Welcome to Gaia! ::

What Lurks in the Shadows

Who: LuLu, Samuel, and Counterparts
When: Afternoon
Where: Durem
Weather: Winter
Status: Complete
Post-note:

Things seemed to be looking up for the rabbit. Her recent encounter with Samuel had gone over well. Even their lunch together had been filled with more conversation than she had expected. Though most of it centered on LuLu and her life, Samuel did spill a few details of his own. She had learned that he actually owned quite a few businesses in Gaia. So many, in fact, that the girl could not quite remember all the names he had listed off. Anyone with eyes could quickly figure out the man was affluent, but it was hard to fathom just how much he was involved in.

LuLu had also received some terrific news about Franco’s health. He was on the mend! She had just finished visiting with Selene to go over the specifics of the doctor’s most recent update. The older woman did not spare a single detail as she repeated what they had said to LuLu. Apparently, Franco was stable enough to move from the critical care unit to what they called the ‘step down unit’. They had assured Selene that it was good news and a sign that things were progressing in the right direction. The sigel was beyond overjoyed to hear that he was recovering, and she was certain that Selene was even more thankful for the news. Considering that her adoptive son was in a coma, the older woman was holding up well. Selene was taking it upon herself to run Knockout at full service, and LuLu had to visit the gym in Durem in order to meet up her. She figured keeping busy was how the woman was dealing with Franco’s recuperation. Though the man was stuck in a hospital room, life continued to move on beyond his four walls. LuLu could not blame Selene for her way of coping. She was just happy to see the woman was staying strong.

LuLu already had a few blocks separating her from Knockout now. She turned down a nearby alleyway. Overtime, she had discovered that it was a good shortcut between the main road and the bus station. The rabbit pulled out her new phone as she continued her leisurely stroll. Its screen came to life as she held it up, as though it had a mind of its own. LuLu squeaked softly to the phone’s receiver, “Text Selene.” The screen flashed as the text messenger popped up on her command. She continued speak to the device as it recorded her, “It was fun visiting you. I am glad Franco is doing better. Keep me update--The hell.” The rabbit’s attention moved away from her phone and towards the path ahead of her. There was a large silhouette at the end of the alley. It appeared to be a man. He was easily over six feet tall and as wide as a compact car. She tucked her phone away in her coat’s pocket. Her guard went up as she advanced on him. She probed cautiously, “Can I help you?”

The man closed the seven foot gap between them with two steps. Now the rabbit could see him more clearly. He was bundled in a coat just like she was. He also had a mask covering the lower half of his face. He spoke with in a gruff bark, “Yeah, answer me. How does it feel to be on the top, Scarlet?”

LuLu’s ears perked. She recognized the voice; even muffled by the fabric over his face she would recall that smart mouth anywhere. It was The Hulk. She was confused by his question. “What do you mean?”

The Hulk’s posture changed. His shoulders rose with visible agitation. He continued, “How does to feel to be on top and take a shot at the title away from a real boxer?!” He stomped a large foot into the snow on the ground. “It should have been me at that stadium. I should be the winner!” He scoffed, “The Scarlet Starlet was a real boxer. You are just some kid putting on a costume to get attention.”

LuLu’s wings flared open wide to their full span, a warning display. She saw the man flinch. Good, that was the appropriate reaction. Who was he to assume she had not worked for her title. How dare he?! She had put blood, sweat, and tears into what she had achieved. The sigel replied in a hiss, “It feels like I am where I belong. And, you are where you belong-- In an alley, next to the trash.”

The man did not seem pleased by the response. He was audibly growling between clenched teeth. He pointed a fat finger just behind the girl and bellowed, “Did you hear that, guys? According to the great Scarlet Starlet, we are trash.” LuLu’s attention quickly turned to that direction. Two men had snuck up to flank her. Neither was as large as The Hulk, but together they certainly looked formidable. They also had their faces covered by cloth. The leader of the trio continued, “Let’s teach this pretender a lesson about real boxing and make sure she never fights again.” The rabbit could tell he was grinning underneath his mask by the spiteful mirth in his words.

LuLu trusted her ability to win a fair fight with The Hulk, but this was far from fair. This would be a bloodbath. She began to back away from The Hulk, but realized she was only succeeding in moving towards his henchmen. “s**t.” She began to look for another way out. She spotted a door in the alleyway. The sigel made a dash for it. She reached the handle just before the two men behind her could catch up. LuLu twisted the knob but only felt resistance. She slammed her shoulder against the door but it did not budge. “Dammit!” Her lavender eyes shot back in time to see a fist sailing for her head. She narrowly dodged it and countered with a shot to the man’s sternum. He doubled over and she used the opportunity to run past him. Just as she cleared him, another hand shot out a captured her arm. The sigel was yanked to the side roughly. Before she could react, she was tossed against one of the grimy brick walls. Her body bounced against it like a ragdoll. She felt hands enclose around her wrists and pin them in place. She struggled against them, but she was locked in place.

The Hulk circled around her like a wolf surveying its next meal. He looked like he was ready to lick his chops. He rumbled, “That was almost too easy! Are you really the same b***h who got a cheap shot in against me?” His rough hand grabbed her chin and twisted her face up towards his. Even with the situation at hand, the rabbit’s temper flared. She ripped out of his grasp and tried to bite at his hand. To her dissatisfaction, he managed to pull it away before she could take a good chomp out of it. Without any other counter measures at her disposal, she spat at him.

The Hulk simply wiped at the stain left on his shirt. He snarled, “There she is! You are definitely the right woman.” His eyes were growing dark, more sinister. The sigel began to struggle against her captor again. However, she got nowhere as their grip was only growing tighter against her. The Hulk wound a fist back and struck her. Her head snapped to the side before it fell down. His voice was tinged with an ugly glee as he spoke, “I hear it is one hell of a fall from the top, Scarlet!” Then, there was another hit.

Within a minute, LuLu lost count of just how many hits she had taken. At first, each one was a new source of pain. However, now she just felt one unified ache through her whole body. The man behind her finally let go and she fell to the floor. The rabbit tried to lift herself, but her arms felt more like ground meat than anything functional. She released a groan as the Hulk’s foot pressed against her skull. He ground her cheek into the muck of the alleyway with a snicker. “Now, this is where you belong!” His snickering quickly devolved into downright belly laughter. His henchmen joined in on the joke.

Just over the rolling laughter, her ears picked up on another sound; feet moving through the snow. One crunch rapidly after the other like someone was running at full sprint towards them. She heard The Hulk babble something incoherent before his foot moved off of her head. LuLu’s gaze rose up from the ground and her uneasy eyes caught a flash of red and blue in her periphery. She followed the movement and saw someone unexpected. It was Samuel’s bodyguard! The tall man was already subduing one of The Hulk’s henchmen in a choke hold while the other was splayed on the ground.

Samuel’s even tone suddenly washed over LuLu, and if felt to her like a cool drink on parched lips. She had not realized just how desperately she needed some calm and security. His voice was just that. “It is ok. I am here for you.” His arms wound around her and lifted her body from the cold earth beneath her. He tucked her damp head into the warm crook of his neck. She could see the hazy shape of the rose pinned to his jacket’s lapel. The sigel felt supported in his hold. She would have thanked him, but she was too weary for words. He turned them both toward his bodyguard and beckoned, “Make sure to capture at least one, Eloise!” She could now see the fight unfolding between him and the group of thugs.

The Hulk was punching at the bodyguard, but he soon realized he was not making a dent in the other man. He motioned for his accomplice on the ground to get up. The henchman rose on unsteady legs and swung for Eloise. The combination of assaults provided enough of a distraction that Eloise’s choke hold released. Realizing that they had been thwarted, the stunned trio regrouped and made a mad dash for the exit of the alleyway. The Hulk yelled back towards LuLu, “This is not the end! I will find you again, Scarlet!” He soon disappeared around the corner with his cronies. Eloise pursued them and was also gone within a few bounds of his long legs.

Samuel looked down at Lu. His brows knitted together. “Who were they? Why did they do this to you?” He could see the girl was in pain, but his tone was firm. He wanted answers.

LuLu’s jaw trembled as she tried to find her voice. After a long pause, she managed one weak word, “Assholes.”

Soon Eloise reappeared in the alley. He was readjusting his glasses and his suit which had become disheveled during the scuffle. The expression he wore was grim. It was obvious what message he was going to deliver given that he had returned empty handed. He confirmed succinctly, “They escaped.”

Samuel’s expression only seemed to grow more concerned. He exclaimed, “They do not seem like the type to give up easily. Do you think they could find your home?”

The rabbit had not considered this yet. They had managed to track her back to Knockout and even her favorite shortcut. They had been tailing her for weeks or even months by now. They could very well know where she lives in Barton. This meant they also knew where Josh was. Would they go after him, too? LuLu’s gaze was fearful as it searched out Samuel. “I-I do not know.”

The man’s jaw tensed. “Please, stay with me then. I have more than enough room in my home. You will be safe there.” His ice blue eyes were fixed on her intensely.

LuLu hesitated for a moment before she mumbled, “Josh. If I am not there and something happens.”

Samuel replied with one compelling sentence, “Everything will be tended to, Scarlet.” She could trust those words.

LuLu nodded, “Then, yes.” She soon felt herself drifting off in his arms.

Snack break


Who: LuLu and Alexandria
When: Afternoon
Where: Craft store
Weather: Slight chill
Status: In-progress
Post-note:

----

Define Oneself

Who: LuLu and Eloise
When: Afternoon
Where: N/A
Weather: Spring
Status: Complete
Post-note:

LuLu had quickly learned that the gym in Samuel’s mansion was nothing to scoff at. Its amenities were on par with some of the places you could purchase memberships at. Though she had never witnessed the house’s enigmatic owner step foot in the facility, it had served as a welcomed distraction on more than one occasion for the sigel. Today was just another one of those blissful days.

Her visits to the gym typically included a number exercises that Selene and Franco had taught her. Each one had been pounded into her brain during her training with the dynamic duo and, by now, they were all muscle memory. Of course, LuLu was never lacking in the area of curiosity. She had also been practicing a handful of new moves. After some of her own research, using the magic of Gaiatube, she had discovered a few martial arts techniques that did not require legs. The rabbit was becoming confident that she had the forms perfected. All she needed now was a willing victim to test them out on. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find individuals in the mansion who were eager to take a fist to the face. That being said, LuLu could think of a few men who she would be delighted to get a good hit on.

Eloise strolled briskly past the gym’s door as though summoned by LuLu’s sinister thoughts. The girl chirped with glee. She poked her head out of the gym and beckoned to the tall man, “Eloise! I have a question!” Her lips were curled into a wicked smile.

The demi-human’s sigh was audible as whatever task he was in the middle of completing was interrupted by the raevan. His gait paused momentarily as he addressed her. “Can this question wait, Miss Scarlet? I have business to attend to which takes priority.” A superficial level of politeness was threaded throughout his words, but his tone made it obvious he wanted little to do with the girl.

LuLu perched her chin on the knuckles of one of her hands. She answered, “According to Samuel, I am your top priority.” Her grin widened. “Or, I could tell him you are ignoring me? I do not think he would like that.”

An irritated red colored the man’s cheeks. He adjusted his glasses to hide his furrowed brow and cleared his throat before he responded. “I understand. My business can wait then. How can I help you, Miss Scarlet?” He managed to maintain an even tone, barely.

It amused the rabbit when she was able to ruffle the somber man’s feathers a little. She continued with a spiteful giggle, “Thank you for freeing your schedule.” She stepped out from behind the door. The rabbit stretched an arm idly over her chest to ease her muscles. She had removed her splint for the time being. The girl was happy that her wrist had healed enough to allow for moments of reprieve from bandaging. LuLu stated pointedly, “I want to spar.” The lights were glinting off of his glasses so she could not read his eyes, but she wanted to imagine they were opened wide in surprise.

However, to her disappointment, Eloise’s composure was not any further shaken. He shook his head, “That is not wise. I will not be at fault if you are injured again.”

The rabbit snorted softly, “You will not hurt me.”

Eloise did not miss a beat in responding, “I beg to differ, Miss Scarlet.”

His words caused her heartbeat to quicken. Did he really believe that? Eloise was not a man who joked around and, frankly, she did not think he had a funny bone in his body. However, as far as LuLu knew, the demi-human had never proven this supposed physical prowess to her. He could not even catch up with a trio of thugs that included The Hulk, a literal brick wall who was as slow as they come. It amused her that Eloise was so certain that he could keep up with her. The thought of a challenge caused a shiver to run up her spine. She floated forward, “Fight me.” Her small frame was hardly the kind to intimidate, but the energy she exuded was hostile.

The man’s features remained level. “You are not giving me a choice in this matter, are you?”

LuLu chimed in a singsong voice, “Nope. Not unless you admit you are too afraid to fight me.”

Eloise scoffed, “Hardly the case. Please, let’s finish this quickly so I can return to my other tasks.” He pulled off his coat and began to roll up his sleeves. The man stepped swiftly into the gym with a few long strides. The rabbit was on his heels as she joined him.

---

LuLu gasped out for breath but came up short as an arm enclosed around her windpipe. Eloise had her locked in a chokehold. Her nails dug into his bicep, and she felt the muscle tense against her throat. Her next mouthful of air drew in even shallower. The rabbit’s lungs were starting to burn. She had to find a way to break his hold before she passed out.

The match had started fairly one-sided. LuLu was throwing most of the punches, and Eloise had taken a few superficial blows. He had refused to wear padding, but appeared to be rolling with the hits despite having nothing to dampen them. He kept up an even pace as the rabbit enclosed on him. The tables turned on LuLu, however, when the girl moved close enough to show off one of her new grappling techniques. It appeared the demi-human had another plan in mind. She tried to lock his leg in place and throw him off balance, but Eloise countered her with an unexpected amount of speed and used the momentum to apply his own move. And, that is how the sigel wound up in her current predicament.

LuLu emitted another wheezy exhale. The demi-human had never let on to the fact he also knew martial arts. Still, even with these circumstances, the sigel believed she could manage a win. She stopped struggling and tried to calm herself. The rabbit needed to conserve energy. She had to keep her wits and think things through. She had gotten herself into this situation. Now, how to get out of it?

That’s it!

The rabbit caught sight of the two of them in one of mirrors hung on the gym’s walls. She could see all of Eloise’s unguarded points. Her elbow thrust back and connected with his ribs. The man gritted his teeth. He was in pain, but his grip remained firm. She struck again with similar effects. The raevan was in shock. Any other person would have doubled over, but the demi-human had not budged.

LuLu growled in frustration. This would be a cinch if she did not need to rely solely on her upper body to attack. He had so many other areas open. If only she had legs! She could stomp on his feet or go for other vital targets. However, with only her arms, she was at a disadvantage.

Eloise rumbled into her ear, “Give up.” He could tell it would not be much longer now. What breathes LuLu could take were coming out in short pants. She was starved for oxygen at this point.

LuLu choked out, “N-no!” She would not give up. Eloise could not win! But, all she had was her stupid arms! The girl resigned to what limited moves she could perform. Her elbow dug into his stomach until he was forced to hunch forward. She took the opportunity to swipe the demi-human’s glasses off. His spectacles clattered to the ground, and LuLu heard a faint crunch of glass breaking.

Eloise released a noise that the sigel had not yet heard before. It was a shrill snarl that made her ears ache. He seethed, “We are ending this now. Submit.” The man was finished toying with the rabbit. His arm sealed around her neck like a vice until it cut off every last bit of her already scant air.

In a matter of seconds, LuLu’s lungs were on fire. The rabbit’s vision started to blur. Then it began to tunnel. At last, a thought occurred to her.

She was not going to win.

LuLu tapped his shoulder in surrender, and Eloise dropped her to the floor none too gently. The man stepped past her limp body and ducked down to retrieve his glasses from the ground. He inspected them and was dissatisfied with what he found. There was a crack along one of the lenses. The man clicked his tongue before replacing his spectacles atop the bridge of his nose. He clucked at the girl, “I hope you are happy with the outcome, Miss Scarlet. This is what happens when you play foolish games.”

LuLu was still on the mat trying to find her voice. She took in a deep breath and filled her lungs to the brim with fresh air. After a moment, she responded in a shaky mumble, “It was unfair. I cannot grapple without legs. I am a boxer.”

Eloise began to place his coat back on. He stated tersely, “You were the one who pulled out a grappling move first, and I did not use my legs once to defeat you.” He tidied up the last button and brushed off the fabric as he continued, “You are simply a poor fighter who lacks refinement.”

LuLu rose up from the floor. Her amethyst eyes focused a scathing glare on the man. She was not fond of his attitude. And, she was definitely not a poor fighter by typical standards. It raised a question. Why had Eloise been hiding his fighting ability? And, if he could trample over Lu, why had he been unable to take down a bunch of common thugs? The sigel retorted, “I had a disadvantage.”

Eloise countered the girl, “There is no such thing.” LuLu’s glare softened and she looked on in confusion as the demi-human bent down. He carefully rolled up the cuff on one of his pants legs into a few neat folds. The girl’s eyes widened at what she was met with.

A steal rod protruded from his joint rather than the typical flesh and bone that was expected. The rod was covered in formed plastic to create a vague leg shape that filled out the slacks. The artificial limb continued up past the area he had exposed to her. She assumed it ended around his knee, but could not be certain. The rabbit felt some of her ire subside. She gulped softly, “I did not realize.” LuLu bit her lip anxiously, “You have a disadvantage, too.”

Eloise quickly pulled down his pants leg. He rose to his feet and frowned at the rabbit. “Do not compare me to yourself, Miss Scarlet. I do not have a disadvantage.” The man adjusted his glasses, “I do not make excuses for weakness. I overcome it. Whereas, you have let your weakness define you.”

LuLu looked away. Her arms crossed over her chest. Although she hated to admit it, Eloise did have a point. During their fight, she was momentarily caught up by her absence of a lower body. She believed that was the cause of her inability to break his guard. She had quickly resigned to her lack of legs as a weakness. Perhaps that mentality had been her downfall. If she had not focused on it, she might have been able to think of another plan.

Eloise continued, “Samuel thinks you are something amazing, but I see what you truly are. You will disappoint him one day. The same way you have disappointed me.” LuLu flinched at his words.

What did Eloise mean by them?

Shades of Red, Shades of Gray

Who: LuLu and Samuel
When: Morning
Where: N/A
Weather: Spring
Status: Complete
Post-note:

It looked like the rabbit had managed a clean getaway after her narrow escape from police custody. LuLu made her return to Samuel’s mansion later that evening. Fortunately, she managed to bypass the man altogether. She was thankful they did not cross paths as she did not know how to start explaining where she had disappeared to that morning. Her run in with the unnamed woman was by chance. It had also gone in an unexpected direction.

The woman’s final words were still playing over in her head. How had she made a mistake in choosing her friends? The statement still confused the sigel. LuLu thought she was a fairly decent judge of character. After all, she was not the most innocent person herself so she had some idea of how deceitful people act. The woman’s caution had left the rabbit unsettled. Someone close to her had planned the attack on Franco. But, the rabbit was at a loss for who could be that despicable.

Clink-clink-clink.

The rabbit shot up from her seat when she heard the front gates rattle in the distance. It was well past nightfall. Samuel did not typically expect visitors this late. The girl’s curiosity immediately piqued. She sat up completely and drew closer to her balcony’s doors. She peeked through the thick glass, past the garden, and to the front courtyard. It looked like a car was pulling into the driveway. However, its headlights were cut off. It was almost impossible to make out any details given that the sky was a starless bruised blue.

LuLu squinted and pressed her forehead against the clear pane separating her from outside. Her eyes started to adjust to the dark. She could see that it was a pitch black sports car. The girl’s heart skipped a beat. There was a design on its hood. Even though it was a muddled splotch at this distance there was something uncannily familiar about it.

It was then that her eyes shifted focus and clashed with a fierce glint of red. Eloise was down in the courtyard, too, and was waving the car into a garage. However, despite being absorbed with directing the vehicle, his gaze remained locked with hers. He pinned her down with the weight of his stare and never once moved his attention back to the car. LuLu jerked back from the window. Her heart was now pounding in her chest. The demi-human had exuded ire at her. She felt the threat. The girl knew she had gotten a glimpse of something that was not meant to see.

----

The following morning, curiosity and fear had taken up a ferocious battle within the girl’s brain. Eloise’s glare had been far from welcoming. However, he had never been a particularly friendly to her either. There was still an enormous chance that this was all in her head and Samuel was simply adding a new car to his already impressive collection. Even if it was highly unusual behavior, there will still many unknowns. She had not caught anyone red handed, just yet. LuLu decided that she needed more answers. She would explore Samuel’s garage and finally put all this uncertainty to rest.

It was still fairly early in the morning when the sigel left her room to venture downstairs. The whole mansion was settled into a hush considering the events of yesterday. The only noise was a gentle whoosh from her ribbon gliding across the hardwood and tile. LuLu slipped outside through one of the many doors that led to the garden. She would need to cross it in order to get to the garage.

With the weather warming up, the plants outside were coming back to life. It was the rabbit’s first time seeing the garden in some semblance of its full glory. When she had agreed to stay at Samuel’s mansion it was still the middle of winter. At that time, most of the greenery was muted or covered up by a blanket of white. However, now the snow had melted. The rich colors that had been hiding underneath were now displayed.

The sigel floated along a cobblestone path. The sun was just peaking over the horizon and it created a cozy orange glow. The tenderly sculpted topiaries and freshly unfurled blooms were illuminated in the inviting sunlight. LuLu paused for a moment to observe, momentarily forgetting her task.

It was then that she noticed another new addition to one of Samuel’s collections. A rose bush had sprung up seemingly overnight in the garden. Its foliage was filled out lushly and dotted with deep burgundy flowers. The plot of dirt underneath was mounded high and still looked soft as if it had just been planted. The shrub stood tall and proud, perfectly fitting in as another spectacle to behold. The rabbit shook her head softly and pulled her attention away from the garden. She continued on towards the garage.

LuLu approached the side of the windowless building. It seemed silly to even try, but the girl tested the garage’s only door. Of course, Eloise was not an idiot and it was bolted shut tightly. LuLu grumbled dismissively, however. There was more than one way to get things done. She just might have to put in more work than she had first thought. The sigel returned to the front of the building. Her eyes scanned along the large, slatted sheets the garage door was comprised of.

LuLu moved closer. She tapped one of her knuckles experimentally against the metal. It seemed pretty thin, like aluminum. It could not be all that heavy. She quickly concluded that this would be her best point of entry. The rabbit inhaled deeply and stooped her body down.

Her lithe fingers squeezed in between the scant space separating the garage door and the driveway. They threaded themselves under until her palms made contact with the cool surface of the metal. Her grip was firm. LuLu heaved upwards with a strong tug. She managed to pry the door open wider by a few meager centimeters. It would not be enough though. Maybe a mouse could fit through now, but she needed a gap large enough for her petite frame.

LuLu steadied herself again. She adjusted her grip on the door. The girl inhaled slowly understanding that she would have to give it her all on this next attempt. Anything less would not work. Her fingers flexed mightily. Tension shot up her forearms, biceps, and shoulders until it felt like the tendons may pop at any moment. The girl gave a powerful heave and the door climbed higher by a few inches, but it was still not where she needed it to be. LuLu hissed from behind her clenched teeth. Her arms were trembling and her muscles were burning, but she had to give it one last try. The sigel growled out as she swung her whole body up into her movement.

Her efforts paid off as the garage door slid open by another foot. It looked like just enough room for LuLu to squeeze in. The girl immediately dropped to the ground. She carefully tucked her wings against her shoulder blades. Then she flattened herself out against the pavement. LuLu crawled forward slowly inch by excruciating inch, and her rune pulsed brightly from her struggle. She continued even as her back grazed the lip of the door, until she knew she had cleared it. The rabbit pulled herself up from the floor and huffed tiredly. She had succeeded, but there was still more work to be done. The sigel now had to investigate this new car Samuel had acquired.

LuLu spotted the vehicle tucked away in a back corner of the building. It was hidden by a number of other cars. She floated past them and closer to the one in question. As she rounded past an antique compact painted as brightly as a jewel, her eyes could finally hone in on the black sports car. A caricature of a demon stared back at her. With some unease, she realized she had identified the vehicle correctly. It raised a new question. Why would Samuel have this car, and where was its previous owner? The woman’s words echoed momentarily in her head again.

You made a mistake when choosing your friends.

The girl approached the sports car to examine it more carefully. It looked pristine, as it had in the parking lot only hours ago. She circled around the vehicle until she reached the back where a flash of crimson caused her to pause. A part of the bumper was painted with a streak of red that had not been there before. She reached forward to glide a finger over the spot. LuLu was surprised to discover that it was still wet. The liquid was viscous like semi-dried ink. As she brought the finger to her face, she could see the color better. It was a deep, rusty red that was similar to some of the inks she had sampled in the past. Curiously, she brought the red coated digit to her lips and licked at it.

She froze in place. Her eyes grew wide as the taste of iron suddenly filled her mouth. This was blood. Upon the gruesome finding, she frantically began to wipe her hand onto her shirt. She twisted her trembling fingers into the fabric and held her breath. The blood had to be coming from somewhere… or, rather, someone. LuLu brought her shaking grip to the trunk of the car. Her fingers clutched against the latch until the door sprung open. The rabbit closed her eyes slightly; afraid of what she might see.

Inside the trunk was a dried splotch of blood that nearly took up the entirety of the space. In the far corner was something that made LuLu’s blood run cold; a single kitten heel that she recognized all too well. And, now she understood what the woman had meant by her words. Her friend, Samuel, was more than what he seemed.

LuLu slid back out of the garage and shut it behind her so that it looked like nothing was out of place. However, the girl knew that reality was far from picture perfect. The rabbit had made a shocking discovery, and everything was quickly becoming a mess now.

She approached the garden once more, floating aimlessly as she tried to decipher that knowledge she had been affronted with. Her eyes settled again on the new plot that had appeared overnight. The way the rose bush bulged from the swollen earth made the sigel start to feel sick. LuLu dropped beside it on what would have been her knees. She wondered what she would find if she slipped her hands into freshly disturbed dirt. If she dug deeper how many more secrets would she unearth? Perhaps, a second soiled kitten heel to match the one in the trunk.

One of LuLu’s ears swiveled back like a small antenna when she heard one of the mansion’s doors open. Soon, the clicking of dress shoes on gravel and cobblestone echoed from behind her. Samuel’s cool voice called out to her, “Is something wrong, Scarlet?”

The sigel felt ice in her veins upon hearing him. The way words roll off his tongue and his little nickname for her had once delighted LuLu, but now the man was making her feel nauseated. His growing proximity was quickly becoming a problem for the girl. She bit back her bile and kept her eyes down. LuLu grasped at one of the roses in front of her. The petals were a murky red that reminded her of the unnamed woman’s blood. The girl responded to the man. “No, I am just admiring the flowers.”

The man stepped forward and kneeled down to LuLu’s level. His suit rustled as he drew in close. Despite her dread, the rabbit’s amethyst eyes wandered towards him. He was smiling at her. Despite all he had done, Samuel was wearing a placid grin. He addresses the girl with amusement in his words, “Excellent. I am pleased you noticed them. They are a beautiful addition to my collection.” Without warning, he reached forward and slid his hand over hers. His large palms easily encompassed the rabbit’s. Samuel brought her wrist and the flower she had in her grasp to his face. He breathed in their sweet scent with a hum. “So close to perfection.” He was gentle and calculated with his movements, one might even say affectionate.

LuLu had to suppress a grimace. However, despite her maintaining an indifferent expression, she could see the tattoos on her arm starting to quiver and change color. The rabbit pulled her hand away from Samuel’s and cupped her palm over the ink before it gave away her disgust.

The man emitted a questioning purr when she recoiled from him. Once LuLu met his eyes again, they seemed a bit sharper and more focused than before. Their blue depths were a little bit more frigid. He inquired, “Are you certain there is not something I can help you with? Perhaps a question you want to ask me?” He raised a blond brow at her.

LuLu felt her next breath die in her lungs before she could complete her exhale. Did he know that she had snooped around the garage? If he did, she was not confident in the punishment that would be in store for her for her nosiness. LuLu hoped she would not meet the same fate as the unnamed woman from the alley. The rabbit mustered up some confidence from deep within as she answered him. It was enough to prevent her voice from shaking as she spoke, “Actually, there is something I want to ask.” Her shoulders tensed as the question stood at the tip of her tongue. It was now or never. LuLu questioned, “Samuel, what exactly is your line of work?”

The man’s lips curled into a smile that was all sharp canines like a cat that had caught the canary. Samuel shifted his weight and stood again, “I thought you would never ask, dear Scarlet.” He reached out to help the rabbit up. The girl gave one last anxious glance at the rose bush and its peculiar plot before she let herself be pulled away. She took the man’s hand gingerly and floated back up to her full height, the top of her head coming up to Samuel’s shoulders. The man continued, “I have done well for myself in the business of giving and taking.”

LuLu echoed his words, “Giving and taking?” She withdrew her hand from his grasp once again. She let it settle at her side and wished the feeling of her skin squirming would subside. The rabbit asked, “What does that mean?” Her brow had scrunched up in confusion.

The man responded, “Not everyone deserves what they have. I enjoy evening the odds.” Samuel had wasted no time in answering. However, his response was still fairly cryptic in the girl’s opinion. He could sense her bewilderment and reformulated his explanation. “For example, I buy out a monopoly. I take ownership of a few malls and give their employees better wages.” He awaited LuLu’s response. When she nodded in comprehension, he continued, “Or, a politician has his position taken away by circumstance and I step in. I now am given a chance to create change. You are astute Scarlet. I know you understand what this means.” He leveled his icy stare at the girl.

LuLu squared her shoulders. A pout formed softly on her lips. Before she could think through her words, she uttered, “It sounds like stealing.” Realizing what she had said, she flinched. Her eyes darted away from Samuel.

Unexpectedly, the man gave a hearty chuckle. He adjusted at one of his cuff links and hummed in good humor, “In a sense, I suppose.”

LuLu ears perked, “Isn’t that wrong to do?”

With his same mirthful tone, he responded, “Do you believe the world is that black and white, Scarlet?” He stepped closer and leaned in. LuLu’s face turned back towards him. She could make out the detail of the fine lines on his face. His expression was still calm and even, but his eyes were bright blue and impassioned. He continued, “Is it wrong if I am helping people by doing it?”

LuLu titled her chin up. As much as it frustrated her to admit it, he did have a point. She shook her head and commented, “No, it is not all wrong. No one is all good or all bad.” If anyone understood that morality was composed of numerous shades of gray, it was her. The rabbit had probably been a part of similar schemes in the past, though on a much smaller scale. Stealing extra cookies from bakeries for the neighborhood kids was a far cry from infiltrating governments. However, not everyone thought the way she did. LuLu probed further, “What about the police? What if someone finds out?”

Samuel chided the girl gently with a click of his tongue. “What do I have to hide? They know my line of work.” He waved the girl’s comment away with a hand and commented, “I take out a few unsavory characters, I give the city safety, and I am rewarded for it. The police will not interfere in my affairs.”

LuLu was starting to have an idea of just how much Samuel was involved in, and it was making her head spin. It made sense now how he was able to coordinate the attempt on Franco’s life whilst keeping it under cover. The rabbit felt her fists balling tightly at her sides. She now kept asking herself why he did it. Samuel’s motive was still unclear. What purpose did taking Franco away from her serve? What right did he have to do this to her and Selene? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She clenched her teeth and a growl slipped past her lips.

Samuel’s voice cut through her thoughts sharply, “This garden will be in a full bloom within a few weeks. You will see, after the spring rain it will flourish.” The subject suddenly changed and it caught LuLu off guard. Her head canted at his words. He rumbled, “Sometime there needs to be a bit of hardship before something truly magnificent can occur.” His gaze then shifted to her. He chilled her to the bone with one piercing look, and LuLu’s anger no longer seemed as white-hot as before.

The sigel swayed in place, suddenly deflated. Though it upset her, it did not feel like the time to pry further. Samuel’s patience also seemed to be running short. She did not want to test the man more than she had to in this moment. There would be a better time and place for the rest of her questions. LuLu chimed, “Thank you for explaining Samuel. I think I understand more now.” She offered him a nod of her head before she floated back towards the mansion.

---

It was not long after LuLu departed that Eloise slipped out from hiding. He swooped in close to his employer and stood at attention. His full height towered over everything else in the garden

Samuel acknowledged him with a nod of his head and a narrowing of his eyes. The man commented tersely, “She knows.”

The bodyguard adjusted his glasses so that they sat higher atop the bridge of his nose. He asked dryly, “Will there be a change in plans?” Eloise’s body tensed, as though he was ready to climb into action.

Samuel raised a hand to pause his subordinate. He shook his head, “No, I can still convince her.” The man carded another hand through his hair, “We both need time to cool our heads first.” The man’s face was still even and stern. But, the steely glint in his eyes gave away that he was not completely unaffected by the girl.

Eloise wore a grimmer expression. He responded, “Understood.” It was not his place to defy Samuel’s commands, though he could easily predict what would unfold. This child, LuLu, was leading his cunning employer down a foolish path. Nevertheless, he would be there to clean up the inevitable mess.

The Creator

Who: Samuel
When: Afternoon
Where: Samuel's office
Weather: Spring
Status: Complete
Post-note:

Samuel’s sharp jawline and chin was cradled by one of his hands. The man was in a dilemma on how to proceed. He could feel the fine muscles in his face twitch within his loose hold. This was no good, at all. He was already fighting back a scowl as he debated over the options the raevan girl had left him with. There were far too few to allow him comfort. The man was in a place he had never been before - he was on edge.

Samuel scrubbed his hand over his face. His brow was wrinkled more deeply than it should be. He reminded himself once again that he needed to remain neutral. It was becoming a frustrating mantra that he never expected he would need to utter. Usually, objectivity was not something requiring reiteration. It was not an option, but a requirement in his line of work. A level head ensured his plans were successful. However, composure was becoming a struggle to maintain every day. Scarlet had been thrust back into his life, and her presence brought a few unexpected changes that took away the status quo.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

A pair of warm brown eyes watched him from across the room. He straightened up and leaned back into his office chair. His idle fingers began to thrum in a thoughtful rhythm against the top of his desk. “You can tell me what is on your mind.”

The large painting on the wall in front of him did not respond. However, the young woman depicted had Samuel pinned with her pointed gaze. He continued, “It is unfair for you to judge when you were the one who left me.” His voice held an irritated edge, but Scarlet’s hooded eyes remained unblinking.

She was painted artistically in a gown structured from clean lines and crisp details. The woman was in her late-twenties around when she was in the peak of her career. Her body was surrounded by a sea of dark red roses, not unlike the dried one pinned to Samuel’s coat. This portrayal had the original Scarlet’s best features, in Samuel’s opinion, such as her soft curls and stern expression. She was a Madonna created by the man’s tastes and solely for his enjoyment. So, why was she turning against him? Her appearance was inexplicably offended. It reminded him of the way the rabbit girl looked at him now.

Why was the new Scarlet also turning against him, too?

“I will not sit idly by while you make the same mistake.” His lips settled into a thin, concerned line. Samuel had lost his love and spent too many years of his life trying to find her again. Luck and tenacity had brought Scarlet back to him.

Of course, he knew that this girl was not the same Scarlet from years ago. But, at the same time, she could be. Samuel saw potential in her. This new Scarlet carried with her the same fierce temperament and flare as her predecessor. They were both two perfect women cast from the same mold. Though, this girl was still soft around the edges. She was still malleable, where the original had not been. Samuel could continue to shape this Scarlet into his perfect vision. At last, she could truly become his.

The man produced a red cell phone from a drawer in his desk. He tapped through a few menus before he reached a contact list. LuLu’s contact list, in particular. He had been granted a second chance with Scarlet, and he would do everything in his power to keep her this time.

With his care, Samuel was certain that he would unlock this girl’s latent potential. This Scarlet would surpass her mentor. Then, he could replace the scowling painting in his office. He would adorn this space with a new image of her - a new Scarlet he would create - his Scarlet.