~ You can Run, but you can't Hide ~
Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face
Disclaimer: SM does not belong to me.
Chapter Seven: The gathering
Five shadows, four in line and one just in front of them were on their knees, their heads bowed before the queen. She sat majestically on the throne looking down on each of them, the court assembled murmuring amongst themselves.
"And what are you doing to retrieve the crystals?" She asked her gaze on their captain, "Malachite?"
"It seems the silver imperial crystal was shattered into several pieces, your majesty and we have found each of the crystal bearers."
"And what do you intend to do?"
"We have studied each person and found some kind of weakness or desire to lure them into our trap."
"Very good. See that it is done."
"Thank you your majesty." Malachite bowed his head lower.
"Darien." The queen called out suddenly. "Come forth."
Darien stood kneling before the queen and taking her extended hand in his kissing the palm of it. "Do not fail me," she warned him silently. "I have waited five hundred years for this day to come."
"Yes your majesty." He replied stoically, bowing his head until his forehead touched the knuckles of her left hand. "Mother."
* * *
"Oh Andrew look." Serena squealed in delight running into the study where he was reading a book about the aztec civilization, a piece of paper in her hand. Her bright blue eyes were sparkling in delight. Shaking the paper in his face she said, "We've been invited to a private exhibition. Isn't that great news, why, what am I going to wear?"
Andrew watched Serena drop the invitation on his desk and quickly exit the room a look of bemusement on her beautiful face. He read the letter.
We have the pleasure of inviting,
Mr. Peterson and company,
To the private exhibition hosted by,
Lord Nathan of Crystal Manor,
Sunday 1st January,
New Years of the new millenium.
"Hmm." Andrew frowned scratching his head with his index finger. "I wonder what the exhibition is? It doesn't say."
* * *
"Lita, Lita." The woman exclaimed rushing up the stairs to her daughters bedroom entering panting for breath.
Lita who had been sitting at her dressing table brushing her hair put her silver handle brush down and swiveled in her seat looking at her mother expectantly. A piece of paper was shoved into her hands. "Read that." Her mother said then sat herself down on the edge of Lita's bed waiting, watching her daughters face for an expression.
Lita read the note.
To the Lady Lita of Juniper Hall,
We would like the pleasure of your company,
At Crystal Manor,
January 1st,
New Years of the New Millenium,
Lord Nathan and Company.
A slow blush crept up Lita's cheek and her mother seeing this smiled quite pleased with herself. "What could this mean?" She asked turning her head away putting the note on her dresser. "What could he mean by asking for my company?"
"Perhaps, he found you agreeable and pleasant that he intends to show you off to his friends and aquaintances." Her mother replied beaming at her daughter.
"Perhaps." Lita replied softly more to herself then to her mother.
* * *
Mina watched as the sun slowly ascended in to far reaches of the blue sky, wisps of white clouds floating with the wind. She felt some emptiness surround her and hugged her arms closer around herself to keep warm. She remembered the strange conversation she had had a few hours earlier.
* Flashback *
The phone rang interrupting the silence of her apartment. She put down the newspaper she was reading and reached for the cordless phone.
"Hello." She said sweetly.
"Miss Walker?"
"Yes, this is she." She replied curious as to who the caller is.
There was a long pause before the person on the phone answered. "My name is Jack. Jack Mitchell."
Mina paled in colour. Jack mitchell. Mr. Mitchell. "Dad." She croaked trying to find her voice, tears springing to her eyes. A tightening pain enclosed around her chest, squeezing each breath out of her in agonising pain.
"Hello Mina."
* End of Flashback *
She didn't know what to make of it. Her mother had always told her that her dad had died soon after leaving them. "
Your father is a no good pitiful excuse of a human being. That jack Mitchell got me pregnant then just left me."
"But where is he mama?" A younger Mina asked her innocent blue eyes filing with tears. "Why doesn't he come and say hello?"
Mina's mother hugged her daughter close feeling the tears brim around her eyes and wiping them away quickly before Mina could see them. "He died after leaving me." She whispered sadly.
And now Jack Mitchell had called her and asked if he could see her. She was delirious with joy and at the same time aangry at him for leaving making her mother think he was dead.
"I understand, but if you change your mind, meet me at Crystal Manor. A friend is throwing a private party. Please Mina, Sunday 1st January. New Years."
She wanted to see her dad, she wanted all her questions answered. But she was scared. She watched the clouds form disfigured images across her vision still deep in thought.
* * *
Amy walked leisurely around the garden, her hand clutching on the letter she held in her hand. She had received it early that morning and was now reading it for the fiftieth time since she first opened it.
Dearest Amy,
How I have missed you. Every day I dream and see your blue eyes and your beautiful smile and feel the warmth of your body near mine and the scent of your perfume, unforgettable is it not, in the air I breathe. And then I wake up and find you are not by my side as you should have been and would have been if your father had not found you when he did. I regret leaving you without saying goodbye and not marrying you when I had the chance.
Tears escaped her eyes wetting her letter smudging some of the words. Her hand trembled as did her lower lip.
Amy, I need to see you again. If only just to say good bye. Please, I will be attending a private party at Crystal Manor, hosted by Lord Nathan. Meet me there if you can. January 1st, New Years of the New Millenium. Perhaps I shall see you one last time... my love.
Yours truly...Peter
Amy clutched the letter to her breast breathing in heavily. She had never felt such bliss as she felt then in a long time since he had left and savoured it. 'Peter.'
* * *
Rei stirred in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering open. She found herself in a lavished room surrounded by beautiful inanimate objects. She gasped her eyes widening.
"Good evening ma'am."
"What," Raye squealed covering herself deeper beneath the silk covers that llayered the queen size bed she laid on. "Where am I?" She asked the butler standing by her bedside holding a tray with a small card on it.
"For you ma'am." He lowered the tray and waited for her to take the card. She read it carefully.
To Rachel Beverly,
We would like the pleasure of hearing you sing,
Sunday, January 1st
New Year of the New Millenium.
Lord Nathan of Crystal Manor.
Raye just stared at the card and couldn't find the words to what she was feeling at that moment. She tore her gaze away from the card and stared at the butler. "Where am I?" She asked again only softly. "And how did I get here?"
The butler was silent before answering her question. "You are presently residing under Lord Nathans generosity. The stable hand found you not too far away from the premisis. You were out cold and was clutching a card tightly in your hand." He presented to her the card they were talking about. "Gemstone Music Studio. As the master of the house is holding a private party he wishes for you to sing for some entertainment."
"Oh," Raye replied. "Thank you."
"Willl that be all ma'am?" The butler asked curtiously.
"That will be all, thank you."
She watched him leave and gazed in deep wonder around her. Her violet eyes sparkling.
* * *
"Everything is going according to plan sir."
"Tomorrow it begins." Darien smiled. "They could try to run, but they could never hide. Not for long."
Small snickers could be heard all around him as their eyes shone with hunger.
* * *
Serena entered the grand manor arm in arm with Andrew. Her face was lively with great expectations of the ensuing evening. The manor itself was quite large and lavished with every fine and elegant furniture imaginable. She gaped in awe as she was led through a huge corridor marvelling at it's delicacy and the precision in which the design was carved upon gold. Like to its name, the manor had several unique pieces of crystal ornaments hanging of sides of each wall, filling vases with crystal roses. Everything Serena found surreal, almost unreal.
On entering a huge room, the sound of a sweet voice echoed against the high ceiling, a feeling of tranquility enveloped Serena. She watched in wonder as a young lady like herself, stood with her eyes closed, singing from her heart. Her dark hair piled high on her head. She noticed the other guests were watching her as well, a small smile on their faces. In a far corner a tall couple stood a little off, away from everyone. The brunette girl seemed flustered and was making her way to join a group of what Serena assumed were her aquaintances leaving the man behind a look of amazement on his features. She noticed another blonde and gasped for the likeness between them were great indeed and for a moment Serena thought she was looking at her own reflection, but this girl was biting her lower lip, her right hand clasped at something, her eyes were seaching the room for someone. Away not so far from herself, a petite shy looking child half hidden in the corner was also looking for someone. Her fingers were wringing nervously around the hem of her gown. Serena smiled. She felt like she knew these people. She felt she finally belonged. With these thought she tightened her hold on Andrew who with a keen interest was also searching the room. Startled, he felt Serena snuggle up closer to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. He grinned to himself and wrapped a hand around her small waist.
Unknown to them both, in the darkest shadows of the room, a dark stranger was scowling at them. His heart beat had increased a syllable when he saw her lovely form enter the room and felt the first signs of jealousy course through his veins. His pale blue eyes turned to ice.
"They're all here, sir."
"Very good Jason. Let Nathan know we're ready."
Jason bowed his head low and shimmered to a dark patch of shadow just behind where Nathan stood. He grinned to himself as Nathans tall, sturdy figure hid him from sight of the guests in the room.
"We're ready to begin." He said quietly.
Nathan nodded his head in understanding then felt the presence behind him disappear. He walked with deliberate action towards the raven child a smile on his handsome face which was noticed by Lita and waited for the end of her song.
The ball room erupted with loud clapping and Raye felt the warmth of a blush spread on her cheeks. When she was ready to resume Nathan interrupted her.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen for joining me at my humble home tonight. I welcome you and wish you all a Happy New Year for the coming New Millenium. Tonight will be a night to remember." As he said this a small smirk escaped his lips. "Something for you to remember ladies and good sir," he said nodding his head towards Andrew, "You can Run, but you can't Hide."
All the occupants in the room frowned in confusion and Andrew wondered why he was only addressed to when there were several other gentlemen in the room he could see. But none of them took offence. The girl's wormed in their position feeling uncomfortable. Amy had been there a full half hour and Peter hadn't shown up which left her disheartened. Mina was confused and angry for letting her emotions run with her. Lita was altogether dumbfounded but stood her ground. Raye who was slowly moving backwards away from Nathan felt a sense of urgency overcome her. Serena clutched onto Andrews arm in fear of what-she had no idea.
"What's going on here?" Andrew yelled out.
Nathan narrowed his eyes on him and both Andrew and Serena felt an invisible force come between them. Andrew flew towards the back corner of the room and hit his head while Serena unable to move screamed. All the other ladies were wide eyed with incredulity. Their minds were warning them to run but not any of their feet could move.
"Let the games begin." Nathan said in a clear voice smiling, a look of hunger in his blue eyes.
Suddenly the walls disappeared and they found themselves outside in the middle of nowhere. Dead bushes were everywhere and Andrew was lying against a leafless burnt tree. Everyone disappeared except for the five ladies and Andrew. They all saw in each others eyes the confusion and fear which overwhelmed them. Then the ground suddenly swelled and a black warp hole circled their immediate area sucking them all down into the unknown depths of the Dark Realm. Their screams were muffled as the blackness surrounded them, feeling light headed they dropped.