Swallowed in a dense cluster of grapevines and trees, a chateau lay nestled deep in the Lorraine province of France. Inside it, there were easily one hundred occupants, largely male.
From the master suite, a sultry voice called, "Marcel, are you planning to leave me to my own devices?"
A young man stepped out from behind the great oak door, wearing nothing but gold manties.
Before him, sprawled on a lavish king-sized bed with waves of inky hair spilling over the sides, lay a half-naked woman. She was easily one of the more attractive women on the planet, with a tiny waist and large bosom that were currently exposed. She motioned him closer with her finger, and he went forward eagerly.
As she reached out to pull him towards her by the string of his thong, a phone rang on the side desk. With an angry huff, she reached for it, lifting the receiver to her ear. "What?" she spat.
There was a moment of hesitation on the other end as someone realized they'd called at a bad moment. "You said to call if something weird happened," the voice said.
"I did," she affirmed, propping up on an elbow while the silk covers spilled around her.
"Something weird happened. I think you should probably come to Colombia and see for yourself."
She let out a laugh, "Oh, I think not. Tell me now before I lose my patience."
Another moment of hesitation passed on the other end of the line. "An excavation inspection team that went into the jungle a week ago, near Leticia. They just came out, three days earlier than expected."
She frowned into the phone, "That is worrisome. But not weird. What did they find?"
"Something, I'm sure or they wouldn't have come out so early. I don't know what, but you didn't let me finish. They went into the jungle with four people, and came out with five."
Her eyebrows shot upward, eyes widening and mouth parting in shock. She sucked in quick breath, moving to the edge of the bed. "Who was with them." Marcel was stayed seated on the bed, like a fixture of the room, completely forgotten. He didn't make any move to change this, but at the same time, he listened to the conversation.
"I don't know, I just know that they found someone in the jungle while they were collecting samples. They came back injured though. The village gossip is growing like wild-"
"Was it a female?" She asked, feeling her throat tighten with fear for the first time in years.
"...I think so. I can't be sure."
"BE sure!" She screamed, standing in rush and throwing a nearby vase at the wall. It made a sharp shattering noise as it collided with the wall and fell in broken pieces to the floor, but it didn't ebb her fury at all.
"I-I Yes ma'am," he mumbled.
The woman slammed the phone down onto the cradle with so much force it cracked. Clenching and unclenching her fists, she looked down at her palms to see aggravated red half-moons welling with blood.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it sigh out as she regathered her composure. Without turning around, she walked towards the boudoir, calling over her shoulder, "Change of plans, Marcel. Leave. And send Beryl in."
Marcel rose from the bed like a puppet, bowing as he exited the room even though her back was turned to him. There was a full-length mirror on the side of the room she was facing, and he felt better standing on manners than risking her wrath if she saw him leaving any other way.
A few minutes later, another long-haired woman, and one of the few female occupants of the mansion entered the room. Her hair was a deep garnet, falling down around her waist, although she had gathered some of it up into a braided crown on her head. She held a pen in one hand and a flip book journal in the other.
The black-haired woman turned, now fully clothed in an elegant business suit. "About time. Arrange for a flight to Colombia, as close to Leticia as you can find." She went over to a vanity stand, inspecting her appearance in the mirror. "As soon as possible," she added. She paused, glancing at Beryl's reflection in the mirror. She inspected her in the mirror, smiling at what she saw. "Two tickets. You will come with me." She dragged a painted nail down the mirror, not flinching in the slightest as it screeched under the pressure.
Beryl nodded but didn't react to the noise, pulling a phone out of her pocket and typing in a few commands. Putting the phone away after it was done, she flipped open the journal and scribbled a few notes into the calendar. "There is a private flight available in six hours. Your meeting will have to be cancelled with th-"
"Then cancel it," the other woman interrupted.
Beryl looked at her employer, pupils dilating as she appraised her physical appearance. She didn't dare stare for long though. "Will there be anything else?"
"No." The redhead reluctantly turned to leave. "And Beryl?" She stopped, and turned slightly to look back at the taller woman. "Don't make me wait."
"Yes ma'am," she turned on her heel, and stalked out of the room, entertaining wicked thoughts of the two of them alone on this trip to the middle of nowhere. It was almost too good to be true.
AN: Dun...dun...duuuuun. Jk. :) Finally some villainy/plot and not just mystery! Now I have to warn you guys, I love programming a little significant bit more than writing. So...most of what I write nowadays is for my website. Games and such, in lines of crazy. I doubt I'll ever be able to completely stop writing (in any form) but consistent chapter updates? No promises. But I'm a total bitch to reviews, just leash me up. So yea, if ya like it at all, review.