Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy 8 or Devil's Cub –sigh-.
Devil's Cub
Chapter 2
Seifer gripped the steering wheel with both hands and pressed down on the accelerator with a predatory smirk. The black car sped up and roared past the other car. The other car, tried- and failed to catch up. On reaching the arch, the brakes of the black car screeched as it skidded to a precise halt. The other car finally reached its destination and came to a more sedate stop. The tall man languidly got out of his car and the other driver followed suit. "Hyne dammit Seifer! You drive like a maniac!" panted the other man. Seifer stretched "Indeed, and you drive like an old woman." He stated lazily. Raijin was indignant "I do not! In fact I was the only one who kept you sight!" He was right, other cars began to be seen running up to the arch of Deling City. The faint light of dawn was touching the sky. Raijin leant back against his car, catching his breath. "Seifer, what time is it?" The blond man seemed preoccupied, watching the rising sun but he replied "Five thirty, I've got the record now." He said with a touch of arrogance. Raijin nodded "Faster than your old man?" Seifer leant back against the car with a sigh "Faster than my old man." He said with satisfaction. A soft wind blew and tugged at his trench coat. "Seifer…" said Raijin hesitantly. The blonde haired man turned to look at him "Hm?" he said absently looking back at the sun rising in a flurry of golden colours. "Are you serious about marrying Saria Trepe?" Raijin blurted out quickly.
Seifer's attention fixed on the nervous Raijin and his verdant eyes narrowed dangerously "I have told you before I have no immediate inclination to marry." He said in soft voice "You would do well to remember that." Seifer pushed himself off the car and walked over to his own then stopped "Raijin?" The man in question looked at his friend "Y-yes?" he answered phased slightly by Seifer earlier anger. "Forget that rumour." Raijin nodded "I'll see you at White's tonight?" Seifer paused "No, it has become far too common, I go to Drake's." Raijin scratched the back of his head "See ya around then!" But there was no answer. The black car had driven off in cloud of dust.
~*~
Mrs. Trepe was happy, she hummed as she arranged the flowers and ignored the eye of her eldest daughter. She was a respectable woman who lived in a good part of Deling, maybe not the best part, but a good part certainly. After her husbands death she had received a respectable income which was occasional subsidised by her brother who occasionally paid some of her bills. Although he didn't exactly give it away with good grace, he could be relied upon. Plus he felt it would be scandalous to let such a pretty, charming girl as Saria to go clad in rags. Which Mrs. Trepe told him they would be reduced to without his kind help. Though he felt no such charitable intentions towards his eldest niece. She never went out of her way in any way to make him fond of her, simply said that she lacked for nothing and could verily cope very well without any extra spending money. Mr. Simpkins was in someway- although he would never say it- a bit in awe of Quistis Trepe. Who had inherited an air of calm assurance and dignity from her late father. He had been of a good family and had shocked the polite world buy committing the indiscretion of deigning to marry the lowborn Miss Henrietta Simpkins. He had been a reckless man, but with a distinct air of faint hauteur. After all ties with his family had been severed, he had found his pride could not live on love alone. His married life had been spent hovering between the boundaries of both respectable and the nobility. But he had made the best of it. Though he had allowed his wife's relations to assist money wise, and was by no means adverse to them helping out in the financial sector, he had never really mixed with them. Mr. Simpkins also wished his son hadn't been so stupid as to imagine himself in love with Quistis! For some unknown reason, Joshua had taken a liking to the sarcastic Quistis rather that the charming Saria.
Mrs. Trepe had two daughters and it was her main objective to see them both married off. She only expected a fairly good alliance for Quistis. It was not that the girl was not well-endowed. She was beautiful with blue eyes and her golden hair plus she had had a very good education, but this was all overshadowed by her terrible attitude! She had a terribly direct gaze and the twinkle in them often was disconcerting to the most determined of suitors. And another grave disadvantage was that she had common sense, what man wanted a wife who was matter-of-fact when they could have Saria's wonderful ignorance? No, Mrs. Trepe had quite given up with her eldest daughter and merely wished she would make everyone happy by being a good girl and marrying her cousin. Saria of course was a different matter, she was very beautiful with a riot of golden ringlets and peeping sky blue eyes under incredibly long eyelashes. And as well as this a most lovely way of being wonderfully stupid to men. They loved her. And she could drive them to desperation even though she found writing a letter an arduous task.
The Trepe family was seated in a small parlour- decorated in excellent taste, thought Mrs. Trepe with complacency. Her youngest daughter was slumped down on the small sofa fiddling with a biscuit "Mother! I'm bored!" she said sulkily. "Hush now Saria!" said Mrs. Trepe with dignity "That is no way for a future Lady to behave!" a tinge of excitement crept into her voice in this last phrase uttered. Saria squealed happily and jumped up "Mother! That reminds me! Seifer is taking me to Deling Gardens tonight to watch the concert! I will need a new dress, for it would be shocking for me to turn up in the same dress twice!" Mrs. Trepe nodded and smiled "Of course my dear! Your Uncle will pay for it." Saria clapped in joy "Oh mother!" she sank down to her parents feet ecstatically.
But Quistis Trepe had had enough, she looked up from her sewing "You can't seriously think that he wants to marry her mother." She said dryly. Mrs. Trepe thought her daughter had a terrible tendency to be straight-laced. She thought it came of her select education provided by Mrs. Trepe's late husbands family. Mrs. Trepe had had high hopes of this, thinking that Quistis might make friends in high places. But she hoped to no avail, while Quistis made friendships, she did not use them to get into the Polite World. And nor did Sir Giles Trepe invite Mrs. Trepe and Saria up to meet him.
"Quistis! I'm sure he does and I wish you'd make some sort of move toward getting married! You seem to have no idea of the marriage business." Retorted Mrs. Trepe, slightly annoyed by the fact expressed by Quistis. "I know, terrible, though I've had plenty of opportunity for learning!"
"If your just going to be odiously sarcastic about your sister, I beg you to be quiet!" she snapped. "And though you may sneer at Saria now, when she is my Lady, I wonder how you will look!" Mrs. Trepe added, pursing her lips. "I think I shall look surprised." Muttered Quistis, though loud enough to be heard. As Mrs Trepe puffed up her bosom in righteous indignation Quistis continued gently "Surely you know mother he does not dream of marriage?"
"I shall tell you what!" said Mrs. Trepe "You are jealous of your sister's popularity! And what do you know of the matter. Does he take you so far into his confidence?" said Mrs. Trepe sharply to her wayward daughter.
Quistis bent her head down and spoke softly "I do not think he is aware of my existence."
"I am not surprised!" declared Mrs Trepe "You never make any effort to make yourself agreeable to a gentleman. But that's no reason to be mean about Saria's chances! He is in love with her!"
"Don't you know his reputation mama!" said Quistis in frustration. "That will change once he marries my pretty Saria!" her mother replied stroking Saria's hair, avoiding her eldest daughters gaze. Quistis rolled her eyes. Saria stood up "You may say this Quistis! But I shall have you know I know perfectly well what I am doing. I am going tonight to Deling Gardens. Oh mama!" she turned to her her "Vivi Matchem was so envious when Seifer asked me to be in his boat but not her! We will all have a most fabulous time! Miss Delaine will be there, the Matchems, Mr Bertram-" she cried gleefully but was cut. "Saria! You realise that no one will think anything of your reputation if you go!"
"Oh Quistis! You think that no-one has a brain but yourself! We shall make him marry me, do not fear for my virtue!" Saria tittered. "What if I let him run away with me? Because I am not some opera dancer he will be ruined if he does not marry me!"
"I'd no idea you were so romantic!" drawled Quistis. "I am I think," said Saria ignorantly "I should like to elope!" Quistis sighed heavily.
~*~
Well, not much happened there but there is some scene setting to be done. I have recently read These Old Shades which is the prequel to Devil's Cub and it is sooo cool! Hopefully the next chapter will come quicker and have more happening. Please review!