Chapter One
Dirron paced up and down the cave troubled more so than usual Samun's little visit to the treehouse the night before had been unscheduled and dangerous and now Samun the tall, dark stranger he had found nights before hadn't returned. He feels a draft behind him Dirron turns to see Samun standing at the cave entrance.
DIRRON: Where have you been?
SAMUN: That is none of your business little man.
DIRRON: You follow my orders, this is my plan remember you help me I help you.
SAMUN: I take orders from no one, least of all a troll like you.
DIRRON: Don't call me that.
SAMUN: I have to leave soon.
DIRRON: No! We agreed, when we take them we take them together. I chant and start the problems you shapeshift and do everything else.
SAMUN: In that case Dirron, you'd better get over to the treehouse now so I can start.
Outside the cave hovering above the trees Titiha watched her eyes grow wider as she hears more of their plan and then she disappears.
* * * * * *
Roxton walks towards the lake holding a bottle of champagne and his rifle; the full moon lights his way all the way to the waters edge. He puts the bottle on the floor beside a rock. He looks around but sees no one. The bushes rustle behind him and he aims the rifle in that direction.
MARGUERITE: Is that anyway to treat your date.
ROXTON: Not a date, a raptor.
MARGUERITE: Well I've been called many things but a prehistoric dinosaur...
ROXTON: You know what I meant.
MARGUERITE: Champagne? Do you have something planned that I should know about?
He acts innocent.
ROXTON: Me? No, never.
MARGUERITE: Haven't you forgotten something?
He looks around.
MARGUERITE: Glasses?
ROXTON: Ah, yes.
She takes them out of her coat pockets.
MARGUERITE: You didn't plan ahead very well, did you?
ROXTON: Did you bring the food?
She looks at him clueless.
MARGUERITE: I thought you were doing that.
ROXTON: What? You...
MARGUERITE: Relax, I hid it behind the tree.
She takes a basket behind the tree and puts it next to the champagne.
ROXTON: Shall we?
* * * * * *
Veronica is standing at the balcony when Malone walks up behind her.
MALONE: What are you doing?
VERONICA: Marguerite left here ten minutes ago, exactly five minutes after Roxton.
MALONE: What are they doing?
She gives him a 'what do you think' look. He's about to reply when they hear a crash in Marguerite's room. They open the door and see Tithia whose fell on the floor.
TITHIA: Slight miscalculation.
VERONICA: What are you doing here?
TITHIA: I...
MALONE: Who is this?
VERONICA: Tithia, the old woman who almost killed Roxton.
TITHIA: That wasn't me. I need to talk to Marguerite.
VERONICA: She's not here.
TITHIA: This is a matter of life and death.
MALONE: Maybe we should listen to her.
VERONICA: You can't believe anything she says.
TITHIA: If I don't find her she will die.
VERONICA: Keep talking.
TITHIA: My nephew, Dirron, the one that caused the trouble last time, he's evil...Comes from my brother in laws side.
MALONE: You expect us to believe that.
TITHIA: Fine, I'll find her myself.
VERONICA: Wait! Why would this Dirron want to kill Marguerite?
TITHIA: Because I tried to help her of course. He can't undo the other things that I've done...At least I hope he can't
VERONICA: Things? From what we know you've only done one thing for Marguerite...What are you keeping from us?
TITHIA: That's her business.
MALONE: Tell us.
TITHIA: Where is she?
VERONICA: By the lake, but...
Tithia disappears, Veronica pulls Malone out of the room and they exit the treehouse.
* * * * * *
Marguerite and Roxton are sitting by the lake sipping the champagne.
MARGUERITE: It's so peaceful out there, it's hard to believe that one wrong step can kill you.
Tithia just misses falling in the lake as she appears in front of them.
MARGUERITE: Well it was peaceful.
Roxton reaches for his rifle, Marguerite stops him.
MARGUERITE: Its okay. She's harmless...Sort of.
ROXTON: What do you mean sort of?
MARGUERITE: What do you want?
TITHIA: You're in danger.
MARGUERITE: I know, from you.
TITHIA: Someone's going to kill you.
MARGUERITE: Are you talking about yourself in the second person again?
TITHIA: Not me, Dirron, my nephew.
MARGUERITE: Your whole family is crazy, isn't it?
Veronica and Malone reach them finally.
ROXTON: So much for peace and quiet.
Marguerite stands up.
MARGUERITE: Just tell us what's going on?
TITHIA: I...
Marguerite puts her hand up to silence Tithia.
MARGUERITE: Not you, Veronica? Malone?
VERONICA: Her nephew wants to kill you.
MARGUERITE: Yes we got that part...(To Tithia) you go.
TITHIA: I think he'll try and reverse the things I did for you.
MALONE: You just said that wasn't possible.
TITHIA: His power is far greater than mine...But another man that I saw I've never seen him before, he's dangerous.
ROXTON: What other man?
TITHIA: I don't know his name, I told you I've never seen him before...But Dirron I don't know what he's capable of now.
A small figure moves across the lake, the water moves away from him as if to let him pass. As he moves forward Roxton stands up in front of Marguerite while aiming the rifle at the figure.
DIRRON: I am capable of more things than you could possibly imagine.
TITHIA: I won't let you do this.
DIRRON: And how are you going to stop me?
He stops in mid-air above the water.
DIRRON: I have strenghts that you don't know about.
He looks at the group of people in front of him.
DIRRON: Roxton I presume, if only you knew what Marguerite really thinks of you...And Marguerite how are you lately, not forgetting anything are you?
MARGUERITE: My memory is perfectly fine.
DIRRON: Now it is, but for how long? I'll start with you first.
He points to Roxton.
DIRRON: I have something special planned for you two.
He laughs at them then disappears.
VERONICA: That's your nephew.
TITHIA: Sadly, yes.
MARGUERITE: And I thought you were bad.
TITHIA: You're in danger.
MALONE: We figure that out.
TITHIA: This isn't a joke, you need to stop him.
MARGUERITE: He's your nephew.
TITHIA: He's your problem.
ROXTON: We're going back to the treehouse now, we can't do anything tonight.
MARGUERITE: (Whispers) unfortunately.
VERONICA: We'll have to be careful, we don't want any unscheduled visits.
Tithia disappears as they head back to the treehouse, Malone and Veronica go back to their rooms leaving Marguerite and Roxton in the main room.
ROXTON: If you need anything, if you hear anyone...
MARGUERITE: I'll roll over and fall back to sleep.
ROXTON: I'm serious.
MARGUERITE: Just kidding, If Dirron or this mysterious man shows up I'll hit them over a head with a skillet.
ROXTON: Marguerite...
MARGUERITE: I'll wake up the treehouse.
ROXTON: Make sure you do...You know you'd feel safer if I was in there with you.
He indicates her room.
MARGUERITE: But if someone did show up in the middle of the night how would I know who was who?
ROXTON: Well I'd just have to figure out a way to let you know it's me.
MARGUERITE: (Teasing) oh really, and how would you do that?
ROXTON: I have a few tricks up my sleeve.
MARGUERITE: Do tell.
He starts smiling.
ROXTON: Well I could give you a sneak preview of what I had in mind.
He takes her by the waist and pushes a strand of hair away from her face and kisses her lightly on the cheek.
MARGUERITE: Now I wish someone would sneak in then you could give me the full show.
ROXTON: Well...
MARGUERITE: But oh well, until next time.
She walks into her room and closes the door, once Roxton is sure she's asleep he sits down and is soon asleep. Unseen by anyone Samun stands at the foot of the treehouse.
SAMUN: Not even Roxton can help you now high priestess.
To be continued...