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Tradition
More Memories
Sean walked into Emma's office to discuss the new arrangements that the kids had been working on. He was a bit concerned with the rooming of Mr. Lynch and the android guardian, Anna, when he saw Emma holding her head. He figured something was wrong. "Emma, did ye get bad news?"
Emma looked at him, and he could tell that there was something seriously wrong. "I just found out that some of the people in my company made some bad moves, and we are in risk of loosing the school unless I can get the money back quick." That wasn't good at all.
Sean let out a heavy sigh. This was a problem. If they lost the school, he didn't want to think what would happen. He looked at her and said, "What do ye plan on doing?"
Emma sat back and said, "Well, I was planning to point them in the right direction." He saw the smile and figured that she would control her people to secure the school. He didn't particularly like that idea.
He then decided to stop that idea. "Emma, I have a challenge for ye. I want ye to get the money, without using your abilities." He saw her drop her smile. He had made a worthy challenge.
Emma sighed, which he could tell was a sign that she was going to take the challenge. She then said, "Guess that leaves me with only one option, and I don't like it one bit."
He looked at her and said, "What's that?" He was truely puzzled by her response.
She then said, "I'll have to ask Adrienne for it, but given current situations, I don't think it would be wise."
He started to ask her why, when he realized part of what she meant. "Ye mean Richard, don't ye?" She nodded and he sighed. "Yur right on not wanting to do that." Then the idea hit him, although it was an odd idea. "Emma, if Rich might get the company his parents own, wouldn't he be able to help?"
He saw her surprised look as she said, "Why didn't I think of that?" He had to agree with her, but didn't. She then looked at him and said, "Now that we might have that resolved, why did you come in here?"
Well, after that breif thinking session, Sean said, "Well, I was wondering about these arrangements for Mr. Lynch and his associate."
Emma smiled and said, "Sean, I did that to make sure they weren't bunking with the kids. Besides, you won't mind having me as a house guest again, will you?" He could see the look in her eye. Something told him that she liked the idea of staying in his place.
He decided to choose his words carefully at that point. "Nae. It should be alright, but just keep yur mind out of my dreams."
She kept the same smile as she said, "Remember Sean, I didn't exactly choose to jump into your dreams. Now, you might want to start getting your place ready." She had a point. He decided right then that he better get back to his lodging on the campus and start preparing it for Emma. When he was out of her earshot, he just sighed. He felt that this visit would feel like twice the time they had set aside.
Everett walked with Jubilee, around the campus. It was one of the many things he liked about the area the school was in. It always seemed picturesqe, and with Jubilee, it seemed perfect. He never knew how much he cared for her until after Rich joined the school. His thoughts were soon broken when Jubilee said, "Ya know, Ev, it'll be nice to see all of our friends again."
He nodded and said, "It sure will. I just hope they don't bring anybody following them." It seemed that the last time they had met their friends, someone was after them. Now it was just suppose to be a quiet get together.
As they were reflecting on the moment of beauty, he heard Jubilee say in a concerned voice, "Ev, do you think something is wrong with Monet?" Everett knew better than anyone on campus that Monet and Jubilee never got along to well. This took him by surprise.
He stopped Jubilee and said, "Why are you worried that something is wrong with her?"
He watched her look down and said, "Well, she hasn't been acting like herself lately. Her actions are almost like a completely different person. I had never seen her flirt like she has been with Darrett. In fact, I've never seen her flirt at all."
Everett had an idea on what she was saying. "You think that Monet might not be in control." She nodded and he said, "Well, so far, she has been in control when we needed her. Maybe Claudette is surfacing just to stretch her legs, in a way. She nodded and it seemed he calmed her fears. He then walked her back to her dorm room for the night.
Rich awoke to an odd sound. When he openned his eyes, he noticed for the first time that there was a phone in the room, at a desk in the corner. He got out of bed, carefully not to wake Yvette, and went to it. The clock on the wall said it was 6:00 AM. He was still use to time in the states, at least in his area of the states. He sat down at the desk and picked up the phone, wondering who would be calling him. Grimore had said that they would have two phone calls. With that in mind, he finally said, "Hello?"
The voice on the other end sounded very familiar to him, but he couldn't place it, not at first. "Hello Richard. It's been a little while since we last spoke. How is Godiva and her museum doing?"
The mention of the museum told him who he was talking to as he gasped. He struggled for his words as he spoke the question he felt he didn't want to know the answer to. "Mr. St. Croix, is that you?"
The man on the other end reply quickly but calmly, "Yes, it is me Richard. You had no idea that I knew your father, and your grandfather. I think you blocked it all out after what happened when you parents were at the castle."
When the man said those words, Rich's mind exploded. That whole week had been a blur for the most part, and then it became so clear. That one day that made him forget most of the events that week stood out in his mind. He struggled with his word as he said the next, "You mean when your wife died?"
He heard the man make an affirmative sound as he said, "Yes, Rich. Had I not gotten home when I did, you two would have found out about each other sooner than either I or your father could have expected. I was startled to find out that your paths had crossed."
Rich sat back in the chair, startled by what he had heard. "You mean that my folks were aware of Emplate's existance." He was startled and scared by that revelation.
Cartier St. Croix just said, "Yes, and we went to great lengths to keep you two seperated. I know all about Grimore, and it was Grimore who informed your grandfather about Marius. You were only a baby when we found out. That time you stayed at our place, I had taken Marius from the house to another place, but he was already out of control. I'm sure you heard him when he killed my wife."
Rich felt like everything he knew started to come crashing down on him. Eventually he said, "Did he know that I was there?"
He heard Cartier reply, "No, he just knew someone was there. Marius seeks two things, mutants to control as vampire mutants, for that is his mutant gift, and the ultimate magic. Your family has the one item he truely seeks."
Rich knew what Cartier was talking about. "The book of names. I never thought it existed."
The response from Cartier was almost startling, "Each person that has held our titles has wished that. Since the Paladin's use an honorable magic, the book is safest with you. My family has always been gifted in the dark arts, but have been blessed with the wisdom on how to use it to be beneficial. However, I fear that when I die, Marius will get the title that I have held for so long."
Rich sighed and said, "That doesn't sound good at all. All of my encounters with your son have not been easy."
"You have an extra problem. Yvette has always drawn Emplate's attention. He will stop at nothing to get her back, but that might end soon." His responce startled Rich. It didn't sound good, but the tone denoted that it would be much better than he thought.
Rich wanted to know more as he said, "Cartier, what did you mean by that?"
He heard Cartier chuckle as he said, "You will have to wait and see, Richard. Let the week play out. You also might want to check out the library soon. Don't worry, we'll be in touch in the future." At that, Cartier hung up the phone. Rich put the receiver down and sighed.
He looked back at the bed with Yvette lying on it. She looked like she was having a nightmare. He ran over to the bed and removed the covers, not wanting to ruin them, and took her in his arms. He just held her and in their mind link said, {Don't be scared, my love. I'm here for you.}
Yvette could not believe how fast this nightmare hit her. It was horrible. She was captured by Aura and Emplate, while another figure held up Rich, who appeared dead. She started strugging to get free, but she couldn't. Before it got any worse, she heard her love saying, {Don't be scared, my love. I'm here for you.} She blinked her eyes and she was standing, in Rich's arms. His head was by hers. She was awake.
She hugged the man she loved and said, {It was terrible. It was all my worse fears come true.} She thought she said it aloud, but she realized that she said it in their mind link. She then heard a quiet tearing. She looked at her hands as he still held her. They were all tense, and starting to cut anything she touched. She then realized what the tearing was. She focused on untensing her body.
She watched as her hands slowly softened. Soon she heard her love say aloud, "Are you calming down?"
She glanced down and her own attire, noting the rips that had formed. She then said, "I think so, but I don't think my attire faired too well." She could see some of the tears slowly getting larger. It was embarassing, but she figured it would have been more embarassing if she was with one of the other guys from school.
Almost as if signalled, a phone rang. She hadn't seen it on the desk before, and now she noticed it. Rich just kissed her and said, "That's the other call. I'll take care of that while you get dressed." She watched as he went over to the phone. She quickly grabbed her clothes for the day and enter the bathroom.
She closed the door and sighed. She sometimes wondered if she could ever conquer the nightmares she had. It did have a disasterous effect on some of her wardrobe, and she only packed enough clothing for a week. If she had more scares like this, however, she would be lacking in clothes by the end of the week. She then realized something. She had grabbed only part of the clothes that were made specially for her. Since she had started looking more like a normal girl, she still needed special clothing. Even her Gen X outfit was laced with some of the restraints that Emplate made her wear, but not enough to preserve all of the out fit. The material was difficult to make, and they had to use it sparingly, as well as integrating it slowly. Most of her regular clothes were not laced with the material, but some was. She just prayed that she wouldn't have a scare again today. When she was finally ready, she left the bathroom and saw Rich sitting by the phone, holding his head. She kissed him on the cheek and said, "Is everything ok?"
She watched as he stood up and said, "Confusing, but I think it's ok." She was concerned about his responce. He then said, "I'll explain after I get ready, but it looks like we have to look in the library again." She watched as he headed into the bathroom.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and waited. As she waited, she saw Grimore walk over to her side. She reached over and petted the cat. She looked at Grimore and said, "What has him worried?"
The cat purred as it responded. "His past. His new title. He's learning more about himself that he wanted to ever admit to." She watched as the cat looked at her and said, "But he's strong, and he also has you to help him through this."
She looked at the cat and smiled. "I'll stay with him as long as it takes. I can't imagine my life without him."
The cat looked at her and resonded, "He feels the same way about you." She figured that much. She even suspected that he would ask her to marry him.
She then asked Grimore the question she was wondering about. "Grimore, do you think Rich will ask me to marry him this week?"
The cat jumped to the floor and said, "I think it would be a moot point. You both already know the answer to it." As the cat headed out to the room, he stopped and said, "Well, you have part of the answer."
She wanted to ask what he meant by that when Rich had come out of the bathroom. He walked over to her and kissed her again. "Well, this has been an informative day so far."
She kissed him in return and said, "Who was that who called you?"
He sighed and said, "It was my father's friend in Germany. It appears that my father was part of a group of three. In fact, in the library, there is an account of something that happened that all three had to combat."
She noticed the uneasyness in his mind through their mind link. She then said, "Was Monet's father the other friend?" He nodded and she then said, "So they knew about Emplate?"
He nodded and said, "Yes, and they both went to great lengths to make sure our paths didn't cross. Emplate doesn't even know that our fathers were friends."
She watched as he started to head out of the room. She knew where he was heading and held his arm. She just said, "I'm with you for as long as you need me."
He smiled and kissed her when she said that. In their mind, he said, {My love. I feel that will be a long time. I don't think I could live with out you.} She could tell that he meant it. He meant the same to her.
Monet awoke in the same spot she had awoken in the previous morning, trapped in their mind as Claudette controlled their actions. She was a prisoner in her own mind, and she needed to break free. As she started to try and break free, she heard her sister say, "Now now, Monet, you can have control once I've had my fun."
Monet knew what her sister was up to. [I know what you have planned. I won't allow it.]
She cringed as she heard Claudette laugh. "Like you have a choice." All those dreams that Claudette bombared her with that night was enough to give her evil sister an edge to gain control. Now Claudette was going to cause some sort of trouble. She noticed that Claudette was standing in front of a mirror. She saw the outfit that Claudette had picked out. It stunned her to even be seen wearing something like that. It looked like something Emma wore in her days with the Hellfire Club, the only difference that Emma most likely wore more than that.
Monet started to scream. [What are you up to, Claudette?] She was somewhat terrified by what this could mean.
She heard Claudette giggle and say, "Well, I have had my eye on Darrett for a while now. But, I fear that you might be right. This outfit might make everyone realized the hellraiser that I am. Maybe I should wear some of that boring stuff you like." Monet just watched as Claudette started to find a suitable outfil. It was definately getting harder to control Claudette. Monet was terrified of her twin, and now her sister was going to try something totally off the wall.
Angelo looked about the lounge, as Paige and Jono watched the news. Although he was never interested by the news before, the lead story had grabbed the interest of everyone at the school. He just sat quietly as the anchor on the news spoke. "It has been four days since the murder of Richard Cale, Sr. and his wife in their home in Easton, Pa. Their murder seems to be a random act of mutant vileance. Local authorities feel it is linked to the escape of a mutant fugative who goes by the name of 'Soundwave.' From what authorities has released is that a mutant killed them that made orphans of mutant children. Government officals have launched a full scale manhunt for 'Soundwave', but they are not certain that 'Soundwave' is the mastermind. Due to the fact that Richard Cale, Jr., who was key in the conviction of 'Soundwave', is under protection, they consider any threat to the boy as an admission of being part of the murder. News people have asked what Richard Cale, Jr. has to say about this act, but his cousin informs reporters that Richard Cale remains unavailable, due to a family tradition."
Paige just said, "Ah don't believe it. This seems to be exploding beyond comprehension." Angelo had to agree. All that had happened was enough to blow anyone's mind.
He then said, "At least they didn't say where Rich was, or that he went to school here." That could have been disasterous. He then had a disturbing thought. "You don't think Emplate, and Soundwave would use this opportunity to attack us, do you?"
He saw Paige shudder at that. He remembered the last time that Soundwave attacked the school. It was utter hell. He then heard Jono say, "I doubt that they would work together. Emplate wants Rich alive, where Soundwave wants him dead. Although, Soundwave does have a freaky idea of how to get his kicks."
Angelo shuddered and said, "I don't want to become the human spider web again. We should be ready if he tries an attack."
He was startled when Monet came in and said, "Who tries an attack, Emplate?" He wasn't startled by the fact that Monet had asked the question, but her attire seemed somewhat different. She seemed more like she was trying to get the attention of a guy.
He just said, "Soundwave. You remember, Rich's old 'friend' that tried to frame him, came here and tried to kill him not to long ago." He saw something in Monet's eyes at that moment. He honestly saw hatred in her eyes.
He was expecting her to shout out loud when she just calmly said, "Don't worry. We can handle him. By the way, has anyone seen Darrett?" He watched as she just sighed at the negative responce and then left the room.
When he was sure she was out of the room, he said, "I don't know, but I thought Monet was about to snap when I mentioned Soundwave?"
He heard Jono respond, "She was about to. I could sense it. She's not herself lately."
Angelo then heard Paige say something that did bother him. "I wonder if it's Claudette, and what she's thinking?" It was a disturbing thought. They knew only what Monet told them about Claudette, but was Monet telling them the truth or lies.