What's The News? • Lemoxie

Chapter Fourteen

"My God it's lovely!" I said, bookmarking my page.

"We have associates here to take Stewart and then we'll drive another thirty minutes to our place."

"We're not staying here?" I asked incredulously.
"Well of course not!" Kit giggled. "However, there is a wonderful dormitory in the Mortimain Mountians headquarters, but this is were we'll be for that masquerade ball Lemony most likely invited you to. Which is too bad because the view from the Valley of Four Drafts is incredible."

Kit used her handkerchief to tie Stewart's hands behind his back in a Devil's Tongue knot. She just kinda dragged him by the arms since he was still unconscious. Lemony and I followed as she led us towards a room a little past the foyer. There were three women waiting there for us.

"Moxie, this is Jacqueline, Karen, and Samantha." Lemony introduced me, pointing out who each name belonged to.

"Wait. You're Moxie?" Karen asked excitedly.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah I'm pretty sure that's what my name is."

"Karen, no need to get sidetracked," Samantha said calmly, "We need to deal with this punk first."

"We'll be at the masquerade ball," Jacqueline told me with a smile. "We can talk then if you're not clinging to Lemony's arm." I smiled back to show I thought that sounds like a plan and the six of us left in different directions.

A little later, we arrived at a beautiful mansion.

"I thought we weren't making any more stops...?" I said quizzicaly.
"We're not." Kit said. "Come on I'll show you to your room."

I looked at Lemony and I was sure the confusion I felt was all across my face.

"L, I think you forgot to tell your 'prime associate' a little something about you..." Kit pointed out.
" Moxie, Love. "
"I'm listening."
"There's something I neglected to tell you about my family. You see, every family in VFD is quite wealthy."
" So you're saying you're rich? "
"That's the long and short of it." He said shyly.

"And also Lemony's book sales aren't doing anything to change that." Kit said proudly.
"I'm going to need several explanations, Snicket." I said, grabbing my bags and typewriter and following Kit through a beautifully designed and decorated estate. "Nice pile of bricks you have here." I said in astonishment.

"Thanks. It's really my place but I let Jacques and Lemony crash here once and now they live here. I couldn't bring myself to kick them out if I wanted to." She informed me.
"Are you the eldest?"
" Jacques is. I'm the middle child. L is our baby brother. Ah here we are."

Kit stopped in front of one of the rooms. "See those double doors a little ways down the hall? That's the library."
"I'll be sure to check it out during my stay."

I went to drop off my bags and let me tell you the room I was staying in was beautiful. It had a queen sized bed with a big fluffy comforter and a perfect amount of pillows- enough for comfort but not enough so that you're drowning in pillows. I saw a door that led to a bathroom and an armoire with plenty of shelves and drawers inside as well as the hanger bar.

After I was done scurrying about my room to look at stuff, Kit took me on a small tour of the rest of the places I'd need to know them left me back at my room to unpack. When I returned, there was an absolutely stunning ball gown in a deep shade of black hung up in the armoire and the bodice was covered in sparkly black jewels. There was also a mask that resembled the Bombinating Beast on a shelf, in it being kind of scaly and slightly angular and also black. There was also a note stuck to the door of it.

"If the dress doesn't fit, there's definitely enough time for you and my sister to go  get it fixed up. I'll be in the library if you still need things explained.
-Lemony
PS- hope you're fine with the Bombinating Beast theme. It was the best I could think of."

I grinned. He's so thoughtful! If I wasn't definitely looking forward to this masquerade ball, I was then since I knew I was going in this fancy getup!

I smiled at the gorgeous dress, adjusted my hat, and grabbed my typewriter before walking down the hall into an amazing library. There was a nice little seating area and I found Lemony laying sideways in a chair reading a book.

"This place is incredible," I beamed.
"I agree," he said, returning my smile as he fixed his position on the chair and set aside his book. "Sit down and I'll answer any questions you have."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart." He chuckled.

Although he had gestured for me to sit on the ottoman next to him, I sat in his lap and opened my typewriter in my lap. "Question number 1-"

"Out of how many?"

" Dunno. Is there anything else I need to know about VFD? "
"Well... It's dangerous, but you already know that."
" Why is it dangerous?"

"Our organization split apart not so long ago, with much bitterness on both sides. The schism, as we call it. VFD was once a united group of volunteers, trying to extinguish fires— both literally and figuratively. But now there are two groups of bitter enemies. Some of us continue to extinguish fires, but others have turned to much less noble schemes. I myself was so young when the schism happened that I don't remember what it was like prior. Kit says that when our organization shattered, it was as if the world had shattered too. A symbol that once stood for nobility and literature is rather quickly getting a new meaning. Our enemies are getting bolder, Moxie, and quite frankly, I... I'm scared. And there's no way to get scared about this one later, you know."

"I'm sorry to hear that." I said quietly when I finished typing, "What caused it?"
"I don't know." He admitted.

I nodded, rubbing his shoulder sympathetically.

"I'm ready for another question, if you have one." He said finally.
"Earlier, Kit said something about your book sales. Why's that?"

Lemony grinned at me. "That question is easy! I'm a published author!" He said proudly.
"Oh?"
" Yep! Here get up so I can show you some of my books. Although I only have two out so far. "

I got out of the chair and set aside my typewriter, helping Lemony up. "Follow me!" He grinned. I did so as he led me to a pair of books sitting alone on an empty side of a library shelf.

" All The Wrong Questions. 'Who Could That Be at This Hour?' and 'When Did You See Her Last?' " I read. "Those are the titles?"
"Yes they are."
" What are they about? "

"My apprenticeship. They're for VFD research purposes but a lot of volunteers suggested I publish them since they're so entertaining apparently."

I opened the first one to a random page and read a small excerpt in my head. "Well congratulations, Lemony! Can I keep this with me so can read it?"
"Of course! Is there anything else you need answered?"

I thought for a moment. "Is there anybody I should be wary of? In like a 'This person is potentially dangerous ' way?"

"Quite a few. There's Ernest Denouement and he's been pretty sketchy as of late. It's difficult to tell him apart from his brothers since they're triplets. Frank is usually really nice and Dewey can be seen with my sister since they're close. You don't have to worry about Frank or Dewey though. Beware of Georgina and stay out of her optometry chair. Beatrice saw her reading a copy of the Encyclopedia Hypnotica and said she seemed quite invested in it."

"Hypnosis? Isn't that only in comic books and scary movies?"

"Wish I could say yes. Now let me finish. Esmé may have the IQ of a tube of lipstick, but she's been... Off lately..."
" Off? What do you mean by 'off'? "
"Unstable and temperamental. Just... Promise me you'll be careful around these associates, especially her. Lord knows what she's capable of. And then there's Olaf. Him and Stew would get along real nice. I remember when I was eleven in my Code Class, he'd write anagrams of obscene words. I'd usually spend my time writing to my friend Beatrice."

" Should I be wary of her?" I asked, anxious for his answer.
"No! She's not dangerous at all!"
"You know perfectly well I didn't mean it like that."

" Again, no. Moxie, I fell for you. Always remember that, Love. Absolutely nobody is perfect enough to make me feel the way I feel about you. Understand?"

I wrapped my arms around Lemony and gave him a hug. "Yeah. I understand." I grinned.