Disclaimer: Voltron and its characters belong to WEP. I make no money, I just do this for fun. This is the finale of Deception, but by no means is the story over. My story arc will be a total of three stories, this one, Deceived, then Redemption. I want to thank three people who have made a difference in my life. My husband Keith aka our_man_guido. WarzonePrez, my faithful friend and editor and sounding board. KatherinepopeDMD, for all the encouragement and the Ciroc. And to the K/A fanship, especially cubbie, and everyone who has reviewed my work. Thanks for all the support and love.
AN: "A Mothers Love" will help fill in the month gap, as well as "Seduction, Dradin Style", which will be a Lotor & Lysette pairing. I swear I am almost finished with it, it's just real life and wanting to finish this story got in the way. I have also created a playlist for each of my stories, and will also post and send a playlist of songs I used to write them if you want it. I will be posting a Rated M version, and by request, a slightly racier version will be available. For that, you must request it, as I dare not post due to its very graphic content.
Magnolia Ridge
Outside New Orleans
Stasia Deville came out into the moonlit garden. She reached down to grab a gardenia blossom from the bush and began to inhale its fragrance.
"You always loved doing that," a slightly husky voice said. "In fact, I can think of a similar garden where we did more than smell the blossoms."
"I know," she replied "The gardeners always wondered why the bushes always blossomed." He kneeled down next to her on the ground. Stasia sighed. "That was the happiest time of my life. It's what kept me sane over the past twenty years. All I have left are memories." Mike and Stasia stared at each other. Mike was the first to break the silence.
"You left me devastated when you married the Admiral," he said. "I even showed up at the church to stop you."
"What?" Stasia gasped. "When? I didn't see you."
"I was in the back of the church when the priest pronounced you husband and wife," he replied. "I about died when he kissed you, and I noticed a evil glint in his eye."
"Yeah," she said, "I noticed it too, but I was so blinded by my misery, I could think. I was numb." Stasia began crying softly. "And then it was all for nothing."
"What do you mean it was all for nothing?" he asked. Stasia motioned for him to sit on the ground.
"You remember my mother Lily, right?" she asked. "She always loved you, and was a big supporter of us. Remember the night of my eighteenth birthday ball, when we danced under the stars? I was still shocked that you had learned to waltz. How did you do that by the way?"
"Your mother taught me," he replied. "She also taught me how to behave in high society. I wasn't exactly uncouth, but to fit in, I figured I had learn some graces. Actually, it helped over the course of my career."
"The next day my father came into the bedroom as I was getting ready to go out with you. He told me that as the oldest, I had to make a very hard choice. He told me my mother was dying, and there was only one way to save her. That the then Lieutenant Edward Carletti had offered to pay for all of my mother's treatment, as well as rescue the family from ruin and bankruptcy, if I would marry him. He also told me that business hadn't been the best the past few years, and he knew we would have all suffered. He even told me that I did not have to marry him, that we would find another way." I remember looking at my father Armand's violet eyes. I even asked him why he kept this from me. I told him I could get a job, and I still had a trust fund from Grandmother, Lorilei. However, he told me I couldn't touch it until I turned twenty-one. It was later, on looking at my mother, that I made up my mind. She was so frail, she would never survive without treatment. So, I agreed to marry him. Now I wish I never would have." Mike looked at Stasia, who was crying softly
"So, you only married him to save your mother," he said. "That I can understand. But why did you say it all for nothing?"
"A year later my mother died," she said. "She seemed to get better, then she would have a relapse. It followed the same pattern until her heart finally gave out. We were devastated, but my father took it the hardest. The day of the funeral was cold and rainy. We had gone back to Shadow Ridge, and I was getting the food ready, when I heard a gunshot. I ran into my father's study, and saw him slumped in his big chair, his hunting rifle hanging limply in his hand. He killed himself." She then sobbed harder, causing Mike to take her into his arms. "It wasn't for another two years that I found out the truth. I had just had my fifth miscarriage and was in agony. Edward had come into the hospital room and started on a tirade. He stated how could he father three children on different women, yet his own wife couldn't produce one living bastard. Later that night they let me go, and when I came home, I went to our room. After a few minutes I was reaching for something to drink when I knocked over a picture frame and it shattered. Lying there behind the picture of my parents was a flash drive. After Edward left for the evening, I brought up my portable holoterminal and played the contents. What I saw horrified me. there were bills and invoices for what I found out later were bogus treatments…and phony medications from drug companies that didn't exist. He had let my mother die. I was furious, and when he got home, I let him have it. I screamed I was divorcing his ass, and started to pack my things. But then he said something that stopped me. He said, 'With what money? It's all mine, not yours.' Over the next month, I learned everything I could. He had liquidated all my assets into his name. I had nothing. I knew then I was trapped in a never ending cycle. That's when I started drinking, and for over twenty-five years I drowned myself in misery and alcohol. There is more, but I'd rather wait until all the parties involved are here. The Space Marshall is going to be breaking the news to them tomorrow."
"You could have come to me," he said, cupping her tear-soaked face in his hands. "I would have helped you."
"I was too proud," she said defiantly. "I hurt you too much…I betrayed you." Stasia softly looked into his blue-green eyes. Suddenly they were in each other arms. A few minutes later she felt him lower her to the soft ground. As they were beginning, a woman stood at the window. She closed the drapes and turned to see Lotor standing in the doorway.
"You really are a sweet person," he remarked. "I haven't met someone like you since my mother. You put everyone's happiness above your own." Angelique came over and sat down at the desk.
"Everyone deserves a happy ending," she replied as she went back to her files.
Arus
Castle of Lions
Allura and Lysette came into the throne room and stopped in front of the portrait gallery.
"As you know, a lot of the portraits were damaged or destroyed in the Zarkonian wars" Allura said, "when the old castle was bombed. I am currently working with our historians to recreate or restore them."
"I understand," Lysette replied. "My mother didn't have any mementos of her childhood. I even asked her about it once, and she told me that all she knew was that her life started at age seven. Before that, it was all fuzzy."
"Can you tell me what you know about her?" Allura asked. "I didn't even know I had an aunt until your uncle told me." Lysette laughed.
"Yeah, I didn't even know you and Romelle were my cousins," Lysette said. "I did notice that some people on Dradin were looking at us weird. In fact, Corran looked at me awfully funny when I first landed." She sighed. "Now I finally understand." She went over to sit on the bench, followed by Allura. "My mother was a kind gentle woman. She was always smiling and laughing. We were all each other had for the first five years of my life. Manset was also like an uncle to me, as he was the one who raised my mother from a young girl. I just wish I could find out how she survived the attack that we heard about."
"Why don't you tell her yourself?" a voice from behind them said. They turned to see Anthony standing in the doorway. "Please come to the control room. I think you are going to want to hear this."
A few minutes later everyone had gathered in the control room. Corran had brought up the screen to reveal Lenora sitting at a desk. Jon and Mike were flanking her.
"I have some news that might be difficult to hear," Len said. "I recently learned some very interesting developments…some good, but the majority is bad. First off…" She turned to face Lysette. "…your mother is alive. In fact, she's standing right here." Lenora turned to motion for someone standing near her to come to the screen.
"Hello ma petite," Angelique said softly. "I know you must have questions, but I'm so happy to see you again."
"Mother," Lysette croaked before fainting to the floor. Suddenly the room turned into chaos as everyone tried to revive Lysette. Jessica was even waving a flask of vodka under her nose. Marina and Keith were looking at the second person who came into view.
"Hello Aunt Stasia," Marina said. "This is Keith." She pointed to him.
"Hello Keith," Stasia replied. "It's been many years. I haven't seen you since you were a baby, then a small child. I am your Aunt Stasia. I was the eldest of the Deville children. Your mother Lacey was my younger sister. Also, she was Anthony's twin sister. I hope we can get to know each other better." Keith looked at the view screen, trying to process this, when suddenly he stiffened.
"What is he doing there?" he snarled. Allura paled as she gasped.
"Lotor!" she shouted.
"Yes Allura," he replied. "I mean you no harm. In fact, what I'm doing here is to help atone for my sins. Over the past few months I've had time to think on my life. I know now that I want to be a different person, I know you all can never forgive me, but I'd like the chance to try. Especially, as I'm now part of the family."
"What do you mean by that?" Corran said angrily.
"I think you know my wife," he replied. "She is currently lying on the floor unconscious." He smiled
"What?" a chorus of voices rang out as they turned to face Lysette, who was now waking up and looking at the veiwscreen.
"I'm not married to him!" she exclaimed. "How could I be? I may drink a lot, but at least I remember what happened the night before!"
"Remember Dradin?" he asked. "The Leather & Lace ball? I found you in the bar drinking, then we had those Tequila shots…" Lysette cussed.
"Oh shit," she muttered to herself. "But that doesn't explain how we ended up married!" Jessica spoke up.
"Remember what happens when you drink Tequila?" Jessica said. "It's why you never did after the Cabo San Lucas incident."
"My clothes fall off?" Lysette shot back.
"No," she replied, "you never remember anything. For some reason, Tequila messes with your mind." Lenora interrupted them briskly
"Now that we have that little bombshell out in the open," she said, "who's ready for some more?"
"I don't know if I can take any more," Corran said, looking feint
"Thanks to these three," she continued, "we now have more than enough evidence to convict Admiral Carletti. Yet we still have more to go. Unfortunately, I'm going to need your help on a few matters that are important to the trasisition. I am asking Jeff Aki and his crew to come to Arus to give you support for a few weeks while you bring everyone here."
"I just can't believe we were fooled for so long," Allura said. Lotor sighed
"That, my dear, is called Deception," he replied.
What will happen with everyone, and what about this robeast that is being built? Find out in Deceived, the next in the series!
