Chapter Eleven:
"why would Mandy and Norman want to go there?" Winter shrugs. "your guess is as good as mine." Winter rubs his shoulder. "I plan on heading out that way tonight." Anika holds up her hand. "no, you'd better stay here. I don't want either of them to beat you again." Winter nods. "alright. Just don't get killed. That's all I ask."
Anika grabbed her sniper rifle. She tied it to her back. She pulled her hood up and over her face. A mask formed over her face-concealing it. She locks up the house before leaving. She takes her sparrow up to the house where Kora was last sealed off. She abandons the sparrow near the base of the mountain. Light from work lamps beamed in the distance. Anika kept to the shadows and bushes. Strange figures wearing black and red robes stood guard near the entrance of the house. The door had an eye with a swirl mark underneath it. She waited for Mandy and Norman to show up.
One of the figures looked up. "Ms. Flood. What a pleasant surprise." He steps away from the door. "Cren has been waiting for you." Mandy nods. She steps into the house with Norman. Anika moves away from her hiding place. She reaches for the small pistol on her belt. She takes aim at one of the guards. She shoots a dart at the guard's throat. The guard gags and drops to the floor suddenly. Anika makes quick work of the other guard. She drags both of their bodies off into the bushes.
Anika crotches near the door. She listens in through the keyhole. "I'm glad to see that you could finally make it." Cooed a voice. The voice sent shivers down Anika's spine. "I have a job for you Cren." Cren leaned forward in his chair. "do tell." Mandy handed him a slip of paper. "I have a set of targets that need to be eliminated. I need to give a certain someone a message." Cren smiles. "say no more. I'll make sure that the job is done. In the meantime." He hands her a set of papers. "I found what you were looking for. Turns out the seal wasn't very good. You may have a chance of actually awakening her." Mandy looks at the papers. "the next blood moon is a couple of weeks. That's when the magic keeping the seal in place is at its weakest." Mandy nods. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thanks, Cren."
Anika steps away from the door. She vanishes off into the night. Winter waited for her back at her place. "what did you find out?" "they plan on awakening Kora in a couple of weeks. I have to alert the house." Explains Anika. "They'll want to send agents out here immediately." Winter scratches his head. "I'll try not to tell Sam. I don't want him to get involved. I should have made sure Kora was properly eliminated. I was foolish to think that the moon chant would work. Taniks won't be too pleased with our failure. I just hope he takes an easy on us."
Sam sat out on the back porch of his house. The moon cast it's light over the top of the fence. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar revealing his chest. Sam closed his eyes enjoying the ocean air and the silence. The porch door opens suddenly snapping him out of his meditation. Elvis had come outside to check up on him. "see anything of interest out here?" Sam looks up. Elvis sits by him. "no not really. Just keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of trouble." Elvis trailed a finger down Sam's exposed chest. "well I think I have the best view in the house." Sam smirked. "really?" Elvis kisses his chin. "really. It's amazing from down here. You should try it." Sam pulls Elvis into his lap. The two of them begin to make out on the porch swing. Elvis runs his hands through Sam's hair. Sam keeps one arm wrapped around Elvis' waist. Elvis then lays a finger on Sam's lips gently. "I married the most handsome man in the world and he is better than any view I have ever seen." Sam chuckles lightly. "I'm not that beautiful Elvis. I'm quite average when compared to other beautiful things." Elvis shakes his head. "beauty is suggestive. My version of what I find beautiful happens to be holding me in his arms." Sam couldn't help but blush. "if you keep this up, you may just inflate my ego a bit more." Elvis giggles. "aw but I like it when you act tough." Sam blushed even more. "stop it." Sam took Elvis into their room. He laid down on the bed with him. "good night Elvis." Elvis yawns. "night Sam."
Meanwhile
Layla knocked on Buck's bedroom door. "Mr. Douglas?" She didn't get a reply. She slowly opened the door. "Mr. Douglas?" she calls again. Something didn't seem right about this. She opened the door all the way only to find him missing. A deep chill went down her spine. The door behind her closed suddenly. She gasped sensing a presence in the room with her. A figure stood behind her. It ran its hands down her sides. Layla spun around quickly. Her claws came out of her fingers. "stay back!" she warns. A hand stops her. "Layla darling, what are you doing?" Layla let out a sigh of relief. "You scared me," Buck smirked. He ran his hand underneath her chin. "oh, sorry my dear. I didn't mean to startle you." "I came in to check on you but you weren't answering. Why were you hiding?" He rested a finger on her nose. "because I'm doing a special project and you aren't allowed to know about it." She dips her head respectfully. She pulls out of his grasp. "my apologizes then Mr. Douglas. Perhaps I should come back later?" He shakes his head. He grabs hold of her hand. "Oh no, you don't have to leave, in fact, you can probably help me." Layla tilts her head. "how?" Buck smiles at her. He pulls her close. "I just need to borrow you for a quick experiment." Layla seemed unsure. "with all due respect Mr. Douglas, I do not wish to be a part of any unethical experiments." Buck frowns. "Layla, may I remind you that you are obligated to obey your master's wishes no matter how unethical they might be." Layla gulped. "don't worry. It won't hurt. I promise. I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, yes?" She nods. He then pats her cheek. "good girl. Now I want you to meet me down in the basement tomorrow at noon." Layla bows. "yes Mr. Douglas." She steps out of his room.
Layla woke up early the next morning. She attended to her chores like usual. She met up with Buck in the basement. "Mr. Douglas?" The basement was dark. She couldn't make out anything in the shadows. "Mr. Douglas, are you there?" The light came on suddenly. There were paper lamps tied to the ceiling. Fake grass covered the floor of the basement. Buck was dressed in a black tux. His hair had been slicked back. "Mr. Douglas. I'm…I'm lost for words." Buck smiles at her. He offers her his hand. She gladly accepts as he helps her down the stairs. "I figured that since I'm on the police's radar, we would have a nice afternoon together here." Layla nods. Buck motions over to the table. "why don't we take a seat then yes?" he suggests.
Layla was blushing from head to toe. She flicked her tail back and forth. Buck came downstairs with a tray in his hands. "sorry it took so long. I'm not much of a cook." Layla giggled quietly. "it's fine." He set Layla's plate down in front of her. Buck had made a nice Sheppard's pie. "how is it?" he asked. "it's lovely. You did an excellent job with it." Buck let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. I thought I messed it up. It didn't look right when it came out of the oven." "Mr. Douglas, I'm flattered that you took time out of your day to make it. It's the thought that counts after all." Buck nods. "suppose your right." The two of them ate in silence for a while.
Buck pulled out his phone. He managed to find a station on his music app that they both could listen to. He offers her his hand again. "care to dance?" She gets up from the table and joins him on the grassy floor. He placed one hand on her hip gently. The two of them began to dance. He carefully twirls Layla around. "you look wonderful this evening." Layla blushes again. "Mr. Douglas, you flatter too much." He smirks. "you know I like it when you call me, Mr. Douglas. You give me a feeling of power that I've never felt before." She turns a bright red. "aww am I embarrassing you?" he purrs. He then leans in for a kiss. Layla gasps quietly as his lips touched hers. She feels the hairs on the back of her tail stand up. He pulls away from her. It took Layla a few moments to register what had happened to her. "you truly are one of a kind." He whispers. "Mr. Douglas..." her voice shakes. "Shh. I love you, Layla. I want you to know that. If I had to spend the last few moments on this earth with anyone it would be you." Layla hugs him. "I love you too." He smiles. He rests his head on her shoulder.
Layla and Buck pull away from each other. Buck then carries Layla upstairs to his room. He then closes the door behind him.
