- The disclaimer is in chapter 1 if you really need to see it.
-To everyone who reviewed, you make my work so much more worthwhile. As you asked, you shall receive.
Chapter 6
Marguerite returned home, content. The prenuptial agreement was finished, agreed upon by all. Now she could concentrate on the wedding. Lady Marguerite Roxton had a nice ring to it. After all of the years of running and constantly creating new identities and lives, she could finally settle down with one that finally felt right.
"Miss Krux, Miss Krux" Mary nearly knocked her down, her eyes wide with fear, tears staining her cheeks as bright as Challenger's copper locks.
"What's wrong?" Mary looked like she had seen a ghost.
"Miss Layton..." Marguerite forced the girl to sit.
"Where is Veronica?" Marguerite demanded.
"I don't know, Mr. Malone sent a car for her. She went outside to wait and Miss Avigdon and a strange man got out the car. She's gone" Mary started to cry again.
"Daniel!!!".
"Yes, miss?" Daniel appeared.
"I want you to keep her calm, give her water, she must drink it slowly. I'm going to Lord Roxton's". Rushing out, she informed her driver to step on it. There was only person who could have orchestrated Veronica's disappearance.
"Where is he?" Marguerite barged in to Roxton's home.
"I'm sorry, Miss Krux, he went out, I don't know when he will return" Gilbert, Roxton's butler politely informed her.
"What's wrong love?" Just then, Roxton walked in noticing the fear in Marguerite's eyes.
"Veronica's gone".
"What do you mean, she gone?".
"I don't know, I came home and Mary was bawling. Veronica was supposed meet Ned..." she finally collapsed in tears.
"Brandy, now man!" Gilbert returned with the Brandy, it felt like her throat was on fire.
"Slow down, tell me exactly what happened" Marguerite related the story Mary told her.
"Did you check the house? Did you call Ned?".
"No, I know Gladys is behind this. She's had her eye on Ned since we got back, she's determined to have him, even if it meant getting rid of Veronica" there was no way Marguerite was lying.
"Call Professor Challenger and Mr. Malone, tell them to get over to Marguerite's house as fast as they can" getting to Marguerite's car, they sped off.
"Now, Mary, I want to tell me exactly what happened, don't spare any details" Mary lay in the salon, a blanket wrapped around her, her cheeks still bright red.
"Miss Layton accepted the call from Mr. Malone; he told her he was sending a car in a hour. She was waiting outside when Miss Avidgon's car drove up. She was with a strange man. She fell unconscious. He picked her up and carried her into light. Miss Avigdon drove off".
"You picked a rather inappropriate time. I was getting ready to go over to the Zoological Society..." George stopped short, noticing the fear in the girl's face.
"Veronica is gone, George. We have to find Ned and return to the Plateau".
"But how? It could take months to get there," George protested.
"I know a way, but we must get to Ned, he must know the truth".
Ned stood anxious at the curb, waiting for Veronica. He had to apologize, he needed to apologize, he would never forgive himself if he didn't. Finally the car pulled up and he opened the door.
"Hello, Neddy" Glady's smile was pure seduction.
"Where's Veronica?".
"She's gone, I'm here now" he felt his mind go blank and her words forced themselves into his mind.
"But I love her" he protested.
"You love me, not her. I will be your wife" he felt his mind fighting for control as memories of Veronica were pushed out.
"I love you" his mind stopped fighting her mind control.
"Ned, Veronica is gone, we must find her" Marguerite's car stopped behind Gladys's car.
Roxton and Challenger may have been shocked by Glady's presence, but Marguerite was not.
"What have you done to Veronica?" Marguerite charged Gladys, but Roxton held her back.
"Now, now Miss Krux, we all know your rather seedy reputation. I wouldn't want to destroy it completely by passing on that you've resorted to violence" Glady's hatred was naked for all to see.
Roxton pulled Marguerite into the car, still holding her back.
"That bitch, she been planning this all along. She knows where Veronica is and who took her".
"She may be behind Veronica's disappearance, but getting angry will not help any of us, especially Veronica, wherever she is".
"You don't believe me," she charged.
"I believe you, but I also know when facing a predator, one must let the predator think they have won".
"Fine" she agreed.
"We'll find her, I promise you".
"I don't think Marguerite is going to hurt you, Miss Avigdon, it's just that we consider Veronica part of the family and we need to find her," Challenger explained gingerly as the car door opened behind them.
"Tell her to apologize".
"Marguerite, I think you owe Gladys an apology" Ned's eyes were glassy; he looked as if his mind was somewhere else.
"Your right, Ned. Miss Avigdon, I owe you an apology. You probably had nothing to do with Veronica disappearing, you're just angry that Ned would choose Veronica over you".
The fire in Gladys's eyes would have to suffice for now.
"Ned, are you coming?".
"No".
"We'll send a message when we return" the change in Ned's behavior was obvious.
"Enjoy your little excursion" Holding her cool, Marguerite entered the car. The bitch would pay.
"Now what? It's going to take us months to get to the Plateau. Who knows what might happen in that time?" Roxton questioned.
"Marguerite, do you have the pendant?" Challenger asked. Only recently she had revealed the pendant that had somehow slipped into her blouse during their encounter with the trickster god.
"John, you just came back, you can't just pick and leave" his mother protested.
"Mother, Veronica was kidnapped, we have to bring her back," he explained.
"My god, by who?".
"We don't know. Marguerite and I will be back, I promise" the car sped off.
"If I am not back by Christmas, execute the will".
"Yes, Miss Krux" Marguerite's will was divided equally between Miss Abernathy's School For Young Ladies and her business partners. It wasn't the best school she attended, but her memories of her time at Miss Abernathy's were the fondest.
Jessie watched her husband pack for another expedition. After 35 years of marriage to the man, she expected nothing less from him.
"We'll be back as soon a possible" he hated leaving her now, his time on the plateau made him realize how much he truly missed her.
"I know, George" she patiently sighed as the car disappeared from her line of sight.
On the plateau, Veronica finally came to.
"The beauty awakes" Danubis watched her rouse. She was indeed a beauty, as was her mother and grandmother before her. It was a pity she also inherited their pride.
"You" she felt chains pull her back.
"I've been watching you, Veronica; you are your mother's daughter".
"Let me see my daughter" Abigail barreled in.
"Mother, you're looking radiant" Danubis smirked.
"Release her, now" the chains disappeared.
"Why did he call you Mother?" Veronica asked.
"Lady Protector, I believe there is a story that Veronica does not know. It would be wise if she were made aware of it. There are guards outside and all around the castle, any attempts to escape would be foolish" the oak doors closed behind him, leaving mother and daughter alone.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Veronica had never seen her mother so shaken.
"I must tell you a story, child. One that is as old as time" Veronica sat down as her mother began to speak.
"When the world was formed, the Gods divided the earth among the mortal tribes. The only piece of land that was left was Avalon and the plateau. There were two groups eager to control the plateau, our line, the line of the Protector and Danubis's people, the Morkinds. The God's thought that the two groups could work it out, but a battle ensued and many lives were lost. A tournament was devised and the winner would gain control of the Plateau. We won and ever since then, the Morkinds have been looking for ways infiltrate our defenses. Because they have succeeded, there is only one way to save us all".
Veronica instantly understood what had to be done. Knowing Ned would forever live in her heart, she pulled on the strength she had used all those years alone.
"Before I agree to any marriage, were going to discuss a few things" she barged into the throne room.
"Such strength, such courage, such beauty. What else would a man ask for?".
"My mother will not only regain her throne, but the respect she rightly deserves. You will treat me with the same respect. Our time in bed will be short; you will not touch me otherwise. If you touch me any other time, I will cut out your black heart and serve it the Gods as an offering".
"I suppose I can agree to that. But I too, need some leverage. You will give me several children, I suppose I would prefer boys, but there is no harm in having girls. Your mother will appoint me her heir and I shall have control of the council," he signaled to his guards.
"That's unfair" she automatically reached for the knife on her waist, but it was nowhere to be found.
"I don't think that's terribly unfair, considering that at any moment, I may accidentally tell my guards to kill these innocents. That would be unfair" the guards held Finn and Dania, bound and gagged their knives were less than a half an inch from the women's throats.
"Fine, but don't think your going to get anywhere near my bed before the wedding" she agreed.
"That's what I like about you, Veronica; you know when to give in. Announce to all that in seven days time, there will be a wedding".
Drama, drama, drama. Please send a review.