Midsummer Nights
By Trish
Disclaimer: Pokémon does not belong to me. Nor does Puck. Ashura the Mew belongs to Dragoness and borrowed with her permission and morphed into Flower Mew. But the storyline and characters such as Callie, Flory, Poppy, Poptart belong to me.
ooo
Chapter Twenty-Two: Shake It Off
Mia sighed as she waited patiently in line for sodas at the beachside kiosk. The teenager was enjoying a lazy day on the beach with Puck, enjoying the water and each other's company. She had offered to get them some refreshments while Puck was engrossed in building an elaborate sandcastle. The chestnut-haired Fae had sent her off with a kiss and a teasing comment that she just wanted to see that hot guy who was behind the counter at the kiosk.
It was times like these when she could almost believe that they were just like any other young couple. Then Lu would rear his ugly head again, and she was once again reminded that she was in love with a Fae. Mortal and Immortal. A relationship that could never succeed, right? But then again, Riny's marriage to Flory put paid to that concept. Puck's cousin had renounced his Fae birthright and became human to stay with the girl he loved.
Since her reunion with Puck last month, Mia had never been happier. She was back with the guy she loved after two long years. The brunette had never admitted to her friends how tough it had been, seeing all of them paired up and happy; and her all alone.
If only things could stay like this forever, she thought wistfully. The truth was, she wasn't quite sure what status their relationship was at. Certainly Trish and Jenn were adamant that she was engaged or had at least promised herself to the Fae.
"Why else would you wear his ring on your ring finger and wait for him for two years?" Trish had pointed out.
Mia couldn't argue with that.
Not that she was sure if she should raise the issue with Puck or not. After all, it was a well-known fact that lots of guys were afraid of the "c" word and would flee screaming in the opposite direction. Was it the same with Fae males? She really should ask Callie about that.
Then again, it was probably best to leave well alone until after Lucius was caught and dealt with. Puck would be more relaxed about things, and so would she. The knowledge that the red-haired Fae was on the loose and plotting to kill her boyfriend and friends made her angry and, at the same time, rather nervous. The very sight of long red hair on a guy was enough to make her insides quake.
Twenty minutes later, she was on her way back to Puck, ice-cold sodas in hand. As she approached, she could see her boyfriend in earnest conversation with three other people. It wasn't until she was almost there that she recognised the three to be Drake, Jenn, and Shannon.
The teenager's heartbeat quickened. Had something happened? She hastened her pace and greeted the trio. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Hey, Mia," Drake smiled at her. "We just came to talk to Puck about getting inside Trish's head to help her overcome her fear."
"Yeah," Jenn nodded. "I'm looking forward to that. I've always wanted to know what makes that girl tick!"
"But, it's rather invasive of her privacy," Puck shuffled his feet in the sand.
"Maybe, but Trish has agreed to let us do it," Drake reassured the Fae. "She's determined to do whatever it takes to get better."
"Well, if you say so," Puck said dubiously.
"We know so," Jenn said confidently. "I mean, it's not like she's done well on her own so far."
"So what's it like going inside someone's mind?" Shannon asked, a little curious.
"Depending on the person, it can be rather surreal," Puck grinned.
"Then it's just as well we're not going into yours," Mia smirked at the blonde.
"Hey!" she whirled on Mia with mock anger. "I'll have you know that my mind is quite organised!"
"By which hurricane?"
"That's not fair," Shan protested. "I think Jenn is quite organised." The brunette ignored Mia's mouthing of, "Suck up."
Jenn sniffed. "Well at least someone realises the brilliance of my mind. It's hard being a Goddess sometimes. No one really appreciates me."
"I suppose this procedure is safe?" Drake asked, getting everyone back to business.
"Oh perfectly safe," Puck assured him. "No one's ever been stuck in another person's mind before."
"That's good to know," Jenn sighed. "I get claustrophobic."
Puck raised an eyebrow at the interruption, then continued, "Because the person whose mind it is would just kick the invading mind out if they wanted."
"Are there any tips or hints for doing this?"
"Be prepared for anything," Puck said, looking suddenly sombre. "In a person's mind, their fears and phobias can take any shape or form. And if anything can stop the intervention from being a success, it will be that person and that person alone."
"Well," Drake said. "All we can do is hope that Trish doesn't have second thoughts about it."
As Puck told them that it could take the greater part of a day, the group arranged to meet the next day.
ooo
Puck and Shannon arrived at the villa after breakfast and the small group gathered in the living room for a briefing.
"Okay, so we don't know what we'll be up against in there," Drake stated. "Will there be any need for any Pokémon to come along?" They all looked at Puck.
"It might be a good idea," the Fae nodded. "Lu could have cast a spell to hinder us. Does anyone have a Psychic Pokémon?"
"I can borrow T's Espeon," Jenn nodded. "I'm sure she won't mind."
"And I'm sure Esp doesn't mind helping either," Shannon chirped. "She's rather devoted to Trish."
"I wish I could say the same for Umbreon," the blonde grumbled. "I dunno why I got her instead of Espeon."
"Well, you did choose her," Shannon pointed out. "You prefer Dark Pokémon after all."
"And you did mess up her name," Puck added.
"Hey, that was only once!" Jenn protested. "It's not my fault she has a stick shoved up her ass."
"That's not very nice."
"But it's true!"
ooo
The trio made their way up to Trish's room where they found the girl sitting up in bed, and dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants.
"You're dressed!" Jenn blinked.
"Have I ever been not dressed when you come here?" her friend deadpanned.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. You're not in your pyjamas!"
"If we're gonna go in my mind, I am not gonna be the only one in my sleepwear," Trish crossed her arms.
"I wouldn't mind that," Drake grinned slyly.
"Drake!" The Australian squeaked, turning pink.
"Yeah, keep your bedroom fantasies to yourself," Jenn wisecracked.
"Jenn!"
"What?"
"How about we get on with the intervention?" Puck coughed.
"I agree," Trish huffed, if not with a little annoyance.
"Okay so we all gotta hold hands," the Fae instructed. "I'm going to perform an incantation, and things will go blurry for a bit, but then we'll be in Trish's mind."
The friends all took hands and Puck recited the spell. Their surroundings blurred and morphed into a meadow-like setting with boxes dotted all around. The entire group blinked.
"Are you sure you didn't take us to some park?" Shannon asked suspiciously. "It doesn't seem like we're in Trish's mind."
"Sure, I'm sure," Puck picked up a small box and turned it over. "See?" On the back of the box, it bore the line 'Property of Trish's mind.'
Jenn looked around and smirked. "And I thought you said your mind was disorganized. This is completely neat!"
"It can be disordered!" the girl in question protested. "I do pull a you sometimes."
The group all blinked as a chibi Jenn went running past.
"I knew it!" Trish was the first to recover. "I always knew that there was a chibi Jenn running around in my head!"
Jenn smirked. "What can I say, but that the Goddess is influential."
"Gee I hope I don't have a chibi Jenn in my head," Drake joked. "That would be the stuff of nightmares!"
"Hey!" the blonde sulked. "Having a chibi Jenn isn't so bad! Imagine if you had a chibi Rudey in your head! Now THAT is the stuff of nightmares!"
"Ewwwww," both Trish and Shannon chorused.
"You're not wrong there," Drake said with a grimace.
"I wonder if there's a chibi me in your head," Trish pondered. "I hope so, otherwise that's kinda not fair."
"Oh I'm sure there is one," the blonde reassured her friend. "I always seem to hear this voice that pipes up just when I'm about to do something silly." Then something caught her attention. "Why's that box different?" Jenn pointed to a black box with 'Private' written over it.
"Don't you dare look in there!" Trish said quickly, causing a large padlock and chains to appear around the box.
"Ooooh, is there some deep dark secret that you're hiding?" the blonde said slyly.
"Noo, not deep and not dark," the Australian scowled. "Just very very private, that's all."
"What about diiirty secrets?"
"I said no," Trish's scowl deepened.
"Is it sexual?" Jenn flashed a wicked grin, "Hmmmm?"
"Jenn!" Trish's eyes widened, "I can't believe that you're trying to quote the Backstreet Boys while attempting to divulge my secrets!"
"It doesn't hurt to try," Jenn sighed most innocently, and wandered off humming the rest of the song.
"You sure it was wise to let her inside your head?" Drake asked his girlfriend.
"I may just end up regretting it afterwards," Trish said, flashing a sour look at her best friend who just grinned. "But she would have sulked for a day if I had said no."
"I would not," Jenn rolled her eyes in mock annoyance as she walked back. "Who am I to complain if you make me miss out on all of the fun."
"Who says this will be fun?" Puck raised his eyebrow. "It will be, all things considered, a rough time."
"I guess we should go and find these fears of Trish's now, huh?" Shannon intervened before things could escalate any further.
"So where are they?" Jenn looked at her best friend.
The Australian shrugged. "How should I know? I've never been inside my mind before!"
"Everyone's been in their minds before," Jenn said wisely, "they just don't realise it."
"And you're an expert since when?" Puck asked sarcastically.
"I'm not," Jenn shrugged, "But I don't think it's that hard to recognise."
"Your rationalization is scary at times," Puck said, "Now is one of them."
"Are you done with the insults?" the blonde huffed, crossing her arms. "I thought we were here to help Trish."
"We are going to help Trish," the Fae nodded. "Just that some of your comments can't go unchallenged."
"I don't see why not. I'm the Goddess and the Goddess is always right."
Puck ignored the blonde and turned to Trish. "Now the thing we need for you to realise is that you're the only one who can make or break this mission. If you block us from helping or if you decide to kick us out, we're back to square one."
"Way to pile on the pressure, Puck," the Australian rolled her eyes. "It might have been better if you hadn't said anything at all. Now I'm going to be paranoid about thinking or doing the wrong thing all the time!"
Drake pulled her to him in a hug and kissed her forehead. "You'll be fine. You won't mess up," he reassured her.
"Awwww," Shannon cooed while Jenn just rolled her eyes.
"How about you think about those fears, Trish?" Puck suggested. "Maybe we can make them come to you instead of wandering around ages trying to find them."
"Good idea," Trish nodded and began to concentrate.
Soon a sudden drop in temperature was noted and several in the group began to rub their arms.
"What's going on!" Jenn yelped as an icy breeze went past. "You got air conditioning on in here or sumthin? Turn it off already! You know how much I HATE cold weather!"
"It is the manifestation of fear," Puck stated solemnly.
"No shit, Sherlock," the blonde grumbled. "Figures that fear would be something totally cold. Knock off the being scared part, okay Trish?"
"We can't do that, Jenn," Shannon shook her head.
"Why not? Being this cold is utterly illogical."
"Because otherwise we won't be able to find these fears of Trish's," the brunette explained.
"But why does it have to be so cold!"
"Because that is how intensely afraid she is," Puck noticed Trish suddenly tense up out of the corner of his eye. "Hang on everyone. I think they might be coming."
"Who? The Backstreet Boys?" Jenn quipped then trailed off as she looked in the direction the Fae was pointing.
Great huge coal black beasts were slowly coming towards them. Beasts with an eerie fire flickering all around their bodies and red glowing eyes. Jenn thought they looked just like the Hound of the Baskervilles movie she'd been forced to watch for a high school English class, only here they seemed ten times more hellish. Then again, things in the mirrors always seem larger than they are, she told herself.
"Those are not the Backstreet Boys," the blonde muttered. Clutching onto Espeon's Poké Ball she glanced towards Trish. The Australian girl was completely terrified and almost rooted to the spot.
"Come on, Trish!" Jenn yelled. "You can fight this!"
"I...I can't..." Trish breathed out, and a cloud of breath hung in the air, illuminating how cold it was getting. "I don't know how…"
"Drake, let's go!" Jenn shouted, maximizing Espeon's Poké Ball. "We'll start the battle, and she can join in." She threw the red and white sphere. "Go, Espeon!" The small lilac coloured canine appeared at her feet.
"Shannon and I will take care of Trish," Puck nodded towards the Orange Crew Leader. "You work with Jenn."
"Got it," Drake stood next to the blonde and pulled Dragonite's Poké Ball off its chain. "Come on out, buddy!"
A flash of bright light and the familiar orange coloured Dragon Pokémon soon materialised into solidity. Dragonite looked at the approaching beasts, and then at Espeon, Jenn, and Drake.
"Dragonite, we need you to work with Espeon to subdue these creatures until Trish is able to master her fears and join us," Drake explained to his Pokémon. "This is to help Trish get better."
The dragon trumpeted its agreement before it glared at the hounds. The Orange Crew Leader knew that his friend could be counted on to help out, especially where Trish was concerned. The Pokémon was very fond of the Australian girl, and thought she could do no wrong after she had given it a box of its favourite fruits. It seemed that much like men, the quickest way to a Pokémon's heart was through its stomach.
Meanwhile Puck and Shannon stood on either side of Trish, each taking one of her hands in an effort to reassure her and keep her calm. Shannon was afraid that if they did not succeed in calming her down, it might trigger another severe asthma attack.
"Trish, it's okay," Puck said soothingly. "We're here and they won't be able to hurt you."
Of course, it's easy for us to say, Shannon thought. We weren't the ones who nearly died and almost got ripped to shreds.
The menacing hounds crept closer, and then stopped when the gap between them was only about twenty feet wide. One that seemed a bit bigger than the rest appeared to be the leader. It growled in a low rumble that seemed to make the ground tremble slightly.
Jenn stood in a spread stance, "Trish, we so totally do not need an earthquake!"
"Take it easy, Jenn," Drake said, almost teasingly and standing easily. "Don't tell me you can't stand straight when the ground does a little shiver."
"Bite me, Thayer."
"You wish, Jenn," Drake was irritatingly smug. "Then again, I'm sure they'd oblige you."
"Oh, my kingdom for a really sharp sword!" Jenn groaned out.
"You don't have a..." Drake broke off as a sudden bright light shone around Jenn's right arm and then faded. "...a kingdom. Is that a sword?"
Jenn blinked in confusion and turned the item in her hand. "You know what? It really looks like a sword. I didn't mean it!" She frowned. "Does this mean I have to ante up a kingdom?"
"No, but it means you could help out Espeon!" Drake yelped as the hounds leapt forward. "Dragonite, Super Express Hyper Beam!"
Drake's Dragonite was used to calling up the express version of its most powerful attack, an attack that usually required a bit of a warm up. However this particular Dragonite was at a very high level, and as soon as Drake said it, the brilliant light was pooling in Dragonite's open maw and forming into a very powerful, very controlled, blast of concentrated energy.
"Espeon, use Confusion!" Jenn commanded. "Maybe they can fight each other that way."
With a sigh, Espeon loosened the attack on the pair of hounds that were coming their way. Almost instantly the two turned on each other, and their ensuing fight rolled them into a third hound.
Meanwhile Puck, Trish, and Shannon were watching the battle unfold. Puck and Shannon had matching worried expressions on their faces, while Trish was in a slightly catatonic state.
Oh this just can't be happening again, she thought to herself wildly. This just can't. Memories of that dreadful night on the moors came flooding back, the moonlit landscape, the spectral hound; turning the blood in her veins to ice. She had been all alone then…alone…
Just then the rational part of her brain registered the fact that Jenn and Drake were fighting off the hounds. Her best friend and boyfriend. And Shannon and Puck were beside her too. She was not alone. This was different.
But she could see that unless Jenn, Drake, and the two Pokémon had help, they could be soon overwhelmed. A small flare of anger welled up inside her. There was no way in the world that she was going to let the two most important people in her world to share the same fate that she nearly did.
This is all in my mind…I can control what happens here, Trish told herself silently, remembering how she secured that box from a curious Jenn. I can destroy these things. I have no wish to be run down again like that.
"I won't let them overcome me again," she clenched her fists by her side, startling her two companions.
"Trish?" Shannon ventured hesitantly. "You're okay now?"
The Australian turned to Puck and said simply. "How do I help destroy them?"
The Fae grinned. "Simple really. You need to focus your mind's anger on the fear and renounce it. I'll help you to channel that anger and block out all other interference."
Trish nodded and fixed her gaze on one of the hounds. You are not real. You do not exist. You are a figment of my imagination. You do not scare me.
The creature began to writhe and moan in agony, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Aiight!" she heard Jenn cheer. "I got one!"
"No you didn't!"
"Hello! I shoved the sword at it, and it vanished. I think that qualifies me as getting it."
Drake retorted. "You weren't even near that one!"
"Well neither were you!"
"Actually," Puck called out to the quarrelling duo. "Trish got that one."
"WHO ASKED YOU!" came the unified chorus before the two finally realised what the Fae had just said.
"Did you say, Trish got that one?" Jenn asked carefully.
"I got it all right," the girl in question answered, smugly.
"You're okay!" Drake cheered.
"It's about time too," Jenn mock-grumbled. "We could use your help here. Why did you have to summon a whole herd of hounds for?"
"That's a pack of hounds, Jenn," Shannon corrected.
"Whatever. They're totally ugly."
"Somehow I don't think fears are supposed to look nice," Puck chuckled. "That's why they're called fears."
"Well mine wouldn't be that butt ugly," Jenn said determinedly. "They'd look much better than that."
"Of course," Puck said dryly, watching warily the remaining hound, the assumed leader of the pack, "I guess they'd be good looking male celebrities?"
"Hmm, not all of them," Jenn nodded and grinned, "There are some that are hott on the outside and butt ugly on the inside."
"Like who?" Puck said, while helping Trish focus her emotions. The dark-haired girl sighed and the thought crossed her mind to have Jenn face her fears. If not to overcome them, it would surely be amusing.
"Brad Pitt," Jenn grimaced. "I don't like him."
"I'm not quite sure which part of this discussion disturbs me more," Puck shook his head, "That you think your fears would look like male celebrities, or that you find Brad Pitt unattractive."
"Mmm," Jenn scrunched her nose, then pointed the sword towards the hound, which was growling loudly as it slowly advanced, "Maybe you want to help her defeat this last evil fear, and then we can get down to more important business."
The hound seemed to find that offensive, and it leapt at the blonde, who yelped, dropped the sword, and darted towards Trish and Puck. Espeon also ran towards safety, though she was faster than Jenn. "Oh real nice, Espy, leave me to my doom."
On Drake's command, Dragonite flew behind the hound and grabbed it from behind, hooking its strong forearms around the creature's thick neck. The dark hound thrashed and howled, but it couldn't drop its jaw to bite at Dragonite.
"Hurry up, Trish," Drake said urgently. "Dragonite can only hold it for so long."
"I won't need long," Trish said confidently, "It's going bye bye now." She gave the hound a long stare, and then said, "Say goodbye forever, you hell hound."
The hound looked startled and then shook violently. Dragonite released it and backflapped, flying away from the hound. The dark dog bellowed a howl before disappearing into a black smoke that dissipated quickly into nothingness. The howl echoed eerily, before also vanishing.
Trish sighed and sagged against Puck, who grinned down at her. "Nice work, for a mortal."
"Thanks," Trish grimaced, "I think." She then smiled up at Drake, who had run over to collect his girlfriend. "Hi," she said simply.
"Hi, yourself," the dark-haired Orange Crew Leader hugged her close. "I think we're having a nice dinner out tonight."
"Oh really?"
"You bet." Drake said.
"Maybe we should vacate the premises first," Jenn said as she recalled Espeon. "It may be getting warmer," and it was, "but I'm getting a little claustrophobic."
"You saying my mind is too small for you?" Trish glared at her friend.
"Mmmm…"
"You'd better stop thinking too hard about that," Trish narrowed her eyes, "Or I may think up some cold air."
"Okay, okay!" Jenn held up her hands as if to ward off the cold air, "I give! Your brain isn't small…There just aren't any windows and I get a little claustrophobic at times."
Trish shook her head and looked over at Puck, "Can you get them outta here? It's getting too crowded."
Puck grinned. "Your wish is my command." Their surroundings blurred and reformed until the group found themselves back in Trish's bedroom.
"Better now?" Trish asked Jenn.
"Yeah," Jenn grinned. "This room has windows."
"Well I doubt that your mind has windows either," the Australian grumbled good-naturedly.
"More importantly, how do you feel now, Trish?" Shannon asked eagerly.
Trish tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment. "I don't think the change will be instantaneous, but I do feel much better than before."
"Yay!" the brunette cheered.
"I feel more energetic and stronger, that's for sure."
"That's what we want to hear," Jenn beamed.
Trish swung her legs off the bed and gingerly stood up. "Let me try staying up and about for a bit."
"Just as long as you don't overdo it," Drake warned as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
"I won't, promise," she hugged him back. "I've had enough sickness to last me a lifetime."
"Well, I say that this calls for a celebration dinner," the Orange Crew Leader grinned. "How about we gather all the gang for dinner at the Articuno Atrium? My shout."
"The Articuno Atrium?" Trish raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that even more expensive than Le Chateau Pidgeot?"
"I think I can afford it," the dark-haired man laughed. "Your recovery is cause for celebration!"
"Yeah, don't knock it back, T," Jenn protested. "An offer of a free dinner at an expensive restaurant? You'd have to be completely insane to turn that down!"
"Nice to know you can be bought with your stomach," Shannon chuckled. "You're too much like Ash."
"There's nothing wrong with that!" Jenn defended herself. "I mean who knows. He's done well in the League, so maybe I can too!"
Drake shook his head, "The day you run the League is the day I retire."
Jenn blew a raspberry at the tall man, "You're rude."
Trish cleared her throat, interrupting the two, who had the decency to look sheepish. "It's not that I don't want to go out," Trish sought to explain herself. "I just don't see why a great big fuss has to be made, that's all."
"Um, hello!" the blonde said with mock exasperation. "You've been bedridden for centuries, you know."
"Well you try fending off magical attacks that leave you in a coma!"
Jenn wrinkled her nose, "Nah, I think I'll leave that to you. You just make sure to keep Lu's attention."
Trish's eyes widened, "What!"
"It'll keep him forgetting to target me," Jenn winced at the thought of the easily pissed off Fae. "I did completely ruin his plans."
Trish shook her head, "With friends like you..."
Jenn blinked at the trailed off sentence. "With friends like you, what?" The blonde's brows furrowed in confusion, "You get better shopping deals? I knew that already."
There was a collective groan from the others.
"At the restaurant," Drake stage whispered to Trish, "We'll sneak off one by one and let her pay the bill!"
Jenn's gaze narrowed at the Orange Crew Leader. "I heard that!"
ooo
Later that night, Jenn was standing in her fluffy bathrobe in front of her wardrobe, in deep contemplation of what she should wear. Silky black pants with a thin band of silver down the side were laid out on the bed, all that was needed was a suitable top.
Jenn wanted to look her best, not only for herself but just in case there might be some hot looking single male diners there. If they were dining at the Articuno Atrium, they had to be loaded. And having tons of money, or at least one ton, was one of the prerequisites that Jenn looked for in a man.
The blonde finally settled on a silky halter neck top in an iridescent silver shade that reminded her of platinum. It had a dusting of Swarovski crystals along the neckline and hem that shimmered and glittered with each move she made. She quickly got dressed and slipped on a pair of slinky silver Jimmy Choo sandals. After putting her hair up in a French twist, the blonde was putting on her makeup when a knock came at her door. "Come in!" she called.
The door swung open to let in Trish. Ophelia bounded in close on her heels. The dark-haired Australian was dressed in a silky emerald green lace top over a short black skirt and Manolo Blahnik black heels. A dainty emerald and gold pendant hung around her neck and matching earrings glinted in her lobes. "Hey, Jenn, you ready yet?"
"Just about." The blonde looked over at her friend. "Nice to see you back in the land of the living."
"It's nice to be up and about," Trish grinned.
"And it's about time too," Jenn continued as she put in some diamond dusted silver hoop earrings. "Any longer in bed and Drake might have been considered on the market again."
"Not that he would take any notice of them."
"I doubt he would have," Jenn said, fingering at a smudge of mascara under one eye. "But I don't think that would've kept back any of the many, many females that have been eyeing him."
"You really know how to comfort a friend, you know."
"I will ignore that sarcasm and move to tomorrow's activities. Tomorrow, you, me, and Shannon are going to go shopping!" Jenn grinned. "You have no idea how bored I've been."
"Trust me, I can imagine," Trish shook her head, then pulled an angled eye shadow brush from her friend's grip. "Come on, or you'll be walking to the restaurant instead of riding in the Hummer."
"Fine," Jenn rolled her eyes, "But without the shimmer, I won't shine."
"You shine enough already," Trish said dryly. "Now let's go. I'm famished!"
ooo
The group met up without any incident outside the exclusive restaurant, though Puck wisecracked that Jenn's outfit was so shiny that he needed sunglasses.
Drake's status was enough to guarantee them a private room and the very best of service.
Jenn sat down next to Trish. "Now this is the life. Five star service and food to match."
"At the price people pay for this place, you'd hope so!" her friend cracked.
The whole gang was there, Drake, Trish, Jenn, Ash, Puck, Mia, Shannon, Ben, Jaime, Chris, and Callie.
"So, now that you're all better, does that mean you're gonna move back to the villa?" Mia asked.
Trish went to answer but Drake beat her to it. "Actually, I was hoping she would stay on for a while," the Orange Crew Leader smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Oooooh," Mia squealed. "Things are starting to get serious between you two!"
"What do you mean starting to?" Jenn rolled her eyes. "It's been so serious for so long that they're practically married already!"
"Well, if you really want me to, I'll stay on," Trish smiled back at her boyfriend.
"In that case I'm in no hurry to leave," the blonde piped up. She was privately elated. Here was the perfect excuse for her to continue to live in the lap of luxury.
"Oh really?" Drake raised an eyebrow.
"Really," Jenn nodded emphatically. "I am Trish's moral guardian, you know."
The whole group had instant disputes about that! The girl in question nearly choked on her wine at that statement but the blonde ignored it.
"Oh come off it!" Chris laughed, "You have no morals!"
"Like you're one to talk!" Jenn protested, "Besides, Trish's no angel…"
"Takes one to know one," Trish murmured loud enough for Jenn to hear.
"Well who knows what shenanigans could go on between you two if I'm not there!"
"When have you ever used the word shenanigans!" Trish laughed.
"I just did," Jenn said, "It was fun."
"Let's be honest," Drake said smugly, "You just like my villa."
"I could never be that shallow!" Jenn defended herself. "You just have better beach access."
Drake just laughed, "Point proved!"
"At least I can be honest about it!"
"I'm still there," Ash reminded Jenn. "I can keep an eye on them if you really want."
"Thanks, but I'd rather be there myself," the blonde smiled at the Grand Master. "I take my guardianship seriously."
"I think Drake's on to something," Trish said with a wry smile. "Though it is a lovely beach."
"You guys should stop pointing out my little faults and realise that I have your best interests at heart," her friend smirked. "Not everyone is lucky enough to have a Goddess as a guardian."
"Now that Trish has recovered," Callie interrupted. "We can get down to the business of defeating Lu."
"He's a psychopathic menace to society," Trish shuddered. Drake put a comforting arm around her.
"Psychopathetic is right," Jenn muttered, "The guy is a complete pathetic mess."
"Hey Trish, didn't you say that your guardian spirit told you that Jenn would be next?" Chris piped up.
"He did."
"Gee, thanks for reminding everyone," Jenn sighed.
"Anytime."
"So, Jenn, shouldn't you have someone to protect you?" Shannon asked worriedly.
The blonde tried to think of someone she could name. Sure she had Trish, but who else? Her friend had Drake as well as Jenn. Boyfriend and best friend, whereas Jenn only had a best friend and no boyfriend….Gary, you totally suck.
"Don't worry, Shan," Ash spoke up. "Since I'm staying at Drake's, I can help protect Jenn."
"Thanks, Ash," Jenn said gratefully, then drank her water. Thoughts flashed through her mind, mostly concentrating on trying to not read between the lines. Her constant mantra was quickly becoming, Ash is married. Ash is married.
"No problem," the Grand Master smiled. "Anything for a friend."
"If we can figure out exactly what Trish saw in her vision maybe we can get a jump on Lu and prevent whatever it is from happening," Puck frowned. "What was it again, Trish?"
The Australian frowned slightly as she tried to recall. "It was like a massive ballroom, with lots of elegantly dressed people."
"So no more League dances for you," Chris smirked at the blonde.
"My heart breaks," Jenn rolled her eyes.
"Hang on, I wasn't finished yet," Trish glared at the Scot who had the decency to look sheepish. "The strange thing was, the style of dress wasn't like what we would wear. It was more period style, like early to mid nineteen hundreds, like pre First World War."
Ben looked at his brother. "We don't have any theme costume balls planned, do we?"
"No," the Orange Crew Leader shook his head. "They're just normal dances."
"Maybe it's a private costume party," Shannon ventured.
"But who?" Jenn frowned, confusion written all over her features. "Apart from Drake and Ben, I don't know anyone who could throw a big themed party. Unless one of you guys are throwing a party and I didn't get invited."
"Don't ask me," Trish shrugged. "As you said before, I've been bedridden for centuries, so how could I plan a party? Besides, I don't have the figure to carry that style off. I wouldn't have a costume theme that doesn't make me look good."
"It doesn't make me look good either," Shannon mused.
"Awww, but that doesn't matter to me," Ben assured her. "I'll always think you're beautiful no matter what." The brunette flushed a deep red.
"Awwwwwwwwww," Trish cooed. "It's true love." Ben flushed and was soon the exact same shade of red as his girlfriend.
Drake sniffled. "Aww, my little brother is all grown up and in love." He pretended to wipe away a tear. "They grow up so fast. I remember when you thought all girls had germs."
Ben rolled his eyes. "I'm only two years younger than you."
"It doesn't matter how old you are, you'll always be my baby brother," the Orange Crew Leader grinned.
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome."
"So if none of you are throwing a costume party, then maybe it won't happen," Jenn said hopefully.
"I sure hope so," Trish grimaced. "I wouldn't want anyone else to suffer like I have."
"You have had a pretty crappy vacation so far," Mia agreed.
"I just hope that it improves from now on until it's over."
"But you know what they say, it's always darkest before dawn," Puck mused then blinked as everyone glared at him. "What? Well it is."
"Are you saying that things are going to get even worse before they get better?" Trish blanched. "I think I've already been through the worst Lu has had to offer, thank you very much."
"I don't know," Puck answered honestly. "But I do know that Lu probably hasn't finished with us yet. He's already shown that he's not going to stop at anything to get his revenge. We just have to work together to stop him before anyone else gets hurt."
"Oh great, we've got a Fae with a one track mind," Jaime moaned.
"Yeah, why did you have to go and piss him off, of all Faes?" Jenn griped.
"Just how many Faes do you know? Because if you know more than us three, we're going to have to wipe your mind from having known them."
"That shouldn't take long," Chris snickered.
"Come on, Puck, you know I only know you three!" Jenn said, "Don't get your thong in a twist."
"I didn't know that he'd be this psychotic!" Puck defended himself. "And what would you have had me do instead? Stand by while the rightful king is overthrown and perhaps killed? Stand by while the innocent citizens are enslaved and tortured?"
His voice was getting heated and Mia gently took his hand to try to calm him down. "Would you have stood by all for the sake of not pissing off someone because they could be psychopathic?"
Jenn raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, don't blow a fuse. I didn't know that's what Lulu had planned. You did the right thing. I would have done the same, with the addition of pummelling him to a pulp. I just think you picked the worst person to piss off."
"Don't you think I know that by now?" Puck scowled before settling down at Mia's warning glance. He sighed. "I just couldn't stand by and let him do that to my people. Especially since he had the worst plans in store for Callie. Nobody hurts my sister and gets away with it!"
Beside Callie, Chris gave a nervous gulp.
"Aww, that so sweet. A protective lil brother," Callie gave her brother's cheek a gentle pinch.
"Cal…" Puck whined. "Don't embarrass me like that. I'm not ten you know."
"I feel your pain," Ben murmured.
"Come on guys, let's not ruin a good evening together by arguing all the time," Trish stated firmly. "Let's just forget about Lu for tonight."
"I agree," Jenn sipped her water. "I hate to see a good time out ruined."
ooo
The next day, Jenn was as good as her word and took Trish and Shannon out for a day shopping. The Australian didn't mind so much as she was not averse to a spot of 'retail therapy'. Shannon on the other hand, tried to avoid shopping as much as she could. The two older girls managed to coax her along with the promise of toy shopping and chocolate cake.
The three were browsing in the Giorgio Armani boutique when Jenn decided to ask a question that had been bugging her since she found out she could be Lu's next victim.
"Hey Trish, when Lu grabbed you and took you to Dartmoor to play with the Hell Puppy, did you have any warning?"
Trish stopped with her hand on a satin top. "No there wasn't. All I remember was starting to read my book…and the next thing I knew, I was in Dartmoor."
"So Lu didn't physically grab you."
"No. There was no warning at all."
"I guess there's only one thing I can do," Jenn said in resignation.
"What?" Trish eyed her friend warily.
Jenn nodded, "I'm going to have to read a lot of heavily romantic novels."
"I should've known," Trish groaned. "It's just such a you thing to say."
"What? I know you read those of types of novels as well."
"Sometimes," her friend conceded. "But only you would think that Lu would be so nice as to transport you into a novel where you're in the middle of hot lovin' with some tall, dark and handsome guy."
"There's always hope!"
"Well it sure didn't happen to me," Trish shook her head as she continued looking through the rack of tops.
"That's because you were reading the wrong type of book, Tah," Jenn quipped as she found a deep purple top in velvet with gold braiding along the bodice. "Now if you had been reading a romance novel, you would have been in some passionate clinch with some hot hunk, instead of playing with the puppy from hell."
"Jenn!" her friend nearly choked. "Just as well nobody else heard that."
"What? What are you so paranoid for?" the blonde shrugged. "It's not as if it ever happened."
"I know but after the 'supposed affair' with Danny, I don't want to give people any reason to think there may be some truth to the rumours after all." Trish grimaced at the memory of the debacle started by Rudy. "That's not something I want to go through again anytime soon."
"True, that was totally sucky," Jenn agreed.
"Besides, Lu would never be that nice. He wants to kill us, not reward us. I doubt he'd spirit you into something that you would enjoy!"
"He'd more likely to have the guy stab you rather than ravish you," Shannon said. "Or maybe he'd ravish you then stab you."
"Well then, at least I'd die happy," the blonde quipped.
"So you're quite okay for a deranged Fae to kill you, so long as you have a smile on your dial," Trish raised an eyebrow.
"I never said I wanted to die," Jenn sniffed as she placed the top over a pair of black pants with gold braiding down the side. "But if I had to choose a way to go, it would be that way. Uh…and preferably pain free too."
"I'd rather go in my sleep, but Lu didn't comply," Trish stated. "His way is preferably full of terror and full of pain."
"Well that sucks," the blonde griped. "Hasn't he heard of honouring last requests?"
"Jenn, that's for prisoners on death row," Shannon pointed out.
"Yeah, well I think being on Lu's Hit List as the equivalent of death row."
"Maybe they don't have that system in the Fae world," Trish mused. "Anyway, enough of the morose talk. Let's pay for these things and go have some lunch. My shout."
ooo
The three girls soon decided on a small but inviting café located within the mall and were seated in a secluded booth near the back. None of the friends wanted to be spied on by any lurking paparazzi.
"Not that I'm complaining or anything," Jenn said as she perused the menu. "But what's up with buying lunch?"
Trish feigned insult. "You questioning my motives? Me, who has always been generous to you."
"I know, I know," the blonde raised her hands. "I'm just curious."
"I know," Trish grinned. "And the answer to your question is that it's a way of thanking you two from me."
"No problem," Jenn shrugged with a broad smile. She leaned over to Shannon. "What are we being thanked for?"
The brunette shrugged. "I don't know either."
"Well you're supposed to know!"
The waitress came by to take their orders then; Trish ordering a chicken and mushroom crepe, Jenn took grilled fish, and Shannon chose a cheese enchilada. After the woman left, the friends resumed their earlier conversation.
"This is to thank you two for your friendship and support these last few months," Trish explained. "You two have always been there, through the illness, the messy break-up with Drake, and the Hound. I can't begin to tell you how very grateful I am for that."
Jenn grinned, "You would have done the same thing for either of us."
"That's right," Shannon chirped. "You've always been there for us."
"Well at any rate, I haven't been able to say thank you properly until now," Trish stated firmly. "And that's the end of that."
"Shimmery sparklies also say how grateful you are," Jenn mused.
"I'm not loaded," Trish said wryly, "Drake is."
"Yes, but you could use his credit card."
"I'm sure he'd be thrilled."
"Why not? After all, Shan and I have helped in the recovery process of his beloved. He could show his gratitude."
"I don't think gratitude would equal a ten thousand dollar necklace," Trish said wryly.
"Okay so maybe that's a little pricey."
"Jenn, that's more than a little pricey!" Shannon laughed, "Boy did Gary spoil you or what!" Her eyes widened and she put a hand to her mouth, "Um, I didn't mean to bring that up."
Jenn shrugged nonchalantly, "It's okay, I'm completely over him."
There was silence for a moment and Trish watched Jenn sip at her drink. She knew her best friend was far from being completely over it. She'd spent two years in a relationship only to see her boyfriend being publicly intimate with another female. It had been a difficult way to end her first serious relationship. Time to bring up a different subject. Think, Trish, what will cheer her up. Trish thought over things and quickly came up with a distraction, I know!
Casually, Trish said, "You know, Jenn, I think I remember hearing about a Louis Vuitton outlet opening up down in the Crescent."
Jenn slumped back in her seat, "I know, but I got a butt load of souvenirs last week."
"You already brought back souvenirs on the last trip here!" Shannon blinked. "You got more?"
"I couldn't not."
"Always a little cryptic with you," Trish grinned, "But I should say that you're right about one thing."
"Whazzat?"
"I do have Drake's credit card."
An instantly interested response, "Which one?"
Shannon blinked again, "What do you mean, which one? And how would you know if he has more than one!"
"C'mon, he's Drake Thayer. Like he'd be turned down for any credit card!" Jenn leaned forward, looking eager to shop. "So? Is it the platinum or the titanium?"
Trish grinned, knowing she had her best friend's mind off her ex. "The titanium."
"The card with 0 APR!" Jenn looked exceedingly happy. "We gonna party now!"
ooo
Later that evening...
"And I also got this sparkly number," Jenn held up a slinky silver dress with Swarovski crystals sprinkled around the plunging neckline and hem.
The girls had returned from their shopping trip to find Drake, Ben, and Ash having a convivial cup of coffee. Of course, Jenn just had to show off her latest acquisitions.
"All this was on my card?" Drake asked Trish, one brow raised.
"Oh not all of it," she said.
Drake sighed in relief.
"Just most of it," his girlfriend finished with an impish grin.
"What?"
"Don't have a Miltank, Drake," Jenn said cheerfully as she carefully folded her new purchases and placed them back in the boutique bags. "We didn't even make a tiny dent in your bank accounts. You can totally afford it."
"She's right you know," Trish said. "Besides you haven't really thanked them for all their help when I was sick."
"Uh.."
"And you know what they say about wealth, 'You can't take it with you."
"I know, I know," the Orange Crew Leader chuckled. "But I don't think the idea is for Jenn to take it with her either."
"It can't hurt to try," the blonde in question shrugged.
"Yeah, but could you try not trying so hard?"
Jenn looked over at Trish, "And you say I'm cryptic."
ooo
Meanwhile a certain red-haired Fae was not feeling so charitable towards the blonde American. Because of Jenn's escape from his clutches, all his subsequent perfect plans had gone awry.
Lu paced back and forth like a caged tiger, trying to rack his brains for ways in which he could destroy Jenn. While she had been held captive, he had probed her mind for clues on how to control her. Or in this case, how to destroy her.
He snapped his fingers triumphantly as he finally remembered. This time, he vowed, there will be no escape, no happy endings. This time, my victim will not be so lucky.
ooo
A few nights later…
Trish placed her dessert spoon down with a contented sigh. "That was a wonderful dinner."
Drake smiled, eyes twinkling in the candlelight. "Well, the Delphi isn't known as the best restaurant in the Archipelago for nothing."
"With prices to match, of course."
"Of course. But you deserve it."
The Orange Crew Leader had decided that he'd take his girlfriend out for dinner and a night at the theatre. It was the opening night for Phantom of the Opera, and Drake had told Trish that the dress code was after five wear.
Trish was glad she was wearing her burgundy satin and lace cocktail dress, the one that was scattered with beads and sequins. The Delphi was the most exclusive restaurant the Australian had ever been to in her life, and the dress code was definitely to the nines.
"Mmm, maybe you should take Jenn here as well. She would say that the Goddess totally deserves the best."
"As long as she doesn't eat the place out! Maybe Ash should take her since he's got the appetite to match, plus he has more money than I do."
"Jenn's not that bad!" Trish defended her friend.
"Tell that to my titanium card," Drake said wryly.
Trish opened her mouth with a witty retort in mind, when someone walked over to their table. It was the head waiter, who was followed by two assistants. One carried a bottle of Cristal that was in a container of ice, and the other carried a silver domed platter which was placed in front of the Australian. "For you, Madam."
Trish was confused. "I didn't order this…"
"I know," Drake grinned rakishly, "This is just a little something extra."
ooo
Back at Drake's villa, it was a perfect setup for a private Friday night movie party. Drake's state of the art home theatre system was already on and surrounding the Great Room with deep booming bass of previews. Jurassic Park 3 was the movie of choice (and Jenn had pulled a Puppy Eyed Look on Shannon, Ben, and Ash to get her way, and Ash had joked that she was a natural at that look anyway.) and the movie was close to starting.
Though she hadn't said anything to anyone, Jenn had been worried about Lu. She'd stopped reading books that weren't the happy ending sort, and she refused to go anywhere without at least two people with her at all times…other than going to the bathroom. Not to mention how sleeping had posed a problem until she figured her Pokémon would be excellent guards.
As for tonight's movie night, Jenn had figured Lu would stay away if there were people around her. She'd always heard that there was safety in numbers and surely Lu wouldn't be crazy enough to whisk them all away. At least, that's what she was counting on. That and Drake had the hook up when it came to electronics.
Drake had a special television, one that Jenn coveted a lot. The sixty inch plasma television did not hang on the wall. It was recessed into the wall and when not in use, a screen slid up from a panel in the wall below the television to cover it in a way that made it look as if Drake had a sixty inch painting of sunflowers. The sunflowers had been Trish's idea.
To add to Jenn's electronic envy was the sound system. A powerful subwoofer was matched by speakers hidden around the room in perfect locations for prime movie viewing. The speakers themselves were the kind made for movie theatres and had been custom made for Drake's Great Room.
Jenn had just put a huge bowl of buttered popcorn on a low table (which was in front of the leather sofa and dead centre of the television) when the cordless phone rang. Ash, Shannon, and Ben were busy fixing up drinks in the kitchen. Wiping her 'greasy by popcorn' hands on her jeans as she walked over to it, she sighed, picked it up, and cheerfully said, "Hello, Goddess Incorporated."
"Jenn!" It was Trish and she was striving to make herself heard over the noise from the restaurant. "How are you going?"
"Fine, how was your ritzy dinner while the rest of us mortals starve on bread and water?"
"I thought you said you were a Goddess."
"I am."
"Well, you just demoted yourself heaps by your previous statement," her friend laughed.
"No I didn't," Jenn mock pouted. "I was just being dramatic, that's all."
"Always the drama queen."
"Someone totally has to be! What are you calling for? I thought you were going to see the Bantam of the Opera or some junk."
"You mean, Phantom of the Opera."
"Bantam, Phantam, same thing," the blonde shrugged.
"Somehow the idea of seeing a musical about a chicken who haunts the opera doesn't appeal to me as much," Trish said.
"I prefer to eat the chicken, but whatever floats your boat."
"But seriously…" and her friend's voice sobered up. "I saw an Absol again tonight. You know what they say about that…"
"Well it wasn't me!" Jenn wisecracked, "Maybe you're just gonna have an Absol-utely good time."
"Jenn! Be serious! This is not funny."
"I know, I know," the blonde sobered. "But sometimes you have to make light of a serious problem."
"Are the others there with you?"
"Yeah."
"Well don't go anywhere without them. Okay?"
"I won't, promise. Now you go and have fun at the Chicken of the Opera."
"That's Phantom!"
"I know…" Jenn was puzzled to hear a tremendous roar of a dinosaur in the background and felt the vibrations of its footsteps. "Trish, why do I hear dinosaurs?"
"Because we're watching JurassicPark 3," came a male voice that was definitely not Trish's.
Jenn frowned, then opened her eyes to find herself lying on the couch with her head in Ash's lap. The Grand Master looked amused while Ben and Shannon just grinned from their cuddle spot on the leather love seat to the right.
"I fell asleep?"
"You sure did."
"Trish didn't call?"
"Nope. Phone's been quiet."
The blonde sat up and put a hand to her head. "That was the strangest dream…" But before she could elaborate, the cordless rang. She snatched it up with a quick "Hello?"
"Jenn, It's Trish!"
"You aren't calling to tell me that you've seen an Absol, are you?" Jenn asked warily.
"No," her friend sounded confused. "We just finished dinner. Why, have you seen one?"
"Other than my cheekie pookie poopsie poo, no," Jenn shook her head. "Whatcha calling about?"
"I've got news…"
"There's a clearance sale at the Prada boutique?"
"Seeing as how they're closed for the evening, no." A deep breath. "I'm getting MARRIED!" The last word came out in an excited shriek.
Jenn winced and rubbed her ear. "While I'm totally happy for you, Tah, I can only guess that you knew I didn't need to hear out of that ear."
"Sorry, Jenn," the girl sounded apologetic. "I'm just so excited that it seemed like the time to shriek."
"So Drakey finally proposed, huh? It's about time," the blonde grinned and made a gesture towards Ben to hand over money. Ages ago, they had made a bet that Jenn had now won. The younger Thayer rolled his eyes and fished his wallet out of his jeans pocket.
"He did."
"And you accepted?"
"Of course I accepted!" Trish was again confused. "Why would I ring you up to tell you I refused?"
"You can be strange sometimes," Jenn teased.
"Takes one to know one."
"I'm totally happy for you guys," the blonde beamed. "But you know…"
"What." The tone was a little wary.
"Marrying such an old guy like that," Jenn tsked, "Really, Trish. You're so young and have so much potential! You could marry any young guy!"
Trish just laughed and said something to the Orange Crew Leader. There was a second before there was much spluttering and a retort of "I'm NOT old!"
"You're a nutcase you know that?" she then continued.
"I'm the Mistress of Insanity," Jenn confirmed.
"Too true."
"You go and have fun at the theatre," the blonde closed off. "I'll be up when you get back, and you'd better show me the rock and tell me all about it."
"Okay, I'll see you then," Trish could hardly keep the excitement from her voice, "Byee!"
Jenn just chuckled as she hung up. "Kids these days."
"Spoken like a true immortal Goddess," Ash said dryly.
"And don't you forget it, mister," Jenn stood up and stretched. She glanced at the screen, where velociraptors were gathering menacingly around the four humans. "My favourite part!" She sat back down. "You can just about put words to their actions."
"The humans?" Shannon asked with a mild amount of confusion.
"No, the raptors," Jenn grinned, "That one says they could eat them with a dash of lemon and some Grey Poupon, and the other said they're too stringy looking."
"Oh that's gross!" Shannon snuggled with Ben, who didn't mind the cuddle. She looked over at Jenn, "Is that your cellphone ringing?"
Jenn cocked her head and nodded, "Yep."
"You're not going to answer it?" Ben asked.
"Nope."
Ash laughed, "What if it's important?"
"Nothing is more important than my movie."
Shannon shook her head. "Even though you fell asleep in the middle of it?"
"Yep."
"And woke up with your head on Ash's lap?" Ben added cheekily.
"On that I plead the fifth," Jenn said, never taking her eyes off the screen. "And if you say anything else, I'll hurt you for interrupting my movie."
"…The one you fell asleep through?"
Jenn gave a long suffering sigh, "I didn't get a whole bunch of sleep last night, okay."
"Oh really?" Ben wagged his eyebrows.
"Shut up, mini-Chris."
There was about a minute of quiet, broken only by the velociraptors as they ran off, leaving the group of humans intact, before Jenn's cell phone rang again.
"Is that a Beck song?" Ash listened intently.
Ben nodded, "I think it's 'Loser' if I'm not wrong."
"No, Ben," Ash agreed, "I don't think you are wrong."
The corner of Jenn's eye twitched and she clenched her teeth.
"Hey Jenn, didn't you customise your calls so that certain songs ring for certain people?" Shannon asked.
"Yes."
"Isn't that the one you set for Gar…"
"Enough!" Jenn growled out and stalked around the couch. She went into the kitchen, where her cell phone had been recharging, and flipped open the Razr. "What!"
"Hey, babe."
"What do you want?" Jenn unplugged the cell phone, which was fully charged, and stormed out onto the front portico. There was some gravel on the marble pavers from the walkway and it crunched under her sneakers. The door shut behind her gently.
"Wanna come hang out with me?" Her ex's voice slithered over the line, "I'm at Club Mystique."
Club Mystique, where they'd gone so many times. Loud music blared in the background and competed with the murmur of voices. Jenn shook her head in amazement, "I'd rather just hang you. How dare you call me!"
"And here I thought you'd miss me," Gary drawled out lazily, "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and that I...I want another chance with you."
Anger boiled over and she fought to contain it, momentarily regretting letting Puck take away her fire power. It would so come in handy now. Her eyes flicked to her watch. It was only quarter to nine and it was still bright outside. An internal war was quickly fought and decided.
"You stay there," Jenn said in a low biting tone, "I'll be there in ten minutes."
She closed the phone, cutting off the call, and jogged to her Freelander. Placing her palm against the handle, the door unlocked and she got in. Since the keys were hanging on the key rack in the hall adjacent to the five car garage, she was grateful that she opted for the touch sensitive alarm and starter. She put the SUV in gear and drove down the long winding drive.
The gates opened at her approach and she waved at the guard in the booth. Henry, the head guard who was staffing the entry booth tonight, knew all of their cars and never asked questions. The gates closed after she left and swung onto the main road. It wouldn't take but five minutes to get to Club Mystique. It was another of the great things about Drake's villa. It was close to the beach and the nightlife.
ooo
Gary hung up the cell phone and turned to see Lu. The ex-gym leader grinned. "She'll be here."
"Good," Lu scowled, "I can't wait for this. Not only is she going to die, it will be at the hands of someone she thought loved her."
"She never was bright."
"Well you are not one to talk, mortal," Lu looked disgusted, "That glamour will only last so long, Rudy, so do not ruin this for me. This time my plan is flawless. Not even that idiot Puck can foil it."
"But what's gonna happen next?" whined Rudy who looked like Gary.
"You are going to take that idiot blonde out onto the patio," Lu pointed out a private dining patio that was currently devoid of patrons. "I will make sure that no one will get close enough to stop you from what you have to do."
Rudy smiled evilly, "I can't hardly wait."
ooo
Jenn parked the Freelander a block from the club in front of a small boutique called De La Mer. It was closed, as was most of all the other small shops in this part of the city. The night belonged to the clubs and the people that frequented them. Police patrolled in pairs, though Drake's city rarely had any ill-intended people.
As she neared the club, it dawned on her to at least let Ash know that she'd even left the villa. Quickly, she dialled the villa's number. There was only three rings before it was picked up, and Jenn sighed when Ash's voice came over the line.
"Ash, it's me," Jenn broke into his greeting. "I had to come down to the Quad to pick something up."
"At five till nine at night?" Ash sounded unconvinced. "Just about everything is closed."
"Yeah well…Ye Olde T-Shirte Shoppe is open."
"You've never bought anything from that store."
"The holidays are coming up, okay," Jenn walked quickly by the closed t-shirt shoppe. "Maybe I have to pick up a present."
"After Gary called you? I seriously doubt it."
"How did you know…"
"Shannon told me you had that ring tone set if Gary calls," Ash said, then paused, "Or you could just realise I'm omnipresent and that I know everything."
"Somehow I doubt that," Jenn said and paused at a busy intersection. "Listen, I won't be late, okay? Plus you keep dropping out. My battery must be low."
"But you just…"
"I didn't hear that," Jenn lied, "What did you say?"
"You…"
"Gotta go, Ashy, see you later!" With that, she hung up and set her phone's ringer to silent. She felt a little guilty, but she knew she couldn't let Ash try to change her mind. Gary was priority Number One. He was the only loose end she had towards getting her relationship ship sailing smoothly again. Granted trying to meet up with him on Hamlin didn't pan out, but she had a feeling this time would be different.
She had no idea how right she was.
To be continued….
ooo
Author's Note: Read and review Broken Wings and Nemesis under my profile. I dare you.