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Love Lost
From the cold bay water, a hand thrusts out of the water in search for land. Once it finds the pier, another emerges from the chilly water as a head breaks the song of the crashing waves. Grasping for breath, wet brown hair exposed the pale face that searched for an exit from the water. After climbing onto the pier, the face and body collapses as a heap onto the deck board looking towards the light in the distance. The fire's light burns about half a mile from the shore. "Jonathan," the cold lips whisper as they point to the fire. "Alexandra." The faint sound of sirens meets the lump's ears. What just happened isn't some dream. The only people she truly loves are gone from her life - perhaps forever.
Almost 12 hours earlier, the lump known as called Kaire McDowell went to the courtroom to finalize her divorce from Jonathan, King of Lower Mesathama. Jonathan and his new mistress/personal assistant Lillandra received custody of Alexandra, Kaire and Jonathan's 2-year-old child. It seemed only fair for the kid since Kaire had been involved in the International Security Force. Still, to loose your only child to someone as evil as Lillandra was hard to swallow. To celebrate getting the torrid affair behind her, the servants at the Grismore Estate decided that Kaire should go out and relax. Patrick, the senior member of the staff, noted to everyone how she "never slept during the entire court process." Patrick's wife Barbara also remarked how it never hurt someone's public image to bounce back from a tragedy. Everyone, even the board members of Grismore, Inc. thought it would do their boss some good to go to the main event that evening -- a charity gala. However, the subject was unwilling to participate. "I'm home and I'm not going to do anything tonight except watch the teletube and eat ice cream," Kaire announced as soon as she stepped into her home. Patrick caught her coat before it fell onto the floor. "Ya' know ya've an invitation to that charity thang at the center tonight," Patrick said. "Aye, cap'ain," Kaire in her best imitation of Patrick's Upper Mesathama accent. "An' I dunna care to go." "We've picked out a dress for you and everything," chimed in Barbara. "Besides it won't hurt your image if you appear to have accepted the settlement." Kaire knew Barbara was right. She knew the media well and helped Kaire make the smooth transition into high society "I'll go, but I won't promise to have a good time," Kaire said as she walked to her bedroom on the west side of the house. The entire west wing of the 200 room Grismore castle, or house as Kaire preferred it to be called, was Kaire's sanctuary. She was the only person allowed in it. She even had a door made on each floor closing the west wing from the castle. She liked her privacy. However, at the moment, Kaire would have given everything up just to spend one more night with her daughter. After a short wait, Kaire glided into the hallway wearing an brocade floor-length white silk dress. Her hair was pulled slightly away from her face allowing her glowing skin and green eyes to appear from under the brown curls Kaire had always wore down during her marriage. "You look beautiful," Patrick said as he draped Kaire's coat around her. He stared with the pride a father has for a daughter going to the prom. Kaire was new to the life of high society, but she looked like an old-pro. "Thank you, Patrick," Kaire said as she curtseyed. The gala was held at the city's convention center. Local socialites and those from other nations, such as the ambassador from Ritale Minor, the only known alien world, attended. Kaire disobeyed the rules of civility and proper protocol as soon as she handed in her invitation. For once, she walked in unabashedly and unescorted. She wasn't in the mood to be alert during this event and drank a bottle of champagne on the way there. As soon as she entered the room, the local gossip hens gathered together. Kaire was always abrasive and cold to them. Although she was too tall and too muscular, to an outsider the hens seemed jealous of Kaire. Even the ones with old money couldn't help to oddly admire and despise her at the same time. After working the room, Kaire retired to a corner table with a plate full of appetizers and a glass of champagne. She hadn't eating anything of substance or slept for almost two weeks. She really didn't need to do so, but out of habit, she would eat anything she could at this point. "Hi, Kaire. How did it go?" She looked up from her semi-drunken state and recognized an old friend, William Winston. "Will? I mean William Winston. It good to see you again," Kaire said. She stood up and shook his hand. "Please have a seat." "I take it didn't go well." "What are you talking about?" "The divorce." "Oh, I lost Alexandra, the most important thing to me in the world. Other than that it went well. It's been a while, how have you been?" Kaire said slightly slumped in her chair. For some reason the alcohol was reacting with her body in a way she never felt before. Even though she hadn't touched her champagne glass yet, she seemed to be getting drunker by the second. "Kaire you seem slightly intoxicated," William said as Kaire almost fell asleep. "Why don't I take you home? We can talk tomorrow, I'm moving back to this awful city." Kaire awoke with a jolt. "You're coming back here? Why? I thought you hated this place, twice as much as I do." "I've taken a job with my brother. That's what I get for spending my inheritance like there is no tomorrow." As William helped Kaire to her feet, Jonathan came by with Lillandra by his side. Kaire said in a loud speaking voice as she curtseyed, "Your Royal Highness, you look a little odd today. I hope everything is well with you and the miss bi... I mean mistress." William blushed with embarrassment for his friend, but he too noticed the chalky look to Jonathan's deep tan skin. "I..." Jonathan said as Lillandra interrupted him. "You are divorced. He has nothing to say to you," she barked back with an air of disgust at Kaire and William. Kaire looked pensively to the floor. "I'm sorry. Jonathan looks pale that all." "I'll be fine, thanks for your concern Ms. McDowell," Jonathan said. With that Lillandra quickly steered her lover clear of his ex-wife. "Let's go William. I think I'm about to pay for my first and last alcohol experiment." The drive to the Grismore Estate was a slow one. William's pulled over a few times during the trip so Kaire could get out and throw up. For the first time in her life, Kaire was going to pay tribute to the porcelain goddess. Once inside her home, Kaire quickly walked to the nearest bathroom. Her dress was a little too tight to allow her to run. "That was quick. Did the booze hit her?" said Barbara as she let William and Kaire in. "Hey, who are you?" "Excuse me. Are you always that rude to the guests?" William said in disbelief. "Kaire doesn't get many guests except for during parties. Beside we're more like a family here than anything else," Barbara said. "You still haven't introduced yourself." "I'm William, an old friend of Kaire's." William left Barbara in the foyer as he looked for Kaire. Patrick was standing outside of the doorway with a large glass of water. "Water please," said a quiet voice in the bathroom. Patrick went inside to give Kaire the cup. "I'm fine now," she said. "Ya' rruined an expensive dress. I hope ya' learned your lesson K," Patrick said. "Aye, yar guest is here to check on ya'." Patrick motioned for William to stand outside of the bathroom. A vid-phone went off in the distance. "I'd bet'r go get that," Patrick said as he closed the door slightly. "You okay Kaire?" William asked. "I'll be fine. I just haven't eaten much. The alcohol was a shock to my system." In the hallway the intercom rang out "Kaire, call on line 1. Kaire, call on line 1." "Hello?" Kaire walked out of the bathroom with an oversized bathrobe over her stained dress and a vid-phone in her hand. William thought it came from the bathroom, although he hadn't heard a vid-phone ring nearby. William waited to continue their conversation once Kaire got off the vid-phone. "Hmmm." "That is odd. Is Ale ... when is the hot dog sale again?" "Yeah, I'll be selling hot dogs at..." Kaire grabbed William arm to look at his watch. It was midnight. " ... 1:30." Kaire closed her vid-phone and started a brisk walk towards the entrance. "William thanks for taking me home. You really must be leaving now. I'll talk to you in the morning," Kaire said in a slightly agitated voice. "What is something wrong?" William asked. "No, I just have to get up to sell hot dogs for charity tomorrow. I don't want to be late." With that she escorted William to the door. I don't want him to get hurt or anything by becoming involved, Kaire rationalized. I have to leave right away.
"Are you sure everything is okay?" William asked before he got into his car. "I'll be fine. I'll call you tomorrow to meet with you," Kaire said assuredly. "Okay." William stepped into his car and drove off. Once he was out of sight, Kaire went back into the castle and stumbled towards the garage behind the house. Patrick and Barbara followed Kaire to the garage, careful not to alarm her. Near the foot of a set of stairs leading into the castle's ballroom, Kaire sat down and looked directly at Patrick and Barbara. Kaire shook her head and slumped over. With her head resting on her hands she said in an audible whisper, "Patrick and Barbara, Alexandra is in trouble. Jonathan's maid called to let me know that she thinks Jonathan is being poisoned. "I'm not sure how to say this, but I don't think I can make it. I need your help." Barbara sat down beside Kaire and rubbed her back. This was the first time the self-sufficient Kaire McDowell had asked for their help. With Patrick nod of approval, Barbara agreed to help Kaire save Alexandra. Patrick drove the Grismore black van to the docks on the other side of the city. The International Security Force has given the van to Kaire as a present upon her promotion to regional supervisor. Equipped with medical supplies, weapons, and three suits of laser-proof material, the van provided Kaire with the means to meet danger head on. "How to sober you up?" Barbara said as she looked in the medical supplies. "I'll look myself," Kaire said. Logically, Kaire chose caffeine drugs to keep her alert and something the label said would reduce her hangover. She reasoned that if the alcohol made her extremely drunk she needed something that would make her extremely alert. Upon reaching the docks, Kaire took leave of her companions making sure they vacated the premises in case something went awry. At the dock specified by the maid was Jonathan's boat. As Kaire looked further up the dock, she saw Lillandra holding sleeping Alexandra in her arms. "I've been expecting you," she said in the voice of the maid. In her own voice she said, "Or may I say I have." For the first time, Kaire was able to see Lillandra clearly. She had almond shaped eyes and red hair, like Kaire's daughter. Even more striking was how her skin was the exact skin tone of Alexandra. No, this can't be, Kaire thought, could Lillandra be ... "What are you going to do, just stand there?" "I'm sorry," Kaire said, thinking it wouldn't be best not to explore that concept for the moment. "Please don't hurt Alexandra. Where's Jonathan? What's going on?" Lillandra nodded towards the boat. "Get inside and we'll discuss it," she ordered. Once inside Lillandra put Alexandra on a seat and undocked the boat without keeping her eyes of Kaire. As they moved to sea, Lillandra moved Kaire and Alexandra below deck. Kaire noted how Lillandra had telekinetic abilities like Kaire's sister Elizabeth. Kaire was the first to break the silence, hoping to throw Lillandra's concentration off. "So, are you going to let me in on the secret here?" "Hmm, I suppose so. I'm here to kill someone who hold you close to their heart." "If it's Alexandra, you'll have to kill me first." Lillandra laughed.
"The Chosen One?" Lillandra carried a straight face. "Perhaps," she said.
"You know, I used to be part of an agency that makes sure things like this don't happen. There are various intergalactic and international laws and treaties that you're violating right now." "Silence fool," Lillandra said with a tinge of contempt. "I don't care about the stupid law. I'm here to follow orders." Lillandra stopped the boat about half a mile off shore. "Here we will wait," she said. "For the being you were assigned to kill I suppose. Listen I know
what's going on here," Kaire said. "I'm not just some human plaything for your people's amusement." She paused. "What did you do to Jonathan?" "He's in a better place," Lillandra said while looking at Alexandra. "You have a beautiful daughter. I'm glad I don't have to put up with her noise now that she's in a telepathic induced hibernation state." "Leave her alone," said a voice from nowhere. A blue light shined down on the boat. The light dispersed as a figure in a white and yellow robe appeared. "You aren't the one. How ... What are you doing here?" Lillandra said with astonishment. "You didn't know that I'm one of your own people," Jonathan said while clenching his fists. "You are so inexperienced when it comes to these matters. Prepare to die, child." Jonathan emitted a blue beam of light from his forehead. Quickly, Lillandra countered with a red beam of light from her forehead. Kaire instinctively picked up Alexandra and moved her towards the boat deck to avoid the fray. Neither Jonathan nor Alexandra seemed to be gaining ground as Jonathan moved the mental fight onto the boat deck. As he moved towards Kaire, Lillandra's beam was gaining momentum. At one instance, Jonathan almost fell, but Kaire helped him stay upright. "Kaire, give me Alexandra. I'll make sure she'll be taken care of,"
he said. Alexandra then disappeared in a ray of white light. As Kaire retreated from the scene, she hoped that Jonathan or a friend had moved their daughter off the boat. As Alexandra was remove from the ship, Lillandra's red beam overtook Jonathan and swallowed him. He fell and disintegrated into million of pieces. Lillandra looked triumphant as her foe was dying. Overcome with anger, Kaire lunged at her knocking Lillandra to the deck. Lillandra's beam cut into the deck creating a fire near the engine. It stopped as Lillandra hit the wood. "We will meet again Ms. McDowell," Lillandra said as she pushed Kaire off of her. Kaire landed a few feet away with a sharp pain in her ribs. Lillandra then smirked at Kaire as she struggled to get up and disappeared, leaving Kaire to fend for herself. Kaire leapt from the boat as it exploded. The cold water felt like little needles poking her skin. After getting acclimated to the water's temperature, Kaire's only thought was to get back to land.
The End
© 1995-2001 Nicole S. B. Layton. All rights reserved. For personal use only. |