(San Francisco)
The plane touched down at the San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California. Dimitri was perplexed by Riley and Christian, who lived in a city across the nation. Dimitri spent several hours going through different checkpoints and retrieved his belongings. Dimitri emerges from the airport to find a black SUV and two guards dressed in black suits waiting for him.
Dimitri could see two guardians standing next black SUV. He also notice one of guardian was female had blonde hair pulled back in bun, tan skin, around the age 30's while male guardian hand short brown hair, tall but shorter need himself and about same age of the female. Female Guardian was holding sign that read "Belikov." They were waiting in front doors of the airport next to a black SUV to be picked up and taken to him to the hotel.
Dimitri walked over to the SUV. Dimitri said, "I'm Guardian Belikov." The female guardian said, "Nice to meet you." "I am Guardian Elizabeth Walker, and this Guardian is Benjamin Miller." Dimitri shock both of their hands.
Guardian Miller said, "Mr. Mazur called us and informed us that you were arriving soon." "We are escorting you to the hotel to meet the other guardians who will be assisting you in searching San Francisco in Guardian Riley Hathaway location." "Please be aware that San Francisco is a big city and that, excluding the strigoi, it will be difficult to find two people out of the other of the other 815,201 residents.
Dimitri said, "Which hotel are we staying in?" Guardian Elizabeth Walker said, " The Laurel Inn at corner of Presidio ave and California St.
Guardian Miller opened the back passageway door and said, "Please get in." Dimitri gets inside, and Guardian Miller closes the door and gets in on the passenger side, while Guardian Walker got in the driver's seat and started off for the Laurel Inn. What Dimitri didn't realize was that Riley and Christian were so close and didn't even realize it.
(Three days later.)
Dimitri had proceeded down the street of California St attempting to locate Riley. Until he came across a bookstore called "The hidden Treasures." Looking inside, it appeared to be a bookstore with rows of book shelves. He reasoned to himself that he could benefit from a new book to read in his spare time. When Dimitri opened the door, he smelt coffee and heard a bell ring. He entered to find the customers standing around looking at various books.
A young female voice said, "Hello! How can I help you today?" Dimitri said, "Western!" The voice said, "Western far wall by armchair." "It's good to see that someone still enjoys the mystery of the wild West." Dimitri notices that the voice sounds sad, young, and female.
As Dimitri walked over to bookshelf next to the air chair, reached up and took one of the books off the shelf. He heard a book fell off the shelf making made him turn his head to see Riley reached down pick up the book and moving to the back of the shop. Dimitri looked back at the book to see that it was L'Amour, Louis, one of the rare books to find, and it looked new. He opened it to find that it was the first edition and looked surprise to for sell for $29.95.
The bell rang again, making Dimitri turn head to see two strigoi walk inside the shop. He knew that he couldn't make a move because of the humans in the shop. Riley stepped around the shelf with an arm full of books, walked over to the desk, setting the books down on desk, keeping calm and said, "I'm sorry everyone." "But the shop will be closing early today." Dimitri slowly moved out of the line of sight to get better position in encase of attack.
As soon all the customers left Riley shop. Riley reached over pushing the hidden button, which made the shudders came down and locking all inside them inside of Riley's shop. Riley asked, "How can I help you today?" The female strigoi said, "Protection money!" Riley said, "Alright, pay up!" The male strigoi said, "Honey, I think you get it wrong." "You will be paying us for protection money."
Riley said, "Hmm! Beside I already have protection." When female yell, "Who are you paying for protection to?"
Dimitri and Riley made their move, killing both strigoi. Riley killed the female, while Dimitri killed the male strigoi.
Riley said, "They must be getting stupider by the fucking minute." Riley placed her silver stake back in her holster on her leg and said, "She is the tenth strigoi." "I killed in the last fucking month over fucking protection money." "Now let's get these damn bodies out of my book shop, before they stink up the place."
Dimitri asked, "Why did you leave court?" Riley stopped, looked over shoulder at Dimitri, and turn back around, keeping dragging the dead body behind her. Dimitri noticed that Riley didn't answer the question until he reached dumpster behind the book store. Riley set two dead bodies together next to dumpster and said, "Call the alchemists; they have come to clean up the mess.
Dimitri saw Riley go away from the bookshop after locking the back door. Dimitri asked, "Where are you going?" Riley said, "It'll take the alchemists almost two hours to get here." "So I'm heading home." "It's your choice, stay wait for alchemists arrive or to join me."
Riley spun around and began walking away from Dimitri. Dimitri said, "Wait for me."
(Riley House)
Dimitri walked beside Riley as they walked beside the building until they came to a crosswalk. Riley reached over and pushed the button for the light. Riley said, "I have something I need to tell you about the reason Christian and I left court." Dimitri said, "Alright!" Riley said, Abe and Janine informed you two years ago that I was incarcerated for a crime I didn't commit: assassinating Queen Tatiana." Dimitri said, "Yes!"
Riley said, "During my 18-month incarceration, it felt like they stripped me of everything and put me up in a cage like a wild animal." "All that's left are memories of earlier, happier times." "But I couldn't understand because the guardians didn't even make eye contact or speak to me."As a result, I stopped talking to everyone. "My family and friends never came to visit me while I was incarcerated." "I never have any guests at all." "I feel as though I've been forgotten about and alone."
Dimitri could feel tears welling up in his eyes.
Riley said, "The night after I was released from prison." "I had a dream about Queen Tatiana." She told me that I would have to leave court and set me on a journey to discover the truth." "You'll quickly realize what I mean." As they both walked down the street until they reached a house. Dimitri thought it was gift trying to tell her something like his grandmother.
Riley said, "Here is my house." Dimitri realized that Riley didn't live too far from the bookshop and his hotel.
Dimitri and Riley made their way up the stairs to the front door. Riley reached into her pocket and took out the house keys. Dimitri was gazing up and down the street, checking for strigoi. Riley placed the key into the lock, turned right, then left, leaning across, pulling the sign down that number of the house and placing his fingertips on the scanner. In order for the fingerprint reader to read her fingerprints. When the door opens automatically open. Riley took both her hand away and the key from the lock. Dimitri recalls another property with the same fingerprint reader but a different lock.
Riley declared, "I'm home." Christian saying, "Welcome Riley." Dimitri notices Christian standing at the end of the corridor, holding a dish. Riley inquired, "Is she awake?" Christian stated, "She is watching television in the living room." Dimitri was attempting to figure out who Riley and Christian were talking about.
Riley and Dimitri proceeded down the corridor till they arrived at Christian. Christian asked, "What is he doing here?" Dimitri said, "Abe sent me to find Riley and bring her back to court." Christian said, "Why!" Riley didn't do anything wrong?" Christian eyes shifted on Riley face and see looked worry that Dimitri came take back to prison. Christian had step forward between Riley and Dimitri. Dimitri realized that Christian became enraged and protective of Riley.
Dimitri said, "In less six weeks, there will be a hearing for Riley. "So Riley will therefore need to appear in court once more." Riley said, "Why so they can lock me up again?" Christian said, "Never!" Dimitri said, "Riley vs the Royle court.
"When Dimitri, Christian, and Riley overheard an older woman say, "We all know that Royle Court will never let Riley win the case against them." Dimitri turned his head to discover Queen Tatiana standing behind Riley, hand on her shoulders. Dimitri bows to show the queen respect.
Tatiana said, "Rise Guardian." Dimitri stood back up and found surprising that Riley and Christian was guarding the Queen Tatiana. Dimitri started turning trying understand how Queen Tatiana still alive. Why Riley ended up in prison for? He want to know what the fuck was going behind the scent and why it secret.
Christian said, "It's time for dinner." Riley asked, "Tatiana, did you take your pills?" Christian said, "She still has to take the pills before dinner and before bedtime." Riley said, "I get them, while you take them to the dinner room." Christian and Tatiana walked into the dining room. While Riley heads upstairs to Tatiana's bedroom."
Dimitri followed Riley up the stairs and to speak to her.
Dimitri comes to a halt at the door frame to inspect Tatiana's bedroom and discovers Riley preparing a variety of medications for the queen. Dimitri asked, "Riley, please tell me how in this world can the Queen Tatiana still alive?" Riley said, "A year ago, Christian and I found Tatiana on side road with her guardians were all dead in Jackson Tennessee."
Riley said, "Tatiana has breast cancer." "So Christian and I have taking up in taking care of Tatiana until she ready head back to Court." Dimitri said, "There is more you not telling me." Riley said, "Tatiana temporarily resigned until she defeated cancer." "However, someone in charge of the court wants to make sure Tatiana never makes a comeback against New Royle." "They didn't realized that Tatiana had picked a replacement until she could return to crown. Queen Tatiana choice me to take the crown until she return.
Dimitri said, "Why did Queen Tatiana choose you to take the crown?" Riley said, "Because I have battle experiences, leveled head, loyal brave, gifted and intelligent." Dimitri smiled and said, "Are you saying that you are going to take the Queen's place until she return?" Riley said, "Yes! Someone wanted to make sure I couldn't get the crown, so they incarcerated me for a crime for assassinating Queen Tatiana." Both know that could not has assassinate Queen Tatiana." Because she sitting in my dinning room with Christian right now having dinner" "I bet if fellow the clues it would leave right back to new queen or people that work for her."
Dimitri said, "You do know that we need to call Abe?" Riley said, "That is circus I wouldn't go to."
Dimitri could understand what she meant. But he knew that he would have call Abe and let him know that he found this daughter. But thought how he going to tell about Queen Tatiana being alive with out telling him.
