Chapter 101
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2031, Planet: Grimoire
Director Eben knew he would soon run out of time and excuses for not getting rid of Grifton Tinroy. There were too many strikes against the brat because of his delinquent history. Eben regarded all the information he found on Grifton Tinroy with disbelief. "I hope he gets killed when left on the streets."
Eben couldn't understand why he managed to live this long. "He's worse than a cockroach." He curled his lips in disgust, from bending the rules to almost killing fellow orphans. The list went on.
Eben shook his head firmly. "No, it is time to remove him from this place." He signed several stacks of paper. "What's this now?" Eben began sifting through other stacks of unopened mail that he hadn't managed to get through for the past week due to that damned kid.
Eben jumped when sudden lightning flares struck a rod or two far too close for comfort. He winced when the thunder cracked and rumbled too close as well. "Well, that isn't pleasant."
Eben did recall that Lula had mentioned storms would come, but that had been months ago. "Hmm, well, they came even if a bit delayed. Too late to save those stupid groves."
Even as Eben mumbled to himself, he saw some odd requests and dismissed them as ridiculous. "Who in their right mind would take him as a student? He's too rebellious to follow their archaic rules." He shook his head in disbelief when he saw what appeared to be acceptance letters, not just requests for more information on Tinroy. His eyebrows knitted in consternation.
"Surely these were pranks," Eben uttered in shock. Especially the one that came from Cornell Academy. "Why would such a prestigious institute want a little fraud like him in their alumni?" No, believing he had that preposterous amount of good luck wasn't possible.
At the last second, Eben didn't shred the documents. Instead, he put them in the expulsion packet. A packet that would be handed over to whoever was stupid enough to take him as a temporary child. "Now, to get rid of the other nuisances before they find more information than I want leaking from here." He didn't trust Lamberton and Murray to nose around where they weren't welcomed.
As he headed to the medical rooms, Eben caught Lula Cross eavesdropping on a juicy conversation. She smirked when hearing everything and mumbled inaudibly beneath her breath. From the speculation and clear avarice in her features, she'd heard something very juicy indeed. "Move, woman," Eben said loudly enough to make her jump and squeal in fright.
The conversation inside instantly ceased. "Huh, so neither Lamberton nor Murray hadn't wanted anyone overhearing, hmm?" Eben frowned.
Lula Cross immediately reached for the packet in Eben's hands. He swatted her aside and knocked on the door. "Who is in there with you, Madam Murray?" He grabbed Cross by the collar. "You should check for nosy people who don't know when to mind their business." Eben shoved Lula into the room before he entered.
~*~
What the hell was up with that set of dreams? There hadn't been much of a time jump between them, either. So that means it will happen in a matter of years if not months. Just wonderful. I don't have enough problems, but Grifton was utterly shocked when he awoke in the bedroom. What gives now? He overheard voices in low tones. Seriously? Just how long did I dream and then sleep? Did I run a fever or something?
Baffled, Grifton explored his physical health and determined that, yes, indeed, he'd fallen ill. So that's why Madam Murray seemed so panicked when I first walked in. That's why she'd ensured the process was quick. She hadn't wanted to cause me more pain.
"...dominant omega..."
"...mother was from Aryx..."
"...not royalty, but can't say otherwise for Moline..."
What did that have to do with Director Moline? Grifton was confused. I'd better let them know I'm awake. I really don't want to hear any more about the Director's, much less Lamberton's private affairs. Grifton grimaced in disgust. Way too uncomfortable and not something I need to know about either. He rustled the covers to alert the others that he was awake.
Immediately, Madam Murray arrived. "How are you feeling?"
"Mmm, disoriented and thirsty." Had he come down with a fever? That was no good. Grifton didn't care for that idea. That's when he realized he was in a draconic form. "Eh, huh?" He hadn't been able to speak this clearly before.
"Looks like you've managed to completely resolve the last of your physical transition issues." Lamberton peered at him over Murray's shoulder.
"Uh, yes, so it does." Grifton peered at them. "We're about to have very unpleasant company." He shivered uneasily.
"Well, in that case," Lamberton cast an illusion of a conversation going on that would allow them to watch Lula Cross and Director Eben get into the hot water of their own initiative. "I have a request to make of you."
Grifton sized him up with a wary stare. He eyed Madam Murray. "Does it happen to have to do with my cousins, or are they, my siblings?" His question, covering a question that had bothered him for some time, proved to them that he had excellent hearing.
"Yes," Madam Murray nodded. "I was tasked with retrieving their belongings."
Grifton sighed in relief. "So that means they're alive and doing well." His wistful tone made them wince. "I understand why they didn't contact me." Grifton's accurate guess of why communication was cut off shocked them both. "Chances are good. I'd be used as a hostage against their good behavior if I'm known to their enemies or captor."
Lamberton nodded. "Yes, I'm here as a temporary guardian until you come of age." He shrugged. "I have a clearer claim about that Cross woman."
Grifton shivered. "I don't like her. She was at that first competition and gave me the creeps when I came across her." He admitted it because he still wanted nothing to do with that weird wench.
"So, I need help finding and taking your siblings' belongings to a safe location." Murray cleared her throat. "Can you help me do that?"
Grifton regarded her with a small smile. "Yes, you've helped me countless times in the past. I may not remember the birth events, but I have heard stories from different employees as I grew older."
Lamberton smiled faintly. "If we work together, we can move it from wherever it is stored to an offsite location without being hindered." He sighed. "I won't be able to maintain that barrier for much longer."
Grifton frowned. "Give me a moment." He focused for a moment and gained a startled look from Lamberton. "Does that help?"
Lamberton nodded with relief.
Seconds later, items began appearing, and Lamberton stowed them into an artifact that could hold even the bulkiest and unwieldy item that Grifton was able to retrieve. "That's everything for all three." He murmured. "I recall they'd made a point to put everything in something else that would be easily transportable elsewhere."
Lamberton gazed at the most prominent thing and shook his head in amazement. "They were well prepared."
Grifton nodded. "That they were." He couldn't say the same for himself. He had stuff scattered all over various parts of the Orphanage. Grifton wasn't even sure it was worth retrieving at this point.
Lamberton sighed. "This'll be the last chance you have to recover anything that might've been stolen," he warned. "Or else you'll have to remake everything from scratch."
That wouldn't be the first time Grifton had to do that. However, he understood what Lamberton implied. "How much more stuff can that thing hold?" He recalled Lamberton's expression when he pulled that large item out of seeming thin air.
Lamberton smiled. "Much more than you seem to think."
Now, that would have been a challenge if he had heard one. Grifton grunted and began retrieving everything he'd hidden in various places for safekeeping. Just when Lamberton started looking strained and exhausted, Grifton finished up. "I'm done now."
Lamberton rubbed his head. "I was beginning to get a headache."
"We still have to leave here." Madam Murray murmured. "So, what should we do about the ones now trying to figure out how to break the barrier?"
Lamberton shook his head. "Nothing." He dispelled the barrier just as Director Eben raised a fist with a clear intent to use physical force. "There's no need for that." Lamberton's eyes went flat.
~*~
This was beyond aggravating. What a waste of time. Not only that, but Eben could tell that both Madam Murray and Lamberton were finished with their individual tasks. Damn, he couldn't delay them any further. Nor could he interrogate that brat to get the information he wanted regarding his designs.
Infuriated that they'd been unable to penetrate the barrier that was clearly there to prevent Eben and Cross from barging into the bedroom, Eben sputtered in a fury.
On the other hand, Lula Cross was determined to salvage something from this mess. "Hand over the brat," Cross snarled. "I need him for my merchant group." She lunged for the packet that came flying through the air toward Lamberton. "Dammit, you're such an asshole."
"No," Lamberton said, grabbing the packet from Eben, who'd tossed it to him to prevent Cross from further embarrassing them with her behavior. "I may be an asshole, but I don't sell disabled children to slave traders once they've been drained of their usefulness."
Cross fumed. "No, you sell them to brothels!"
"Nope, that was your brother, you freak." Lamberton snapped as he swatted her hard enough that she flew back into Eben, who grabbed her with a grunt.
"You two cut the immature squabbling." Madam Murray snapped.
"Mind your own business, you nosy bitch." Lula Cross spat. "This has nothing to do with an infertile bitch."
"How dare you, you forsaken slut." Murray bristled.
"Knock it off," Eben growled.
Lamberton restrained Murray with a hissed warning. "this isn't the time for this."
Murray sighed. "You're right. I don't want to lower myself to her level." She huffed in contempt.
Grifton took the opportunity to teleport out of there. He signaled to Lamberton where he'd be waiting, as in next to one of the carriages. Murray caught the signal and calmed down immediately. She left first, but not without punching Lula in the gut with a fist. "Be glad I didn't gut you with my claws." Murray snarled at Lula with bared fangs.
"Murray," Lamberton warned with waning patience. She left with a smirk, curling her lips.
"That's enough out of all of you." The Director couldn't believe how everything had gone wrong. "Now get out." Eben restrained Cross from trying to grab Grifton, who'd vanished. He glowered at Lamberton even as he battled to restrain the infuriated woman. "You have the paperwork, and I assume you managed to retrieve the belongings of the cousins?"
Even though they'd overheard everything regarding Grifton, Eben believed nothing was said about siblings or the kid being a dominant omega. He didn't have the build of an omega, much less the weakness that was the stereotype. He acted more like an alpha.
"Yes," Lamberton inclined his head. "I recommend that you have her put into a psychiatric ward. Then have her evaluated once she's been able to calm down." He walked out without another word.
Disgusted with everything going wrong, Eben subdued Lula by squeezing her throat until she blacked out. "Benson, take the woman to the nearest cliff. Kill her, and then make sure that she's never found." He ordered because she'd turned out to be utterly worthless.