~ Trillium ~

Lady Tremayne motioned for them to sit.  “Now children”, she said when each of them had perched themselves in a armchair, “I will inform you more about the kelpie.  A most magnificent beast.” Greed flickered across her face, but she quickly controlled her emotions and her face resumed it’s normal haughty expression.

Trillium broke in, ”I think Megumi ought to hear this too” she said, she was annoyed Lady Tremayne did not seem to care Megumi was lost and she worked to keep it out of her voice.  Lady Tremayne turned to Trillium, eyebrows raised in arches, her lips pinched.  “You do?” she said with displeasure.

”Antony” she snapped, “find the lost girl and bring her here,”  she turned her gaze back to Trillium, “and bring Trillium with you.”  Then, composing herself, she added “when you come back we will resume our talk about kelpies.”

Antony strode out of the room without waiting and Trillium quickly followed.  They passed through the door opened by the O.  When they reached the locked door Antony pulled a ring of keys from his pocket, fitted a key into the lock and turned.  There was no click.  Antony frowned , removed the key and opened the door.  He almost tripped over Megumi who was crumpled against the door. “Well” he sneered stepping over her, “look who’s here!”.

Trillium kneeled by Megumi and noticed a bent paper clip by Megumi’s hand.  Secretly she picked it up and tucked it into her shoe, Megumi could pick locks.  Antony, who was staring down the hallway with arms crossed, didn’t notice.

Trillium bent over Megumi, she was breathing and her pulse was good.  Megumi only seemed to be unconscious.  Trillium placed her hands on Megumi’s shoulders and gently shook her, “Megumi?” Megumi groaned.  Trillium shook her harder, “Megumi!”.  Her eyes snapped open, she shrank back and shot to a standing position, her eyes fearful.

”W-w-what do yo want?” Megumi quavered.  “I just want to help you” Trillium said, “when we realized you weren’t with us we became worried, so I came to find you.”

”I-I’m fine”, Megumi made as if to escape.  She stepped backwards, cried out and crumpled to the ground.  Unconscious again.

Trillium bent over Megumi again, frowning slightly.  She couldn’t leave Megumi here, but she didn’t know how she could move Megumi.  She thought for a moment, then — “Antony, help me get Megumi on my back.  Don’t jostle her.”  She disliked asking Antony for help but it was the only way.

Antony glared at her, evedently he disliked helping her as much as she disliked asking him for help. All the same he hoisted Megumi on to Trillium’s back.

Slowly Trillium made her way back to the circular room, bent double from Megumi’s weight.  Trillium didn’t notice that Antony wasn’t following her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - -

Does that work okay?  I can change it if it doesn’t.

Thanks for reading this Admins! 

Megumi~

Megumi snapped back to consciousness for the second time that day, this time to a sharp kick on her side courtesy of Antony.

"You can't kick her! She's clearly injured, and -" Trillium began.

Antony just shrugged. "Serves her right for messing up the plan."

Fia leapt up, her chair falling backwards. "Serves her right? Serves her right? You don't try to get hurt. Or are you so crazy that you do?"

Megumi didn't hear what Antony said in reply because her ears were still ringing from Fia's outburst. Dven when it wasn't directed at her, shouting made her uneasy. She was breathing too hard, too fast, and yet she couldn't get enough air. Everyone was watching her, everyone, and they were going to make her explain what had happened, and then they too would sneer... Megumi sat up and dragged herself int a corner. Her leg hurt tremendously when it rubbed against the floor, and Megumi bit her tongue hard to keep herself from crying out. She didn't intend to let them know she was hurt. As far as they were concerned, she was fine.

"Children, cease fighting this instant." Lady Tremayne sounded bored. "We've got a lot to discuss. Megumi, sit."

Megumi became suddenly aware that she was shaking slightly. She hoped nobody else noticed. Wishing, not for the first time, that her cloak was one of invisibility, she tried to use her left arm to push herself up. Doing so pushed her injured leg into the floor, and she gave a quite involuntary yelp.

"Can't you go any - I mean, do hurry up," Lady Tremayne urged.

To Megumi's horror, a few tears began to trickle down her face. Clenching her jaw, she tried to stand up again. This time, she succeeded, but upon trying to walk, she stumbled in pain. Why hadn't they left her in the hall?

At that moment Trillium, who had sat back down, stood gingerly, glanced at Lady Tremayne, and stepped over to help Megumi. Megumi hesitated. She hated being helped, and didn't want the others to think she was any weaker than they probably already did. No, she could make it herself. However, it turned out that she couldn't well stand up without falling. "Let me help you," Trillium whispered. It sounded sincere. After a few more seconds, Megumi gave a tiny nod.

She still flinched when Trillium's hand touched hers, but she managed to stand up. Instead of silently helping her to a chair, though, Trillium began to speak. "I think we ought to give her some first aid." When the others nodded in agreement, she continued: I saw you had a big garden outside, maybe there's something there that could help -"

"We'll deal with that later. Now, we discuss the kelpie." Tremayne's voice was so firm and cold that there was nothing they could do.

It was with the deepest possible chagrin that Megumi sat down in the first of the two empty chairs next to Trillium, head down and glasses filling with tears for the whole of the meeting.

~

Sorry that's so long and thanks for reading all of it, Admins! 

You are most welcome. Great story. -- Admin

Yes, good thing Megumi is small.  I feel like Evergreen should do the next part.  I'll wait a little to see if she posts before I do.

TOPTOPTOPTOPTOPTOPTOP!

I just realised, I misread the last line of Trillium's last part. It said Antony wasn't following her. It makes more sense now, but I wrote Megumi's section wrong. Antony could have entered a bit after Trillium or something, or I can re-write it. Sorry!