Hi, everyone! I guess this chap's gonna be the most important (I'm not saying why though).
Anyway, thanks for the reviews. Hutchy, you don't know what a moon strike is! Well, maybe it doesn't exist but I understand hat it's the effect the full Moon has on two people, making them fall in love with each other. Strange but true. As for Max, I didn't have the idea of turning him gay really since he has to be with Mariam (otherwise it's unfair for the girl who likes him ). As for you, brittanymccullough, you're in luck: Mariah will make her entrance in this very chapter.
Hope you all will enjoy this…
Chapter 17: Uncovering the truth
Hilary thought that all that had happened was only a dream but when morning came and finding a good morning card from Enrique on her bedside table, Hilary realized that it might be true after all.
Enrique is in love with me!
The card read: "The sun seems to rise in your eyes. Last night I was visited in my dreams. A young man with white wings shot me in the heart and said: "Enrique, you are lost". I guess I am. Will you be there with me?"
Hilary jumped off her bed and locked herself in the bathroom.
"Hilary! I have to go to work!" Mariam banged on the door.
"In a minute!"
When finally Hilary came out, Mariam had her jaws dropped.
"What?" Hilary inquired, touching her hair nervously.
"Why are you dressed so…" Mariam was speechless.
Hilary looked down at her white mini skirt and pink lacy top. Then she blushed.
"Do you think it's too much?" she asked anxiously.
Mariam was silent for a minute.
"He kissed you?"
Hilary gasped.
Mariam slapped her forehead.
"Hilary, what about all the lessons I've been giving you?" Mariam yelled.
"But… but Prima said it's okay," Hilary tried to find an excuse for her.
"I don't care what Prima says! This boy is dangerous!" Mariam shook Hilary as if she wanted her to wake up.
But she wouldn't.
"You don't know anything about him," Hilary countered. "I… I've seen things, things that proved that he has feelings too and so it's not likely that he tricks women all the time." She paused. "This time, I'm sure he's serious."
Mariam only shook her head.
"Salima said that once. Don't raise your hopes too high, Hil. It won't do you good."
But Hilary proved out more stubborn than Mariam had thought. She slammed the door and left without further words. She went to find Enrique. The card indicated that he'd be in his room (since the word 'dream' referred to the bed chamber). However she stood timidly in front of Enrique's bedroom, wondering if she was really going to knock. She did.
"Come in," Enrique's voice sounded drowsy.
Hilary turned the doorknob, letting hazy daylight into the dark room. The bed was empty. Enrique was nowhere to be seen. Hilary took a courageous step.
Suddenly, a hand passed over her hips and a voice caressed her ears.
"Buongiorno, my princess."
Hilary gave a start and turned to see Enrique still in his nightshirt which consisted of a pair of boxers and a white vest.
"I received your card," Hilary said, not knowing what else to say.
Enrique gave a crystalline laughter and held her closer.
"A little present. But what about going out together to see New York's collection of Bulgarie?"
"Already?"
Enrique chuckled.
"After breakfast at Tiffany's, of course!"
Hilary ended spending the whole day with Enrique. With Prima gone, she had no duties to attend to. When Hilary thought back at the good times they spent together, she couldn't make out which was the best: kissing on the top of the Statue of Liberty or dancing in a corn field in the far countryside.
Everyone else didn't matter anymore. She got up with the name of Enrique on her mind and the days were spent entirely with him. Goodness knows what tomorrow will bring, Hilary thought to herself.
However her joy came to a close as the 11th September came. It fell on her like thunder when her ninja watch shook with the word 'Mission'. Mariam, Tala and her got in the limousine drove by Hiro at 6:00 pm. Enrique had given her a good luck kiss before going. Hilary wished that she could disappear into it and ignore the mission completely.
Tala had surprised her. She always knew that he was pretty good-looking but tonight, he was wearing a white tux with a crimson tie which made him look really like a dreamboat. Mariam couldn't take her eyes off him either, but she looked more shocked than affected by the bodyguard's beauty.
"Who's guarding master Tornatore if you come with us?" Mariam asked on the journey to the Chow's mansion.
Tala looked at her through his icy eyes before answering.
"Granger."
"What? He'll never be safe with that one!"
"The grandfather."
"Oh that's alright then."
Hiro looked in the driver's mirror and chuckled.
"It's my brother you're talking about," he said in a fake reproachful tone.
"So?"
"Tala, learn to be humoristic for once."
"As if."
Tala looked out of the window and remained silent throughout the whole journey.
They finally drew up in front of a huge mansion animated by colored lights. A fountain laughed in the middle of the roundabout in front of the residence where many polished cars were dropping off posh guests. Hilary and Mariam got off before they entered the gate and followed the queue of servants also entering the mansion under the supervision of a guard in tight Chinese costume.
"I guess we'll have to dress in Chinese too," Mariam whispered.
"Great, after being an Egyptian now I'll be a Chinese," Hilary giggled back.
She had completely forgotten that Mariam was against Enrique's and her love and it was probably because she was starting to get nervous about all this. What if they had to kill this time? Or worst be killed? Especially that she and Mariam would have to wander around the private zones, Hilary began to wonder what they'd do if someone caught them.
"Hey you!"
Hilary was snapped from her daydream.
"What's your name?" the guard asked.
"Blueberry?" Hilary ventured. It was the name the master gave them to mask their true identity.
"And?"
"Cherry," Mariam answered.
The guard made a strange noise and he looked down the list. Hilary wondered if he was snorting. But he let them pass.
"Uniforms in the box over there," he said.
On the other side of the mansion, Tala kept his eyes alert for any sign of Balkov. For the moment he only saw Kevin and Mariam's brother, Joseph welcoming the guests. It seemed that the host, Lee Chow, would be waiting for the hall to fill before making apparition.
What a pretentious old thing! he thought scathingly to himself.
Tala closed his eyes wearily. He wished for more action but it seemed that this mission would only be an I-spy thing. The voice of the guests chattering nearby drifted towards him.
"I heard that young Mr. Lee will be presenting hi sister who had just arrived from China," one of them was saying.
"Oh really? Personally I don't think it's a good idea. I mean, if we've just arrived from China, it must be tiresome and now we have to attend a party," a girl with turquoise hair, fanning herself said.
"But sometimes duty is more important than resting," the white-haired boy reminded her.
"All the same, he could have chosen another day."
"But this day is the most appropriate: I heard that Boris Balkov had his first debate this afternoon. It's probably to celebrate it as well."
"Oh yes, they are friends, aren't they?"
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by the sound of clapping. Boris Balkov himself had just entered the ballroom. Tala straightened himself up. Boris was waving to the crowds with a majestic look on his face. On the other side of the room, Lee Chow made his entry as well. The clapping grew louder as the two men embraced.
Tala raised his eyebrows. Lee Chow was a small man who resembled a lion with his dark long hair. Tonight he was wearing a yellow traditional Chinese costume with a lion on the back. Tala wondered how the guests could distinguish him from the waiters who were wearing traditional costumes too. He was making a welcoming speech but Tala preferred not to listen and concentrate on the expression on Boris' face. He noticed that he hadn't got his favorite bodyguard with him. He probably wasn't expecting an attack. Balkov was looking at Lee with a smile of a proud father on his face. Tala was surprised to see it there. What kind of relation did these two men have?
Boris Balkov's eyes were riveted to the entrance by which Lee Chow had entered. To his surprise the whole assembly was looking towards the double doors too. Tala slowly turned hi head and saw Lee Chow's associate, another Chinese by the name of Ray Kon. He was holding his arm to a girl with pink hair. Tala couldn't understand what was happening to him. He, who never set eyes, other than objectively, on a female; he, who despised this other sex, he found himself staring at the young girl in Ray Kon's arms. She was wearing a cream silk Chinese dress with delicate pink blossoms scattered on her left shoulder and the right hem of her skirt. Her equally pink hair caught the light, waving at the assembly, was let down on her shoulders. But what captured Tala's burning gaze the most was her dazzling golden eyes. In them Tala felt himself lost and cold yet a flame flickered inside them, rendering him powerless.
"Everyone, I present you my sister: Mariah," Lee Chow said.
She bowed gracefully as the crowd clapped for her. Her eyes caught Tala who couldn't take his gaze off her. He felt himself melting under those eyes. Finally she left him and went to concentrate instead on Boris Balkov, who her brother was presenting to her.
Get a grip on yourself! Tala ordered himself. You don't even know that girl. She's probably a weakling like all of her kinds. But somehow, Tala's antipathy for woman didn't help him forget that face tonight.
The party went on without him. Tala was keeping an eye both on Boris Balkov and Mariah. But when one waked away from the other, Tala found it hard to follow Boris. Besides he didn't do anything fishy so far, except from scratching his bottom discreetly. He also noticed that Ray was standing dangerously close to Mariah and he wouldn't let her out of his sight. When the music started, Tala decided to take action, despite himself.
Hilary and Mariam, now dressed in Chinese waited until the coast was cleared before abandoning their trays and creeping deeper into the mansion.
"What do you think we'd find?" Hilary asked in a hushed voice and they made their way across the dark corridors.
"Probably ghouls and stuff," Mariam answered.
Hilary had to put her hands on her mouth to prevent herself from laughing.
"Let's try this door," Mariam whispered.
Unfortunately, it was locked.
"Don't worry," Mariam said casually and took out her hair clip.
"The ultimate gadget," Hilary snorted.
The door creaked open. They were in a study room that was also a library, according to the packs of books on the shelves.
"Let's see what Chow does in here," Mariam said before entering.
"Will you accord me this dance?"
Mariah looked up at the pair of ice eyes that had stared at her during all evening. Mariah, like any women, had noticed this flaming gaze on her and it had made her uncomfortable. Yet now that he was actually talking to her, she felt less afraid.
"Sure," she answered.
The stranger in the white suit led her towards the dance floor. Thank god Ray's in the bathroom, she mentally said. She could smell his strong scent as they waltzed across the floor. Judging by his features, he must be very strong and Mariah must admit that he wasn't bad-looking.
"So I'm holding in my arms, the sister of the illustrated Lee Chow?" the red head asked.
Somehow his voice made her shudder.
"Yes, but you can call me Mariah," she replied.
He nodded.
"Tala."
They went on dancing when suddenly the boy stopped, staring at something behind her. Mariah turned hesitantly her head but didn't see anything strange. When she turned back to him, the boy was gone.
"I wish Kenny were here, I'm not as good at informatics as he is," Mariam said, fumbling the keyboards, trying to unlock Lee Chow's PC.
Hilary on the other hand was looking at the books.
"This Lee Chow is really a passionate for art," she said, flicking through Leonardo Da Vinci's Life and Reflexion.
"Maybe that's why he steals galleries," Mariam remarked.
Hilary turned back to the bookshelves. There were also strange objects displaying on them. Hilary was about to pick up one but Mariam let out a yelp which pulled her attention away.
"What happened?" she asked, looking over Mariam's shoulder.
"I think I managed to enter after all," Mariam was saying. "Look, these are bills from the Japanese Army Furnisher. I… I think they're buying weapons, loads of weapons."
"What for?"
Mariam shook her head and searched for more files.
"Why don't you try this one?" Hilary pointed at a file named BB.
"Okay…"
Suddenly, their watches beeped.
"It's Tala! Let's go!"
Tala ran after Boris Balkov. Damn you! Why do you have to choose this moment to disappear? He glimpsed Boris ushered by Lee Chow, Ray Kon and other important-looking people.
"Hiro, I need the limo," he barked into his watch. Then he sent messages to the other girls too.
He kept his eyes on the company of men heading for Lee Chow's van. Where are those girls? Why are Boris and Lee leaving in the middle of the party? As questions fuzzed in Tala's mind, Hiro parked the limousine in front of him.
"Here," Tyson's brother threw him a small gun.
Tala took aim at the leaving van and shot.
"This should do," he said, getting into the car.
Hiro pressed a button on his left and the radio turned into a screen showing a moving dot.
"Where are the girls?"
Before Tala could answer, a noise of landing broke nearby. Mariam and Hilary ran over to them.
"You've jumped from the window?" Hiro raised his eyebrow.
"Well, you want us to be quick, don't you?" Mariam said to Tala before climbing in the car.
"Shut up and let's get moving."
Mariam scowled but Tala ignored her. He dot was moving west wards as they sped across the streets. Tala wondered where they were leading them.
He got his answer soon enough. The dot stopped moving at a private harbor. They got out dressed as ninjas. Tala could see the van parking beside a warehouse.
"I think they're in there," Hilary pointed out.
"Someone got to stay outside to see if the coast is clear," Tala began to say but the two girls looked at him with determination on their face.
"We're not going anyway," Mariam said firmly.
Tala signed and signaled them to follow him. They used the night's mantle to creep past the driver in the van and with a gadget the master gave them, they climbed on the warehouse's walls. The roof was made of glass so they could see what was happening inside, only they needed to use the ear device to eavesdrop. Finally, after turning to adjust the sound, they caught Lee Chow saying, "This, gentlemen, is the beginning of a blossoming."
The ninjas took out their binocular-glasses on and zoomed on the objects the Chinese was showing.
Hilary gasped.
It was the stolen paintings! But why was he showing them to the other guests?
Boris Balkov was standing beside him, smiling widely.
"Yes, I must thank you, Lee," Boris Balkov said. "With all your contributions, we can assure you a blissful life in our new society. I, Boris Balkov, am going to win those elections and I tell you the world will be ours!"
Hilary couldn't follow the man's thinking line. Being the President of the United States didn't give him the right to conquer the world.
"Lee and I are joining forces to lead this world to a brighter day. Therefore we need a strong leader, who will survive centuries of injustice. I can assure you of that. Mr. Johnny McGregor here has already agreed to adhere us. He will be the commander of my army and the illustrated Ray Kon will be the trainer."
The other guest clapped. Ray Kon who was standing beside Lee Chow couldn't help himself looking smug.
"We are building, my friends, a new generation. Children will rule!"
More claps. Boris Balkov smiled as he sensed that he was wining.
"But how can you be sure that you will win the elections?" a man asked.
"This, my friend is about to be revealed to you in these paintings. The laser please, Kevin."
The green head came forward with a violet torchlight. Boris Balkov took it from him and shone it on the paintings. Suddenly, writings replaced the pictures. Boris smiled when everyone gasped in surprise.
"The formula put on place by Nicolas Flame, himself, scattered across the centuries by paintings," Balkov said proudly. "You can call it, the recipe of the Philosopher's Stone."
Hilary let out a cry and dropped her glasses on the glass.
The people beneath looked up. Boris Balkov's smile curved.
"I guess we have late guests," he said.
Mariam, Tala and Hilary decided to make a run for it but when they jumped from the roof, they found themselves surrounded. It was like Boris had anticipated their coming. Of course, their last mission! Hilary thought, abashed.
But the surprise didn't end there. Brooklyn stepped forward.
"Brook… Brooklyn, what are you doing here?" Hilary gasped.
Tala stared at her.
"I'm sorry Hilary, if I had known, I wouldn't have done this. But Ming Ming's on Boris's side and I'm only her bodyguard," Brooklyn said as his men tied them.
"You… you can't do this to us," Hilary spluttered. "We're fir… friends."
"That was weeks ago," Garland stepped out of the darkness too.
"God! I can't believe it of you guys!" Mariam yelled. "What about Salima?"
"What about her?" Garland smirked.
By that time, Boris had exited the warehouse along with the other guests. Tala was trying to cut the ropes with his knife that was kept under his sleeves.
"Well, well look what we have here?" he said in a mocking sound. "Three ninjas… Tornatore's I suppose? Lee told me all about him and his gruesome jokes."
Lee Chow looked down at them with unblinking eyes.
"Here's another one!"
Everyone turned and there was Hiro in Joseph's grips!
"Hiro!" Hilary cried.
"Let go of the kids. Take me instead!" Hiro shouted.
Balkov simply shook his head.
"They know too much already," he taunted, "It's better to erase them from existence."
"No!"
Balkov laughed harder.
Suddenly Mariam spoke.
"Right, so you're going to kill us. Fine. Just tell us your plans so we can die in peace."
Balkov stared at her for a moment.
"Why, that voice reminds us of someone. Doesn't it, Joseph?"
Joseph just shrugged, arousing Mariam's anger.
"Stop joking! Answer me!"
"You're not very much in the position to order me, girl," Boris said quietly, walking towards her.
He got so close that she could smell his foul breath.
"Don't you dare touch me?" Mariam snarled.
He hit her on the arm.
"There I touched you!" he laughed.
Hilary began to get scared as Boris turned his attention to her.
"Do I know you?" Boris asked.
Hilary decided wise not to answer him.
"A mute one, er?" He came closer. "Why, I do know you. Well, your grandfather anyway"
Suddenly Tala sprang up and kicked Boris. His bodyguard, a largely-built blond guy came instantly to catch him in his fall.
"Spencer, you fool. You shouldn't let that happen," Boris muttered but Tala had already freed Hilary and Mariam.
Brooklyn and Garland jumped on him but he was quicker then them. He dodged and threw a star at Joseph's hand. He cried in pain and let Hiro go. Everything went quickly. Tala threw a gas bomb on the others and made Hilary and Mariam duck. Hiro was following them. They eclipsed to the car and Hiro pushed this emergency button and it turned into a plane. Soon they were speeding off towards the villa.
"Sir, we failed to catch them," Garland reported to Boris as soon as the smoke drifted.
"Never mind, Garland," Boris said, a smile on his face. "I have them all in my net." And he gave a laughter that made the whole place shiver with fear.
