Surprising Company

Monaco, one week after the Zaibatsu Assault Raid…

With a heavy heart, Lili returned to her country of Monaco in the early morning hours on a Saturday. Lili's father, Jenson Rochefort, was not happy with her because she put herself in grave danger to take part in the Zaibatsu raid. And to make things worse, hearing about the death of his longtime friend and butler, Sebastian, did not make the reunion any better. When the private helicopter landed at the front of the Rochefort Mansion, Jenson stood at the front entrance alongside his younger servants who were both women. Lili got out of the passenger side after the pilot opened the door for her. Then she saw her father, standing tall and dignified. How was this reunion going to be without Sebastian? Lili was bracing for the worst.

Jenson Rochefort: "Lili. Welcome home."

Lili: "Bonjour father."

Jenson: "Won't you come inside? It is going to rain." (Turning his back without smiling.)

Lili: "Oui Monsieur."

Lili did as commanded. The butler ladies closed the doors behind her. Lili followed her father into the great living room as he sat down in his personal recliner, and she sat to face him at the couch. As he sipped on his small cup of iced whiskey, he then gave Lili another serious look as he began to speak.

Jenson: "Do you have any idea how worried I was once you left the mansion and you decided to fight in that tournament? Well?"

Lili (Looking down.): "Pretty worried."

Jenson (Putting his tea down.): "I really wanted to back home, but Sebastian reassured me that he would not let you die. He and I secretly kept in touch while you were off fighting and prancing around."

Lili (In shock): "Father! You and he were talking the entire time? He told me he wouldn't let you know about me fighting!"

Jenson: "Remember young lady, he is still my butler first! Our friendship goes deep, you know this! I trusted him to protect you and he did that to the very end! Even against my wishes, he taught you how to defend yourself with his unique style of fighting. For that, it was difficult for me to let you go for a third time fighting in these crazy martial art contests. I see now that his nurturing has truly come a long way. I am hurt that he is gone Lili." (Sobbing.)

Lili (Looks away in shame): "Father is so sad right now. At least he doesn't know about my live streams." (Speaking) "Father?"

Jenson (Gets up.) "I need some fresh air. Do not go anywhere! You will be under restriction for disobeying me again, but I still have not decided for how long." (Walking off.)

Lili (Looking at her dad leave in anger.): "Restriction? Oh no! I really messed up now!"

Lili sat in the couch for a good 20 minutes. Those minutes felt like an eternity. She almost fell asleep until her father came back with his servants. He told her that she would stay put in the mansion for an entire month as punishment for fighting in the tournament for a third time. The two female servants were former soldiers of the French Army that were hired by Jenson shortly after Sebastian's death. Both women stood side by side as Lili was told to go back in her room until dinner was served. When Lili opened her door to enter her bedroom one of the ladies spoke to her about dinner time.

Stefani: "Dinner will be served at 6 pm. We will knock 3 times and give you 10 seconds to open the door. If you do not come out, we will unlock your door and find you. That is all."

Lili (Sighs): "As you wish."

However, 2 hours later…

The doorbell rings at the gate of the Rochefort mansion. There were two women at the front. They were both young. One girl looked like she was dressed as a vampire and the other one was dressed in violet spandex ninja outfit with her hair dyed dark purple. The security camera looked at them from above the gate. Then the other half of Jenson's two maids, Tiffany answered them with questions through the gate speaker.

Tiffany: "Who are you? State your business here."

Phoenix: "Yes, I am called Phoenix, an agent under the United Nations. Is Lili Rochefort home?'

Tiffany: "Why do you need to know?"

Phoenix: "My friend here knows Lili very well. In fact, she stayed here at the mansion for a time before the tournament started. Can you let us see her please?"

Tiffany: "Lili is here, however, she cannot be allowed to see anyone because of her punishment. I'm sorry but you will have to come back another time."

Eliza: "Punishment?"

Phoenix: "How long will that be?"

Tiffany: "Until December."

Phoenix: "December?!"

Tiffany: "Yes! Now…unless you don't want to be arrested for trespassing the property, I suggest you leave our camera view now!"

Eliza: "Why you?"

Phoenix: "Hold it! Not a good idea! Let's just go for now Eliza!"

Eliza: "But!"

Phoenix (Winks): "It's alright! Come on."

Phoenix took Eliza by the hand as the vampire follower her away from the sight of the security camera. Hiding by another wall away from the mansion, Phoenix told Eliza to listen carefully. They would sneak inside.

Phoenix: "Well…we tried to be normal and courteous, but it looks like your friend Lili has some stubborn people around her. So…let's find a way to sneak into her room unnoticed."

Eliza: "We can do that?"

Phoenix: "Yep. I can make myself invisible thanks to this watch. Check it out!" (Uses the watch.) "See?"

Eliza: "What…where did you go?"

Phoenix: "Right here silly!" (Returns back to normal.) I never went anywhere. I just used the Violet System's latest invisible cloaker watch."

Eliza: "That's amazing!"

Phoenix: "Yeah and lucky for you I have another one!" (Takes out the extra watch from her utility pouch.) "Now put it on. And here it goes." (Presses the blue button.)

Eliza: "Whoa! Just look at me!"

Phoenix: "Pretty awesome huh?"

Eliza: "Yes! Fascinating!"

Phoenix: "Now just stick with me closely. We are going get on top of this wall and you should be able to fly over the tall gate and I will simply leap over it. Then we can find a way inside the mansion through the back. Got it?"

Eliza: "I got it."

Phoenix: "Come on!"

Phoenix and Eliza carefully ascended the wall that soared high above the nearby street. From there, Phoenix could see the positions of the cameras and their viewpoints. Then Phoenix commanded Eliza to turn on the cloak watch as they hopped down from the other side of the brick wall. Everything appeared to be quiet and there was no one in the vicinity of the backyard. Phoenix then asked Eliza if she remembered which room was Lili's. All Eliza could remember was that Lili was in the 2nd floor. The mansion was three stories tall so looking for the exact room would be a little more difficult.

Phoenix: "There are a lot of rooms here Eliza. We just need to make sure we don't make too much noise so keep close and quiet understand."

Eliza: "Uh huh."

After several looks into each room, on the West wing of the mansion, they finally found Lili's main bedroom. As soon as Eliza could see Lili sleeping in her bedroom, she alerted Phoenix about it, but she screamed by accident. Phoenix held her mouth to keep her quiet.

Phoenix: "Pipe down! Are you trying to get us spotted?"

Eliza: "I'm sorry, but she's in there."

Phoenix: "I can see that now." (Checks the windows.) "Yep. They are shut tight. Cutting them will make too much noise."

Eliza: "What do we do?"

Phoenix: "Oh. I remember seeing a sky vent on the 3rd floor of the roof. We will have to sneak inside from the attic and make our way to Lili's room. And don't worry, I have a universal lock pin."

Eliza: "Ok then let's go."

Phoenix: "Remember, you have to be quiet."

Eliza: "Of course I will."

Phoenix's guess to enter the mansion via the sky vent was spot on. She managed to cut the vent off with her laser pin, making a hole big enough for both her and Eliza to enter inside the attic. Then they carefully exited the attic as they found themselves back at the second floor using the staircase. No one was in the hallway, so it would be no problem to walk to Lili's room now.

Phoenix (Takes out her lockpick.): "I think this is the room Eliza, seeing there are no more doors and we are near the end of this hallway."

Eliza: "Yes." (Sniffs.) "I can smell her perfume."

Phoenix: "Great. Hehe." (Unlocks the door with an awkward look on her face.) "Here we go." (Door unlocks): "Come on in."

Now that the girls were inside Lili's room. They could finally turn off the cloak watches. Phoenix made extra sure to relock the door once it was closed. Eliza rushed over to Lili's bed where Lili was still sleeping like a motionless log. Phoenix eyes got big because she didn't know how Lili would react seeing them in her room. Lili opens her eyes to see a red black figure blocking her vision. She though she was still dreaming and then panicked because her view made it seemed like Eliza was a monster. Lili jumps out of bed in fright!

Lili: "What are you?! Get away!" (Screams.)

Phoenix: "Aw sh*t!"

Eliza: "Wait Lili! It's me! Hey!" (Gets teddy bears thrown at her.)

Phoenix (Getting in between them): "Will you two stop?!"

Lili: "Huh?" (Calming down.) "What is going on here?"

Phoenix: "Wait a minute!" (Hearing running footsteps.) "Someone is coming. Eliza, we need to hide or turn our cloak watches back on."

Eliza: "Oh no!"

Phoenix (Sees a closet.) "Hey! Mind if we hide there?"

Lili: "But that's my closet!"

Eliza: "But it's me Lili! And you can trust her!"

Lili: "Wait? Eliza?"

Eliza: "Yes. It's me!"

Lili: "Ok go! I won't tell them about you! Hurry!"

Phoenix grabs Eliza's hand and raced into the closet room just in time before Stefani and Tiffany could knock on the front of Lili's door. Lili remember she had to answer right away or else the maids would barge in. So Lili ran to the front door and opened it.

Lili: "Yes?"

Tiffany: "Are you alright Lili?"

Stefani: "We heard you scream from downstairs."

Lili: "I'm sorry. I just had a bad nightmare, you know. But I'm ok really?"

Stefani and Tiffany look at each other…

Stefani: "If you insist."

Tiffany: "Dinner will be ready in 1 hour. Just calm down will you?"

Lili: "Ok. Merci."

Once the maid guards left, Lili went back for Phoenix and Eliza inside her closet room.

Lili: "They are gone. Come on out."

Phoenix: "Thanks. That was too close. We almost got caught."

Eliza: "Lili are you ok?"

Lili: "Yes…I am now. But I do not understand. Why did you two come all this way to see me?"

Phoenix: "Eliza."

Eliza: "I wanted to see if you were okay. After the battle, I heard you were also there at that Zaibatsu place. And then you got hurt. But I never got a chance to see you. So, I kept asking the spy woman about seeing you once again. She finally said I could, and her partner brought me to you. I think you understand, yes?"

Lili (Holds her hands on her heart.): "Ohhh! That is too kind of you Eliza! You may look scary to most people, but deep down you have a heart of sweet love!" (Hugs Eliza.) "You are a good person."

Eliza (was in shock): "Y…yes." (Hugs back.)

Phoenix: "Ahem." (Interrupts.)

Lili: "And thank you madam for escorting her to this place."

Phoenix: "Don't mention it. So look, how long are you planning to be here Eliza?"

Eliza: "Let me spend the night Phoenix! Please?"

Phoenix: "Spend the night?!"

Eliza: "Yes! I always like Lili's room! And I want to play with the Teddy Bears and have Tea time!"

Phoenix: "That wasn't part of the plan. Master Raven wants me to call her back in 2 hours after the UN meeting to report on our status."

Lili: "My dinner time will be in 25 minutes, but I have no issues with you both staying here tonight."

Eliza: "Come on Phoenix! It's a long way back to New York! I don't wanna sleep on the plane again!"

Phoenix: "Well I get that, but we are still trespassing Eliza. How will you eat? You can't feed off humans under my watch remember?"

Eliza (Rolls eyes.): "I know…I know. Can't you fetch me something?"

Phoenix: "Like what?"

Eliza: "I dunno. Fries from McDonalds?"

Lili: "I have fries better than McDonalds. My personal chef makes them to perfection."

Eliza: "Really?"

Lili: "But will my father allow me to have leftover food in the room? Probably not."

Eliza: "Ddddooohhhh!"

Phoenix: "Lili, tell me where I can buy these fries?"

Lili: "Huh? You mean to cook them?"

Phoenix: "Or least microwave it. At a gas station someplace."

Lili: "Hmmm…alright. You can find them at the Point Clair store. The brand is called Puffies. The store is about two blocks from my mansion if you travel west of here."

Phoenix: "Two blocks to the west. Point Clair. Okay. While you are having dinner, I will purchase and cook these fries for Eliza. I might get something for myself too. I'm hungry."

Eliza: "Yes!"

Phoenix: "You should stay here Eliza and please be quiet once Lili eats her dinner. I will be right back."

Phoenix unlocks the window to Lili's bedroom and proceeds to jump down back into the yard and with haste she had already leaped over the brick wall before the cameras could spot her. Both Lili and Eliza looked on with suspense.

Lili: "She is very light on her feet. I wish I could be as fast as her."

Eliza: "I'm just as quick, plus I can fly."

Lili: "So true. Oh well, let's watch something on TV!"

20 minutes later…

A knock on the door…

Lili: "Uh oh! Eliza, hide for a moment! It's my dinner time!"

Eliza: "Ohhhh…"

Lili: "Don't worry I'll be back."

Now Eliza is by herself hiding briefly under Lili's bed…

Eliza: "Just great. All alone again. Well…the only thing keeping me company are these teddy bears. Uhhhh…I'm so hungry!"

But after 5 minutes pass, Phoenix comes back inside Lili's room from the window…

Phoenix: "Lili? Eliza?"

Eliza: "Down here!"

Phoenix: "Uhhh…why are you under the bed?"

Eliza: "Hiding of course!"

Phoenix: "Oh. Look!" (Takes the food out of the bag.) "Now we can both eat!"

Eliza (Crawling out from under the bed.): "You got the fries?"

Phoenix: "In this bag here." (Gives it to her.) "You see?"

Eliza (Smells the fries.): "Alright! MMMMmmmmmm!" (Digs in.)

Phoenix (In amazement): "Oh my gosh."

20 minutes later, Lili reenters the room alone as she finds the girls eating food on her carpet…

Lili (Gasps): "My carpet! It's all dirty now!"

Phoenix: "Don't look at me! I kept my food in the bag, but Eliza on the other hand."

Eliza: "It was so yummy! I need to have more!"

Lili: "My father doesn't like me eating in my room. Says its tacky and sloppy of a woman of my stature. I have to clean it somehow."

Phoenix: "Eh…don't you have a vacuum?"

Lili: "I'm not allowed to use it."

Phoenix: "Hmmm…that would make too much noise. What about a carpet cleaner spray?"

Lili: "Uhhh…let me check in the bathroom."

1 minute later…

Lili: "I don't see it in here. I do not know where Sebastian…I mean…the butler women keep their cleaning items. This is soooo…troublesome."

Phoenix: "Great…looks like I gotta make another trip outside."

Lili: "There is another store called Augustine's near the French border to the south. It has a purple and green sign. Are you really going again?"

Phoenix: "Yeah. You shouldn't get into more trouble because of us."

Eliza: "Can you get more fries?"

Phoenix: "And watch you make more of a mess out of Lili's room? Control yourself Eliza!"

Eliza: "Oooohhhhh…" (Sad.)

Lili: "Maybe just one more time miss. I will pay you myself for your troubles."

Phoenix: "Well…alright. I'll be back again."

Phoenix leaves through the window a second time…

30 minutes later, Phoenix returns…

Phoenix: "Open the window!"

Lili opens the window…

Lili: "Oh wow! Thanks so much! I have your payment on the dresser right there." (Pointing.)

Phoenix (Sees Eliza): "She fell asleep?"

Lili: "Yes as soon as you left. Let's not disturb her right now."

Phoenix: "Ugh…and she said she wanted more fries!"

Lili: "Yeah…the fries will get cold, but at least that gives us a chance to clean up her mess."

Phoenix: "Right… I have the cleaner plus a broom sweeper. It will look good as new."

Lili: "Again! Thank you…ummm."

Phoenix: "Call me Phoenix."

Lili: "Right, Phoenix. Let's tidy up!"

So Phoenix and Lili cleaned up Eliza's food crumbs off the carpet. Phoenix used the broom while Lili scrubbed the residue with some paper towels. After some time, the carpet surface looked clear once again. Eliza stayed asleep the entire time. After the clean up, Phoenix wondered if she should wake Eliza up or just remain here until dawn.

Phoenix: "Well…I did manage to speak with my master. So, she was okay with us staying in Monaco."

Lili: "Oh really that's wonderful."

Phoenix: "But…I rather not stay too long. No need to risk getting caught in this mansion."

Lili: "I understand. My breakfast is at 8 AM. Now it is almost 8 PM. So I will be sure to have you up before that time."

Phoenix: "Well…that's kind of you. I was trained as a ninja to be able to sleep anywhere, even outdoors, but to stay in an expensive mansion. Not something I was expecting."

Lili: "It's a first time for everything." (Laughing.) "Now…we have some free time. I think I will go online and speak to my fans now."

Phoenix: "Fans?"

Lili: "Yes. I have my own website where all of my fans can interact with each other and with me! They will be happy to have someone new to see on camera. What do you say?"

Phoenix (Nervous.): "Ummm…if I do, I will need to mask up. I can't let too many people know my face you know."

Lili: "Sure. It adds to the suspense! I love it! Well then let's hop to it!"

To be continued?