Esme was standing outside her apartment. She'd been headed downstairs to 804, planning on spending a few hours there, possibly the night. No particular reason, really. It was just so much closer to Emil than her apartment. He'd never really been there, and she liked to think that one of these days he might be down there in 804 when she walked inside.
She stopped when Helena came off the elevator. She recognized her without looking at her for more than a few seconds, even harried as she was. She'd seen her a few times around the building, and Emil had pointed her out once--there, that there, was the woman Vlad was after, husband be damned. She was prettier up close.
And struggling. Esme walked up behind her. "Need help?" she asked, a picture of a sweet neighborliness. A slight smile tugged at her mouth, and if not for the empty eyes and eerie calm, she might seem completely normal.