XLII

Every member of Sassaren’s Sect stumbled into the West Wing. Manar quickly found Rowani and checked her.
    “I never realised the Sects in your family were so conflicting,” commented a rattled Rowani.
    “Oh it was bound to happen sooner or later,” told Scythe.
    One woman reaching middle-aged seemed rather cross. “Why did it have to happen now? I did not join a powerful family to see it fall apart!”
    “You did not have to be our third cousin,” Cadell pointed out coldly.
    Korat and Kirrinis stared out of a large window ahead.
    “Mother! Look!” called Niss.
    Sassaren rushed over to the window. Kron’s Sect were getting into cars and driving away. She narrowed her eyes. “What nerve,” she muttered.
    “Mother we’ve got to stop them,” told Korat.
    She shrugged. “Who else will? We’re getting to our cars!”
    “HEADS UP!” shouted Kiyor. They ducked. A chair smashed through the window, leaving a big gaping hole surrounded by jagged edges. Some of them got to work smashing the edges out.
    “Scythe, you’d better have a secret panel here!” someone ordered.
    Without a word, he kicked back a panel in the floor to reveal a small array of snipers and machine guns. Some happily helped themselves to this collection.
    “Where did you get all this?” asked Zareen in shock.
    “I stole them years ago,” her husband answered off-hand.
    The group flocked through the window and ran out onto the mansion grounds. They ran into the large car depot to find some of the bodyguards opening up cars. Orders were given to specific bodyguards to drive/guard certain cars.
    “Can you drive, Manar?” asked Scythe of the bodyguard next to him.
    “Yes.”
    He thrust keys into her hand and pulled her between two cars. He was ready to open a passenger door and looked at Manar expectantly. She quickly opened the car. She was in the driving seat of a black sports car. She adjusted herself as Zareen got in next to her and Kiyor appeared next to his father at the back, with Rowan next to him.
    A convoy of random cars lacking any order emerged from the building.

A stream of both sophisticated and sports cars flowed along a typical dismal street of the common Dark Citizens. In the car at the very back, sat a group of young Vilkons admiring themselves. A dark-haired, pale skinned, lanky young man absent-mindedly stroked the sleeve of his frilly shirt. His heavily dark-shadowed eyes turned towards another cousin.
    “What will your uncle do now Slevit?” he asked seductively.
    A mixed race woman grinned. “Isn’t it obvious Ampriskeit? (Amp-riss-kite) He’ll buy a house to hide in and kill off all our enemies. It is the best thing to do right now.”
    “Who’s that behind us?” asked a teenage girl.
    The sports car streamed towards them and bumped the car from behind.

Chapter List
©Ruth Amy Louise Hüneke 2008