The Tame (ON HOLD)

Of rabbits and mafia

Elysia barged in through the ebony double doors of her mother's home in blind rage, clutching a brittle newspaper in her right hand and a persimmon-red hand bag in the other. A help stood at the foot of the stairs, ready to intercept the intruder. She smiled when she saw Elysia and moved forward to welcome her. Elysia, a fuming ball of rage, exhaled in exasperation at the help and pushed the girl not so gently aside. She gave a mangled yelp and held onto a lamp post to prevent falling on the floor.

Drawing nigh to the terrace leading to her mother's chambers, she flung her bag across an armchair and barred a door open.

Mrs. Kincaid sat atop the huge bed, her back leaned languorously onto the headboard. A tray of fried eggs, waffles and bacon nestled on her lap. She twinkled an eyebrow at her daughter's rude interference, as if to reprove her and continued blowing nonchalantly at the steam of vapour rising from the mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

Elysia threw the tabloid on the orange-green sheets of the bed and stood akimbo; cocking her head to the side and awaiting her mother's reply.

"Aaw, come on darling, take a deep breath. I'm sure whatever is in these papers are not to tell us that we have an alien invasion", cooed Mrs Kincaid, setting her tray on the bedside table and reaching for the paper. A splosh of hot chocolate dripped on her black and red polka-dot pajamas, causing her to jerk instantaneously and mutter an ouch. One hand still gripping the mug like a drowning victim grasping onto a splintered board of wood, she turned the tabloid over.
COUSIN OF THE KINCAIDS FIGHT FAMILY FRIEND AT THE JUSTICE HALL, blared like a siren in juicy red letters on the front page, just waiting to be read. Mrs Kincaid sighed and leafed through the pages.

She stopped at a leaflet and read aloud,"Last night, a few minutes to midnight, a distant cousin of the Kincaid family, Phina Fields, cornered super-model Evalore Tiers in a confrontation of fists and beat the model to a pulp. The reason for their fight is still unknown but more people are speculating that the two women fought over a man who happened to be at the event..."

She paused and winked at her daughter. "Nothing has been revealed. So what's your matter?"

"That's the issue. Nothing has been revealed. This is The Orients paper we're talking about, mom. Their managing editor, Blay Greene doesn't leave any stone unturned when he's searching for revelations. The whole of London should know of the arranged marriage by now. And by the way, who even informed Blay that Phina is a cousin?"

"I did."

"You what? When did you get the time to talk to Blay? I thought you took Phina home right after the fight and treated her facial wounds."

Mrs Kincaid chortled, finishing the last contents of her mug. She stretched her long arms and gave a lazy yawn, not bothering to cover her mouth. "I asked him to come over early this morning so I could grant him an interview to dispel the rumours. He's an honest-to-goodness man, and won't print any nonsense that may jeopardize a family's name. Especially a family like ours. We've got way too much secret to protect. Besides, I offered him a business deal with an enormous newspaper marketing corporation. Who'd stupidly throw away such a deal?"

"So he's off the grid?And what's this story I read about the murder of a young boy in an alley near the hall?"

"For now, he is. I've put he and the other media houses off our tail for the moment. And do well to forget about the thug. He was just found unconscious by the police. All we've got to do now is to prevent anymore scandal."

"And how are we going to do that?", Elysia asked, going around the bed to sit next to her mother." Phina I can tell won't corporate. She's an innocent and until you tell me you have something better in mind, I can't foresee in any way, how she's going to pluck the demon wings off my brother's shoulders."