Mary Kay was in the business of men.
So, stepping into a room full of men, she was all but oozing confidence. Dressed in lacy black gown, with puffy shoulders, and her hair braided and tucked around. she strode into the room in light footsteps.
Facing no one but Tiffany, she bowed her head slightly- really it was more of a nod;
"Lady Reaves, please accept my condolence once again. You recent troubles are really disheartening. I pray for strength in these turbulent times."
Across the edges of Tiffany's black eyes, signs of a gathering storm began to grow.
"You are most gracious. But what troubles exactly do you speak of?"
"Oh, pardon me," she chirped innocently- sweeping her eyes across the table; "Was it meant to be a secret? Your men should be disciplined really. Are they keeping information from you?"
"Keeping what exactly?"
Mary cocked her head, smiling sweetly; "You poor dear, your warehouses lie in ruin- plundered to the bone. And I hear your trading caravans have been robbed blind as well."
Tiffany felt the tightening in her chest. Her throat burned with from the heat of the unspoken words. She swallowed- replying in a flat tone;
"I heard the reports. It is said that on multiple occasions, a single woman, dressed in all black, wearing a veil- was seen fleeing the scene of the crime. . ."
22 JANUARY
Suddenly, Mary Kay fell silent. Under the crunchy fabric of her dress, her shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she said nothing.
"What's the matter?" said Tiffany; "Cat got your tongue?"
The echoes of Mary Kay's soft breaths came whispering out of her nostrils. She shifted her weight to her right leg, and separated her lips;
"Child, don't insult me by beating around the bush," she said coldly; "If there's something you want to ask, just ask. I know you're new to this, but this is how to be an adult."
Refusing to panic, Tiffany ignored the jab- and went straight for the attack;
"It was you wasn't it?" she asked quietly; "Actually, we all know it was Angel. But clearly, she wasn't acting on her own. She must have received orders. Orders from YOU. . ."
At once, several exasperated sighs erupted from the table.
The accusation coiled right into the air, and stayed there- choking the atmosphere.
Six pairs of eyes burned into both women. Like desperate animals, the men silently feasted on the tension- watching, waiting for-
"Ha!" Mary screeched. It was a dreadful sound, coated with confidence; "Did you ever think for a moment that it could have been someone else??? Or do you so desperately want it to be me??"
The shadows in Tiffany's eyes lengthened. A tight frown budded across her jaw as she vibrated a sharp reply;
"It was you- wasn't it?"
Mary Kay's shoulders dropped. Her hands balled into fists. And slowly, the mask of politeness began to evaporate;
"Don't be absurd. . ." she began distastefully; "It's just business. You'll grow to understand- soon enough."
Across the smoke filled room, from below the table, the nervous clattering of feet rumbled like thunder. A figure jumped to his feet- shrieking sharply;
"Lady Kay! You dare attac–"
"Oh shut up Miles," she retorted; "Another word from you, and I'll let the whole city know just much you enjoy it when my girls tie you up, and spank you all night- sick bastard." she spat.
The dynamic in the room had changed.
Both women, all clothed in black mourning clothes, like twin pillars, stood toe to toe. A raging silence engulfed the space. Tiffany, too angry to say anything, found her heartbeat pounding. Her chest rose and fell- and the evening breeze whipped her black curls.
Mary Kay finally chaffed;
"What's the matter?" she asked mockingly, mimicking Tiffany; "Cat got your tongue?"
"Tell me one thing," Tiffany answered, cringing her jaw; "Before I destroy you completely, did my father's friendship really never mean anything?" the pain in her voice leaked through her words; "Was it all jealousy? Did it never really matter?"
"You're a newly orphaned child- so let me gift you some real advice. There are NO PERMANENT FRIENDS in business- only permanent interests. Consider this your first lesson in this regard."
From under Tiffany's fringe, her large green eyes blackened further. She wanted to curse out this old wench. She wanted to tell her just how much she disgusted her. But Mary was still her senior.
So, she swallowed her anger, and instead said;
"This is not over. Not in the very least. . ."
"I came here to pay my respects," Mary cut it; "But since you're foolish enough to air our dirty laundry in public, I'm gonna assume you're foolish enough to make a move against the Kay family. . ."
She swung her head slowly around the room- looking each man in the eye, before saying;
"I will leak all your secrets. . .every one of them. . ."
"They do not answer to you!" Tiffany growled- twisting her lips in rage; "They answer to me! If I tell them to, they will come for REVENGE. Family is the only motivation they need."
Through the corner of her eyes, she could see the determination building on the men's faces. Mary spun her long neck, glancing sharply, and saw it too. A flicker of hesitation streaked across her face.
And wickedly, she went in for the kill;
"You fools," she sighed; "You really don't know do you? You don't know what your beloved Tiffany has become- do you?"
The farthest candle went out- as an ominous breeze swept through. Tiffany caught her eye. But Mary's proud head stood strong- and slowly let out the words;
"Angel, are you out there? Come in, IT IS TIME."
All heads turned towards the large mahogany door- watching it as it creaked open. Slowly, Angel's head emerged, followed closely by her neck, and her full voluptuous body. Several throats gulped at once as she floated into the room.
With her rich long golden hair bouncing on her shoulders, she glided towards her mistress and stood beside her.
Tiffany barked; "What nonsense is this? You dare bring a whore into my home?"
Ignoring her, Mary simply nodded at her protege; "Go on, tell them."
Tiffany rolled her eyes irritatingly; "Enough of this nonsense- get these creatures out of my sight!"
In her sing song melodious voice, Angel announced gaily; "Tiffany, daughter of James Reaves is a werewolf. . ."
Like the shattering of a glass vessel, Tiffany virtually heard the news crack open their skulls. Necks turned. Jaws dropped. And sleeves rustled as the men drew backwards in surprise.
"But," Mary chirped; "That's not all is it?"
"No mistress," Angel continued; "She's not just a werewolf, she's a violent bloodthirsty Alpha- and she can transform at any point. . .even now. . ."
This time, the sighs came. On the heavy wooden chairs, weights shifted uncomfortably. Under heavy furrowed brows, their wary eyes turned towards the tall slender girl. She couldn't have been more than sixteen. And yet, they looked at her- pouring their fear and distrust upon her.
Tiffany's legs quivered, buckling under the weight of her thundering breaths. Her nostrils flared open, and her widening eyes swept across the room- searching, hoping, looking for someone to take her side.
Mary Kay was in the business of men.
So, stepping into a room full of men, she was all but oozing confidence. Dressed in lacy black gown, with puffy shoulders, and her hair braided and tucked around. she strode into the room in light footsteps.
Facing no one but Tiffany, she bowed her head slightly- really it was more of a nod;
"Lady Reaves, please accept my condolence once again. You recent troubles are really disheartening. I pray for strength in these turbulent times."
Across the edges of Tiffany's black eyes, signs of a gathering storm began to grow.
"You are most gracious. But what troubles exactly do you speak of?"
"Oh, pardon me," she chirped innocently- sweeping her eyes across the table; "Was it meant to be a secret? Your men should be disciplined really. Are they keeping information from you?"
"Keeping what exactly?"
Mary cocked her head, smiling sweetly; "You poor dear, your warehouses lie in ruin- plundered to the bone. And I hear your trading caravans have been robbed blind as well."
Tiffany felt the tightening in her chest. Her throat burned with from the heat of the unspoken words. She swallowed- replying in a flat tone;
"I heard the reports. It is said that on multiple occasions, a single woman, dressed in all black, wearing a veil- was seen fleeing the scene of the crime. . ."
22 JANUARY
Suddenly, Mary Kay fell silent. Under the crunchy fabric of her dress, her shoulders tensed, and for a moment, she said nothing.
"What's the matter?" said Tiffany; "Cat got your tongue?"
The echoes of Mary Kay's soft breaths came whispering out of her nostrils. She shifted her weight to her right leg, and separated her lips;
"Child, don't insult me by beating around the bush," she said coldly; "If there's something you want to ask, just ask. I know you're new to this, but this is how to be an adult."
Refusing to panic, Tiffany ignored the jab- and went straight for the attack;
"It was you wasn't it?" she asked quietly; "Actually, we all know it was Angel. But clearly, she wasn't acting on her own. She must have received orders. Orders from YOU. . ."
At once, several exasperated sighs erupted from the table.
The accusation coiled right into the air, and stayed there- choking the atmosphere.
Six pairs of eyes burned into both women. Like desperate animals, the men silently feasted on the tension- watching, waiting for-
"Ha!" Mary screeched. It was a dreadful sound, coated with confidence; "Did you ever think for a moment that it could have been someone else??? Or do you so desperately want it to be me??"
The shadows in Tiffany's eyes lengthened. A tight frown budded across her jaw as she vibrated a sharp reply;
"It was you- wasn't it?"
Mary Kay's shoulders dropped. Her hands balled into fists. And slowly, the mask of politeness began to evaporate;
"Don't be absurd. . ." she began distastefully; "It's just business. You'll grow to understand- soon enough."
Across the smoke filled room, from below the table, the nervous clattering of feet rumbled like thunder. A figure jumped to his feet- shrieking sharply;
"Lady Kay! You dare attac–"
"Oh shut up Miles," she retorted; "Another word from you, and I'll let the whole city know just much you enjoy it when my girls tie you up, and spank you all night- sick bastard." she spat.
The dynamic in the room had changed.
Both women, all clothed in black mourning clothes, like twin pillars, stood toe to toe. A raging silence engulfed the space. Tiffany, too angry to say anything, found her heartbeat pounding. Her chest rose and fell- and the evening breeze whipped her black curls.
Mary Kay finally chaffed;
"What's the matter?" she asked mockingly, mimicking Tiffany; "Cat got your tongue?"
"Tell me one thing," Tiffany answered, cringing her jaw; "Before I destroy you completely, did my father's friendship really never mean anything?" the pain in her voice leaked through her words; "Was it all jealousy? Did it never really matter?"
"You're a newly orphaned child- so let me gift you some real advice. There are NO PERMANENT FRIENDS in business- only permanent interests. Consider this your first lesson in this regard."
From under Tiffany's fringe, her large green eyes blackened further. She wanted to curse out this old wench. She wanted to tell her just how much she disgusted her. But Mary was still her senior.
So, she swallowed her anger, and instead said;
"This is not over. Not in the very least. . ."
"I came here to pay my respects," Mary cut it; "But since you're foolish enough to air our dirty laundry in public, I'm gonna assume you're foolish enough to make a move against the Kay family. . ."
She swung her head slowly around the room- looking each man in the eye, before saying;
"I will leak all your secrets. . .every one of them. . ."
"They do not answer to you!" Tiffany growled- twisting her lips in rage; "They answer to me! If I tell them to, they will come for REVENGE. Family is the only motivation they need."
Through the corner of her eyes, she could see the determination building on the men's faces. Mary spun her long neck, glancing sharply, and saw it too. A flicker of hesitation streaked across her face.
And wickedly, she went in for the kill;
"You fools," she sighed; "You really don't know do you? You don't know what your beloved Tiffany has become- do you?"
The farthest candle went out- as an ominous breeze swept through. Tiffany caught her eye. But Mary's proud head stood strong- and slowly let out the words;
"Angel, are you out there? Come in, IT IS TIME."
All heads turned towards the large mahogany door- watching it as it creaked open. Slowly, Angel's head emerged, followed closely by her neck, and her full voluptuous body. Several throats gulped at once as she floated into the room.
With her rich long golden hair bouncing on her shoulders, she glided towards her mistress and stood beside her.
Tiffany barked; "What nonsense is this? You dare bring a whore into my home?"
Ignoring her, Mary simply nodded at her protege; "Go on, tell them."
Tiffany rolled her eyes irritatingly; "Enough of this nonsense- get these creatures out of my sight!"
In her sing song melodious voice, Angel announced gaily; "Tiffany, daughter of James Reaves is a werewolf. . ."
Like the shattering of a glass vessel, Tiffany virtually heard the news crack open their skulls. Necks turned. Jaws dropped. And sleeves rustled as the men drew backwards in surprise.
"But," Mary chirped; "That's not all is it?"
"No mistress," Angel continued; "She's not just a werewolf, she's a violent bloodthirsty Alpha- and she can transform at any point. . .even now. . ."
This time, the sighs came. On the heavy wooden chairs, weights shifted uncomfortably. Under heavy furrowed brows, their wary eyes turned towards the tall slender girl. She couldn't have been more than sixteen. And yet, they looked at her- pouring their fear and distrust upon her.
Tiffany's legs quivered, buckling under the weight of her thundering breaths. Her nostrils flared open, and her widening eyes swept across the room- searching, hoping, looking for someone to take her side.
