Love Potion

shaken not stirred

The sound of footsteps headed to Lucas, as he stood waiting anxiously for the traveler.. 

''Why are you still here?"" Lucas asked angrily. It was Marcus, staggering and slow, apparently drunk.

''I took my time, why should I hurry off to save humans I myself would like to murder. Besides, I needed a drink or two or twelve. He laughed.

''Where is your key?'' Lucas yelled at him.

''Where is my key? Where is yours?. Ha! He laughed and staggered backwards, ''Let me guess, somehow that little crackpot managed to swipe it, am I right?'' A smile on his face tormenting Lucas. 

''No, I don't know where it is? I must have left it behind at the mansion, I have been waiting here for another traveler. Now hand it over."

Marcus knew his brother was lying, he knew somehow Davis managed to take his key. Davis once again proved he was more than his brother could manage.

Marcus staggered and hit the wall, handing Lucas the key. Smiling. ''Are you sure you dont want to let Davis have a crack at Sloane? I mean, think about it. She is no match for him.'' He laughed at the thought.

The large door opened and in the light they saw Julian, fashionably scary with Davis's wig on.

''Ahhhhhhahahahaha, looks like the maniac was here. Hello you big ox, well don't you look pretty.'' Smiled Marcus, laughing at Julian.

''Julian, where is he? The man with the wig, did you let him pass?"

''I did, he had payment and an escort.''

''Are you out of your mind?'' Yelled Lucas to Julian.

''Of course he is, cant you tell by looking at him?'' Laughed Marcus again.

''Tell me, did he do this to you?  And he had an escort? What escort?'' Asked Lucas.

''Do what to me?'' Asked Julian insulted.

''Make you wear that on your head?'' What else did he do?''

 Lucas was concerned somehow Davis still had the power to compel, even without the potion, Julian did not like the insults or Marcus's laughing at him and he got angry.

''Are you laughing at me? What is it that is so funny Marcus?" Julian asked.

''All of it, you, me, my brother.'' He laughed. Hanging onto the wall for balance.''Do you know what he did to me?"

''Never mind that, Did a girl pass,a darling sweet girl? Lucas described Andie to Julian."I need to find her, where did she go and with who?"' Lucas handed Julian the meatball grinders.

''Oh yes a darling girl, lovely actually, even though she smelled horrible. She did pass, with a broker, to the Wellspring. That is where the other humans went.''

''A broker? You mean Benjamin, my sisters son.And who took the others, the ones that did that to you?"

''Did what to me Lucas?"  Julian asked,Again insulted.

''Who put that ridiculous mop on your head?'' That is what he is asking. Laughed Marcus again.

''What mop?''

''Never mind him, shut up Marcus!" Lucas said. Quickly losing his patience and not wanting to be declined for Marcus's insults.

"I need to go to the wellspring as well, myself and my brother.'' Explained Lucas.

''Yes, Yes, you see, my brother, the oh so powerful Lucas Barrington, knight of the queen, all 3 of the of the old bats, has fallen for that lovely smelly girl, as you described her. Not me.'' He said looking at Lucas. "Her friend has bested his attempts, now we must subject ourselves to more abuse, so Lucas can continue his pursuit. And so Davis, the madman can further make fools of all of us, including you." Marcus said smiling and staggering, holding up the flask to his lips taking another gulp.

''You are drunk, shut up Marcus. Julian I apologize, my brother is insensitive to my plight.''

''And mine as well.'' Said Julian. Disappointed his new hair was some sort of Joke.

''Who took the others?''

''It was the trader, Jimmy Lightning."

''Hahaha that fool has no idea what he is in for, Davis will roll right over him." Laughed Marcus.

''Can we pass?'' Begged Lucas.

''Please, move forward.To the Wellspring." He opened the door and Heidorn was before them. As they left he muttered under his breath.''Thank you for leaving, have a nice trip." And he planted his enourmous foot on Marcus's ass,kicking him to the ground.

Marcus hit the dirt, rolled around, losing his legs, trying to stand. His flask rolled out of his hands, spilling out.

''Hey! That's alcohol abuse! He laughed, reaching for it, trying to stand.

''Forget the booze, you really need more? You are drunk enough as it is.' Lucas scolded him. "Lets go, who knows if we are in front of them or behind them, keep moving." Lucas said annoyed. Now he had to find three humans and babysit his drunken brother. He moved quickly away from the cliffs, dragging Marcus away, his staggering would surely land him in the ocean. As they walked up into the countyside, it started to rain. The sun was shining, Lucas knew this could be trouble, he headed to the woods, Marcus in tow.

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Andie followed Benjamin, he was greeted by the dancing White Horse. It seemed like genuine affection between the two of them. Maybe he wasn't a total monster. Then she remembered the last conversation they had.

He took his horse out, handed coins to the lizard headed man and gestured to her to get on. He got on in front of her, she had to hold onto him or fall. They rode up into the hills, where they were going she did not know. She asked with a hopeful voice, trying to sound happy.

''Where are we going to?''

''We are headed to the Pendana, where my mother is. Don't worry though she will not harm you. I will convince her as I said.''

''Sounds thrilling, the Pendana? Are there new and exotic creatures there too?"

''Mostly vampire land, it is the home of my father. Zeb. Part of the Easterland, where the lover covens are.'' He answered her.

As they rode the sun shined brightly, and tiny drops of rain began to fall.

''Not good.'' Said Benjamin.

''Whats not good?'' Andie asked.

''The sun is out and it is raining, could be one of two things, either there is a rainbow breaking through and we don't want that, or the Queen is using her magic, looking for someone or something, she never does this. The risk of creating a rainbow is too great. Why would she be looking for anyone?'' He said.

''A rainbow? The queen? Asked Andie unsure of the meaning of a rainbow being a bad thing.

''If a rainbow breaks through it smashes whatever it lands on, and then the climbers jump off, these are called Frayers. Frayers are like bees in your world they can swarm and kill within minutes. Rainbows are a terror here. We must move quickly into the woods. Typically a rainbow lands in the clearings.'' He changed direction and headed for the woods.From where they were, it was almost 2 miles away. 

"And the queen? How would she be looking for someone, what does the rain have to do with anything? Andie asked.

''The rain, it is her eyes, she could be searching for you. I do not know.'' 

"Her eyes?" She asked. Well I cant say I am surprised at anything that goes on here, its all been crazy. Andie thought to herself.

As each drop fell she looked into them, she saw nothing. Until one seemed to not fall, it just hovered next to her, but behind Benjamin so that he could not see it. In the tiny globe of water she saw Cats eyes, watching her. Her heart lept and a smile came over her face her own eyes filling with tears. Catarina knew she was here. She was looking for her.

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