K and K 51
It had been a month since they returned from their adventure through the mirror. They'd settled into a routine. They poured spices that Kate recommended partly based on her knowledge and what had sold best. Every four weeks they took their pony kegs into Silverymoon using their pack mules. "We have a Portable Hole that will hold all of them, so why bother using and keeping pack mules?" Lanie questioned. That way would be much easier and less trouble.
"In my world, anyone who showed wealth could be targeted. If you walked around with a large amount of money, gold coins, and displayed them everywhere you went, you were just asking for trouble. If we act like a simple caravan, people who are still willing to attack will be too weak to succeed," Kate tried to explain.
They had done this twice with just Javi, Kevin, and Lanie acting as guards for their caravan. Like the other times they had no trouble and each person now had an additional 5,200 gold pieces at their disposal. That amount, however, had lessened a little since they returned with a load of food that went down into the freezer/cooler or into the dry storage upstairs. In addition they purchased another four weeks of hay and oats for the horses and food for the wolves.
"IT"S TIME!" Jenny came racing up the stairs to inform everyone. They hurried to the stable downstairs to watch, to help if necessary, the birth of Storm's pups. When it was over, Storm licked each pup clean as they scrabbled blindly to latch onto a nipple and feed. There were five of them. One was jet black through and through. Another was almost all white, while the rest were a mix of the two colors. Dapper simply stood watch, guarding all of them from everything including them. Though he did allow Javi close enough to feed the two of them and change their water.
Almost two weeks later the pups yipped when they felt like it, though they still hadn't ventured out from their den. "We're going to need names for them soon." Kate marveled at the birth that she had watched firsthand. She rested a hand on her belly. She was late, but wasn't sure if that meant anything or not. She was wound up, anxious to be pregnant which produced stress. With that and the stress of their latest combat through the mirror, she wasn't sure it meant anything.
Rick had been Rick for the most part. He would spend a few hours in the library reading book after book and help when he was called out of the library. He had started with the Demonology books and had been fascinated. Presently he was working through the massive pile of construction books they had brought back.
Javi was working wonders in the garden which provided them with fresh vegetables, even the trees were producing fruit. Add to that the fact that Kate hadn't burnt anything in a month which meant they were eating well. The house was clean, they were eating good food, and they were enjoying life. They had even created plans for the roof deck using information that Kate had brought with her from her world. They just had to figure out how to make it work in this world.
In addition to all that, Kate was making headway on her plan to open a lingerie shop. Jenny loved her new bras as did Lanie. Even Kate had to admit that the ones she made for herself were far superior to what she had been wearing. She still didn't think what she made was as good as what was made in her world, but they were great. They were pretty and comfortable and provided support. "How did you do this?" Jenny placed her hands on the outside of her breasts, amazed at the support she now had. "It's called underwire." Kate grinned being really pleased with what she was creating.
She had even made a number of pads that the three of them were wearing regularly now. "What are these things on the sides?" Jenny made them flap. "They're called wings." Kate smiled wide.
She just needed names for each. Her first choice for the bras was "Ali Baba." The fact that this place had magic and yet couldn't use magic to make a decent bra and that the name meant magic in her world was irresistible.
As for the pads, she was actually thinking of calling them Always. Then she thought maybe she should just use the same name as the bras. Next on her agenda was making panties for the three of them. Once she had those perfected she was thinking of buying a building in town or buying the land and using the Lyres to build one. She'd hire women and teach them how to sew her goods, open her own business. However that was probably months, if not years from now.
The sound of Dapper barking a warning had Kate running downstairs from the kitchen where she had just put a pie in the oven. Downstairs she found a regal looking Elf that she recognized. She calmed Dapper down. "Come in. Are you here to see the puppies or do you have something else on your mind?" Kate asked Guri as she entered. "Both actually." Guri smiled and knelt down to see the pups and check on Storm.
"They appear to be healthy. I brought a powder you can add to their water. It will help them grow up strong and healthy." Guri offered it and Kate took it. "Thank you. Everyone's spread out upstairs," Kate told her then escorted her upstairs and went in search of everyone.
"My father has started to make gains on what is on one side of one of the two remaining mirrors. He has managed to find allies and together we are defeating the army that is attacking a Dwarven Stronghold. There have been a few losses, however, that is to be expected. Still, Father is looking for more allies," Guri informed them. "And Yuri wants us to be one of those allies," Rick said only to see Guri shake her head. "We want you to enter the other mirror. I personally have monitored this mirror and what I have seen concerns me greatly."
"If I am correct, there is a city the size of Silverymoon that also appears to be just as good and an equal in power. However they are losing their city to something unusual, something I have never seen or heard about before. It is being destroyed from the ground up. The roots of either a single plant, or several of them, appears to be spreading and destroying the city, building by building. There have also been indications that the city is being attacked by small bands that I cannot clearly see. Father wants you to go to this city, determine what is happening, and put an end to it."
However Kate noticed that Jenny had been acting off ever since Guri mentioned something about roots. "What is it Jen? You've been agitated since just after Guri began speaking to us." Kate was concerned about her. What she got back was hesitance and a look of fear. "Go ahead, they're our friends and you've earned their trust. You know you've earned mine." Kevin offered his support. But Jenny didn't look very certain. Finally she broke down and began to speak. "I'm so sorry. I lied to you all when we first met. I'm not a Half-Elf. Actually that's not true, I am half Elven; I just also happen to be half Demon." Jenny watched their mouths fall open. "I'm not evil, I swear! If anything, I'm the exact opposite."
"Father was charmed by a Succubus who, in turn, was charmed by him. When she became pregnant, she had to hide it from everyone else she be hunted down by other Demons. When she finally gave birth to me she was found out and had to go on the run. Father told me all about her when I was old enough to understand. The closest settlement was Elven and they forced us out because of me. All they saw was my Demon side and said they were doing me a favor...they didn't kill me for what I was."
"We hid in a human settlement until my father was killed. I became a Concubine to support myself. Turns out I'm actually pretty good at it, mostly because of my mother's bloodline. I didn't tell you because I was afraid of what you would think. My mother was a Demon but I have never, ever seen her." Jenny retreated into Kevin's arms.
"I trust her. She hasn't done anything but help us." Kevin supported her and held her tight. "If she goes so do I," he stated unequivocally which made Jenny turn to look at him. "Kev, you don't have to do this." She wasn't going to come between him and his friends. She was the outsider after all. "It'll be fine Jen, I'm not leaving you and letting you fall back into your old life. You have friends and I love you no matter what." His words made Jenny cry in relief, her heart opening even wider to him.
"It does answer a few questions," Lanie admitted. They had all been amazed at her natural ability to affect men as much as she did, as well as with women, even ones that weren't interested in women sexually.
"I'm from another world and have been accepted. You've fought with us, supported us, and risked your life to help us. Who am I to care what half your blood is? Hell, most of what I've seen and done since I came here is nothing more than fantasy in my world." Kate didn't care and Jenny soon had support from the others. All except Guri who remained silent.
"You looked like you knew something," Guri said in her steady manner. "It was something my father taught me. Mother had told him all she knew and he in turn told me. Even though she was gone he didn't want me to hate her or hate what I was."
"What you're talking about sounds like a story Father told me. It was about a Demon Tree that meant to take over an entire world, to have complete control over everything. It wanted to kill all the animals and turn the place into an evil world of plants. It was a massive tree that sent out roots to attack and destroy what it wanted. It was called a Meleonen...Melagrus...MALGARIOUS! That's it, Malgarious. Demon Plant, Demon Tree. It hates anything that's an animal. It's supposed to be able to convert local plants into evil wherever it spreads its roots." Jenny shuddered after telling them all that she knew about it.
"Sounds like we'll be fighting plants this time," Javi said, automatically adding Jenny in all this. "I presume the same payment applies as before?" Rick queried. He, too, included Jenny.
Guri brought out another Bag of Holding that held 15,000 gold pieces per person and handed it over. "I will inform Father to expect you at our front gates in no more than two weeks." Guri got up and left, and as usual, didn't thank them. "She's going to remain alone if she keeps that much ice water in her veins," Kate whispered to herself, unaware that Guri could still hear her. It was something Guri herself had noticed, it was just that she wasn't used to acting in any other way. She also wasn't sure how to change. Maybe when, or if, these people came back, she would enlist their aid to help her change. Living alone the rest of her life was not really what she wanted. She just did not know how to change.
"It's not yet time for lunch, so pack and head to Silverymoon?" Rick asked. "We can go in about an hour, I just put a pie in the oven," Kate told them. "Ooo, I love your pies." Jenny salivated in anticipation. "Cherry from our cherry tree?" She clasped her hands together hopefully. She had no idea why she was in love with cherries, she just was. And Kate's baking only helped give life to her craving. Watching Kate smile made her smile wider. "We wait for one of Kate's famous pies then." Rick chuckled, not that he wasn't going to have a slice. He liked her cooking as much as everyone else in the house did.
One thing was on everyone's mind while shopping in Silverymoon. "What do you use to combat plants? In particular a Demon Plant?"
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They were venturing out a little farther into town today and had even made plans to go over their future, or at least Alexis's future classroom building that was the colleges Veterinarian School. Tomorrow however was going to be a big day. Their first commuter boat was scheduled to arrive and be docked in its space at Wilders Plads Marina. A boat this size was charged 250DK (A little over US$30) a month for the space. Since the other two boats were months, if not years out, it was going to be the only one there for quite a while.
However their large cruiser was scheduled to show up next month. They needed to coordinate its arrival with the main contractor, deciding where they were going to dock it on the island so it was out of his way.
While looking at their future school area they found Kobenhavn Zoo in Frederksberg. It took some time and they had missed lunch because of it, but Katherine had been accepted as a volunteer for three days a week from opening till closing. Since she only spoke English she was limited in what she was allowed to do.
"The people in New York gave you their highest recommendation. They are sorry to lose you however their loss is our gain," the volunteer coordinator told her. "Actually we plan on moving here. We're just staring a 2 year plus construction and remodel. Once school starts again, we've discussed taking classes to learn how to speak and write in Danish," Alexis said knowing that they hadn't talked about what they were going to do after these three months. "All I can say is welcome and you begin the day after tomorrow. There will be some paperwork you will need to fill out followed by an orientation program so we can see where to place you. I'm sure you're going to fit right in." He shook both of their hands.
"I've got a job!" Katherine was bouncing since it meant she was going to be around animals again. "We should celebrate!" Alexis said, caught up in Kat's excitement. "And what did you have in mind for this celebration?" With Alexis it could mean ice cream, eating out, or any number of things. However the mischievous look on her face had Kat wondering. It turned out to be going back to their apartment and making love to each other for the next two hours. Both of them were spent and relaxed and loose as they held onto each other. "Now we need to get you a job so we can celebrate again," Katherine teased and quickly kissed her.
The sound of one of their cell phones ringing had them hurriedly trying to untangle from each other and find it. Alexis found the offending device. "Hello."
"Hi pumpkin." Rick was cautious. He had heard his daughter's message and was really worried that he had screwed up so big he might not be able to fix it. "Hello Dad." Alexis's armor instantly went up and her voice sounded cold. A still naked Katherine got behind Alexis and began working on her shoulders.
Flash back to just before this call:
"YOU DID WHAT!?" Rachel was surprised and immediately pissed off at him which made Rick shrink back into himself. He wished he was somewhere else, anywhere else. When Rachel was angry with him, she was really angry. He had quickly found that his childish antics didn't work with her and they hadn't actually seen each other for almost a week after the last one. It took a shopping trip into town, a walk on the Hamptons beach, followed by dinner before she was speaking to him again.
"I never took you for a sexist bigot Rick. Your daughter's found love, isn't that enough for you? Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone you want to spend time with? I've had my share of boyfriends and not one of them was really worth spending that much time with."
"I dove into my job and got lucky to be accepted at the AG's office. Hell, I'd still be there working hard, all alone, if I hadn't done what my conscience told me to. And what did doing the right thing get me? It got me fired, that's what it got me. Me dedication to my work also left me alone and closed off. What little I did date didn't lead to anything. Trust me, finding someone to love and loves you back isn't as easy as you seem to think."
"Why do you care who she's with so long as she's happy. Isn't that enough? Don't you want your daughter to be happy? Let her grow up Rick, she's not a child anymore. If you've done even half the job I think you have, based on what you tell me, she knows what she's doing."
"And I don't want to hear another complaint about that guy Pi." She agreed that it was a stupid name and if Rick was even half right, he was a parasite who could only live by living off of others. He was probably hoping that Alexis had access to her dad's money. "Katherine isn't Pi! ...Where's your phone?" She went looking for it and found it on the kitchen counter in his house. She had to admit that between their two homes his was much nicer.
"Here!" Rachel shoved the phone at him. "Call her and apologize. I don't care if you have to grovel and scrub the floor she walks on with a toothbrush." Rachel let go of the phone when he took it. "And if you piss her off again, I'm going to hurt you! I know just how to do it and not leave a mark on your body!" Which was a good thing for her since she liked his body. Actually she loved what his hands could do and being held close to that broad chest of his was heaven, plus he was adventurous in bed which was something that she treasured. "WELL!?" she demanded as he just stood there staring at her.
GOD, but he loved it when she got all bossy at him. She didn't take any of his bullshit and was only too willing to give it right back. She was forcing him to up his game. She wasn't another one of those weak-minded, big-breasted airheads that he was more comfortable with. Though maybe comfortable wasn't the right word. Being with one simply meant he didn't have to put in the effort to get her into his bed. Rick snapped out of it and scrolled through his extensive list of contacts then pressed send. Alexis sounded happy when she answered and then pissed when she heard his voice.
"Hi pumpkin. ...I got your message. I was hoping maybe we could talk," Rick said contritely, not wanting to get into another pissing match. "Then talk Dad." Alexis was still angry with him. "I was actually hoping to do it in person. I can drive into the city and meet you somewhere," he offered not knowing that she wasn't there. "I'm in Copenhagen with Kat, I can't just up and fly to New York." She wasn't sure why she was angry that he didn't know where she was. Granted she hadn't told him, but she thought that maybe her grams would have.
"COPENHAGEN? With..." Rick shut-up when he saw the look Rachel was giving him. He had been about to denigrate Katherine and his daughter's choice yet again. "Offer to go to her," Rachel whispered to him. "Copenhagen sounds nice actually. I can fly out tomorrow and we can meet and talk in the hotel, somewhere neutral," Rick suggested uncertainly. "Offer to have Simon fly him, I'll call and have him ready," Katherine murmured softly since she was close enough to hear every word.
"Fine Dad. I'll have Kat have Simon fly you in her plane; that way you don't have to worry about finding a ticket on short notice," Alexis informed him brusquely. "Ask him to bring Rachel," Katherine whispered as Alexis turned and looked at her with a 'Why the hell would I do that?' look on her face.
"I want to meet her and if she's dating your dad, so do you. Now ask him!" Katherine put a little more commanding tone into her soft voice. Alexis quickly relented as she turned back to the phone. "Can you ask Rachel if she wants to come? You two can spend some time looking around," Alexis offered a little grudgingly. "And tour the island with us." Katherine pushed a little more and Alexis sighed.
"You two can come with us to tour the island we bought. It's not far, it'll only take a few minutes." They hadn't actually learned how to get out of the marina and over to the island yet so it might take more than a few minutes. That was assuming they didn't make a wrong turn somewhere.
Rick covered the phone with his hand. "Alexis wants to know if you'll come with me. She's suggested we could tour Copenhagen and go out to this island they've bought and are renovating."
Rachel thought this through. She would finally get to meet his grown daughter, which was a good thing. She would get to meet her girlfriend who obviously had her heart, which was another good thing. She would get to visit a city she had never been to before, which was yet another good thing. Plus her job only required her to have access to the internet for her to work, which was still another good thing.
"Alexis's girlfriend has a plane and she's offering to fly us there," Rick added. Rachel's eyes widened in surprise. They had access to a private plane that had the range to get from New York to at least Heathrow? She was sold. "Tell her I accept and thank you."
"Rachel accepts your offer to come, pumpkin. It'll be so good to see you. I've missed you." Rick actually did miss his little girl. He just had to figure out how to see her as a grown woman who was making her own choices now.
"I'll call Simon and we need to get them a hotel room. Ask how long they want to stay. A week, maybe two?" Katherine suggested and went in search of the satellite phone to call Simon. "ALEXIS! Remember Simon thinks my name is Serena Kaye," Katherine called out just as she reached the bedroom. 'Why did Kate have to make this so complicated?
Hotel D'Angleterre.Alexis quickly found that space on such short notice was limited. She got a deluxe one bedroom suite for Simon. It was same size suite and hotel she and Katherine had used when they came out to tour the island. She upgraded her dad and Rachel to a d'Angletreer Suite: 1022 square feet, an enormous living room, king bed, 42" B&O LED TV with international channels, marble bathroom and champagne upon arrival. As well as a shuttle service to and from the hotel.
Alexis was nervous after making the arrangements and hearing Katherine talking to Simon about flying her father and his girlfriend out to see them ramped up her anxiety. Alexis wanted this to go well, she truly did. But she was still angry with her father.
