body bgcolor=black> Switched III (Fear the kitty)



“All rise, the honorable Judge Mathis,” the bailiff says.
“Has the jury reached a verdict?”
“We have your honor,” the foremen starts, “We find the defendants innocent.” The court room explodes in a uproar. What should have been an open and shout guilty case had just gone completely crazy. The judge lifted his gavial fully intending to throw the case out when he catches eyes with one of the defendants.
“Case dismissed! You are all free to go,” He says banging his gavel and then blinking why had he just done that.
The three women all took turns hugging their savior. Anika just wanted to sit that was 13 minds she had fought with. It hurt but at least it worked but just barely. They walked out of the court house into the car Lola had waiting. Constance, Malsin and Shari were all free women. Now their real work would begin a plan they had tried many times to set into action. This time they had a lot of things working in their favor. There was already dissension in the ranks, someone whether they knew it or not had already helped them get a foot hold.

1

“Then you would take the person’s arm and you would twist it like this,” Nausi says demonstrating on Legolas who was being a good sport about the whole thing despite the fact Lucky was a quick learner.
“Ready?"
“Duh,I want to see if I got this whole thing,” Lucky says. Orlando prepared hemself for Lucky. In two days he seemed to be an expert. Nausi had said that if he kept up this pace he’d be at black belt level in a few weeks. Lucky had him on his back in a few seconds and he groaned. “You ok?”
“Yes I've suffered worse,” Orlando says grinning.
“Okay so what’s next?” Lucky asks quite ready for more.
“I’m not sure I want my Landie taking more abuse from you, besides I have to go over to Mystic’s for recording in a little while.”
“Oh okay," Lucky says sitting down crosslegged next to Orlando.
“So Lucky how’s Pyra?” Nausi says.
”Still locked in her den, she like doesn’t even eat. I have to keep bringing her food like I did for Josh but she’s working so its okay.”
“I see, doesn’t she know this is crazy? She needs to take better care of herself especially now,” Nausi says.
“Now what?” Orlando asks.
“None of your business,” Lucky says.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Sorry, see you tomorrow Nausi. You’re the best butt kicking teacher I’ve ever had.” Nausi smiles as the boy leaves.
“What was that all about?"
“Oh that, nothing just Pyra being all alone and stuff and I know she's feeling guilty about JC.” Nausi says leaving out the part where Lucky had told her once he knew she knew Pyra had no powers that he was afraid Edge might stab Pyra or worse. The thing was that Nausi didn’t find it that hard to believe. Sure she thought Edge was a dumb ass and sometimes thought Pyra was in lust not love, but Edge had fallen even lower on her list. He was a scum bucket, and she just didn’t get why Mystic was housing him. And with little Paige there too. Sometimes she just didn’t understand her best friend.
Lucky walks into the house and was greeted by blaring rock music. It takes him a minute to recognize the deafening System of a Down. He puts his hands over his ears as he walks closer to the stereo and turns it down. He walks into the den where Pyra is tearing through three books.
“You can only read one at a time,” Lucky says smiling.
“Multitasking it’s a way of life,” Pyra says flaming one book away and having another appear in its place.
“Did you even sleep?”
“Its over rated,” Pyra replies yawning.
“Food too? I think you’re getting skinner,” Lucky says clearly worried.
“I am not, Lucky relax,” Pyra says never looking up into his face.
Lucky paces a little and wonders what he can do to get Pyra to eat and sleep more. He wishes he could cook so he could make her something that would make her move and leave the den even if it was just for five minutes. All she did was work and she didn’t even want to talk about Joshua. She acted like nothing happened. Lucky left the den he had been planning to do this for a while and now seemed like a good time.
He went up the stairs to Josh’s room and almost left from the stench that escaped from it. He had a black trash bag and a basket in his hands he walked over to the bed and stripped the sheets. They smelled a little like vomit and Lucky shoved them into the basket. He did the same to the pillow case and then tried to find the source of the stench. He looked under the bed and decided to just push it aside. Half empty and empty bottles rolled around next to a few pizza crusts and a green thing that could have once been bread. He takes a deep breath qnd ctarts shoving the bottles in the bag along with the food remains. After about five minutes he had all the bottles and food stuff from under the bed but needs a new bag. He takes the bag downstairs along with the dirty sheets. He takes the sheets into the laundry room and stuff them inside the washer.
Lucky smiled he liked cleaning, he had even learned to do laundry. He took the detergent and poured in half a cap full and turned the machine on. He went to a little closest and took out a mop and broom. The mop was some weird thing that didn’t need a bucket just a bottle on the handle. He took them both upstairs and left the mop outside as he swept Josh’s room. He went back downstairs for a pail and another bag. He opened the door to Josh’s bathroom and found the smell there were more bottles hidden in here and he had apparently missed the toilet a few times when he vomited. Lucky grimaced even he didn’t like cleaning this much.
An hour later Lucky had Josh’s room and bathroom spotless. He had even arranged the clothes in the huge walk in closet by color and season. The shoes were all neatly lined up and the bed was made with the freshly laundered sheets. He put a Glade Plug-in in the corner outlet and walked out quite proud of himself. He looked at the three trash bags and wondered where they went.
He went into the den to ask Pyra and she was fast asleep. He wondered if he could take her upstairs without her waking up. He decided he didn’t want to risk it and brought her a blanket instead.He opened it over her as she fell deeper into sleep. Her dreams were of the normal sort but no less mean showing her worst fears.
Pyra was standing before the elders and they were laughing at her, how could she actually believe she would find the answer as a weak mortal girl. She had to be a fool. She was sent back to earth a laughing stock and the first people she sees are Edge and Endora. They both look at her smirking at her failure.
“You lost everything, the man the power. You’re a worthless nothing,” Merrick says laughing as she pulls Edge away. Pyra wakes up and is face to face with Lucky who frowns.
“You woke up too fast.”
"You would too," Pyra mutters yawning as she sits up.
"Go back to sleep," Lucky pleads.
"Later Lucky," Pyra responds pulling a book on major Hindu deities closer to her.
"Can I help you at least?"
"Sure if you can read this," Pyra says turning the book which is clearly not in English.
"Man, what the hell language is that?"
"I don't know, it looks like English to me," Pyra says as Lucky turns the book in every direction and gives up.
"Whatever," Pyra says sticking in some post it note highlights that Nausi gave her to mark an important line.
"Um Jacob called a little while ago and wanted to know when we would start shooting the video."
"Damn it we have to do that don't we?"
"Yeah it sounds like fun," Lucky says.
"Me and my multi tasking," Pyra says opening another notebook that is full of writing. She shoves it to Lucky and he finds a page with my bloddy valentine in the title. He reads it trying to follow the story it tells.
She's standing at the grave dropping a white rose on the grave. Lightning strikes and for a second you can see the name. Edge J. Copeland -He wasn't Lucky. Drops fall on the rose, blood from her hands. Flash back to a rainy day. Little pale boy, abusive boyfriend, band playing on TV, he kicks it. . . back to rain and grave motor cycle Lucky . . . more jacob? Cop? More band where?
"Hey I'll get to ride a motorcycle?"
"If I can refine that concept and get a director to do it yeah."
2
"Shari are you sure you can handle this?"
"It will be a true test you can't slip up once or it may be your life."
"I can do it," She says shedding her looks and voice for an new one. "They won't know they won't even be there."
"Be safe," Malsin says hugging the now taller girl.
"Always, to the end of light."
"The end of light." Malsin agrees.

When Lucky woke up Pyra was standing over him. She was dressed in a white I love cats shirt and black flares and the usual two tons of jewerly. He sits up and looks a the clock. 7:42. "Pyra?"
"Well it sure as hell ain't mother Teresa."
"You're dressed!"
"Yes and its your turn now. We're going to a meeting to cast the video. I told Jacob my idea and he loved it we called up some people on the west side and well the power of a huge ass budget to push this as fast as those sickos at Virgin can. Supposedly we have a story board and actors to cast as the young you and the bastard boyfried."
"Did you sleep?"
"Who has the time? I had some research to do. Now come on get up."
"Okay, okay, is Jacob meeting us there?"
"Yeah we have to leave by like 8:30."
"No problem I'm not you," Lucky says sitting up.
"You're just lucky your cute and fuzzy."
"I only have hair on my head, what happened to all my fur man?"
"Don't know but I'm not really a fan of hairy guys so it was probably just me."
"I don't even have facial hair."
"Eww, I'll stick to soft thanks," Pyra says as Lucky stands and she puts a hand on his soft cheek. "Just perfect."
"Okay, I'll be back." Lucky says walking out and to his own room. Pyra walks out into the hall and looks towards JC's room. She feels a wave of feeling that she stomps down and goes down the stairs. Once in the kitchen she pours herself a bowl of cereal and pours in the last of the milk. Lucky would most likely kick her for that. She looks at the clock, Nausi might be awake but she somehow doubted it. Well she'd wait until Lucky came down to call. Duh! Elijah was a freaky ass morning person. Wait was he even home, but even if he was it still meant calling that place.
Pyra was about to call Nausi when she stopped, her soon to be hubby didn't drink milk and Nausi did like that soy stuff. Well there was still Shane.
"What you thinking about?"
"Where to get milk for you."
"You finished the milk?"
"Maybe?"
"Ugh, I'll go see Orlando, how could you finish my milk?"
"Is he awake?"
"Dude he like didn't even sleep last night, I saw him walking through the shire. He does it every once in a while. I went with him once but it was weird, he was being all elf like. I like Orlando better."
"He says like its not the same person."
"Not really and you know it. Well I guess I'll go get my milk." Lucky walks out and across the street.
Knock Knock
"Hello Lucky."
"Hey dude, hey do you guys have normal milk?"
"Yes Lucky come in."
"Thanks."
"Do you just want a cup or what?"
"Yeah just one for my Lucky Charms," Lucky says.
"Here you go," Orlando says handing Lucky a glass.
"So you're wedding is coming up right?"
"Next month."
"Do I have to like weara suit and stuff?"
"For the last time yes Lucky, I do so you do too."
"That's dumb, well I guess I'll finally let Andrei buy me one. He'll love it, what on earth is so cool about those stuffy things."
"I don't know."
"Well I have to go eat Pyra is actually early and I wanna keep it that way."
“Bye Lucky.”
“Oh and tell Nausi I don’t think I can come today.”
“Alright.”
“Later,” Lucky goes back home and eats his cereal and he and Pyra actually arrive early at the studio then have to split up. Lucky to meet with the casting directors for young him as Pyra narrow down the list of potentials from headshots to be called later that day.
Much later . . .
“Number 64 . . .” Pyra says dying of boredom thinking she should have narrowed it down more. He slides his headshot and Pyra does a double take she looks up and just kinda stares.
“Okay uh, Wes stand over there . . .”
“He’s like perfect,” Pyra whispers.
“Let’s see if he can act you like him so much get up there.” Pyra stands and walks over to him and waits.
“Argue.”
“Bastard.”
“You f-ing slut,” He says feigning reaching for her arm.
“Don’t touch me!” Pyra says faking a slap.
“People people that is what we like to call chemistry! We have lift off.”
“I wonder how well Lucky is doing.”
Over at Lucky . . .
“All you have to do is cry on cue and fall down, come on you’re like the first pale kid I’ve seen all morning,” Lucky says.
“Lucky we have other potentials.”
“Come on wait he even has green eyes.”
“That kid has been standing there like a stiff for five minutes we have a schedule.” Lucky stands up and walks over to the kid who stares at him. He looks over at his mother indicating he wants to pick him up and she nods hoping this could be her son’s big break.
Lucky carries him out of the room and to the other side of the building where hw walks past Jacob who is talking to the director. He waves as he carries the child to where Pyra is talking to Wes.
“Hey Pyra, look its me.” Lucky says as Pyra looks towards him.
”Hey cool, so what’s your name dude?”
"He hasn't said anything yet, just kinda stood there."
"But . . ."
"So what. I think he can do it."
"If you say so," Pyra says resting her head on Lucky's shoulder as the kid puts a hand on her cheek and smiles.
"Ok."
"Hey you talked."
"I know."
"He really is you isn't he?" Pyra says not moving until she hears a camera flash. They both turn and see a photographer.
"Hi, I'm Judy I work for YM and we're gonna do an article on your band, your label set the whole thing up."
Pyra smiles a little, "Oh Jacob."
Lucky laughs outright as he puts the kid down. "Okay, go tell them your hired and stuff."
"Sure, she's hot," the kid says and runs off.
"I didn't just hear that," Jacob says coming up besides Pyra.
"Hi I'm Judy and this is Peter a photographer (heh heh heh)."
"Okay,"Jacob says clearly annoyed.
"She's from YM." Pyra adds.
"Ah I see you've all met. Yes well there is a room set up for you all with lunch waiting for you for the interview."
They go in and Lucky and Jacob start eating right away for the most part ignoring Judy. Pyra looks between Lucky and Jacob. Lucky had no idea how to act at an interview and Jacob didn’t care. Pyra sighed and looked over at Judy and Peter. Peter was looking at his camera and Pyra wasn’t interested at the moment so she nudged Lucky and he handed her half his sandwich. She leaned her head on his shoulder and Judy pulled out a tape recorder, pad, and pen.
“Are you two a couple?” Pyra and Lucky both snap to attention as Jacob starts laughing.
“What?! That’s dirty!” Lucky exclaims.
“What do you mean?” Judy asks.
“Pyra’s is well was like my legal guardian, that’s like kissing my mom.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“They’re dead you retard!” Lucky says standing and walking out Pyra follows after him.
“Brilliant,” Jacob says sipping his soda.
Pyra reaches Lucky who’s shoulder’s are sagging. There are tears in his eyes but only because he is laughing so hard silently. Pyra smiles as she puts an arm around him.
“Where did that come from?”
“Do you know how many talk shows I watch? And I’ve seem behind the music and Driven so many times. I knew it would come up eventually. So I . . .”
“My brilliant little fluff ball,” Pyra says messing his hair.
“Yeah and I was home schooled, I’ll tell you the rest later let’s go back before they come for us.”
“I hope I can keep a straight face.”
“Hey you think my parents are really dead?”
“I don’t know I know cats don’t live that long, and I’m not sure how I would find . . .”
“Don’t worry I am a cat, I don’t care just wondering.”
“Ah, so you gonna be . . .” Lucky throws his arms around Pyra as Jacob steps out of the room and Pyra is petting Lucky’s head.
”So you okay?”
“Yeah, let’s go back,” Lucky says still clinging to Pyra.
”But you gotta admit you two are friendly.”
“Shut up,” Lucky says. “So how ‘bout we stick to music related questions.” He says looking directly at Judy.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t . . .”
“Yeah yeah, hey we got some milk in this place?”
The interview goes okay with Pyra doing most of the talking for the band and Jacob only answering questions directed towards him as long as the word O-town isn’t said. Judy is too afraid to say anything to Lucky and he doesn’t say a word in the interview. She plans on adding an apology and disclaimer at the beginning of her Article to explain. Once the interview is done, Peter takes a few pictures of them sitting on the couch and standing to add to the ones he snapped during the interview.
Once the interview is done they are pulled into meetings with the director and people who have to find the right set since there s no where near enough time to build everything. Pyra is looking through everything and is agreeing with the directors decisions including one that gives Jacob the role of the understanding best friend and it will be him who Pyra calls as he is watching little Lucky.
The meetings end around 6 and Pyra is asked to remain a little longer and Jacob and Lucky are free to go. Lucky remains behind of course and Jacob goes home to his wife. They are waiting for someone to arrive with photo’s of possible locations and by the time they arrive Pyra is sound asleep. Lucky talks them into letting him and the director decide since he and Pyra had the same opinion on so much already.
The house is chosen as is the date to start shooting next week. Lucky writes down the information in fear he’ll forget and then goes to check on the sleeping Pyra again. Still asleep he looks at his phone’s clock and gets an idea.
~*~*~* “Hello Andrei? You in the city?”
“Yes why?”
“Can you drive a car?”
“Yes . . .why?”
“Can you come to . . .”
“Yes . . .but why?”
“Are you going to come?”
“Yes, but explain this to me.”
“How fast can you get here?”
“Turn around Lucky.”
“Damn!” Lucky exclaims and Armand sees no point in telling him he was walking down this very block when he called.
“So what is going on?”
“Oh we were casting for the music video and then we had some stupid interview and then some story board and location crap. Anyways Pyra fell asleep and I really don’t wanna wake her up and I haven’t seen you for a while . . .”
“I understand. Where is she?”
“Come on, “ Lucky says leading him into a room. Armand looks around, the walls were lined with tables covered in the remnants of food but mostly just the leaves that decorated the plates. There were couches strewn about and Pyra lying curled up on one looking rather small though he knew she was much taller than him. Her own black duster was carefully laid like a blanket on top of her.
“Why not just wake her?”
“She hasn’t slept in days. If she wakes up . . .”
“Alright where are her car keys?” Lucky lifts them out of the Pyra’s coat and tosses them to the vampire and then lifts Pyra into his arms.
“Let’s go.”
They drive back to what and into the underground parking garage. Lucky points out Pyra’s parking space and Armand pulls in easily. Lucky caries Pyra out of the car with Armand holding her coat and keys. Lucky has his eyes fixed on a distant spot and Armand sees Lestat climbing onto his motorcycle. Helmet in hand his duster billowing behind him.
“Cool.” Lucky whispers as he walks to the elevator. Armand stands beside him and loves Pyra’s hands. No matter how many times he saw them he loved that each and ever finger was adorned with a ring. The rings were all quite small despite the stones and made the multiple designs work well together.
“What are you looking at?” Lucky asks.
“Her hands they are beautiful.”
Lucky carries her up to her bed carefully depositing her in the silk sheets and easily sliding her skechers off. He yawns as he walks out to join Armand in the hall.
“You’re tired, come,” He says leading Lucky to his own bed room. He pulls Lucky into his arms. “Tell me what is happening.”
“Well I’m in a band,” Lucky whispers as Armand strokes his cheek. Armand listens hoping he would trust him with what was making his usual light heart so heavy . Lucky’s mind was a mass of confusion and fear. The fear surprised him, Lucky was fearless partially due to his near worship of Pyra. Armand then realized that this source of power was an exhausted mortal at the moment. Lucky had fallen asleep on the arms of a monster, bless his soul.
He carefully laid Luck back down in his bed and walked over to ‘observe’ Pyra. She was deep in sleep and turned towards him. He didn’t get and all powerful or even a witch vibe off her but at his age and his strange gift of seeing spirits he saw easily that she wasn’t the average mortal.
Pyra turned away from him than back again. It was then he noticed the little orange doll on the bed beside her. Had Lucky placed it there? Something glistened in the dark and he saw it was a jewel on Pyra’s neck, he leaned in closer.
“Don’t do that,” Lucky whispers almost inaudibly. Armand straightens up.
“What do you think I will do?”
“Wake her up touch her pendant. Both not good.”
“And what would you have me do?” Armand says running his fingers through Lucky’s hair and over his silken skin. Pale had such a different meaning when you lived. His hand was anything but human compared to the pale skin he was touching as Lucky purred.
The sound makes Armand smile and he places a kiss on Lucky’s neck and he doesn’t so much as twitch tangling a hand in Armand’s hair as sinks his fangs in for a ‘little drink’ and Lucky moans.
Edge turns away from the monitor having no interest in watching Lucky make out with his boyfriend. He knew one of the two buttons would turn it off but if he pressed the wrong one Mystic would hit him and he wasn’t in the mood for that. He sits down on the floor crosslegged, knowing Mystic would want her chair once she came back from the bathroom. He starts whistling to himself thinking about Pyra when Mystic walks in silent listening to the humming and liking the sound when Edge adds words.
“Met a girl
Thought she was grand
Fell in love
Found out first hand
She Fucking hates me
She took all I ever had
La la la la la la la”
Mystic laughs surprising Edge who blushes. “Where’d you hear that?”
“Just made it up, ran out of words.”
Mystic smiles evilly getting her most sinister idea yet. She tells Edge her master plan and he shrugs as she orbs a Samwise Gamgee notebook into his hands and a blue pen. He starts writing crossing out lines and starting again as Mystic orbs him to his room.
Dominic walks into the room wondering what the sinister smile is about. He looks at the screen and sees Armand kissing away Lucky’s tears.
“Hey I didn’t know you were into that, I have these tapes of Billy and Lijah . . .” He says smiling as Mystic gives him a crazy look and turns off the monitor. "Well if you don't want to see them how 'bout we make a few of our own."
"Dominic!"
"What? Waiting till the wedding? Come on we had to be kidding ourselves besides Lijah is reading Paige a bedtime story and I think they were buliding a fort." Mystic still seems to be pondering this when Dominic leans down and kisses her on the lips. She wraps her arms around him and he pulls away slightly. "Is that a yes?" The next moment he feels a familiar warmth as they are orbed to their room.
A not so happy couple also settles on the bed as Armand hold's a trembling Lucky in his arms. He had never expected to see what he saw. He had never expected to see anything at all for that matter. The visions from his 'little drink' had put a rage in his heart.
How could anyone go as far as to have stabbed Lucky. And then to torment him daily. What truly angered him was that the beast was Pyra's lover. Why at the very least with all her massive power she hadn't made him suffer he wouldn't understand.
"You're mad," Lucky whispers.
"Of course I'm mad how can anyone do that to you? The beast shouldn't suffer to live. Why didn't she. . ."
"She can't help it she still loves him. She can't really hurt him."
"He's a lucky fool."
"Where is your Joshua? What has he to say of all this?" Lucky moans as he pulls away and covers his head with the pillow. "Lucky?" He says pulling the pillow away but Lucky still turns away from him. Lucky's mind is still flying in too many directions to probe and get's a surprise. Get away from here For your own safety forget Lucky. Armand roars as he is yet again harassed by David. Lucky is startled and follows the vampire as he storms over to David's.
He goes in the front door and find David, Lestat, and Louis home. They all look at Armand as Lucky shuffles in behind him his eyes still red. He points a delicate hand at David.
"Every chance you get you try to interfear with my life! You claim concern, yet you hold anger for a crime you deny to all! Why not tell them master scholar?" Louis stands and walks over to Lucky who is shaking all over. He had never seen Andrei angry and it was scaring him. Louis took the boy having no interest in this battle. He holds Lucky in his arms though both of them can hear the one sided argument quite well." "David the master of so many words are you silenced now? Keep your secrets, but let me be! I will not leave Lucky nor shall I forget him when his bones are nothing but dust. But you!" Armand himself was shaking violently and turned to Lestat who was watching all this quite confused. Then he realized Armand was really in a rage and he was letting loose some thing he wouldn't allow.
"Don't you dare! I may not be as old as you but I am much stronger. Harm David and it is Lucky that will morn your passing!"
David looks the most stunned at this as Armand buried one of his many powers of death inside of him. He looks pained and confused and doesn't know what to do. David leaves the room taking the path farthest away from Armand.
"Would you really have killed him when your own Maruis abhores such a thing." Armand looks at him with a tilt of his head blood tears staining his eyes.
"I hate him."
"That I believe, explain yourself."
"I will do no such thing! Ask him of Edward! And the greatest shame of the Talamsca! And the truth of Pyra." Armand says before storming out. He is down the porch and turning back towards Pyra's house when he realized he passed Lucky. He turns back and Lucky shoves him down the few stairs. Armand is astonished Lucky could do such a thing though he knew Lucky wasn't fragile it surprised him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Liar!"
"What?"
"Andrei Lucky has keen hearing," Armand realized that in his rage he had revealed the secret of the household.
"What are you going to do?"
"What so their vampires so what?! You couldn't tell me? No they are perfecly normal? What if that bitch like snuck up on me and tried to bite me?"
"It wasn't my secret to tell," Lucky looks at him and the vampire holding him.
"Okay I guess, sorry I pushed you."
"I'm fine."
"Who's Edward and what did he do to Pyra?"
"Ask her," Armand says and Lucky nods.
"Lucky you know you can't . . ."
"Don't worry about it Fabian, I like you and Quinn and I know if your anything like Andrei you're cool. But you should tell them they won't care. Hey wait do you know . . ."
"That Pyra is different? Yes and that I've held you in my arms many times? Yes."
"Geez," Lucky says standing.
"We all have our secrets, Pyra has told me just as much before."
"Man what the hell? What don't you people know?"
"Lucky before all this," Armand says waving his hand, "I had been asking you about Joshua." Lucky sinks back down as the older looking vampire hugs the boy and shakes his head at his friend. Armand sees in Louis mind what is so distressing Lucky and shakes his head sadly, his mind wandering to Daniel and how drinking affected him.
"Drinking is quite dangerous."
"Why didn't anyone tell me? I saw him with it everyday, and he said it was making him feel better, I just thought it was like orange juice." Lucky says sighing.
"Its alright there was nothing you could have done."
"I've never seen you so angry," Louis whispers as if the thought had just occured to him.
"David's incessant harassment and what had happened to Lucky . . ." Armand glances at the boy who had fallen silent and was smelling the air. He had no idea if cat's had as accute senses as dogs but Lucky was standing and every part of him looked ready for battle.
Armand watched as his eyes flickered between that of a mortals and that of a cat's. A hiss was escaping his lips and he finally turned to see what it was that was angering him so greatly. Edge was walking on the other side of the street clutching a book of some sort. He was walking with a purpose as was Lucky who was strolling towards him. He stood before Edge who made to go around him but was stopped by the much faster boy. Armand and Louis easily hear the exchange.
"Where you going?"
"Not now Lucky," Edge sighs.
"You're not going near her."
"You can't stop me," Edge says as he starts thinking on the stabbing. He didn't want to hurt Lucky again. He didn't even want to touch him. "Lucky move."
"No."
"I don't want to hurt you," Edge says and Lucky has a yeah right expression. Armand even has an esaperated expression on his face and Louis wonders if the vampire won't take some action against the man.
"Armand," he whispers knowing he can't even hope to stop him should he try something. He turns to Louis and in that split second hear a thump. They turn and see Edge getting to his feet.
"You pushed me . . ."
"You're not going near Pyra. You won't hurt her."
"Lucky, you can't stop me."
"Who's ass is on the floor?" Lucky asks as Edge finally stands dusting off his black pants.
"For the last time move, or I'll make you."
"Come and get me." Edge lunges at Lucky expecting the boy to dodge and run for his life instead he twists away shoving Edge to the floor in the process. Edge blinks this wasn't happening, a cat could not beat him in a fight. He didn't even want to fight Lucky but he had to get the cat to stop.
Edge stands again and turns to face Lucky who was watching him his green eyes almost glowing in the night. Well Lucky was facing the wrong way so he turned and started heading to Pyra's forgetting that Lucky could move faster than him he was again blocked by the cat. He let out a growl of annoyance.
"Lucky! Stay here!"
"Do I look like a dog? Why are you even still here?"
"I'm going to see Pyra and you won't stop me." Edge says grabbing Lucky's arm. Lucky takes Edge's hand off him and kicks him in the shin. "Stop that!" Edge says wrapping Lucky in a bear hug. The boy doesn't struggle and Edge is about to put him down when Lucky head butts him. He howls in pain and wonders why he has reached this level. Lucky tries to punch him and he avoids the blow. The next second is all a blur to Edge as Lucky recovers faster than he should. And kicks Edge in the stomach.
"Ooof!" Edge exclaims doubling over. Lucky isn't about to stop there and throws him a good 10 feet. Edge is completely dumbfounded at how little Lucky had the strength to do such a thing. He groaned staggering to his feet and was even more aggravated that had hurt. He was done talking no matter how much he didn’t want to Lucky seemed determined to fight.
He looked at the boy who was eyeing him menacingly, Lucky’s eyes were unnerving him they were like headlights. He shook his head, he’d just ‘fight’ Lucky until the boy gave up. He just had to take Lucky more seriously up to now he hadn’t really worried the least bit about the cat;/boy being able to fight. But it wasn’t like he was a karate expert like Pyra . . .Mystic. . . and of course Nausikaa who he was sure it was best to avoid at all costs.
Lucky was just watching him, he couldn’t believe it the cat looked almost bored a lot like when Pyra had to fight hand to hand. He shook his head Pyra wouldn’t have given him fighting skill would she? He took a step forward and Lucky didn’t blink. He just kept those glowing eyes on him. He closed the distance quickly and then they were about a yard apart.
Edge made the first move taking a few steps forward and making to punch Lucky in the face and having his other arm ready to hit him in the stomach and the boy blocked both hits and delivered two of his own and for about the third time Edge’s nose was injured. This was not happening! He was a professional he was 240 pounds this boy couldn’t be more than 160 and that was giving him a lot. Now he was ticked. All ideas of not hurting Lucky went out of his head, though it did him no good. He couldn’t lay a hand on the agile, acrobat.
Neither one remembered their audience and both vampires were astounded at Lucky’s skill. He could hold his own easily but Armand was still tense ready to defend Lucky even if it meant evoking Pyra’s wrath. He knew if she really did what David claimed at such a young age killing him would be easy sport for her.
Pyra on the other hand was tossing and turning in her sleep aware on some level of the battle be waged but when she woke she had no idea what caused it. She sat up and looked beside her, no Lucky. Must be with Andrei. She was happy someone could enjoy themselves. She stood but the prospect of looking up the elders origins seemed dauntless and pointless.
She looked around her room her travel bag was still sitting on the floor, well it was about time she unpacked it she had been rotating the same outfits in it for way too long, just throwing in new underwear and a shirt here and there. She emptied the bag out and as usual to cleaning she picked up the phone. She sat pondering who to call and decided she had avoided it long enough.
“Hello Country House Amber Standish speaking.”
“Hi, um may I speak to Joshua Chasez?”
“Who is this?”
“Pyra Jacobs.” Amber cringes into the phone and tosses a sad look to JC who is standing across from her hope dancing in his eyes.
“I’m sorry Mr. Chasez is not available.”
“Oh . . . okay . . . could you tell him I called? How’s he doing?”
“I am not able to disclose patient information good evening.” Amber says hanging up.
“Who was it?” JC asks softly?
“Another magazine I’m sorry Joshua.”
“Its okay . . . they’ve never called?”
“Never and you know I personally check all the messages from patients calls are sent to their counselors. Now I know this may be hard for you to accept but clearly you are not as important to them as they would like you to believe.”
“But . . . but. . . they . . .”
“Joshua, do you trust me?” He nods. “Now it best to face the truth and use it to make yourself stronger. You must break free from these false friends and find your strength elsewhere. It is the only way you will ever get better.”
“I guess you’re right . . .” JC says sitting down, though he still couldn’t understand how no one called. There were no visitors allowed for privacy reasons but not a single one of them called.
“Now as we were, tell me more about your relationship with this Mystic girl . . .”
Pyra was still looking at the phone wondering why she had the nagging feeling she should call again. She ignored it and started empting the pockets of the three pants she had been wearing on the road when she saw a white business card mixed in with a five. She turned it over and had to read the name a good five times before she believed what she read. Talamasca She searched her mind and vaguely remembered a British guy saying something to her. It was the dead of the night here so it close to mid day there. Why the hell not maybe if this guy wasn’t a ass messing with her head she could get something.
~*~*~*~*
“Stay down!” Lucky screamed tears rolling down his face. Edge was a bloody mess and still hadn’t laid a finger on Lucky but he refused to quit. Lucky was getting absolutely no enjoyment out of the scene and just wished the man would stop getting back up. It wasn’t until then he realized he didn’t hate Edge. Sure beating Edge up had been for him too but . . . Lucky wailed as Edge staggered to his feet. Armand put an end to this scene with a vampiric blow to the back of the head and Edge crumpled.
“He’ll be fine,” Armand says as Lucky sinks to his knees panting. He is on all fours when his body starts contracting. Armand has no idea if its Lucky’s wish but in a few seconds there is just the sleek black cat that Lucky is falling over as if dead on its side. The only indication of life are the gasping breaths he is taking. Armand scoops up the cat worried.
“Lucky?” He says having no idea if he could even speak in this form.
“Sleepy,” The cat gasps before his eyes close. Louis joins him then and looks at the eerily still form in his arms.
“He’s exhausted.”
“Should we bring him to Pyra?”
“I don’t know how we would explain it,” Armand says.
“I can do it,” she will not question me as much,” Louis says as they walk to Pyra’s both men forgetting about Edge.
Edge groans and rolls over onto his back. He kept his eyes closed he didn’t want to look around it was easy to tell he was alone. He took in a deep ragged breath and winced Lucky had bruised some ribs, at least they weren’t broken that hurt a whole lot more. How Lucky had down that damage was easy to figure out. He’d have to thank Pyra the next time he saw her.
He opened his eyes and his vision was a blur. Someone was standing over him, the outline was small so it was a girl. A hand was extended to him and he took it feeling strength that meant, great, he rubbed his eyes free of blood and dirt and expected to see Pyra. Endora was a surprise.
“Are you alright?” She asked calmly then shook her head. “Come with me,” he followed her without question though he didn’t know why. He had never really spoken to her since all the girls hated her and for the most part he trusted their opinions. But right about now this was the only girl on the property he wouldn’t run from. She picked up his long forgotten notebook and they walked into her house. David and Lestat were deep in a hushed conversation as Merrick lead Edge into the kitchen.
Both men look questioningly at Merrick and at their battered neighbor. And Lestat put a hand over his mouth in what would look like shock as he caught a glimpse of what happened from Edge’s mouth. Once he was in the kitchen the vampire went off in one of his trademark fit of hysterics.
“What on earth?” David says as he had been in the middle bearing the depths of his soul.
“Our little Lucky caused all that damage,” Lestat says composing himself.
In the kitchen . . .
“I’ll make us some tea and then we can talk. But only I you wish it so.” Edge didn’t know why but the idea of talking to Endora sounded very good at the moment as she gathered ‘special’ tea leaves instead of the few non-perishable goods the vampires kept around like tea, coffee, cookies, and other things that lasted long.
He took a deep sip of the bitter tea and felt like he had know Endora for years and his story of problems minus the magic easily left his lips.

To Be Continued . . .