"Isn't it?" Alannah said and Grace said nothing.
"I am getting sick of feeling like Kurt's second choice," Alannah said quietly.
It is not like that at all. You are not Kurt's second choice; you are his one and only. He is just a bit of an idiot sometimes. I am not even sure he is upset about what happened last night. I think he is just using it as an excuse himself! " Grace said.
"Urgh, my life was so simple before!" Alannah moaned as she got out of the bath.
Well, let's get you ready for the party tonight! It is time we had some fun! " Grace said with a smile, and Alannah nodded. Alannah thought Kurt could go swing at this precise moment in time.
Meanwhile, Kurt was helping Xan welcome the guests to the meeting. Xan had told him he was insane to be here and that he should be at home with Alannah.
Your priority should always be your queen. You can't function as a man or a chairman without her! " Xan stated.
James said a similar thing. "Annie would be devastated if I was not there, especially if she was sick!"
Of course, Kurt knew Xan and James were right, but the image of Alannah's hand around Grace's throat was ingrained in his mind.
"You know, that is just an excuse!" a small voice in his mind said. Kurt sighed and realised the voice was right. He left Alannah because he couldn't stand to see her in pain again. If he was completely honest with himself, he was also terrified of how reliant he had become on Alannah for his happiness. He needed to take a step back, he thought, to protect himself.
"Ahh Mr Blackwood, it is nice to see you!" An old woman's voice said. Kurt has pulled away from his thoughts.
"Mrs Anastasia Medvedev, welcome!" Kurt said, with a bow.
Well, it is the most unusual of circumstances! But, I do like a good bit of drama! " Anastasia said.
"Will you be attending the party tonight?" Kurt asked politely.
Kurt was on guard because, even though Anastasia looked like a harmless old woman, she was anything but! The stories that have been told about Anastasia's deeds even made the Syndicate Chairman gasp.
Of course! I have been promised a meeting with the Red Vixen. To be honest, it is the only reason I am here, "Anastasia said with a wink.
"Very good, well the meeting is about to start, so if you would like to follow me," Kurt said politely. He guided her to a large room with a circular table. All the chairs were filled, apart from Russia's and the UK's, which were now filled.
"Christopher, Tony!" Anastasia acknowledged the two founding fathers.
Anastasia! " They acknowledged it back.
OK, what is up with you two? You two are stiffer than a 10-day old piece of rye bread! " Anastasia said, her eyes narrowing.
I don't know what you mean. How is Dimitri? " Chris said, trying desperately to move the subject along.
"Dam this perceptive woman! No wonder she is the head of the Medvedev Gang! " Chris thought.
Right, now I know something is wrong and you had best tell me now! Do you know what I can be like when I find things out the hard way? " "Anastasia she said in a warning tone whilst tapping her fingers on the table. A sign that she was plotting
"Thank you all for coming. Shall we start the meeting?" Xan said as he called the meeting to order.
"Do not think this is over, Mr Evans. I will find out!" Anastasia hissed.
"Shit!" Chris thought.
Later that day, Alannah looked at herself in the mirror. She was in a simple black ballet dress and black ballet pumps. Grace was worried about her dancing, but Alannah could not let the other guys down. Plus she was feeling a lot better, a little weak, but better. Alannah fixed on her lace ballroom mask and opened a box that was left by Chris. It had a thick black chocker inside that was made of velvet, with a note saying:
"Good luck! "Love from Granddad"
Alannah smiled and put it on at least someone was thinking of her today. There was a knock at the door, and she opened it, half hoping it was Kurt to wish her well. It was Matt, and Alannah did her best to hide her disappointment.
"Are you ready to go warm up, my lady?" Matt asked with a bow.
"Why, most certainly, my Lord. Apart from one's head is banging! " Alannah said. The heat in her changing room was ridiculously warm and had given her a headache.
"I have got some paracetamol here," Aiden said.
"And I got this bottle of water!" Ethan said as the Twins handed both to her.
"Err, thanks!" Alannah said, surprised.
It was unusual for the twins to be so prepared. Alannah took the tablets and had a large swig of water. They all chuckled and went to the warm-up room.
They all remained there until the event organiser said it was time. Unlike the dances that were done at the winter ball, where each girl does one, a chairman host has to provide three. Normally, a Syndicate Chairman would hand out the dubious honour to different gangs each time. However, Xan had quickly found out that good fighters, did not necessarily mean good dancers. After many embarrassing displays, Xan just decided to make it the Nine-Tails responsibility.
Alannah and Matt were first up, as it was traditional to start with a couples dance. They got into position and waited for the music to start.
"This should be good!" Xan said, "happy"
"Where is Kurt? He should be here to watch Alannah!" Grace said.
"He was called, some error in the computer error in the security system he needed to sort out," Xan informed her.
"Oh really? Let's hope Alannah does not notice!" Grace said unconvinced and Xan just shrugged hoping Kurt and Alannah would sort it out.
Everyone was expecting some classical music to start, but instead, a cut-back version of "Bringing Me to Life" started. Matt and Alannah moved around the floor in contemporary ballet dance. It was faultless and breathtaking.
"Wow!" Grace said impressed.
"I know, right?" Theo, who was on the same table said.
On another table, Anastasia's eyes narrowed again as she asked, "Who is the lead female dancer?"
"Oh, she is the female fighter in the Nine-Tailed Fox Gang!" Chris said dismissively.
Seriously? How strange! " Anastasia said.
"What is strange?" Tony asked.
Well, I thought the Red Vixen was British, but her ballet style is definitely Russian! Anastasia commented as the dance came to an end and everyone clapped.
The next song started, it was a much more upbeat song called "Run, boy run!" It started with just Alannah in the centre dancing with a cane and top hat. As the song went on more and more of the Nine-Tails came on until there was a breathtaking display of gymnastics and dance. The last dance was a rock-based song. It involved the Twins and Alannah having fire dancing balls and chains. When the dance finished, the Nine-Tails were given a standing ovation.
Well, the message of the last dance was pretty clear! Theo said with a smile.
"Oh?" Grace said.
"Yes, the message was don't fuck with us or our Syndicate!" Xan said with a smirk.
It was only when the Nine-Tails were moving off the dance floor did Alannah notice that Kurt was not in his seat. She was already in the dressing room when Kurt reappeared at his table.
"What did I miss?" He said taking a sip of champagne.
"Only Alannah doing three incredible dances!" Theo said glaring.
"As to be expected, she is a good fighter," Kurt said.
"She is more than just a good fighter Kurt, by the time you figure that out it will be too late!" Grace snapped and Theo raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Please tell me you have not upset Alannah!" Theo said in a warning tone.
Meanwhile, Alannah was trying to hold back the tears as she quickly had a shower and changed. She was wearing an emerald green floor-length dress, that clung to her hip and showed off her waist. She was in the process of trying to tame her curly red hair when she heard a knock at the door.
"Just come!" She shouted as she walked over and opened it. There in the doorway was a small old woman with grey hair and grey eyes. She was dressed in what looked to be a very expensive black tailored dress.
"Sorry, can I help you?" Alannah said politely.
"ne mogli by vy pomoch' mne? Mne nuzhen tualet, i ya poteryalsya!" The woman said. (Hello can you please help me? I need the toilet!)
Alannah looked at the old woman, who seemed harmless enough. "Probably a Chairman's old Grandma, who has lost her way!" Alannah thought. "Ne volnuytes', vy mozhete ispol'zovat' tot, kotoryy nakhoditsya zdes" Alannah said without thinking. (Do not worry, you can use the one here!)
"aaa ty govorish' po russki? kak?" the old lady said as she walked in. ( Ahh, you know Russian! How?)
"Moya mama byla russkoy" Alannah explained as showed the lady the loo. (My mother was Russian.)
After a few minutes, the lady came out and asked if she could sit down as she had been walking around for a while. Alannah smiled and cleared a chair for the women to sit down on. The woman did so gratefully.
"I have been very rude. My name is Anastasia," the old woman said in perfect English.
"Oh that is funny, my second name is Anastasia, my first name is Alannah. Your English is really good by the way!" Alannah said as she kept pinning up her hair to show off her Nine Tails tattoo.
"Thank you! So, you are the Red Vixen? Yet, you seemed to be crying. " Anastasia said bluntly.
Yes, I am the Red Vixen. I am crying over a man. What else could it be? Pathetic, aren't I? " Alannah admitted it. Somehow, she felt like she could trust this old woman she just met.
"Ah, that is a tale as old as time! What is that other tattoo on your neck?" Anastasia asked as Alannah pinned the other side of her hair up.
"It is a Lioness!" Alannah said with a proud smile.
"You're an Evans? You are Grace's sister?" Anastasia asked shocked.
"I am not Grace's sister, but her cousin. Theo Evans is my Father!" Alannah said, in a matter-of-fact tone. She suddenly saw the old lady go pale.
"Are you alright?" Alannah asked rushing over to the women.
"What was the name of your Mother, child?" Anastasia asked. "This cannot be possible!" Anastasia thought.
"Emily Sophia Seaswell. Why did you know her?" Alannah asked hopefully.
Before Anastasia could answer the alarm sounded. It was short sharp blasts, the gang world's universal signal they were been attacked.