Rolling her tongue in her mouth Lorelei kept still knowing something was off in the story she was hearing, she could feel her heart clenched over and over in an unpleasant ache she had to keep for herself.
Feeling the change in her after the news the man served them without knowing he did something that was not for him to do, Alicia squeezed the fingers that was hanging free near hers, shocked at how cold they were it was like she had zone out a different way, because when she looked up she smiled at her in reassurance. It could have fool her, she could have thought the coldness what just that. Some people get them most of the time. She could have believed many way if it had reached her eyes the way it always does.
Sighing internally, she wondered why her mother had lied to them. It was so unlike her. Even why the precipitation? All those questions that was moving her heart and brain the wrong way stayed within knowing there were no way she could turn to her friend to ask. Given the circumstances it would be insensitive.
The doors finally opened releasing all the tension that filled the elevator, exiting it the first almost unconsciously running, the short man led the way to the back of the warehouse of the airport where the cars was waiting to start pulling out under a heavy police escort.
" As you can see they're almost done."
Pointing at the men that waited with each a paperwork in their hands to be sign he said pointing the obvious, again! Aching for him, Alicia almost shook her head no at him to have him shutting his mouth. Guess he did not heard enough from his mother that was anchored in her own brain by hers.
" If you have nothing to say. Keep you mouth shut."
Invariably as with her mother's, the same happened leaving them all hanging.
Not minding him anymore Lorelei left them there not in the mood of socializing. Wandering her gaze around she left the group of officials that came with them to dwell with the man she could not seemed to remembered the name walking away toward the group of searchers that was in Porys.
Spotting Boyer, Blake assistant, she headed towards him Sloan behind her. Turning her head towards the clingy guard she moved her head to where Alicia stood.
"Go back to her, I will be fine." More an order than a request she commanded looking straight in his eyes. Unflinching under the cold orbs he did not moved. Shaking his head no, not doing anything to turn back he stood near her not moving.
"I can't ma'am, I am your personal bodyguard, Norman will be the one taking care of Miss Alicia." Frowning at him, she stood there with an insisting gaze.
"I'm not seeing him anywhere..." A rapid but attentive study of the place had her staring hard at him.
"Yes that means there are men around to take care of her. It is my duty ma'am. Norman is aware of it. Where you go I do. Please."
Letting go of it at his plead, she restraint herself to not stamp her foot on the ground in front of everyone like a spoil child, trying to regulate her breath in the process it was hard but she managed it.
She knew for certain it was all Katiandra doing. Looking around she could see that she orchestrated it all from the beginning to the very moment she found herself in this cold warehouse miles away from her, gaze wandering around taking it all. A well-oiled machine, no error, ants could not do better.
"Miss Lorelei, it is a pleasure to see you again." Standing still after meeting his brother gaze, Morgan stood with the military salute reserved to royalty.
Turning toward the voice still mad for being blind at everything, thanks to her lover who had made all she could to keep her brain in a constant out of use. Lorelei stare went straight in Norman unyielding eyes like she did not heard what he had just said, not moving an each of her face her eyes scanned his searching for the piece of information that could confirm her non existent doubts more like killed the edges she was holding in hope it was all her making it all up.
Doing his best to not freak under her intense gaze, the man was still waiting for her to let him lose aware to not lower his gaze. He could tell she was mad by the way she did not even acknowledged his existence.
Her eyes like an x-ray searching for something penetrated his soul dislocating everything in search of something. He could only guess she was not aware of the Queen plan, to begin with. Sighing internally he knew things was about to get complicated.
The flickering of something in his eyes caught Lorelei off guard making her feel uncomfortable. An uneasiness that had her body felt colder than ever she just knew.
"Why?" Was the only words she was able to emit in the middle of the warehouse with people going around them not knowing the drama playing there.
Holding onto all she had in her she pushed back tears she did not wanted to shed with all the people around. The only way was to understand.
"Ma'am, it had to be done. But she will be there in two months to.."
Chuckling dryly at his comments, she nodded waving at him to let go of his salute. All so dismissively it weird them out, stretching the hairs of theirs heads. Automatically the brothers glanced at each others before resuming their posture to be sure they had both felt the moment.
"Ohh I'm sure she will... You are right. Now can we go back I'm feeling tired." Walking passed him she mumbled loud enough for them to understand.
Following her Norman felling like he had failed her, searched quickly in his mind how to right it all. He knew it had to be done though even why the Queen decided to do it, it was not a pleasing thing for her to send away her most important possessions. The person's she held dear in her life, it was to protect them from her satanic husband and his unhealthy even toxic surroundings.
"She had her reasons for doing that. It was the only way to have you here, in security. Plus she has plenty of work left there. You should be happy."
He was at her level when he said that holding her wrist subtly then letting go the moment it registered in his mind, not knowing how she would react to that. Sure she was like a child to him, and more than anything they had a friendly relationship from the beginning, but no one ever know a hurt heart reaction. His heart almost out of his throat he waited aware whatever his great services to the crown, one complain of her to the Queen could reduced him to naught.
Breathing out slowly but shakily, her head far away from his fear, she nodded knowing she was being a baby about it. Her reasons told her all she needed to know, she knew Katiandra fear when she was there, she knew her tears over Kaylee, her been overprotective toward Alicia and herself.
Someone could understand it was her. Norman was right, she had to be happy, but she had to be but her heart was not thinking the same.
"Norman. I'm sure she did. Huh, I am feeling really cranky with all the travel stress. I did not had time to close my eyes. Will you show us our place? It will be lovely of you. And Norman...happy to see you too." With a small smile she patted his arm nodding before heading towards Alicia that was already near them.
Meeting his brother eyes Norman nodded at him in a later greeting before the both followed her to the exit.
"Dear we are going now, it was a pleasure. Alicia."
Shaking the hands of the IMC staff with a little more warm, she stared at the young woman who seemed to understand also shaking hands. After she had thanked all of them for their time she followed Lorelei.
"We already have a place to stay at the hotel Makarov. I.."
One of the members of the crown defense ministry in charge of the security of the girls that the king send with them, almost jogging to keep up with them said to Sloan intention which made the two women stopped, looking at theirs bodyguards for confirmation. Upon seeing the negative movement they did, they continued to walk not minding him.
"Don't worry it is all sort out. You and the rest will stay there. I will take it from here." Morgan commanding tone of voice boomed making the man hesitated.
"The king said we should..." Looking from one brother to the other he tried again cut short by Lorelei hand up.
"Are you a part of the Queen security details? No? I thought so. Since you are aware of that separation and Morgan told you to not worry. Let them do their job. Have a good night." The curtness of the woman voice had the same effect of a slap on the poor man.
His face red for being rejected like that he just nodded dejected he could not even make a move toward Miss Kamali in fact it was like nothing exist around her. The coldness of her voice he was sure will pursue him for longer. Not what he had expected.
Entering in the car, Alicia muffled laugh exploded making Lorelei shook her head not believing her.
"OMG! He had it so bad for you! Woah it's unbelievable! He could not stopped looking at you in the plane you did not even notice? YOU are unbelievable!! Wakee up you cannot be like a zombie all the time! It is not funny! Like at all! Uhf.."
Puffing the air out of her mouth Alicia crossed her arms pouting which got to Lorelei heart.
"Okay, okay! I was not paying attention. Now I do. What do you want to do?"
"Voilà ! How about... I don't know, you always have something to dooo. God my life is a mess!"
Chuckling at her Lorelei shook her head her preoccupation all pushed away to focus on Katiandra daughter, she looked all grown up but was still a baby in her head thanks to her mother. But that did not bothered her in fact she was the closest thing she has of a friend more like the sister she never had.The time at the museum pushed them closer.
Not to mention she had promised Katiandra she would take care of her like she was hers. Under her questioning stare that was exactly like her mother minus the maturity, Lorelei pursed her lips doing the hard thinking one finger on her lips, oblivious of the two brothers in the front shaking theirs head at how she felt in Alicia trap.
"How about Netflix? I know you like it. We can have a late sleepover?" Clapping her hands really happy Alicia nodded vigorously.
"That will be fine, pretty funny actually. Can we..."
Moving her index vigorously in front of her Lorelei shook her head at her knowing where she was going with it.
"I'm not having nightmares again, no horror of any sort. One very maximum two beers. You know the rules!"
"You suck!" Pouting she crossed her hand on her chest leaning back on the seat pleading eyes on Lorelei who knew not to fall for them. An entire week of disturb night had immunized her.
"I don't... How about a rerun of Friends?" Instantly agreeing knowing she was not a fan of friends while she herself like it, Alicia let her be.
Laying her head on her shoulder she closed her eyes silently promising her mother to not let her thinks too much or be sad untill she will be there. Even if that might make it seemed like she was clingy, which she sure was. The things was that she did not want to see a sad Lorelei, she really frightened her at the airport.