Chapter Eight

Location Unknown

"Is there any new information on the young man that has been seen with Anthony Lawson?"  Dion stared at his handheld screen barely able to conceal his frustration at the lack of information he'd received for his various sources.  When the woman on the screen shook her head he snapped, "Why are we paying you if you can only give us half-ass information?"

Orchid plump pink lips curved upward as her new purple eyes danced with laughter. "Because I'm the only one able to get you the information you want.  I have contacts in the palace and now you have twice as much information as she had previously."  

"Yeah," laughed Dion with a hint of sarcasm, "if the council finds out you are still assisting me and the resistance they are going to kill you for sure this time."  Dion watched unamused as Orchid shifted her device and rolled her eyes.

"I'm not afraid of high council," laughed Orchid as she shifted the screen on the end again.  "They are weak and have no real idea what is going on while they sit in there little room deciding things for the universe."

"I would applaud your confidence but I know it's jealousy and stupidity that drives you," remarked Dion dryly.

"So I should stop helping you," asked Orchid as she raised an eyebrow in amusement.  "Should I sit here on Rais de Azul and enjoy the white sands and blue waters?"

"No, you need to stop underestimating them."  Dion rose and started to pace, "You continue to do things that are unnecessary and that doesn't help the cause.  The information you have given us has only led us around in circles."

"What do you want me to do," whined Orchid as she stared at the screen.  "I am not scheduled to return to Ah'Tarian for at least six months and I arrive earlier it will spark suspicion."

Dion sat down heavily and picked up his device, "I want you to get useful information!  It has been over 2 months since Sebastian went in search of Zara.  How is it possible that he just dropped off the face of the universe like this?"

"You should have done more to leash him," snapped Orchid.  "It was you two morons that allow him to leave"  Orchid looked down as she shuffled paper off screen, "The boy with Anthony is an unknown.  He has short hair bleach blond hair and piercing light brown eyes.  Sebastian had silver hair and black eyes that reminded me of an endless pit."  With a satisfied smile she gave a nod, "The person with him is definitely not Sebastian!"

Dion stared at Orchid as if she were an idiot, "You slept with him numerous times and that's the best you can do with a description?  What was his body type?"

"His dick was big and he had the stamina of three men."  Orchid smacked her lips as she shrugged.   "What else did I need to know?"

"A lot," muttered Dion as he shook his head.  "You've changed your appearance numerous times why are you so simple minded to think he's unable of changing his.  Think for once in your life! The boy with Anthony find out more about him."  Dion slammed his hand on his desk, “Must I tell you everything!”

Orchid pursed her lips together and contemplated Dion for a few seconds before laughing.  “Dion the boy with Anthony couldn’t be older than 18 years old!”

“Are you serious?,” Yelled Dion enraged as spittle few out of his mouth.  “How fucking old did you think Sebastian was?”

“Older than that,” responded Orchid as she ignored Dion’s flair of anger.  “At least 25 or 26,” she continued as she rubbed her new chin.  "The silver hair was very becoming and gave him a dignified look that made him so sexy and those dark eyes trapped me in a spell of desire."

“I swear for goodness,” yelled Dion as he disconnected the feed to Orchid.  “That woman is the dumbest person in the universe!”  Dion stood and stared around the white walls of the office inside his father’s transport.  “Now the question is should I report this to father or keep it to myself until I have more information?” 

********

Ah’Taria – Lucas and Kayla's Suites

“Ladies, I believe you know Xara?”  Kevin smiled mischievously at Kayla and Ebony as he pushed Xara forward towards the table they sat at.

Ebony stirred sugar into her lemonade as she stared puzzled at Xara.  “There’s something different,” she murmured to herself as she stared at the loose peasant dress of red, creams and gold with the high neck.

“Do you think,” whispered Kayla as she leaned toward Ebony her eyes never leaving Xara’s face.

“Yes,” hissed Ebony.  With a warm smile she waved a hand toward an empty seat.  “Sit down Xara don’t act as if you’re a stranger.”

Xara released a carefree laugh as she sat down, “Of course!”  Xara tossed a flame red lock over her shoulder as she watched Kayla pour her a glass of lemonade, “It’s just been too long since I’ve seen you two.”

Kayla nodded, “Two weeks.  What have you’ve been doing with yourself?”

Xara tapped her chin, “I’ve been helping Sebastian with his studies.”

Ebony smiled when Xara sipped the lemonade and winced.  “What else have you been doing,” asked Ebony as she passed her the sugar with a knowing wink.

Kayla pouted as she watched Xara add sugar to the lemonade. “Why do you both think the lemonade need sugar,” she whined jokingly.  “I think something is wrong with both your taste buds.”

“It’s a little sour for my taste but it doesn’t need as much sugar as Ebony added,” laughed Xara as she pointed toward the sugar at the bottom of Ebony’s glass.  “That is way too much!”

“Oh okay,” replied Kayla as she sent Kevin a very confused look.  With a smile she rose, “I need to speak to Kevin for a second.”  She laughed when she saw that Xara and Ebony were too engrossed in talking about sugar to notice her leave.

Kayla grabbed Kevin’s arm and propelled him toward the stairs as she whispered fiercely, “What did you do to Xara?”

“I didn’t do anything,” answered Kevin as he stared at the laughing Xara.  “Sebastian gave her a little push in the right direction.”

“A little push,” asked Kayla as she turned to stare at the lively woman.  “What did he do give her a compete lobotomy?”  Kayla pointed toward Xara, “I’m happy to see she’s more animated and lively but what of all the abuse and dama-?”

“Xara doesn’t remember any of that,” sighed Kevin as she gazed a Kayla.  “Can you not be happy for her?  She no longer walks around with her head held low, afraid of  her own shadow.”

“Of course, I’m a happy about that!”  Kayla lowered her voice when she saw that both Ebony and Xara stared at her with questioning looks.  “What of the consequences?”

“She has nightmares but Sebastian and I are there,” smiled Kevin as he rocked back on his heels.

Kayla shook her head as she pulled Kevin up the stairs further away from Ebony and Xara. “What is your end game?  After really getting to know your true personality I doubt you did this to be nice,” spat Kayla as she glare at Kevin.  “You and Jacob are definitely birds of a feather.”

Kevin frowned, “I’m hurt.”

“I’m sure you’re not,” bit out Kayla as she shook her head.  “What is your end game?”

Kevin shrugged as he looked away from Kayla.  “I thought you liked me,” he whispered in a hurt tone.

“Trust you?”  Kayla shook her head as she closed her eyes, “You Ah’Tarians have turned my brother into a monster.”

Kevin cocked his head at her, “You blame all of Ah’Taria on your brother’s change?  Why not blame your beloved husband or Jacob?”

Kayla laughed humorlessly, “Explain to me why you believe they are exempt from blame?”

Kevin looked over the gray stone banister and stared at the children as they laughed and played in the courtyard below.  “I would assume the father of your children would be exempt.”

“You assume wrong,” snapped Kayla as she took a calming breathe.  “I mostly blame Kae for his behavior but I know the influence of Lucas and Jacob also had a big influence.”  With a shake of her head she laughed, “Why am I even explaining this to you as if you care.  I better keep my opinions to myself before you decide I need a new personality.”

“That’s not fair,” argued Kevin as he watched Kayla walk away.  “I was just trying to help her.”

Kayla approached Kevin and searched his eyes, “Help her do what exactly?”  As her eyes searched his she shook her head, “Help her into Kaelen’s bed?”  Kayla gapped as she saw the truth of her words in his eyes, “Oh my goddess!  That’s exactly what you’ve done.  You’ve changed her personality -!”

“Be quiet,” snarled Kevin.  “You are attracting unnecessary attention.”  He waved at Xara and Ebony before he turned and looked into Kayla’s eyes again.  “I am doing what is best for Kaelen.”

“And damn anyone that says you are not,” asked Kayla as she stared at him in disbelief.  “You are the same as them,” whispered Kayla as she stepped away from him.  “I would prefer if you not visit me anymore unless Celeste or Acadia are around,” continued Kayla as she raised her chin.

“So I am being banished,” asked Kevin coldly as he took in her words.

Kayla shook her head, “No I am making sure I protect myself in case you decide I need a new personality to please Lucas.”

Kevin gave Kayla an astonished look as he stepped away from her.  “You are my family and I would -.”

“I believe Kaelen gets that distinction,” snapped Kayla as she glared at Kevin.

Kevin raked his hand through his hair in anger, “You are being hurtful for no reason.”

Kayla gave him a weary look, “Kevin do you not realize that you’ve changed a person’s personality to suit someone else’s wants.  You didn’t do this because you thought it would make it easier on her.  You did this,” Kayla paused and scrunch up her face, “why did you do it anyway?”

“For Kaelen,” responded Kevin with no remorse.

“Ah,” nodded Kayla as she stared at him with a guarded expression, “for Kaelen.”

“Are you serious that I can only come when Celeste or Acadia is here,” asked Kevin with a tinge of sorrow in his voice.  “Even if I want to see the children?”

“Visit the children when Lucas is around,” snapped Kayla as she walked down the stairs.  “But then again, it’s not like I can stop you from doing whatever it is you want.”

Kevin gave a dejected sigh as he watched Kayla walk angrily down the stairs towards were Ebony and Xara sat.  “Why most she make everything about herself,” sighed Kevin as he turned to leave

“Mommy’s mad because she’s not allowed to make her own decisions,” answered Lucca as stood with Mekhi next to him.

“How long have you two been standing there,” laughed Kevin as ruffled both their hair.

Mekhi smirked as he looked Kevin up and down, “Long enough to realize that if I want to remain happy I need to make sure the woman I’m with is happy.”

“Yeah,” asked Kevin as he turned to send one more look toward Kayla.  “And exactly what could I have done to make sure that she remained happy?”

“You could have just said that you altered Xara personality so she’d be happy,” offered Lucca as he vanished back to the courtyard below.

“Or you could have said that Sebastian did it without your involvement,” laughed Mekhi before he vanished to join Lucca.

“Damn kids,” laughed Kevin.  “I should have spoken to them first.”