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Untitled Document
Three hours later, the three pets were huddled around the
fireplace, drinking hot chocolate. I had relented halfway to Neopia Central, walked
back and left a note on the table, along with a bar of chocolate, a bag of sugar
and a bottle of milk. Heading back towards the shops again, I had passed all three
pets throwing snowballs at each other as hard as they could. Sometimes, I wonder
why I even try to make them get along.
Immacolata glanced at her watch. "She's
late."
"She'll be back." Waterlily's teeth were
chattering, so it was rather hard to make out what she was saying. "She always
comes back."
"Yes. Chrissy always comes back before
seven."
A long pause followed this statement,
as though they were all thinking something that they didn't want to, and they
knew that everyone else was thinking the same so there was no point saying out
loud.
"What's the time?"
"Nine fifteen."
"Oh."
There was an even longer pause. Finally,
Elenna piped up.
"Do you think we should go look for her?"
"Maybe."
"Lets just watch TV for a while, and if
she's not back by ten, we'll go look for her."
They all agreed that this was a good idea.
Waterlily dug under the sofa cushions for the buttons, and turned it on. It
was a news channel.
"…And, ground breaking news, the war between
Darigan and Merridell has reached its peak! Darigan himself has joined the fray,
while Merridell has released the Castle Defender! Who will win? Remember, it's
up to you…"
"I don't want to listen to this." Snapped
Elenna, turning it off. Immacolata stood up quickly.
"Do you want another cup of chocolate?"
"Yeah… If there's any left…"
Two hours later, all three of them were
asleep on the sofa. I peered through the frosted windows, checking that they
were okay. I had something very different to do tonight.
I'll have to explain this. Back track
to when I arrived in Neopia Central…
I had been shopping, as I had planned.
I picked out some nice gifts for my pets, things I thought they would like.
Immacolata, Waterlily and Elenna were difficult. I was never sure what they
would like. Toys were a good idea, but I was getting them all toys for their
stockings. I needed something special. I searched through bookshops, battledome
shops, plushie shops, grooming shops, stopping before everything I thought might
be a good idea. But every time, it wasn't perfect. It took me until six to find
Just the right gifts, and then I decided I might as well get a cup of coffee
before heading home, since I didn't think the pets would keep any hot chocolate
for me. Sitting down, watching them dressing the Christmas tree in Neopia Square,
I was surprised when someone else joined my table.
"Chrissy! Long time no see, eh?"
It was a large black Lupe. I knew him.
Of course I knew him.
"I saw you. I saw you in the battle magic
shop. I saw you tailing me down the street. I saw you sitting outside the food
shop when I was buying the gifts. You haven't changed, Shadow." Shadow just
grinned. "Always were observant, weren't you? Anyway, espionage was Your area,
if I remember correctly."
I didn't smile back. "I have a feeling
you haven't contacted me just to talk about old times."
"No." He admitted. "I came to give you
an offer."
"No way. I quit. A long time ago, as you
should remember. I don't think White was too happy." "Neither were you." He
quipped, pointing at a scar on his shoulder. "I remember. Anyway, that was a
long time ago, like you said."
"White wants me back, huh?"
"White?" The cheerful Lupe suddenly scowled.
"That traitor doesn't work with us anymore."
"Traitor?" I was mildly shocked, then
burst out laughing. Shadow looked shocked.
"Keep your voice down!"
"This is about Merridell and Darigan,
isn't it? Which side are you on, then?"
"Darigan. Of course. Aren't you?"
I scowled. "And let me guess… Some of
them went with you, and some of them went for Merridell. So much for the greatest
organisation ever."
"Yeah, yeah. You're on Darigan's side
though, aren't you?" Suddenly Shadow sounded slightly worried.
"Only by default. Waterlily was prepared
to fight; Elenna wasn't, so I signed up with Darigan. A whole one point, what
a difference I made."
"Good! So you'll help us, won't you?"
"No. I told you, I quit. I've got pets
now, and I don't want to put them into any danger."
"Oh yeah. Your pets. No problem, we'll
look after them."
"For the last time, no. I won't do anything
for you and my pets can never know about my previous career, you understand?"
"Yeah, right. You'll come around. They
always do. Don't you even want to know what the job was?"
"No."
"Liar." Shadow slid a thin folder onto
the table. "Just in case. If you are interested, you'll know how to contact
me and if White or anyone asks you to go for Merridell, hit them, will you?"
"Not promising anything."
"Right. If you don't contact us by nine
PM NST tomorrow, we'll put someone else on the job. I have faith in you, ok?"
"You're wasting your time."
"I'll see you tomorrow, then."
Then Shadow jumped down from his seat
and padded away into the growing darkness. I sighed, and ordered another coffee.
An old reaction made me pick up the black leather folder and slip it into one
of the shopping bags. I was barely half way down my cup when a second pet joined
my table. This time, I didn't bother with the small talk.
"White. I thought I'd be seeing you around."
The Eyrie smiled, ruffling his feathers
with a smug smile.
"Chrissy, I thought we were friends! Should
I be wondering what Shadow was asking you to do?"
"Similar thing to what you want me to
do, I imagine. And the answer is no." I added, seeing him open his beak to ask.
"Of course. You want to protect your pets.
You could have sent them to the academy, you know."
"I do not want pets like you and Shadow,
thank you very much."
White didn't look too happy about that.
"Very well. Christmas shopping, I suppose?"
"That's right."
"What are you getting Elenna Lanta? She
is on Our side, I believe?"
"Elenna is on nobody's side. I'm not even
asking how you know, because the answer would be Luna or Solar."
The Eyrie's eyebrows furrowed. "Solar
isn't on our side. She joined Theirs. I'm sure she'll come around later, anyway."
"Yeah, right. When are you lot going to
get it that these things are pointless?"
"Never, because they aren't." He put a
thin white folder on the table. "Contact us by nine PM NST tomorrow, you know
how. If not…"
"You'll put someone else on the job."
"I have faith in you."
"Don't. I'm not doing anything."
"Oh come on, Chrissy. For old times sake."
I glared at him, "For old times sake."
And tipped my cup of coffee over his head. His pure white feathers ran brown.
"Right. See you tomorrow, then."
Then White was gone as well. I sighed,
picking up the folder instinctively. Just out of curiosity, I compared the two
folders. They were both the same size, the same weight; the only thing different
was the cover colour. Intrigued, I opened them. Both had headed letters inside,
one with the Merridell crest, the other with the Darigan. They both had maps
and suggested equipment lists on the opposite pages and they were both in code.
I scanned them both, translating them in my head automatically and then burst
out laughing.
They were almost identical. The maps were
the same, line for line. Even the codes were the same. Same mission, same parameters.
The only different thing was the side they were fighting for. Suddenly, I smiled.
I had an idea and that usually spelt bad news for someone.
To be continued...
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