Pestale laughed, “You don’t like the Shapeshifters as much because you can’t order them about. They are not subject to the Lian and don’t become addicted to us, and you know as soon as you see a pretty human, you will enslave her sexually. You can’t help it, you like it too much.”
Hordly grinned, “Aye, I do like it when they die at my feet, die while begging for more.”
“You are really far more degenerate than I,” Pestale commented with a smirk and then a slight frown. “Be careful, this time, we can make no mistakes.”
“Will she come, do you think? She doesn’t always.”
“She will. Even though she has evolved, and is so much pure energy, she is still the human she always has been. She never let go of her human, and I remember once how strongly she said that she never would. You see she admires the human traits, human frailties, like kindness, empathy, concern, and a love of all things living. Crystal will come, when she is called. She has her favorites here in Conglam.”
* * *
Soon after Frankie’s father had deposited her in her bed, and left her to rest, she heard him whispering with Jazz and Trevor before he took his leave. She wondered if he was headed back to the dinner party and pulled a face.
She adored her father, but he too often was moved by pomp and ceremony. Then Prince Worley’s face came unbidden into her mind. She found she disliked him far too much and could not explain the why of it to herself.
A knock sounded on her door and she sighed and called, “Yes?”
“Frankie?” Jazz said softly.
“Aye, Jazz come in then,” she said and sat up. She wasn’t in the least bit tired and wondered why she
was even lying down.
Jazz touched Frankie’s long black hair and gave her a hug, “Okay now, sweetie?”
Frankie sighed heavily and picked at her pretty yellow floral patterned quilt, “Aye, I suppose, but ye know, Jazz…it was strange and although it was over in a few moments, I have this awful feeling that it was triggered. It wasn’t like m’usual visions which just arrive helter-skelter. This one was different.”
“Explain,” Jazz said simply.
“I don’t know that I can. It doesn’t make any sense. That pompous prince who thinks he is a shining gift to the female gender, well, he was talking to me and then when he touched me, I was hit by this…well, this vision and it was full of malicious waves of darkness. I was surrounded by it and I couldn’t get out.”
“And you think he triggered it?” Jazz frowned. “Why?”
“I know, yer thinking that it doesn’t make sense. And yer right, it doesn’t’. He is a Daoine Prince and I don’t think he is even the warrior type,” Frankie grinned over the notion.
Jazz played with Frankie’s hair, “Have any ideas what your vision was trying to tell you?”
“No, but the pain I felt, Jazz, it was someone else’s pain and whoever it was that was suffering, oh Jazz, they will go on suffering, on and on.” Frankie shook her head, “I’m that worried about it, I am.”
“Well, there is nothing you can do about it now, and besides, your visions don’t always come to pass, do they? Remember that time when you were so sure we were going to come across a pack of wolves being shot at by hunters from the sky? Trevor went ahead and found them, and disabled their helicopter and the wolves were saved that day. So visions don’t have to come true,” Jazz smiled reassuringly.
Frankie grinned mischievously. “Aye, that was such a relief. One of those wolves had pups with a nanny back at their earth. It would have been a tragedy of such far reaching proportions if those hunters had killed the alphas.”
“I know,” Jazz said and then grinned saucily, “Well, since you weren’t enjoying the dinner party, your little bout with dark visions put an end to it early, so some good came of it.”
Frankie laughed, “Yes, if only I had the vision sooner.”
Jazz smiled ruefully, “That bad, huh?”
“Worse, young Prince Worley is so full of himself.”
“I met him once, he had accompanied Queen Mab to the concert the Milesians had put together in Dravo.” Jazz frowned, “He seemed an ass, but I never gave it much thought back then,” Jazz offered thoughtfully.
Frankie wrinkled her nose, “I don’t find him so very good looking either. There is something in his smile that quite puts me off. Noa, I don’t like him.” Frankie sighed, “Besides, a lass needs more than a pretty face, doesn’t she?”
Jazz’s brow went up, “Very good. Yes she does, so tell me, what do you need, Frankie girl?”
Frankie grinned, “Sleep. Right now, I need sleep. I’ll be rushing off early in the morning remember, so I probably won’t see ye before I leave.” Sighing she added, “I’ll be doing something normal at least. I have plans to meet m’future roomy in Dublin and spend the night there, and do a little shopping.”