Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even me. Just a little piece for you enjoyment, until my muse remembers the next part of my original story.
Warning: A few good bad words.
I was out of the hospital by Tuesday morning with special instructions from the doctor. He wanted me to stay off my feet for a few days. We had left there and were headed to my father's place. We were going to stay there until he came back from Europe. After dropping me off, Richard went back to his house to back an overnight bag. He had given me direct orders to stay in bed until he got back. I was lounging around when the door came open and my father stood there in the frame. There was a silence to his presence, that made me shiver.
He came into the room, without saying a word and walked over to the sofa. He sat down, staring at nothing in particular. I crawled out of bed to go sit down beside my father. He had a worried expression on his face and I couldn't tell if it was for me or someone else. I leaned over and put my head on his shoulder. "What's wrong dad? You've got that look on your face," I asked.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into him for a hug. "Your grandfather and I have learned some disturbing news from one of the vampires, that roam the council walls," he answered.
"What kind of news?" I questioned.
"Are you sure you want to hear it," he inquired.
"Yes," I answered.
My father looked at me long and hard, then said, "All right, here it goes. We caught one of Padma's vampires making deals with a dark lord. We saw this vamp exchange coin with this dark lord, in return for Brimestone's head. We were able to apprehend them both after an hour's chase. The vampire would not talk, no matter what we did to him. Since he would not talk, your grandfather boxed him up until the council returns to Paris. The dark lord Franco, who was wanted by the Wizards Council for poaching were-animals, was much easier to work with. All we had to do, was make him drink some veritaserum and he sang like a canaria. He told us, that the vampire had come to him several times, representing his master Padma. The vampire wanted to hire him for assassination jobs. He said Padma had paid him well for his cooperation and that he was responsible for the pack war on Sunday. He also said that the master vamp wanted Brimestone's head, before Padma would pay him. We were also told that Padma knew what would happen if Brimestone was killed. He wanted you dead and was going to take you out through Brimestone's death. The dark lord said that Padma was up to something and knew you would be a wall in his way. He had your death planned out before he left for Orlando. He knew by hiring him to do the job, it wouldn't come back on him."
I was in shock. I couldn't believe that Padma was risking his neck, hiring a dark lord to do his dirty work. He must have wanted me dead badly, but why. "Is there anything else you can tell me about all this?" I asked.
"Your grandfather learned from another source, that there was a plot made to try and take out both Jean-Claude and Asher, using you as their undoing," he told me.
"What is it your exactly trying to say dad?" I asked.
" What I'm trying to say is that Padma is planning on framing either or both Asher and Jean-Claude for your murder, that's why I need you to stay here until we find out for sure this is true," he told me.
I was horrified and dad saw my expression. "Do not worry, as long as you stay inside these walls, nothing will happen and the two masters will not see The Queens revenge," he said.
I turned to stare at my father and replied, "It's not me that I'm worried about dad. It's Tam and Gigs that I'm worried about."
"I understand that you are concern for their safety, but you need to worry about yourself instead of everyone else for a change," he stated lifting my chin to meet his eyes.
"I know, but they are my friends. I would feel like I betrayed them if I didn't tell them, what I know," I said.
He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me to him once more, "Well I have to go. Dad's expecting me to help him with this," he stated.
"Dad," I said.
"Yes," he replied.
"Whose going to watch over your area, while you're gone?" I asked.
"Jean-Claude has allowed me to borrow one of his vampires as my second in command. So Faust is going to be taking care of business while I'm away," he said.
I was stunned, "Oh really. Are you sure, Faust will be able to handle the hyena's?"
"Of course, I'm sure. He's an excellent second and besides Narcissus has been warned that if any of the hyena's cause any trouble while I'm gone. They are getting caged," he stated.
"I haven't figured out how you're able to get him to behave himself?" I questioned.
His eyes got a humorous glint to them and his smile reached to his ears. "I'll let you in on a little secret. My animal to call are the hyena's and your Uncle Orthos is dating Narcissus."
I fell off the couch and my eyes got wide. "Your animal to call it the hyena and Uncle Orthos is dating that thing."
He just nodded his head in answer. "Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwww,"was all I could say.
He rolled with laughter and then became serious. "You are to behave yourself and don't start anything with them," he said, pointing a finger at me.
I just nodded in understanding, he said his goodbyes before disappearing. Tamika came in with lunch and a visitor for me, it was Tam. "Hey Tam." Jade took up the rear.
"Hey yourself. How are you feeling?" She asked.
"I was fine until dad grossed me out, with a disgusting mental image," I replied, getting strange looks from all three of them. I moved over so they could sit down. We had ordered pizza and bread sticks for lunch. "You want something to ear or drink Tam?" I asked.
"Sure, why not," she stated. We split the pizza up and divided the bread sticks into fours, so everyone could have some. The others ate in silence, while I just looked at my food. That told you how grossed out I was. Tam noticed the expression on my face and asked, "Are you all right?"
I glanced at her and answered, "Not really. Dad really grossed me out."
"Your father was here?" Tam asked.
"Yes, he just left," I answered.
"So what did your father say that's got you all worked up," asked Jade.
I glanced over at her and said, "I can tell you part of it know, but the rest of it's going to have to wait until later, when your not eating."
"Why is that?" Tamika asked.
"Because you won't be able to finish your pizza if I do," I stated, rolling my eyes.
They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and went back to eating. I turned to Tam with a serious tone, "Tam, you must promise me if I can't make it to Orlando next week, to be careful and watch the council closely."
She looked at me and saw the worried stare on my face, "What's wrong? What did you father say to upset yo?."
I glanced at her with a worried expression, than began telling her what my family had found out, about the attack on me and how it might affect everyone. She just sat there staring at me, trying to figure out if I was pulling her leg. "How would Padma benefit from this?" she finally asked.
"I don't know, but just to be on the safe side. Promise me you will not let him out of your sight at any given time. Call in more backup if you have to, but don't let him go browsing around Asher's estate unsupervised," I pleaded.
She looked at me, then nodded her head, "I will make sure this is taken care of and yes I will be careful, but you must take your father's advice and stay here."
"I promise," I said.
"Good," she replied.
My stomach started to growl so I tried eating a piece of pizza. I was able to keep it down, while the gross images of my Uncle Orthos and Narcissus started to slowly dissapear. Tamika cleaned up the mess, after everyone was finished eating, then came back to sit down. She kept staring at me and I got annoyed with it. "What?" I asked.
"Are you going to tell us?" She replied.
"Tell you what?" I asked.
"What your dad said to gross you out," she retorted.
A smile spread across my face and my eyes twinkled with mischief. "Guess what my father's animal to call is," I said.
Tam raised an eyebrow and said, "What?"
I was having fun with this. "His animal to call is the hyena." I said.
Jade spited her drink all over Tamika and I continued, "Guess what else."
Tam was getting agitated with my guessing games and said, "Get on with it and stop playing twenty million questions."
I lost my smile and said, "Oh all right. Uncle Orthos is dating Narcissus."
They all stared at me, then in unison went, "Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww."
"Yep, that's the grossing out part. And the bad part about it is, now I know why Ortho got so defensive when I was making fun Narcissus," I replied.
"Crystal, do not harass the hyena's. They can be trouble if you tick them off," Tam scorned me for my comment.
"I know. Trust me I've already been punished for teasing Narcissus. Dad made Orthos my tutor when classes start back up in the fall," I grumbled.
She just grinned at me then, telling me with her eyes I told you so. We talked for another half hour before Tam had to leave. We said our goodbye's and promised to watch our backs were the council was concerned. You never know whose on their pay roll these days. Richard returned that afternoon, with his bags and a few other things, that he bought at the store. I informed him of my father's visit and told him what they found out. He wasn't too happy about it and I didn't blame him, neither was I. However, I left out the part about my Uncle Orthos and Narcissus. I was getting tired and needed some rest. I wound up sleeping all the way through until the next morning.
There was a full moon tonight and Richard was extremely grumpy. I didn't know what was wrong with him and when I asked him several times what was wrong, he wouldn't answer me. I wanted to go see Lyza before the pack hunt tonight, but didn't want to leave Richard by himself. He was raving about how some laws just right down suck. Lyza would be at Anita's tonight, with Caleb. I left the house and went to my father's place, leaving a note telling Richard were I went. I traveled through the portal in the kitchen to Anita's. When I arrived in the wooded area behind her house, I began to walk towards the opening of the back yard. Halfway across the lawn, I saw her and Caleb coming this way.
"Hey Lyza," I called out.
She turned my way and called back, "Hey."
We greeted each other and started to chat. "So what are you doing here?" She asked.
"I came by to see you before the hunt tonight," I replied
"So how did you get here," she said looking at me suspiciously, knowing that I used the portal, when I wasn't supposed to.
"Do you need to ask that question?" I told her.
"Where's Richard?" She questioned.
"He was being grumpy and I wanted to talk to you, so I came here using dad's portal at the house," I answered.
"Does he know that you're here?" She asked.
"I left him a note saying that I needed to talk to you and would be here," I said.
"Did you tell him how you would be getting here?" She inquired.
"I sort of left that part out," I answered.
"Richards going to have you hide, when he finds out," Lyza warned me with a stern look.
"He won't if you don't say anything," I replied.
"I don't have to. He's coming this way, and he's not happy," She said.
I turned back to find Richard coming this way. Lyza was right, but he was beyond unhappy. He was pissed. He came to stand in front me, looking down at me from his six-foot frame. He just stood there, glaring at me. He was trying to get his anger under control, before he uttered, "I've been looking all over for you. You were supposed to be at the lupanar an hour ago."
"I left you a note, telling you were I went," I stated coldly.
"I got your note. You said you would be at the lupanar, but you didn't say which one. When I got there, you weren't there. The pack said they hadn't seen you all day and I thought something happened to you. So I left my pack in Sylvie's care, while I was out trying to find you. It's been over an hour since I started looking and you were no where to be found. I went to your fathers to see if you were there, to find the portal standing wide open. I followed your trail into it and was surprised to find one here at Anita's. You told me you got rid of it, not moved the damn thing to another location," he commented, while trying to hold his temper down.
"Someone's getting into trouble," I heard Caleb said.
I saw Lyza smack him out of my eyes and heard her say, "Be quiet and stay out of is. It's between those two."
I sighed, then asked, "Richard, how many pieces of sticky paper did you receive?" I asked.
"There was only one piece, why. What's that got to do with it?" He asked.
"Because there were supposed to have been two pieces of sticky notes. The second part had to talk to Lyza before the hunt on it," I answered.
"Well I only saw one part of it, besides you promised me you wouldn't use those damn portals again. You never know when you will get lost in them," He stated coldly.
"What's going on here?" came a voice behind Lyza. We all turned to find Anita standing there, looking like she could kill somebody. Richard and I glance over at her and said together, "Hello Anita."
"Hi to you both. Now what are you two doing here," She questioned.
"I came over to see Lyza before the pack meeting got started," I answered.
Anita walked into the circle and said, "All right, that explains why you're here." She turns to Richard and asked him the same thing.
Richard glared at me while telling Anita, why he was here instead of being at the lupanar. Anita tried to stay serious, but you could tell she wanted to bust out laughing. Once Richard came to the end of his story, Anita said, "Well you two better be getting back. You never know what the pack is putting Sylvie threw."
"You're right about that Anita. Some of them have been causing trouble among the pack," said Richard as he puts his arm around me.
She arched an eyebrow and said, "Oh really."
He just nodded and pulled me around with him, heading back toward the portal. He stopped half way down across the yard, then turned, "Are you sure you don't want to come?" he asked her.
"No. I have other responsibilities to attend to," she replied.
"Ok, but if you change your mind just stop on over," he answered.
"Thanks. I will if I get the chance," she answered.
He just smiled and nodded at her, then pulled me up beside him, before leading us back toward the gate.