Immune (NaNoWriMo2014)(Wattys 2014)

11) Mercenaries (Part 1)

"Fine."

Mother Nature raised her hand, and the simple construct made of wood did the same. She stretched her will throught the puppet, and intended to pull him through the ground and to a Root.

No, Mother Nature Titiana. You may not interfere.

Mother Nature tited her head, but remained silent. She was seconds away from dragging the idiot back home.

This is the first step to his destiny. Interference now would have an even more catostrophic effect than Nathanial Arret's misdeed. You would not only guarantee the death of millions, but also cost the earth a chance at retribution.

Mother Nature grimaced. "Are you sure?"

Are you suggesting I am incorrect?

Mother Nature howled in frustration, and dropped her hold over the wooded construct. It reverted back to floorboards, and with it, the vision of Nathan and his current abode. The scenery became a blur, clashing colors and lighting, and snapped back into focus.

She was in her room, standing at the foot of her bed. The "bed" was a small pile of foliage covered with a thin silk cloth. She rarely ever used it; it was more for aesthetics than anything else.

"Mother Tree, there better be an earth shattering explenation for this, or I'll shatter it myself."

Watch your tone, Mo-

"I will watch nothing. My son is out there, with some awful 'plan' that you've encouraged him to go through with. Dont try to turn this to disrespect."

...Mother Nature Titiana. I have told you once already. This is for the sake of another.

"One person is not worth eight billion!"

When all is said and done, you shall see that the person is more than worth it. In fact, this problem you concern yourself with will be like nothing ever happened.

"Mother Tree, you are not making any sense whatsoever."

Listen to me carefully, Mother Nature Titiana. You are not allowed to directly interfere with Nathanial Arret. You will not attempt to reverse what he has done, nor will you attempt to retrieve the balancer from him. Am I understood?

Mother Nature had something very impolite to say, but openly defying Mother Tree was a very quick way to go from living to dead. "Yes, Mother Tree."

Swear it.

"Pardon?"

Swear that you will not interfere with Nathanial Arret and his actions past, present, and to come?

"I swear upon Kiyan's Altar that I will not interfere with anything that imbecile did, is doing, or tries to do." Mother Nature crossed her heart sarcastically. The wording gave her an idea.

Good.

"Now, can you please take me to Paris? I just remembered something... urgent has come up."

Of course. Brace yourself.

In a matter of disorienting seconds, Mother Nature had landed on a busy street in Paris. The air smelled of body odor masked by perfume, which to her ultra - sensitive nose was murder. But there was also the sickly sweet smell of illness lingering about.

Her clothes had changed from the gown of leaves to a pale green dress. She stood out in the mix of casually dressed natives, which was all the better for her. People moved out of her was as she walked through them, and as a result, got to the telephone booth in record time.

Mother Nature closed the door behind her, pulling the phone off the hook. She put it up to her head and, despite not entering a number, it rang.

"Hello?" A smooth female voice purred. Mother Nature took a fleeting look around before replying.

"Meet me at the top of the Eiffel in an hour exactly. We have business to discuss."

***

Mother Nature had her eyes closed, feeling the cool air pass her face and raise her hair gently with the breeze. The dying sun beat against her bare skin, and for the first time in a long time, she felt free. Not even fighting Cernunnos made her feel as powerful as she did now. This wasn't the freedom to use her full force or to speak her mind. This was the freedom in which she felt that she could fly away with the breeze.

At some point, she noticed a presence beside her. She didn't look to see who it was. She didn't even open her eyes. Why, when she felt this good?

"Grimalkin. I see you've mastered that appearing act of yours."

"Yes, well, a cat must be light on its feet." Grimalkin purred, the sound soft for a fully grown woman.

"I suppose. How did you manage to walk up at those stairs without a noise?"

Mother Nature didn't need to see Grimalkin's face to know she was smirking. "Who said I took the stairs?"

She didn't inquire further. The two women basked in the breeze of the Paris air, until Grimalkin broke silence. "Titiana. Did you call me here for a reason or for old times sake? Because while I appreciate the nostalgia, I am running a very temperamental business."

Mother Nature inhaled and exhaled, letting the skylight envelop her one last time. She opened her eyes and turned to Grimalkin, who gazed coolly at her with golden irises. Her tight fitting vest and black pants made no movement, as if she wasn't breathing. Out of the top of her head, sticking out of her sleek black hair were large, moving cat ears, that could otherwise pass as a tacky accessory. "I require your services."

"Good. So I didn't bound up the side of the Eiffel for nothing. You would like me to perform a hit? Or no?"

"No. I would like you to subdue and retrieve somebody for me."

Grimalkin made a noise that resembled a laugh. "You, Mother Nature, cannot retrieve somebody? With that intricate Root system of yours?"

"It is not mine to control. Do you want the job or not? I believe that you would like to get paid, correct?"

Grimalkin sniffed. "Who is my target? I hope it isn't some other Earthborn, or, God forbid, a Fable."

"No, no. Well, not a Fable, those people give me splitting headaches. I haven't spoken to them in decades."

"So it's an Earthborn? Do you know how difficult they are to deal with?" Grimalkin gave Mother Nature a pointed look.

"You know him already. My son, Nathanial."

"Oh." Grimalkin made her strange laughing noise. "We have much to discuss. Would you like to work out the details over dinner?"

Mother Nature closed her eyes again, letting the very last ray of sunshine wash over her. "I already have the place in mind,"

Vote if you enjoyed! Words this chapter: 1126

Total word count: 34,520

Let's see how much I can get today before I stop. The goal is 10k over a series of parts.