"Ito!" Her slightly high pitched voice hissed into the lobby's phone. She turned away from the prying eyes of the office clerk. One small hand covered the phone as she talked. "You were supposed to stay in France. If my brother finds out I'm here, he's going to be so pissed!" The man on the other end said he was going to stay in hiding but still keep an eye on her. An aspirated sigh parted her lips. She threw one hand in the air and let it drop. "Fiiine!" She hissed again into the phone. "Just keep out of sight." There wasn't a response on the other end. Linore knew that Ito would do as she said. He always did, in one way or another. He had been her constant companion, ever since she could remember Ito had been at her side. Not many people could ever say that in their lives. Someone always being there. "Thank you." She said before hanging up the phone. Linore knew he was waiting for her to hang up first.
Grabbing her bag from the counter she handed the phone back to the clerk. "Thanks." she said while tossing the jean strap of her bag over one of her shoulders. The clerk gave her a nod. Linore looked like a punk kid. Her dirty blond hair was streaked with pink color; bangs were rolled upwards to make a poof and pinned there. Her attire was a mess of hand me down clothing. Jeans that had more rips than there was jean fabric. She wore a tiny neon yellow tulle skirt over the jeans. Her top was a tank with a half cut covering that had so many sequins on it that it ruined the would be cute cloth it was made of. A pair of chunky cheetah heels completed the outfit.
Mark, the Hotel Clerk, gave her a funny look when she turned to leave through the lobby doors. The sun greeted her as she headed towards Magazine Street. There was a bakery there she wanted to see. Linore had a range of different interests. Thankfully she had the money to pursue most of her interests. Well, her brother had the money to allow her to pursue these interests. He was the reason that Linore had left France and came to New Orleans. Ishmael had sent her to France to learn different culinary arts. She had requested to go when he had been gone longer than a month.
Thinking about it now, she smirked to herself. Everyone under Ish's careful eye seemed to lower their guard when she was around. She was nothing like her brother. Where he seemed ruthless, she was sweet. They were completely the opposites of each other. It was no wonder why most of the people at the estate in Rome had taken to Linore. They respected her and showered her in affections. Even Ish's assistant had let her guard down around Linore. That was how she found out where Ish went. After he had been gone more than a month she asked to go to France to learn how to bake different pastries. Ishmael pulled his strings and she got to study under one of the world’s best. Linore learned quickly, doing things with a careful eye and preciseness that was almost scary to the chef. Every day she learned something new, studied and made it without a hitch.
Merrick called everyday to check up on Linore. It had been two months after she had been gone from Rome that she asked if Ish had come back yet. When Merrick said no, that he was still in the states. It was then that Linore worked on her plan to leave France and go find her big brother in New Orleans.
Ito was supposed to stay and cover for her. He had for like a day! She sighed thinking about that. Secretly she thanked him for coming after her. It would be really lonely if she didn't have him around. Just knowing he was close by made her feel safer. Linore guessed it would take Merrick at least two days before she figured out Linore was no longer in France, and since Ito belonged to Linore and was completely loyal to her, he would never answer Merrick's calls.
She wondered how long it would take Ish to find her. Looking down at her plastic strawberry switchblade swatch watch, a smirk rolled on her lips again. She was betting a week before Ish found out she was in New Orleans. She knew her brother had lots of people out there, but how good were they? Linore gave them a week's time to find her.
Gabriel Ishmael Goldman was usually a stoic and unemotional man either due to a childhood that was wrought with lack of touch and lack of love, or from the power that kept his mind so inwardly turned, or the exposure to the Xetes crystal that had destroyed some part of him with its power. Yet through the stoic haze there was one thing that could tempt him to frustration. At that moment it was a message delivered from his personal assitant Merrick that had him skirting the edge of rage.
"The last time she was seen at Le Cordon Bleu was two days ago sir. When Ito didn't return my calls yesterday I sent someone to look for them at Le Maurice but they were checked out. Not a single trace of Linore sir, but the sniffers were able to track Ito to Charles de Gaulle airport. Between her bouts of insanity Serenity had been able to tell us that Ito was headed towards New York when he left Paris."
The sound of Merrick's calm steady voice recounting events for him had him settling back down in his seat. He hadn't even really realized that he had been drawn to his feet until he started to relax again and listen. Standing beside his desk one of the zombie contenanced maids held a tray with coffee on it and a steadily leaking drip of blood fell from her nose, over the crest of her lips, and onto the lace doillie in the tray. Frustrated he lifted a hand and snapped at her to motion her away from him with the soiled offering. The nose bleed no doubt an unfortunate effect of his spike in temperment combined with the hold he had on the woman.
"I don't care what he was doing twenty-four hours ago Merrick. I want to know where Linore is NOW."
Each word he spoke was enunciated as though he was trying to strangle the syllables. Frustrated beyond belief at how this could have happened he forced himself to take a deep breath in through his nose and let it out slowly from between his lips. Heart rate evening out he concentrated on lowering his blood pressure, calming his internal system, and letting his mind fade everything else to white noise so that he could think. Never in all his life had he met a more difficult woman than his sister Linore....unless of course you counter his other sister Rashel.
"That's just it Mr. Goldman. We believe Ito is headed towards you...in New Orleans. And if he is then Linore must be headed there herself. We've already sent the Phoenix, she's on the Concord now which means she should be arriving soon."
"Elisheva....why her?"
"Serenity suggested it sir. You said to trust the oracle's visions so we were only following orders. But also....she seemed eager to come for her own reasons, perhaps a sign all it's own, and Linore likes her. That might help your cause."
"It doesn't matter who Linore likes. She was to stay in Rome! ROME! And now you've managed to lose.....an entire person! Merrick I cannot adaquately express my displeasure to you at the moment but make no mistake, if my sister is not found in the next forty eight hours then I will raise hell itself to find her."
"We are doing our best sir, but you know the problem as well as we do. There's something about her, she doesn't register for the Agents like others, and since you've never allowed her to be tested we..."
"Don't speak of that to me again do you understand me Merrick? She is no experiment and so help me she will live a long and happy life never knowing about the Core or the Agency. Do you understand me? I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?"
"Yes...sir. We'll find her sir."
"If Linore cannot be scented or tracked or delved for then send them after that manservant of hers. Wherever he is you'll find her."
Pressing the disconnect button on the ear piece he wore Ishmael glared straight ahead of him but his storm cloud gray eyes failed to see the room around him. He was pressing the boundaries of his own penetralia and seeking through his blood for the very thing he had just sent his people to find. The reason Linore was such a difficulty was because the young girl was as invisible to psychic powers as a void. Except that a void would at least leave space, thus the void, where Linore simply did not exist. It was impossible and something that his scientists would love to get their hands on and study, but he kept his little Linore safe. Or he tried until the hellcat took to flight.
As his mind wandered seeking something that wasn't there he felt the grasping approach of another powerful being beckoning with her siren song. Rashel's mind was as beautiful as a newly opened rose in the sunshine and the bite of her poison dipped thorns was every bit as vicious. Feeling her though he could barely resist turning his attentions in her direction, could not erase the site of the cell in which she was kept, or the glowing color of her eyes as she seemed to see him in the darkness. Her heavenly lips were moving and he was in love all over again, he could almost hear the sweet caress of her voice as she said 'Our sweet baby girl' and then he thrust her out with as much force as he could muster just as her power clawed towards him like a serpant seeking to strike.
What Rashel's words had meant, what she wanted from him, those were mysteries he had managed to push beneath the proverbial rug for a very long time. Now, of all times, was not the time when he would go digging in the graves of the past. Pushing up from his desk he smoothed his hands down the front lapels of his jacket. If Elisheva was coming then he wanted to know the moment she arrived, he would send a car and driver to pick her up with strict instructions for her to seek out Ito immediately. The man must be found at all costs.
Elisheva leaned against the window looking down at the ocean below. A sigh would pass those ruby red lips as she let her finger follow the trail of the rain on the glass. Her thoughts trailing off to the day she had arrived at the Goldman estates after her last assiment in Israel for him. Only to find the entire country in war..The Vatican City hit the hardest. It had very much reminded her of the tragic holy wars. The path her thoughts were taking caused her to frown. Shaking her head she would turn them to the meeting with Serenity.
The click click click of Mr Goldmans cold blooded secretary in the silent hall made Eva want to beg the woman to take of her heels. The womas whole demenor was enough to freeze the fires that still months after the enital riot still burned outside the gates of the estate. Which didnt help what so ever calm her constant worrying about Sol. the one who was a spitting image of her brother. The one person in the entire universe she always found.
"Truely woman..You do silence is usually golden?"
She had enough of the womans heels...But it couldnt truely be blamed on her...This house was after all nothing more then a shrine. Elisheva tried to stay away from it at all cost..But she needed the Oracle. To find this Solomen. Something about him called to her more and more lately..Especially since his disappearence. Ignoring the womans cold glare Eva moved pass the woman shutting the door behind her. This was a private matter. As more often then not Serenity was in a heated conversation with the empty chair behind her.
"We had expected you sooner Phoenix."
Those black souless eyes turning on her for a moment before returning to the chair and saying something that Eva didnt quite catch. In a moment the small woman would stand and smooth out her skirts and move towards the small bookshelf that would lead to a smaller room much like the one of Ishmales...It was used for the utter most disgression for her more...Important clinete. Sereinty would jesture to the seat across from her
The shrill ring of the plane phone gave Eva a start. Glancing out the window she would find land had replaced the vast ocean. Along with the annocement from the captain of the flight of that they would be arriving arriving at the Louis Armstrong Airport within the hour. A sigh would pass her lips once more as she brought the phone to her ear.
"Speak."
"Mr Goldman wants to know the moment you touch in New Orleans."
"Tell him I shall be there within the hour."
Was all she would say before hanging up. Of course she would call Goldman himself. But Elisheva loved to get under Merricks skin. A small cat like smirk curled over her lips as she hung up the phone.
"I dont have much time to sit. You seem to know what I seek Oracle...Just give me what I want"
Serenity would tilt her head. Tempted not to tell the woman..Or was tempted not to til the billfold was set on the table along with the small red vial.
"Fine suit yourself. Follow the princessesa and the great man of gold. There in that city you shall find the bird you seek. Now go. You bore me."
Serenity's child like voice sounding more like that of a old crone as those black eyes glazed to that foggy white that came when she told her tales. Having all that the woman would give her Eva left only to be met by Merrick who held the ticket for Eva. Instructing to find Ito and Lenior and for once..Eva gave the woman no problems on taking the task...After all...It would bring her closer to the dopleganger that was Solomen.
Chunky heels stopped right in front of the store's window. Along the display were breads, some fake cakes, and a few cupcakes. It wasn't a very colorful place this bakery. Though, Linore knew there had been a great pâtissier that had worked there.
One small hand pushed open the door to allow herself inside. She turned her gray brown eyes to the woman behind the counter. A bubble gum pink smile was placed on her lips. "Hi!" She said cherfully. "I was wondering if Mr. Vido still works here? He was my teacher's favorite student."
The woman at the counter looked over her shoulder staring to the swinging door that lead to the kitchen. She turned back to Linore with a sad smile. "No, I'm sorry he's not here anymore. In fact we're closing shop soon." Linore's brow rose in wonder. "How soon?" The woman shrugged a shoulder. "As soon as we sell all the cakes here. This is the last of our inventory. All our machines are for sale as well." The woman informed Linore.
Arms crossed behind her own back as she Linore nodded. "Oh, that's a shame. How much are you asking for the building and everything in it?" This coming from Linore. She looked like some punk kid off the street. No older than maybe fifteen, which was hardly the case. Linore was older than what she looked. "Six thousand." Said the older woman who, to which was to no surprise from Linore, was curious as to why Linore even asked.
Linore couldn't just buy it now, she had to wait for her brother to find her first. Then, after the lecture (she was sure there would be one) from her Brother, she would ask to buy the building and the things inside to help her with the bakery. Why would he say no? She thought to herself. Ish loved her. He didn't show it, but she was pretty sure he did. She hoped anyway. He was a rather cold man after all.
"I hope you don't sell out to quickly. I'd like to come back." She said. Pointing to a roll on the top shelf from the glass case inside. "Can I have this one?" She asked the woman, which nodded and gathered the sweet roll in a wax paper and placed it in a small white box. Paying for her treat, she took the box and headed back out into the hot city. Maybe she should go back and get a few more for Ish and Ito. A glance to her watch. They were on day one, still. Was she underestimating her brother? Maybe, she secretly hoped now, he find her quicker. That bakery was forming ideas in Linore's brain. She wished she was more of an artist so she could draw out the ideas she was having.
Twenty four hours had passed and yet for him the time seemed to tick by with the delapidated gait of an injured mare. Each second stretched and tested his temperment and each time the phone rang he was disappointed to find little evidence of his desired acquisition. The Phoenix had touched down in New Orleans and for that at least he was grateful. Hers was a mind which he could seeth inside, following her movements as she attempted to track that abhorrent Ito. Ishmael aided her where he could, guiding her like a seeing eye dog through the streets of the city on the tail of that cur.
When at last he felt the stirrings of Ito's mind he leapt upon the man like a siege of hellfire and rained down on him a pain so torrential it would bring the felon to his knees. Punishment, this was a concept Ishmael knew only too well. Speaking deep into the core of the other mans mind he blacked out Ito's vision so that only his voice would hold meaning to the man. Take us to Linore. AT ONCE!
The order was given over with a pain that made the mans nose drip blood as his inner mind was assaulted. Linore may have thought her jaunt a simple joke, and in youth kept herself innocent of the true consequences. But Ito paid those consequences now in blood. As the man wept on the floor of his hotel room Ishmael waited for the phoenix to reach him. Ishmael had incapacitated the man, and now he could lead the phoenix to Linore. It was time for the child to learn that life was not about games, and that when you did play you had best be prepared for what you might lose.
