Post by Ailith Rayner on Sept 24, 2008 22:51:06 GMT
2nd August 2008
Ailith was waiting in Cardsdale Square to meet with Laila for the third time. The first time was at the Assassin’s School. The second was not good.
26th July 2008
Ailith stood quietly in her unfocused state at the edge of the square leaning against the wall of a boutique, watching and waiting. She looked at her watch. There was still time. To tell the truth Ailith was quite nervous. She could feel her adrenaline filling her chest and it took strangely a lot of effort to stay relaxed and unseen. Ailith scanned the square again and there, standing by a café, was a tall, slim, blonde woman with gleaming watchful eyes and an easy expression. Her hands however, were inelegant with strong fingers. Ailith recognised these as assassin’s hands and was reminded of who she was dealing with. Whatever else this woman might be, she was a murderer and not to be trifled with. Ailith may be capable of defending herself but she was not confident against someone with the same, if not more, training as her and probably a good deal of experience.
Ailith kept Laila in her peripheral while she scrutinized the square again, looking down alleyways, in corners, roofs. Nothing and no-one. Not even suspicious builders on scaffolding (apparently that was a popular move). Well here goes.
Ailith drifted towards Laila, checking all the while. Once she was in arms length of Laila, Ailith touched her zip, tugged and it came off. She began to thin it and lengthen it to make a needle when Laila spun round with her hand flat and rigid.
Ailith ducked and dived behind Laila, grabbed her lower jaw over her head and applied her other hand to the base of her neck. To anyone looking on it would seem as if Laila had batted a fly and watched as it flew into the sky.
“We’ll talk next week. Same conditions as before. But do yourself a favour and don’t bring metal.” Laila half-whispered half grunted through her clenched teeth.
That was when Ailith let go and ran.
2nd August 2008
Once again Ailith spotted Laila outside the café. And this time Ailith appeared immediately. No surprises today.
She glared hard at woman, today in a trouser-suit. Her adrenaline blossomed and threatened to fill her head. She struggled to keep a grip and focused on keeping her breathing and heart rate level. But a thought drummed a anxious rhythm in the back of her mind. How did she know the last time, what does she know?
“How about I tell you everything inside?”
Ailith replied calmly, “Hopefully we can make it to the door this time?
The woman turned and smiled at Ailith, strangely, genuinely.
It was nice and busy in the café. At 11a.m. on a Saturday the place was loud and cramped. Perfect conditions for this kind of meeting. For a while they said nothing, just staring out the room and each other until they ordered; an espresso and tea.
“Alright let’s get started then shall we?” Laila asked brightly.
Ailith waited for her to continue. She was there because Laila asked her. It was Laila giving information to Ailith not the other way round. Ailith was determined.
“How about I tell you about mys-“
“Why did you ask me here?” Ailith could see this could take a while if left to Laila.
Laila grinned, “Hmm… well before I tell you that, I think you allow me to explain.”
“No.” Ailith replied calmly and leaned forward speaking softly, “You’ve had control over almost all of the terms so far. It’s my turn and I’m telling you to tell me what is going on right now or I walk out that door and you don’t get a third chance. Surely you ought to know that.”
“Oh I do, but if you are so ready to walk out then why haven't you already?” Laila threw back equally politely but leaning back into her chair and crossing her legs. The corner of Ailith’s mouth twitched and a furtive half-smirk appeared on her face.
Laila watched Ailith’s face for a moment before an odd smile settled on her lips and stretched up to her eyes. Ailith caught this smile and flashed a piercing glance before leaning back expectantly.
“Fine but you must promise me you’ll allow me to fully explain what I’m about to tell you.”
Ailith’s smirk was back. She was calling the shots now and it felt infinitely better than blindly following a whim like she was before. “Only if you don’t want me to do, agree to or even hear about anything than could get me or anyone else at Orchid into trouble or worse.”
“You’ve really settled in then? I knew you’d like it.” Laila cocked her head while Ailith raised her eyebrows, universal for ‘get on with it’. Laila sighed, “OK, firstly it’s nothing like what you fear, this concerns only you and me. Personally.”
Ailith squinted a glare at Laila as a reply. Up close and ‘personal’ huh? We’ll see.
“I know the fact that I used your attachment to you father you bring you here was a cheap shot,” Ailith raised an eyebrow, you think so? Laila ignored it, “but the truth is your not the only one… with that attachment.”
The intense glower that Ailith had adopted froze and blended into confusion. Careful Laila, you’re on a minefield with that topic. “Hurry up.” Ailith hissed.
“I… knew your father… very very well…” Laila said the words as delicately as Macy with a book but with as much subtly as Jack Trove.
Still unsure however and fervently hoping it wasn’t how it sounded Ailith asked, “Spit it out Laila I’m getting impatient.”
“I… ah buggerit Ailith, you asked for it the hard way. You're my daughter.”
Ailith’s whole head came forward while her lips and eyes made perfect ‘o’s.
“Now wait a minute you said you’d wait unless it would get someone into trouble and it won’t. Please Ailith!” Laila grabbed Ailith’s wrist as she made to leave her chair then let go just as quickly, “Let me explain.”
Ailith looked into the eyes of her ‘mother’, oddly and frustratingly for Ailith she noticed they were like her own not only in shape and colour but in the hidden pain they revealed at that very moment. What, wait, no! I know my mother’s name. Alright so it’s a coincidence they have the same initials… well what does that matter she could be lying!
Ailith sat again, “You can’t be, my mother’s name was Lorna.” She spat.
Laila asked, “So you’ve seen your birth certificate?”
“Of course.”
Laila bit her bottom lip and reached into her inside jacket pocket Ailith couldn’t help but be curious. “Here.” Laila produced a battered slip of paper and held it out for Ailith, “This might help.”
Ailith snatched the paper and noticed Laila’s uncomfortable shift as she handled it roughly. So she cared about this paper huh?
It was stiffer than paper, Ailith found as she unfolded it, and she froze.
She’d seen this picture before. Her father had it in a frame at his office but there were two differences. In both photos 7 month-old Ailith appeared in her father’s arms. In her father’s copy he was looking at her and in this copy he was looking to the side. Her father’s copy was narrow and featured only him and Ailith but this photo was wider to contain a beautiful woman… the same beautiful woman who sat in front of her now.
Ailith looked up with painful outrage, “Explain this.” She whispered sharply.
“It began when......
Ailith waked back to Orchid slowly to compose herself, it was nearing on 4p.m. There was a lot to take in this afternoon, not all of it she believed. Three things were for certain; she was not happy, she may have possibly found her mother, she was about to find out.
Ailith was waiting in Cardsdale Square to meet with Laila for the third time. The first time was at the Assassin’s School. The second was not good.
26th July 2008
Ailith stood quietly in her unfocused state at the edge of the square leaning against the wall of a boutique, watching and waiting. She looked at her watch. There was still time. To tell the truth Ailith was quite nervous. She could feel her adrenaline filling her chest and it took strangely a lot of effort to stay relaxed and unseen. Ailith scanned the square again and there, standing by a café, was a tall, slim, blonde woman with gleaming watchful eyes and an easy expression. Her hands however, were inelegant with strong fingers. Ailith recognised these as assassin’s hands and was reminded of who she was dealing with. Whatever else this woman might be, she was a murderer and not to be trifled with. Ailith may be capable of defending herself but she was not confident against someone with the same, if not more, training as her and probably a good deal of experience.
Ailith kept Laila in her peripheral while she scrutinized the square again, looking down alleyways, in corners, roofs. Nothing and no-one. Not even suspicious builders on scaffolding (apparently that was a popular move). Well here goes.
Ailith drifted towards Laila, checking all the while. Once she was in arms length of Laila, Ailith touched her zip, tugged and it came off. She began to thin it and lengthen it to make a needle when Laila spun round with her hand flat and rigid.
Ailith ducked and dived behind Laila, grabbed her lower jaw over her head and applied her other hand to the base of her neck. To anyone looking on it would seem as if Laila had batted a fly and watched as it flew into the sky.
“We’ll talk next week. Same conditions as before. But do yourself a favour and don’t bring metal.” Laila half-whispered half grunted through her clenched teeth.
That was when Ailith let go and ran.
2nd August 2008
Once again Ailith spotted Laila outside the café. And this time Ailith appeared immediately. No surprises today.
She glared hard at woman, today in a trouser-suit. Her adrenaline blossomed and threatened to fill her head. She struggled to keep a grip and focused on keeping her breathing and heart rate level. But a thought drummed a anxious rhythm in the back of her mind. How did she know the last time, what does she know?
“How about I tell you everything inside?”
Ailith replied calmly, “Hopefully we can make it to the door this time?
The woman turned and smiled at Ailith, strangely, genuinely.
It was nice and busy in the café. At 11a.m. on a Saturday the place was loud and cramped. Perfect conditions for this kind of meeting. For a while they said nothing, just staring out the room and each other until they ordered; an espresso and tea.
“Alright let’s get started then shall we?” Laila asked brightly.
Ailith waited for her to continue. She was there because Laila asked her. It was Laila giving information to Ailith not the other way round. Ailith was determined.
“How about I tell you about mys-“
“Why did you ask me here?” Ailith could see this could take a while if left to Laila.
Laila grinned, “Hmm… well before I tell you that, I think you allow me to explain.”
“No.” Ailith replied calmly and leaned forward speaking softly, “You’ve had control over almost all of the terms so far. It’s my turn and I’m telling you to tell me what is going on right now or I walk out that door and you don’t get a third chance. Surely you ought to know that.”
“Oh I do, but if you are so ready to walk out then why haven't you already?” Laila threw back equally politely but leaning back into her chair and crossing her legs. The corner of Ailith’s mouth twitched and a furtive half-smirk appeared on her face.
Laila watched Ailith’s face for a moment before an odd smile settled on her lips and stretched up to her eyes. Ailith caught this smile and flashed a piercing glance before leaning back expectantly.
“Fine but you must promise me you’ll allow me to fully explain what I’m about to tell you.”
Ailith’s smirk was back. She was calling the shots now and it felt infinitely better than blindly following a whim like she was before. “Only if you don’t want me to do, agree to or even hear about anything than could get me or anyone else at Orchid into trouble or worse.”
“You’ve really settled in then? I knew you’d like it.” Laila cocked her head while Ailith raised her eyebrows, universal for ‘get on with it’. Laila sighed, “OK, firstly it’s nothing like what you fear, this concerns only you and me. Personally.”
Ailith squinted a glare at Laila as a reply. Up close and ‘personal’ huh? We’ll see.
“I know the fact that I used your attachment to you father you bring you here was a cheap shot,” Ailith raised an eyebrow, you think so? Laila ignored it, “but the truth is your not the only one… with that attachment.”
The intense glower that Ailith had adopted froze and blended into confusion. Careful Laila, you’re on a minefield with that topic. “Hurry up.” Ailith hissed.
“I… knew your father… very very well…” Laila said the words as delicately as Macy with a book but with as much subtly as Jack Trove.
Still unsure however and fervently hoping it wasn’t how it sounded Ailith asked, “Spit it out Laila I’m getting impatient.”
“I… ah buggerit Ailith, you asked for it the hard way. You're my daughter.”
Ailith’s whole head came forward while her lips and eyes made perfect ‘o’s.
“Now wait a minute you said you’d wait unless it would get someone into trouble and it won’t. Please Ailith!” Laila grabbed Ailith’s wrist as she made to leave her chair then let go just as quickly, “Let me explain.”
Ailith looked into the eyes of her ‘mother’, oddly and frustratingly for Ailith she noticed they were like her own not only in shape and colour but in the hidden pain they revealed at that very moment. What, wait, no! I know my mother’s name. Alright so it’s a coincidence they have the same initials… well what does that matter she could be lying!
Ailith sat again, “You can’t be, my mother’s name was Lorna.” She spat.
Laila asked, “So you’ve seen your birth certificate?”
“Of course.”
Laila bit her bottom lip and reached into her inside jacket pocket Ailith couldn’t help but be curious. “Here.” Laila produced a battered slip of paper and held it out for Ailith, “This might help.”
Ailith snatched the paper and noticed Laila’s uncomfortable shift as she handled it roughly. So she cared about this paper huh?
It was stiffer than paper, Ailith found as she unfolded it, and she froze.
She’d seen this picture before. Her father had it in a frame at his office but there were two differences. In both photos 7 month-old Ailith appeared in her father’s arms. In her father’s copy he was looking at her and in this copy he was looking to the side. Her father’s copy was narrow and featured only him and Ailith but this photo was wider to contain a beautiful woman… the same beautiful woman who sat in front of her now.
Ailith looked up with painful outrage, “Explain this.” She whispered sharply.
“It began when......
Ailith waked back to Orchid slowly to compose herself, it was nearing on 4p.m. There was a lot to take in this afternoon, not all of it she believed. Three things were for certain; she was not happy, she may have possibly found her mother, she was about to find out.
