Diabolique
Rated R
Chapter 1: Firestarter
Pushing a manila folder to the young woman sitting across from him, Alistair said, "The Crane jet will be leaving at noon. I have a car waiting for you with all the accessories you will need."
"What about-?"
"That has already been taken of, as well as your luggage and other personal effects."
"I think Jace rates a bit higher than that,"the raven-haired woman smiled, thinking about her nearly two year-old son.
Rolling his eyes, Alistair continued, "Anyway, you will be given directions to the Crane condo, where your au pair Lisette will already be waiting for you. After you and Jacen have settled in, you will need to make an appearance at the Mansion for some function that Ethan and Gwen are hosting."
Brushing imaginary lint from her sleeve, she asked in a bored tone, "And what would that be?"
With a malicious twinkle in his eyes, the old man delivered the news with a small smile. "Your son's birthday, of course."
Stiffening at the mention of the son that she had lost two years ago, Theresa bit out, "His birthday isn't for five days yet."
"That may be the case, but he will be in England by that time attending boarding school."
Feeling rage creep up her spine, she slammed her fist on the large mahoghany desk and demanded heatedly, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?"
Shrugging off her little tantrum, Alistair explained, "Merely that Ethan and Gwen have enrolled Ethan into the Eton Academy in London. They felt they needed to give their child the best education possible."
Theresa winced at the way Alistair stressed the fact that her son, her first baby, was legally the son of the man she detested and the woman that she wished would burn in the deepest pits of hell...along with a few choice others.
Using a lesson that she had learned from the Crane patriarch, she pushed her rage down and put up a mask of cool indifference. "Well there is going to be a change of plans, because he is coming back with me." Grabbing up her purse and shawl, she said, "I'll be in touch." and slammed the heavy wooden door behind her.
Leaning back in the smooth leather chair, Alistair lit one of his expensive cigars and just smiled, thinking of all the chaos her arrival was about to inflict.
Playing God was so much fun.
Glancing at the picture sitting on his night stand, Fox couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the woman that had spun in and out his life.
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald.
His former lover and friend.
The person that had believed in him when no one else would.
The woman that he realized he loved...too late.
Fox could still remember those first days after what he called the 'Seaside Disaster'. It had all started with him and the woman he thought he loved, Whitney caught in a 'compromising' position by none other that Whitney's boyfriend,Chad and Theresa.
Suffice it to say that it took awhile for things to settle down after that. Chad of course went on the attack, wanting to pummel Fox into the ground, and almost suceeding until he realized that Theresa had left. Gathering up his things, he left a screaming Chad and walked out to the cliffs that were a few yards away.
Looking out over the sea, Fox couldn't help but feel slighted. He had thought that with everything that had happened tonight between him and Whitney, they would move into the relationship that he wanted so desperately to share with her. Instead it was ripped out from under him and he had screamed to anyone that cared to hear. After a few minutes, he realized that he was being foolish and tried to find what happened to Theresa, but when his search came up empty, he figured she just caught a ride back into town, which was a good thing seeing how he wouldn't know what to say to her right now.
Getting up the next morning, he sat down in the lobby and looked out at the overcast sky, wondering what he was going to say when he saw Theresa when he was interrupted by a voice behind him.
Surprisingly, it was Whitney telling him that she was worried about Theresa, especially since she hadn't been able to get in contact with her at all last night. Fox had noticed the same thing, but had chalked it up to Theresa ignoring him. Grabbing the small overnight bag he had brought along for the weekend, Fox promised Whitney that he would let her know how Theresa was doing as soon as he could, going off on the assumption that he had made last night.
However, he took one last walk to the spot where he had yelled out his frustration last night, and decided to call Theresa one more time before he led a full assault on the Russell house. As it began to ring, he heard a jingling sound coming from the left. Curious he began to walk towards it was shocked to come across a very familiar cell phone.
With anxiety whizzing up his spine, he bagan to frantically call Theresa's name, praying that she was alright, but something told him that wasn't the case. Going closer to the cliff, he peered over the edge and saw something that made his heart stop.
Streaks of blood.
Racing back to the inn, he put in motion the wisdespread search to find the woman that had come to mean so much to him. Using all the Crane resources at his disposal, Fox had the area combed for anything that would give an indication of what happened.
When the news of her disappearance became known, the small Maine town was in an uproar. Friends and foes alike couldn't understand why this pregnant young mother, who had professed fervently to reclaiming her older child, would suddenly disappear. From what everyone knew of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, she was not a quitter and never gave up until she had obtained her goal, but after a year had passed, most people began to doubt if this held true. Some have even began to accept that the young woman that had demonstrated living life to the fullest had died so tragically young.
However,there were people that held on to the hope that she would return, mainly Fox and Pilar. Even to this day, he still goes up to those jagged cliffs and walks around hoping that something would let him know exactly what happened to the woman that held his heart still.
In addition to this, huge changes began sweeping across Harmony, because as soon as one person went missing, three persons made their grand entrance into the small seaside town, turning it on its head.
But that was another story in itself.
KNOCK KNOCK
Turning his thoughts away from the madness of the last two years, the tired man called out. "Who is it?"
"Me, Uncle Fox," a small voice chirped from behind the bedroom door, making a small smile appear on Fox's face.
Jumping up from the bed, he pulled the door open and swooped the small boy that reminded him so much of the friend he had lost into a hug. "Hey bud." Kicking the door closed, he placed the boy on his bed and asked, "You ready for your party?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he mumbled, "I guess so." Seeing the boy's legs start to swing back and forth, Fox knew that there was something bothering his little half-brother, so he waited until he was ready, knowing that this was part of the routine whenever Little Ethan wanted to talk about his mother. Ever since Theresa's disappearance, Fox along with Pilar had made it a point to keep the memory of his mother alive for the little boy figuring that was the least they could do for the mother that had gone to such great lengths to get her son back before she had disappeared.
Much to Gwen and Rebecca's disgust and Fox's delight.
"Uncle Fox?"
"Yeah?"
"Even though it isn't really my birthday, do you think that if I wish hard enough, my mommy will come back?"
Gotta tread carefully, Fox.
"Anything's possible, little man."
"I hope so. I really miss her." Picking up the picture that Fox was looking at earlier, Little Ethan frowned. "Do you think she still loves me?"
Grabbing him into a fierce hug, Fox replied, "I don't think. I know she does." Seeing the hope on his brother's face and praying that this would be the time that his wish would be granted.
As night approaches, a Mercedes CLK pulls up in front of the Crane Mansion, where the sounds of a birthday party spill from the open windows. It's amazing the amount of people that are in attendance considering the fact that most Crane functions usually spells disaster for someone in Harmony. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Theresa takes one last look at her appearance, thinking how she was about to live up to the nickname that Rebecca had given her so long ago.
Look out Harmony, because it's time for the Terror to begin...
tbc....
Rated R
Chapter 1: Firestarter
Pushing a manila folder to the young woman sitting across from him, Alistair said, "The Crane jet will be leaving at noon. I have a car waiting for you with all the accessories you will need."
"What about-?"
"That has already been taken of, as well as your luggage and other personal effects."
"I think Jace rates a bit higher than that,"the raven-haired woman smiled, thinking about her nearly two year-old son.
Rolling his eyes, Alistair continued, "Anyway, you will be given directions to the Crane condo, where your au pair Lisette will already be waiting for you. After you and Jacen have settled in, you will need to make an appearance at the Mansion for some function that Ethan and Gwen are hosting."
Brushing imaginary lint from her sleeve, she asked in a bored tone, "And what would that be?"
With a malicious twinkle in his eyes, the old man delivered the news with a small smile. "Your son's birthday, of course."
Stiffening at the mention of the son that she had lost two years ago, Theresa bit out, "His birthday isn't for five days yet."
"That may be the case, but he will be in England by that time attending boarding school."
Feeling rage creep up her spine, she slammed her fist on the large mahoghany desk and demanded heatedly, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?"
Shrugging off her little tantrum, Alistair explained, "Merely that Ethan and Gwen have enrolled Ethan into the Eton Academy in London. They felt they needed to give their child the best education possible."
Theresa winced at the way Alistair stressed the fact that her son, her first baby, was legally the son of the man she detested and the woman that she wished would burn in the deepest pits of hell...along with a few choice others.
Using a lesson that she had learned from the Crane patriarch, she pushed her rage down and put up a mask of cool indifference. "Well there is going to be a change of plans, because he is coming back with me." Grabbing up her purse and shawl, she said, "I'll be in touch." and slammed the heavy wooden door behind her.
Leaning back in the smooth leather chair, Alistair lit one of his expensive cigars and just smiled, thinking of all the chaos her arrival was about to inflict.
Playing God was so much fun.
Glancing at the picture sitting on his night stand, Fox couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the woman that had spun in and out his life.
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald.
His former lover and friend.
The person that had believed in him when no one else would.
The woman that he realized he loved...too late.
Fox could still remember those first days after what he called the 'Seaside Disaster'. It had all started with him and the woman he thought he loved, Whitney caught in a 'compromising' position by none other that Whitney's boyfriend,Chad and Theresa.
Suffice it to say that it took awhile for things to settle down after that. Chad of course went on the attack, wanting to pummel Fox into the ground, and almost suceeding until he realized that Theresa had left. Gathering up his things, he left a screaming Chad and walked out to the cliffs that were a few yards away.
Looking out over the sea, Fox couldn't help but feel slighted. He had thought that with everything that had happened tonight between him and Whitney, they would move into the relationship that he wanted so desperately to share with her. Instead it was ripped out from under him and he had screamed to anyone that cared to hear. After a few minutes, he realized that he was being foolish and tried to find what happened to Theresa, but when his search came up empty, he figured she just caught a ride back into town, which was a good thing seeing how he wouldn't know what to say to her right now.
Getting up the next morning, he sat down in the lobby and looked out at the overcast sky, wondering what he was going to say when he saw Theresa when he was interrupted by a voice behind him.
Surprisingly, it was Whitney telling him that she was worried about Theresa, especially since she hadn't been able to get in contact with her at all last night. Fox had noticed the same thing, but had chalked it up to Theresa ignoring him. Grabbing the small overnight bag he had brought along for the weekend, Fox promised Whitney that he would let her know how Theresa was doing as soon as he could, going off on the assumption that he had made last night.
However, he took one last walk to the spot where he had yelled out his frustration last night, and decided to call Theresa one more time before he led a full assault on the Russell house. As it began to ring, he heard a jingling sound coming from the left. Curious he began to walk towards it was shocked to come across a very familiar cell phone.
With anxiety whizzing up his spine, he bagan to frantically call Theresa's name, praying that she was alright, but something told him that wasn't the case. Going closer to the cliff, he peered over the edge and saw something that made his heart stop.
Streaks of blood.
Racing back to the inn, he put in motion the wisdespread search to find the woman that had come to mean so much to him. Using all the Crane resources at his disposal, Fox had the area combed for anything that would give an indication of what happened.
When the news of her disappearance became known, the small Maine town was in an uproar. Friends and foes alike couldn't understand why this pregnant young mother, who had professed fervently to reclaiming her older child, would suddenly disappear. From what everyone knew of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, she was not a quitter and never gave up until she had obtained her goal, but after a year had passed, most people began to doubt if this held true. Some have even began to accept that the young woman that had demonstrated living life to the fullest had died so tragically young.
However,there were people that held on to the hope that she would return, mainly Fox and Pilar. Even to this day, he still goes up to those jagged cliffs and walks around hoping that something would let him know exactly what happened to the woman that held his heart still.
In addition to this, huge changes began sweeping across Harmony, because as soon as one person went missing, three persons made their grand entrance into the small seaside town, turning it on its head.
But that was another story in itself.
KNOCK KNOCK
Turning his thoughts away from the madness of the last two years, the tired man called out. "Who is it?"
"Me, Uncle Fox," a small voice chirped from behind the bedroom door, making a small smile appear on Fox's face.
Jumping up from the bed, he pulled the door open and swooped the small boy that reminded him so much of the friend he had lost into a hug. "Hey bud." Kicking the door closed, he placed the boy on his bed and asked, "You ready for your party?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he mumbled, "I guess so." Seeing the boy's legs start to swing back and forth, Fox knew that there was something bothering his little half-brother, so he waited until he was ready, knowing that this was part of the routine whenever Little Ethan wanted to talk about his mother. Ever since Theresa's disappearance, Fox along with Pilar had made it a point to keep the memory of his mother alive for the little boy figuring that was the least they could do for the mother that had gone to such great lengths to get her son back before she had disappeared.
Much to Gwen and Rebecca's disgust and Fox's delight.
"Uncle Fox?"
"Yeah?"
"Even though it isn't really my birthday, do you think that if I wish hard enough, my mommy will come back?"
Gotta tread carefully, Fox.
"Anything's possible, little man."
"I hope so. I really miss her." Picking up the picture that Fox was looking at earlier, Little Ethan frowned. "Do you think she still loves me?"
Grabbing him into a fierce hug, Fox replied, "I don't think. I know she does." Seeing the hope on his brother's face and praying that this would be the time that his wish would be granted.
As night approaches, a Mercedes CLK pulls up in front of the Crane Mansion, where the sounds of a birthday party spill from the open windows. It's amazing the amount of people that are in attendance considering the fact that most Crane functions usually spells disaster for someone in Harmony. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Theresa takes one last look at her appearance, thinking how she was about to live up to the nickname that Rebecca had given her so long ago.
Look out Harmony, because it's time for the Terror to begin...
tbc....