Universal Collision

Illusions and Kidnapping

Llana stood outside Red's house, waiting for him or Tamara to step through the door and see her. Currently, she was disguised as Elizabeth, but she knew that Red would see right through it and confront her.

But she had a backup plan for that as well.

Tamara slid the door open and smiled as she saw Llana. "You're early."

Llana shrugged, doing her best to mimic Elizabeth. "I missed my daughters. Alex asked me to check on them anyway."

For a second, Llana felt that she'd blown her cover, but Tamara's smile proved otherwise.

"Come on in. I just made lunch."

Llana smiled. This was too easy.

She followed her inside, where she immediately spotted Emma and Lauren seated at the dining room table eating grilled cheeses.

"Mom?" Lauren asked as she saw Llana.

"Were you expecting someone else?"

Lauren shrugged and set her sandwich on her plate. "You're here earlier than expected."

"I just wanted to check on you. With all that's going on, I wanted to make sure you were safe."

"We're fine. Aunt Tamara's been teaching me how to use my tendrils."

Llana smiled. "That's great," She flashed Tamara a disapproving glare, then turned to Emma.

"How have you been doing, Emma?"

Emma didn't seem to hear her. Lauren stared at her sister, confused. She always answered their mom's questions. "Is something wrong, Emma?"

Emma looked her in the eye and mouthed, "That's not mommy."

Lauren looked at Llana, then back to her sister. "Emma, what are you talking about?"

Llana placed a hand on Emma's shoulder, then cried out as if she'd been burned.

Emma spun around and six tendrils lashed themselves around Llana. "YOU'RE NOT MY MOMMY!"

Llana let her disguise slip away. "You're quite perceptive for a six-year-old. You're correct, however. I'm not your mommy."

Lauren brandished her tendrils. "Who the hell are you?"

Llana smiled. "Don't you recognize me? I'm Isabelle." She mimicked Isabelle's voice.

Tamara grabbed a knife from the sink. "No, you're not."

Llana struggled to get out of Emma's grip, but try as she may, she couldn't. "I am Rapture's queen. The true queen."

Emma released her. "Daddy sent you?"

Llana dusted herself off. "Yeah. I'm here on behalf of your daddy. He sent me here to pick you up. Would you like to go to him?" She offered her hand.

Emma looked to Lauren, then Tamara, who both tried to signal no. Emma took her hand anyway.

"Does daddy have ice cream like he said?"

"All the ice cream that you can handle."

Lauren lashed a tendril around Llana's arm and pulled her back. "Leave her alone."

Llana let go of Emma's hand and stomped her foot, creating a shockwave that sent Lauren and Tamara flying into the kitchen. Emma tugged on her skirt. "He said he wouldn't hurt them."

Llana knelt down to eye level with her. "They'll be alright. I just knocked them out. They'll wake up, I promise."

"Really?"

Llana crossed her heart. "On my husband's throne."

Emma smiled and jumped into her arms, surprising her. Llana picked her up and held her against her chest. "Let's go pay daddy a visit."