Reaver's Servants

The Mary-Sue Conundrum

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that there are forces in the universe that cannot be explained; forces beyond the comprehension of anyone in Albion, or anywhere for that matter. One such malevolent force was on its way to Albion, and it (or she, rather) has her sights on one location in particular. This force knows when it is most convenient for it to arrive, and it feeds off the suffering of those around it. When it has finally finished its hunt, it will leave everyone around it drier than a desert. She was coming…and the unsuspecting inhabitants of Lakeview Manor won't stand a chance…

The early evening brought about the smell of a delicious beef and vegetable stew being made for supper. Autumn had arrived and the servants were dressed in their cold weather uniforms. Longer sleeves, thicker stockings (for the girls, anyway) and the smell of fresh apples indeed meant it was fall. The windows were cracked just slightly, enough to let in a little air, but not enough to catch a draft. Everything at the manor was going like clockwork, with everyone doing their respective chores.

Miss Sarah was chopping the garnish for dinner, as she believed presentation was essential to any meal. Willa and Beryl were helping Rosie bring in the laundry from the clothesline in the garden, where Gordon was clipping flowers for the dining room. Barry was tidying up Reaver's office and making it ready for him upon his arrival home from the factory office. Even little Reavie was making sure she was tidy for her Master's return. Barry left the office and made his way downstairs where he was met by the smell of cornbread being baked along with the simmering of strew.

Barry straightened himself up and walked toward the kitchen to meet the delicious smell. He opened the kitchen doors slowly and found Miss Sarah chopping a small green garnish. "That smells divine, Miss Sarah." said Barry, as he walked in.

Miss Sarah looked up and blushed softly. "Oh, thank you, Mr. Hatch." said Miss Sarah, as she took bowls from the cabinet. "It certainly is stew weather. I woke up shivering this morning. I think I'll sleep with my stockings on tonight." She giggled as she put the bowls on the counter. Her giggling was like the singing of angels to Barry.

"I'd better go set the table. Master Reaver is bound to be home anytime now…" Barry looked at Miss Sarah, as if he wanted to ask her something.

She looked at him curiously as he picked up the fancy bowl. "Is something bothering you, Mr. Hatch?" asked Miss Sarah.

"Oh, no…but…" Barry fumbled with his words as Miss Sarah patiently awaited his response. Miss Sarah turned her head and still smiled. Barry couldn't think of a time Miss Sarah wasn't smiling. "Miss Sarah, I was wondering if maybe this Wednesday, if you would…do me the honor of going to dinner with me." Barry blushed softly and waited for her response.

Miss Sarah blushed and beamed a big smile. "Of course, Mr. Hatch! I'd love to go to dinner with you." She said happily.

Barry beamed from ear to ear. "Great! I can't wait! So, this Wednesday, then?" Miss Sarah nodded with a big smile. Barry put his arm across his stomach and bowed. "Until then, milady!" he chuckled and left the kitchen. Miss Sarah nodded as he left.

Barry was passing the doorway when he heard a knock. Thinking one of the servants locked themselves out again; Barry opened the door, ready to give someone stern talking to, but was greeted only by a powerful gust of wind that almost knocked him down. He hastily closed the door and shut it tight only to hear another knock.

Barry opened it again and this time he was greeted by a young woman wearing a dress with many ribbons on it. She looked up at him with the deepest blue eyes he had ever seen. Her hair was the color of sun-kissed wheat and her face was an adorable round shape with cheeks adorned with freckles in just the right spots. The girl's dress was as white as fresh milk and adorned with pink ribbons on the hips, on the hem of the skirt, and one strategically on her bust. Her hat was just as ornate and complimented her very well, almost perfectly. She had a golden heart shaped locket around her neck.

"Hello, are you Mr. Hatch?" asked the girl in a lyrical tone. If anyone could describe this girl, it was perfection personified. Her figure was perfect, and her flawless skin glistened in the sunlight.

"Yes, I am Barry Hatch, and who might you be?" asked Barry, folding his arms. The girl handed Barry a flyer and smiled, holding her basket (she had a wicker picnic basket with her, that's kind of important) close. Barry looked over the flyer and recognized it as the flyer he posted at the beginning of spring.

"My name is Mary-Sue Sapphire Sunspire and I was hoping you'd have a job available…you see…" the girl stepped inside delicately and placed her basket down. "I just moved to this part of Albion not too long ago. My family…well, they were some of the unlucky ones to fall prey to the Darkness that tried to envelope this land. I survived the attack and in her dying breath, my mother gave me her locket and told me that I was destined to do great things!" the girl twirled around happily.

Barry didn't have the heart to tell her he could probably care less. He just sighed and let her continue with the story.

The girl stopped and smiled. "But I must move on with my life, Mr. Hatch! For though my family and my one true love fell to the Darkness, I know deep down they would want me to get on with my life."

Barry cocked an eyebrow at this girl. She couldn't be serious. "…and you decided the best place to start your new life was…here?" he asked, placing a hand on his hip.

The girl nodded happily. "I found this flyer as it danced along the wind. It was destiny, I know it. My new life starts here!" the girl sang.

"Well, I'm sorry, Miss…umm…Sunspire, but there are no…" Barry stopped just as Reaver walked through the door.

"Hatch, how many times have I told you not to leave the front door open?" he scowled, taking off his coat. He glanced over and saw the little bit of perfect sunshine smiling at him. "And who is this…?" Reaver cooed, touching the girl's chin.

Barry sighed and took Reaver's hat as he handed it to him. "This is Mary-Sue, Master Reaver. She's come about the flyer I put up months ago. I was just about to tell her the positions have been filled." Barry crossed his arms and watched Reaver inspect the young woman.

Reaver circled her and moaned softly. He looked her up and down and nodded while murmuring to himself. After a minute or so, Reaver nodded his approval, despite not being asked for it. "Now, now, Hatch, we can't just kick this poor thing out into the cold. Especially someone as…delicious looking as her…" Reaver rubbed his chin and smiled deviously. "You're hired, young lady. You start immediately. Hatch, show her to the servant's hallway." Reaver excused himself and made his way upstairs.

Mary-Sue perked up and followed Barry up the main staircase after picking up her basket. Miss Sarah, who had been peeking out the kitchen door, went back to her cooking. She wasn't sure how she felt about this newcomer. Miss Sarah had to admit it seemed unfair that she and the other servants had to go through the horrible interview process with Reaver, but this girl just walked in and got a job. Miss Sarah, who was always one to see the bright side of everything, just shrugged and went to finish dinner. "Well, either way, it's nice to have a little more help around here. I think I'll go say hello when dinner is done." She mused, as she finished pouring stew into the bowls.

Rosie came in not long after, carrying a basket of laundry. She stopped immediately and glanced around. Something wasn't right, and it was giving her bad vibes. Rosie tried to shake them off and decided to deal with it later. Rosie carried the laundry up the stairs and the feeling became stronger. "Something isn't right…" she muttered to herself.

Upon reaching the top floor, the nagging feeling became the strongest she had ever felt, and it made her head hurt. "Ahh, Rosie! Good to see the laundry is done." said Reaver, sashaying his way toward Rosie. Her silence made him uncomfortable. "Are you not feeling well, Rosie?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest. "I certainly hope you aren't catching a cold. I don't have time to be sick this year."

Rosie rubbed her forehead and sighed. "I'm alright, Mr. Reaver…" she mumbled.

"Good. When you're done putting away my laundry, I want you to go help the new girl get settled in." said Reaver, taking out his pocket watch.

"The new girl, Sir?" asked Rosie.

Reaver nodded and opened up his pocket watch. "Yes, I hired a new maid just a few minutes ago. She literally came in with the wind." He chuckled as he excused himself.

In the servant's hallway, Barry unlocked the last door of the hallway and opened it wide. "Here we are. This will be your room. Most of the rooms are identical, but Master Reaver will let you personalize it to make it feel more comfortable. Just keep it tasteful. I understand the ironic nature of my statement, considering the man who established that rule." He said, as Mary-Sue walked past him.

"It certainly is lovely." She said, softly as Barry lit a candle for her. "Barry…"

"Please call me Mr. Hatch…" said Barry, with a glare.

"Mr. Hatch…do you believe in destiny?" Mary-Sue asked, as she set her basket down. Barry cocked an eyebrow and just stared at her. "Destiny, Mr. Hatch. The thought that two people were meant to meet…that in all the time of searching, you have finally found someone that makes you feel whole…"

Barry just stared at Mary-Sue and started thinking. His mind instantly went to Miss Sarah. Barry smiled a goofy smile and sighed happily. "Destiny…" he mumbled, as he walked away. He passed by Rosie as he mumbled to himself. Rosie shook her head and tried to keep her laughter down.

Rosie knocked on Mary-Sue's door softly. "Umm…are you the new girl?" she asked, peeking into the room.

Mary-Sue turned around slowly and locked eyes with Rosie. A horrible feeling immediately washed over Rosie as she stood in the doorway. This girl didn't seem of the natural world and if there was anything Rosie was sensitive to, it was unnatural phenomena. "Yes, my name is Mary-Sue Ruby Eclipsetide and I was just hired." She said, in a soft lyrical voice. Rosie glared at the girl.

"Hello, I'm Rosie. I'm one of the maids here. I guess we'll be working together." Rosie extended her hand to Mary-Sue, who delayed at first, but then extended hers as well.

The girl gave a smug smile and shook Rosie's hand. "I look forward to working with you and the others, Miss Rosie…" said Mary-Sue.

Rosie didn't like the presence of this person, but she had no reason to hate her yet. Rosie took her hand back and left the room. "There is something about her…it would be wise for me to keep a close eye on her." Rosie muttered, as she left the servants hallway. She arrived in the dining room as Willa and Beryl were setting the table.

"Hey Rosie!" shouted Beryl, placing a plate in Reaver's spot. "I heard we have a new maid!" She and Willa bounced excitedly. Rosie just stared at them. Willa and Beryl knew that look. The unspoken warning was caught well by the two as Rosie went about the rest of her chores. Willa looked up at Beryl, who just shrugged.

In her room, Mary-Sue unpacked her basket and looked into the mirror on her dresser. "What a nice home. Such lovely people…" her eyes turned red and an evil aura surrounded her. The mirror did not reflect the little ray of sunshine that came through the door earlier anymore. It only displayed a dark aura as it cracked softly at her very presence. "So much originality…they will keep the mother satiated for a long, long, time…"

Late night rolled around to the sounds of Miss Sarah's shoes clicking against the floor. Holding a tray of cookies and tea, Miss Sarah put on her sunniest smile and knocked on the door in front of her. It opened slowly and the new maid peeked out. "Hello, I heard you just started here. I'm Sarah, Mr. Reaver's cook." Miss Sarah presented Mary-Sue with the tray. "I thought I'd come up after I was finished tidying up the kitchen and formally welcome you to Lakeview Manor!"

Mary-Sue smiled wide and invited Miss Sarah in. "Why thank you, Ma'am! I'm Mary-Sue Onyx Silvercloud. So, you're the cook? What kind of recipe did you use for these cookies? I have a multitude of recipes for cookies. People often say I was the best cook in my old village, just before the bandits raided it. But I persevered and found my way back to polite society." Mary-Sue's bragging didn't seem to faze Miss Sarah.

"How lovely. I don't like to brag, but I like to think my cooking is pretty good. I have a ravioli recipe that everyone here just loves." Miss Sarah walked into Mary-Sue's room and set the tray down on the night stand. She didn't seem to notice the broken mirror. Miss Sarah smiled and extended her hand, which Mary-Sue happily shook.

"You don't say…well, we should definitely swap recipes…" Mary-Sue smiled sinisterly and slowly closed her door.

Breakfast was late the next morning. Reaver looked at his pocket watch and then at the grandfather clock in the corner. "Where the hell is Miss Sarah with breakfast?" he shouted, as Barry poured him some orange juice. Barry shrugged and looked around. Usually, breakfast would arrive just as Reaver was waking up. He heard his bedroom door open and saw Rosie cower inside.

Clearing her throat, Rosie stayed close to the door, with it conveniently open slightly for a quick escape. "Mr. Reaver, Miss Sarah wanted me to let you know breakfast would be a bit late today…"

"A BIT LATE?" shouted Reaver, as he sat up all the way in bed. Rosie ran from the room before Reaver could grab his gun.

"I'll go see what the holdup is, Master." said Barry, rushing from the room. Breakfast was usually pretty prompt (Miss Sarah prided herself in keeping to the set schedule) and Barry knew something wasn't right.

Arriving at the kitchen, Barry found Miss Sarah lying on the floor. "Miss Sarah!" he shouted, as he ran to help her up. Miss Sarah looked like she could barely stand. Her hair was a mess, her face was pale, and her uniform wasn't on properly. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked like she was struggling to keep her balance.

Miss Sarah groaned softly and shuffled to her feet. "Wha…Mr. Hatch?" she moaned softly as Barry helped her to her feet. Miss Sarah looked around, as if she wasn't even sure how she arrived in the kitchen in the first place.

"What happened, Miss Sarah?" asked Barry, helping her to the table in the corner.

Grasping her hair, Miss Sarah sat down and tried to think. "I…I don't know. I woke up feeling pretty drained, and when I got to the kitchen…everything just went black."

"What did you do last night? You didn't stay up too late, did you?" Barry asked, leaning against the table.

Miss Sarah shook her head. "No, not really. I went to say hello to the new girl, but I don't think I stayed up very late. I don't feel tired, though." Miss Sarah didn't yawn but she did struggle to get back up. "Mr. Hatch, please give my most sincere apologies to Mr. Reaver…I'll get breakfast started…"

Barry shook his head and helped her up. "That's not happening, Miss Sarah. You're not well. I'll get you up to bed and find someone else to cook breakfast."

Barry helped Miss Sarah up and escorted her to her room. They passed by Mary-Sue, who looked particularly stunning in her uniform. "Good morning, Mr. Hatch! Mr. Reaver said you'd have my assignments for me." she said cheerfully. Barry hated morning people (except Miss Sarah, of course). "Oh my, what's wrong with Sarah?" she asked, frantically.

"I found her fainted on the kitchen floor just now. She's not well." Barry responded.

Mary-Sue gasped loudly, though whether or not her reaction was sincere was debatable. Barry had other things on his mind and didn't seem to notice either way. "How awful! You know, I am an expert healer! I'll be by her room later to nurse her back to health!" Mary-Sue smiled and looked at poor Miss Sarah, who looked like she could barely stand.

"That's generous of you, Mary-Sue, but right now I have to get her to bed and find someone to cook in her place until she gets better." Barry practically snarled at the new maid.

"I am a gourmet chef! I will take over for her until she is well!" Mary-Sue shouted, and ran toward the kitchen.

Barry cocked an eyebrow and watched the eager maid run off. "That's mildly convenient." He muttered, as he helped Miss Sarah to her room. Rosie watched from the doorway adjacent to the servant's hallway. Rosie followed Mary-Sue to the kitchen, but kept her distance.

After only a few minutes, Mary-Sue had made a perfect breakfast and presented it to Reaver herself. Reaver was astonished. "Ahh, how delicious! It almost rivals Miss Sarah's!" he shouted happily.

Mary-Sue stood and watched her boss eat. "Almost, Sir?" she asked, her eye twitching softly.

"Yes, I said almost. Your scrambled eggs are delicious, but not as light and fluffy as Miss Sarah's. Granted, she can't maximize the egg taste like you can, but hers just has something in it that makes her recipes perfect." Reaver wiped his mouth and sighed happily. He didn't notice Mary-Sue twitching softly as she left the room. "Still, it was magnificent and you will replace Miss Sarah until she gets well. The menu for today should be on the counter, that's where she keeps all of her things kitchen-related."

Mary-Sue smiled and turned around to bow. "I won't let you down, Sir!" she said, happily and skipped away.

Sipping his coffee, Reaver sat back in his bed. "That's convenient. A gourmet chef and a maid…and from what Hatch tells me, an expert level healer." Reaver grinned deviously and sipped his coffee. "I believe by the end of the day, I'll be shooting something…"

Mary-Sue made the rounds of any maid that afternoon. She stopped in on Willa and Beryl in the study as they rearranged the bookshelves. "I went to check on Miss Sarah, earlier." said Beryl, as she reached for another book with her foot. "She looks terrible, like someone tried to suck the life out of her." Beryl looked scared and handed the book to Willa, who stood on a ladder putting the books away. Beryl dusted the books with her hands and then would hand them to Willa with her foot. Mary-Sue's eyes gleamed as she walked into the study.

"Oh, you're the new maid, aren't you?" asked Willa, as she slid down from the ladder.

"Yes, my name is Mary-Sue Amethyst Moondove. I'm also taking over for Sarah while she's sick and I've been tending to her, as I am an expert healer." Mary-Sue answered, somewhat accomplished.

"Rosie is an expert healer too! She grew up in a gypsy camp, I think." said Willa.

Mary-Sue twitched a bit. "How wonderful for her. I grew up on the mean streets, garnering knowledge from anywhere it decided to slip. But a flower grew from the grime and I knew my destiny wasn't on the streets."

Willa and Beryl just stared at her and got back to work. Mary-Sue twitched some more but stopped as soon as she saw Beryl get up from the pose she was in. "Oh, you're a contortionist?" asked Mary-Sue, excitedly.

Beryl nodded with a smile. "Yep! I was a contortionist in the circus we all worked in! I was called Lady Pretzel and my act was very popular!" Beryl said proudly. "My pièce de résistance was a move that took me years to perfect!" Beryl stood on her hands and did a handstand. After a few seconds, she was balancing on her head doing a split in the air. "Balancing on the tip top of your head takes some practice, but after you perfect it, it's a lot of fun!" Beryl made herself spin and then did a front flip back to her feet. She bowed with a smug smile. "That was just half of the routine. I don't want Mr. Reaver to see me slacking off again." She giggled, as she readjusted her glasses.

Mary-Sue smiled wide. "I studied contortionism for years!" she said, happily. Mary-Sue bent herself backwards and touched the ground behind her. She then stood on one hand and balanced on her index finger. In one swift move, she kicked herself over and did two flips, landing on her tip toes.

Wide-eyed, Beryl clapped in a lackluster (borderline sarcastic) manner. "That was…good…" she mumbled, jealously.

Willa smiled and clapped softly as well. "That was pretty neat. I've never seen anyone match Beryl's abilities." Willa smugly smirked and folded her arms. "I trained under my dad, the Strongman, for years hoping I could get a crowd like Beryl's someday."

"Your dad was a strongman?" asked Mary-Sue with amazement.

Willa smiled proudly and put her hands on her hips. "Yeppers!" She shouted happily. "Olaf the Strong! When my training was complete, we were going to be billed as a father/daughter act, but our circus…umm, 'mysteriously' shut down." Willa rubbed the back of her head and smiled nervously.

"Could you show me?" asked Mary-Sue. Willa never gave up a chance to show off for an eager spectator. Willa lifted a nearby chair with ease. Mary-Sue cracked her knuckles and lifted the statue in the middle of the study. Willa stood amazed. "Impressive…for a beginner…" she said, a little sad.

Beryl, having had enough of being shown up, left the study in a huff. Willa smiled nervously and followed after Beryl. They both passed by Reaver as he made his way downstairs. Beryl looked like she was crying. "I…I…sniff sniff…studied for years and nearly broke my back…sniffle…training every day for years only to be shown up by her…!" Beryl cried, as Willa chased after her.

Reaver looked into the study at Mary-Sue, who was just standing by the window, her ivory skin catching to autumn sun. Her locket was shining against the sun. Mary-Sue heard Reaver's boots against the marble floor. She turned to him in semi-surprise and glanced at him with her deep emerald eyes. Her hair, rivaling the sunrays in both length and shine, bounced as she walked up to her boss. "Hello there, Mr. Reaver." She said, as her ruby red lips curled around every word like a gentle ocean.

With a smirk, Reaver walked with Mary-Sue toward the kitchen. "I must say, you are more impressive than I had originally hoped." Reaver couldn't take his eyes off Mary-Sue. She was just too perfect. Reaver usually didn't allow things more perfect than him in the house. He decided to let this slide…he had a plan. "My dear Miss Sue, would you go collect some flowers from Gordon in the garden?" he asked, his gloved hand hovering just above her back. Mary-Sue smiled wide and ran out the front door.

Outside, Gordon snipped his way around a hedge as Mary-Sue happily trotted up to him. Gordon looked behind himself and saw her. She looked curious to him. "Oh, you must be the new maid the girls have been going on about. Well, I'm Gordon, the groundskeeper and butler." He said, going about his work.

"I'm Mary-Sue Garnet Skybird. It's nice to meet you." Mary-Sue extended her hand, but Gordon ignored her, focusing on the task at hand. She retracted her hand and twitched a bit. "What a lovely garden you keep." said Mary-Sue, trying to make conversation from the awkward silence.

Gordon smiled and snipped a bit around the hedge he was working on. His eyes met her grey as diamond eyes and felt compelled to impress her, though he wasn't sure why. "Well, it's nothing special. I just happen to be good with plants."

"Plants are a specialty of mine!" Mary-Sue beamed with delight looking over the flowers. "The farm I grew up on had lots of plants. I couldn't get enough of the perfect shades and colors…" she touched a rosebud and smiled as Gordon snipped the hedge into a likeness of Mary-Sue without realizing it.

"It was supposed to be a horse…" He chuckled softly as he put his clippers down.

Mary-Sue giggled. "Before I forget, Mr. Reaver wants some flowers, probably for the dining room table." Mary-Sue smiled and followed Gordon. Gordon snipped a few flowers and placed them in a basket. "So, it's my understanding that everyone here used to work for the circus. What did you do there?" asked Mary-Sue.

Gordon blushed deeply, which Mary-Sue returned. "I was an acrobat and trapeze artist. My gardening passion came from helping the make-up artists in between my acts. It's a great stress reliever." Gordon seemed oddly happy with Mary-Sue around. He was a bit unnerved by how unnatural it felt.

As Mary-Sue left the garden, Gordon went to correct the hedge he messed up. As he picked up his clippers, he looked over at the rose bush and saw a dead rosebud. It was the only one that was dead on the whole bush. He clipped it off and held it in the palm of his hand. "How strange…"

It was almost dinner time and Rosie was setting the table alone. She had almost finished when she heard the sound of a basket shuffling around. Looking over her shoulder, Rosie saw Mary-Sue place the basket on the dining room table. "That Gordon sure is something, isn't he? He reminds me of the shopkeeper I used to be engaged to." She said with a hum. "We were forced to call off our engagement after his family forbade us to wed. He was sent along with the army to fight in a faraway land and I haven't seen him since…"

Rosie just stared at her and finished setting the table. "Gordon does have one of those faces." said Rosie stoically.

Mary-Sue looked at Rosie curiously and giggled nervously. "You know, you blushed a little bit when I mentioned Gordon. Do you have a crush on him?" she asked, smugly.

Rosie just stared at Mary-Sue. "Gordon and I have been friends for years. We have a deep respect for one another, but I doubt it will ever go further than that." Rosie's simple answer made Mary-Sue twitch.

Mary-Sue giggled nervously. "Well, either way, he seems to have taken a liking to me. I'm flattered, really, by all the attention the guys around here have been giving me, but I'm just too modest to choose." Mary-Sue blushed as Rosie walked past her.

Their eyes meeting, Rosie made it very clear that whatever Mary-Sue was up to, it wouldn't work on her. "If Mr. Reaver doesn't get to you first, I doubt Gordon or Mr. Hatch will." said Rosie.

Something is wrong… Mary-Sue thought.

"Something is very wrong, but it isn't me…" said Rosie, as she turned around. Mary-Sue stood there, amazed. Rosie just left the dining room, leaving Mary-Sue standing there, trying to keep her wits about her.

"No, no, no! This can't happen. I am so close…" she mumbled as she paced the dining room. Mary-Sue straightened herself up and went to start dinner. She stomped her way to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. "I'm so close, but I don't have enough…that perky Sarah can only give me so much life essence before I completely suck her dry, and I'd barely have enough for myself to complete my task…I know what I must do…" She started cooking, but didn't know she was being watched…

Barry skipped dinner that night to tend to Miss Sarah, who looked like she was getting worse by the minute. He knew the hour was getting late, but he didn't care. He'd stay by her side all night if he had to. "Miss Sarah, how are you feeling?" he asked, as she woke up.

"I feel like I've been run over by a cart, but otherwise…pretty bad." She wheezed, turning to face him. "Mr. Hatch, you don't have to tend to me." She coughed softly and tried to sit up, but Barry laid her back down.

"It's not a problem, Miss Sarah. I trust Rosie to take care of you, but that new girl…just gives me a funny feeling…" Barry turned around to make sure no one else was nearby. "I don't think that girl has good intentions at all, Miss Sarah. Something is telling me she isn't here just for the job."

Miss Sarah smiled softly. "Don't think ill of people, Mr. Hatch. I'm sure she just takes some getting used to." Miss Sarah snuggled back into her blanket and drifted off to sleep again. One of the things Barry liked about Miss Sarah was her ability to see the good in anything, despite how ominously displaced it seemed.

Barry got up and took the tray with the tea set with him. Promising to be back soon, Barry left Miss Sarah's room and made his way to the dining room. Dinner had ended hours ago, but Barry was confused to see a candlelit dinner waiting on the table. Mary-Sue was sitting in one of the chairs. "Hello, Mr. Hatch…" she said, seductively. Barry didn't seem to know what was going on. "Mr. Hatch, I know we've barely gotten to know each other, but I feel like it was destiny, us meeting." She moaned, getting up from her chair.

Gripping the tray tightly, Barry back up as Mary-Sue grew closer. "Miss, please stop this at once…" he insisted, as Mary-Sue attempted to kiss him.

"Mr. Hatch, I am embarrassed to say this…but even though we've only known each other for such a short time…I think I'm in love with you!" Mary-Sue wrapped her arms around Barry's neck. Barry tried to pry her off, but she held on tightly. Mary-Sue's eyes shimmered like two golden orbs. "Mr. Hatch, let's run away together! We'll go far away and live our lives in harmonic bliss!" Mary-Sue snuggled up to Barry and nipped at his neck. Barry dropped the tray he was holding and fought to keep his arms from grasping her. "Oh, Mr. Hatch, hold me! Hold me in your big strong arms."

Barry grasped her arms, his heart pounding. Mary-Sue semi-puckered her blood red lips and closed her eyes. She could feel the heat of the moment rising, and then slowly cooling as Barry pushed her away. "Look, I'm flattered, Miss…whoever the hell you are, but my heart already belongs to someone." said Barry, as he picked up the tray he dropped.

Mary-Sue's eye twitched as she backed into the table. "But…how can you love another? I'M PERFECT!" she shouted.

"That's what I don't like you about you. You're perfect. Perfection isn't human. I'm in love with someone who has flaws. But…to me…those flaws are what make her perfect…" Barry blushed and thought about Miss Sarah. "I don't care if she's a bit meaty on the hips or has a webbed pinky toe or has an unusual fear of oceans. To me, she is perfect." Barry walked away as Mary-Sue started to panic. Her locket started to become less golden and rustier.

"No…" she uttered, and ran after him. "How can you love that?!" she screamed, as he walked away.

Barry stopped and turned to Mary-Sue, glaring at her. "Her name is Sarah…" Barry snarled and kept walking.

Mary-Sue felt her head spin. She started to panic and ran up the stairs. "There is still time…Gordon or Reaver…one of them…" she muttered. The moment her foot touched the top step, she heard a gun cocking. She looked up and saw Reaver smiling defiantly at her.

Reaver smiled smugly and kept his gun pointed at her. "You know, when you first arrived, you almost had me fooled. Even when Rosie told me something was off about you and my dear little kitty Reavie refused to leave the bedroom; I didn't want to believe the signs. I mean the simple notion of something as offbeat as an evil entity in my home is a bit insane, given the circumstances. But with all that I've seen in the short time my circus rejects have been here, you must admit, Miss Mary-Sue Sapphire Ruby Onyx Amethyst Garnet Sunspire-Eclipsetide-Moondove-Skybird-Silvercloud…I know strange from just plain despicable."

The room was completely black, except for Reaver and Mary-Sue. "Such a long name…adorable as they are, but a pain in the rear end, don't you think? You're a bumbling little entity, can't even remember the name you give yourself. Amateur mistake, if I do say so myself." Mary-Sue stood her ground, but was obviously intimidated.

"...but a man doesn't live over three hundred years and not know when something is wrong with the world. Your very presence is throwing the entire house, if not the whole of Albion, off balance. I know this isn't your first trip to this plain of existence, but by the irresponsible and careless manner in which you've done your 'mission', it is about to be your last. I've read all about your kind. I forget what you're all called, but I know you can shape reality to your whim and take any look or profession or past that pleases you. You have an impressive repertoire for someone who lost her family to The Darkness but claims to have grown up on the streets of Bowerstone but not at the same time as learning to become a healer and gourmet chef on the farm while romancing a shopkeeper and dodging a bandit attack."

Reaver was hitting close to home as he paced in front of her. Mary-Sue (if that was even her name) looked panicked and wanted to dart away, but the laws of her kind state she had to listen to his very winded monologue, no matter how much she wanted to resist.

"You are, as the books state, from a hive mind that feeds off life essence of those who touch you. As we speak, Hatch is probably doubled over on the foyer floor from that adorable little embrace you forced him into while Miss Sarah is barely clinging to life. Miss Sarah's friendly nature was too easy, wasn't it? She wasn't giving you the energy you needed, so you decided to go after the others. But you underestimated my circus rejects, my dove, and that was a big mistake you made. But there is a very big mistake I saw you make just now…and as cliché and cheesy as it sounds, it's true. You underestimated the power…of love…"

Mary-Sue didn't have the energy to fight Reaver, not that she would have stood a chance in the first place. The Dragonstomper aimed precisely, Reaver smiled evilly and licked his lips. "It's a shame, really. I was looking forward to seducing you and charming you into my bedroom…had I not known you would suck the life right out of me once I did just that. You were sloppy…the other ones I encountered were much more discreet…"

"Other ones…?" Mary-Sue asked.

Reaver chuckled evilly. "You…honestly didn't think a man of my years and experience wouldn't come across others like you? You're no amateur, that's obvious, but you made many amateur mistakes; which means you're a bumbling failure and by the panicked look on your face, the 'Mother' as your leader is called, is not happy with you. You've quite literally failed her for the last time and now, since I know you can't die in the traditional sense, I will send you back where you came from…"

Reaver aimed at Mary-Sue and fired, not hitting her where he intended. It was obvious he was playing with her. No blood gushed from her wound. She looked up and took on another face. Reaver stepped back at this sight and knew the entity was getting desperate. "You take the face…of the woman I loved long ago…that was your final mistake…" Reaver's aim was legendary. No one could match him, not in a million years. He shot her through her locket and watched her writhe in pain.

The house and everything within twisted and contorted as Mary-Sue screamed in agony, becoming her true form: a featureless shadow.

"NO! I CAN'T GO BACK! MOTHER WILL DESTROY ME!" she shouted as a portal opened up behind her. Reaver grabbed onto a pillar and held on tight. The portal was sucking in anything it could, but its intended target seemed to be the only thing going into the portal. "I CANNOT DIE LIKE THIS! I AM PERFECTION!" Mary-Sue shouted as a thousand shadowy hands reached out from the portal and grabbed her. Her red glowing orb eyes looked at Reaver, as if begging him to help her. She attempted to claw her way to him, but the shadowing hands proved too strong. Reaver decided to give them a hand.

"PERFECTION IS A FLAW!" shouted Reaver, shooting her one more time as she screamed. The shot made Mary-Sue lose her grip on this plain of existence and the entities dragged Mary-Sue into the portal. After one final agonizing scream and the mandatory vow for revenge, the portal collapsed on itself. Reaver decided, now that the portal was gone, to have the servants tidy up in the morning. He was tired and needed his beauty sleep.

The next morning, no one (except Reaver) remembered a thing about the last two days. Miss Sarah woke up as she normally did to fix breakfast. She found Barry asleep on the foyer floor and shook him awake. Deciding he must have fallen asleep while doing something, Barry brushed himself off and went to wake up Reaver, but not before turning to Miss Sarah and asking her something. They both blushed as she happily agreed to his dinner invitation for that coming Wednesday.

While the other servants pondered the mess in the dining room (commenting it looked like a tornado went through one part of the house), Reaver would remember his battle for all time, and he had a feeling Rosie knew what happened, too. Reaver decided to keep this story to himself and opted to not write about it in his journal. He could hardly believe it happened himself. He awoke to Reavie's soft purring and the smell of eggs and bacon wafting through the manor. All was as it should be…for the time being, anyway.

Reavie cuddled her head under Reaver's hand as he sighed happily. The autumn day greeted him with a smile, which he happily returned. Reaver, being the proud man he was, knew there was only room for one perfect being in Lakeview Manor, and felt he did the right thing, if not for him, than for the others. Despite anything he was willing to admit, he was happy with everything as it was.

"This…this is perfection…"

N'cha, you guys! Did you all miss me? I missed you guys!

If you feel confused, don't worry, I meant for this chapter to not make any sense.

Inspiration for this came from a comment a friend of mine made about my character, the lovely and long suffering Miss Sarah. They commented that she sometimes seemed "Mary-Sueish" and it hurt my feelings a bit. It was never my intention to make Miss Sarah the perfect human being. When I went about creating her, I intended on making her motherly, as she looked after everyone in the manor as if they were children. If she came off as a bit of a Mary-Sue, I sincerely apologize but trust me, she has flaws like any other human.

Honestly, it was hard writing for the entity of "Mary-Sue" because it is hard to write someone who isn't flawed. Trying to make her seem so…perfect was exhausting, but I did my best. Interesting history about the term of "Mary-Sue": It originated from a fan story submitted to a Star Trek magazine in the late 70s about the adventures of the youngest Starfleet Lieutenant. Crazy, right?

I intended on giving Rosie a bigger part in this chapter, but I didn't want to overkill the concept, as it was exhausting enough writing a character that was perfect. The end result, after much editing and second guessing, I am very happy with.

If you guys have the time, go over to the Portal section and check out my Portal fic: Reconstructing Humanity. Shameless promotion!

Next Installment: Birthday madness!

As always, review and be merry, my friends! I appreciate your patience with me and I hope this was worth the wait.

Reaver and Barry Hatch belong to Lionhead.