Ch.2: Special Guest?
The door swung open and Kayla bit back a startled yelp. A hunched-over man with long, stringy blond hair stared at her with a piercing and slightly irritated gaze.
"Yes?"
"Um, hello. I'm sorry to bother you, but may I use your phone? You see, my car broke down and-"
"What the hell happened to you?" The man gestured at Kayla's stained clothing and ice-cream-and-toppings-smeared skin and hair.
"Uh, well, I work at a Carvel and-"
"Maybe you'd better come in." The man stepped to the side to let Kayla enter.
"Thank you. I won't be long. I just-" Kayla's words were cut off by the sudden appearance of a woman with heavy make-up, light brown hair, and dressed in a rather revealing maid outfit. She stared at Kayla, unbelief written all over her face.
"For once in my life, I have nothing to say. There are no words." The accent in her voice sounded to Kayla like that of a Transylvanian or Russian. The woman turned to the hunched man with a questioning glance. "Where did you find this one?"
This one? Kayla opened her mouth, but was once again cut off by the male servant.
"Actually, sis, she found us. She's a Carvel girl, as you can plainly see." Kayla didn't much care for the tone of his voice, but held her tongue. She really did need their help and being rude wouldn't help.
"Carvel, huh?" The woman stared at Kayla again. "The ice cream machine explode or something?"
"Not exactly. But I-" The sound of high heels on the floor echoed through the hall and a man's voice, tinged with an English accent called out,
"Riff-Raff! Magenta! Whatever are you doing?" All three swung around and Kayla felt her eyes widen. Standing in the hallway was, without a doubt, the strangest man she had ever seen. Tall and evidently graceful (anyone who could walk in 6-inch heels had to have some grace), he was wearing dark eye-shadow, blood-red lipstick, and had drawn-on eyebrows. His black hair was very curly and they shone in the bright hall-light. He was wearing a dark, lacy corset, women's lingerie, fishnet stockings, and lace-up gloves. A strange sight indeed, but all the same, very… well, sexy.
The man's eyes touched upon Kayla and widened. "What in the world?" He strode over to the little group, halting only a few feet away from them. "Darling, you have to be one of the sorriest sights I've ever seen! You look like you fell in a giant ice-cream sundae!"
"Actually, all this" Kayla pointed to the numerous stains decorating her body, "are all ice cream cones. We had a sale today and apparently kids don't like it when they have to get small cones instead of large!" The man's eyes fell to Kayla's chest and he smiled.
"Carvel? That dreadful little ice cream parlor? You work there?" He chuckled. "You poor thing; it must be horrible. And what was this about your car?"
"She says her car broke down, Master," the man- Riff-Raff, he was called- spoke up. "Should we help her?" He exchanged a glance with his sister as he spoke and Kayla suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Look, all I need is-"
"Is some one waiting for you at home?" The apparent master of the house asked suddenly. Kayla paused, then sighed. "No."
"Magenta, show the young lady to a room. Let her have a bath and get her some clean nightwear and clothing."
"That's okay. I-"
"Come now, dear, I couldn't send such a sweet young thing like you out by yourself in this dreadful weather now, could I? At least let me put you up for the night." He gave her a strange smile, a smile that suggested that it might be more than a night that Kayla would spend in a castle.
"Look, that's nice of you, Mr.-"
"Actually, it's Dr. Dr. Frank N. Futer. But call me Frankie. And you are, darling?"
"Kayla Dalson."
"Dalson?" Magenta frowned slightly. "One of the Dalson girls belonging to Ted and Sue Dalson, those local millionaires?"
"What's a rich girl doing working in an ice-cream shop?" Riff-Raff put in.
Kayla frowned. "No rudeness intended, but that's my business."
"Riff-Raff, leave the poor thing alone," Frank commanded. Turning back to his new house guest, he gave her the same strange smile.
"Get yourself cleaned up, dear Kayla, you'll feel better for it." Knowing she was defeated, Kayla nodded.
"Thank you… Frankie." He was still watching after her even after Magenta had led the girl away. Riff-Raff silded up to his master, a frown on his face.
"You planning something for her?"
"We shall see." Frank paused. There was something in the girl's eyes that he could not read. He didn't know what it was, but he intended to find out one way or another. In the meantime, his new little guest would be staying right here.
"Riff, have Magenta find out what she likes to eat, then prepare it. In the meantime, take those filthy clothes she was wearing- especially that Carvel shirt- and get rid of them. I don't think she'll need them again."
Author's note: I actually work at a Carvel and while I've never had ice cream thrown at me, I have had to deal with some very rude customers. Also, regardless of how busy the job gets, you get pretty dirty working in an ice cream store. Not much fun.
