Chapter 7 of Seeking Favor

Notes :: All right I get the hint finish this fanfic before Dragon's Bounty.

_;;

This chapter is very long. Been working on it for a week. Lot's of Action and

further building of suspense.  This may be the midpoint of this story... I hope

it was worth the wait. Please give me comments, they are the air I breathe. Any

questions?  Even flames appreciated. Starsenshi_@hotmail.com

::should be doing her creative writing story*-*;; oh well:::



Feb. 14th had never been important to  Mary-Lynnette Carter. All through out

school Bunny Marten would pass out valentines, wear festive clothes, set people

up etc. While she had never seen the point of it. So there had been no reason

for her to try and wake up early on friday the 13th. She had spent the evening

with the girls. Learning about the enclave and Ash's childhood embarrassments.

They all seemed to get some strange pleasure in telling her about them. Had he

really dyed their family tutor's hair green? Was it possible that he then had to

feed off of animals for a two weeks? The sisters had found that part

particularly amusing. No one asked what they would be feeding off of if not

animals. Mark almost did before his sister kicked him in the shins.

Afterwards the witch had asked to eat dinner with them. No surprise. The

Redfern sisters cooking was a scary thought. She didn't trust what lay in the

Burdock farm cabinets just as much as the next sane person.

It was midnight Jade and Mark were curled up on the couch watching some sappy

movie. While she was showing off her Astronomy stuff off to the witch.

"Oh I love how you decorated your room! The glowing stars all the blue

"Thanks. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. Shoot."

"How did you already know about me?"

"Um, did we ever mention who one of my friends in California is?"

She was about to say no, but remembered something about 'family friend' along

with some other facts she already knew- and it fit into place.

"Ash."

"You're as smart as promised." Laurel said pointing at her thumb back and

winked.

"He told you?" Exactly how much had he told her?

"The basic yeah, description, name," Grin. "The fact that you're the poor soul

forever bound to his-My condolences."

"You and Ash... that is do you know how he's doing?" Mare said giving up on

her original question.

"Yes, So what do you want to know?" the witch asked  casually tossing a pen

from hand to hand.

How was she to phrase this? "What is he doing?"

"Well  last time. a few days ago, he was sulking, but." She seemed to

consider. " tomorrow he should be going to that big party, he likes those."

"Oh." Disappointment washed over her.

"What? If you really want to know, I've got his cell phone #."

"No No I was just hoping he might have changed."  She said staring at the

floor.

The blonde witch looked a bit confused.

"Changed? oh. oOOH! You mean... OH. sorry be more specific!"

The human girl went on as if not listening at all. "His sisters said he was

with some pro-human group, but I guess no-"

Laurel waved her hands in front of her frantically. "No NO NO. He IS, Circle

Daybreak, he's off righting wrongs helping save innocent humans, the world and

all that good stuff. Witches honor!" She put  her hand over her heart.

"He is?" hope reentered. "Is he-seeing anyone?"

'Oh no. You kidding? It's Mary-Lynnette this, Soulmate that. He's beating off

his fan club with a yew stick." She made motions of using a stick to keep them

at bay.

"Really?" He hadn't  forgotten her? She looked at the clock which flashed

12:30 am, just knowing this was a V-day gift. Any thing else was just icing.

"Yes that's why- well I'll see you tomorrow!" The witch said getting up

quickly to go.

*******************************

"It stopped. It's been stationary for over twelve hours, and according to this

it can't be in portland yet."

"So? Why didn't you just ask her where's she was going instead of bugging her

car?" another reasoned.

"It's valentines day, and she DROVE."

"So?"

"She hates long car trips."

"Is there a point to this?" the other voice was getting annoyed.

" So. She must being doing a favor for Ashy-baby."

" You're scaring me Amanda. when did you turn into a stalker?"

"If we do something really bad, only once, are we still evil people? Murder.

Even if it would make us happy? afterward?" Amanda's voice held intense

desperation.

"Amanda..." her friend was at a loss for words.

*****************************

"Mare Dear, wake up."

Unmh." She rolled over and covered her head with a pillow.

Claudine continued to knock.

"There is some guy at the door with something for you."

Mare's eyes flew open forgetting how tired she was. It was feb. 14th-Ash. She

was hoping. It was a silly though. She's sent him away and she felt that he

regarded her word  as law. Even still, she ran to the window. There was a

delivery truck outside. It was too far to see what kind.

Claudine was in mid knock when her step daughter rushed past her. She passed

by Mark who was in the kitchen with breakfast. He dropped his spoon.

"You're up. You're awake even." Awe flavored his voice.

She nodded, sneaking out to the porch. Whoever it was had better not mind her

starry blue pajamas. And stopped. The truck was driving off.

"Hey, Mare, Look what I found on the kitchen table?" Mark said behind her.

Glancing over her shoulder- "What the-" Numbly he handed her the envelope with

her name on it. She took it on reflex, not glancing at it yet.

Really with all the craziness already in her life you wouldn't think this

would mess with her. What's the big deal you ask? Oh right. I didn't tell you.

The porch- was covered in red rose petals, Silver fog blocked it from the rest

of the world. Silver wavery tendrils crossed the edges of the boundaries. Four

vases of roses, each with a dozen roses or by Mark's count. It was

surreal-magical. What would make it perfect-was Ash himself n a black tuxedo, a

single rose in his hand. She would gladly propel herself into his arms. She

imagined he would look great in one, making his blonde hair standout. His casual

smile.

"So who do you think sent it?"

She was broken from her revelry, looking at her brother sideways.

"Okay, stupid question."

There could be only one. As she wandered onto the porch, she spotted a rather

large box wrapped in pale purple and midnight blue with gold stars tissue paper.

She carelessly ripped open the note.

Dear Treasure of my Heart,

I love you. ( her heart fluttered at that.) True to your word I am slaying

dragons figuratively as I don't want to leave you. seeking forgiveness,

righting wrongs... I know you said I couldn't visit until this summer. But you

don't mind me reminding you that I'm still here and waiting? right?

(she found a little package wrapped in a poem. 'You're the star that directs my

path. Shining bright. Thoughts of you remind me of the path I should take. This

should help protect you the most precious of all in my eyes.' Inside held a

silver necklace, itself inlaid with lapis lazuli,carrying a silver blue dragon

that was wrapped around a star shaped crystal that reflected light in  every

direction. It was beautiful, it was like owning her very own mini-star. )

~ Love forever

Your Ash.

The large box held lots of random stuff, chocolate, a telescope lens... Mark

was looking through it a little bit later.

"He really is rich isn't he?"

"Who is?" Their dad demanded at their front door.

They  moved to block the box with their bodies as if that would do any good.

Claudine was behind him. "Someone sent all of this to your daughter."

Her dad's eyes bored into hers.

"Are you keeping something from us?"

"Uh.. no?" she responded weakly.

Her father's eyes glazed over, and the siblings could have sworn they heard a

voice mumbling something from the bushes. Whatever the case, instead of

demanding an answer, the parental units left without another word, not demanding

an answer as they should have.

He couldn't possibly have fallen for that. "That was weird." Mark looked at

his sister dubiously. "You're not that good of a liar."

Mary -Lynnette was in the orbit of Pluto, smiling and putting on the necklace.

He loves me! She spun around. She spun around in circles like a little girl.

Mark stared. His sister was acting like a .. a Girl! Any thing Ash seemed to

have this 'act completely nuts' affect on her. Maybe it was like a allergic

soulmate reaction?

"We've gotta show tell the sisters about this." she said grabbing his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~~(done esp. for Iryl)~~~

20 minutes later. The young Carters entered the Burdock farm.( after getting

dressed of course)

Kestrel was coming out of the Kitchen with a look of disgust. She say Laurel on

the couch reading. "Enjoy your little walk?"

"Hmm? walk?" She said looking up with a face of mock innocence.

Kes. snorted knowing better.

A very cheerful Miss Carter entered. "Where's Rowan?"

"In the Kitchen." Kestrel replied carelessly.

"Why?" She asked as she opened the door, and regretted it.

Rowan was either trying to make human food or odd shaped rocks. Either way it

was a disaster.

~Mary-Lynnette cringed away from the smell, covering her nose and wondering at

the crazy look in Rowan's eye...~

"Mary! I'm so glad you're here." Rowan said dragging  her over to the stove.

"Could you try this and tell me what you think?" She offered the human girl some

greenish brown fuzzy burnt and over cooked at the same time sponge like

substance.

She understandably panicked "*What* is this?" Buying some time.

"Cookies can't you tell?"

She didn't want to  hurt the vampires feelings by saying 'No.'

To her relief, Kes and the witch choose that moment to come and save her.

"What are you trying to do? Poison the poor human?"

" It's not her fault she never learned how to cook."

Rowan turned red. What kind of host was she to not be able to cook potable

food for her guests?

~~~~~~~~

"So your Dad didn't even notice?"

"Yeah."

"Weird."

Kestrel glanced pointedly at the witch, who studied her nails studiously with

a weird smile on her face.

"Well anyway I think it was rather nice of our brother."

"Yeah, how very un-Ash like." Jade said frowning.

The witch snorted loudly and Kestrel was about to say something about it

wasn't odd since their brother had been an undead casanova. Rowans death glare

silenced that idea. She choose to clear her throat instead.

"Well my work here is done." Laurel said getting up and stretching.

"What work?" Rowan asked.

The witch just waved. "Nothing Nothing."

Monday morning Laurel left Briar Creek.

In her Portland home, Iris Astrea was meditating.

Her niece passed over the threshold when she heard a voice resonating in her

head.

~ Stop.~

Iris soon greeted her in person. "How's my favorite niece?" She smiled warmly

messing with the young girls hair.

"Uh fine. Any info for C.D.?"

"You know about the human slave trade back east?"

" Yes it was mostly for feasts and Enclaves."

" Well starting about 16 months ago someone we're guessing up in  Washington,

is taking up the practice again. Besides it being illegal, and the fact we're

dealing with professionals. Our local circle feels there's a witch on their

side."

"How many are being taken?"

"In the last 6 months we're heard of about 200."

"And the locals aren't noticing this?"

"They're being taken up and down the west coast. My readings show that almost

all of them are still alive if drained." Iris was a reader. Given something of

the lost person and she could tell their status.

"So it has to be an enclave, or else they wouldn't be kept alive at all. But I

don't recall there BEING any enclaves on this side of the country." Laurel

frowned.

"And if there was they would have been doing this for longer."

BEEP BEEP. They were interrupted by Laurel's Cell phone.

"Hello? speaking."

"What did she think?"

"What did she think of what?" she teased.

"'El!"

"I'll tell you only in person."

Ash made a few choice remarks.

"What was that?" she said cheerfully.

"Nothing."

Thought so." So she filled him in on what Iris knew about their mission.

"Well it appears that Jessica (the midnight witch) has got herself some sort

witch lackeys. AND something big is going on. Next friday night at the Black

Iris in Seattle. I think they're gathering more human slaves, maybe even

recruiting them from far away."

There was a long pause.

"Well I guess that sets our plans for friday Feb. 25th." (yes a big time gap)

"Joy."

***************************

Monday Morning Kes and Mary Lynnette  were on lunch break. People were handing

out flyers. "Don't miss the senior trip!"

Bunny Marten handed them one. "You guys will never believe it! There's this

nightclub that's having a free ladies night the day we get there! Some of us are

going to ditch for it, you two have to come with us." She said sounding a bit

fake and contrived.

Kes read the flyer.

Dewitt High Senior Trip.

Friday Feb 25-Monday 28th

See the Seattle Space Needle.

      Get the heck out of Briar Creek!

"In Seattle?"

"A real night club."

"Sure, sounds like fun, count us in." Kestrel said eager to get out of

hicksville for a while and see the rest of the human world.

_ Some of the biggest mistakes are those where you don't know you're in danger

until your caught._

End chapter 7

( yes very long chapter, it'll be a while before the next one cause finals

start on the 20th for me _ gomen nasai!)