But now her she was, approaching the castle once again, but this time not alone. Neither of her brothers had a clue that she was on her way. Or that she was bringing a guest. Her brief affair with Locke had resulted in the birth of a child!!
The impatient five year old seated beside Patriot was none other then Locke Cole’s daughter, Phoenix Alexandria Cole-Figaro.
The girl for one reason or another, had blazing red hair that resembled fire. Patriot had named her Phoenix due to her hair color, and the story Locke had once told her about resurrecting a lost girlfriend with a “Phoenix Esper.” The story had touched Patriot deeply, so hence their child’s name. Patriot also knew that Phoenix was Locke’s kid due to her huge grey-blue eyes, just like Locke’s.
“Phoenix sweety, stop squirming, were almost to Daddy’s house.” Patriot purred
Phoenix stared up at her angrily and stuck at her tongue. “Carriages suck ass.” came little the girl’s reply.
Patriot stared at her daughter in amazement. How could a five year old have such a bad mouth and manners? Perhaps meeting her Dad would loosen her up.
A few hours later Patriot’s heart skipped a beat as the carriage came to a stop. Phoenix lay soundly asleep beside her. Wordlessly she pushed open the door and felt tears come to her eyes as she stared at the beautiful Figaro Castle. It was outlined against a colorful setting sun.
After what seemed like hours of staring, but was most likely but a few moments Terra Bradford appeared on the front stoop.
“Whose there?” She called loudly
Patriot frowned and stepped back in the shadows, not letting Terra see her. Last time she had been at the castle her and Terra had gotten into a fight. Patriot didn’t know why, but she had almost always despised Terra.
“Whose there?” Terra called again
“My name’s Phoenix who the hell are you?” an all to familiar young voice called back
Terra’s eyes widened as little Phoenix boldly stepped up to her.
“Awww how cute.” Terra commented “Where’d you come from little girl?”
“Awww how cute!!” Phoenix mocked Terra “I ran away from Egypt, you?”
Terra narrowed her eyes “I don’t like the tone your using with me young lady. Do you know what happens to bad back-talking little girls?”
“They end up as ugly green-haired freaks like you?” Phoenix dared to say, Patriot couldn’t help but laugh loudly. Both Terra and Phoenix stared her way.
“Mommy!!” Phoenix exploded rushing towards Patriot. Patriot hugged her protectively as Terra turned pale.
“Terra, its been awhile.” Patriot sneered
“Edgar!!” Terra hollered without answering “Get your bottom out here, NOW!!”
His navy blue eyes glittering, golden-blonde ponytail bouncing, Edgar joined Terra on the front steps.
“What is it Sweets?” He asked without noticing Patriot or Phoenix
“Uncle Edgar!!” Phoenix screamed breaking away from Patriot and running over. Edgar looked down at her in surprise. Phoenix knew who he was by all the photos Patriot had shown her of him.
Edgar looked as though he would die as Patriot waltzed up.
“Brother dear how are you this evening?” She growled taking Phoenix’s hand.
“Patriot!!” Edgar exclaimed loudly “Is this..this your kid!?” He pointed dramatically at Phoenix.
“Yup, that’s my daughter.” Patriot replied proudly
“What are you doing back at Figaro!?” Terra snarled, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
“I need to talk to Locke, where is he?” Patriot replied rather calmly
Both Terra and Edgar frowned. “Inside sleeping.” Edgar responded after a moment or two of silence. Terra shook her head at him disapprovingly.
“I wanna see him!! Take me to him now!!” Phoenix shouted jumping up and down like the brat she was.
Terra rolled her eyes but opened the castle door. “I’m sure you know which bedroom is his.” she sneered at Patriot
Patriot said nothing as she scooped up Phoenix and dashed up the nearby steps in search of Locke.
After wandering down the long perfect hallways for what seemed like forever, Patriot found the door she knew was his. She knocked on it softly calling his name. But received no answer. Phoenix grew impatient and simply threw the unlocked door open. But nobody started screaming, no curses or objects flew at them. Everything remained silent.
Phoenix squealed softly as she pointed to a human sized lump in the huge antique bed. Patriot gave her a look that said “Be Good Or Else.” And then tip-toed towards the bed, leaving Phoenix alone in the doorway.
Patriot spotted a tuft of Locke’s brownish-blonde hair beneath the sheets. She signaled to Phoenix that he was there and alone in the bed. His wife Celes Chere, was no where to be seen.
Phoenix’s eyes grew round as Patriot gave her a solemn nod and stepped back. Flipping her long red hair over one shoulder she dove onto the bed with one shout: “Daddy!!”
Locke sat straight up, his mouth forming an O of surprise. “Who are you!!”
“Daddy!!” Phoenix squealed again without answering
Locke looked as though he’d sink into the floor as his eyes landed on Patriot.
“Hey Locke.” She hissed cooly “Its been quite awhile.”
Locke stared at her wide-eyed. “Patriot!! What do you want?”
Patriot smirked and planted a hand on her slender hip. “I’m not really here for myself, your daughter wanted to meet you.”
Locke was looking quite sickly. “Daughter?” He yelped glancing at Phoenix.
“Daughter!!” A enraged female voice cried from the doorway.
Everyone in the bedroom turned around to find Celes, Locke’s wife, standing in the doorway. She had obviously just come home from work, judging by her semi-formal clothes. Her beautiful white-blonde hair was pulled into two long pig-tail like braids that hung down her back.. A few wisps had broken loose and were framing her pretty face.
“Patriot!!” Celes fumed “I never thought I’d have to deal with you again!! What’s all this talk about a daughter?”
Phoenix, who had been examining Celes closely, burst into a fit of laughter. “Look at you!!” The little girl chided rudely “Those braids are for little girls, not ugly old crag bags!!”
Patriot laughed loudly before saying: “Like your stepchild, Celes?”
Celes gasped and shook her head wildly. “No!! I won’t believe it!!”
“Ewwww I don’t want her to be my step mommy, she’s ugly.” Phoenix whined
“Locke is this true?” Celes demanded
Locke started to shake his head in a no, but one sharp glance from Patriot changed his mind.
“I have a right to believe so.”
Celes looked as though she’d been slapped, tears welled in her eyes. Patriot almost felt sorry for her, almost. “What about your other daughter Locke!!” his wife whimpered pathetically
Now it was Patriot’s turn to be speechless. “Another child? Where is she?”
“Mommy!!” a tiny shy voice called as if on cue “Mommy where are you?”
“In here Contessa.” Celes called back calmly although she was shaking.
Patriot and Phoenix exchanged amused looks. Contessa? They each thought. What kind of name was that? A cute but rather short girl bounced into the room. She had two long braids just like her mother. Although her hair was like Locke’s, her sapphire blue eyes clearly came from Celes.
“Patriot, Phoenix.” Celes rasped through clenched teeth, “Meet my daughter, Contessa Maria Cole.”
Contessa clung to her mother’s long gauzy skirt when she spotted the two new strangers. “Hi.” she whispered cautiously
“Contessa, Phoenix us adults have lots of grown-up stuff to discuss.” Locke said soothingly “Contessa, why don’t you go and try to find Larc so he can meet Phoenix?”
Phoenix glanced at her Mom with a look that clearly said “Don’t Let Me Go.” But Patriot nodded her head approvingly.
“Who the hell is Larc?” Phoenix broke in, stalling for time.
“Edgar and Terra’s son.” Celes snapped rushing the girls out of the room “Go play.”
As soon as the door closed behind them Celes spun on her heel. “Patriot, me and you outside, now!!” She pointed towards the nearby balcony doors.
Patriot shrugged looked over at Locke, and followed Celes outside. The balcony was up high over the hot desert sand. The guards below looked so incredibly small to Patriot. Behind her, Celes closed the curtains and slammed the doors. She didn’t want Locke to see or hear there discussion.
“What the hell do you think your doing here Patriot!?” She cried out as soon as she was sure nobody could hear them
Patriot’s eyes widened before she replied: “I’m allowing my daughter to meet her father.”
Celes folded her arms over her chest “You actually believe that that little RED headed girl in there belongs to Locke? She looks nothing like him you fool!!”
Patriot’s pretty face crumpled in anger. “Have you looked at her eyes? They look so much like your husband’s that its not funny.”
Celes thought for a moment. “Contacts.” She declared at last “There nothing but contact lenses. She’s probably not even your real daughter.”
“What do you mean!!” Patriot shouted balling her hands into fists and stepping forward
Celes did the same. “What I mean is, she’s probably some poor little girl you found on the street and are paying to pretend she’s Locke’s. Just to get money or something.”
Patriot didn’t say another word she simply leapt at Celes. But the other girl was ready, and both women went crashing to the ground. They rolled several times, kicking, scratching, and punching.
Patriot jumped to her feet, fists raised, and Celes followed. Neither girl, noticed but they were very close to the tiny railing of the balcony. Celes swung her fist into Patriot’s stomach and gasped as the railing cracked loudly. Patriot gave a tiny scream as she fell over the broken pieces.
Celes jumped forward but was to late to snatch her hand. But she spotted the frightened girl clinging to the edge for dear life. Patriot stared up at her with big brown eyes full of hate and disgust. Celes actually had to step back it scared her so much.
“Patriot give me your hand!!” Celes cried leaning down, hand outstretched “Come on give it to me!!”
Patriot stared at Celes’s hand for a minute, before spitting in her face. Then with a shrill scream she fell from the balcony.
Celes rubbed the saliva from her eyes and peered over the ledge. Nothing but a creepy mist greeted her. As if for bitter irony, a light cold rain began to fall. Tears clung to Celes’s bright sapphire blue eyes.
“Dear God..” she whispered staring down at the black pit below “What have I done?”
