Free Almost Lovers by Cassidy Raindance Page B

the stereo. I had somewhere to be
but if the Prince wanted to play then I could teach him how the
game was played. He loved this car more than anything. If he didn't
love me enough to disobey the Queen by now then he was useless to
me and I would destroy what he loved most.
     
    I drove the rubber off the tires as I sped
towards my rendezvous destination. I was late. And it wouldn't be
appreciated though it could at least be explained. I was back in
the Royal Court. I was Lady Lydia again and this time I
would finish what I had started. This time I would be the one
handing out the threats.
     
    I arrived to the meeting point by early
evening. There was one other car there and the cemetery looked
deserted as it should have. Why the Master would want to meet in
such a depressing and obvious place was beyond me. But I followed
orders. So long as it suited me.
     
    "You're late," she said, a cloak wrapped
around her.
     
    "I'm sorry I'm late playing cloak and
dagger," I said, adrenaline still running through me, "I was stuck
in a trunk most of the day while the Prince chatted up some human
girl,"
     
    "A trunk?" she asked, she pulled her hood
down and I could see her features more plainly.
     
    I had called her master for years. It hadn't
always been easy or worked out but she had yet to stab me in the
back and that's where I tried to place my allegiances. The Queen
didn't favor me and never would. I had no illusions about that.
     
    "Long story," I said, "The short of it is
that I'm back in the Royal Court,"
     
    "Very good," she said, "Your timing is
impeccable. It's not like you to show initiative. What made you
move up your time line?"
     
    "Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said,
annoyed, "I didn't move it up, actually. Victoria offered me a deal
and I took it. It was out of the blue,"
     
    I recounted the night's events and the
Master listened intently. She pursed her lips and ‘mmhmmed’ me as I
recounted parts.
     
    "What's with the sudden fascination with the
human?" asked the Master.
     
    "No clue, but her order for me to leave her
alone still stands," I said, "And I live down the hall from the
girl,"
     
    The Master started laughing.
     
    "That's like telling a dog not to lick
itself," the Master continued to laugh.
     
    I didn't find the comparison funny.
     
    "Thanks for that," I said.
     
    "I don't mean it as an insult but you are a
creature of habit and… untamed emotions," said the Master, "It's
one of the things I value in you. You’re predictably
unpredictable,"
     
    I leaned against a headstone and scratched
at the stone, sharpening my finger nail.
     
    "Still don't appreciate the comparison," I
said.
     
    "Well, appreciate this," the Master said,
patience lost in her voice causing me to straighten up and listen,
"Victoria may not have any interest in this human whatsoever
outside of using her to get to you,"
     
    "To get to me?" I asked, "That makes no
sense. She's getting ready to lift my banishment,"
     
    The Master nodded her head, smiling.
     
    "Simple mind," said the Master, "Can you
fuck up if you're living in the shadows outside of the court?"
     
    I could see the events stitching together
now. The Queen had already used Prussia to drive a wedge between me
and Sebastian once. It was clear once the Master pointed it
out.
     
    "No," I said, "and I wouldn't voluntarily
come out of hiding in the event that Victoria decided she wanted me
dead one night,"
     
    The Master nodded her head, two steps ahead
as usual.
     
    "I suggest you play nice with this human.
She sounds like bait," said the Master, "And while Victoria is not
legally able to kill you over a human, she would probably ask
forgiveness not permission from the court. Tread carefully,"
     
    "Damn," I said, "I wanted to have some fun
with her,"
     
    "You need to look into more indirect ways of
getting to her so that Victoria doesn't have any way to pin it back
on you," said the Master, "Now that you're finally back in the
court, we don't want