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| "I am you little puke stain," came a voice from the doorway. It wasn't that Soren didn't like the boy; he just wanted to make sure who knew who was in control. Soren and Raven had never really met, just seen each other at a few fancy parties, weddings, funerals. Raven turned his chair to look at the man standing in the doorway. Soren's hair was cut very short and spiked. It was unusual for an older mand to have such a youthful haircut. His hair was frosted silvery-white and was matched with a pair of piercing black eyes. Soren carried a very stern look about him; he looked old, yet young, with his tanned skin, but a few wrinkles. Raven could feel that this man was a very powerufl person with a grasp on things. "Oh that's just great, not only is he an old bat, but he's gonna make me conjure my own 'skiing accident' too," muttered Raven. - - - An enormous room was filled with the sadness of black clothed people, as they mourned the death and memories of their President. Ro picked up a glas of red wine from the tray that was carried by a bleak-faced waiter. She had on a long, black evening gown, with a flowing black robe over it. Around her neck was a strand of glistening black diamonds, worth millions no doubt. Gracefully, she strolled over to a striking girl who was standing between two broad men. "I see you've found some lovely men, Mika," Ro commented, with a sweet, yet patronizing smile. "No doubt you sent them to make sure I wouldn't be able to get away from here. They nearly drug me in here in handcuffs. You slimy people just can't take 'no' for an answer," snapped Mika, her pale green eyes lashing with anger. "On the bright side, at least you wear black all the time, so now you're properly dressed for the occasion. But you poor thing, you didn't even have time to do your own hair," replied Ro, patting Mika's dark hair that had been pulled back with a few locks falling in her eyes. Mika suddenly flashed an evil grin across her small lips, as she reached up to rustle Ro's hair, which had been pulled ever so tightly letting only a few curls fall from it here and there. "Ah Mika, so lovely to see you again," said Cary, stepping between the two girls; and, taking Mika's raised hand, kissed it softly. "Go to Hell," snarled Mika, snatching her hand away from Cary. "Strange, I was almost certain that your race didn't believe in Hell." "We do, it's just to hard for simple minded creatures, like you, to pronounce, and i wouldn't want you getting some sort of brain stroke puzzling over it," said Mika, clearly wishing that Cary were anyone but himself. "You know, I'm quite shocked to see you here," said Cary, ignoring the malice directed at his wonderful-self. "I am too, I mean, she can't make it to her sister's funeral, but she can make it to the funeral of someone she never met. Are you too good for your sister, Mika? Because now that i think about it, you weren't at her wedding either," Ro said, pretending to be thoroughly confused. "I hope you choke on a turnip, Ro. Were it my choice I wouldn't be here," with that, Mika walked off to go find someone that would remain silent. Suddenly, an arm reached out and pulled her asied. Mika turned to find Soren stopping her from escaping the crowd. "Unless you are unable to talk, I would suggest you let me continue walking." "Really Mika, can't you give your father a nice 'hello'?" "Uh...no, how does 'goodbye' sound though? Can't you people just leave me alone and not force me to come to events that I don't wish to attend? I don't care how important the Head was, it doesn't mean I have to mourn his death." "Don't say that around here, someone might take you for the assassin; besides, his people loved him." "I've neaver been one to run with the crowd. Next time the Head dies, don't even bother to drag me to his funeral!" "Anyway, I want you to meet someone," Soren gestured at a thin, young man dressed in a nicely pressed, black suit. His blond hair slicked back away from his face. What a snob, thought Mika to herself. "And you would be?" asked Mika, glaring at him, hoping to stifle any intention he had of making conversation. She assumed that her father was yet again trying to play matchmaker. "The Neblina's next walking corpse, at your service." he replied, making a bitter bow. Mika raised an eyebrow: A funny one, huh? Father's taste surely has changed. "Honestly Raven, I think that you should be overjoyed at the opportunity of being the next Neblina President," said Soren, annoyed at Raven's view of the Presidency. "Of course, I'm overjoyed, I can finally be put out of the misery of this world, who wouldn't be happy?" "That's the next President!?" Mika said, shock running across her face. "Please, I don't give autographs." "You couldn't pay me enough to ask you for some dingy signature," snapped MIka. "Great, now the Neblina will join Cary in Hell." "Oh no, that's why I have 'dear' Soren to make 'wise decisions' for me, so that supposedly that won't be the Neblina outcome." "Raven, now that you two have spat all that cruelty to each other, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Mika. Mika, this is Raven, as that is what he insists on being called," Soren said, as the two eyed each other instead of formally shaking hands. "This is your daughter? God Soren, how many do you have?" with that, Raven stalked off, an air of anger about him. |