Seeking Favor Chapter 11 By Spirit of Eowyn Disclaimer: nightworld and all it's usual people are prop. Of L.J. Smith. I'm just romping around having fun here.

(sorry for the lateness of this, I hope the writing meets with your approval,- my beta reader has been too busy to preview the last few chapters ( and my writing skills leave much to be desired. )

----------------------- Somewhere along the Arizona/Utah border..

*click* "Hey thanks for taking our picture!" Mare said while taking her camera back. She took out a crumpled piece of paper out of her backpack. Grand Canyon -check.
They'd visited almost everywhere in the continental United States that she'd wanted to visit, or could drive to in a month. Kestrel was looking down the cliff and back at their dumpy car.
"Are you ever going to tell me which school we're going to?" Kes asked in a justified annoyed voice. She'd been dragged all over the country, not that it hadn't been fun but was it too much to ask to know what their final destination was?
Mary-Lynette was pretty sure that her friend wouldn't like her truthful answer. She hadn't decided yet. It wasn't that she didn't have any good options- she had too many. She knew a big city wouldn't suit her, and no schools were in a town anywhere near as small as Briar Creek. UNLV didn't have an astronomy program, she'd only applied because of a weird hope. UCLA was prestigious and had an astronomy program, but she was still had a unpredictable variable which had a large sway in her decision.
"Or I could have someone make the decision for you, an academic counselor or something." Kes said opening up her cell phone, pretty sure she knew where she could find someone who knew someone who would help a Redfern like herself. -------------
Well that was anticlimactic. And that is why we keep in contact with our siblings. Ash chided himself. Ok so maybe planning this sort of thing had it's benefits. After his sister's announcement he couldn't stay much longer, he lasted the day to be polite. He had endured Jade and Marks cuddles and moody glares. He had let Rowan act the older sister and drill him over what he'd been doing.
"Do you think father will try to have you killed now?" Rowan calmly sipped at her tea. Ash looked back disturbed at her.
"Gee thanks for that, I don't know, maybe. Maybe he'll come after you two." Come on Rowan you usually have more tact than that, Ash thought.
He'd been happy to flee when all the niceitys were done. He'd driven as fast as he could to Portland. He had to wait 6 hours for the jet to pick him up , intending to return to Las Vegas. And then what? His eyes shifted to brown, and he blinked, to keep the moisture in. Biting his tongue helped a bit. He'd been looking foreward to seeing Mare, to coming back with slain dragons and her welcoming him- and now he didn't have anything to look foreward to. No plans.
The universe had dooped him into joining "the good side" and took away his reason for it. He'd lost everything. His reputation he'd worked so hard on, the respect of his family, the power. Why didn't he miss the power more? Well there was nothing for it, he could never go back to the council now, not unless he wanted to die the same way the Aunt Opal's husband had. He was labeled traitor. Others called him weak, the same people who had idolized him at the Black Iris. He would be insane if he thought that he hadn't acquired ties and even friendships of a sort while in C.D. A wave of anger hit him. Couldn't she have left a letter for him or something? Had someone call and let him know that his trip to Briar Creek would be utterly useless? She had to have known he was coming.
"Sir? I need you to put your safety belt on, we're approaching Las Vegas airport."
"Hmm? Sure whatever." -------------------- It was dark when they arrived. The stars which had been bright thirty minutes before were drowned out by the flashing city lights. A sign for "NW rugs" passed by. What was that? Night World rugs? Kes snorted, that was a good sign.
They stopped really quick to pick up some In and Out burgers and shakes. Ah yes nothing like good 'ol fattening human food.
"The directions say we turn onto Hecate drive."
"I called the coordinator and she said she'd be waiting outside the main entrance for us." Kestrel said authoritatively.
"We're lucky I planned this, or we wouldn't have even been able to get a decent apartment this late on." She added. Mary-Lynnette wasn't listening. Had this been the right decision? Her dad would surely disaprove. She didn't know if Ash would forgive her this decision either. She busied herself by gathering the trash into a bag. She was glad that they stopped. Her legs were cramping and her butt was numb. Stretch. Ok. No nervousness, you made the first mistakes so you get to suck up your pride.
"Hey! Come on in, nice to see you again. You're going to love this place. I think you'll both find a lot in common with your future roommates." The blonde said urging them to follow her inside. I'm sure you'd like to take a shower after that long trip, get cleaned up for later tonight." She led them to a temporary guest room. A few hours later she was to meet a very interesting group of girls. They were from all over the country, and had as many varied interests. They were all at least fairly strong willed though. A future vetranarian and an anthropologist and many more who didn't know what to go into. They had met in the communal kitchen to drink tea or whatever and eat chocolate.

A girl around her age, the facilitator of the learning program, was asking her some academic questions.

"So how are you planning on paying for school?"
"Honestly I don't know, my dad can't really afford to send me anywhere." Mare looked into her teacup. "But Kes, said she'd pay for my rent since we'd be roomies." Mare added trying not to sound like she was asking for any help.
"hmm I've assessed your situation and talents, and I think it would be best if you deferred a semester since you haven't replied to any of the schools yet. You could work here, and then you and Kestel could room with Hannah, Chess and I, of course you'd have to apply to this school" She was handed a worksheet.
"If you work here, I'm sure it would help you make up your mind." Said the future Vet. in the soft way, Mare had associated with her. There was some sounds outside their door. "Speaking of which." The curly red head Poppy grinned. "He's here." The girls scrambled out and dragged Mary-Lynette into the main living room. She was sure they left her to go to the upstairs balcony and be nosy. She faced the door Laurel ad left through. She was alone for now, scared and excited at the same time. --------------------------------
"Ash! Welcome home!" Laurel was ALL smiles. That didn't bode well. She didn't seem at all surprized that he came back alone. Laughing at me are you? I bet you all think it's Hilarious that Ash actually thought for a moment that his soulmate wanted him. Freakin hilarious!
"How was your trip?" He grumbled. "She wasn't there, what do YOU think?"
"Really? Hmm.. uh. Buffy's on, maybe that would cheer you up." Laurel pointed in the direction of the living room.
"No, I don't think so. I'm going to my room." Ash said irratatied
"To Brood?" Laurel finished. Ash glared back at her. "Well Thierry thought you could show one of the new recruits around---" Ash was losing his patience.
"Do I really look up to that right now to YOU?" Laurel didn't seem put off at all, just grabbed his arm and started to drag him towards the Mansion's living room. "I never told you who I was talking to on my cell a few months back. guess." Ash grumbled. "and that is somehow going to cheer me up?" They were in front of the living room door. "Go ahead, go on in, by the way. you owe me.. BIG." Ash looked confused, but opened the door.

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Spirit of Eowyn runs away as fast as possible from the tomatoes that are aimed in her direction. _ Yes I am evil. I am the evil fanfic cliffhanger lady of death. But this is better than nothing right? Who wants me to write the epilogue? Yes Reviews could most definitely modivate me ( Who wants to find out what happens when Ash goes into the living room which Mare is in? (If you didn't catch onto it, Mare decided after traveling to go to CD headquarters to talk to Ash and join CD.. I was going to write an alt. ending where Mare dies on her way to get to Las Vegas. And ash is all angsty. NW rugs and In and Out are both in Las Vegas. I have quite a few threads to tie up which will lead to a sequel. eventually.