too much to give it back. “How about we trade? – I’m sure I have something you could possibly want. And you don’t seem to have much use for a necklace.” Little did Ophelia know that Ezra was a demon who did most of his trading in souls. “I’m sure I could have something you would want. I’ve got some paintings, sculptures, etc… And if I don’t have it. I can get it.”

[Ezra]

Well, she was smarter than he gave her credit for. And clearly she didn't completely ignore the idea of supernatural abilities. Sure, she didn't know about demons and vampires and werewolves, but she was getting closer. He only smirked when she asked what else he could do. "Now, what's the fun in telling you that? And despite what's going through your little head right now, I didn't cheat. It's actually very simple to reach into your bag when you're not looking in that general direction."

And then she went on about the trading. Ha, Ezra thought to himself, if only she knew what that ruby meant to me. Then she'd know that not even a soul could be worth a trade. He only shook his head as she finished her list of stolen items she could trade with him. "I don't trade. Now, are you going to give it back nicely or am I going to have to take it from you?"

[Ophelia Cait]

“I’ll give it back nicely,” Ophelia lied. She thought things over. What could the diamond mean to Ezra? It had to have sentimental value to him like all the other pieces unless he donned a wig and a dress and needed the ruby for that. She smirked because he could read her thoughts about him in a dress, heels and the ruby necklace with matching lipstick. And of course he also knew what else she was thinking. She would never give it back willingly; he would have to take it back if he dared! Immediately she knocked over that ugly statue. Almost instantly an alarm began to blare and scream that something was wrong. The statue cracked into several large pieces and quite a lot of smaller ones.

Ophelia took off running down the hall. She could forget taking what she wanted; she needed to get away from Ezra. It was a shame that he knew where she lived. She would have to move in a hurry. Thankfully she did not keep too many valuable things in her home. And those she did - - . ‘You’ll never catch me,’ Ophelia thought to Ezra, trying to direct the thought to him. In Russian, as she passed a guard who seemed frantic she screamed in Russian, “He has a gun!” She was smiling as she ran. Ophelia found the nearest exit and dogged it out of there. The reaction time for lockdown was incredibly slow. The guard would slow Ezra down a bit. Hopefully.