Caught in Possession

The Triumvirate

The continuation of Mew's backstory (it may be worth re-reading chapter 10 to refresh!)

Warnings: Death of family members, use of firearms, mentions of drug trafficking.

~~

Backwards, backwards, back in time to a Spring afternoon on the outskirts of Bangkok, sun winking through blossom tree branches to dapple the notice that haughtily read:

'In memory of Chatmanee Jongcheveevat
Upstanding pillar of society
Wife of Kittichat Jongcheveevat
Mother to Pechaya and Suppasit Jongcheveevat'

There were two figures amidst the dizzying, sweet, smoke trailing fragrance of the joss-scented shrine room as those earthly remains were laid to rest amongst silent, heavy tombstones on the other side of the external wall. Public collective head bowed with black, spiderweb lace veils extended whilst crocodile tears fell for the woman whose tongue had been harsh as her heart was cold. Yet the letters of the name Jongcheveevat ensured Khun Chatmanee would be mourned with sycophantic fervour at least, for her power, influence and wealth, if not her character.

A man - long haired, amber orbed and agitated - paced at one end of the chamber, while at the other stood a woman of serenity, eyes gentle but lips pursed, unwavering inner strength.

Yet they were not alone as they appeared. Fragments of their conversation drifted to a listener with every vocal crescendo and diminuendo, a younger brother behind the closed wooden door, ear pressed up against with trepidation (or was it foresight?) as he eavesdropped.

Fragments, fragments...

"You owe me this, Min...for old times, Princess...erased me from your life for two fucking years....It would only be one time...just small packages over the border"

"I'm not your 'Princess', Kraisee...not involved any more...moved on...you should too"

An age-old quarrel of bitter ex lovers, and soon to hike into far more perilous, nay carnivorous, territory.

//

"Paithoon is my niece, Gulf. The child of my sister Min, and Kraisee Lang"

A triumvirate of Mew, Gulf and the newly introduced Mild were sitting, crossed legged, on the carpeted floor of the opulent hotel room, the young girl in question in the cradle of peaceful slumber on her uncle's safe lap.

A glimmer of amusement darted through the eyes of the loyal friend as he surveyed the scene: Suppasit Jongcheveevat down on the floor as if it was the most natural thing in the world - what the hell had happened in London? He strongly suspected that the answer was not very far away, situated to his left, the exact spot from which Gulf continued on, in fact...

"So Kraisee wanted P'Min to traffic into Australia?"

A nod from Mew: "He never even considered that she could say no to him, assumed that face to face, she would still be just a puppet dancing to his toxic tune. Underestimated her to the last"

"And he didn't know about Paithoon?"

"No one did - only Min, myself and Mild. Not even our parents"

The room fell silent for some moments as Gulf digested the revelations, 'chewing the cud' in that straightforward way that had become so familiar to the elder man. Mild watching on in respectful observation of the pair, soft purring of Paithoon's steady breaths the only sound above the faintest white noise grumble of road traffic, uncountable storeys below. Until...

"Why did she agree to talk to Kraisee in the first place?", Gulf aired.

A glance exchanged between Mew and Mild then, before a decisive tip of the head, and, wearily - as if it exhausted Mew's heart to travel back there: