Chapter 9
Tarot Readings
Deimos arrived at the guest house where Makayla and Craig stayed. He rolled his Ferrari Testarossa up and noticed a blue 1970 Shelby Mustang parked in front. Deimos quirked an eyebrow. He parked his car by the Mustang and stepped out. He wore a Kreator tank top, torn jeans, leather jacket, and black cowboy boots. He stepped inside and was greeted by a pair of stinky work boots. The stink of vinegar and cheese assaulted his nostrils. He grumbled and squeezed his nose. By the stinky workboots were a pair of Makayla’s boots and a smaller pair of men’s white sneakers.
Clothes were strewn everywhere. Deimos made his way upstairs and saw a trail of clothes leading to Craig’s bedroom. There was a receipt on the floor. Deimos picked it up, and his jaw dropped. It was a receipt for Danny Donger’s, and the bill totaled almost one thousand dollars. He opened the door and saw Craig in bed with Fabien. Craig snored loudly while Fabien had his arm over him sleeping.
Deimos peered over his shoulder and saw Makayla standing before him. He showed her the receipt.
Deimos: “Did you know he spent close to one thousand dollars at that tavern?”
He asked her. Makayla heaved a deep sigh.
Makayla: “Yeah, Craig kept ordering food and he gave Fabien a big tip. I wanted to go home and Celeste already finished eating. We were both sick of Craig. Anyway, I guess Fabien drove him here.”
She shrugged.
Deimos: “Yeah, there’s a Mustang parked outside.”
He said as his voice trailed off.
Deimos grunted and fanned his face.
Deimos: “Has Craig ever heard of foot deodorizers?! He’s like my brother’s girlfriend!”
He gagged.
Makayla: “No, Craig doesn’t think his feet stink. Who is your brother’s girlfriend?”
Deimos rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “Some pretentious Russian bitch with obviously dyed red hair. She dresses like an old lady and he’s dating her for some reason, which is weird because she’s not like anyone he usually dates.”
He said and cupped his chin.
~
Vincente screamed when Deimos showed him the receipt. Craig sat on the couch in his underwear, folding his arms, and pouting. Fabien came in and sat with him, putting his arm over him. He was dressed in a Nuklear Intoxikation shirt and green shorts.
Vicente: “Craig, we gave a budget for the BAND!”
He shrieked.
Craig: “Yup, and this is for the band!”
He huffed.
Vicente: “What if Miss Wood finds out you brought a man home and slept with him?!”
He pressed his hands against his temples.
Craig: “She’ll be fine. I want Andreas to know we fucked and it was the best fuck ever!”
He said with hurt in his tone. Deimos rolled his eyes. Makayla sighed. Here we go again, she thought.
Vicente: “We’ll say he’s here with Makayla!”
He clasped his hands together.
Makayla: ‘Hold it! I’m still in love with Ashley!”
She snapped.
Craig: “Forget that chungo drongo, Kayla!”
Fabien: “Stop kissing ass already. Everyone in this town knows I don’t play for that team.”
He said sharply to Vicente who drew back.
Deimos: “Just tell her the truth.”
He said to Craig. Makayla nodded. Vicente stomped his foot.
Vicente: “Do you KNOW who’s giving the funding to make this band work?! HER FATHER!”
He screamed. Deimos gaped at him.
Deimos: “And?”
Vicente’s jaw dropped.
Vicente: “AND?!”
He caterwauled.
Vicente: “She will pull out the funding!”
Deimos: “If we make an album, we don’t need her funding.”
He said evenly. Vicente gape mutely at him.
He cleared his throat and folded his arms.
Vicente: “We can’t be spending close to one thousand dollars on take-out!”
He flapped the receipt and dropped it on Craig’s lap. Deimos cupped his chin.
Deimos: “I think I have a solution to that.”
Vicente: “Let’s hear it! I could use some good news now!”
Fabien: “Tristan come to your rescue again?”
He said wryly. Deimos shot him a glare.
Deimos: “No! I can take care of myself and I will be protecting him!”
He pointed to himself with his thumb.
Deimos cleared his throat.
Deimos: “Hire someone to come here and cook. It’s much cheaper and better food than most take-out.”
He suggested. Vicente snapped his fingers.
Vicente: “A great idea, Deimos, but we can’t take Basilia’s chefs from her.”
Deimos: ‘I didn’t have her kitchen staff in mind.”
Fabien: ‘Tristan’s kitchen staff?”
He smirked. Deimos bared his teeth.
Deimos: “Can you please throw that in the trash?”
He pointed to him and asked Vicente. Fabien glared at Deimos.
Craig: “OI!”
~
Tristan’s dream was becoming a reality; he bought an empty building to make it into the Trémaux Law Office. It was a small pastel yellow two-story building with a balcony on the top floor. A French door led to the balcony, which had a French railing design and there were two tables and chairs. Two antique post lamps were in front of the building as well as a manicured garden full of lavenders. The bottom floor had two French doors leading inside and on the top right side was “Trémaux Law Office” in black letters. On the left was a parking lot for Tristan’s car, his secretaries, and any clients. Currently, there was a light brown 1984 Toyota Cressida parked by Tristan’s Toyota MR2 convertible.
The interior had a large oak desk for Tristan’s secretaries. The desk had an Apple II computer, stationary, a telephone, and a leather chair, and “Trémaux Law Office” was written in gold lettering across the desk. Behind the desk were several filing cabinets, oak cabinets containing books and various pieces of art, a photocopier, a coffee machine, a water cooler, and a fax machine. The waiting area across the desk had several comfortable chairs, a TV, a coffee table with magazines, a water cooler, and shelves containing books. On the walls were several paintings and pieces of artwork. The floors were hardwood floors with oriental rugs under the chairs and tables.
Tristan’s office was located upstairs. On the oak door was a gold plate with “Tristan Trémaux, ESQ.” on it. Tristan’s office was a large office with mahogany walls with shelves covering the walls near his large oak desk. The shelves had books, various statues such as the Scale of Justice, cats, and The Thinker, and wall lamps on the shelf casings. On Tristan’s desk was his Apple II computer, the pen his grandfather gifted him, photographs of his cats, a tiffany lamp, a gold scale of justice statue, a phone and fax machine, a printer, and a black and gold nameplate that read, “Tristan Trémaux, Esq. Trémaux Law Office.” Behind his desk was a large executive leather chair and a bay window with black blinds. The floors had the same hardwood flooring and there was a large oriental rug across the room.
The lounge room was down the hall from Tristan’s office. It had two large leather sofas, two leather chairs, a coffee table, a water cooler, and bookshelves encased in the walls. There was a French door leading to the balcony outside.
Tristan was dressed in his dark purple three-piece suit, white pressed shirt, black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. He looked around his new office and marveled at everything. He looked at Oliver lying on his leather sofa and went downstairs to see his secretaries at work. One was a white woman with long red hair, an inverted triangle-shaped face, full lips, and long lashes, and was dressed in a white blouse, tight leather skirt, and black pantyhose with heels. She was Erin Harvey. The woman seated next to her was a middle-aged white woman who wore her dyed brown hair in a ponytail. She was dressed in a blue secretary dress and heels. She was Rosemary Ferraro—Ivy’s mother.
A white middle-aged woman entered the office carrying a large portfolio in her hands. She wore a pink pantsuit with a string of pearls around her neck and wore her strawberry blonde hair in a bob haircut.
Tristan: “Hello, welcome!”
She’s a client and not one of Rosemary’s friends she met through Archie, right? He hoped.
Rosemary: “Tristan, this is my friend, Lucy Lynes! She is a party planner! Her son is having his 30th birthday and she wants to invite you!”
She sang. Lucy rushed over, her heels clicking on the hardwood flooring. Tristan’s smile faded. I hate being right, he thought.
Lucy: “Tristan! Thanks for hiring my good friend, Rosemary! We go away back! Anyway, my son, Jeremy, is having his 30th, and we’re going to the circus! I arranged for a circus birthday party of clowns, and acrobats, and you can ride an elephant! There will also be a white tiger show! You remind me of a white tiger.”
Tristan was growing annoyed with her prattle.
Tristan: “Hi, nice to meet you, Mrs. Lynes. I’m Tristan Trémaux. Thank you for asking.”
He said dryly.
Tristan: “With all due respect, I don’t like circuses, and are you aware of the poor living conditions those animals are kept in? They were ripped from their natural habitat to perform for people and you want to support this? Do you lack compunction?”
He challenged. Lucy made a face.
Lucy: “Rose, you didn’t tell me your boss was like that dead guy who is Ivy’s only friend.”
Tristan: “I can hear you.”
He folded his arms and tapped his foot.
Tristan: “Animals should be respected as citizens of Reona. They have a right to their freedom, their family, and their lives. They don’t want to entertain you. This is why I am against ‘amusement’ parks like SeaMania as well as circuses.”
He said firmly feeling himself get hot under the collar.
Tristan: “If you will excuse me, I have work to attend to. You can show yourself out if you have no further business here.”
He said sharply, straightening his suit jacket.
~
Dimos Kafatos knew Jakaterina Koshleva was engaged to his brother Lazarus but she wanted Dimos and the French attorney, Thomas Thévenard. With Thomas, Jakaterina could wear her heels. The two men listened to her and did exactly as she said. Whenever Jakaterina wanted something done, Dimos and Thomas did it whereas Lazarus was looking at other women and probably cheating on her. He cared more for his silly garden and silly honey than buying her dresses and jewelry. At least Dimos doesn’t want Jakaterina to be a babymaker. He is willing to hand over his money to her so she looks like a million dollars and he doesn’t demand sex. He doesn’t even like receiving blowjobs but is willing to give her oral. When Lazarus refused to buy Jakaterina a dress was the night she was cruelly betrayed by him. She considered reporting this to the authorities as domestic abuse. Thomas suggested she should report him for being on the short side, so she couldn’t wear her heels.
Jaclyn wrote it down on her typewriter. She loved reading romance novels and wanted to write one of her own where the heroine doesn’t have to babytrap her love interest. She folded her arms in a huff and growled thinking back to the many times Lazaros brought up having children to her. How dare he? I am not going to be a babymaker while he cheats on me, she thought bitterly. Then she recalled the number of times she had to buy her own stuff because Lazaros couldn’t or wouldn’t. This is abuse, she thought with a growl.
She was in her bedroom, which was the master bedroom. It was a large, spacious room with red Victorian wallpaper, dark brown hardwood flooring, and a queen-size bed. The quilt was black with gold accents to match the gold bed frame. On each side of the bed were oak nightstands with tiffany lamps. Hanging from the ceiling was a ceiling lantern lamp. To the right of the bedroom was an antique desk with a typewriter. In front of her bed was a floor mirror. Above that, hung a golden antique wall clock.
The other bedroom is now her sewing room. It had the same red Victorian wallpaper and dark brown flooring as the other rooms. There were mannequins, a desk, a sewing machine, various spools of thread on a shelf, multiple colors and patterns of different fabrics tucked neatly away in cubby holes, and other types of sewing scissors hanging from each hook.
She looked out the window from her house, which was across the street to see Lazaros outside with a landscaper working on the garden. The shipping truck for May Flair—an American department store that sold furniture, home goods, and gardening equipment—parked in front of the home. Jaclyn raised an eyebrow. Is he finally getting me the antique armoire I ordered him to buy me? She mused.
The corners of her mouth dipped when she saw the deliverymen take out a greenhouse. She angrily threw her pen down and seethed. This is ridiculous, I asked for an armoire, and he buys a silly greenhouse, she thought angrily.
She swiftly closed the curtains and returned to her typewriter to write the next bestselling romance novel. She tried to zone out the loud TV playing in the family room, which no one was allowed to enter.
~
Deimos and Lazaros stood in front of the greenhouse. Lazaros marveled at his purchase.
Lazaros: “Isn’t this amazing, Deimos?! I get to grow my own produce and have fresh fruit and vegetables when I want! This will be beneficial for my cooking!”
His voice radiated excitement for his new greenhouse.
Deimos: “Is there a difference between frozen vegetables and fresh?”
Lazaros gaped at his fraternal twin brother as if he asked an inane question. Deimos held his hands out, palms up.
Deimos: “Hey, I’m not the chef here.”
Lazaros tilted his head and gave him a self-satisfied smirk.
Lazaros: “Because fresh tastes better and you can taste the quality.”
Deimos eyed him incredulously.
Deimos: “I didn’t think they would lose their nutrients if frozen. Are you saying this because Morgan Hamsay stresses using fresh meat, vegetables, et cetera.?”
He asked dubiously. Lazaros wagged his head, rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms.
Lazaros: “Take my word for it, Mr. Smarty Pants! You can’t even boil water!”
He teased. Deimos rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “Tell me something I don’t know.”
He said dryly.
Deimos: “Anyway, I think I have a job for you.”
Lazaros quirked an eyebrow.
Lazaros: “Oh?”
~
Deimos arrived back at the guest wing where Nuklear Intoxikation was staying. Lazaros entered the living room. He was dressed in a black dress shirt with shimmering blue vector swirls on the shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a few buttons were undone to expose his gold Italian horn necklace. He also had on black dress pants and black wingtip shoes with a gold clasp on them.
Deimos: “This is my brother, Lazaros Katsaros. He will cook anything for you guys.”
Fabien examined Lazaros.
Fabien: “I have a question, Lazaros. Why are you with Jaclyn? Don’t you usually chase fat fucks?”
He asked sharply. Lazaros ignored him and his dark purple eyes fixed on Makayla.
Lazaros fixed his gaze on Makayla. Craig flicked his gaze to Lazaros and saw him staring at his sister.
Craig: “...What’re ya starin’ at, mate?”
He asked sharply. He ignored Craig and approached Makayla. Makayla blushed and was uncertain how to take this guy approaching her. He was handsome and sexy but my heart longs for Ashley, but also I won’t be coming back to Selene Valley, she thought.
Lazaros: “May I have your name?”
He asked her with a smile. Makayla blushed and shifted her eyes.
Makayla: “Makayla Carvalho-Medeiros. Nice to meet you, Lazaros.”
She said genially.
Lazaros: “The pleasure is mine.”
He smiled at her and gazed at her. Makayla could not take her eyes off him, his dark violet eyes, his olive skin complexion, and his refined Mediterranean features.
Lazaros: “What would you like me to cook for you? You name it and I’ll make it.”
He said to her as his eyes lit up.
Craig: “I want a steak, mate.”
He huffed. Lazaros ignored Craig and focused on Makayla.
Makayla: “Mushroom risotto!”
She chirped. Lazaros' smile spread to show his even white teeth.
Lazaros: “I’d love that! I can make that for you! Would you like to watch me work?”
He asked and gave her a coy smile. Makayla nodded.
Makayla: “I bet you work well with your hands.”
Lazaros’ cheeks flushed a deep red.
Lazaros: “We’ll see.”
He winked.
Craig: “I FUCKIN’ WANT A STEAK, CUNT!”
He barked. Lazaros ignored him and guided Makayla to the kitchen where she could watch him prepare the mushroom risotto.
Celeste burst in and waved.
Celeste: “Did someone say mushroom risotto? I want a steak, too!”
She looked around and saw Fabien with Craig.
Celeste: “Oh, the waiter guy spent the night.”
Craig: “Yup, and if you see Andreas, tell ‘im it was the best fuck I ever had!”
He huffed.
Fabien: “Deimos, your brother clearly has a fat fetish. Why is he with Jaclyn?”
Deimos rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “You asked me this already. Don’t you think I would tell you if I knew? Actually, no, I wouldn’t tell you..”
He hissed.
Celeste: “Yeah, we all wondered. Maybe she has some kind of power.”
She suggested. Deimos gaped at her. He shifted his eyes and didn’t know what to think, except she maybe onto something.
Celeste: “Anyway, I got some scary Halloween decorations.”
She held up a picture of Craig showing off his feet.
Fabien: “Why is that scary?”
Celeste: “ ‘cause his feet stink.”
Craig: “OI!”
He barked.
Deimos: “Well, they do!”
Celeste: “Did you name your band after your stinky feet?”
Craig snarled and rose.
Craig: “FUCK NO! I named it that ‘cause it’s wicked sick!”
Deimos: “Yeah, in other words, yeah.”
He rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “Are we going to practice?”
Craig: “I’ll get to it. Someone better go to Andreas and tell ‘im ‘bout last night.”
He huffed.
Deimos: “Yes, him knowing you and Fabien fucked is more important than practicing.”
He said dryly.
~
Celeste drove to Little Tokyo and parked in front of Måneravn. She saw an ad in the window display for tarot card readings and fortune telling. She shut her car engine off, jumped out of her car and entered the store. Andreas was reading at the counter as it had been a slow day. He glanced up to see Celeste enter.
Andreas: “Oh, no, I’m not going to another one of those places again…”
He thought of Danny Dongers.
Celeste: “Craig wanted me to tell you he had the best fuck with Fabien ever. He’s also dating Veronika who is funding their band, so Vicente wants to keep this a secret.”
She nodded.
Andreas: “Okay. Good luck with that. It’s not a secret if you just told me. It’s only a matter of time until this blows up in Craig’s face and his tower comes crashing down. I read him that fortune a year ago and he didn’t believe me this would happen.”
He shook his head.
Celeste: “Can I have my tarot cards read? Or you to figure out why Lazaros is dating Jaclyn when ‘he chases fat fucks’? Well, Fabien asked Deimos and to be honest, Tristan and Deimos also mentioned this and I noticed this, too.”
She scratched her head.
Andreas: “...Who?”He looked lost with all these pieces of information she was throwing at him and didn’t know who these people were. Andreas: “If you think you can handle gazing at yourself in the mirror with honesty and acceptance of what you see, I can do that.”
He nodded, heading over to the shelves behind him with various decks. He studied her closely and picked out what seemed to be an unlikely deck. A love deck.
Celeste: “I think so. Craig can’t. He’s pissed at Deimos and me ‘cause we said his feet stink and I asked him if he named his band after his feet.”
She said evenly. Andreas rolled his eyes at the Craig stuff, but allowed her to get her words out. He didn’t interrupt, he just listened before responding.
Celeste: “And he’s mad at Deimos ‘cause Deimos wants to practice but Craig is fucking Fabien, so yeah, I think I can!”
Andreas stroked his chin, observing her. He noted she spoke of others a lot and was invested in their lives.
Andreas: “Hmm, well this is outside of your control and not your problem to fix. You seem invested in external forces and the lives of others outside of you… but what about your own internal world? How does this affect you and why does it?”
Celeste: “I don’t know! I think because Deimos, Tristan, and Ivy are my friends and I love my friends! They’re the only ones I have!”
She admitted.
Celeste: “I never had friends growing up so now I do!”
She added. Andreas listened to her and nodded.
He laid the cards out on the table for her and turned over the first one. “The Ten Of Cups”
Andreas: “So, they’re your family?”
He pressed, holding up the card. It depicted a group of people gathered under a rainbow with ten cups.
Celeste: “Uh, no? I don’t know who my family is.”
She scratched her head.
Andreas: “Is that what you seek?”
He asked.
Celeste: “No, I don’t think about it much. I think of my friends, though!”
Andreas: “It seems you were seeking that missing connection and found it in them and now your friends are your family. Family isn’t bonded by blood.”
She nodded.
Celeste: “Yeah!”
Andreas: “That’s what the Ten Of Cups represents. Your family, your support network. The people who accept you and fulfill your cups.”
Celeste: “Okay, that makes sense!”
She said eagerly.
He then flipped the card upside down.
Andreas: “This is your past. You came from a broken place of abuse and neglect.”
He then flipped it back up again. Her smile faded when he mentioned that. She said nothing more about that.
Andreas: “But now you’re here.”
He glanced down at the spread and revealed the next card. He presented her with ‘The Two Of Cups’ which depicted two people drinking from a cup each with a feline hovering on top.
Andreas: “This is about companionship and unity with someone. But I get the sense it’s someone you haven’t met yet. You will be stronger together and have a close bond.”
Celeste cupped her chin.
Celeste: “I wonder who that could be…”
Andreas: “It could be a romantic partner, a friend, or perhaps an animal companion?”
He pondered. She bobbed her head.
Celeste: “That would be cool, except the romantic partner. I was never one for romance.”
She admitted. Andreas pulled out the next card. It was The Hermit in reverse.
Andreas: “You have unhealed traumas and emotions, so you have abandoned and shut yourself off from love to protect yourself… or you feel you must protect them from yourself. You have walked alone as an outsider throughout your entire life, so you don’t know how to be open and vulnerable to someone else.”
He explained, pointing out the cloaked figure walking down a dark path alone with a lantern showing them the way. She froze when he said this to her and shifted her eyes.
Celeste: “Maybe? I haven’t thought about it but I am not romantic like Tristan or anyone like that.”
She rubbed the back of her head.
Andreas: “That’s their path. You have your own path. The star is hope and the lantern is lighting your way.”
He pointed to the star in the lantern.
Celeste: “That’s good! Maybe my new companion will be my light leading me to my path if I want romance or not! You can not be in a relationship and be happy!”
She nodded. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “That’s right. Your new companion will be your light and your family will support you.”
He stated, showing her the cards together.
Andreas: “The cups represent emotions and the hermit represents isolation and self-reflection. Together I sense that you keep your emotions to yourself and away from the world.”
He concluded. She blinked and shifted her eyes.
Celeste: “I guess so? I don’t think about them and if you don’t think about it, it will go away.”
She shrugged.
Andreas: “Well, when you’re cleaning your space and you shove your things under your bed, it doesn’t go away. It’s still there and you will have to sort through it and get rid of it eventually. Emotions are the same when you sweep them away into the dark corners of your mind… they will come out in other ways and you will have to sort through them eventually. You have to sort through them to get rid of them.”
He said evenly. She looked away glumly.
Celeste: “I guess so.”
She sighed.
Celeste: “I think it’s like if Craig doesn’t use Funny Feet to get rid of his footstink, the stink doesn’t go away.”
She cupped her chin. Andreas blinked mutely and shrugged.
Andreas: “Whatever works.”
Celeste: “You’re so good at this! Thank you!”
She rose and fished through her purse to pay him.
Andreas: “Thank you. I hope this helped shed light for you.”
Celeste: “Oh, yeah, you did! Now I know just what to do! Thanks! Tell Ivy I said hi!”
She ran out of the store and ran into Tristan.
Celeste: “Hey, Tristan, sorry, I gotta go to the pharmacy! I know what to get to solve the problems!”
She ran out of the store and Tristan watched her. He turned to Andreas and smiled a bit.
Tristan: “So you do tarot card readings?”
He asked him. Andreas smiled a bit and nodded.
Andreas: “Is that what you seek?”
He nodded.
Tristan: “I normally don’t do this as people come to me to solve their problems but now I am in my own personal Hell.”
He sighed.
Andreas: “Is this something within your control or outside of your control?”He asked.
Tristan: “It’s outside of my control but it still hurts and upsets me.”
He replied and sat down.
Tristan: “As you know, Deimos has joined Nuklear Intoxikation. I warned him about my hunches. I relayed what you said about him. Craig is clearly uninterested in taking this band anywhere. He’s at the guest wing and asking people to tell you he had intercourse with Fabien, the server you met at Danny Donger’s. The place smells like his feet and they are not practicing. I know this is Deimos’ dream and I want him to succeed but think the ship is sinking and nothing can save it.”
He said as felt his fury rise. Andreas rolled his eyes. Another person comes to me about Craig. He’s already causing problems and he hasn’t been here for a day, he thought.
Andreas: “Deimos needs to see this for himself and he needs to fight his own battles, otherwise he won’t learn anything. Do you think Deimos would allow Craig to rule over his life?”
He asked. Tristan cleared his throat. Tristan: “I agree with you and you’re right. No, I don’t think he would allow that but… I wish he would listen to me.”
He hung his head.
Tristan: “I realize what he does is outside of my control but I wish he would trust in me and my hunches. It still upsets me.”
He added.
Tristan: “What needs to happen for him to see all the red flags waving? Does the ship need to sink to the sea floor?”
He said with frustration.
Tristan: “Craig spent close to one thousand dollars at Danny Donger’s and took Fabien home to bed. This is one of the many red flags waving in my face!”
He added for good measure.
Tristan: “I apologize for ranting like a madman.”
He waved his hand and sighed. Andreas held his hand up.
Andreas: “Not at all. What I’m hearing is when Deimos makes a choice you don’t agree with, you don’t feel that Deimos trusts you. It also seems like you don’t trust his capability to make choices on his own. You came to me on his behalf to find out information on Craig, and you went with him to the band rehearsal, rather than let him solve this himself.”
Tristan drew a long breath.
Tristan: “I feel he’s letting his dreams of playing in a metal band cloud his judgment. It’s not the dream itself; it’s CRAIG. I don’t want Deimos to sink with Craig and I fear that’s what will happen.”
He said and knit his eyebrows.
Andreas: “I know Craig and from what I’ve observed of Deimos, he’s stronger-willed than you think. You need to have more faith in him to stand on his own and handle things himself, too. I believe he can. I can’t see him sinking to Craig’s level. Craig is a weak-willed person and he’s more bark than he is bite. He’s not as threatening and strong as he tries to project.”
He stated. Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “I agree with you. I believe you’re right… Maybe I have this messiah complex where I feel I need to help those within my proximity. Maybe because this isn’t the first time Deimos was involved with a shady individual… but I do believe the first person we met is far worse than Craig is.”
He heaved another deep sigh.
Tristan: “I… I don’t want to see him disappointed.”
Andreas: “Why do you feel it’s your duty to help those around you?”
He challenged.
Andreas: “Disappointment is part of life and negative emotions shouldn’t be feared. Without suffering there is no joy or growth. Are you really helping him if you insist on doing everything for him? Virtues can become faults when pushed to their extremes.”
He added. Tristan paused and cupped his chin. He didn’t disagree with him but it did give him something to muse about.
Tristan: “You are correct. Not everything is in black and white and I always criticized the toxic positivity mindset some people I know have. I do agree that with these shortcomings, it shapes who we are today. I also feel with the disappointments and failures we endure during our lives, it allows us to appreciate what we have and achieved more.”
He nodded. Andreas nodded.
Andreas: “That’s right. I live by these principles too as a shadow worker.”
Tristan: “As for why I feel the need to protect, I think I am this way because I couldn’t help my father when our house burned down. He was in a coma for fifteen years because I couldn’t help him as I should have.”
He explained.
Andreas: “You need to forgive yourself. What happened to your father wasn’t your fault. Sometimes it's out of our control and we can’t help everyone we want to save.”
He said firmly but gently.
Tristan: “My father is out of the coma and adjusting to this new era, and I am glad to have him back. It’s thanks to Deimos he’s healed.”
He smiled a bit.
Andreas: “Then that should be your focus. The present. We can’t change the past. We can only learn from it.”
Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “You’re absolutely right and I live by these principles or try to convey them when giving others’ advice.”
Tristan: “What about you? Why are you so hesitant to discuss Craig? I noticed a lot of hesitence from you whenever he’s brought up. What did he really do?”
He asked and leaned back in his seat. Andreas drew a breath.
Andreas: “Because he isn’t worth my energy. What we shared was in the past. No matter how much I try to work through that, he keeps coming back. Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me there’s unfinished business there… at least on his end.”
He began. Tristan folded his hands and listened to him.
Andreas: “Craig was a poor life choice I made when I was young and a life regret. I always wanted to play in a metal band, so he made that a reality for me… on his terms. It was a thrash metal band that he named Nuklear Intoxikation. Thrash metal and the party life it stands for never resonated with me. As I got older, I changed and grew, while he stayed the same. That also meant he never grew out of one-night stands. I always had this feeling he was cheating on me, but I ignored it and that is why I never ignore my intuition anymore. It turns out he was having these affairs the whole time. It was only when I ended it that he began to appreciate me and wanted me back, but it was too late.”
He explained. Tristan drew a long breath.
Tristan: “I had a hunch this was the case. I am sorry this happened but this makes a lot of sense. I am not surprised Craig is one of those ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s gone’ people.”
He replied.
Tristan: “Now he is demanding everyone who drops into the guest wing to tell you about his grand night with Fabien.”
He rolled his eyes. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “For what purpose does he want me to know this?”
He asked.
Tristan: “To incite jealousy.”
Andreas: “Because this would make him jealous. Craig never understood me and doesn’t understand himself.”
He stated. Tristan raised his eyebrows and nodded.
Tristan: “Aside from Deimos and Ivy, it’s nice to talk to someone on my level. Someone who understands feelings… other’s feelings. I cannot understand my own but others, I do, yes.”
He smiled a bit. Andreas smiled a bit.
Tristan’s smile faded.
Tristan: “Off-topic, but how do you feel about animals in circuses?”
Andreas frowned.
Andreas: “They shouldn’t be there.”
Tristan: “I have a secretary who works for my law office. She’s Ivy’s mother. Maybe she told you about Lucy Lynes. Anyway, her son, Jeremy, is celebrating his 30th and she is taking him to the circus to ride on elephants and watch the white tiger show, so I ranted at her and stated she lacked compunction. She was rude in the first place, which I didn’t like but she mentioned that and I lost it.”
He explained.
Andreas: “You can feel your feelings, but you can’t change her mind. She already made it when she was rude from the start. You can’t win every battle you fight. Not everyone has your level of understanding and perception. Don’t let people like that affect your energy.”
Tristan: “You’re absolutely right. I wasn’t intending to change her mind; I cannot change the minds of the ignorant but I liked making her feel small.”
He smiled tightly. Andreas smiled a bit.
~
Lazaros had the candles lit at the table and dished up the mushroom risotto with a huge garden salad, and some French bread.
Fabien: “You never answered my question, Lazaros.”
He asked sharply as he leaned in the doorway.
Lazaros: “What question is that?”
Fabien: “Why are you dating Jaclyn when you’re into fat fucks?”
Lazaros sighed.
Lazaros: “I don’t know? What does it matter?”
He rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “We were here all day and NO ONE picked up an instrument!”
He snapped.
Craig: “I’m working on it!”
He huffed.
Deimos: “Suddenly, I don’t smell your stinky feet anymore!”
Celeste was in the porch sprinkling Funny Feet powder into Craig’s boots.
Celeste: “Hey, Andreas said if you ignore something, it doesn’t go away and you have to do something about it! So if I didn’t put Funny Feet into your boots, they would still stink!”
Craig: “WHAT?! Oi, get away from my boots! My feet don’t stink!”
He shooed her like a cat.
Craig: “Wait, you went to Andreas?! Did ya tell ‘im ‘bout me and Fabien?”
Celeste: “Uh, yeah, he doesn’t care.”
She shrugged.
Craig: “Pfft yes he does!”
He scoffed and looked away to mask his hurt.
Celeste: “Ooooh, mushroom risotto!”
She dashed to the table.
~
After dinner, Lazaros cleaned up.
Makayla: “That was delicious, Lazaros! I enjoyed watching you work… and eating it.”
Lazaros smiled tightly.
Lazaros: “Would you terribly mind if I went up to your suite and spent some time with you?”
He asked her with a beseeching look in his eyes. He wanted to stay with her and didn’t want to go home to that redheaded witch. Makayla nodded.
Makayla: “I’d love that!”
~
Lazaros joins Makayla in her suite. He opens a bottle of Chardonnay, pours it into two wine glasses, and hands her one. He sits down with her.
Lazaros: “So you’re the guitarist and back-up vocalist of Nuklear Intoxikation…? I’m not familiar with metal… That’s my brother’s thing.”
He smiled and sipped his wine. Makayla stared down at her glass glumly.
Lazaros: “You seemed sad when I saw you… What’s wrong?”
He asked her.
Makayla: “I had a crush on a guy back in Selene Valley… I thought we were hitting it off but I had to come here to live.”
She admitted. Lazaros sighed dejectedly but he’s taken… by the worst person ever, he thought.
Makayla: “His name is Ashley… Ashley Sabatini. He is so cute like a cat and charming but his friend… is a pain in the ass. His name is Maxx Malone. He was a housemate of ours once. Maxx controls every aspect of Ashley’s life.”
Lazaros nodded.
Lazaros: “I know how he feels.”
He smiled sadly.
Makayla sipped her wine and locked her gaze on Lazaros.
Makayla: “When I saw you, your eyes reminded me of Ashley’s… they were sad.”
Lazaros’ eyebrows rose.
Lazaros: “How so?”
Makayla: “Ashley is sad because he feels he’s not good enough, he’s fat and ugly because his ‘friend’ Maxx tells him this to keep him isolated and keep him all for himself. Maxx tells him what to do and where to go and doesn’t take an interest in anything Ashley does.”
She explained. Lazaros felt that hit too close to home.
Lazaros: “Maxx sounds like… someone I know.”
He replied and drew a long breath.
Makayla: “Who?”
She asked.
Lazaros set his glass on the table.
Lazaros: “I understand Ashley and know what it’s like to have toxic people in your life.”
He said darkly. Makayla grimaced and raised an eyebrow at him.
Makayla: “Who is it?”
She echoed the question. Lazaros rose.
Lazaros: “Nice meeting you, Makayla. I look forward to cooking for you again.”
He laughed a hollow laugh and left the room. Makayla watched him go and she could tell someone was abusing him as Ashley was abused.
~
The beams on Lazaros’ car shone on his colonial manor. He parked his car in the driveway and climbed out. He entered the house and heaved a deep sigh, thinking about his evening and what happened.
Jaclyn: “Where the Hell were you, Lazaros?!”
Lazaros gasped and dropped his car keys. He clasped his hand to his chest.
Lazaros: “...I was at the Flores guest wing cooking for the guests…”
He said breathlessly, feeling his anxiety soar as Jaclyn’s cold steely eyes bore into him.
Jaclyn: “LIES! YOU WERE CHEATING ON ME!”
She screamed at him. Lazaros shook his head and shut his eyes tightly.
Jaclyn: “Why do you do this, Lazaros?! You’re supposed to focus on MY business and ME but you’re out doing nonsense, selling your silly honey, and working on your stupid garden! THEY MATTER MORE TO YOU THAN I DO!”
She bellowed and flapped her hands. As her anger rose, her face reddened until it matched her hair.
Lazaros: “Jaclyn…”
He closed his eyes and began.
Lazaros: “I have a life outside of you… other hobbies… other commitments…”
Jaclyn: “I SHOULD BE YOUR ONLY COMMITMENT!!”
She roared at him and threw her purse at him. Lazaros shielded his face. Lazaros bared his teeth and glared at her with hatred.
Lazaros: “Well, I am not YOUR only commitment! YOU… YOU’RE TRYING TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL AFFAIR WITH MY BROTHER AND HIS FRIEND!”
He fired back and cried.
Lazaros: “YOU PINE FOR MY BROTHER AND HIS BEST FRIEND!”
He cried. Jaclyn stepped back as if she had been struck. Her facial features twisted with anger as she clenched her fists.
Jaclyn: “YOU PIG! AT LEAST DEIMOS AND TRISTAN WOULD MAKE ME NUMBER ONE!”
She slashed at his face with her nails causing him to scream and she grabbed him, digging her nails into his back, and sank her teeth into his shoulder.
Lazaros: “AUUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!”
He cried in pain and Jaclyn kicked him away. She stormed out of the manor leaving Lazaros on the floor crying as blood dripped from his face.
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