Title: Chapter Eight: The Beginning of the End

Series: Emesen’s Child

Author: Jennifer Lee

Email: jesca10@attbi.com

Web: http://home.attbi.com/~jesca10/ *Fictitious*

Disclaimer: All characters are the property of the author and are not to be reproduced without express consent.

Rating: PG-13

Summery: Every downward spiral begins at the top.

Author’s Notes: Please email me if you want to put this or any of my stories on your website. I never say no, but I like knowing which sites are supporting my writing. Thanks!



Emesen’s Child 8: The Beginning of The End
By Jennifer Lee

Sandy smiled as the airport came into view from her window seat of the Maine’s private jet. Even in these luxurious surroundings, she was feeling antsy and wanted more than anything to be on the back of a horse.

She remembered the feeling of freedom she always felt when she was riding a horse as fast as it could go. With her own mare, she would drop the reigns and hold her hands out to the side of her. Her horse was trained well enough that she didn’t need Sandy to be holding the reigns the whole time. Sandy would close her eyes and tilt her head back, feeling like she was flying.

Even though she was super-powered, she didn’t have the ability to fly. She always wished she could fly. If a person couldn’t fly, then that person was not a super-hero, in her opinion. It was the only thing that stopped her from trying to get on some super-hero team. She didn’t think she was qualified. Instead, she opted to take walks around the bad parts of town, dressed in her bathing suit like costume.

She was actually pretty impressed with her outfit. The top was blue with a big star on the chest, just like Polaris’. From the waist down it was striped red and white, like the flag. Befitting a hero named Liberty, she thought. With her red bracers and calf-high boots, and her blond hair pulled back to make room for the small red mask she wore, she definitely looked like a super-hero.

“You aren’t nervous, are you?” Darien drawled from beside her.

She smiled a little to Darien, bringing her mind back to the present.

“Of course not. I’ve met your father before.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why I asked.” He looked at her as if he was trying to dissect her. She just smiled and returned eyes to the window, watching the landing.

This wasn’t the first time she had been to Mount Royale, Darien’s family home in Mount River Valley, Oregon. She and Darien came here from time to time on the weekends. But this time, they’d be staying a little longer. Spring break gave them a little more time in the valley. That made Darien happy, which made Sandy happy.

He leaned over and whispered, “I love you,” in her ear. She just flashed him a smile.

Darien sighed beside her and she heard it, but she couldn’t’ help it. Lately he had been coming on very strong. Ever since the disaster with Polaris, he’d been telling her he loved her and began talking about marriage.

When Darien told her he loved her for the first time, there was this silence like he expected her to replay the words to him. When she didn’t, he became furious. Fury didn’t inspire her love any more than all his kindnesses had. Truthfully, Sandy wasn’t sure what she felt. She finally calmed Darien, telling him when it was right for her; she would tell him she loved him too. But since then, he consistently tried to get her to tell him she loved him. It was starting to get tiring.

Then there was the talk of marriage. He continued to talk about, ‘When we’re married…’ and she felt like asking him what made him think they were getting married. But she didn’t.

She had also noticed a lot more calls from his father than normal. At first she didn’t really make note of the calls, but when they seemed to spark in Darien a renewed energy to gain those three little words, Sandy started to become suspicious. So she wasn’t nervous about meeting his father again. She was more worried about his father’s presence rejuvenating the subject.

Upon exiting the black jet, they took a short walk to the limousine that was waiting for them. Sandy noticed how Darien moved closer to her when his father stepped out of the limousine.

Sandy’s first impression of Ori was that he was a warm person with a genuine love for his son. She had noticed many times the way he looked at Darien, as if Darien were some miracle, and she supposed then that all parents thought that of their children. But now, she could see a harshness to Ori. Something about him said that he was unrelenting, and she felt herself grow nervous.

“Darien. Sandy. It’s good to see you two kids back in Oregon,” Ori smiled as he and Darien exchanged handshakes. Ori turned to her and offered his hand. When she gave it to him, with a smile, he leaned down and kissed the back of her hand. She smiled at the nicety and gave a smart curtsy that made Ori chuckle. “Well, lets not keep the driver waiting.” He motioned for them to enter the limousine first, and Sandy allowed Darien to help her in.

The ride to Mount Royale, the Maine’s plantation-like mansion, was pleasant and Sandy started to calm down considerably. Ori was polite and seemed very interested in knowing all that was going on in both their lives and they chatted amiably.

When the large frame of Mount Royale loomed over them, Sandy was glad to be here. She had been dreading this visit, but now that dread was gone, and in its place she had hope. Hope that she would be spending some quality time with Darien.

Darien couldn’t help but stare appreciatively at his home. There was little he was more proud of or impressed with than this home. Everything that was important to him was in this home, and everything that ever happened to him good happened in this valley. If he had his choice he would never leave. He intended to live in this house for the rest of his days. He would marry here. He would raise his children here. He would have his empire here.

Darien was glad when Sandy seemed to calm down. He could feel her earlier nervousness and it was starting to worry him. But now, he felt, she was perfectly at ease in the presence of his father and himself.

After getting out of the limousine, Darien spotted his brother’s sports car. It usually sat in the garage, something for Robert to drive when he came back home, but now it sat out in front of the house. Usually, the idea of his brother being home would make Darien smile. He liked bating his brother, and it was a favorite game of theirs to see who could piss the other off first. They were usually tight as could be to the outside world, but when there was no threat from outside forces, they loved nothing more than to attack the other. They constantly competed with each other over the smallest thing, and they both loved it. It was the way they connected with each other.

In many ways, Darien admired Robert. He was somewhat the black sheep of the family, and Darien liked that about him. Although he’d never tell Robert these things, he admired the way he stood up to his father when he broke away from the family company and made his own. Darien knew that he was destined to get everything from his father, while Robert had to make his own way. Part of Darien wished he could make his own way, if only to have something to fall back on, but it wasn’t even possible. Darien didn’t enjoy working like Robert did. He didn’t have the business knowledge to make a couple hundred dollars into a couple hundred thousand. He had seen his brother do that very thing over and over, but Darien didn’t understand it all. He knew he’d never have too, either. His father would make sure he was taken care of, forever.

In other ways, Darien pitied his brother. He knew his father was tough on his brother. He also knew that his father would make sure he had the best this world had to offer, while Robert would have to deal with whatever deal he could make for himself. It was made very clear to Robert and Darien both that Ori was making Darien’s way. The other children had to carry their own weight.

Although normally having his brother here would make Darien pleased, he knew that, like himself, Robert had his sights set on Sandy Blaire. Having Robert here could complicate things. He felt like Sandy was close to falling in love, and close to accepting a marriage proposal. As much as he loved competing with Robert, he did not want Robert to cloud his chances with Sandy. Having a child was too important.

He and Ori had a brief unspoken exchange when they both exited the car and saw Robert’s vehicle. When Sandy got out of the car, she saw Ori nod to Darien and excuse himself to go inside. She looked confused because she hadn’t heard Darien tell his father anything.

“So why don’t we go for a walk while our bags are brought up to our rooms and unpacked for us?” Darien smiled down to her.

“Oh, I’d rather unpack my own bags, actually,” Sandy said, smiling. “But I’d love to go for a walk,” she finished.

Darien nodded and gave instructions as to where the bags were to go, and not to unpack Sandy’s. He took Sandy’s arm and looped in his and started walking behind the house, towards the stables. Although he wasn’t dressed to ride, he wanted to visit Demon, his horse, and give his father the necessary time to get rid of Robert.

*~*~*~*

“Father.” Robert nodded towards Ori when he entered the room.

Ori just watched him for a moment, his features unyielding, his eyes narrowed. Robert didn’t look to be phased by his demeanor. He just answered his glare with a steady look.

Ori turned around and closed his office door. He slowly, deliberately walked to the bar and poured him and Robert a drink, walking to Robert to give him the bourbon and finally he took a seat behind his desk, all without a word. Robert only nodded his thanks when his father handed him the snifter, and he waited until his father sat down before he took a drink of the liquor. His father mirrored his actions.

“What are you doing here, Robert?” He wasn’t in the mood for Robert’s little games. This week was an important week for Darien. Robert knew it as well.

Robert hadn’t been pleased when Ori set Darien and Sandy up. All the work Robert went through to have Sandy free of her boyfriend was lost when he found out his brother was now dating her. Before he could warn his brother off, though, he got word from his father that he was forbidden to see Sandy. Robert was furious. He felt betrayed by his father, who must have known that he had a thing for Sandy. Although he commonly made baby steps towards disobedience, he didn’t dare cross his father when he forbade something. He was still fiercely loyal to his father, and still hoped to impress him. But when he had heard that Darien would be bringing Sandy to Mount Royale, he was hoping to have an ‘accidental’ run in with her.

“I thought I’d come visit for a while. I thought, since it was Spring Break, I would have a chance to visit with some of my siblings as well.” His manner was smooth and his eyes were locked with his father. Although he knew his father knew of his intentions, he was able to carry the lie well. Lying was a talent Robert was exceptional at, and he knew it. Still, he knew he wouldn’t fool his father.

“You thought you would come meddle in your brother’s week with his fiancé, didn’t you?”

Even though he was trying not to react, Robert couldn’t help but be a little shocked.

“Fiancé, huh?”

Ori just nodded. He seemed pleased with himself. He knew it was a bit of a lie, but he also was confident that before the week was out it would be the truth. Besides, he figured this might be the one thing that would make Robert give up on the girl. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t find another. He was a good-looking man with a large corporate empire.

What Ori didn’t seem to realize is that this only made Robert want to see Sandy more. If she was truly going to marry his brother, Robert knew he had to do something. He wasn’t sure what yet, but something had to be done. He would never openly defy his father, but he was hoping he wouldn’t have to.

“Well, where is the happy couple. I should lend my congratulations.”

Ori narrowed his eyes at him.

“Robert, I want you to leave.”

Robert’s eyebrows came up a little.

“But Father, I just got here,” he smiled a little.

Ori leaned forward in his chair and watched as Robert took another drink of his bourbon.

“I don’t care.”

Robert chuckled to himself and nodded, drinking the rest of the bourbon.

“I don’t want you to make a scene, Robert. Just walk out the front door and go. The family jet is here, it will take you anywhere you want to go. Have the limousine take you there directly, your stuff has already been packed and brought to the limo. I’ll see that your car is returned to the garage.”

“I want to marry her, Father.”

“I don’t care what you want, Robert!” Ori shouted as he slapped his desk and stood up. Looming over Robert, he was an intimidating figure, and even though Robert was not easily intimidated, he had to take a moment. He wanted to please his father. He hated making him mad, but he felt very strongly about Sandy. “Now you get up, get in that car and go to the airport. Do not defy me.” The last was said low and threateningly.

Robert drank the rest of his bourbon and stood up. He couldn’t help feeling hurt and abandoned by his father. He made eye contact with him briefly before quickly turning and walking out.

When Ori heard the front door open and close, he smiled to himself. He enjoyed getting his own way.

*~*~*~*

“Have you asked her yet?” Ori asked as he sat in his office, Darien in the same spot Robert was earlier that day.

“Not yet, Father.” Darien drank down the brandy in his glass and got up to refill it. He took his time, relishing the small break from looking into his father’s disapproving face.

“Well, don’t you think you should?” Ori asked, trying to be patient.

“Every time I start to broach the subject, I get the distinct feeling she doesn’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to push her too hard too fast.” Darien retook his seat.

“What is the hold up? I could have married her and had a child by now, Darien.” Ori was obviously displeased.

“Father, I can’t make her fall in love with me. I am trying.” He wasn’t used to his father’s disapproval. He found he didn’t like it.

“I didn’t have nearly this much trouble with your mother.”

Darien wanted to tell him that his courtship of his mother was by no means usual. He wanted to tell his father that even he didn’t have a child in the usual manner for an immortal.

“Well, my mother was…special,” was all Darien could say.

“Yes, she was.” Ori narrowed his eyes at the obvious implication. “But so is Sandy.”

“Yes, she is.” Darien didn’t know what else to say.

“Well, how is she supposed to accept a marriage proposal if you don’t propose?” Ori asked, getting irritated.

“I think I’m making progress, Father. I think she loves me, she just hasn’t said so yet.”

“Well are you having sex with her?”

Darien’s eyebrows raised a little and he took a drink from his glass.

“Yes.”

“Well she isn’t pregnant.”

“I know.”

“Darien, you aren’t getting any younger. You need to make this girl fall in love with you, soon.”

Darien opened his mouth to repeat that he couldn’t force her to love him. Doing so would negate the possibilities of having a child.” (???)

“It is difficult for an immortal to have a child and I am trying.”

“Don’t tell me how difficult it is, Son. I am fully aware of how difficult it is to have a child, and I do realize the rules by which it has to be done. I am left to wonder if you remember the rules.”

“Of course, I do, Father.”

“Well you realize that your thirty-fifth birthday is only years away, don’t you?”

“Ten years away, Father.”

“Yes well ten years is but a blink of an eye to an immortal, Darien. You would do good to remember that.”

“Yes, Father.” Darien grit his teeth together. He was beginning to become upset, but like he usually did with his father, he swallowed back his anger with the last of his brandy. “I will try harder.”

*~*~*~*

Sandy sprayed her hair lightly with hairspray before she took a look at her image in the mirror. Her hair was swept back in a simple braid that formed an elegant bun. She had applied light pink makeup to her eyes and some rouge to her cheeks. It complimented her maroon and silver gown. She knew that the Maine’s always dressed for dinner.

Darien had been acting strange since this afternoon. He seemed to be agitated, but he wouldn’t share his problem with her. Finally she got fed up with his attitude and went for a ride, alone.

She figured that the only time she was going to be able to get to herself in this week was the time she spent riding. She was a little surprised to find that instead of getting a room of her own, Ori had arranged for her and Darien to be sharing a room. She wondered what that said about his opinion of her, or of their relationship. Although she had been sleeping with Darien, if she were visiting her father, she would insist on separate rooms. She didn’t think her mother and father would even think to put them in the same room. She was taken aback when Ori had arranged it that way.

A soft knock at the door made her look at the door through her mirror, and she saw Darien’s head poked through the door. She gave him a small smile and applied a coat of lipstick to her lips and sprinkled some perfume on her wrists, careful to keep the oil from her expensive gown. When he entered the room, she stood up and turned around. She could see the appreciation for her looks in his eyes. That made her smile in earnest.

“You look great,” Darien said, his voice husky.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she teased as she walked up to him and touched the lapel of his tuxedo with her manicured fingers. He brought those fingers up to his lips and kissed them gently, a warm look in his eyes. She smiled in response.

“You ready?” he asked, his eyebrows rose in question.

She nodded and took his offered arm, and he escorted her to the formal dining room.

The table was set beautifully and she could tell that the china was expensive. Still, she was not very impressed. Coming from a wealthy family herself, she wasn’t impressed by money. It wasn’t something she gave a lot of thought. She never had to. At periods throughout the day, she got the impression that Darien’s things should have impressed her, and she had hoped his feelings hadn’t been too hurt when they obviously hadn’t.

Darien moved her to one side of the table and pulled her seat out for her. She looked over towards the door when Ori walked through it, also in a tuxedo. She smiled at him. He returned the smile and went to the head of the table. She accepted the seat Darien offered her and waited for him to take his seat. Only after she was seated would Ori take his seat.

When seated he motioned to the waiter that was standing patiently by the door. Immediately the dinner began. While the soup was being served, Sandy thought back to the dinner she had put together for Polaris.

“Are you ok, dear?” she heard Ori ask. She smiled, trying to hide whatever the expression on her face that made him ask.

“Yes, quite. I was just remembering my last dinner like this.” She looked over to Darien who smiled, a little nervously.

“Oh?” Ori asked, politely.

“Yes. I had Polaris over for dinner a few weeks back.”

Ori smiled, but something about the smile seemed forced.

“Did you, now?” He looked over at Darien, his look a little icy. It was no secret from Ori that Sandy adored the super-hero. It was also no secret to him that Polaris was actually Carl Williams. He had no idea why Darien would allow that nobody to be put in a position to create a roadblock for Darien and Sandy.

“Yes, but it didn’t go so very well,” she finished; a little curious about the look Ori had given Darien. But at those words, he seemed cheered.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, obviously not. “Did you find you liked him better as a super-hero than a dinner companion?” His eyebrow rose in question and Sandy got the impression that the right answer to this question would be yes.

“No, actually. I was unaware, though, that Polaris was objectionable to chicken, which is what I served. Needless to say, it was a disaster.” She smiled, trying to discern why that would please Ori.

“Well, super-heroes are a lot like movie stars. They get to be big shots and then they become finicky.” He smiled.

Sandy opened her mouth to defend Polaris but she caught the silent plead from Darien, who obviously knew that was her intention. Instead, she looked down at her soup and took her spoon up and began to eat.

The silence was a bit uncomfortable, and Sandy wondered if it would go on for the duration of the dinner. She was thankful when Darien started talking about school.

She didn’t intrude on the conversation. Instead she tried to just sit back and watch father and son as they conversed. Something just seemed not quite right. Ori seemed tense, which made Darien tense. Sandy knew that she too was a little nervous. Her earlier trepidation about this trip started to resurface. Especially when the conversation was turned toward her.

“So, Sandy,” Ori started, leaning back so his soup bowl could be collected, “how are you enjoying this year so far?”

“Well, my classes are all going very well. One of my professors approached me about doing a side project with him,” Sandy smiled proudly. She seemed completely unaware that the professor probably approached her more for her father’s funding than for her ‘brilliant input’. Ori smiled.

“In what subject?”

“Paranormal psychology,” she answered.

“Does this project require some sort of funding?” he asked, amused. Glancing at Darien, he noticed the boy’s shoulders stiffen.

“Yes, I suppose it will. He’s talking about a pretty large project. He wants to take a look at the link between super-heroes and their sidekicks. He is curious about the link between them and how a sidekick is chosen. Is this sidekick a ‘mini-me’ of the super-hero? How does this sidekick’s attitude and strategy change during his or her time under the tutelage of a more experienced super-hero, and so on. Not very much research has been done in this particular field, so a lot of ground work will have to be laid, naturally.”

“Naturally,” Ori said dryly.

“You don’t approve?” Sandy asked, a little put off by his tone.

“Oh it isn’t that at all. I just suspected that he would want to take advantage of your…extensive knowledge on the subject.” Ori said, taking a bite of his dinner. Sandy suspect that wasn’t what he meant, but she wasn’t sure what he was implying.

Darien searched for something to say to rescue Sandy. He felt bad for her. She wasn’t used to his father’s suspicious train of thought.

“So, Father, have you acquired any new horses since I was last here?”

The conversation turned to one of small talk, and Sandy was starting to think she was actually going to make it through.

By the time the rich chocolate mouse was passed to each person, Sandy was calm again.

“So, Sandy, have you given any thought to your future?”

Darien looked towards his father, hoping this wasn’t going where he was sure it was.

Sandy just smiled and thought for a moment.

“Well, I intend to take over my father’s business when he is ready to retire, but until then I thought about starting a business of my own. Something to do with paranormals. I might as well put my ‘extensive knowledge’ to a good use.” She smiled, using the same words he had earlier. “By the time I get my bachelors in business I should be ready to go.”

“What about marriage, or children. Do you plan to have any?” He asked, rather bluntly. She wasn’t sure, but it seemed as if he was dismissing her earlier statement of what she wanted to do with her future.

“I plan to, one day. I’d like to take some time to build something for my children before I have any.”

“Well, what about what your father will be passing down to you. Seems you already have plenty to give to a child.”

Sandy put her spoon down, suddenly just wanting to be gone.

“Well, Mr. Maine, I’m not ready to have a family like that now. So I figure that until I am ready, I should try to do something that will benefit my family in the future. I don’t want to rely on my father to make my way forever.”

“I rather suspect that the money your father has made would be more than enough for your family. Besides, Darien isn’t exactly penniless,” he finished, a smile that didn’t quiet reach his eyes graced his lips.

Darien was truly shocked. It was kind of an unspoken rule in the Maine house that business was not to be discussed at the dinner table. And while they were technically not discussing business, it seemed that his father was violating the intent of the rule.

“Father, maybe this would be best discussed another time,” Darien said softly.

“No, I’d like to discuss this now, if you don’t mind.” Ori said, his eyes narrowed at Darien.

Sandy was quickly becoming angry. She didn’t appreciate the way that Ori was glaring at Darien, for one. But she also was starting to take offence at the implication that she was marrying Darien. She didn’t know that she wasn’t, necessarily, but it had never honestly occurred to her until Darien started dropping hints about marriage.

Ori looked back at Sandy, expectantly. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say so she didn’t. But when he kept staring at her, waiting for her to justify herself she narrowed her eyes, some of her own fire coming to the surface.

“Mr. Maine, I don’t feel like I have to justify myself to you or to anyone. As I said before, I don’t think I’m ready for marriage. I have no idea when I will be. It is very well possible that when I am, I won’t even be seeing your son.”

“You don’t want to marry Darien?” Ori asked.

“Father…” Darien stopped when Ori’s hand rose to quiet him.

“I don’t know! That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” She was getting very frustrated with this line of questioning and she knew that she wasn’t behaving appropriately, but this was getting ridiculous to her.

“Young lady, it seems to me that two people don’t get together unless they intend to try for marriage. Really what is a date but an interview? It is you checking him out and he checking you out. When you start to date consistently, all you are doing is testing out that person until you are sure you and he can handle life together. When you are sure of that, it is my experience that you move in with the person to see if you can live with the person well. After it is established that you can, you get married. What I want to know, is if this isn’t what you are doing, why are you living with my son?”

Darien’s eyes widened at the boldness his father took in approaching this. If he wasn’t careful he was going to make Sandy believe he was implying that she was less than wholesome.

Sandy’s clear blue eyes seemed to darken with anger.

“If you’ll excuse me.” She stood up and stormed out of the dining room.

Darien took the cloth napkin from his lap and laid it on the table. He looked at his father incredulously. He couldn’t believe he would push so hard.

“If you aren’t careful, boy, you’re going to loose that one.” Ori told him.

If I’m not careful, Darien thought? He silently stood up to follow Sandy.

He found her in their bedroom, taking off her dress. She only glared at him when he entered the room, and he could tell she was enraged.

“Sandy, whoa. I did not have anything to do with this.”

“Why didn’t you stick up for me?” she shot at him.

“What? Didn’t you hear me say that we should discuss this another time?”

“Yeah, I heard you. But that’s the point. This is none of his business. This is between you and I and it should not be discussed at all with him!” she yelled.

“Sandy, calm down,” he said trying to keep her from raising her voice.

“Calm down?” she practically screamed. “I don’t think so. I’m sorry if MY life interferes in your father’s grand scheme, but that’s just too damn bad!” She threw her dress down on the floor and pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt.

“Sandy,” he warned, his voice getting defensive. He didn’t handle being yelled at very well.

“Don’t Sandy me. Look, if you’re not on my side then you’re on his side, and right now I’m not talking to that side.” She shoved past him and slammed the door on her way out.

He stood where he was, collecting himself. Things were spinning out of control. He needed to get a hold of the situation, and fast. If he didn’t he could lose this chance at having a child, and he knew that would be unacceptable to his father.

Although with how his father was acting, he wasn’t sure if he much cared. As far as Darien was concerned, things wouldn’t be this bad if his father hadn’t attacked her tonight. Or if he hadn’t been calling and harassing him the past few weeks. Sometimes he thought about telling his father to find another girl. He knew Sandy wasn’t impressed with the millions of things about him that most girls would be. He knew he could make a girl fall for him, but he just wasn’t sure he had the time to make Sandy that girl.

He took a deep breath as he put those thoughts away. He knew that defying his father could have implications he did not want to even think about.



To Be Continued...