Lirin: It's that time of year again for my favorite holiday :) To celebrate I've been working on this little tale to lead up to the fun night of Halloween. Please join us as our eight randomly selected crew embark on their journey controlled by forces beyond their knowledge.
Kisa: Hey Lady Master Control, don't forget the really important stuff. The stuff you always make us say that we can't cause we're all under wraps for the time being.
Lirin: I was getting to that Kisa. I swear if I hadn't plucked your name from the hat you won't be here right now. Anyways, I don't own Beyblade or the series characters. There is not profit earned from any of my writings. And just a quick thanks to Beywriter for his encouragement as I've been working on this. Please enjoy part one.
Kisa sat in the back seat of a taxi. Her fingers were tapping to the song on her MP3 player. Next to her was her bag for the weekend. The front pouch unzipped with the corner of an invitation poking out. She recalled a few days ago when she mysteriously received the little note.
One of the McGregor's maids had found her on the back terrace with a pint of ice cream. The girl handed Kisa an aged yellow envelop with her name cleanly written in script. The fine lines were too thin for a pen to have made them. Some one had taken the time to use an old fashioned quill and ink. Very odd for this time.
Kisa thanked the maid before further examining the envelop. The paper was heavy. The type that only gets used for special occasions. Besides her name there was nothing else written on it. No trace of the sender or a return address.
Curiously she opened the envelop. Inside was a single page of the same quality as the envelop. Boxed set stationary here. Again the writing was as finely done as her name.
You are invited to a summons of friends. Attendance is not an option. Promptly arrive at 3PM.
860 Scythe Rd, Clearlake, CA
At the time she scoffed at the invitation. A summons of friends just sounded too weird. And there was no clue as to who sent it. It wouldn't have been her old team. They had stopped doing the party thing years ago. About the same time the team was disbanded. It wasn't because of bad blood of anything. It was just life keeping them busy. So she stuffed the note in her pocket to throw away after she was done with her ice cream.
The next morning she found herself packing for the weekend. The invitation crumpled but laying on her night table. Below it was a ticket to California.
Now here she was. In the back of that taxi just blocks away from the written address. Still unsure why she had left Glasgow. She didn't want to be here at all.
"We're here miss," the driver said stopping his car.
Kisa pulled one ear bud out. "Thanks. How much for the ride?"
"No worries miss. This was already covered according to my boss."
"Okay," Kisa said confused. This was the second time her travel was mysteriously paid for. Her flight being the first.
Shouldering her bag she opened the door and slid out. The taxi drove off leaving her standing before an old apartment type building.
The building's pale green paint was chipping away. The lawn had not been tended to in some time leaving it wild. It was so unruly it had broken parts of the cement walkway.
She wondered if this was really the right address. Pulling the invite from her bag she double checked it.
There was no mistake. This was 860 Scythe Road.
Wearily eying the building again she decided to turn and head away from here. Invite be damned. She was not going to be staying here anytime soon.
However she found her feet to have a mind of their own. Instead of down the street like she wanted she was walking up the broken path to the front door.
The steps creaked under her weight. As she approached the top the front door opened wide.
Inside was a woman a little taller than herself. Her dark hair tied neatly into a bun. She wore a simple gray dress with a black ribbon around her neck. Her legs were covered by black stocks. And she had basic black shoes. Her whole appearance screamed hired help.
"Good afternoon Miss Kisa. How was your travel?" From with the building a clock began to chime three.
Even more confused, Kisa stood silent staring at the woman before her. How had she'd known her name? Heck how did she know she was there? Or more important who was this person?
"oh I'm sorry," the woman said when Kisa had not responded after a minute. "Are you not Miss Kisa?"
Hearing her name again pulled Kisa from her stupor. "No, I am. But who are you? What's with all this?"
Her honey brown eyes widened and she bowed her head. "Oh, I am terribly sorry. My name is Layla. My master sent me to greet each guest as they arrive and direct them to their rooms."
"That's great and all. But what's going on? Who's your master? And who else will be here?"
"Again I must apologize Miss Kisa. I am not allowed to say. Things will be revealed tonight at dinner. Please come in. Your room is upstairs on the right. There will be a symbol you'll recognize for yourself."
Once more Kisa found her feet moving on their own. They were following the directions Layla provided.
On the second floor she found each door had a black block were numbers typically would have been. All were blank except for one that was etched with a swan on the right side of the hall.
A gentle touch of her hand to the knob had the door swing open on its own.
After stepping inside the door automatically closed and locked behind her. Attempting to open the door Kisa found it would not budge. She was trapped.
Instead of being worried like most normal people she was highly ticked off. She was trapped in a room at a place she didn't even want to be. She had more questions then answers for her liking.
Something underhanded was going on. That was obvious to her. She wanted to meet the master person and find out exactly what he had planned. Then she'd tell him where he could shove those plans.
Kisa: Lirin what have you gotten me into this time?
Lirin: Can't say. I'll be in trouble if I tell.
Kisa: You're a brat.
Lirin: Love you too Kisa chan. That ends this installment. Turn in tomorrow and learn more of what Kisa has landed herself into now.
Kisa: Do me a favor and review demanded she tell me what's going on.