"A marriage contract with Master Leonine would be more beneficial for our company, an empire that big with branches across the UK! Not even Uncle Dywen or the useless Eric can match up to it."
Her father was delirious, he was simply courting death.
"But... But dad. No, No, I refuse. Grandpa said I would marry Eric. I want Eric, only Eric."
"Honey, Lana, and Eric have been childhood sweethearts since they could walk, and her feelings for him are genuine. Your suggestion isn't right dear."
"Are you two blind and also deaf! I just said that Master Leonine can supply us with benefits and luxuries and here you are talking about love and feelings! Does Eric even love you back? Is he even worthy of my precious daughter!"
Mr. Ghoul had gotten a dream that was worth more than his reality. And pride that's worth more than a salary.
Both Lana and Mrs. Ghoul flinched back at the harsh words that Mr. Ghoul spoke. They were the bitter truth that had been placed like a veil over their eyes. Mrs. Ghoul always knew that her husband never married her for love but for the benefits, her family would provide him. She never knew that even after all these years he would say words like that.
The one who loves the least controls the relationship.
While Lana... That was the truth she would never accept.
"No, I don't care about what others think about me, I just care about what I think about myself, so I don't wanna. Daddy, please don't make me do it."
Her change of emotion shocked both mother and father. Mr. Ghoul felt disgusted by the performance. This was in no way the attribute of a real heiress. He stumped his feet angrily startling the crying Lana and her mother.
"Get lost and settle this."
He ordered angrily, glaring down at her.
Lana glared back. While she balled her fists, inwardly she succumbs. She was weak and she knew it. It was one of the reasons why she disliked Rose, she had watched from afar how independent and confident she was.
Despite the shame of having a child out of wedlock, she still held her head up high. It was a setting Lana lacked. She wasn't free despite being a rich heiress, wasn't her own person fighting confidently for what she wanted, if given a choice she would rather stay locked in her glass mansion.
Yet for Eric, Lana was willing to fight for him. Anyone could have caught her eye, but it takes someone special like him to catch her heart. Eric has been hers for as long as she had known him, During kindergarten, he was her only friend when the other kid distanced from her for being too willful, the only person that could smile so brightly to brighten her day. she became someone else when she was with him, someone more like herself. Cute, innocent, and very willing to listen to her brother Eric.
She let out a harsh breath
She thought she had him wrapped around her fingers, it was why she selfishly went abroad to further her study with the thought that the distance would make their affection for each other grow fonder.
But now...
"I'm the one doing the dirty deeds so I have decided to do it at my pace."
She will fight every hook and bitches to make sure he remains hers.
Her head wobbled sluggishly, her eyes half-closed. Most people mature with age. How do some people get it backward?
By now Lana wasn't completely drunk, she still had her rationality with a very loose tongue, she felt a rush go through her. The false rush of adrenaline rush moving towards her head.
"You know what? Why don't I collect my rights from my grandfather and have complete control over the company so there can never be mistakes like these in the future."
To talk without thinking first is just like shooting without aiming.
Being drunk must be a sin for Lana. Having no control over her body gave her fake confidence. But hey since she already shot herself, she also knew it was never going to be the same again. And that's what's killing me. so it didn't take long for her mind to blackout.
A part of her was confused. Yes, she drank but not that much yet it felt different somehow. If the drama wasn't playing out then maybe she would have figured out that she had been drugged.
All along Mr. Ghoul stared down at his beloved daughter in silence. He saw her performance as uncultured to lust over a man that showed her no face and to seek materialistic things over fortune. He almost regretted, almost spat in curses, he almost burst a nerve at her.
To vent, he angrily threw away the things on his table to the ground. They fell and broke some of them landed on Lana who was still slumped on the ground with a dazed look muttering incentive words boastful words she dare not say to her father's face. But all he saw was her abnormality that was starting to tick him off.
Mrs. Ghoul instantly became hysterical in fear. Her heart flew out to her daughter and also froze in fear at her husband's anger. But still, she tried feverishly to console the peace.
"Honey please be calm, at least let her change and sober up. I'm sure she can figure out a way to form a connection with this Master Leonine. And Lana, you do not speak to your father like that."
Lana let out a laugh, her eyes dazed, a silly smile on her lips as she let out incorresive words while looking boastful like she was proud of herself.
Realizing the words her mother said. she looked like some shot chicken blood, she was full of energy rolling on the ground laughing drunkingly while yelling.
"Eric is mine I will never let him go, never.". " Yes father, I understand. I will show you how great I am."
It was like she had dual personality, looking both proud and angry. Mrs. Ghoul pale in fear wondering what was wrong with her. She turned to her husband who's face already darken.
"Useless," He spat out looking angered to death.
"Since you have the capability, you better get back on good terms with your grandfather, or else."
Was his daughter an idiot? how come he didn't realize it on time. If he did he wouldn't have let her embarrass him at the party. He already lost face in the presence of hundred wealthy elite and he was losing face in his very own house.
He turn to his weak looking wife that had lost her attraction in his eyes for a very long time. Looking at her he wanted nothing more but his young and smart mistress.
"Control your daughter or else." he threatened, glaring angrily as he passed all responsibility to his wife.
Mrs Ghoul panicked, she stretched fort her arm wanting to hold her husband to console both him and her. She was scared at her daughter's strange behavior and her husband coldness.
"Honey,"
He slapped her hands away before they could touch him.
Shocked, she latches unto him, clinging harder to him.
"Honey, please calm down. I'm sure Lana is just tired. Please don't be angry, Lana will sober up and clear up everything."
Mr. Ghoul glares at his wife's performance as a nuisance. He jerked his arm out of her hold. His eyes glinted dangerously, Mrs. Ghoul could only shrink back submissively.
"Get her out of my sight!"
He barked, before storming out himself.
"Honey? Honey! Honey, please! Lana? Lana!!"
Mrs. Ghoul attempted to run after her husband but stop when she realized that Lana was bowled on the ground unconscious.
~~~~~~~~~~
The night was as dark as steel save for the big lone moon that stood proud in contract to it's darkness. It was calm with the sweet smell of spring. Below the streets were less crowded, the street lights illuminating shadowy from the dark alley. you could hear the cats cries of war and the dogs defending barks.
Above the tree, a sniper was being disengaged. dismantled with the stand and googles into a black case.
The figure undignified as a man moved like a monkey down the 10ft tall tree, he headed like a shadow toward the black van camouflaged in darkness. He was fast and precise entering the back of the van.
A complete computer lab was introduced. How such a small van could occupy numerous screens, sound manipulative speakers, chemicals, a heart monitor screen, and so forth. System that creates a hacker.
The young man headed towards the center of the desk, typed in some code that showed the sound waves of sounds seconds later those sound waves moved in a curve wave, and a voice was transmitted into the B-max headset on his head.
"Report!"
A crock smile spread on the youthful face of the caller that had the face of a youth not less than 13/14yrs, a lighter shade of skin like milk chocolate, dark eyes, and a mop of green color hair.
"Brother boss, she's knocked out cold. I never thought that the lady boss's little potent was that strong."
Because of his age and the familiarity he shared with the caller, the tone of his voice was still childishly laced with innocent curiosity that defy his earlier action.
"Send me the voice record."
Receiving his abrupt reply, the youth stuck out his tongue at the air.
"You are no fun brother boss."
The youth continued yapping adding his own input about the characters of the Ghoul filling in the silence that he seemed to fear.
"It was a failure. Get back to base."
The voice concluded brashly. leaving the youth stunned.
"How?" he couldn't help but asked the receiver even though the tone seemed to still be in a sour mood because the disappointment was still dripping in his voice.
"Is it a drunk dose or a truth serum or an arrogance potent? Its real attribute isn't defined. Though the result was within track, the potent is a failure. Get back to base and have them write me an explanation."
Well he was right. The drug was something that was like an adrenaline ruse, a drug that bring out the illusion of a person's greatest wish. When Lana fought at the bar, she actually thought she was beating up Rose, and when she latched out at her father, she though she was the superior and that her father had to listen to her and do whatever she wanted.
Well there was a difference to the expectations that needed correction.
"Wow! I can't believe the comp fucked up. Those asses has been raiding on their high tails ever since. Do they even have a name for this drug, I couldn't get it from the report."
"Fantasy illusion."
"Well, they did great with the name."
The sway of his tone indicated how mocking he saw them, if it wasn't for the receiver stopping him, be would have already sang an epigram.
"Yo! punk, get back to base."
"Yes, boss."
He was about to end the call when he paused before hesitantly requested.
"Then Big brother, what's the next mission now that the Ghoul jerks are about to be ruined. Can I come back home?"
There wasn't a pause in his tone like he expected the lad to asked this question so he happily extended the deadline. The receiver ordered.
"The mission is still on track. Ms. Ghoul has been getting on big boss nerves lately.
Take a flight to San Francisco. she needs to be occupied for sometimes."
"...."
'Excuse me?'
He wanted to cry but had no tears.
"But...!!....!!..."
The line hanged like a butcher slamming hard on the meat he's butchering.
The lad's pout grew further, his dark eyes moist with tears.
"You big meanie!"
He yelled out to the disconnected line, pouting a bit more before moving through a camouflaged door to the driver seat. With a push of his finger at the keyhole, the van roared to life, the dashboard at the side shut slidded, and appeared a screen with directive cursors.
It was an auto-pilot navigation screen that was different from other GPS. He typed in his directions to the airport. It accepted with a click, locking all doors and moving on its own at a steady pace. The lad brought out a tab from under his seat which he used to hack the boarding system.
"San Francisco, here we come."