A/N: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my pet Dom. You will see why AFTER you read it.
The authoress sat quietly in the back seat of Shaedan's car. They had lost the police a while back and were heading to her place to plan out their next move. As far as they were aware, Beckett had no idea where the turkey vulture was going. That meant he didn't know where to start looking, and that meant they had time to scurry off and get the clay horse from the zodiac display before Beckett did. It sounded all too easy.
The first thing they would need was a change of clothes. With Inwë looking like a pirate, Aki and Shaedan looking like rangers, and Norrington…looking like Norrington, they would be too easily recognized. From then on, they were traveling incognito. And that was why they were heading with all haste to Inwë's place. She didn't have a magical wardrobe for nothing.
Shaedan parked the car outside Inwë's house and shut it off. Cautiously, the five of them crept to the door. The authoress inserted her key and opened it. Inside, Raven was waiting for them. She looked a little amused.
"You've got company," she informed the Elf simply before stalking back to her dark corner. Inwë looked around nervously and spotted her beloved Charlie chatting gloomily with two men in suits. With a muffled shriek, she had charged over.
"NO! You can't have him back yet!" she said in a panic, forcefully clinging to Charlie's arm. The first man gave her a look.
"You've had him for the entire off-season of Lost. You will give him back to the producers; that was the agreement. Time's up." If looks could kill, the man in the suit would have been a smoking pile of ash.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY PET FROM ME!" the authoress screeched, gripping Charlie's arm even more tightly. The young man looked uncomfortable.
"Well, Inwë, as much as I dislike the Others and being stranded on an island, they do have a point…" The Elf gave him such a furious look that he quickly shut up.
"If you don't hand him over right now we'll hand him over to the fan girls," the man in the suit threatened.
"NO!" Inwë screamed, "That would kill us! You mustn't hurt the precious! It's mine, my own…my…PRECIOUS." Everyone in the room groaned.
"Will you just be quiet and give him back? You're giving me a headache," Raven growled. Inwë gave her a look and slowly released her pet.
"Fine. But if you try to kill him off again you will suffer the wrath of an angry authoress, savvy?"
"Perfectly. Right this way, Charles." Charlie grinned and eagerly followed the two men out to their waiting car. Inwë flinched noticeably as the car door slammed shut. She began muttering to herself in several languages.
"Stupid…snaga…tricksie…false…rhaich…MAS MUERTA!" Norrington rolled his eyes. He noticed the Elf's friends were doing the same.
"Are we going to go after that zodiac sign or what?" Shaedan demanded after several minutes. Inwë grumbled under her breath and nodded.
"Come with me, we need to get us all something to wear," she replied grumpily. They all followed her to the back. A large wooden wardrobe stood there. Inwë opened the door. Inside was an array of plain street clothes. She quickly grabbed jeans and a shirt before slamming the door shut.
"Ok, Aki, you next." The ranger in question opened the door again. The clothes looked the same to the casual observer, but they were all Aki's size. The same thing happened with Shaedan and Norrington. Satisfied with their disguises, they took turns changing in the bathroom. Norrington looked…odd…in jeans and a t-shirt, and without the wig.
"Right then, gents, Pack your other clothes in your packs and we'll be off," Inwë said with a sigh as she stuffed her grey Elvish cloak into her bag on top of her pirate gear. The others were just about to say something when there was the sound of glass shattering.
"SIRIUS! I told you to watch out for the vase!" Inwë roared. A low whine behind her made her jump. The dog in question was sitting right next to her.
"But if you're over here, then what -?"
"GET DOWN!" Raven suddenly yelled as she darted into the room. Without question, they all dropped to the floor, and none too soon. An explosion shook the building and sent debris flying everywhere. Coughing, they all got up and made a dash for the door just as the stench of smoke started filling their lungs.
Outside, the damage was evident. Smoke was rising in a thick column from the broken windows. There was no sign of who had started it.
"We have to get out of here," Shaedan pointed out when Inwë had not moved for some time. The Elf gave her a bewildered look.
"But what about my home?" she asked. The wail of sirens answered her.
"Come on, if we get caught here it'll be all our necks. You can stay at my place if you have to," Aki said irritably. Not comforted, the authoress reluctantly got into the car. It was a very long drive to the museum, and Beckett had probably found out about the portal. It was obvious that he had sent someone to set fire to the house so that Inwë and the others would be stalled.
A/N: Sorry it's so short, I wanted to get it up before Lost started.