The Curse and the Traveler's

[only_more_so]

Max picked up the phone and started making calls. The first call was to the bank to have his mother and Skye added to the account. He had to ask what name Skye had put on the passport, and just to be sure he verified the full name his mother had used. Last names were such a hassle when everyone knew you as "Prince Maximillian". Max also got a hold of his distributer and told him there was a change in venue and the goods were arriving in Vegas. Their broker was used to unexpected news, so he took it in stride telling Max to find a rental shed and store the goods and the broker would arrange for a pickup in a day or so. He also suggested Max get check out the "T&A" (whatever that was) and not spend all his time gambling. The last call was to the front desk to ask if there was a place nearby to buy cellphones, and then he asked to be transfered to the concierge and asked for reservations at the best Mexican place in town, and that he would call back later to confirm the directions and time.

"We should start with all the big hotels, if they needed money at all they'd probably have hit them to increase the odds of their winning a decent amount. If they won they'll have more than enough cash to make them easy to find...if not it'll be harder to find them."

Max overheard what Skye was saying while on the phone, and was reluctant to mention that the fairy princess had warned him that David was in trouble. But deciding to remain hopeful he said, "That sounds like a good plan. Do you think it might be possible to find where he got the money in the first place? They would have arrived near the same place we did, and probably would have had to find a pawn shop. But I can check out that area when I pick up the crates. Anyway, the desk told me where we can get phones..."

Max thought for a moment and added, "Mother, are there any questions you have now? You have seen a bit of the city, and any questions would be better answered now. Although if you want to ask later, just remember to speak in your world's language. Skye will have picked up enough of the kingdom's magic language by now to understand a bit of what you say." Max smiled at Skye and said, "Yes, you have been learning the language. Remember I said it was a magic universal language? Well subconsciously you have been learning the language simply by allowing the magic to translate it into your language."

 

[poohlive]

David was about to say something, about to do something he knew he would regret it. The minute it entered his mind he knew he would regret what he was about to do. It would blow his cover, hurt the woman he loved, and kill this innocent girl who has done soo much to help him.

He wasn't allowed to raise the uzi far enough for her though. Insteard, Serena's arms wrapped around him soo tight, and his hands were forced back to his sides. He was lost in her touch, her embrace. David took a moment, still staring at MArissa, hate still swimming in his eyes before the tears fell.

He melted into Serena's hug, "I know. I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I'm so sorry. I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have been so stupid. I am sorry... it will not happen again."

He hugged her, he cried and he hugged her and that was all that matters. In his heart he wanted to leave, he wanted to just take Serena out the back and never see any of this again. He could not do that though, not anymore.

Too many things can wound the heart, scar it beyond repair. What Andrew Wellington had done to him, had done to Serena without care or reproach pushed beyond all limits of himself. He could not leave this planet with that man still breathing, still walking, still capable of doing this to someone else.

"I'm going back out there. I'm going to go right up to your precious prince, and I am going to put my uzi up against his temple. Then, I am going to pull the trigger. He will die among his friends, bastard fucked up rich snob mother fucking pieces of cock shit that they are. After that it doesn't matter. None of it matters. He'll be gone, and the world will be right again."

David stared at Marissa, "Get out of my way. I will not ask again."

He slowly raised the uzi to her, "I will not ask again."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena/Marissa

Serena heard his voice telling her how sorry he was and then it was replaced with one that was full of hate and viciousness. She knew whatever he planned on doing the woman at the door didn’t want to happen. She held tighter to him, she wouldn’t let him go. “David... please take me home. I’ll be good, just take me home.” She buried her face deeper into the crook of his neck. If he was going to insist on taking her through the mass of people that were outside that door, then it would be clinging to his body.

That thought however was driven out when she heard the woman at the door speak again. “Look at her,” Marissa stated firmly. “She’s clinging to you as if you were her life. You are you know that, don’t you? You took down this guy because you were behind him. You saw how many weapons you pulled off him. They are all loaded like that. Shit! David you will drag her with you and watch her die?”

Marissa moved away from the door. “You’re a fool. You’re foolin’ yourself if you think you can drag that woman with you through the throng of people, walk up and shoot Wellington and just happily prance your ass out the door without being ripped apart by bullets.”

Serena shuddered as the woman continued speaking of death and dying. She wanted to leave, but she wanted the man dead to. She wanted David safe. The woman made it sound like the entire army was out there waiting to cut down anyone that interfere with Andrew. She shivered at the memories that were coming back to her. She pushed them away, buried them and pretended they weren’t there.

“Leave her here then. I’ll take her with me,” Marissa said. “If I can’t stop you, the least I can do is save her.” She stepped up to them, her weapon lowered. She touched Serena’s arm.

Serena jerked away and shook her head no, only tightening her grip. She trembled and began to gasp for breath as the woman returned her hand to her arm and tried to pry her from David’s body.

"Give her to me and I'll get her out of here, while you kill yourself," Marissa sneered.

 

[caela]

Max smiled at Skye and said, "Yes, you have been learning the language. Remember I said it was a magic universal language? Well subconsciously you have been learning the language simply by allowing the magic to translate it into your language."

That made Skye pause but she supposed it made sense in a way. After all people learned languages when they were immersed in them so it made sense that she would learn Beatrix language. She might have thought she was hearing english but she really hadn't been after all. With everything else that was happening she supposed she could accept learning a language this way as well.

Leaving with Max and Beatrix they went and got their phones and Skye showed them both how to manage the features they would need as well as programming all of their numbers into each of the phones for easier dialing. Hooking her phone onto the pocket of her jeans she looked between Max and Beatrix expectantly.

"So how exactly do we do this? Do we all split up or do us girls go together, me and Max go together, you two go together?? Y'all know what you're doing here better than I do, I've never been a part of a search party before.

Wait! Max do you have anything with David's picture on it? If we had fliers we could take to the hotels it would be easier to find them than trying to base it off a description alone."

 

[only_more_so]

"So how exactly do we do this? Do we all split up or do us girls go together, me and Max go together, you two go together?? Y'all know what you're doing here better than I do, I've never been a part of a search party before.

Wait! Max do you have anything with David's picture on it? If we had fliers we could take to the hotels it would be easier to find them than trying to base it off a description alone."

Max didn't need to think long to answer the questions, "Well, my mother should definately not search alone." Turning to his mother he added, "I know you would in time learn to navigate this world, but we only have a few days, and I don't want to have to be searching for my mother and my brother."

Beatrix nodded and said, "Of course, you're right. It would also probably make more sense for me to search with Skye, since you have work to do in addition to doing the searching. Also that way each party has someone who knows their way around this world, and is intimately familar with David's habits and preferences." Beatrix gave Skye an apologetic smile before saying, "As for the picture, aside from the small one on his passport, there is also Max. They are nearly identical afterall, and I doubt the slight difference in eye color would be noticed. So we'll get a picture of Max to show around, and Max can use his own face."

The queen frowned for a moment and seemed lost in thought and said, "It is terribly frustrating not to be able to do magic. I have gotten so used to it. Skye, we are all new at the search party game, in the kingdom there is always magic, plus there is a more limited area to search. There are thousands of people here for David to be lost amoungst."

As the queen talked Max led them to a nearby computer store that had a digital camera set up with a photo printer. Max asked for a demo, and they soon had a picture of Max, posed with both women. Max gave his mother a hug, and then gave Skye a longer more tender hug and said, "We'll meet at the hotel at 6PM, unless we arrange otherwise on the phones? The only other thing I can think of is don't appear too desperate when asking for David. We can't get the police involved since he doesn't really exist."

He hugged his mother again, and then Skye, whispering in her ear, "I'll miss you, princess."

 

[caela]

Skye fought the urge to sigh softly as it was decided that she would search with the Queen. She had nothing against Beatrix, it was just that, even here in her own world, she desperatly wanted to be with Max and this constant seperation was driving her mad. She tried to reach out to him through the stone she still wore and wanted to scream when even that small contact was denied her. She was very quickly growing annoyed with her world.

She agreed that getting a picture of Max was a good idea and followed them into the store to get the picture they'd need. When Max hugged her for their photo she wrapped her own arms around him and nuzzled her head into his shoulder, inhaling the warm scent that belonged to him alone. She didn't want to let go and wondered if any touch would ever be enough.

She doubted it.

"We'll meet at the hotel at 6PM, unless we arrange otherwise on the phones? The only other thing I can think of is don't appear too desperate when asking for David. We can't get the police involved since he doesn't really exist."

He hugged his mother again, and then Skye, whispering in her ear, "I'll miss you, princess."

"I'll miss you too my prince," she whispered back and kissed him softly on the lips. She didn't want to let him go but knew she had to.

Stepping back away from him she glanced at the clock on her phone and realized that it was already noon. Six hours...she could handle six hours. Taking their flier she managed to smile at Beatrix and they left the shop.

"They'd need money which would mean a pawn shop and likely they'd head to the hotel closest to them," Skye said trying to be as logical as she could and trying not to think of the feel of Max's arms around her. "We'll grab a cab and start and the end of the strip and work our way back toward the hotel."

 

[only_more_so]

As Max left Skye and his mother at the store, he could feel the emptiness growing in him. Never in his life had he regretted doing his duty so much as he did now. He found his thoughts going in ugly directions, hating Serena for running away, and then David for being stupid enough to follow her.

But he couldn't long remain angry with Serena. She was naive and didn't even understand the way their world worked, let alone the other worlds. Max was having a harder time forgiving David for leaving him in such a mess. He didn't even realize the irony, that he hated David for introducing him to something, or rather someone that made life worth living. Thinking about Skye made him smile, she was everything he never knew he wanted in a woman. Just being close to her made him happy, a happiness that he couldn't remember ever having before.

Max walked along the Vegas Strip, as he learned it was called, going into the various casinos. He told the various floor managers and waitresses that he was looking for his twin brother, he was afraid he was on a drunk, and that his brother's fiancee was worried sick. The managers had never seen him before, and the waitresses either hadn't seen him, or were "genuinely touched" by Max's concern and promised to keep an eye out and that he should give them his number. When Max started getting calls at the end of shifts he realized that they weren't really keeping an eye out for the "bad" brother, so much as making eyes at the "good" brother.

After three hours of searching half a dozen casinos, Max was feeling rather ragged and disheartened. He called Skye and let her know which casinos he had scoured, and that he was going to have to break off the search for a bit to tend to business. "And how is my mother holding up?"

 

[poohlive]

"I'm sorry Marissa," He didn't think he could make it see her his way, but he thought they cound find some middle ground for what he was doing, at least some compromise for both of them.

"I knew coming in here if I had a chance to kill him, I would take it. I also knew I probably wasn't going to come out of here alive. I wanted you safe, and I wanted Serena found. I got both of those and I am grateful. But, now it's time to pay my debt. Now I have to pay the piper."

David kissed Serena on the forehead before hugging her once more. He knew she was reluctant to let him go, and it kept getting harder and harder to do just that. She was safe in his arms, they both knew that. The minute she left, who knows what would happen again.

"I need to go for just a bit, ok Serena? I need to go see the man that did this to us. I need to find him, and make him pay for you and for me. I promise you he won't hurt anyone else again. His pain and his trail of blood ends right here, tonight. That I promise you. You are going to go with this nice girl here. Marissa. She will take care of you, ok?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena/Marissa

Serena's mind went numb. He was leaving her. He had her in his arms and now he was leaving her. She'd been disfigured, beaten, abused, almost raped and now the one man who she would have died for was leaving her. Her mind didn't want to register it, but it did. He was putting her in the arms of a stranger so he could deal with revenge. It was her fault, all of it. Her life had taken a wrong turn and she didn't know how to fix it, so she didn't.

Serena dropped her arms from him and let him go. Her face showed no emotion as she walked away. There was nothing there. He would die, desert her, leave her on a world where she knew nothing and no one. Her lips trembled in fear and she looked down on her broken body. The woman moved. Serena jerked and shied away. Her mind numbed state barely registered the robe that Marissa was putting on her. She stood there looking lost and confused, but mostly gone.

Marissa tied the robe shut on the pitiful girl and she looked at David. “You're a fool and an idiot. You take a look at what your leaving behind before you do this. Look past the bruises and see what your losing. Maybe I was wrong about you, you care more for revenge then this woman. She's broken and bleeding and all you care about is yourself.”

Marissa turned to the woman. “Serena, my name's Marissa and I'm going to get you home.” She reached up and tried to smooth the girl's hair back. The woman jerked away and Marissa cringed. “Come on I'll just hold your hand okay?”

Marissa said nothing more to David. Serena looked at him, but he was gone. She forgot. He was leaving her. She remembered that. She was trouble and had to go. She gave her hand to the woman and never looked back as Marissa walked away and she only stopped when Marissa did.

“You know. . .I'm sorry I ever helped you. You're no different then them. You're worse. She's no longer with us and yet, your willing to die and I have a feeling your the only one going to heal her. At least with them she had a reason to fight, to get back to you. . . but you have given her no reason to fight anymore. Enjoy your revenge, I'll try and fix your girl, but something tells me it isn't going to happen.”

Marissa turned away and slid the patio door open. “Stay close to me. There are people out there that will put you back in here if we aren't careful,” she told Serena.

Serena said nothing and never looked back at David to see if he followed them or not.

The two women slipped into the night and Marissa quietly but deadly made their way toward the gates, praying that someone would be remiss in their duties and fuck their watch up.

 

[caela]

Skye spent the day feeling torn in two. She knew they needed to find David and Serena and half her mind was on them but the other half of her mind was on Max and her need to reach out and touch him. She hated that the magic of the jewel didn't work here and she felt the seperation like a physical aching in her heart.

They started at a pawn shop and while the dealer claimed not to have seen David or Serena they quickly knew he was lying when Beatrix had found David's ring. Giving the dealer a sharp glare that promised retribution for any more lies the man quickly told them about David and very disheveled, and hurt, Serena who had come in a couple of nights before. Skye used her credit card to redeem the ring and they left. She'd pushed the ring into Beatrix hand and had to hold her as the older woman had cried softly.

It seemed Skye wasn't the only one with a bad feeling about this trip.

Once Beatrix was calmed down and well enough to keep going they started hitting casinos. They'd been to five when at last they found the casino that David and Serena had been in. All that anyone seemed to know was that they had won a lot of money and then gone upstairs for a party hosted by an Andrew Wellington or something close to that effect. Apparently he was quite the bigshot when he came into town and was known for his parties and the money he spread around.

He'd already left which left them with a dead end.

Leaving the casino they decided to head back to their own hotel when Skye's phone rang. Seeing Max's number on the display she nearly cried out in relief as she turned it on.

"Max!" was all she got out before he started telling her where he'd been. She simply remained quiet while he talked savoring the sound of his voice and the way it slid over her senses. Gods how could she need/want someone this much?

"And how is my mother holding up?"

"There was a rough few moments when we found the pawn shop they stopped at but she'd doing alright now. Listen we're almost back to the hotel Max, why don't you meet us there and we can all get some dinner and go over what we've learned." Her voice dropped low as she continued, " I need to see you Max, need to be close enough to touch you. Not being able to reach out to you today has been driving me nuts."

 

[only_more_so]

Skye didn't sound very happy on the phone. But they had already made better progress tracking DAvid than Max had expected. At least they knew that David had indeed come to Vegas afterall. Max had been worried that Serena had ended up sending them to some other world altogether.

"I need to pick up the crates, but that shouldn't take long. I will meet you back at the hotel in an hour. Why don't you and mom raid the minibar, and try to relax until I get there. Or hit a shop or two while you wait. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Max had just gotten to the rental facility and got a truck to take the crates to the storage facility he had contacted earlier. His driving was a little rusty, but he soon got back into the rhythm and made his way to the alley. He was still a little early, but felt the need to get back to Skye, and his mother, so he borrowed a slight amount of magic from one of the spare seeds to pull the crates out earlier than expected. he was tempted to use the magic to scan for David, but knew that could quickly his own magic as well. He might need that in an emergency.

He quickly loaded the crates into the truck and headed for the rental facility. After filling the locked room with crates he told the facility head to release the good to Max's distribution company who should be by in a couple of days. He also left his cellphone number in case of any problems and which hotel he was staying in. He then returned the truck and hopped in a taxi back to the hotel. He should be there a few minutes earlier than expected.

 

[caela]

"I need to pick up the crates, but that shouldn't take long. I will meet you back at the hotel in an hour. Why don't you and mom raid the minibar, and try to relax until I get there. Or hit a shop or two while you wait. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Skye sighed as she hung up the phone and told Beatrix what he'd said. The Queen seemed to take it all in stride and they decided to head back to the hotel rooms. Beatrix could tell the day was wearing on Skye and felt badly for the girl. In such a short time she'd become accustomed to the magic of their world and being without it was getting to her...as was being without Max. Beatrix well understood that as she was missing her own husband though she suspected it was easier for herself than Skye because her husband was safe at home and she was more used to being seperated from him for Traveling purposes.

Back in the rooms Skye just sort of sank into a chair. She couldn't stay there long though and was soon at the window watching for Max. She was restless and irritable and didn't like this feeling. She kept trying to reach out to him through the stone she wore but it just didn't work which was frustrating her to no end. She was also annoyed with herself, when had she become this needy creature that couldn't get along without a man?!

When Max at last appeared her thoughts all flew out of her head and she simply smiled at the sight of him. Moving away from the window she went to him and laced her fingers through his glad to be able to feel the warmth of his skin once more.

"So we're at a bit of a dead end. The last anyone saw of David or Serena they'd gone to some party hosted by an Andrew Wellington. Apparently the guy comes into town and throws money around like it's water. Everyone at the hotel likes him because he's a huge tipper and his parties are apparently pretty wild.

It really didn't sound like the sort of thing Serena would enjoy at all from the short time I've known her. No one saw them after the party."

 

[only_more_so]

Max held Skye's hand and pulled her into a hug. He felt too awkward kissing her in front of his mother. As he stroked Skye's back Max thought, besides right now this feels even better.

"Let's head down to the lobby and find a cab to take us to dinner. I had the concierge make us reservations at a really good Mexican place. You did say you missed Mexican food, right Skye?"

Looking over at this mother he explained, "Mexican is somewhat spicy food, by the local standards, and involves mixing a lot of stuff together often with some sort of flour shell or wrapping. You will probably enjoy it a good deal, just be sure to get the extra spicy."

* * *

Beatrix smiled when she saw Max enter the room, and was of mixed emotions when he embraced Skye. The girl was clearly deeply infautated with Max, and Max was rather taken with her. She worried about them though, how much of their infatuation was the incredible stress they were both under? How much was because of the curse, and Max's determination?

At the mention of food Beatrix perked up. She was getting rather hungry. That the food might actually be spicy was music to her ears. The kingdom's food was always well prepared, but it just lacked zing. She had carefully maintained a mini garden to grow spices, but the climate was all wrong and they always lacked in punch.

* * *

The three of them were soon downstairs, and crossed the lobby. The doorman opened the door of the taxi and they were on their way. Max told the head waiter his name and asked for a good table for his two princesses. The man was smiling and was very affable, chatting with Max all the way to the table. "Senor, we have bought spices from your distributor for many years, they are always of such high quality. It is an honor to have you in this establishment. When the concierge told me your name I thought it was a coincidence, but from your accent it even sounds like you are a son of Michoacan and knew it must be you! Please enjoy your dinner, and if you need anything let me know."

Soon a flock of waiters descended on the table with menus and water glasses, and then the waiter brought over a pitcher of margaritas and three glasses on the house. It was when the menu's arrived that Max realized there might be a bit of a problem. He leaned over to Skye and said, "I think they gave us the spainish menus, if you don't read Spainish, I can order for you."

Turning to his mother he said, "I am sure everything here is wonderful, but you might want to ask the waiter if there is a specialty dish that might not be on the menu. Just say you have been away from home for too long and you are dying for something with flavor."

 

[caela]

Skye let out a contented sigh as Max drew her into his arms. She could feel his fingers stroking her back and smiled softly feeling soothed, her worries calmed with that gentle touch. She heard him say they had reservations at a Mexican restaurant and nearly kissed him. He'd remembered her saying she missed it!

She kept ahold of his hand as they went down and got a cab and beamed as they entered the restaurant. It was lovely and the staff were delightful. She didn't mind getting the spanish menu since she was aware of what most of the dishes were anyway.

"I think they gave us the spainish menus, if you don't read Spainish, I can order for you."

Skye smiled up at him and handed him her menu, "Why don't you order for me anyway. I've always thought it was an interesting habit and wanted to see what a man would order for me," she said with a teasing grin.

Sipping her margarita she sighed softly once more, "Mmmmm, tequila. Can we take some of this home with us???"

 

[only_more_so]

"Why don't you order for me anyway. I've always thought it was an interesting habit and wanted to see what a man would order for me,"

Max nodded to Skye, but was a bit apprehensive. He had only eaten Mexican food on a few occasions, so he hardly knew what was what. He finally decided on a tortilla soup and a spicy pork dish, for him and Skye.

When it came time for Beatrix to order, she followed Max's advice and soon had the waiter eating out of her hand. Max wouldn't say she was flirting with the waiter, but her gregarious attitude, beauty, sexuality and apparent fluency in his mother tongue and the poor boy instantly fell for her. It was then that Max noticed that she had already finished two margaritas, and a waiter was returning with a new pitcher. Max ordered some beers to go with the food.

There was soon a basket of chips and salsa on the table, followed a few minutes later by the appetizers. Beatrix was eagerly eating the spicy salsa without flinching, while Max broke out in a mild sweat and switched to the mild. "It is so good to have some food with flavor again, Maximillian. I wouldn't say it is a disappointment compared to my world. Actually, I suppose these spices did come from my world, didn't they?"

"Not all of them. They have the same spices here as where you come from, they just don't have the same quality. That is why the import is such a lucrative business, mother."

Just then the head waiter came back to the table and overheard what Max had said. "Surely this lovely woman is your sister, and not your mother! She has the entire wait staff arguing over who gets to bring your chips and refill your glasses. I do hope you are enjoying your food so far? We have an extra special dish coming out for you. I'm sorry, I didn't get your name?"

The queen was smiling at the shameless flattery and more than a little tipsy. "Beatrix." Smiling she added with a hiccup, "Princess Beatrix," leaning in a bit closer to the man she said with a wink, "Although really, I'm the queen."

Max nearly spewed his margarita across the table, but the waiter was so busy laughing that he hardly noticed. "Well, Princess Beatrix, you are welcome here anytime."

With everyone's attention on his mother, Max took the oppurtunity to sneak a hand under the table and place it on Skye's thigh. He gave a gentle squeeze.

 

[caela]

Skye chuckled softly to herself as the Queen got slightly tipsy on the margaritas. The way she flirted with the wait staff was cute. Nothing that could be considered truly overt or inappropriate...just harmless and adorable. It was a side of Beatrix she hadn't seen before and one she thought it was probably best not to admit to having seen now.

With the Queen distracted she felt Max's hand slip under the table to rest on her thigh and shivered slightly as warm ran under his skin where his hand rested. At his light squeeze she turned her head to look up at him from adoring eyes. If Beatrix hadn't been with him she would have kissed him and she could see that knowledge in his gaze.

Before she could say anything however their food was brought out and she sighed when he had to remove his hand in order to eat. She was longing for his touch once more and shifted just slightly in her seat so that her thigh pressed against his. The dish he'd ordered was delicious and she suspected that the kitchen staff had gone all out for them once the owner had realized who Max was.

 

[only_more_so]

Max was enjoying the food and the atmosphere in the restaurant. Between the good food, the drinks and most of all the company, he was able to forget, for just a little while what they were here for. It helped that this was the first time he got more than a little tipsy, at least that wasn't part of his training.

As dinner progressed, Max took every oppurtunity to return his hand to Skye's leg, and lean his leg against hers. He also enjoyed watching his mother. She was really enjoying the dinner, and the attention, he hadn't realized how confining her life in the kingdom had truly been, and he forgave all of the times she had embarrassed him with her wild attitudes, including the costume ball. Max became more determined than ever to remove the curse and allow his mother to travel freely, and everyone.

When they had all finished eating, and Max asked for the bill, the owner came out and insisted that Max didn't have to pay. Max insisted just as vehemently that such fine food required payment to show his appreciation. When Beatrix told them to stop arguing the owner said that he would accept Max's money for his food and for Skye's food, but such a sensible and charming woman as Beatrix should eat for free.

As they left the restaurant in a taxi, Beatrix said to Max, "I know we need to start looking for David again tomorrow, but for tonight could we have some fun? I didn't realize how stuffy life in the kingdom had been."

"I think we could all use a night of entertainment!" Turning to Skye he said, "Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

 

[poohlive]

The party was in full swing, everyone around him laughed and danced. The world seemed caught in flux, epiphanies of both elation and bliss. The only pain that came from this room was willing participants, both male and female.

As David walked past them, he could feel their pain. It was a fake pain, a masked pain of pleasure and morals. It was not his pain. His pain was only cold and morose. It was the pain of someone who could only scream into the darkest of nights, scream and for that breath moment feel the pain go away, only to come back in triple force.

Andrew sat in a private table next to the stage. He had the look of a man content with life, not quite happiness, but so close David could not describe what he really felt. Perhaps it was the bcombination of boredom and intrigue at the same time.

It didn't matter, in a few seconds time that smirk would be wiped from his face.

"You remember me, don't you?" he had gone through this motion a thousand times, a million on his way over here. Each time it was different, each way of responce sent up corresponding dilemmas within him. He didn't if he would be angrier that Andrew did remember, or that he didn't.

Perhaps it was for the best that Andrew just gave him a half blank face in responce. He had the kind of smile, vague in its origin, that gave away he had no clue who David was, but also that he should remember the man. It must be an important man.

"I think you took one of my girls, Serena."

And that did it. That one word. All of a sudden the wheels began to spin in little Andrew Wellington's mind. Wheels of perverse effect and dynamic multitude. David would have liked to think that to Andrew, right then and there, he looked just like the figure of Death. Tall, proud, shrouded in dark and obsidian dress, a single scythe at his side.

Although, his weapon of choice was not a scythe, but an uzi. Still, he hoped the metaphor worked enough for this little piss ant of a prince.

"Davi..." That was as far as he got. David opened fire. A short burst right into the man's chest. Blood flew like raindrops down on the entire table of guests sitting next to him. Women in oiled leather and leashes screamed, trying to run. Men in business suits peed their pants as they dove down under tables, using women as shields.

Andrew Wellington did not try to dive under tables, or scream his heart out, or even use women to hide behind. He just sat there, blood pouring out of him, dead as the day is long.

Gunfire, hot and rampant hit his shoulder. He lurched, flying to the ground below him, screaming at the pain that leaped into his arm. It throbbed with a hate only a woman could provide.

He kicked one of the tables, hiding behind it, already aware of too many people, too much chaos happning at once. Everyone ran, scattering in different direction, no idea of where the exit was, only knowing that being in this room wa not a good idea.

David crouched, looking around him. He knew he did not have enough time. Those bodyguards of Andrew's were storng, tight, and knew how to handle themselves. They would wait, silent as sentinels until the crowd dispersed, and the methodically check until they found him, and killed him.

He grabbed his shoulder, bleeding pretty good now. The bullet bit deep into him, refusing to let go. Hot molten lead lodged inside his muscles. It hurt even to stand.

He ran for the nearest exit he could find, the stairs. They went up, into the rooms, the gauge of mazes that were the upstairs of this fucked up mansion.



Outside, the fire of gunshots brought curiousity to all the guards. Then shouts, lourd and sporratic calling for support. Wellington had been shot, bad. He needed help. They had to catch the killer.

Everyone ran inside, leaving their posts. The front gate was unguarded, it stood alone, gaping into the darkness.

 

[caela]

As they left the restaurant in a taxi, Beatrix said to Max, "I know we need to start looking for David again tomorrow, but for tonight could we have some fun? I didn't realize how stuffy life in the kingdom had been."

"I think we could all use a night of entertainment!" Turning to Skye he said, "Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

Skye thought for a moment before smiling softly, "Just about anything you want to do can be done here. They have shows in most of the casinos, clubs to go dancing in, bars, gambling...name your poison and we can can find it I'm sure."

Glancing up at Max with a slow smile on her lips and feeling his thigh pressed to hers and the warmth of his fingers through the denim of her jeans, "I personally would vote for dancing, we should work off these margaritas."

Seeing the slightly fallen look on Beatrix' face at the mention of dancng she could tell the Queen was thinking of the stuffy balls given at the palace and shook her head befrore reaching out and patting the Queen's hand, "Trust me Beatrix, going dancing here is nothing like the balls at the palace. You'll have fun and if not we'll go do something else."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Marissa and Serena

Marissa heard the gunshots and watched as the guards left their stations. She paused and looked back at the mansion then to the woman that clenched her hand as if it was going to fall off. “Damn it,” she muttered. She pulled Serena with her and took her around the other side of the gate and fence.

“Here,” she spoke firmly to Serena. “I will go get David for you. You have to stay here.” She looked at the woman, her eyes dilated, but unblinking and when she did blink there was nothing in the abyss of color. “Serena do you hear me, you can’t leave!”

Marissa took Serena’s hand and wrapped it around the iron rail. “I’m going to get David and then he’ll take you home.”

Serena stood there quietly, only focused on one word home all her other thoughts swam lazily in her head, colliding with each other and bouncing back. “David was dead. The man Wellington had killed him.”

Her head tilted at Marissa’s words, but she continued to have head on collisions in her mind, “There was that dream, David was alive, but it was a dream, because he left her. Her David wouldn’t have left her. Her David was her friend. So it was a dream earlier and now this woman was going to take her home. She would go home and be shot, maybe that was what they did when you killed the Prince. It was okay. She would go home and be shot and then she would not cause trouble. She didn’t like causing trouble.”

The cold metal of the fence did nothing but remind her of death, a death that deep inside her mind she deserved. She held on to the fence and stared into the night as once again she was left alone.

Marissa looked back at the young woman and wondered what idiot deserved someone so beautiful and how would he ever bring her back. She ran up to the mansion and entered through the front doors, people crowded her, some knocking her to the left, others to the right. Some had blood on them, some gaping wounds. Screams came from men and women. When Marissa made it to the party room, she opened fire and took out several more men. She noted others running aimlessly around and she quickly took care of them, while picking up a handgun and tucking it into her boot.

She too looked for David as well as hiding from the would be assassins that were going after the only man she knew to be an idiot and a hero at the same time. “Well. . . maybe she’d qualify as one now too,” she thought to herself.

 

[poohlive]

David waited until three of them came running up the stairs before he let the gun loose. It screamed in his hand, firing round after round down upon them. The gun heated in his hands, machinery working like mad to get his desired effect.

The gun halted though, stopped. It hiccuped one last empty shell out into the world and then fell dead in his hands. Metal cooling and relaxing from its triumpant run. He had emptied his gun of all that it had to offer, now he only held a useless hunk of hardware.

Four more guards ran up the stairs, replacing the three that had fallen.

Damnit. David ran down the hallway, as doors flew open around him. Half naked men and women looked out in dazed amazement. Some asked about fireworks, while others wonderd if they should perhaps get dressed or leave.

David addressed none of their comments. He dove through one of the doors as a cache of gunfire resounded down the hallway towards him. He slammed the door shut with his foot, looking back as he laid on the floor.

His breath came in shallow rasps, trying desperately to catch himself once again. They were coming, how much more? Half a dozen, ten, maybe twelve? How could he have so many guards?

Maybe this hasn't been the first attempt on his life. Maybe he was a man who stole women for a living and knew one day some fucking jackass with a red hot poker of hate and revenge stuck inside him would do whatever it took to make sure he went down one way or another.

But now they were coming, closer, their footprints like the rabid stampede of rhinos on the other side of the wall.

Inside the room where was only a bed with leather straps and handcuffs along the walls and ceiling. He ducked behind the bed just as the door opened. Two men ducked their heads inside, gave it a once over, and then left with it wide open.

"Search the rooms..."

David had to hold his breath as he heard more footsteps. They were close... too close.

 

[only_more_so]

"Driver, forget the hotel, we're going dancing. Take us to the hottest dance club in Las Vegas!"

The driver called to the back, "It's still pretty early for the clubs to be hopping. But there is a great bar I know that is across the street from a hot dance club. Lots of folks go there to get a bit warmed up for the dancing. How's that sound."

"It's your town!" Max said as he leaned back. He didn't think his mother needed much more alcohol, but Max could feel his buzz wearing thin. Perhaps it was the same thing that caused him to heal quickly.

When they pulled up to the bar, Max could see that the club across the street was almost dead. The bouncer even appeared to be napping. As they went into the bar Max thought the atmosphere was great for warming up to a night of dancing. There were only two seats together at the bar, and not enough waitresses to sit at the tables. So Max gave the seats to Skye and his mother and stood between them, with his arm around Skye's waist. He handed his credit card to the bartender to start a tab and said to Skye, "I'm not really familiar with many types of drinks, perhaps you should order the first round?"

Beatrix meanwhile had already started a conversation with the pixie-esque bartender. Max grinned, since he realized once again they were going to be getting superb service.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Gun fire erupted throughout the mansion as Marissa fought her way upstairs and down hallways. She killed several men and even a few women that were there to purchase slaves and had come to the party packed with weapons. As she shot her way through the levels of the house, her thoughts ran to the girl she’d left behind. She wondered what kind of girl she’d been before, that would warrant this young man behaving so rashly.

She knew though, the truth of it all wasn’t because of Serena but it was the idea of what had happened to her, could happen to anyone and sadly even with Wellington gone and many dead and dying, it would happen again. . .there was always another Wellington around.

Marissa fired away and continued to look for David. Eventually she knew she’d either find him or die. It was looking more and more like dying.

*****

Serena felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up. Lights were hitting her in the face and it was then her mind grasped the sounds that were screaming around her. The police cruisers had surrounded the building and their sirens were blaring as SWAT team members poured into the Wellington estate. She fought at the hand that was gripping hers trying to take it from the iron rail.

“No!” she screamed at the man in the black suit and armored vest. “No!” she battled with him as she tried to hold on to the fence that the woman had told her to remain fixed to. Her eyes were huge in her face and she felt her world shift as another person tried to pry her fingers loose. She reached out and clawed the female officer and kicked at the male.

There were people who wanted to help her. That woman, where did she go? David? No. . .he was dead. Wasn’t he?

She looked at the house and saw the men raiding it. As she stared at it, her mind replayed everything she’d experienced. She saw herself running in her world. David close to her. She saw herself falling, she seemed to fall forever until she landed and hurt herself. David fell with her. She saw the hospital and the people looking at David. She remembered his anger over her silliness.

Serena’s last few days flashed like lighting in the mist. She felt the power and excitement that David felt when he won the money at the Hotel. She felt the nervousness of his touch and how wonderful she felt when he hugged her. Her entire body jerked as she felt herself being hit and abused, yet through it all one thought was constant. . .David.

Her eyes took in the blood and the people that were staggering from the mansion. She looked for David and didn’t see him. Her eyes moved over the window and she struggled against two officers that were restraining her. She had to get to David. He wasn’t dead. She saw him now. He was helping her . . .her and that woman. She had to go back and get him.

 

[poohlive]

His shoulder throbbed in pain. He could feel the warm blood pouring out of him onto the awaiting carpet before. It didn't matter much though, the carpet itself had stains of sex, blood and feces. All he did was add another story to the poor carpet's life.

He had to down on the ground as the door slammed open. His breath stopped, held in place, his whole body alive and poised. A cat stalking its prey with intricate ambition. Each muscle strung as tight as possible, blood coursing with a purpose, a courage.

It was fight or flight, and he only had a few seconds before this unnamed brute would walk into the room, look at him laying on the ground, and let loose a few bullets to burrow deep into his spine.

It would only hurt for a few seconds before his life would drain from him, eyes glaze over and the world would turn into permeated gray.

He saw a foot on the other side of the bed, and leaped at it with his own hand. He grabbed it, and the man fell. The bed above sagged as weight poured down on it.

David leaped up, grabbing at the man, clawing him with the drunken precision of a prom date. Hands, feet, kicking shuffling. The man had a gun, desperately trying to point it at him, while David desperately tried to point it away.

Their hands roughly fought each other, all of it unsubtle and crazy. David stopped fighting, and just shoved both of their hands into the wall, hard. The gun fell out as the man screamed in pain.

David's hands too surged with unbeaable throbbing, but that did not stop him from catching the gun. He dropped the man with a single shot.

"There!"

Shit. More voices, more footsteps. He heard other shooting down the hall but had no time to recognize it. No exit. The door, temporarily empty, would soon be filled with more goons.

All he had left was the window. Second story out into God knows what. He thought maybe coming in with Marissa he saw a pool off to one of the sides of the mansion.

Would he be lucky enough to find it here?

David didn't have time to decide as he flung open the window.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Marissa/Serena

Marissa thought she heard David’s voice, but she wasn’t sure. She headed in that direction and as she did she took out another and another. She scooped up a weapon, checked the ammo and then stopped. There were the sounds of the police in the background and she sighed, “At least the girl will make it she thought.” She saw a man enter a room and he seemed to smirk. She knew then that he had seen someone he wanted dead and that someone had to be David.

She ran toward the room and took out the muscle, just as she reached the door frame she saw David at the window. “I think its time to go!” she yelled at him. She slammed the door shut and hurried to the window.

“The backup is here, but I think we can greet them later,” she motioned for the window and knew they both would probably break their necks, but hey it could be worse. The sounds of the gunfire and then mini-explosion rang through the air.

*****

Serena took a deep breath and stopped struggling. She blinked a few times and straightened her back. “Are you okay now, Miss?” the female officer asked as she rubbed at the gauges on her cheeks. She’d wanted to knock the Bitch out, but she had a feeling she was one of Wellington’s girls and thus she had been through enough.

“Yes, thank you,” Serena said, as her mind ran around in circles. All of the circles were of David.

“Good,” she heard the officer say. She let them lead her to an ambulance and when the woman left her there with an attendant she said nothing, but her eyes never left the mansion. The attendant was called away and when he returned to work on Serena she was gone.

*****

The bushes and rocks that the Wellington landscaper had used to beautify the horrid mansion dug at Serena’s bare feet. She was wrapped in a blanket that the attendant had given her, and it tangled on the bushes and branches.

Serena kept herself to the east side of the house, the side that seemed like no one was paying attention too. She thought that odd, but she wasn’t questioning it. David was in there. He was in the house and she was supposed to take care of him. He was her friend. She loved him, but he was also the heir to a World. He was important and though she was a simple servant, she realized she couldn’t help him. . . he was after all her heart, even if he didn’t feel the same way.

It was odd how things worked in her mind. She had pushed away all the vileness. She knew it would return, but she suddenly found she didn’t have time to focus on it. What drove her out of her despair? Was it David? Was it the fact she’d had enough? Or was she again, pushing something away and not accepting it? Denying that it happened and hiding it?

She approached the house and thought she saw someone at a second story window. She tucked herself tightly against the wall. She would have laughed at her life, if she could have found something to laugh about, right now she just wanted to see her friend and go home.