Beware the Perils of Online Dating Book 3

Love and the Hunter

Prologue:

Previously, on Beware the Perils of Online Dating…

After Aleena erased her kids' memories, she enrolled them in East Acorn Community College. Sleet and Bartleby weren't about to just give up and they each devised their own plan to get them back. Bartleby decided to try winning Aleena's favor and blessing to marry her daughter while Sleet enrolled in the same course as Manic, a Culinary Arts Course, under an assumed name. After Sonia started showing symptoms that only a mother would understand, Aleena realized her daughter was already in the family way and contemplated doing the unthinkable to keep her daughter from remembering the truth. However, Aleena was not aware that Sonia's photographic memory and the mysterious spirit of her mother from her very short past-life were already working to undo the memory potion's effects. Thinking Bartleby was doing something to influence Sonia, she had Bartleby falsely arrested. During the scuffle, the familiar voice crying her name jarred her. That night, Sonia sleepwalked from the flat on Harbor Street, up the steep hill of Euclid Avenue and narrowly avoided being hit by a car driven by Antoine D'Coolette who was out for a midnight drive with his wife, Bunnie. When Sonia was fully awake and aware, she remembered her husband and her real home. To be sure her mother couldn't interfere again, she went to King Maximillian Acorn who called Bartleby. Reunited at last, Sonia gave her mother an offer she couldn't refuse and she and Bartleby left for home. Now, the continuation.

Chapter 1

Manic sat in class while the teacher gabled on about the science of cooking. What exactly each ingredient was doing to the other ingredients and what effect that had on the bake. It was fascinating but he couldn't think about it. Fenri wasn't there. He had left suddenly the day before and now he hadn't come at all. He didn't know why he cared so much. He was just his partner. He didn't even know him all that well but he wanted to fix that.

For as long as Manic could remember, he lived in Grevillea with his two triplets and his mother. For as long as he could recall, his mother had always been a waitress and they had always lived in that small flat above the convenience store. The problem was, was that was all he could remember. He just didn't question it to protect his own sanity. He liked this school. He liked this city. Whatever it was he wasn't remembering must not be that important.

He looked at the spot beside him. He wished he'd gotten his address. He could at least do a welfare check. He didn't know why but he really wanted Fenri to be his friend.

The morning wore on as they baked more cookies. The teacher taught them how to dip the cookies, while still warm into two different icings, creating a tuxedo-effect on the shortbread. Finally, they were packing up the cookies as the bell rang, signifying the end of the class.

As he walked towards the front, he waved to Sonic who was walking with Sally. They were going over the textbook for their web design course. Manic could see why he followed her. Web design was at least fun whereas Sonic's first choice of Political Science had proved to be worse than watching paint dry.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sally," Sonic bid her farewell as she joined her friends. "How was your day, Manic?"

Manic shrugged. "We made black-and-white cookies today. Mine came out okay. Fenri wasn't here today…"

Sonic nodded. "I'm sure he was just sick. You said he cut out all of a sudden yesterday. Besides, don't you think you're a little too concerned about this guy you just met." When a blush appeared on his brother's nose, he chuckled. "Awww, Manic, do you have a crush?"

The green head turned away with an embarrassed pout. "I do not. I just… I'm interested in him as a person and I want to be his friend."

A white glove ruffled his wild hair. "My little brother has a crush." He teased as they walked home.

When they got home, they found their mother crying. They rushed to her side. "Mom! What's wrong?" Manic asked. "What happened? Is Sonia alright?" He pulled out his cookies. "Here, Mom, eat one of these. They'll help…"

The hedgehog family matriarch absently took one of the cookies and took a bite. After a few moments, she looked at her son. "Thank you, Manic… that… was very helpful." She said.

Sonic made a pot of tea. "What happened?" He repeated Manic's question.

Her lip trembled. "Your sister… she was accepted into a prestigious gifted course in Robotropolis, in Mobius…" She explained. "She left this morning."

The siblings stood in shock. "Robotropolis?" Manic asked. "Where's that?" He felt like he should know but he couldn't pinpoint it."

"It's to the north. Sally said it's run by this guy called Robotic or something like that." Sonic explained. "But Mom, she said the train can take us there. If she's just there, we can visit. It's great that she got this chance."

Aleena smiled through her tears. "You're right son. Your sister has always been a wanderbug and I couldn't afford to send her but they gave her a full scholarship with room and board. I just… how could I say no? She would have waited to say goodbye but school starts on Monday and it takes three days."

Manic nodded. "It'll be okay Mom. Sonia deserves this chance." A knock came at the door. "Who could that be?" He looked out the peephole. "Hey! It's Fenri!" He opened the door. "Come on in."

His mother stood up as the silvery wolf came into the apartment. "Um… hello…" She said nervously. She went to Manic and pulled him back.

Fenri smirked. "I missed the last couple of days and I remembered you said you lived here. I was wondering if you could tell me what I missed?" He asked.

Manic pulled away carefully. "Mom, this is Fenri. He's my class partner. We're still working with shortbread. Look." He showed the wolf the contents of the bucket.

He took one and bit into it. After a few bites, he put down the cookie. "Did you sift the flour and baking powder together before trying to incorporate it into the wet ingredients?"

Manic shook his head. "I forgot to do that yesterday too. Are they sour?" He asked. "No wonder the teacher gave me a look."

Fenri sighed. "To be honest, I don't know why she's having us use baking powder. This is shortbread. And it was she who had everyone put their ovens to 400. 350 is fine for baking cookies."

"Would you like to do our homework together? See if we can make them right?" Manic asked. "It's okay, right Mom?"

Aleena smiled big and wide. "I think that's a great idea. Do we have all the ingredients?" She asked her son with the tone of a teacher.

Manic felt a light go on. "I should double-check." He dove into the cupboards, seeking out the necessary ingredients.

While her son was distracted, Aleena approached the wolf suspiciously. She lowered her voice. "I must say… well played. But now the move is mine, I believe." She raised her voice. "So, you are my son's new friend. You don't look like a college student to me."

Sleet chuckled and shrugged. "I'm 33 if that's what you mean. You're right, I am rather late to the game but I was in law enforcement until recently. My boss had a heart attack and I realized that life is short and I needed to follow my passion."

"I think that is so true!" Manic agreed. "You never know what's going to happen so you have to seize the day." He triumphantly held a big bowl with all of the ingredients. "All I'm missing is semi-sweet chocolate chunks for melting but that's optional."

Aleena smiled again. "Very wise, my son… I will go downstairs and get you some." She needed to think.

"Ma'am, when I got here, I found this taped to your door," Sleet said, offering her an envelope from Bartleby.

She accepted the envelope and opened it. Inside was a brass key. Aleena, I want you to know that I hold no ill will towards you. I know life has not been kind to you. I wanted us to be friends but I understand that won't be possible. I'm sorry that I had to take Sonia but I love her and we are married now. In our culture, there's the custom of the groom giving the in-laws a gift. This key is to a three-bedroom condo that I purchased for you. It's on this same street so you're close to work but it's bigger. You and your sons each need your own room. Move-in when you're ready."

She folded the letter and put it into her jewelry box. How dare that boy think he could make this better by giving her a fancy house? She looked at him. "I will be right back with that chocolate. I expect you to behave like a gentleman." She couldn't deny him if Manic wanted him there but she didn't have to cave completely. She would have to see if she could steer Manic gently towards a more appropriate match. It would need to be delicately done so as not to break her part of the agreement. It would all need to be Manic's decision.

In Robotropolis, in the forest on the outskirts, an old fox chopped wood, his expression angry. He and his wife had a visit from a mysterious sage telling him that his son's biological mother had come to claim him. He'd held Valerie as the Oracle told him the dirty magic the former queen had used on their son.

He carried the wood, thinking of how they had mourned their son for many years, believing him to be dead. Now this woman, who had abandoned him, thought she could waltz in and take Sonic from them again.

"Valerie!" He said decisively as he went into the house. "I've made up my mind. We are going to get our son back. I don't care what magic she's done."

Valerie wiped her eyes as she looked up at her husband. "But what can we do? We don't have any magic."

"We don't need magic. We're going to report him missing and that he's been kidnapped." He explained. "We'll put out ads. Online, by fliers, by any means necessary. If he sees his picture somewhere and knows someone is looking for him, maybe he'll start to remember. We'll go to Acorn. I can get a job there."

Valerie cried in his arms. "Oh Arthur, yes. Let's go get our baby boy back." She said. "But remember. That nice man said if we force it, it could do more harm than good."

AN: Will Aleena be able to find Manic who she thinks is a more suitable suitor or will he prove to be as willful as her daughter?