White mansion:
Mel woke up startled, to a scream just out her window.
She was so flustered that she almost fell off. Well, thanks to the huge bed.
She yawned and got off the bed unwillingly and looked outside.
Judith stood over a garden chair while Jeff looked around for something. She was so frightened to even get down the chair.
Mel was baffled, she washed up and got down to them.
" Is there something wrong here? " she asked Judith.
" He bought a damn cat for our wedding anniversary when he knew that I suffer from ailurophobia. " Judith said, glaring at Jeff.
Mel controlled her laughter and looked at Jeff, " MOXI? Where is he? By the way," she asked, teasing him. "Why did you do that uncle? "
He frowned and whispered into Mel's ear, " Do you think I remembered our anniversary, that I would bring gifts? "
Mel looked at him in astonishment, ' Wow, so the well-known wife-slave forgot about his anniversary. '
Judith started cussing Jeff as Mel escaped.
....
Days passed after Brenden had left for NY before she had woken up, just like last time.
Mel tried to reason with herself that the incident that day was just nothing... it was just... nothing but a mistake.
The days went back to- school to mansion and back to school.
At last her exams were over and the schedules cleared up.
" I'm going for a trip along with my boys! " Spencer exclaimed as Mel entered the home theatre with a bucket full of popcorn.
She looked at him, not interested in his idea but her popcorn alone, " Great, enjoy your week," she said sitting down in the single armrest. " What about Skylar, does he have plans too? "
" I'm free, I ought to be... " a person sighed from the dark corner of the huge theatre.
Mel turned around, wide-eyed while Spencer felt a shiver run down his spine.
" What the fu*k man? Why can't you just tell me that you were here? " he took a deep breath calming himself down.
Mel chuckled and gave Skylar a thumbs-up " Cool. "
Skylar grinned and went down to sit near to those two.
" That was too creepy to be cool. " Spencer snapped at the two grinning siblings.
" Ok, so where are you planning to go? " She asked Skylar.
" Well, I thought of the Alki beach," he answered.
" Are you talking our sis-in-law along? " Mel asked teasing him.
" Oh, such a bad brother, you are. You never told me that you got married, did he invite you? " looking betrayed Spencer asked Mel, ' Well, there's nothing wrong in joining in for fun!!! '
Skylar looked quite confused, ' What the hell are these two up to??? '
" Did someone get married and not invite you or what happened? " he asked as those two kept on teasing that poor guy.
Mel and Spencer looked and each other and sighed, " Well, I forgot that he was like this. "
" I did too. " She replied and both of them left.
" Hey what the hell, tell me who it was I'll go teach him a good lesson! " Skylar screamed, and frowned, ' Wait... were they speaking about me, by any chance? '
" Wait right there you two!!! " He screamed and ran behind them as they ran in a different directions.
' I just wish that no one here finds out that I'm the Vermillion Dragon, my pride will definitely be at stake * wu..wu..* '
" Wait I'll never leave you alone, I'll haunt you, forever! "
....
Dark torment syndicate:
Brenden got into his cabin to change and get ready for his new mission.
He had completed a few for Amory and helped her supply the requested ammunition to the people.
He walked into Amory's office and banged the huge royal oak table.
" I'm done with playing with stupid cameras," he said and sat down in front of her.
Amory looked at him unfazed. She knew his patience with the cameras lasted short, very short.
" Your training in LA starts from tomorrow, I have even paid you generously for playing with those stupid cameras, you can't complain. Go, learn some real stuff now. I'll send in some good gibberish for you to build your gadgets. Anything else? " she asked, without giving him a chance to speak, " Well, I guess not. You can leave with your team tonight. "
He stood there staring at her, blankly.
" Can I get a day off today? I'll be back before 7 pm, I promise," he said, devoid of any emotion.
Amory looked at him and smirked, " You're not allowed to see her for this entire year. Except that, well, calling her can be an exception. That's if you're ready to let her know your truth. "
He frowned and sighed and left.
' I should have never done that that day, not even by mistake. '
....
Somewhere far away in a distinct office, underworld:
" What is going on, is there something to report? " the old woman asked.
" Nothing for now madam, It seems that master is distancing the girl himself. She is still oblivious of master's identity. I'm sure that she isn't there in that house for spying on him. " the man reported and stood up from his bow.
The woman seemed surprised, " I know him better, why is he maintaining distance? " she sighed and looked at him,
" Anyways, keep her in our sight, I don't want to underestimate her. Don't forget that her father was someone who proved the mythic city to be real. I hate that man, I'm glad that he died and is done for... " she said and dismissed him.
" Keep an eye on her. "
" Yes madam. "
....
Erick was all ready to go meet his grandchildren and get them to the White main mansion to live with him for a few months.
He entered the mansion just to find three of his grandchildren running around like cats and dogs, a cat chasing his daughter-in-law and his son running behind his wife, a few maids running around trying to catch the cat and the head maid, and a few more in the kitchen, preparing lunch.
The butler behind him coughed lightly, bringing him to consciousness from his stupor.
" Hello, children. " Erick greeted with an awkward smile.
Mel, who was the closest reacted instantly, " Hello grandpa Rick, come, have a seat. "
Skylar came to his senses too and helped to clean the hall.
The cushions on the arm-chair, recliners, and the seaters were thrown around, the curtains all crumpled from pulling and pushing. The things, bags, papers, bottles, anything reachable were thrown at each other. The mansion looked like it had just survived a disaster.
" Are you guys alright? " Erick asked, concerned.
Mel nodded indicating that she was fine, " This is nothing, just Spencer and Skylar were playing catch while I played hide and seek with them. "
Skylar looked everywhere else, avoiding Erick's eyes and rubbed his neck.
" Sir... I mean old man, if I was too old to play you should probably talk to your son first," he said as he felt Erick's glare on him.
" Hey, you better not put all the blame on me you brat! " Judith called out and greeted Erick, " Hello dad, please don't mind the mess here, it's all because of Jeff. "
Erick nodded, as always supporting Judith over Jeff. " Happy wedding anniversary," he said handing her a gift.
" Thank you so much dad, " she cheered and hugged him.
" At times I even forget that I'm your own son, dad. " Jeff complained as he returned.
....
The lunch ended and the family sat to binge watch in the theatre. y
The three siblings were ready to continue their chore before getting into a catfight again.
All settled down to one movie of Judith's choice, as it was her day.
Just then Erick's phone rang, seeing the caller he picked it up, quite surprised himself.
" Brenden, hello, how are you? " he asked and walked outside to talk.
" Hi Erick, how is she doing? " He asked, curtly.
" Well, she is fine. Why did you call me instead of her? " he asked, curiously.
" You don't need to know and don't let her know that I asked about her. Thank you again, bye. " saying that he hung up.
Erick stared at the phone, ' What an audacity for that boy? I'll give him a piece of my mind when he returns.
' Humph... no teenager respects the elders nowadays. Well, my granddaughter is an exception. '
....
The night fell in Seattle.
Brenden frowned and looked away from his phone. It was time he left.
" Zack, check if all are prepared, it's time we leave," he said as soon as he entered Zack's chambers.
" Yes prince. " he nodded and left.
" It's time I get myself back together," he mumbled and walked out, sighing deeply.
....
White mansion:
The movie ended, not a single person asked Erick about the call.
It took a lot of self-control on Mel's side to not ask about Brenden, but she managed.
" So, who and all have decided on your vacation? " Judith asked during dinner.
" I'm gonna go along with my boys on a Europe trip, I'll be out for at least 2 weeks. " Spencer said, gobbling up his pizza.
" I thought of something local, like Alki beach for a few days to chill and have some fun. " Skylar shrugged.
" What about you Mel, do you have somewhere you want to go? I thought that I'll take all of you guys to the main mansion if you guys didn't have any plans but... " Erick smiled bitterly.
Mel frowned at Erick's sad smile, " I'll go there with you grandpa Rick, it's not like I want to go anywhere. I'll be quite happy there. "
Erick's face brightened up, " Ok, it's all set then let's go home tonight. "
' Sure, I can go explore there ' she smiled, curiously -
GO TO EXPLORE!!!