Marcus & Leyah
The clouds stretched out and reached around, fully embracing all sides of the sky, consuming it in dreariness. A bland gray fell over the summer landscape and over shadowed the life surrounding the wooded area.
The Palace seemed still as well. Everyone within its walls moved quickly and quietly. The servants talked in hushed tones and the animal life seemed frighteningly still. The only brightness was in Neela's outfit that glowed against the dark sky. She and her son stood patiently and waited for the helicopter. A low beating hovered in the hills and unnerved the horses in the nearby stable.
"Count Marcus?" Pasha inquired as he joined them.
"He called an hour ago and told us he was in route." Hadji informed him.
"Who is he?" Jonny asked.
" What?!" Jessie looked at Jonny with big green eyes and her jaw dropped. "That's what happens when you spend all your time playing in Quest World. The rest of the real world passes you by."
"If I remember correctly," Jonny smiled down at her. "I'm usually in Quest World playing against you."
"Count Marcus is one of the richest men in the world. All the money was inherited but he works hard at improving the world with his scholarship programs, opening museums, sponsoring up and coming artists, I could go on forever." Jessie sighed as the black helicopter grew from a speck in the sky to large black bird.
"Count?" Jonny looked out at the incoming helicopter.
"Count is his title. He resides in a small part of Spain. It is his deeds that give his title any meaning." Neela smiled at Jonny. "He has done many things Jessie only listed a few."
"He and another member of the council I have been meeting with is in dispute over some land in Italy. Count Marcus owns it but the Ballori family feels it belongs to them." Hadji replied. "Both their families have been friends with members of my family for generations. They meet here because they see Bangalore as neutral territory. They have asked me to over see their talks and possible negotiation."
"Lucky you," Jonny smiled. "You get to play Switzerland for a few days."
"I don't think he'll be discussing to much of that business." Hadji admitted. "I think he just wanted to see how the dinner he missed went."
"Well," Pasha rubbed his beard and sighed. " I think I'll leave this to you and Neela. I've got business of my own to work on. I don't think the Count will miss me."
"Everyone knows when you're missing from a scene Pasha." Jessie smiled as he laughed and walked away.
This visit seemed to cross a line Hadji was not comfortable with. It would also take time away from Alleyah.
Hadji's heart sank. Though she had agreed to stay for a few days, she had not seemed to open up to him.
'Alleyah, will you never believe that I am worthy of your heart?' He asked a shadow image of her in his mind.
Jonny was wrestling with is own demons. As the helicopter began to land, he had a horrible feeling crawl up his spine and raise the hair on his neck. It was as though a dark cold hand reached in his chest and clutched his heart.
The helicopter door opened and a young man of no more then twenty- five years of age stepped out and smiled at the small welcoming committee.
The feeling sunk deeper into Jonny and he was unable to move.
"Welcome!" Hadji smiled and bowed politely.
The Count was maybe 5'9" and he had sharp features that made him seem very intense. His eyes were light gray and his jet black hair was pulled back in a ponytail that fell just below his shoulders. His movements were quick and his smile seemed as though he had a secret behind it. He walked briskly to Hadji to return the greeting and then took Neela's hand in his to kiss it.
"Always a pleasure." He replied with a deep calm voice. "Please accept my sincerest apology for not being here for the dinner."
"You were missed." Neela smiled warmly. " But all went well."
Jonny watched and tried to decide just what it was he didn't like. What it was that over shadowed him suddenly.
"My," the Count focused in on Jessie and bowed before her. "I am humbled."
"Oh," Jessie smiled. It was nice to run into a guy that had manners. Unlike some people she had to put up with. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you. It's in honor."
"Thank you," the Counts eyes seemed to lighten up and he remained motionless for just a moment before he spoke. "Please forgive me, but you have the loveliest angelic face that I have ever seen."
"You're very kind." Jessie tried not to blush but the compliment was so surprising all she could do was look down at her feet.
"Hi," Jonny broke the moment the Count and Jessie seemed to be sharing. "I'm Jonny Quest."
"Dr. Quest's son?" The Count gave a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you. Is your father still here?"
"No," Neela replied quickly. She broke the two from their lock and smoothed out the tension. "Sadly, Dr. Quest had to rush off for a short time."
Jonny watched the Count closely. It was as though he responded as he felt he should respond.
Jonny frowned. The Count was a big fake. There was something else as well. Something he couldn't put his finger on.
"Perhaps another time." He smiled. He stole a glance at Jessie and Jonny felt his blood begin to boil.
"If you will follow me," Hadji interrupted. " I will lead you to your room."
Jonny followed close behind being careful to stand directly in between the Count and Jessie. As they walked down the hall together, Jonny again felt a darkness brush through him that seemed to come from the Count himself. He finally found the word to describe the feeling in his gut.
The word was evil.
The clouds stretched out and reached around, fully embracing all sides of the sky, consuming it in dreariness. A bland gray fell over the summer landscape and over shadowed the life surrounding the wooded area.
The Palace seemed still as well. Everyone within its walls moved quickly and quietly. The servants talked in hushed tones and the animal life seemed frighteningly still. The only brightness was in Neela's outfit that glowed against the dark sky. She and her son stood patiently and waited for the helicopter. A low beating hovered in the hills and unnerved the horses in the nearby stable.
"Count Marcus?" Pasha inquired as he joined them.
"He called an hour ago and told us he was in route." Hadji informed him.
"Who is he?" Jonny asked.
" What?!" Jessie looked at Jonny with big green eyes and her jaw dropped. "That's what happens when you spend all your time playing in Quest World. The rest of the real world passes you by."
"If I remember correctly," Jonny smiled down at her. "I'm usually in Quest World playing against you."
"Count Marcus is one of the richest men in the world. All the money was inherited but he works hard at improving the world with his scholarship programs, opening museums, sponsoring up and coming artists, I could go on forever." Jessie sighed as the black helicopter grew from a speck in the sky to large black bird.
"Count?" Jonny looked out at the incoming helicopter.
"Count is his title. He resides in a small part of Spain. It is his deeds that give his title any meaning." Neela smiled at Jonny. "He has done many things Jessie only listed a few."
"He and another member of the council I have been meeting with is in dispute over some land in Italy. Count Marcus owns it but the Ballori family feels it belongs to them." Hadji replied. "Both their families have been friends with members of my family for generations. They meet here because they see Bangalore as neutral territory. They have asked me to over see their talks and possible negotiation."
"Lucky you," Jonny smiled. "You get to play Switzerland for a few days."
"I don't think he'll be discussing to much of that business." Hadji admitted. "I think he just wanted to see how the dinner he missed went."
"Well," Pasha rubbed his beard and sighed. " I think I'll leave this to you and Neela. I've got business of my own to work on. I don't think the Count will miss me."
"Everyone knows when you're missing from a scene Pasha." Jessie smiled as he laughed and walked away.
This visit seemed to cross a line Hadji was not comfortable with. It would also take time away from Alleyah.
Hadji's heart sank. Though she had agreed to stay for a few days, she had not seemed to open up to him.
'Alleyah, will you never believe that I am worthy of your heart?' He asked a shadow image of her in his mind.
Jonny was wrestling with is own demons. As the helicopter began to land, he had a horrible feeling crawl up his spine and raise the hair on his neck. It was as though a dark cold hand reached in his chest and clutched his heart.
The helicopter door opened and a young man of no more then twenty- five years of age stepped out and smiled at the small welcoming committee.
The feeling sunk deeper into Jonny and he was unable to move.
"Welcome!" Hadji smiled and bowed politely.
The Count was maybe 5'9" and he had sharp features that made him seem very intense. His eyes were light gray and his jet black hair was pulled back in a ponytail that fell just below his shoulders. His movements were quick and his smile seemed as though he had a secret behind it. He walked briskly to Hadji to return the greeting and then took Neela's hand in his to kiss it.
"Always a pleasure." He replied with a deep calm voice. "Please accept my sincerest apology for not being here for the dinner."
"You were missed." Neela smiled warmly. " But all went well."
Jonny watched and tried to decide just what it was he didn't like. What it was that over shadowed him suddenly.
"My," the Count focused in on Jessie and bowed before her. "I am humbled."
"Oh," Jessie smiled. It was nice to run into a guy that had manners. Unlike some people she had to put up with. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you. It's in honor."
"Thank you," the Counts eyes seemed to lighten up and he remained motionless for just a moment before he spoke. "Please forgive me, but you have the loveliest angelic face that I have ever seen."
"You're very kind." Jessie tried not to blush but the compliment was so surprising all she could do was look down at her feet.
"Hi," Jonny broke the moment the Count and Jessie seemed to be sharing. "I'm Jonny Quest."
"Dr. Quest's son?" The Count gave a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you. Is your father still here?"
"No," Neela replied quickly. She broke the two from their lock and smoothed out the tension. "Sadly, Dr. Quest had to rush off for a short time."
Jonny watched the Count closely. It was as though he responded as he felt he should respond.
Jonny frowned. The Count was a big fake. There was something else as well. Something he couldn't put his finger on.
"Perhaps another time." He smiled. He stole a glance at Jessie and Jonny felt his blood begin to boil.
"If you will follow me," Hadji interrupted. " I will lead you to your room."
Jonny followed close behind being careful to stand directly in between the Count and Jessie. As they walked down the hall together, Jonny again felt a darkness brush through him that seemed to come from the Count himself. He finally found the word to describe the feeling in his gut.
The word was evil.