Tuscany Trip

Robert never moved. Never took his eyes off the wild haired woman. Barely seemed to notice the incarcerous that came and went. Brian knew better. Robert was being very calculated and purposeful. He wanted to be as intimidating as he could summon up. Robert simply stood in silence, watching the wild haired woman's fear grow and grow, and watching her now start to scramble to try to avoid Robert. Clearly they had run into each other before and she wanted no part of a rematch.

"Now you listen to me," Robert's words were in a low, angry, formidible tone that even made Brian's blood freeze in his veins. "Your assignment is done. You've been paid a much better offer. Do you understand me?" His eyes seemed to burn flame right through her.

"He'll kill me!" she shrieked as if she was on the verge of utter madness.

"I'll bring it all back...."

"NO!!!!!" she screamed, falling into a limp heap on the floor as if he'd poured boiling oil on her.

"Your assignment is finished. Say it," he ordered, not moving a muscle.

"I...can't...." she stammered.

Robert began slowly in a deep, low tone, to weave a spell, the words flowing from his lips like a death sentence. The woman began to scream in utter agony and to beg him to stop. He did not act like he even heard her. Finally she agreed, screaming at him that she was done, finished, over. Anything he wanted if he just stopped.

Robert stopped speaking. It seemed to take her a very long moment to regain herself. Then he spoke in the same terrifying tone. "Get out. You forget this address or I will return. " She started to sob and apparated away from her prone position on the floor. There was a long awkward silence. He didn't like having to play this part of such a frightening powerful man, but every so often he was pushed to it. He sighed heavily, letting go of that part that was meant to terrify.

"Secure your house, Men." He ordered, back to his normal tone. He cast a glance at his stunned daughter. He wanted more than anything to go to her and tend her wounds, but right now, he didn't dare. She would ask questions. Hell, they all would. He could not answer them right now. It would put uncounted lives in danger if he did. He did not look back at Brian or Steven. He simply apparated out. Brian was infuriated. One more time Robert had left more questions than answers. He kicked his shoe against the tire of the red car in anger.

Khaat got a strong whiff of ammonia and woke sharply. She didn't have anyplace that didn't hurt. She was confused at first at where she was, and then realized she was back in her room. "Where'd she go?" Khaat asked, seeing Steven and Ronata and Brian all there. "Did she get away? Did we win?"

"She got away," Brian answered quietly. He didn't know how to tell her the truth because he wasn't sure exactly what the truth really was. "How do you feel?"

"Sore," she said. ""That ugly old bat can brawl."

"So can you," Brian said. "Why the hell did you go down there without telling anyone?"

"To the garage? Why not?'"

"Because she's an assassin! That's why!"

"Did you ever tell me my vacation was going to be interrupted by an assassin? Did you ever tell me not to go down to the garage? I thought you were being your usual self." She defended herself. He paused, thinking. His face cleared. He hadn't told her that she was being hunted.

"Oh. Well. Don't do it again," he said quietly, turning and leaving. He was slipping. He was better than this. He went down to the kitchen and drew out a bottle of firewhiskey and poured a double into a glass for himself. He needed to get a grip--and fast.

"No, probably not, "Brian agreed. "I've got a notion to go find Robert Lupin and kick his behind from here back to his farmhouse and keep on kicking until he starts to tell me the truth. He's making me look like an idiot. I don't know how he can expect any of us to stay safe when we don't know anything. I should have told her. Damn it, I should have told her. Alright. From here on out, the hell with him. I'm doing this my way. He didn't even stop to check and see if Khaat was alive or not. I'm going to beat the daylights out of him at some point. He's got it coming. " He took a big gulp of the firewhiskey. "He might have scared whoever that was, but he doesn't scare me. I'll take him on. And I'll beat him. Khaat deserves better from him than this. I'll take him on just for that alone." He poured more into his glass.

"No," Khaat said, "If I know Brian, he's so pissed he doesn't know what to do with himself. He will be blaming himself for an assassin getting into the house. He takes those things very, very seriously. He probably will drink a shot of firewhiskey and then somehow find a way to work out. He gets a bit compulsive about feeling like he needs to improve his skills if he thinks he's slipping. As for me, I think I'm okay. Just really sore. Even in some places I didn't know I had. I think I need to go see if he's okay. He gets a little obsessed about stuff like that. Besides that, I really need to see what he knows about this woman. You know what, she was really something. She's been through something awful. Her face...well, it wasn't pretty. Somebody has to know her. Brian and my father have enough connections, someone has to know her. Besides that face is very memorable." She got up slowly, hurting everywhere, feeling like her stuffings had been kicked out of her.

"No," Brian said, "I'm not going to take him on. I have to do this myself. " Khaat went over to Brian and sat down gingerly on the arm of his chair. She massaged his shoulders gently.

"Brian," she said very softly, "We'll get her. You know we will. I don't know what this is all about, but we'll get her. "

"I know," he said softly, laying his hand on hers. The moment he laid his hands on hers, his healers senses were activated. "Alright. First things first. You and I have to talk. Alone. I need a few minutes with you."
She frowned.

"Me? Well, okay. Ronata, would you stir the sauce, please? Check it for flavor? You and Steven could make the salad if you want. We might be able to rush the sauce just a bit and eat a little earlier maybe. " She got up and Brian rose. He led her upstairs to talk to her--and to be sure she really was alright. He just had to know for himself.