My daddy hadn’t stopped pacing since I told him about Aisu’s mission. Or rather, Thanani told him since I was too afraid too. Even when Joshua came a few moments later looking happy and carrying two pizzas. He took one look at my pacing dad and then back at my sadden look before setting the pizza’s down. “Alright, does Katherine know we are here?” He questioned with a sigh.
“There is a good chance that she may know that we are here.” Thanani spoke up, shooting a glance towards me and Aisu. “Our little stowaway had her foolish kitten follow after Katherine’s animal spirit and had them spy on a conversation.”
“Did she see you?” Joshua questioned drumming his fingers across one of the pizza boxes.
“As far as I know she didn’t,” Aisu spoke up. “I was a good 100 feet away if I had to guess. She never looked my way and as far as I can tell her eyes never glanced towards me. I even made myself as small as a kitten.”
“Be that as it may.” My father finally stopped pacing and pitched the bridge of his nose. “Katherine has an annoying ability to see even the smallest detail out of pace. Even if these people were wearing revealing swimsuits at the moment.” My face flushed a bit just thinking about that. “Katherine may have spotted a small animal spirit out of place. I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“I’m sorry, what did I miss?” Joshua said, looking at me. “Did you spy on some pool party?”
“I think his nightclub was having a beach themed night.” I said softly, not able to stop my blush from spreading down my neck.
“And what nightclub was this….” A sharp look from my daddy got Joshua’s to drop it. “So where are we at now?” He asked, opening one of the boxes. “Also I got meat lovers and triple pepperoni if anyone wants a slice?”
“Triple pepperoni?” Me and my daddy questioned.
“Yeah it has regular, diced and old school thick cut pepperoni.” Joshua explained holding up one of the slices, and sure enough it did have three different types of pepperoni. “So I'll ask again, where are we at?”
“Well right now, I am going to send Verona back home.” I spun around in my chair about to plead my case but he held his hand up to stop me.
However before he could speak, Joshua was actually the one that came to my defense. “You are gonna hate me for saying this, but that would actually be the worst idea that you could do.” As my daddy started to protest Joshua held a hand up. “Now let me finish. Master Whisperwind.” Joshua set his slice of pizza down. “Right now we are going off on the assumption that Katherine knows Verona is here. We are going off the idea that she saw Aisu while she was spying on them from nearly 100 feet away. Which granted I do not know her on a personal level. However, I have read more than enough information on this woman to know that if we sent Verona home. Especially right in the middle of her becoming friends with Trinity. Wouldn’t that look suspicious so any other attempts we have to break in on that front, any other plan I could come up with to get someone either to become friends with Hezekiah’s daughter or get into his empire as a new recruit would end. He would see right through it and so would she. Besides… even if we assume that Katherine has an idea that Verona is in the city. And again I will state we do not know that for a fact. That shouldn’t actually be a problem for us. If anything that would distract Katherine.”
“Are you suggesting we use my daughter as a distraction?” My daddy said in a low tone, his voice nearly matching Thanani.
Joshua raised his hands in front of him. “No sir, I am not suggesting that we just have her take off the disguise and walk around the city screaming. I am here Katherine, come and find me! If everything you told me from the time Verona came and joined us is true. If Katherine thinks that Verona is in the city. It is gonna cause her to be distracted, to fix the one mistake that she probably never thought she would get a chance to fix. Correct the one stain on her perfect record. It could cause her to be more firm with Trinity in her training or whatever lessons she is giving her. When faced with something from the past or past mistakes, people often make mistakes in the present. When given a second chance at their first attempt, they often discard their current attempt.”
“Katherine isn’t the type to make those mistakes.” My daddy took a seat down on the bed and rested his hand on his forehead.
I spoke up. “When I was looking through Aisu’s eyes, I heard Mr. Wallace say after seeing the bruise on Trinity’s side. That just because you fucked things with your daughter, doesn’t mean you can try again with mine.” My daddy looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Technically I am just quoting Mr. Wallace, so I didn’t break the no swearing rule.”
My daddy held back the urge to smile at my cheekiness but then asked. “How did Katherine react after that?”
“She nearly snapped a bottle with her bare hand and got really mad for a moment.” I answered. “And she rarely shows her anger.”
“Which means that is a trigger word for Katherine. She rarely shows her emotions, if she got upset just from him saying that. That might just be the first domino falling into place.” Joshua explained excitedly. “He doesn’t like her pushing his daughter too far, he probably has no idea that she might be using Trinity to help her kill people that are enemies to the marsh pride. Now if she believes you are here, I have a feeling that the more she tries to get Trinity to the level she might think you are on. The more of a wedge will grow between Hezekiah and Katherine. A father will fight for his daughter and that fight will not be quiet. If that happens we move in and take both of them out when they are weak.”
Daddy then asked. “And if they don’t come to blows?”
“If they don’t come to blows and just go their separate ways. Then that still works for us, this suddenly goes from us possibly taking them both on at the same time. If we know when that happens, we can find and take down one of them while they are still trying to figure out how to regain their losses. Either way if we play things right, this can be over with little effort from us, and the best one to give information on things changing would be little Trinity.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Come on Verona, haven’t you ever told your friends about things going on at home. Maybe even tell them about bad things or things that worry you?” He was right. I used to do that all the time with Beatrice. “Now how about instead of pacing a trench through the floor and looking all sad at a possible loss. We go over every possible thing we have gotten today, to form a strategy to win.”
My daddy looked over at me for a moment. “Alright… but if I notice a single thing, a single thing seems wrong. I am getting her on the first flight back to the island. Are we all clear on that?”
“Yes sir,” me and Jonan said at the same time.
My daddy then held his hand out to Joshua. “Now please give me a slice of meat lovers. I am starving.”
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After we finished sharing all the new information that we had gathered. From what I heard from Mr. Wallace and Trinity private conversation, to the conversation he had with Katherine in his nightclub. My daddy shared that he hadn’t gotten much information from the police today, he offered his services in helping with a case involving a hit n run but got nothing more that he didn’t already know from the previous day. Joshua had to leave to go and get ready for his stack out down at the docks. He had only returned to our hotel early because my daddy had called him back to tell him about what was happening with me. So while they both headed out with Joshua being on the front lines and my daddy waiting with a lot of backup from both the police and FBI agents on this shipment to get them. I was stuck back at the hotel, Thanani was in my dad’s room watching a baseball game. (I don’t care what anyone says, he is watching it so he falls asleep faster) I was scrolling through Neflix’s to try and find a movie to watch.
My phone began to buzz and I wasn’t surprised to see that it was from Trinity. So I quickly answered it and it then showed an image of her face. She was in her room with a headset on her head, from the reflection in the mirror behind her. I could see she was sitting at her desk playing some pc game. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” I switched the camera for a moment to show my tv screen. “I am trying to find something to watch but it’s not going so well.”
“Yeah…” Trinity seemed a bit hesitant but then said softly. “Thank you for comforting me earlier today. I really appreciate it and would like it if we pretended that it never happened.”
I smiled at her for a moment. “I won’t tell anyone, not even my favorite cousin.”
“If you are bored… why not come to my place tonight. I can send my driver to come and get you, you can spend the night if you want.”
“Why the sudden invitation?”
“I’m bored and no one else can come. Aailyah’s mom wont let her come. Saya said no, Tatiana is an annoying bitch so she didn’t even pick up.” I cringed a bit at her sudden swearing. “So can you come over? It's just me in the house tonight and I am getting bored of losing in league of legends.”
“Give me one second,” I said, hopping up from the bed and going to Daddy Thanani. Was it odd considering an animal spirit a second daddy? Absolutely. However I loved him just as much as I loved my daddy. “Dad,” I said, poking my head into the room to find the older cat “watching” his baseball game. “Can I spend the night at Trinity’s place? She wants me to come and I am sure that I can find some good things.”
Thanani looked at me for a moment and closed his eyes. I knew that he was connecting to my father’s thoughts from here to ask him. “He says it is alright, but he wants you back by 4 o'clock tomorrow and if Katherine happens to stop by you are to ask to leave immediately.”
“Thank you,” I said before heading back to my room. “And I am not a stowaway!” I yelled back hearing him mumble as I closed the door.
“You're gonna go missing if you raise your voice at me again!”
I rolled my eyes before returning back to my room and taking my phone. “Was that your dad?” Trinity asked with a small smirk. She had probably heard Thanani shout at me. “Cause he sounded mad.”
“Yeah,” I answered. “I can come over, is it alright if I am just picked up in my pajamas.”
“Yep, I will have my driver sent to your hotel.” Trinity waved at me before hanging up. I had to quickly put together a small backpack of my pajamas and clothes for the next morning. “Heading out.” I called to Thanani before slipping out of the room and into the hallway. As I was making my way to the elevator to walk five blocks to my fake hotel. I could have sworn for just a moment, something was watching me. Yet when I spun around, I saw nothing and all I could hear leaving my direction was the clicking of heels on the floor. Probably from someone else making their way back to a suite of their own.
I wish I had paid more attention.
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My blindfold was removed once more revealing the beautiful interior of Trinity’s home. It had only been about three hours since I left. The large grandfather clock in the room began to boom as it officially hit 9 o'clock in the evening. “I hope your drive was safe, Mistress Cindy.” My face flushed a bit as Mrs. Raymond called me that.
“You can just call me, Cindy.” I thanked the woman as she took off the light weight jacket I had thrown on. “I am no one special to be called a mistress.”
“I assure you, Master Wallace has informed the staff to treat you with respect second only to the young mistress. A way to show his appreciated for the good you have shown his daughter.” I followed the woman up the steps and we barely got to the top when the door opened up once more. “Back so soon, Mistress Katherine?” My heart nearly stopped in my chest as Mrs. Raymond looked over the railing. “Shall I ready, the master bedroom for you and run a bath.”
I slowly turned around to see Katherine had entered the house. “That is not necessary Madam, I will be leaving shortly. I am still needed for business tonight, and will be staying in my own home tonight.” Her eyes looked up at me and for a moment everything froze. Suddenly my mind began to race as I assumed that this was some sort of sick trap. That Trinity lied to me about wanting me to spend the night, that this was the moment Katherine was gonna get me. Those cold dark violet eyes stared at me. “Have we met before?” She asked softly.
I opened and closed my mouth, not able to form words. She was only 15 feet below me, yet that was still too close. She hadn’t gotten a good look at me at club serenity. The lights were up hiding my jepei aura, there were other people around me than, but now it was just me and her. “Is something the matter, darling?” Mrs. Raymond’s voice was enough to snap me out of my shock for a moment.
“Just a bit light headed.” I whispered.
“Come now I will take you to the young mistress room and get you a cup of tea to help you.” I took Miss Raymond’s hand and we only moved a few steps before we were stopped. I had no idea how she managed to do that so silently, but Katherine was now standing in front of us. I heard Miss Raymond let out a sudden startled cry. “Must you do that, Mistress Katherine, scared the dickens out of me!”
Katherine was staring at me. “I am sorry about that Madam Raymond but I didn’t want this one getting too far. As she seems to be hard of hearing, so I will ask again now that I am much closer. Have we met before?” Her voice sounded warm but underneath that warmth was a thin layer of darkness. One that took me so long to hear, a layer that I would never forget.
“M-My name is Cindy.” I managed to spill out. “I-I’m Aailyah’s cousin, I was at the club the other day and saw you.” I whispered, lowering my head into a small bow.
“Now I remember,” I tensed up as Katherine heels clicked across the floor and I felt her presence in front of me. “You must be a sickly girl. You looked ready to vomit there, and now you seem ready to pass out here. Madam Raymond, how about you make this girl that famous herbal tea that you love so much.”
“I will get right on it, do you want something to drink before you leave for the night? I can have one of the others get your favorite mixed up before you go.”
“That is not necessary.” She started with a smile before lowering herself down to my height. I held my breath as she reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. That once comforting motion that I soon learned to hate, I never wanted her to touch me again. Yet here I was, not able to move. So scared that I was worried I would faint. “It is nice to see another one of my people in this city, we are so few yet so strong.”
“Y-Yes ma’am.”
“You must be the little one that taught Trinity how to use the protection technique. She said that someone taught her before our lesson today.” I slowly nodded my head. “Who was your master? They must be good if you can teach someone such a basic but difficult technique.”
“Master O’Brian.” I whispered. “She taught me all I know.”
“I see, I remember that woman. She was a good friend of mine.” I had to keep myself from clenching my fists. Mrs. O’Brian and Katherine never got along. How she could lie so easily about something was almost terrifying.
“A-Are you from the island, madam?”
“I was born and raised there, but now I am spreading my wings to other areas. As I am sure you will one day.” She gave me another smile. “Now I believe Trinity has waited long enough for you. I won’t hold up any more of your time.”
“Y-Yes ma’am.” She patted my shoulder twice before raising back up to her impressive height.
“Have fun tonight, and please don’t be stupid.” She didn’t elaborate on what that meant and I didn’t move until her heels were well out of earshot. My disguise somehow worked, she didn’t know who I was. My knees gave out on me as I dropped onto them with a loud thud and rested my hands on the smooth brown floors. She didn’t recognize me… it was working just fine.
Yet why was I so upset?
Why was I mad that this woman couldn’t recognize her daughter?
Why was I mad that my mommy didn’t seem to know I was right in front of her?
“It’s okay if you miss your birthmother” Mrs. O’Brian words echoed across my mind and as Ms. Raymond helped me up to my feet. I felt five words escape my lips but were so quiet that no one could hear them. “Why doesn’t she remember me?”
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