If there are any old Dead End Streets fans still floating around, I just wanted to let you guys know that I've written some porn in the universe. It's about two minor characters from the series, Damian and Jamie-boy. It is free for the next few days, but if anyone misses the free deadline and you really want to read it, just drop me a line and I will hook you up.
http://leighwilder.blogspot.com/2012/10/free-download-drain-me-dry.html
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Hello. Sorry, no new chapters. I just wanted to pass along this link for anyone still poking around on here. My published stories (all erotica) can be accessed through this site: http://leighwilder.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ummm....
Yeah...so I'm not dead, my god I'm so sorry you were worried I was dead. I was/am really depressed, but not dead.
Secret Identities kind of fizzled out (I felt too bad about it to say anything at the time, and then I just tried to pretend it didnt exist), and I haven't really been doing much writing. A short story once every couple of months, a few fanfics. I did participate in Nanowrimo, but it was awful. I finished, but I produced nothing of merit or worth sharing. I sold some porn over the summer...I think it's going to be published in June.
I've been guilt-ridden about my cats for the last 10 months, I finally got a terrible job that I want to kill myself over some days, and I don't really like where I'm living now. New town, no friends outside of work, that kind of thing. My foreclosure is still unresolved...and so on.
I'm really sorry. My life is an absolute mess, and while I've always had depression, it's been worse this past year. I know I owe it to both you guys and my characters to get back on the story and finish it. I hope that someday I will.
The best place to keep track of me (at the moment) is under the name CreamLemon on fanfiction.net This profile is connected to my main email so I'll get any messages you send from there.
I'm sorry.
Secret Identities kind of fizzled out (I felt too bad about it to say anything at the time, and then I just tried to pretend it didnt exist), and I haven't really been doing much writing. A short story once every couple of months, a few fanfics. I did participate in Nanowrimo, but it was awful. I finished, but I produced nothing of merit or worth sharing. I sold some porn over the summer...I think it's going to be published in June.
I've been guilt-ridden about my cats for the last 10 months, I finally got a terrible job that I want to kill myself over some days, and I don't really like where I'm living now. New town, no friends outside of work, that kind of thing. My foreclosure is still unresolved...and so on.
I'm really sorry. My life is an absolute mess, and while I've always had depression, it's been worse this past year. I know I owe it to both you guys and my characters to get back on the story and finish it. I hope that someday I will.
The best place to keep track of me (at the moment) is under the name CreamLemon on fanfiction.net This profile is connected to my main email so I'll get any messages you send from there.
I'm sorry.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Chapter 25 Semester 2 Week 7
Glory should have been ecstatic from her victory over Dark Lothario. Patricia had hugged her and thanked her the entire ride back to campus, where they switched cars and took her home in Black’s sedan. KP, Torch, and Righteous had stayed behind, and honestly, she was glad. She didn’t want to see KP ever again, as far as she was concerned. She didn’t know what had happened between him and the Mistress of Minds, but she didn’t care. One simply did not let their boyfriends get away with kissing super villains. She just had Black drop her off at home, where she cried until Lola came home on Sunday evening.
“You’re still alive, so I take it everything went okay?” Lola said, looking less put-together than usual. Her hair was unbrushed, pulled back into a pony tail, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup.
“I think I broke up with my boyfriend.”
Lola put her hand back on the doorknob. “Do I need to go out for ice cream?” Glory felt a prickle of tears in her eyes and nodded.
Lola disappeared and came back with five flavors of the most expensive brand the neighborhood gourmet grocery store had. She set them in a row in front of Glory at the dining room table and handed her a spoon. “So tell me about it.”
Glory ate her way through a large portion of the chocolate raspberry truffle pint while she told Lola what had happened during the rescue.
“Clearly he is an idiot,” Lola said finally. “He just doesn’t appreciate the glory that is you.”
“I know,” Glory agreed. “He had no right to do that.”
“All the same,” Lola continued. “Shouldn’t you at least ask him about it?”
“But why didn’t he lie?” Glory asked. She had thought about it. The Mistress of Minds. He could have told her she made him kiss her. Why hadn’t he done that? Any normal boy would have lied.
Lola shrugged. “I don’t know.”
******
Lawrence would have walked away from it all as soon as they got back to the university Saturday night. Walk into a party hosted by Dark Lothario? What the hell was wrong with him? America was what was wrong with him. He’d go and do anything for her--even nearly get himself killed. The League of Heroes? What a joke. He was not the hero type. He was the book and computer type.
“I’m quitting,” He told torch Sunday night, giving himself a day to think about it, knowing it made no difference.
“Quitting what?” Torch was sitting in the middle of his flame-proof bed lighting and extinguishing a candle without touching it.
“The league.”
Torch lit the candle and let it burn. “C’mon. You don’t want to quit. The League has been so good to you.”
“I’d argue that point,” Lawrence said. “I suck at combat training. My powers are nowhere near where they should be--”
“Which is why you’re getting training for that. It’s wonderful. Look at what I can do!” He gestured at the candle, which flared up momentarily and then settled back into a normal flame. Lawrence looked at the candle. Torch was getting what he needed, and that was great. But he wasn’t Torch. They didn’t need the same things.
“I just want to be normal again,” Lawrence admitted. “The League seemed like a good excuse to not do what my mother wanted me to do. I was dumb to even consider it. This isn’t for me.”
“Just think about it,” Torch insisted. “Don’t give up the best thing that could ever happen to you on a whim. Think about it.”
“Yeah,” Lawrence said, more than ready to drop the conversation and sorry he had brought it up at all. “I’ll think about it.”
******
Glory skipped her first League meeting ever, positive that she could not stand looking at KP for even a moment. Every time she thought of him the image of her boyfriend kissing the enemy flashed into her brain and she had to stop what she was doing and remind herself that she was a super hero, she was Glorious, and that everything was going to turn out fine. But nothing felt fine, not even when she went to her hand to hand class on Wednesday and Captain Righteous and Black gave her the confident, knowing smiles of people who had gotten away with something big.
Before class started KP came up to her, looking more than a little unsure of himself. “I guess--I’m--I’m sorry.”
“You guess you’re sorry?” Glory burst out.
“No--I don’t mean that--I mean, I am sorry. Very sorry. It just happened. I made a mess of things--you have no idea how big of a mess. I know I hurt you and its wrong and I don’t have an excuse. I’m sorry.”
“Apology not accepted,” she said. “What on earth were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking, it just happened. I’m sorry it happened, and I’m sorry you saw it. I think its right for us to break up though. It wasn’t going to work.”
“Because you’re a jackass.”
“Among other things, yes, if it makes you feel any better.”
“It doesn’t,” she said. “Why wasn’t it working?”
“You know why,” he said. “Because you’re better at this than I am. Because you want it more. In time you’d realize that you didn’t want me holding you back. Dragging this out wasn’t going to help either of us.”
Glory realized this was true, and she didn’t like it, because suddenly he wasn’t a cheating bastard--they were just two people that weren’t compatible anymore. And that didn’t make her angry, just sad. Her first real relationship, and it hadn’t even lasted the entire school year. “It was fun while it lasted,” she said finally. “And I’m still furious at you.”
“Understandable,” he said. “I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Appreciated,” she told him, and turned away.
During class, as she was sparring with Captain Righteous, it was very difficult not to cry, and he pulled her away from everyone else after they were done. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course,” she said, knowing she sounded miserable. She had wanted her first love, romance anyway (the more she thought about it, she realized their relationship had never been about love), to be perfect, and instead it was a mess.
“He never deserved you,” he told her. “You know that, right? He’s just a little twerp--and a terrible hero.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But somehow that doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.” She said it, and knew it was true. She might have to go home and eat some more of Lola’s ice cream and cry a bit more, but it was going to be okay.
“Are you sure?
“Thanks,” she said, doing her best to smile at him. “But I really am going to be okay.”
******
The feelings of guilt Lola had been feeling did not go away after dropping forty dollars on gourmet ice cream. Not guilt that she had kissed Glory’s boyfriend--guilt that they had been caught. She should never have done that with Glory so close. But maybe that was why she did. Had she wanted Glory to catch them? What a horrible idea. She hated causing Glory any more pain than she already was simply be existing as the Mistress of Minds.
Between Lawrence and Glory and the trouble she was probably in with Dark Lothario, Lola could hardly sleep that night, and went to class the next day feeling as though she were hung over. The next day was only slightly better in the morning, until she remembered that she would have to see Lawrence in class.
He seemed normal enough when she sat down next to him, but that didn’t mean anything to people like them. “How was your weekend?” she couldn’t help asking when she sat down next to him.
“Don’t ask,” he replied. “Hey--I know you hate me and all, but do you want to get coffee or something after class?”
“You are unbelievable,” she said, wishing she’d never spoken. “Problems keeping your girlfriend?”
“How’d you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Look, I told you I was sorry. It’s not going to matter at the end of the year anyway.”
“Why not?”
“I’m transferring out of here. I can’t take this place any more.”
What about the League was on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to bite it back. “Oh,” she said instead. “Well, nice knowing you--have a nice life.”
“But I’m not gone yet,” Lawrence said. “Don’t you like me even a little bit? You used to.”
“I’m so over it,” Lola said simply, and took her book out of her bag and ignored him the rest of class.
*****
One of Dark Lothario’s henchmen showed up at Lola’s lair a few days later. She had been doing her homework there every evening waiting. She had been in agony, unsure of what he was going to do, so when the man arrived it was almost a relief. She went with him in a limo to the Belle Grand and met Dark Lothario at the door of his penthouse.
“It was very wise of you to accept the invitation,” he told her as he led her to his office and sat down at his desk. “And also foolish. You and I both know that you’re the one behind the mess with those hero kids.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“I don’t need to prove anything--I’m not the police, I’m not a lawyer or a judge. I am above the law, and I don’t appreciate it when people try to cross me. I don’t like being humiliated in public. These little power plays of yours stop now.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re fired. And if you have any sense you’ll leave town and let my operation alone.”
“What will happen if I don’t?”
He sighed. “Nothing. Nothing will happen.” He leaned back in his chair with a groan. “I’m too young to have children.”
Lola felt a heaviness settle onto her chest. “The test came back positive?”
“Did you have any doubts?”
Lola shook her head, but at the same time her emotions reeled inside her. It was one thing to think Dark Lothario was her father, but entirely another to know it. Now she knew. This was the man who had been missing from her life the last nineteen years. This man--powerful, controlling, cruel, manipulative. “So now what?” she asked.
“You can’t work under me,” he said. “You don’t approve of my work or my methods, and your insubordination is unforgivable. I’ve killed men for much less. So.” He folded his hands on the desk in front of him. “What do you want to do?”
“What--what do I want to do?”
“Yes. Are you going to be my enemy?”
Lola sat down in the chair opposite him. “I don’t want to be,” she said carefully. "I had to rescue her. It was nothing against you--it's just that Patricia is my friend.”
“You want to be a super villain. We don’t have friends.”
“I want to change the world,” Lola corrected him. “I want to use my powers to force people to make this world a better place. I know I’m young and I don’t know what I’m doing. But that is what I want.”
“To rule the world.” Dark Lothario shook his head. “I wanted to do that once. I got over it quick.”
“But I can control anybody,” Lola hissed. “And I’ve been getting stronger all year.”
“Can you control the heroes?”
Lola thought of Lawrence. Sometimes he did as she commanded, but sometimes he did not. And she had never tried to control Glory. “I’m getting stronger,” she repeated.
“Consider living a comfortable life instead of a great one,” Dark Lothario. “There’s some fatherly advice. You want to control something, find yourself a nice town or small city--”
“Like this one?”
“This one is taken,” he answered abruptly. “But if you’d like, I’ll put you in my will.”
“Thanks for the gesture,” Lola said, standing. “I have to go.”
He waited for her to turn away before saying anything. “What’s your name?” The question was unexpected, and she turned and stared. “What? I can’t keep calling you ‘little girl,’ can I? Or Mistress of Minds.” he made a face. “It’s just creepy.”
She half smiled at his awkwardness. “It’s Lola,” she answered. “Dad.”
“Don’t call me that,” he replied as she walked away. “It makes me sound old.”
Lola walked out of the hotel smiling.
*****
A/N: I have no excuse other than this week is the first week I've actually enjoyed writing in about 3 months. I'm working on another project besides this one and am feeling good about my writing in general. Expect things to get more regular--I promise.
Glory should have been ecstatic from her victory over Dark Lothario. Patricia had hugged her and thanked her the entire ride back to campus, where they switched cars and took her home in Black’s sedan. KP, Torch, and Righteous had stayed behind, and honestly, she was glad. She didn’t want to see KP ever again, as far as she was concerned. She didn’t know what had happened between him and the Mistress of Minds, but she didn’t care. One simply did not let their boyfriends get away with kissing super villains. She just had Black drop her off at home, where she cried until Lola came home on Sunday evening.
“You’re still alive, so I take it everything went okay?” Lola said, looking less put-together than usual. Her hair was unbrushed, pulled back into a pony tail, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup.
“I think I broke up with my boyfriend.”
Lola put her hand back on the doorknob. “Do I need to go out for ice cream?” Glory felt a prickle of tears in her eyes and nodded.
Lola disappeared and came back with five flavors of the most expensive brand the neighborhood gourmet grocery store had. She set them in a row in front of Glory at the dining room table and handed her a spoon. “So tell me about it.”
Glory ate her way through a large portion of the chocolate raspberry truffle pint while she told Lola what had happened during the rescue.
“Clearly he is an idiot,” Lola said finally. “He just doesn’t appreciate the glory that is you.”
“I know,” Glory agreed. “He had no right to do that.”
“All the same,” Lola continued. “Shouldn’t you at least ask him about it?”
“But why didn’t he lie?” Glory asked. She had thought about it. The Mistress of Minds. He could have told her she made him kiss her. Why hadn’t he done that? Any normal boy would have lied.
Lola shrugged. “I don’t know.”
******
Lawrence would have walked away from it all as soon as they got back to the university Saturday night. Walk into a party hosted by Dark Lothario? What the hell was wrong with him? America was what was wrong with him. He’d go and do anything for her--even nearly get himself killed. The League of Heroes? What a joke. He was not the hero type. He was the book and computer type.
“I’m quitting,” He told torch Sunday night, giving himself a day to think about it, knowing it made no difference.
“Quitting what?” Torch was sitting in the middle of his flame-proof bed lighting and extinguishing a candle without touching it.
“The league.”
Torch lit the candle and let it burn. “C’mon. You don’t want to quit. The League has been so good to you.”
“I’d argue that point,” Lawrence said. “I suck at combat training. My powers are nowhere near where they should be--”
“Which is why you’re getting training for that. It’s wonderful. Look at what I can do!” He gestured at the candle, which flared up momentarily and then settled back into a normal flame. Lawrence looked at the candle. Torch was getting what he needed, and that was great. But he wasn’t Torch. They didn’t need the same things.
“I just want to be normal again,” Lawrence admitted. “The League seemed like a good excuse to not do what my mother wanted me to do. I was dumb to even consider it. This isn’t for me.”
“Just think about it,” Torch insisted. “Don’t give up the best thing that could ever happen to you on a whim. Think about it.”
“Yeah,” Lawrence said, more than ready to drop the conversation and sorry he had brought it up at all. “I’ll think about it.”
******
Glory skipped her first League meeting ever, positive that she could not stand looking at KP for even a moment. Every time she thought of him the image of her boyfriend kissing the enemy flashed into her brain and she had to stop what she was doing and remind herself that she was a super hero, she was Glorious, and that everything was going to turn out fine. But nothing felt fine, not even when she went to her hand to hand class on Wednesday and Captain Righteous and Black gave her the confident, knowing smiles of people who had gotten away with something big.
Before class started KP came up to her, looking more than a little unsure of himself. “I guess--I’m--I’m sorry.”
“You guess you’re sorry?” Glory burst out.
“No--I don’t mean that--I mean, I am sorry. Very sorry. It just happened. I made a mess of things--you have no idea how big of a mess. I know I hurt you and its wrong and I don’t have an excuse. I’m sorry.”
“Apology not accepted,” she said. “What on earth were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking, it just happened. I’m sorry it happened, and I’m sorry you saw it. I think its right for us to break up though. It wasn’t going to work.”
“Because you’re a jackass.”
“Among other things, yes, if it makes you feel any better.”
“It doesn’t,” she said. “Why wasn’t it working?”
“You know why,” he said. “Because you’re better at this than I am. Because you want it more. In time you’d realize that you didn’t want me holding you back. Dragging this out wasn’t going to help either of us.”
Glory realized this was true, and she didn’t like it, because suddenly he wasn’t a cheating bastard--they were just two people that weren’t compatible anymore. And that didn’t make her angry, just sad. Her first real relationship, and it hadn’t even lasted the entire school year. “It was fun while it lasted,” she said finally. “And I’m still furious at you.”
“Understandable,” he said. “I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Appreciated,” she told him, and turned away.
During class, as she was sparring with Captain Righteous, it was very difficult not to cry, and he pulled her away from everyone else after they were done. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course,” she said, knowing she sounded miserable. She had wanted her first love, romance anyway (the more she thought about it, she realized their relationship had never been about love), to be perfect, and instead it was a mess.
“He never deserved you,” he told her. “You know that, right? He’s just a little twerp--and a terrible hero.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But somehow that doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay.” She said it, and knew it was true. She might have to go home and eat some more of Lola’s ice cream and cry a bit more, but it was going to be okay.
“Are you sure?
“Thanks,” she said, doing her best to smile at him. “But I really am going to be okay.”
******
The feelings of guilt Lola had been feeling did not go away after dropping forty dollars on gourmet ice cream. Not guilt that she had kissed Glory’s boyfriend--guilt that they had been caught. She should never have done that with Glory so close. But maybe that was why she did. Had she wanted Glory to catch them? What a horrible idea. She hated causing Glory any more pain than she already was simply be existing as the Mistress of Minds.
Between Lawrence and Glory and the trouble she was probably in with Dark Lothario, Lola could hardly sleep that night, and went to class the next day feeling as though she were hung over. The next day was only slightly better in the morning, until she remembered that she would have to see Lawrence in class.
He seemed normal enough when she sat down next to him, but that didn’t mean anything to people like them. “How was your weekend?” she couldn’t help asking when she sat down next to him.
“Don’t ask,” he replied. “Hey--I know you hate me and all, but do you want to get coffee or something after class?”
“You are unbelievable,” she said, wishing she’d never spoken. “Problems keeping your girlfriend?”
“How’d you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Look, I told you I was sorry. It’s not going to matter at the end of the year anyway.”
“Why not?”
“I’m transferring out of here. I can’t take this place any more.”
What about the League was on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to bite it back. “Oh,” she said instead. “Well, nice knowing you--have a nice life.”
“But I’m not gone yet,” Lawrence said. “Don’t you like me even a little bit? You used to.”
“I’m so over it,” Lola said simply, and took her book out of her bag and ignored him the rest of class.
*****
One of Dark Lothario’s henchmen showed up at Lola’s lair a few days later. She had been doing her homework there every evening waiting. She had been in agony, unsure of what he was going to do, so when the man arrived it was almost a relief. She went with him in a limo to the Belle Grand and met Dark Lothario at the door of his penthouse.
“It was very wise of you to accept the invitation,” he told her as he led her to his office and sat down at his desk. “And also foolish. You and I both know that you’re the one behind the mess with those hero kids.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“I don’t need to prove anything--I’m not the police, I’m not a lawyer or a judge. I am above the law, and I don’t appreciate it when people try to cross me. I don’t like being humiliated in public. These little power plays of yours stop now.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re fired. And if you have any sense you’ll leave town and let my operation alone.”
“What will happen if I don’t?”
He sighed. “Nothing. Nothing will happen.” He leaned back in his chair with a groan. “I’m too young to have children.”
Lola felt a heaviness settle onto her chest. “The test came back positive?”
“Did you have any doubts?”
Lola shook her head, but at the same time her emotions reeled inside her. It was one thing to think Dark Lothario was her father, but entirely another to know it. Now she knew. This was the man who had been missing from her life the last nineteen years. This man--powerful, controlling, cruel, manipulative. “So now what?” she asked.
“You can’t work under me,” he said. “You don’t approve of my work or my methods, and your insubordination is unforgivable. I’ve killed men for much less. So.” He folded his hands on the desk in front of him. “What do you want to do?”
“What--what do I want to do?”
“Yes. Are you going to be my enemy?”
Lola sat down in the chair opposite him. “I don’t want to be,” she said carefully. "I had to rescue her. It was nothing against you--it's just that Patricia is my friend.”
“You want to be a super villain. We don’t have friends.”
“I want to change the world,” Lola corrected him. “I want to use my powers to force people to make this world a better place. I know I’m young and I don’t know what I’m doing. But that is what I want.”
“To rule the world.” Dark Lothario shook his head. “I wanted to do that once. I got over it quick.”
“But I can control anybody,” Lola hissed. “And I’ve been getting stronger all year.”
“Can you control the heroes?”
Lola thought of Lawrence. Sometimes he did as she commanded, but sometimes he did not. And she had never tried to control Glory. “I’m getting stronger,” she repeated.
“Consider living a comfortable life instead of a great one,” Dark Lothario. “There’s some fatherly advice. You want to control something, find yourself a nice town or small city--”
“Like this one?”
“This one is taken,” he answered abruptly. “But if you’d like, I’ll put you in my will.”
“Thanks for the gesture,” Lola said, standing. “I have to go.”
He waited for her to turn away before saying anything. “What’s your name?” The question was unexpected, and she turned and stared. “What? I can’t keep calling you ‘little girl,’ can I? Or Mistress of Minds.” he made a face. “It’s just creepy.”
She half smiled at his awkwardness. “It’s Lola,” she answered. “Dad.”
“Don’t call me that,” he replied as she walked away. “It makes me sound old.”
Lola walked out of the hotel smiling.
*****
A/N: I have no excuse other than this week is the first week I've actually enjoyed writing in about 3 months. I'm working on another project besides this one and am feeling good about my writing in general. Expect things to get more regular--I promise.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Ch 24 Sem 2 Wk 6 pt 2
Lola sat on the edge of the bed with Patricia holding her hand. “It’s going to be okay,” she promised, hoping she could keep the promise, that she wasn’t making a terrible mistake. She had put everyone she cared about on the line with this one. Glory, Patricia, even dumb Lawrence was on the line. And she was. “Just stay calm and don’t do anything stupid,” she continued. “We can’t do anything stupid.”
“Are you okay?” Patricia asked her. “You look a little pale.”
“Everything will be fine.” Lola stood up and started pacing.
“You’re making me nervous,” Patricia said.
Lola spun around and gave her friend her best smile. “I have to go check on the caterers.” she left the room, careful to lock it behind her. Dark Lothario had cameras everywhere.
Out in the large living room there was bustling everywhere as the buffet was being set up, flowers were being brought in, and last minute cleaning was being carried on by the regular hotel staff. Her patsy, Roy Gillespie, was standing around drinking coffee with a couple other security guys, half private, the other half working for the hotel, Roy among them. Many of the staff at the Belmonte Grande had criminal records. Roy’s record included multiple counts of domestic violence, arson, and possession with the intent to sell. And that was just what he’d been caught doing. Anything that Dark Lothario might do to him as punishment for letting the heroes in, well, he deserved it.
In a few short days with Dark Lothario Lola had discovered that there was a dark side to every industry in the city. While the catering company hired to do the food worked all sorts of mainstream events, the owner of the company was a retired super villain. The musicians were a group of henchmen who liked to get together and jam, and the film crew worked for Dark Lothario exclusively.
A round bed had appeared in the center of the room, and an area had been taped off for the camera equipment. The show would be broadcasted live for free that night only on the Dark Lothario Presents website, and after that it would be available for download for the discounted low price of $9.95. Lola wanted to throw up at the very sight of the bed and turned away.
Refrigerated cabinets and hot boxes were beginning to line the hall leading to the emergency stairs, and Lola slipped between them to check the door, as though the lock would jam or something. As soon as she shut the door again she heard Dark Lothario’s voice in the main room. She quickly opened one of the coolers and grabbed at the first pastry she saw.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Dark Lothario asked her as she stepped back into the main room, biting into the fruit tart she’d procured. It was peach--she hated peach. “You’re going to get too round for your costume,” he said with a laugh.
“Like you’re one to talk,” she countered, and he laughed harder.
“I like your nerve,” he said. “It’s not very smart of you, but I like it all the same. How are we doing?”
“All exits are secure,” she lied. “The catering staff will be here in an hour, the band is due any minute, and I called Lou the camera guy. He’s stuck in traffic but will be here in plenty of time to set up for the event.”
“Wonderful. You’re better at this than Spider,” he complemented. “He never knew what was going on before a party.
“My mother likes to throw parties,” she explained. “She doesn’t like to do the work that goes into one.”
“That sounds like your mother. Is she still a bank robber?”
“She is,” Lola said, feeling strange. She wasn’t used to talking about her mother as Mesmera.
“She had so much promise--but no drive, no ambition.”
“Not really.”
“You are nothing like her,” he said thoughtfully. “You don’t even look like her.”
“She always said I was my father’s daughter.”
Dark Lothario made a breathy “humpf” sound and turned away. “I’ll be in my room, getting ready. Let me know when the guests begin to arrive.”
“Yes sir,” she answered, distracted momentarily by her phone buzzing. “Excuse me.”
She escaped into the outer hallway and fished her phone out of her costume. It was Glory. “Where are you?” she cried into the phone, her voice an octave higher than usual. “I have to go on my biggest mission ever and I’m freaking out!”
“I’m sorry,” Lola said. “I’m busy.”
“Busy with what! You know how important this is--how can you be busy.”
“Take a deep breath and you’ll be fine,” Lola offered, hating herself a little. “I’m sorry,” she said, thinking fast. “My mom finally came home. I’m on my way home to see her.”
Glory was silent on the other line. “Your mother?” she said finally. “You decide to pick
now to care about her?”
“She is my mom,” Lola said.
She could hear Glory sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Me too. But you’ll be fine. Glorious.”
“I don’t feel very glorious right now.”
“You are. I’ll be thinking about you. I’ll send positive vibes your way.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll have your friends with you--you’ll be fine. Nothing bad will happen.”
“I hope not.”
*****
Glory tried not to be angry with Lola as she got ready for the rescue attempt of a lifetime. She tucked her hair up into the short brown wig Lola and gotten her, and put on a pair of Lola’s glasses. Lola was nearsighted, but only slightly, and after wearing the glasses for a few minutes Glory’s eyes began to adjust. She buttoned up her vest and put on the matching bowtie. She hoped she looked like a nondescript server. She felt like a super hero in disguise.
She jumped at the knock on the door and ran to open it. KP and Torch were there dressed in their catering outfits. She still couldn’t get over the idea of KP without a mask. She had imagined his face over and over again over the months, but she hadn’t expected someone so…young. She tended to forget that they were all only nineteen. She felt so much older most days.
“Hi guys,” she said.
“Black and Righteous are already in the van downstairs,” KP said. “Let’s go.” He had been distant all the night before, but it was probably just jitters. She knew she felt them.
“Van?” she questioned, leading the way downstairs. The League’s white van was parked in her driveway, Black at the wheel.
“Borrowed it without permission,” he explained when she and the others got in. “I thought it would look less conspicuous in a hotel loading dock.”
“Good idea,” Glory said, pleased that she had decided to let Black in on the plan. He looked cool and in control, which was more than she was feeling. The drive over to the hotel was a tense one. Righteous kept tapping his fingers on the dashboard, and little puffs of smoke kept appearing in front of her. Glory looked over her seat and saw a collection to cigarette-sized burns on the seat next to Torch.
“You cool?” she asked him.
“Yeah,” he replied. “I got the easy job. Keep the engine running, call you if I see any trouble.” Torch had volunteered as the get-away driver, even if he wasn’t comfortable with actually going inside.
“What about you?” she asked Lawrence, who was staring out the window.
“I’m great.”
“Good.” She said, not feeling any better.
They pulled into the back of the hotel right next to a white catering truck. They would blend well. They all got out of the van and Torch moved to the driver’s seat. “Do this fast,” Torch said. “If you’re not out in an hour, I’m calling Romeo Avenger.”
“That’s not fair!” Glory exclaimed. “You said you wouldn’t tell.”
“I don’t want you dead either,” he said. “One hour before I call for backup.”
She opened her mouth to protest but Black touched her arm. “It’s a good idea,” he said. “Does everyone know what they’re supposed to do?” he asked. They all nodded Glory most
emphatically of all as she set her jaw in a grim expression. Black nodded at Glory. “This is your show, America. Lead the way.”
*****
I am going to die, I am going to die, Lawrence thought as he followed America up the winding stairs. He was getting winded, but America thought it would be a bad idea to take the elevator even part of the way up. The elevator was monitored--the stairs had no cameras that he could see. It didn’t matter as far as he was concerned. How was he going to crash a super villain’s party, kidnap the guest of honor, and get out again without being caught? This was crazy, and stupid, and he was about to turn around and wait in the car with Torch--
“Thank you,” America whispered to him suddenly. The stairwell echoed and the other two could hear her. “For believing I can do this.”
Hell. “Of course you can.” We’re all going to die.
They finally reached the top of the stairs. It was a fireproof door, but he could still hear loud music through it. “This must be the place,” America said quietly. “Everyone ready? Remember, ten minutes and we meet back here.”
Lawrence hoped the door would be locked and they could abandon the caper before it really began, but America’s contact on the inside (she never did say who) had come through, opening the door after one soft knock. “Roy Gillespie?” Righteous asked the hotel security guard on the other side. The man nodded. “Sorry about this.”
The thud of Righteous hitting the man seemed to fill Lawrence’s ears, and he looked around. He didn’t see much. He was in a hallway full of catering boxes. Lawrence moved quickly and circled to the front of the nearest box, opening the doors to hide Righteous as he beat Gillespie unconscious. There was something very wrong about that. Lawrence quickly pulled out a tray of hors d’oeuvres and balanced them on one hand. His job was to watch the crowd and make sure no one started watching them. He took the tray up to a small kitchen area tucked into the back corner of the main room, setting it on the counter and washed his hands. The penthouse had close to a hundred people milling about, Lawrence figured. Servers wearing black vests identical to the ones Glory had passed out to them were circling with trays. Guests in masks talked and laughed like normal people, and there were lots of people dressed in normal clothes as well. Dark Lothario was one of them in a white tuxedo. Lawrence spotted him right away, with matching blonds on either side of him.
A moment later Righteous joined him, looking a little green. There was a fleck of blood on his cheek. “Here,” Lawrence said, wetting a bar towel and handing it to him. “You okay?”
“I never had a guy just lay there as I beat them into a bloody pulp,” Righteous said. “I don’t get why he would let us do that.”
Lawrence handed Righteous the tray of food and pretended the other hero’s hands weren’t shaking. “Yeah, well…” his eyes scanned the crowd in the room. The entire place seemed to be enjoying themselves--dancing, gathering around a bar set up next to a wall of windows…making out on the sofas. One person was not having fun. She was a on the curvy side, wearing black leather, her face covered by a leather mask. America loved to complain about her. The Mistress of Minds. She was standing at the bar and looking right at them. “I think I found America’s secret informant.”
“That guy at the door was brainwashed?”
“He let you hit him. Criminals don’t usually let people hit them.”
“Why would America trust someone like her? I don’t--”
“Shut up and look like a server,” Lawrence said quickly. “She’s coming over here.”
“What? I--”
“Go serve,” Lawrence said, giving Righteous a shove. The big blond shot him a dirty look and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Lawrence alone at the sink. The Mind Mistress pretended to wander, but made a beeline towards him. She brushed up against him to set her empty glass in the sink, and he felt he was going to swoon out of nervousness.
“Am I paying you to stand around and people watch?” she asked. “Come with me.“ Without thinking Lawrence obeyed, following her into the hallway. It was void of the others, except for Roy unconscious on the floor. Lawrence could see his boot sticking out from under a hot box. The hall opened up two ways--open into the main room, and a door leading down another hall to the bedrooms, where the others had gone.
“Well. Now that we’re more or less alone…”
“I had better get back out there,” he tried to mumble, but the hall was narrow with the catering boxes, and she was very close.
“No hurry,” she almost purred. “Why are you here?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” he answered, figuring it was best to play dumb.
“Are you here to fight crime, or are you here because she wants you here?”
“I--” It wasn’t the question he was expecting. “Because she asked me.” It was an easy answer. Why on earth would he want to fight crime?
“So you love her?”
“A little,” he admitted. “Who could resist?”
“I know,” she said, her voice a little wistful. “She is something else.”
“How do you know America?” he asked.
The wistfulness was gone from her voice immediately. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
He was pretty sure he did, but decided to drop it for the moment. “Why are you doing this? Letting us in, talking to me?”
“Maybe I like to play with my food,” she answered, cat-like. “Or maybe I’m not all bad. Who knows? Come here.” Before he could obey she pulled him to her and kissed him softly. He could have pulled away, but he didn’t. There was something familiar about the kiss, as though he had been there before. He kissed back.
*****
Glory’s heart was beating so hard she could feel it pounding against her sternum as they moved down the hallway towards the bedrooms. The walls muffled the party sounds, but it despite all of the noise of pounding music and pounded hearts, she could still hear a girl crying behind one of the bedroom doors. “This one,” she whispered to Black, who knelt at the lock.
“He didn’t get anything fancy for this door,” he said, taking a small leather case out of his pocket. “He must not be used to keeping prisoners here.” He opened the case and chose a bit of wire from it. Glory had seen him showing Torch how to pick locks a few weeks ago--it was the main reason she had called him in for the plan. Besides, he had a streak of rebellion in him but seemed to know what he was doing. He was going to make a good hero some day.
“Who’s there?” a frightened voice on the other side of the door asked.
“We’re here to help,” Glory answered softly. “Just hold on.”
Black made quick work of the lock and it popped open easily. Glory didn’t know what she expected to find there--some sort of torture chamber, maybe. But it was just a normal (expensive) bedroom with a frightened girl wearing skimpy black lingeree and too much makeup standing on the other side of the door.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“Patricia, I’m Glory. I’m here to help. Do you have other clothes in here?” She nodded.
“Good--get dressed, and hurry. Black--watch the door.” He nodded and turned away while Patricia pulled on a purple sweat suit.
“I can’t believe she really did it,” Patricia said in an excited whisper. “She promised me she would get me out, but I didn’t think she would really go behind her father’s back--”
“Father?”
“Dark Lothario. They’re totally related. Just look at them.”
Glory coldn’t take the time to care. “Nevermind. Lets get you out of here before someone notices us.”
Outside of the room Glory saw Black staring up at a black globe on the ceiling. “Camera,” he said unnecessarily.
Glory stared up at it, aghast. “Run.” The three of them all tumbled down the hall together, Glory forcing herself to move slowly so that she didn’t leave them behind. Still, she reached the door first, flinging it open.
*****
Lawrence pulled away quickly at the sound of the door swinging open, but it didn’t matter. As soon as he pulled away from the Mistress he saw the look on America’s face. He was vaguely aware of the frazzled girl with too much make-up and Black staring at him from behind her, but mostly he saw the shocked look on America’s face. “Did she make you do it?” America asked, her voice stiff. Time had seemed to stop around them. It would have been so easy to say yes, but also so very hard. Stay with America and have a bunch of blond super hero babies, a day job he worked so hard in, only to go out and fight crime on the weekends?
“No.”
“Oh.” He really wished they were wearing masks and he didn’t have to see the hurt look on her face.
“Sorry kids,” Black said, bringing him and America back into the real world. “We’ve been spotted on the camera--get out of here--I’ll get Righteous.”
The mayor’s daughter pushed past them and pulled open the stairwell door, not caring that she hit Roy in the head with it. Lawrence turned around to find the Mistress gone, so he grabbed America by the hand and pulled her after Patricia.
America wrenched her hand away as soon as they were on the stairs, and flew ahead of him to catch up with Patricia. Lawrence found himself slowing down as soon as the girls were out of sight, the realization that he had just broken up with his girlfriend more important than escape. By the time he had gotten to the bottom of the stairs Black and Righteous had caught up with him.
“We’re not being followed,” Black said, his usually stoic voice sounding a little incredulous.
“The Mistress,” Lawrence answered, a dull feeling surrounding his brain.
“Ah, the Mistress,” Black said as they made their way through the bowels of the hotel to the loading dock. “Are we on personal terms with the Mistress?”
“What?” Righteous asked.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Lawrence snapped. “Just drop it.”
“Drop what?” Righteous demanded.
In the van America and Patricia were both holding each other and crying. Lawrence sat in the front seat so he wouldn’t have to look at them. “Everything go okay?” Torch asked as they pulled away and headed for campus.
“Perfectly,” Lawrence answered, and turned away to look out the window.
*****
Lola expected a huge explosion when Patricia was discovered missing, but at first she didn’t notice anything at all, too tied up with her own thoughts to care that extra hotel security guards had come in. Why had she kissed him? She didn’t like him, and he was dating her best friend. But in secret disguise, she couldn’t resist. She stood at the window sipping a glass champagne while a quiet search was carried on behind her. Finally the Lothario himself grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her away from the window. “I know you are behind this.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to pull her arm free, but he didn’t let go, instead dragging her to the security room where the man in charge of watching the many cameras was passed out drunk. “Did something happen?” she feigned innocence.
Dark Lothario pressed a few buttons on the key board and brought up the black and white image of Glory and her friend escaping down the hall way with Patricia in tow. They disappeared off camera quickly, and, Lola knew, just as quickly out of the building. “I know you had something to do with this.”
“Prove it,” she said, and stalked out of the room again, more than ready to go home.
*****
A/N: School is officially over, forever. I'm never going back. :) So we are back to our regularly scheduled updates. I feel really awful for taking so much time off. I did the math--I wrote less than 3,000 words last month, which is *horrible.*
So...yeah. We're back--thanks for everyone's patience. Between losing my house, my cats, and finishing school (I'm down to 3 cats from 16 and living in my grandmother's basement right now) I was in no shape to do anything other than watch season after season of Doctor Who and try not to fail my classes.
“Are you okay?” Patricia asked her. “You look a little pale.”
“Everything will be fine.” Lola stood up and started pacing.
“You’re making me nervous,” Patricia said.
Lola spun around and gave her friend her best smile. “I have to go check on the caterers.” she left the room, careful to lock it behind her. Dark Lothario had cameras everywhere.
Out in the large living room there was bustling everywhere as the buffet was being set up, flowers were being brought in, and last minute cleaning was being carried on by the regular hotel staff. Her patsy, Roy Gillespie, was standing around drinking coffee with a couple other security guys, half private, the other half working for the hotel, Roy among them. Many of the staff at the Belmonte Grande had criminal records. Roy’s record included multiple counts of domestic violence, arson, and possession with the intent to sell. And that was just what he’d been caught doing. Anything that Dark Lothario might do to him as punishment for letting the heroes in, well, he deserved it.
In a few short days with Dark Lothario Lola had discovered that there was a dark side to every industry in the city. While the catering company hired to do the food worked all sorts of mainstream events, the owner of the company was a retired super villain. The musicians were a group of henchmen who liked to get together and jam, and the film crew worked for Dark Lothario exclusively.
A round bed had appeared in the center of the room, and an area had been taped off for the camera equipment. The show would be broadcasted live for free that night only on the Dark Lothario Presents website, and after that it would be available for download for the discounted low price of $9.95. Lola wanted to throw up at the very sight of the bed and turned away.
Refrigerated cabinets and hot boxes were beginning to line the hall leading to the emergency stairs, and Lola slipped between them to check the door, as though the lock would jam or something. As soon as she shut the door again she heard Dark Lothario’s voice in the main room. She quickly opened one of the coolers and grabbed at the first pastry she saw.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Dark Lothario asked her as she stepped back into the main room, biting into the fruit tart she’d procured. It was peach--she hated peach. “You’re going to get too round for your costume,” he said with a laugh.
“Like you’re one to talk,” she countered, and he laughed harder.
“I like your nerve,” he said. “It’s not very smart of you, but I like it all the same. How are we doing?”
“All exits are secure,” she lied. “The catering staff will be here in an hour, the band is due any minute, and I called Lou the camera guy. He’s stuck in traffic but will be here in plenty of time to set up for the event.”
“Wonderful. You’re better at this than Spider,” he complemented. “He never knew what was going on before a party.
“My mother likes to throw parties,” she explained. “She doesn’t like to do the work that goes into one.”
“That sounds like your mother. Is she still a bank robber?”
“She is,” Lola said, feeling strange. She wasn’t used to talking about her mother as Mesmera.
“She had so much promise--but no drive, no ambition.”
“Not really.”
“You are nothing like her,” he said thoughtfully. “You don’t even look like her.”
“She always said I was my father’s daughter.”
Dark Lothario made a breathy “humpf” sound and turned away. “I’ll be in my room, getting ready. Let me know when the guests begin to arrive.”
“Yes sir,” she answered, distracted momentarily by her phone buzzing. “Excuse me.”
She escaped into the outer hallway and fished her phone out of her costume. It was Glory. “Where are you?” she cried into the phone, her voice an octave higher than usual. “I have to go on my biggest mission ever and I’m freaking out!”
“I’m sorry,” Lola said. “I’m busy.”
“Busy with what! You know how important this is--how can you be busy.”
“Take a deep breath and you’ll be fine,” Lola offered, hating herself a little. “I’m sorry,” she said, thinking fast. “My mom finally came home. I’m on my way home to see her.”
Glory was silent on the other line. “Your mother?” she said finally. “You decide to pick
now to care about her?”
“She is my mom,” Lola said.
She could hear Glory sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Me too. But you’ll be fine. Glorious.”
“I don’t feel very glorious right now.”
“You are. I’ll be thinking about you. I’ll send positive vibes your way.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll have your friends with you--you’ll be fine. Nothing bad will happen.”
“I hope not.”
*****
Glory tried not to be angry with Lola as she got ready for the rescue attempt of a lifetime. She tucked her hair up into the short brown wig Lola and gotten her, and put on a pair of Lola’s glasses. Lola was nearsighted, but only slightly, and after wearing the glasses for a few minutes Glory’s eyes began to adjust. She buttoned up her vest and put on the matching bowtie. She hoped she looked like a nondescript server. She felt like a super hero in disguise.
She jumped at the knock on the door and ran to open it. KP and Torch were there dressed in their catering outfits. She still couldn’t get over the idea of KP without a mask. She had imagined his face over and over again over the months, but she hadn’t expected someone so…young. She tended to forget that they were all only nineteen. She felt so much older most days.
“Hi guys,” she said.
“Black and Righteous are already in the van downstairs,” KP said. “Let’s go.” He had been distant all the night before, but it was probably just jitters. She knew she felt them.
“Van?” she questioned, leading the way downstairs. The League’s white van was parked in her driveway, Black at the wheel.
“Borrowed it without permission,” he explained when she and the others got in. “I thought it would look less conspicuous in a hotel loading dock.”
“Good idea,” Glory said, pleased that she had decided to let Black in on the plan. He looked cool and in control, which was more than she was feeling. The drive over to the hotel was a tense one. Righteous kept tapping his fingers on the dashboard, and little puffs of smoke kept appearing in front of her. Glory looked over her seat and saw a collection to cigarette-sized burns on the seat next to Torch.
“You cool?” she asked him.
“Yeah,” he replied. “I got the easy job. Keep the engine running, call you if I see any trouble.” Torch had volunteered as the get-away driver, even if he wasn’t comfortable with actually going inside.
“What about you?” she asked Lawrence, who was staring out the window.
“I’m great.”
“Good.” She said, not feeling any better.
They pulled into the back of the hotel right next to a white catering truck. They would blend well. They all got out of the van and Torch moved to the driver’s seat. “Do this fast,” Torch said. “If you’re not out in an hour, I’m calling Romeo Avenger.”
“That’s not fair!” Glory exclaimed. “You said you wouldn’t tell.”
“I don’t want you dead either,” he said. “One hour before I call for backup.”
She opened her mouth to protest but Black touched her arm. “It’s a good idea,” he said. “Does everyone know what they’re supposed to do?” he asked. They all nodded Glory most
emphatically of all as she set her jaw in a grim expression. Black nodded at Glory. “This is your show, America. Lead the way.”
*****
I am going to die, I am going to die, Lawrence thought as he followed America up the winding stairs. He was getting winded, but America thought it would be a bad idea to take the elevator even part of the way up. The elevator was monitored--the stairs had no cameras that he could see. It didn’t matter as far as he was concerned. How was he going to crash a super villain’s party, kidnap the guest of honor, and get out again without being caught? This was crazy, and stupid, and he was about to turn around and wait in the car with Torch--
“Thank you,” America whispered to him suddenly. The stairwell echoed and the other two could hear her. “For believing I can do this.”
Hell. “Of course you can.” We’re all going to die.
They finally reached the top of the stairs. It was a fireproof door, but he could still hear loud music through it. “This must be the place,” America said quietly. “Everyone ready? Remember, ten minutes and we meet back here.”
Lawrence hoped the door would be locked and they could abandon the caper before it really began, but America’s contact on the inside (she never did say who) had come through, opening the door after one soft knock. “Roy Gillespie?” Righteous asked the hotel security guard on the other side. The man nodded. “Sorry about this.”
The thud of Righteous hitting the man seemed to fill Lawrence’s ears, and he looked around. He didn’t see much. He was in a hallway full of catering boxes. Lawrence moved quickly and circled to the front of the nearest box, opening the doors to hide Righteous as he beat Gillespie unconscious. There was something very wrong about that. Lawrence quickly pulled out a tray of hors d’oeuvres and balanced them on one hand. His job was to watch the crowd and make sure no one started watching them. He took the tray up to a small kitchen area tucked into the back corner of the main room, setting it on the counter and washed his hands. The penthouse had close to a hundred people milling about, Lawrence figured. Servers wearing black vests identical to the ones Glory had passed out to them were circling with trays. Guests in masks talked and laughed like normal people, and there were lots of people dressed in normal clothes as well. Dark Lothario was one of them in a white tuxedo. Lawrence spotted him right away, with matching blonds on either side of him.
A moment later Righteous joined him, looking a little green. There was a fleck of blood on his cheek. “Here,” Lawrence said, wetting a bar towel and handing it to him. “You okay?”
“I never had a guy just lay there as I beat them into a bloody pulp,” Righteous said. “I don’t get why he would let us do that.”
Lawrence handed Righteous the tray of food and pretended the other hero’s hands weren’t shaking. “Yeah, well…” his eyes scanned the crowd in the room. The entire place seemed to be enjoying themselves--dancing, gathering around a bar set up next to a wall of windows…making out on the sofas. One person was not having fun. She was a on the curvy side, wearing black leather, her face covered by a leather mask. America loved to complain about her. The Mistress of Minds. She was standing at the bar and looking right at them. “I think I found America’s secret informant.”
“That guy at the door was brainwashed?”
“He let you hit him. Criminals don’t usually let people hit them.”
“Why would America trust someone like her? I don’t--”
“Shut up and look like a server,” Lawrence said quickly. “She’s coming over here.”
“What? I--”
“Go serve,” Lawrence said, giving Righteous a shove. The big blond shot him a dirty look and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Lawrence alone at the sink. The Mind Mistress pretended to wander, but made a beeline towards him. She brushed up against him to set her empty glass in the sink, and he felt he was going to swoon out of nervousness.
“Am I paying you to stand around and people watch?” she asked. “Come with me.“ Without thinking Lawrence obeyed, following her into the hallway. It was void of the others, except for Roy unconscious on the floor. Lawrence could see his boot sticking out from under a hot box. The hall opened up two ways--open into the main room, and a door leading down another hall to the bedrooms, where the others had gone.
“Well. Now that we’re more or less alone…”
“I had better get back out there,” he tried to mumble, but the hall was narrow with the catering boxes, and she was very close.
“No hurry,” she almost purred. “Why are you here?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” he answered, figuring it was best to play dumb.
“Are you here to fight crime, or are you here because she wants you here?”
“I--” It wasn’t the question he was expecting. “Because she asked me.” It was an easy answer. Why on earth would he want to fight crime?
“So you love her?”
“A little,” he admitted. “Who could resist?”
“I know,” she said, her voice a little wistful. “She is something else.”
“How do you know America?” he asked.
The wistfulness was gone from her voice immediately. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
He was pretty sure he did, but decided to drop it for the moment. “Why are you doing this? Letting us in, talking to me?”
“Maybe I like to play with my food,” she answered, cat-like. “Or maybe I’m not all bad. Who knows? Come here.” Before he could obey she pulled him to her and kissed him softly. He could have pulled away, but he didn’t. There was something familiar about the kiss, as though he had been there before. He kissed back.
*****
Glory’s heart was beating so hard she could feel it pounding against her sternum as they moved down the hallway towards the bedrooms. The walls muffled the party sounds, but it despite all of the noise of pounding music and pounded hearts, she could still hear a girl crying behind one of the bedroom doors. “This one,” she whispered to Black, who knelt at the lock.
“He didn’t get anything fancy for this door,” he said, taking a small leather case out of his pocket. “He must not be used to keeping prisoners here.” He opened the case and chose a bit of wire from it. Glory had seen him showing Torch how to pick locks a few weeks ago--it was the main reason she had called him in for the plan. Besides, he had a streak of rebellion in him but seemed to know what he was doing. He was going to make a good hero some day.
“Who’s there?” a frightened voice on the other side of the door asked.
“We’re here to help,” Glory answered softly. “Just hold on.”
Black made quick work of the lock and it popped open easily. Glory didn’t know what she expected to find there--some sort of torture chamber, maybe. But it was just a normal (expensive) bedroom with a frightened girl wearing skimpy black lingeree and too much makeup standing on the other side of the door.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“Patricia, I’m Glory. I’m here to help. Do you have other clothes in here?” She nodded.
“Good--get dressed, and hurry. Black--watch the door.” He nodded and turned away while Patricia pulled on a purple sweat suit.
“I can’t believe she really did it,” Patricia said in an excited whisper. “She promised me she would get me out, but I didn’t think she would really go behind her father’s back--”
“Father?”
“Dark Lothario. They’re totally related. Just look at them.”
Glory coldn’t take the time to care. “Nevermind. Lets get you out of here before someone notices us.”
Outside of the room Glory saw Black staring up at a black globe on the ceiling. “Camera,” he said unnecessarily.
Glory stared up at it, aghast. “Run.” The three of them all tumbled down the hall together, Glory forcing herself to move slowly so that she didn’t leave them behind. Still, she reached the door first, flinging it open.
*****
Lawrence pulled away quickly at the sound of the door swinging open, but it didn’t matter. As soon as he pulled away from the Mistress he saw the look on America’s face. He was vaguely aware of the frazzled girl with too much make-up and Black staring at him from behind her, but mostly he saw the shocked look on America’s face. “Did she make you do it?” America asked, her voice stiff. Time had seemed to stop around them. It would have been so easy to say yes, but also so very hard. Stay with America and have a bunch of blond super hero babies, a day job he worked so hard in, only to go out and fight crime on the weekends?
“No.”
“Oh.” He really wished they were wearing masks and he didn’t have to see the hurt look on her face.
“Sorry kids,” Black said, bringing him and America back into the real world. “We’ve been spotted on the camera--get out of here--I’ll get Righteous.”
The mayor’s daughter pushed past them and pulled open the stairwell door, not caring that she hit Roy in the head with it. Lawrence turned around to find the Mistress gone, so he grabbed America by the hand and pulled her after Patricia.
America wrenched her hand away as soon as they were on the stairs, and flew ahead of him to catch up with Patricia. Lawrence found himself slowing down as soon as the girls were out of sight, the realization that he had just broken up with his girlfriend more important than escape. By the time he had gotten to the bottom of the stairs Black and Righteous had caught up with him.
“We’re not being followed,” Black said, his usually stoic voice sounding a little incredulous.
“The Mistress,” Lawrence answered, a dull feeling surrounding his brain.
“Ah, the Mistress,” Black said as they made their way through the bowels of the hotel to the loading dock. “Are we on personal terms with the Mistress?”
“What?” Righteous asked.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Lawrence snapped. “Just drop it.”
“Drop what?” Righteous demanded.
In the van America and Patricia were both holding each other and crying. Lawrence sat in the front seat so he wouldn’t have to look at them. “Everything go okay?” Torch asked as they pulled away and headed for campus.
“Perfectly,” Lawrence answered, and turned away to look out the window.
*****
Lola expected a huge explosion when Patricia was discovered missing, but at first she didn’t notice anything at all, too tied up with her own thoughts to care that extra hotel security guards had come in. Why had she kissed him? She didn’t like him, and he was dating her best friend. But in secret disguise, she couldn’t resist. She stood at the window sipping a glass champagne while a quiet search was carried on behind her. Finally the Lothario himself grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her away from the window. “I know you are behind this.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to pull her arm free, but he didn’t let go, instead dragging her to the security room where the man in charge of watching the many cameras was passed out drunk. “Did something happen?” she feigned innocence.
Dark Lothario pressed a few buttons on the key board and brought up the black and white image of Glory and her friend escaping down the hall way with Patricia in tow. They disappeared off camera quickly, and, Lola knew, just as quickly out of the building. “I know you had something to do with this.”
“Prove it,” she said, and stalked out of the room again, more than ready to go home.
*****
A/N: School is officially over, forever. I'm never going back. :) So we are back to our regularly scheduled updates. I feel really awful for taking so much time off. I did the math--I wrote less than 3,000 words last month, which is *horrible.*
So...yeah. We're back--thanks for everyone's patience. Between losing my house, my cats, and finishing school (I'm down to 3 cats from 16 and living in my grandmother's basement right now) I was in no shape to do anything other than watch season after season of Doctor Who and try not to fail my classes.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
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