"I want to lay down some ground rules." Arliss said, marching up and down the living room. Nessa was seating regally in an armchair, watching as her fiancé and king gave his proclamation. She was assumed by the boys, feeding off their fear like a fat guy at the Olive Garden on all-you-can-eat-night. She also got a thrill of watching her man go into command mode. "First off, as long as you are in this mansion, we are in charge. I am king, Nessa queen, Arlen, Mayday and Lexie equal in power to us. Then my daughter Cassandra and her boy Hayden, Arlen's son Dhmitri, and finally Missy."
Arlen was leaning against the wall near the door, Mayday to his right. The two guards had had a fight when Arlen learned what his wife had agreed to in his name, knowing full well he would never be up for this. A complete compromise of security, that's what he had called it. Mayday had seen it as a chance to expand, gather potentially new hunters unto them…or, at worst, gain unknowing spies to inform the Hunters of what was going on within the academy.
"You will only go where we allow you to go." Arliss said. "You will not explore the mansion, open doors we haven't told you to touch, and will not peak into our private matters."
That was really important to Mayday; when it had come out about her true age, the academy had made it clear that none of the teachers would accept her into their classes. Not that she had been going to them for a while, but it eliminated a place for her to spy…as well as alienated her from the school. The rest of the hunters could at least enter a classroom, and Arlen still had his own classes to teach, his contract iron-clad.
"If we give you a command, you will obey it. We are in charge, and if you want our protection, then you will have to accept taking orders from us."
Lexie sat in her own chair, dressed in a pair of short shorts and a sports bra, her toes soaking in a tub of ice water, her very pregnant tummy sticking out. It was her curse, at the moment: her ankles were swollen, and the extra weight only kept more heat in. Thus, she was not a happy camper, especially since Arliss and Arlen had forced her to put on clothes for the meeting. If it had been up to her, she would have just gone as she had been: nude as a jay bird. But, she didn't get to pick, thus she had to leave her air conditioned room and spend time with the new guys.
"You will not discuss what happens here. What happens in this mansion stays in this mansion."
Cassandra and Hayden were seated on one of the love seats, both chatting quietly about their plans to deal with Arlen's concerns about security. Other then maintaining the printing machines down in the caverns and the occasional hack of I2, the two had done little other then lounge around. Thus, when Arlen had brought up his complaint about weakening security, Cassandra had volunteered to create mechanical security systems that would tap into the school's power system (thanks to Hayden) to work with magic security system the Inner Circle had made.
"We will not alter our lives for you. If you prefer your breakfast at 7 am, be ready to make it yourself."
Missy and Dhmitri watched on, the most accepting of Souta, Johnny and Hector. They had been the most recent inductees, and understood what it was like to enter this world. Granted, Dhmitri had been adopted into the family, and Missy was learning shadow magic from Arliss and Nessa, but they still understood in part.
"Any questions?"
"none."
"nope."
"nada."
Nessa grinned. "Oh, and I would keep your doors shut."
"Why?" All three asked.
&&&
-Night One-
CREAK CREAK CREAK
Souta stared up at the ceiling, eyes wide as sounds of creaking beds echoed all around him.
"MMmmmmmm…"
Johnny and Hector pressed their pillows to their heads, wanting to close the bedroom door by terrified of what they might accidentally see.
"Oh God…."
The sounds of slamming doors suddenly filled the mansion…
…CREAK CREAK CREAK
&&&
-Day Two-
Souta glared at the woman, eyes red from lack of sleep. 'I should have listened to Arliss' he thought, glancing over at Johnny and Hector. They were on the floor, out cold. He turned back to the woman whose cries had kept him up.
"Do you have to be so loud?"
Lexie shrugged. "it was good cake, what can I say."
"Now you see why we keep our doors shut, lad." Hayden said. "That lassie startled the hell out of me the first time I heard her having a midnight snack."
"Lay off me, Scottie." Lexie snapped. "My baby needs all the food she can get."
"Didn't ya say last week it would be a boy?" Cassandra asked, never looking up from her copy of Popular Mechanic, chowing down on some bacon.
The former Shadow Knight shrugged. "I changed my time. Definitely a girl."
"With the way you eat, it could be one of each, Aunt Lexie." Dhmitri added, pulling out Missy's chair.
"Ha, ha, ha." Lexie snapped. She watched as Dhmitri began to make breakfast. "Where is Arliss? Usually he makes my meals."
"Arliss cooks?" Souta questioned.
"My da can cook anythin'." Cassandra said. "Best bloody chef there is."
"He and Nessa went for a swim." Dhmitri said. "Part of their new regiment to get into even better shape, I guess."
Lexie glared at him. "Is that a crack about my weight?"
Hayden patted her on the arm. Of all the Lockeharts, Hayden liked Lexie the best. She was simple to judge, and you didn't have to worry about her killing you like Arlen, or using you as bait like Arliss. 'Of course, got to remember that the lass is soon gonna be a mum, and will be even more dangerous then the boys. Best though to get on her good side then; Arliss and Nessa have claim on Cassandra and Missy, and Arlen and Samantha have Dhmitri. Best I have my own Lockehart.'
Hayden flashed Lexie a grin. "You know we all love your weight…makes you ten times better then our Alexis."
Lexie merely nodded, watching as Dhmitri focused on her breakfast. "What about Arlen? Where is my dear brother at?"
"They went to go settle their fight from last night." Dhmitri supplied. "I saw them heading out towards the academy…something about defiling Crowler's desk…"
Cassandra looked up from her magazine. "'ayden! They stole our idea!"
"Stole what idea?" Nessa asked as she entered the kitchen, dripping wet and in a super skimpy and skin tight bikini
"Atleast you remembered to wear a suit this time." Hayden said, lowering his head. He was smart enough to know you don't go looking at your girlfriend's mother when she was flashing skin…even if it were common-place.
Souta, meanwhile?
His eyes were nearly popping out of his head as he took in the dark beauty that was moving through the kitchen towards the refrigerator, grabbing some orange juice and guzzling it down.
"My idea to have sex in that wanker Crowler's office."
"We had that idea first, and already did it." Arliss said, entering, wearing a pair of tight Olympic-style swim briefs.
Johnny and Hector snapped awake, mouths hanging open at the sight of the King of the Rare Hunters.
Hayden quietly went to leave, while Dhmitri merely focused on cooking his eggs. "Come on boys…" he snapped, grabbing Johnny and Hector by the ears. "You might be staying with us, but that doesn't mean you get to ditch like us. I personally have plans, and they don't involved you, so get going and get educated!"
Arliss gave Hayden a high five. "Knew I kept you around for a reason, Hayden my boy."
&&&
"You guys are really staying at the Hunters' Dorm?" Tyrone Stewart asked, eyes wide. "And they didn't kill you?"
"Of course not!" Souta exclaimed. "Jeez, you guys act like they are some kind of monsters or something."
"Uh…wasn't Vanessa Fox once a nice short girl that admired Alexis?" Franklin Parker questioned.
"True, but that does not make them evil." Hector argued. "They showed us kindness when we came for their aid."
Stewart Mewes frowned. "Why did you guys go and beg the hunters to protect you?"
"We told you…" Johnny answered, "…Chazz Princeton has found a way to brainwash duelists and turn them into his loyal zombies."
"We are afraid that he is going to either brainwash us or send them after all of us to destroy us." Hector supplied.
"That, and this giant god named Anarchy descended from the sky, killed three of Chazz' men." Souta added.
"Then he turned Prof. Malloren and her daughter Lacey into goddesses. He apparently wants to cause hell on earth, and condemn us all, or something." Johnny continued.
"So, we decided to ally ourselves with the Rare Hunters, since they have shown they are strong enough to take on dark forces, and can hopefully protect us from these evil duelists and gods."
The group of slifers and Ra Yellows stared at them blankly.
"I know it sounds strange…" Souta began.
"Sounds?" Tyrone questioned. "It is insane! First off, there is no way that Chazz is some sort of evil cult leader. He's an idiot that got dropped down to Slifer…"
"Hear me, all you pathetic maggots!"
The group of boys turned to watch as Chazz strode through the Slifer Dorm. He was dressed all in white, flanked by several of his new loyal drones.
"I know now that you quiver in terror at my name…as well you should. There is no room in this world for you pathetic duelists. Soon, much of this academy will be brought under my thumb, and then I will show you the true power of light, to destroy each of you!" He nodded to himself, then calmly left, his zombies following loyally behind their master.
Souta, Hector and Johnny turned to look at their fellow slifers. Stewart looked at them nervously, but the others weren't with them all the way.
"Ok, so Chazz has gone insane, and maybe he can brainwash people…" Tyrone said. "But I don't see any…"
In a flash of light, Lacey appeared. She giggled, darting behind a startled Franklin, just as another flash of light appeared, and Viola Malloren, eyes glowing and hair billowing in an unseen breeze, appeared and began to look around.
"Where is Hyper…" She sang.
Lacey giggled, and her mother was on her.
"Found you!" Viola laughed. "Ok, now I get to hid."
"P-P-Prof. Malloren?" Franklin stammered.
"Its Viola, goddess of chaos now, Franklin." Viola said. "And what can I do for you?"
"Are you a g-g-goddess bent on bringing hell on earth?"
Viola paused, thinking. "Would you consider mass murder hell on earth?"
All of them nodded.
"Then yes." She answered. "Ok…here I go!" In a flash, she was gone, followed shortly by a laughing Lacey.
Souta, Hector and Johnny stared at the guys once more.
"Ok…" Tyrone began. "I will give you the gods. I will give you Chazz. I'll even give you that the Rare Hunters are powerful…"
BAM!
All of them blinked as a blast of dark energy shot through a wall, coming just inches from their heads.
"Sorry!" Missy said, leaning through the hole to give them a sheepish wave. "Still learning how to control that."
Tyrone looked at the boys.
&&&
KNOCK KNOCK
Arlen answered the door to find Souta, Hector and Johnny standing there, Tyrone, Franklin and Stewart behind them looking over their shoulders.
"They…followed us home?" Souta offered.
Arlen raised an eyebrow. "MAYDAY! YOU WANTED GUESTS, YOU GET TO DEAL WITH THEM! I'LL BE IN OUR ROOM!"
&&&
-Day Three-
"I'm just saying, I could really use your help."
Cassandra looked up from the circuit board she was working on, lifting the black industrial helmet from her head. "I am 'elpin'. If it weren't for this bloody security system, Uncle Arlen wouldn't be sleepin' in the same bed as you."
"I know, I know…" Mayday said. "I have all these plans for the new arrivals…but three more suddenly hear…"
"Where are we putting them?" Cassandra asked.
"Arliss is making them sleep in the ballroom. Says he can get them to move if he and Nessa decide to throw a party."
"Ah." Cassandra replied. "And…why aren't mum and da 'elpin' ya again?"
"Well, Nessa refused to be around them, after the three new boys kept asking her questions like, "Are you really Vanessa, or an alien that took over her body." Arliss is coming up with some grand scheme to deal with the White Association, so he is locked in his office planning."
"And Uncle Arlen?"
Mayday groaned. "He made up the excuse that Norman is becoming frightened by all the new smells, so he is baby-dragon-sitting until, and I quote, "Normie is use to all the new people". That, and he keeps going to the academy…with Doc K and Prof. Malloren gone, he figures this is a good time to snoop through their desks."
Cassandra grinned. "'e'll bring me any good machine stuff, right?" Mayday nodded. "Spot on."
"I don't know what I am going to do…"
"Why don't you get Aunt Lexie to help…in 'er dimension, she helped that Dark Jaden fellow rule the academy…she might 'ave good ideas."
Mayday nodded. "Can't hurt."
&&&
-Day Four-
"Oh slave!"
Franklin groaned as he walked towards Lexie, who was perched regally in her chair, a bowl of rocky road ice cream perched on her belly.
"Yes?"
"Ahem…"
"…yes my mistress?" He ground out.
"I need whip cream. The baby…he needs it."
"I thought you said it was a she." Souta asked as he rubbed her bare foot, Tyrone on the other.
"You thought wrong. Chop chop!" Lexie clapped her hands. "Stewart, how is my laundry coming?"
"Folding it now, my mistress." He moaned.
"Ok…tomorrow you three are in charge of them." Mayday said from the stairs. Hayden, Dhmitri and Missy nodded in agreement.
"Lass went power mad." Hayden muttered.
"I can't believe they are actually listening to her." Missy exclaimed.
"I can't believe Hector and Johnny are enjoying it!" Dhmitri added.
Hector held up a fashion magazine for Lexie to see. "I am thinking we go with this nice cut…flowing and elegant."
"That will go perfect with the French tips I'm doing for her!" Johnny exclaimed.
"Well done." Lexie said. She clapped her hands. "Foot slaves…I don't feel rubbing!"
&&&
-Day Five-
Arlen entered the living room, Norman in his arms, and observed Missy as she watched over Johnny and Hector. The four boys were working on some homework, occasional asking the former Obelisk Blue for her advice on something or another.
"It's a continuous spell." She answered, before turning to Arlen. "Hello Arlen…the boys came home early so I am helping them study for Crowler's exam." She grinned. "By the way, thanks for making me a Rare Hunter…I hear there are only 3 girls left from the Obelisk Blue Dorm that haven't been whited out by Alexis. I personally like thinking on my own." She pulled out a piece of paper from between her breasts. "Oh yes, Hayden left a message saying he's gone down to the docks to help Tyrone and Franklin unload this week's delivery."
"Seems like things are running a lot smoother." Arliss said as he came out of the kitchen, a huge meatball sub in hand. "Want one?"
"In a bit." Arlen said. "Who did all this?"
"Mayday. Got Hayden, Dhmitri and Missy to help her look after the new arrivals…she's coming up with a lesson plan we can use to make them better duelists. Want me to teach them strategy, Nessa to teach mind games, Cassandra to cover dueling tech, she's going to do deck building, will have Hayden, Missy and Dhmitri be tutors…apparently Lexie will be in charge of home ec…" Hector and Johnny gave each other high fives. "And she wants you…"
"You will be covering Defense Against the Dark and Light Arts, oh husband of mine." Mayday said, sweeping into the room. After giving Norman a good head scratch and saying hello to Missy and the boys, she turned to the brothers. "And how are you both today?"
"You seem chirper." Arliss said.
Mayday nodded, her old Samantha persona shining through. "I feel chirper. Its amazing how being right will make you feel so alive."
"Here we go." Arlen muttered.
"I mean, who would have thought that these boys could be of use? Oh, that's right, me! Not you two…me!"
Arliss and Arlen shared a look. 'She's your hunter.' Arlen thought.
'she's your wife.'
' yea yea…I get stuck pissing her off…' he thought back. "I wouldn't say you were right just yet, darling…" He began.
"Oh?" Mayday asked, playing with her shadow whip.
"Yes…" Arlen stated. "They can be taught…but they haven't proven their worth…"
"Mayday!" Souta shouted, Stewart at his heels. "You've got to hear this…"
"What?" All three Lockeharts asked.
"We overheard Alexis and Chazz talking…their 'master', some guy named Sartorious…he's the one that made them all evil and stuff…anyway, he is going to go after Tyranno Hassleberry pretty soon. He wants to make him another general or knight or whatever Chazz and Alexis are."
Mayday turned to the brothers. "Ahem?"
Arlen rolled his eyes. "You have time to feel vindicated later…we do we do, Arliss?"
The King of Hunters thought things over, weighing his options. "Can anyone tell me what a general does when another army wants something that is no value to them, but a value to the enemy?"
"They take it or destroy it." Stewart said.
Arliss grinned. "Him I like." He turned to Missy. "Get them upstairs and seal the room. Then find Hayden and Dhmitri and have them round up the rest of the hunters. Arlen, Mayday, get your hunting gear ready."
Arlen nodded. "We doin' what I think we are doin'?"
Arliss smirked. "Yes, brother. I want Tyranno Hassleberry in this room by sundown, and I want him alive! I have a surprise for Mr. Sartorious." Arliss cackled in glee, Mayday, Missy and Arlen joining in as they realized the plot.
Souta stared at his friends. 'What have we gotten ourselves into?'
&&&
Next Time on G/X Hunters- realizing that Tyranno is the next duelist in Sartorious' sights, Arliss decides to begin his master plan against the White Association. After capturing the duelist, Arliss will put him to the test, a duel to see if Hassleberry can take on the White Association. As the dino duelist summons his Dark Raptors to the field, Arliss gathers his ninjas for an assault that will be the real rumble in the jungle.
Meanwhile, Nessa begins her own plans, and draws the attention of the gods.
Walk in the Park Part Two