Coveted [New/Revised Version]

ASKING FAVORS WITH FLAVOR

     Despite being in an affluent community, Chancellor Manor was still a sharp contrast to its counterparts. Large walls of burnished stone and grand hedges surrounded it, keeping curious eyes from catching sight of what secrets it held captive inside. But that didn't keep the Cassidy sisters from walking up the cobbled pathway toward the entrance. Iris tried the wrought iron gates and not surprisingly, they were locked.

"Guess nobody's home." She turned back to her older sister.

"Let's find out."

Iris moved aside when Sue extended her arm. Gusts of wind started whipping around the girls furiously, making the gates groan with their strain. Iris tried to keep her hair out of her eyes as the winds picked up. Shoving outward, their barricades ripped open.

"After you." Sue smiled sweetly.

They marched forward, shutting the gates behind them. Inside, they were met by an estate larger than the Jayden residence. It stood regally with brownstone walls and numerous French windows. The only flaw was the half sawed down tree lying on the ground near the entrance. The other half was cut in many, smaller chunks that could be considered firewood on the immaculate lawn that seemed to stretch on, unobstructed, forever before them save for the few statuaries of angels scattered from corner to corner. They ranged in height from some being shorter than the girls, others just as tall, and the grander ones were much bigger than them.

The largest dominated a good portion of the eastern side of the lawn with its enormous outstretched wings. The great, muscled body built from black marble unsettled Iris but not as much as the gloomy scarlet of his eyes. He held a sword in one of his large hands and the other looked like it was reaching for something above with his face inclined upward. There were marks lining the magnificent body of the angel that reminded her too much of Zairian so she looked away. Light snow was still falling, clinging to the blades of grass or their hair before slowly melting away.

They continued up the cobblestone to the front doors.

"How much do you want to bet that's locked too?" Sue arched a brow.

When they got close enough, Sue tilted her head sideways, her eyes flaring luminous green. The pair of wooden doors rattled, their handles circling wildly. They finally yielded and swung back to reveal what was beyond them. As it was, Mindy was standing inside with blackened eyes.

"It's rude to barge in people's homes uninvited," she snarled and made a backhanding motion that sent them flying. "I suppose I'll have to teach you that lesson. Fun!"

The grass didn't do much to break their fall and they landed on their backs painfully. Iris flopped over on her stomach, trying to push herself up. Sue was trying to get in sitting position when there was a shifting in the grass.

"Hope you don't have any solid plans." Mindy stared down her noses at them. "This could take a while."

Iris glared at the brunette before getting enough leverage to launch at Mindy. The older female didn't have time to dodge her so she was knocked down. They went down in a tumble of unladylike curses and punches. She never would've guessed it but Mindy was a fighter and a good one at that but she also fought dirty, digging her heels and nails in Iris' flesh whenever she got the chance.

Who the hell wears heels at home? Iris thought pointedly when she felt another stiletto pierce her shoulder.

"Have a plan," Sue grunted, wrapping a fistful of Mindy's long hair around her hand and tugging. "You're kind of ruining it."