-I know this is unnecessary and self-explanatory at this point, however, it must be done. The disclaimer is in chapter 1 if you're looking for it.
-To everyone who read and reviewed, thank you so much. You're making my work all the more pleasurable.
Chapter 5
"Neddy, Veronica, what a pleasant surprise" Ned and Veronica had finally found time alone together.
The picnic lunch in Hyde Park was perfect, a reminder of home. The last thing she wanted was to see Gladys, who seemed to shadow her everywhere she went. It had been nice at first, having someone to talk to when everyone else was running around, always busy. Marguerite tried to make time for Veronica, as did the rest of the group, but returning to their lives, their days moved much faster than on the plateau. But the woman was becoming a nuisance, ruffling Veronica's normally calm demeanor.
"Mr. Malone, I've read your stories, how did you ever survive in the jungle for so long?" Danubis's cover was working perfectly.
"It wasn't so long, compared to Veronica. She survived for more than a decade after her parent's disappeared". Gladys hated the way Ned's arm traveled up Veronica's arm and attached itself to the small of her back.
"You must have been brave, a young girl surviving in the savage jungle without a friend".
"I did what I had to do" something about this man wasn't right, the way he looked at her, she knew him, but she couldn't figure out why or how.
"Would you care to sit down, Mr....?" Ned asked.
"My name is Danubis, I never cared for the title of Mr. We shouldn't, you must have important things to discuss and I promised Mr. Avigdon Gladys would be home by 4:00".
Gladys started rubbing the amulet around her neck; Danubis promised her Ned would do whatever she told him to while she wore it.
"Invite us to sit down".
"Please stay, we have plenty of food" Ned encouraged.
"If you insist".
Veronica shot him a look before returning the polite smile to her face.
"That is a beautiful amulet" the look on Ned's face was glassy, as if his mind were somewhere else.
"It's nothing, just something I found in my jewelry box".
"What do you do, Danubis?" Ned asked.
"Nothing specific. I do a little here and little there. Though in my youth, I was quite the adventurer. I spend some time in Africa, hiked through the Nevada valley, I even attempted the Himalayas. The only continent I've never set foot on is South America".
"What's wrong with you?" Veronica demanded as the taxi sped away from the park hours later.
"Nothing, it was the polite thing to do".
"Ned, I cannot go anywhere without her being there. It's as if she is intent on following me".
"Gladys is trying to be helpful, as you were our guide on the plateau, let her be your guide in London".
"She's helpful, as helpful as a raptor following the scent of their next meal" the car stopped in front Marguerite's house.
"You're jealous" he proclaimed.
"I am not jealous. Believe or not, she still wants you. I know her type. We may be in London, but this is still a jungle and you're the prey" she stormed out of the car.
"Veronica wait, your right. I've done nothing to encourage her. You're the one I love; you're the one I want to marry. From now on, I'll stay away from her" neither noticed Gladys's car on the street, watching the couple embrace.
Gladys started rubbing the amulet impatiently.
"Have some patience, my dear, you will have him, as I will have Veronica" Danubis encouraged as the car drove off.
"Veronica, Veronica" she woke up with a start several nights later.
Turning on the light she looked around the room, there no one. Figuring that it was her imagination, she turned off the light closed her eyes.
"Veronica, Veronica" the voice started again.
Again turning on the light, she glanced around the room. And again, she was alone.
Turning the light off for a second time, she closed her eyes again.
The voice came back a third time.
"This is ridiculous, I lived by myself for more than ten years; now I'm scared of the dark" she thought as she walked out of her room and into the study. Hoping that maybe a little reading would help, she turned on the phonograph, pulled a book from the shelf and started reading. She soon fell asleep, but glowing eyes and an evil laugh soon accompanied the voice. She felt someone shaking her.
"No, no" she tried to grab onto whoever was shaking her.
"Wake up, it's only me" she opened her eyes to see Marguerite looking down on her as the sun rose over the London skyline.
"What are you doing in here?" Marguerite asked.
"I couldn't sleep, I thought reading might help".
"Did you have the nightmare again?" Marguerite's concern for her friend was evident; she had never seen Veronica so shaken.
Veronica just nodded.
"Go back to bed, were not expected at Challenger's till 1".
"Marguerite, Veronica, welcome" Jessie eagerly let the younger women in.
"They're you are, I wondering what was taking so long" Roxton's dark eyes twinkled, his merry mood obvious to all.
"For you, Lord Roxton, I took extra time to get ready" Marguerite teased back.
"Where's Ned?" Veronica noticed the empty seat.
"He called, he has last minute meeting, he told us to start lunch" Jessie explained.
"Lunch is served, sir".
"Sorry I'm late, the meeting took longer than I expected" Ned gave Veronica a chaste kiss on the cheek before sitting down a little while later.
"So Ned, what was your meeting about?" George asked.
"Mr. Dupree would like to print my book in German and French, as well as Dutch and Spanish, if all goes well".
"That's marvelous news".
"That's not the best part. Mr. Avigdon's has contacts in New York who are also interested in publishing my book".
"Ned, that's wonderful".
"I have even better news. Mr. Avigdon is throwing a party in my honor" Ned was glowing.
Veronica shifted uncomfortably.
"What?" he asked.
"Excuse us" John stood up, wanting to help, but Marguerite's touch convinced him that it was better for the younger couple to work it out for themselves.
"Ned, I am not going to that party".
"I need you there; it's not a party without you".
"Gladys has done and will do everything to worm her way in. I'm not going, period".
"Is everything alright in there?" George called out.
"Fine".
"Can we talk about this another time?" Ned's glee of finally being published was quickly disappearing.
They returned to the table, looking stiff and unhappy.
"Everything ok?" Jessie noticed the mood change in the younger couple.
"Just fine" Veronica forced a polite smile.
Sensing that a change of topic was necessary, George asked "How are the wedding plans going?".
Grateful that the focus was off them, Veronica listened as Marguerite and Roxton talked about the numerous plans for their upcoming wedding.
"Sounds like you've got it all planned".
"Did you get a reply from Mr. Avigdon?" Ned asked.
"Not yet".
"Did you invite them?" Ned persisted.
"Propriety demanded it" Veronica's body became stiff and awkward.
"Ned, I hate to put myself in the middle of a lovers quarrel, but is something going on?" George had come to think of his fellow explorers as his own children, making it difficult to remain neutral during arguments.
"Nothing, except for the fact that Veronica is refusing Gladys who is only trying to be friendly" Ned suddenly barked out.
"Friendly, sure, if you define friendly as a sheep in wolf's clothing".
"I defended you when people called you uncivilized, without me you'd be running around in a loin cloth, speaking in one word sentences" the chair slammed onto the floor.
"Ned, that's unnecessary" John chided the younger man.
"So is our engagement" the front door slammed behind him.
"George, Jessie, thank you for the lovely lunch" Veronica's normally strong bearing crumbled as the two women made their exit.
"Why would he say that?" Veronica finally let the tears flow in the car.
"He's a man; he's fooled by a pretty face".
Veronica cried in the car and when she reached her room, she flung herself onto the bed. Maybe she should have stayed on the Plateau.
Ned sent messages to Veronica, even arranged for flowers. She turned them all away.
"Miss Layton, are you sure you don't want to send a reply?" Mary asked.
"No".
"As you wish" Mary quietly exited the room.
"She sent them all back, even the flowers," Ned chided himself days later. He knew the words had come out of his mouth, but he still couldn't believe it.
"Frankly, Neddy boy, I don't blame her, I would feel the same way" Veronica had always been the strong one, guiding them through the perils of their new home on the plateau. Now it was she who needed the guiding.
"If only...".
"Give her some time, she may come around".
After nearly two weeks of complete separation, Ned dug up the nerve to call her.
"Miss Layton, Mr. Malone is on the phone" Veronica hesitantly picked up the phone.
"Hello?" she asked, his words still echoed in her mind, tearing her apart.
"Veronica, I'm so sorry..." he started to say.
"You really hurt me" she cut him off.
"I promise from now on, no more Gladys, no more stupid fights. I'll send a car over, can you be ready in an hour?" his heart was beating ten thousand miles an hour.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"It's a surprise".
They both hung up at the same time, eager to return to their relationship before the fight.
"Mary!!!" Veronica's voice echoed throughout the house.
An hour later, Veronica stood ready as she heard the car pull up. Eagerly opening the door, she saw Gladys and Danubis.
"I'm sorry, I must go" she politely brushed them off.
"This will take one moment, I promise" Veronica felt the world darken around her. Lifting her up, a bowl of light surrounded Danubis as they disappeared and Gladys's car drove off. No one noticed Mary standing here, watching in horror.
Back in Avalon, Abigail woke up with a start.
"Milady" Dania, one of the young girls who worked in the kitchen stood on the other side of the bars.
"How did you escape?" Abigail asked.
"I hid".
"You must get a message to Finn; tell her everything, as quick as you can".
"Yes milady" the girl disappeared as the guards shadow entered the cell.
"Who were you talking to?" the guard demanded.
"No one" Abigail lied, praying that Dania would reach Finn and the feelings she was receiving about Veronica were false.
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