Welcome to Gaia! ::

*The town was all in a tizzy. By now everyone had heard of the queen’s sudden arrival and the acceptance of the “mysterious” invitation. Griffin lets some of the cities papers and magazines fall into his mother’s lap.* This kind of media isn’t doing us any good. We should host an evening in your honor, to make it seem like your disappearance was planned. We’ll get everyone who’s anyone to come, and bribe all the media into sneaking in, when it will bend things in our favor anyways.

*Kaiori sighs and nods, when had her family turned into such a business council? She fidgets in her fine clothes, pulling at her white dress suit in hopeless attempts to get comfortable.* We could invite your father, make more of scandal out of him.

*Griffin nods his head.* A possibility, I’ll send him a formal invitation. We could invite some of the first sons of the leading corporations, make them think we’re going to arrange a marriage for Bell.

*Bell looks up from making coffee.* Hey, I refuse to be the decoy here! *She mutters angrily as she hands the caffeinated drink to her family.*

*Griffin raises an eyebrow, with a small smirk.* Don’t forget sister dear, we’ve yet to account for your disappearance as well. This could make a probable loop hole, a welcome harmless scandal that won’t show weakness to our company. Though we aren’t in much danger since the people were very impressed with my safe zones.

*Bell looks out a window down at the busy city lights below.* You should sing mom. At the next media event you should sing.

*Kaiori eyes cast a haunting glow.* I guess, I haven’t sung in a while now.

*Quickly enough this little get-together or meeting or whatever it was, was thrown together. Hell, no one cared what it was about really, everyone just wanted to dress up like peacocks and flirt with royalty. The main ball room of the tower was covered with white orchids, the symbol of the queen. Everything else was draped or dipped in white, leaving a shockingly beautiful effect. Kaiori is seated at the front of the room, surrounded by rich business men, either trying to sell off their business, an idea or themselves. Kaiori engages them all in conversation politely while wishing at the same time she could pull out a revolver and just…Bell is surrounded by the sons of every business man in town. She giggles now and again but never draws too far off from her brother. Griffin, well Griffin has a circle of girls around him but had made sure they all stayed at least a few meters away. The only people who dared approach the stoic young man were his business partners and his family. The lunch-in was slowly drawing to close; yet the guests seemed unwilling to leave. Kaiori glances at the chair set out for her “husband”, he hadn’t shown up. She felt like a fool for even setting out a seat for him. The media surrounds the royal family, they let them quote them on a few things and joke around with the press. Slowly people leave the room, all with newly formed loyalty to the crown. Griffin glances at his mother.* You didn’t sing, I thought you..

*Kaiori glances back up at him from her champagne glass.* I didn’t feel much like singing. *With that she stands and leaves. Her crystal gown glittering behind her, maybe she would go for a swim, yah that sounded nice. Maybe after another bottle of vodka?*

*Griffin glances at his sister who comes over to him, shrugging her shoulders. The only people left are a few servants clearing the ball room.* When did mom become…

*Bell sighs as she twirls a lone orchid in her fingers.* An alcoholic? *She tips her mother's champagne glass over with a finger.*

*Griffin sighs and nods. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and heads towards the elevator.* That too.

*Kaiori gets up from the piano bench. Her cell phone ringing from her hip strap under her dress. She moves away from her son and looks at the call display.*

*Griffin’s eyes become hard and angry, yet his playing reflects nothing.*

*Kaiori can tell Griffin is already angry, like he could see his father’s call display on her phone. There was no use in hiding it now, so she flips open her phone. She leans on the cool glass windows as her husbands voice resonates in her ear for the first time in months.*

"You sent me an invitation.”

“Hello to you too. Yes, I sent you an invitation.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“You don’t love me.”

“No, I don’t love you. Do you love me?”

“I never loved you…”

*click*

*Kaiori hangs up the phone and drops it carelessly, it smashes on the marble. She strolls back to her son, regaining her former comfortable position. She sighs into his ear and closes her eyes.* I need a new phone....

*Griffin nods and continues playing, not once had he stopped.* You don’t need that. *His eyes harden dangerously, almost saddened.*

*Kaiori smiles meekly.* I think I do, I just broke it again.

*Griffin actually looks down at his mother.* I mean that! Why do always let him call you! You can’t be that desperate mother! *He smashes his fists into the piano keys. As he growls with anger his fangs glow in the moonlight.*

*Kaiori glances at him, unaffected by his outburst. His fangs were just like his fathers. It was like a cancer, incurable, she had his children and now she was obsessed with him. Frowning she stands up coldly.* I’m not desperate, but you need more than me! *Her sadness bubbles up, her lips tremble and her fingers fist in her dress.*

*Griffin stands up unsure of his next move, finally he hugs his mother tightly.* Mom, it’s okay. Am I not a success? I can take care of everything now. *His eyes remain haunting, like the day his mother was brought to him frozen solid. Like the day she fought the kingdom so he and Bell could run away. All those times he had been helpless, would never occur again. Not now that he had money, not now that he had power.*

*Kaiori crumples against him, her thorny wall torn down by his words. She doesn’t cry but she shakes with her despair. Soon she passes out again, exhausted by merely talking. Griffin carries her to her bed room, he sets her in bed and walks away thinking when had she become so fragile?*

The man would go unnoticed for now. Many people held weapons around this town and even more of them were usually headed towards the Tower. People would be seen coming in and out of Twice Royal at all hours, mostly high classed entrepreneurs or those of good blood lines.

Sitting in the lobby of Twice Royal surrounded by trophy wives was not how Kaiori had imagined her day.

They all had bright flashy outfits and little dogs, she hated those things. Still she remained a courteous and elegant hostess. That’s how it was to be, she kept the wives in her good graces and the wives held the business men in the palms of their hands. The men were currently upstairs with Griffin, where she’d rather be, but Griffin was right, it would make him look weak to have his mother in the room.

Every couple of minutes it seemed like another air headed idiot would walk into the lobby and sit down with her. This circle of giggling pinks and yellows was giving her a headache.

An especially excited woman reached out and patted Kaiori’s thigh with sympathy. Kaiori recognized her as the newest wife of one of Griffin’s most loyal followers; her name was Bambi or something. The nitwit looked up at her with her makeup caked face and said “It must be so hard for you, without the King. You know I could teach you a few tricks that keep my husband wanting me.”

Kaiori stood abruptly, her champagne colored dress was so light that it swirled with the movement. A hush fell over the women, cigarettes dropping from their glossed lips. A couple dogs were whimpering since they were suddenly being clutched so hard by their owners. Kaiori bites out a smile,
“I’m not sure if my bedside manner is the best topic at the moment. Rather, would you ladies kindly aid me in picking out my outfit for this evening, I swear without your help I will be unable to attend.” She ends with a soft humorous laugh.

The ladies all burst into giggles and stand with her, heading to her personal chambers. No one noting the fact that kaiori’s hand on her hip was actually clutching a gun under her dress. She had dodged that bullet; hopefully this new wife would last about as long as the others.

*Kaiori yawns into her hand softly as she continues on her path. Her lips brush her open palm, leaving traces of her lipstick. The women are bustling around her in a swarm of colours as they make their way to the elevator. Kaiori sighs, everything she wanted to do, or say, would be out of line. These women were annoying, but easy enough to manipulate with flattery. Her eyes lower to her shoes as she walks, considering Bambi’s words. She did not need the reminder of her husband’s dearth. She had to confess it was only the chase that turned her on, but it seemed shameful to admit it.*

*The women cluck like mother hens, whispering “oh my” as they part like the sea. Kaiori turns around, her eyes arctic and firm. With a look like that one might wonder if she could feel his eyes trailing to where they shouldn’t be. Her stance is powerful as her dress swirls then stills around her. Her hip tilts and her hand grabs the gun through the silk of her garment.* Yes? Excuse me, but I don’t think we’ve been introduced. *Her eyes hold firm, they hold a questioning glare. Why had he addressed her with such a familiarity at first?*

*Kaiori raises an eyebrow at the odd character before her. She turns to her companions.* Please excuse me ladies. Feel free to pick out things during my absence. *With that the crowd is dismissed. They leave her and the stranger in the slightly dimmed and lonely hall. Kaiori turns on the man before her, grabbing him by the shirt she attempts to shove him into a near by wall.* You’re up to something! What do you want!