One lady gnome spoke up..you know, m'lady, you bare an uncanny resemblance to your sister. Your eyes..and that red hair. Only..she's stiffer, and she's a bit older..and...well, she used to be so nice..and we all loved her, but now..she's cold hard..and pardon me for saying this.. but a real bitch. Randi listened, but didnt' say much..only that she wished she'd had the opportunity to meet her sister. Oh you'll probably meet her. When you do m'lady it won't be pleasant..I assure you. Word has it she ordered your star pass surgically removed?? How archaic and cruel a thing to do! And to place it in the brow of a fairy who isn't even a halfling is outrageous. We all wonder of her motives. Why when Brent was around..she just ... Suddenly her conversation grew mute, but her mouth kept going... Random looked around the table perplexed. Why can't I hear her? What about Brent? Brent and Kessie? I never knew Kessie knew Brent. Suddenly a woman appeared at the head of the table.. Never mind about what I knew of Brent.. Everyone knew Brent my little sister. You know what a Player he was. Random's eyes grew wide..she wanted to run and hug her sister, but the malevolent woman at the head of the table could be no one's sister. Randi dear, so sorry about the star pass deary, but you see, I can't have you sneaking back to Outworld..now can I darling? Kessie glared at the little female gnome still silently blathering on and on.. Look you little twirp! Close your pie hole or I'll make certain you have no words from now on! Oh and for the bitch remark little heathen.. your petunias will wilt. Not a harsh gesture, but I know how you regard your petunia patch deary. You know, Pride goeth before the fall..careful wee one..that you don't fall. She then turned her gaze to Scuttle Thorn.. and fashioned a smile..and to you my lover.. don't bury any old bones in what you think may be a fresh green lawn.. she's a skank..after all..she's had your nephew. Randi dear.. she turned to her sister who was now glaring back at her.. .. "It's been a slice.. we'll have to get together again real soon..you know.. do lunch! Don't call Me.. I'll call you! Toodles! And with that she vanished. Randi looked around the table..and swallowed hard. I'm sorry, but that just can't be a sister of mine. What discord drove her to that..that Witch!? Randi, we think jealousy is the monster that's possessed your sister , offered Stridex, and we also think she was deeply in love with Brent. Yes, said the little female gnome..as I was about to say..before I was so rudely silenced.. When Brent was around she was sweet, and beautiful.. Everyone around just adored her. She was so giving and so loving to everyone. Randi turned to Eric.. He just sat and listened..taking notes now and again.. and she wondered what her lawyer thought of all this. She then looked to Scuttle.. and blushed. The only male I have ever had was Brent.. if that makes me a skank..as she said, then I guess that's what I Am..but let me assure you sir, I loved your nephew very much. Why did my sister refer to you as lover? Well, m'lady, because once I had gone to her in hopes of a passionate tryst when she was in a very vulnerable position. She had been informed or found out somehow..that Brent was in love with you. I succeeded in gaining her favors, you see, I had been in love with your sister for as long as I can remember. Wait! Brent in love with me??? Brent in love with anyone for that matter??? Yes, m'lady, Brent was in love with you, but it frightened him. He was afraid that loving you would assure his losing you. So he fought it through his cavalier attitudes and that's how he gained his "Player reputation". You thought that he'd been involved intimately with several women..when in fact, he'd only been involved intimately with you. He dated several others, but he never had sexual affairs with any of them.. You consumed him..and he was frightened out of his wits. Was he ever just once intimate with Kessie? Well, M'lady, Kessie tried once to fool him into believing she was you..and almost succeeded, but he felt a cutting edge about her. Almost a stoic presence that he didn't recognize. He knew it was Kessie and pushed her away How do you know all this Scuttle? I mean.. how could you know so many intimate things about your nephew? Oh, Random...he had to confide in someone.. why not his uncle dear? I mean.. I loved that boy with all my heart. He was my sister's son. You'll meet her tomorrow. She's been anxious to meet you for so long. You'll love Starla, and I'm sure she'll adore you too. And..umm about me burying bones.. I don't know where your sister gets her mouth, lately, but you are no skank..and I have no bones to bury..well.. I do, but I prefer ....well, never mind. Random smiled... oh.. I see.. *she patted him on his shoulder.. and whispered..well, maybe she'll mellow out with time. She did call you lover.. that was the nicest thing she said all night..and I noted her tone of jealousy.. that has to mean she regards you as special. He smiled..well, if she does.. she better change her ways.. I don't do witches. Random thought about how wonderful it was to know finally, that Brent did love her..and how unjust that all this had to be stolen from her. Someone murdered him and robbed her of a future with the only male she'd ever loved. He loved me after all...and what good does it for me to know that now? He's dead.. I'm alive with these memories he's given Me.. and all they do is torture me with a lonely desire for his nearness, his voice, his touch, his scent... she curled up in her bed now..and pulled a pillow, folding herself around It.. folding herself around a memory of Brent. It had been a torturous summoning as she swelled to her thoughts of his touch, then tossed in her bed..unable to sleep..she was restless and aroused... she spoke to him in her mind.. begging him to visit her in spirit form.. and penetrate her being. She wanted to share her living essence with him.. and she touched herself.. in places she wanted to feel his lips. Tears rolled down her cheeks in futility.. until suddenly her lips were parted in a forceful, but familiar kiss. Arms held her..and hands touched her..and her pulse raced..her sleepy eyes showed her that this was not Brent who had come to her..instead it was Scuttle..the passion had already taken her..she had no battle to refute him..she allowed him entry into her vulnerabilities..and played with him..meeting him stroke for stroke. They were two needing beings feeding one another's desires..filling wounds of broken hearts in a war..that could never be won.