"They're not here."
"Obviously." Jerold backed away from the dark window. "They'll be back."
"And you know this...how?" Lara followed him.
Jerold shot her a passive look. "They have to return sometime. And when they do..."
"...They'll have a party, rejoicing in seeing us come to take them away?" Lara's sarcasm was constantly getting the better of her. She couldn't help it. This curse of undeath held no joy for her except to bring displeasure to others...especially the living. As the saying goes, 'Misery loves company.'
Jerold was used to her snarky attitude. "Something like that, my dear." He moved back into the shadows. "For now, we wait."
...
"There. That should do it." Ileeya let go of Kristie's newly healed arms. The human looked at her hands, glad to be free of any more injuries. She thanked the druid as Adam eyed Kirlothenin. Part of him knew he should thank the elf for helping Kristie. Another part of him figured the elf was probably just trying to save his daughter. Would he have helped if Kristie hadn't been holding his daughter? He wasn't sure.
Seeing everyone distracted with the healing, the two boys who had started it all began to quietly slip away. They didn't get very far as roots came up out of the ground, surrounding them and preventing them from going anywhere. "Just where do you think you're going?" Dormir turned and approached the troublesome teens. Both of them immediately began to blabber apologies to the elder druid. One even tried to make the excuse that he hadn't believed the stories of Omen to be true.
"Well, now you know that they are true and I'm sure you will know better in the future...especially after you've faced the authorities...which I am one of. You're very lucky that we were here. You would have been killed." He canceled the roots spell and took each boy by the arm. With a turn of his head, he told Ileeya, "Good job on the heals, Daughter. I'll meet you back home after my duty here is done." He then led the boys off towards Nighthaven.
Amy held Kristie's hand, feeling a bit more serious than she had all day. The monster in the lake scared her. She didn't think she would ever go swimming in a lake again. Jelune knelt down before her. "You were very brave to run to me. But it was the best option. I'm proud of you for facing your fears." The praise from the night elf helped cheer Amy up a little.
Adam picked her up. "Hey! You did great, kiddo! I saw you. It's nice to see those defensive moves I taught you put to good use." He mussed her hair and she squirmed in his arms. Adam then got a feral grin on his face and began to tickle her in his arms. Amy laughed and struggled in his arms to get away. He released her, then suggested they have a go at Kristie.
With a laugh, Kristie backed up. "Oh no you don't!" But she allowed Amy to catch and tickle her anyhow, knowing that they had successfully diverted Amy from dwelling on the earlier danger.
Kirlothenin watched them, slightly amused. Ileeya laughed next to him and he turned his head to look at her. When was the last time he heard her laugh...if ever? He pondered this as the group made the slow walk west around the lake towards the Whitestar home. Kristie stepped up next to him as they walked, much to Adam's chagrin.
"Kirlothenin, thank you for your help back there."
The blood elf glanced sideways at her. "You don't know much about fighting, do you?"
A part of her felt offended, while her realistic side knew what he said was true. She was the only one in this group who didn't know how to fight very well. Kristie kept her eyes on the path ahead of them as she responded. "Adam has taught me a few defensive moves, but other than that, no. I've never been interested in violence."
"Violence is unavoidable sometimes."
"I know." She sighed. "Believe me, I know." She went silent, leaving him to ponder what exactly she meant by that comment. But he didn't have a chance to ask as she fell back to walk with Adam once again.
He, in turn, joined Ileeya. They approached the path that led to their house and Kirlothenin paused when he saw a well-dressed human waiting there. He glanced at Ileeya to see if she knew him. A slight shake of her head was her answer. He then turned to look at Adam and Kristie to see if they knew him. Apparently, they did. And by the look of disdain on Adam's face, it was someone they did not like.
Kirlothenin gave Adorei to Ileeya as he heard Kristie ask Amy to wait inside the house. Ileeya and Jelune went with her. The blood elf stayed off to the side to silently observe. To his surprise, Adam walked right past the man without saying a word.
Kristie however, stopped, giving only the briefest of curtsies before speaking. "What are you doing here?"
"You haven't talked to him, yet?"
"I haven't had a chance. We've been busy."
"Yes, I saw the fight with that...thing." He looked in the direction of where they had come from.
Kristie looked incredulous. "You were following us?"
"As you see."
She narrowed her eyes. "That could be considered stalking."
"I have nothing to worry about, considering the company you are keeping." The older human glanced in Kirlothenin's direction. The blood elf did not respond other than to look right back at him.
Kristie followed the man's gaze and gnawed at her lower lip. Was he implying something? She had never really understood the politics of the different factions. Would they get in trouble for merely associating with a blood elf? "That's none of your business, Lord Aron. He's neutral." She had no idea exactly what his affiliation was, but had assumed, or rather hoped, that he was neutral considering his situation and where he was living.
"You know, I can speak for myself." Kirlothenin finally joined in, stepping up to the two humans.
Lord Aron glared at him. "We weren't talking to you."
"No. You were talking about me, and giving a veiled threat to a friend."
Kristie threw him a look. Friend? Did he consider them friends already? Or was he just referring to her as Ileeya's friend?
"Look." Lord Aron turned to Kristie again, ignoring the elf. "I just want to talk to my son. And I'm running out of patience."
Kirlothenin glanced at Kristie. So that's who this man was. He wondered what Adam's father had done to earn such hatred from his son. "Would you condemn your own son for an accidental affiliation with a blood elf, just so you can talk to him?" He asked Lord Aron.
The man considered the elf's words carefully. "Maybe. As I said, I'm tired of standing back and waiting for him to get over the past."
"And you think threats will get him to talk to you?" Kristie looked incredulous. Lord Aron remained silent. She sighed. "Look...come inside...but stay just inside the door. I'll see if I can talk to him." She moved forward, then stopped and turned to look at him. "I'm only doing this because I feel it's high time the both of you get this confrontation out of your systems. Don't you dare start any trouble. I'm sure Kirlothenin here as well as Jelune and Ileeya will have no problem throwing you out of their house!" She gave a quick glance to Kirlothenin who only nodded his head once in agreement.
"I will be a gentleman, as always." Lord Aron followed her into the house. He didn't like the blood elf walking behind him, but accepted it as long as he could finally speak to Adam.
…
"Baros Alexston, I presume?"
Baros looked up from his desk at what was obviously a man of noble birth, though he had never met this one. "Yes? Can I help you with something?" He glanced at the leather outfit the man wore, and kept himself from frowning. He looked like he could be a rogue, though he'd never seen one dressed so stylishly.
The white-haired man stepped forward. "You can. I am in need of a skilled architect, such as yourself."
Baros stood, pulling down on his vest as he did so. "And what is the job for?" He tried to determine just who this gentleman was.
"I wish to make some renovations on my mansion. I'm willing to pay very well for your services."
Alexston gave a slight sigh as he sat back down. "Sorry, but I'm not interested. I've got too many things to do here as it is without having to go stroke the e-peen of some noble wanting his mansion to look just that much better."
The man pulled out a rather large coin purse and set it on the desk. "I'll settle for only the best. And I like the work I've seen here, Mr. Alexston." He opened the bag to reveal it full of gold coins. "This is only my retainer fee. As I said, I'm willing to pay quite handsomely for your services."
Baros stood once more, hesitating for only a moment before reaching for the bag. He closed it as he picked it up and handed it back to the noble. "As I said, I'm not interested. There are plenty of other architects just as good as I am if not better. Try Ironforge. The dwarves are very good at this craft."
The noble frowned. "I...don't care for their style. As I said, I like yours." He gave a dramatic sigh as he deftly weaved a gold coin back and forth through his fingers. "Are you sure you won't agree?"
Baros narrowed his eyes slightly as he considered the man in front of him. Something was telling him that this was trouble brewing. "I'm sorry, sir. But I'm afraid I cannot accept. I have too many projects to get through as it is. Good day."
The man put the coin away and held out his hand to shake the architects hand. "Perhaps another time, then. Good day." With a prompt turn, he walked proudly out the door.
Baros watched the doorway where the man had left for a few more minutes, then shook his head and sat back down to get back to work.
Unseen by him, Jackson stealthed out of the office to send a report to headquarters on the meeting.
...
"What's he doing in here!" Adam's voice growled from across the room.
Kristie ignored his question for the moment. "Where's Ileeya?"
"Upstairs with Adorei." Jelune answered her.
"Amy? Please go tell Ileeya that she needs you for awhile."
Amy stood up and looked at the adults around her. "You're gonna have a fight, aren't you?" No one answered her. She frowned, but did as she was told.
Kirlothenin closed the front door as Kristie waited until Amy was upstairs before speaking again. "I'm not going to be a go-between for you two." She looked at Lord Aron. "Have your say and begone." She then looked at Adam. "I'm asking you to listen, just this once, Adam. You don't have to say anything. But if you do..." She glanced to where Amy had disappeared. "...just keep your voices down."
"I have nothing to say to him."
"Adam..." Lord Aron took a steps forward, then paused when his son glared at him and turned his back on him. He decided to just go ahead with the hard part. "He knew what he was getting into." He saw Adam's fists clinch and quickly changed tactics. "Go ahead." Adam's head turned slightly in confusion. "Hit me. It's what you really wanted to do for the past fourteen years." To his surprise, Adam unclenched his fists and turned around.
"No. For the past fourteen years, I wanted you and Ruben to trade places!" His face wore a cold mask. "Ruben was a better parent to me than you ever were!" Lord Aron's face betrayed his surprise at this statement, but he quickly covered it up. He wasn't sure just how to respond to this, so he remained silent.
Adam turned his back on his father once more, having nothing else to say to him. As more and more minutes passed with only silence, Kristie moved to sit down next to Jelune on the couch. This was going to take some time, it seemed. Should she say something to get them talking? Should she just ask Lord Aron to leave? She glanced at Adam, wondering how angry he was with her right now? Kristie closed her eyes, suddenly feeling very tired. She sat back, resting on the couch with her eyes closed and waited for one of them to speak.
Kirlothenin made himself busy in the open kitchen where he could keep an eye on the two humans. They had been quiet for awhile now. He dried a dish he had just washed and glanced towards Kristie. Was she asleep? How could she sleep now? Jelune, next to her, gave a great yawn. It seems the tiredness was catching. Now Adam was even yawning. Kirlothenin felt the urge himself, but was able to stave it off for now.
Something in the back of his mind began to tingle as though he felt he should be concerned about something. Yes. He had to be concerned about this older human in his home. He looked at Jelune who was now asleep as well. The tingling sensation began to grow. The human falling asleep, he could understand. Jelune? Kirlothenin threw a cautious look at Lord Aron. Is he making the others in the house fall asleep somehow? No. He was yawning now as well. In fact, he was sitting down in a chair.
The blood elf narrowed his eyes as the tingle bloomed into full alarm bells. He quickly left the kitchen and jogged up the stairs, looking into Ileeya's bedroom. Ileeya was asleep in a rocking chair, Adorei was on her lap. Amy was laying on her stomach on the bed. Her head rested on her arms crossed in front of her. Both children were asleep. Kirlothenin sniffed the air, trying to determine if there was anything different in the scent. But he could not distinguish anything. Feeling his eyelids grow heavy, Kirlothenin shook his head and quickly made his way back downstairs to warn Adam before he fell asleep.
It was too late. The only one now awake was Kirlothenin. His movements slowed drastically as he tried to get to the door. He wasn't going to make it. Instead he began the teleport spell to get himself out of the house. He made it half way through the spell before collapsing on the floor.
A few minutes later, the back door opened and Jerold entered, holding a flask with an invisible gas inside it. The top of the flask had a thin rubber hose attached to it. "See, my dear? Not a single fight to be had."
Lara followed him, glad that undead did not have to worry about such fallible things as breathing. "No. Although it would have been interesting to watch those two humans fight. You could have waited until after the argument ended."
"Perhaps." He looked at her cowled head, wishing she would move it back so that he could see more of her facial expression, other than just the lower half of her face. "Perhaps they'll entertain you further when they wake up. Let us get them in their cells before they do, hm?"
He moved upstairs as she created her portal. He picked up the infant and took her downstairs, leaving her on the floor in front of the couch. He then brought the human child down, and finally Ileeya. The two picked up Jelune first as he was the heaviest one there. They pushed him into the portal where Jerold's assistant waited on the other side to help pull him through. After everyone had been sent through the portal, Jerold and Lara went through, leaving the house empty with the only exception being Jelune's large cat.