both gravitated to the living room where Aurelia had her hands on her hips, glaring at the large television screen that finished descending from the ceiling.
"Guess you were right," Aurelia announced. "At least they used a good photo of William. I hate when you die and they pick the ugliest photo of a collection of them so people have sympathy for you. As if death is entertainment."
"Apparently the uglier the photo, the more views," I dryly acknowledged. "And I hated that suit."
"Green just doesn't suit you," Neo calmly voiced.
Aurelia sighed and muted the news to glance my way.
"Operation Kill Me Not is in full effect," she declared with pride. Neo and I just stared at her, waiting for some sort of elaboration. She groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Do I have to explain? I assumed you guys would have at least asked what this mission may entail?"
"The way you said it made me assume you were going to elaborate," I voiced, and Neo nodded.
"Tone means everything when you're a male."
"I'm ashamed of you," Aurelia huffed in my direction but got to it. "Viktor's going to be here in thirty minutes, which means you better shower now!"
She pointed to me for added emphasis, and I sighed.
"Cool. Shower. Going."
Neo was clearly going to follow but Aurelia shook the remote from side to side as if it were a wand. "Oh no you don't," she began. "Neo stays here."
"Why?" he asked, but I already could tell he was beyond amused.
"If you go, neither of you are coming out. I'm not getting in the way of you two and your new bond honeymoon lust fest, alright?"
"Honeymoon Lust Fest?" I questioned with a wide grin. "That's a smart title."
"You should use that as an excuse to get you a week off after this," Neo suggested.
"Not a bad idea. We could go safe house shopping so we have options."
"Don't like it here?" Neo inquired.
"Oh, I love it here," I earnestly replied. "That's the problem. Get too comfortable and I'll be hiding my secret weapons all over the place. Then you'll never get rid of me."
"As if I want to," Neo replied.
"Not even noon and you two are flirting like lost lovers."
We looked to the left to see Onyx entering the room from the elevator - his hands holding two sets of hangers with protective plastic that secured whatever lavish attire was enclosed.
"Onyx?" I questioned and gave him a glare. "Go away."
"That's not how you should greet me, Sugar," he said with a beaming grin that could taunt me in my dreams.
"Why are you here, Onyx?" Aurelia ignored our banter to ask the prime question.
"Outfit change," he replied.
"The outfits Dimitris chose were perfect," Neo pointed out.
"You're not wrong," Onyx replied. "However, this is a special delivery."
"From who?" I asked.
"Ruby Phoenix."
That made my eyes widen as he pulled out a card. I walked over to him, getting right in his space as I tried to take the card, but he lifted it right up and looked at me with a mischievous smirk for three solid seconds.
Then he frowned.
"Did you get taller?" he inquired. If eye rolls could be rated by how dramatic the roll of one's eyeball could be, I'd get a ten out of ten for extra effort.
Bonus points for pulling it off as William.
Instead of answering, I kissed him firmly, took the card from his grasp without struggle, and turned right around to leave him hanging.
"I'm off to shower," I announced, and before Onyx could say anything, I added, "I'm still mad at you, Bulky Mass of a Fucker."
With that, I closed the door, silencing whatever conversation they were going to have as my eyes quickly scanned the note.
News is spreading, and what a worthy entrance from the land of the dead it will be with this special attire. It’s made for only royals with cloth tailored by the finest magicians. It's time to get a glimpse of what awaits you, dear sis.
Pull off a show, for they're watching. We're all watching, including Mom.
Good luck.
- Ruby E. Phoenix.
"Mom," I whispered, and I could only imagine what she possibly looked like. Walking towards the washroom, I tossed the note on the bed and took a moment to pause before the standing mirror in the corner of the room.
Ignoring the triggering force my full reflection had, I walked up to the fragile glass, until I could place my hand upon its cool surface.
With a deep breath, I looked into my eyes and let a devilish grin form on my