The dark elf had noticed that without his aide or aide of his brethren, the trail seemed still to confound their steady stride. Random noticed this too, wishing her father's sure and steady gate had her struggling to keep up. Had that been it? Had the trail not really moved? Had it only seemed so, because she was keeping pace with her father? Suddenly as if someone stood behind a door pushing as they pulled the trail seemed to bring them all at once to their destination only to catch at first a glimpse of Kessi standing tauntingly in a mist holding a starpass, the finally she was standing at the entrance of her own palace.. She alone stood there with no sentient, no guest, no father; nobody but she with her beauty and guile wrapped up into a coy little smirk of a smile. When Random stood from her clumsy fall at her sister's feet, she shook her head at this close view of the palace decor and thought what the ?? Was Mom smoking weed when she was pregnant with Kessi? This girl's totally retro or on an acid trip. Kessi laughed then and cupped her sister's chin.. I just happen to love color chica. Random shook her head as her sister's voice sounded just like her hooker friend from her stint in jail. Then as she ignored her sister's dumbstruck gaze she looked deeply at the dark elf. You may go, your service here is finished. He knodded and bowed out in a very humbled manner...again causing Random more surprise. Random gathered her whits and looked at Kessi, and as she did she remembered she was carrying the other package her mother had sent. She looked down at it..and then to her sister's face.. and knew that this was meant for her sister. This is for you my sister, it is from our mother. Kessi quietly took the package but carried non chalantly as the two entered the palace. Random noticed her disregard for it as she simply tossed it on a nearby table. I'll open it later.. we've issues to deal with. Random noticed a more focussed less callus tone in her sister's voice and became extremely interested in the where abouts of their father. Kessi where is our father? Your father you mean? No.. I mean our father. My father is there.. and your father is indesposed at the moment. Wait..what do you mean your father is over??? My father is... Random looked to see a rather tall human male with dark hair and very blue eyes similar to eyes she'd known. She had seen these eyes now three times since she'd been brought here to the blue side of the moon. Kessi didn't have these eyes..she had her mother's beautiful eyes. She has eyes like mine..Random thought.. beautiful blue green. Kessi.. your father is a beautiful tall elven male with silken silver hair... your father is Stryxn... "Ahem" If you do not mind young female abomination! No Elf could father this Queen of a woman!" Came the voice of the guest. Random looked to the direction of the strange male again and notice he was pouring himself what now surely must have been one of several shots of whiskey. He smirked and spoke again.. his words not quite but almost slurring.. "Kessi M'dear come and sit beside your dear old dad. Random watched as Kessi dropped her stern demeanor and went to this man like a little lost child and sat beside him like an obedient pet poodle. She almost lost it when she saw the man actually pet her head. Oh no you don't! That lady is my sister..she is not your daughter! Kessi laughed.. almost in a cackle.." Now, aren't you the protective one! What I knew of a father abandoned me along with my mother to go off and create another abomination ..which is you!" Look at you! You can't even be a whole of anything..you're half this half that.. and those god forsaken ears! I mean for crying out loud how the hell tall are you anyway? I bet you wasted that height and never took up basketball or modeling.. nahh you had to be all naturalist and mistical and greenpeace on our asses. Random just took all the verbal abuse with a grain of salt..as she was starting to understand where the bitterness was coming from. She'd witnessed quite enough of this on Jerry Springer..that repugnant show she sometimes was sickeningly compelled to abuse her intelligence with late at night when sleep wouldn't come. Why the world she even allowed to have a TV in her house she never knew..or forgave herself for. Perhaps she thought, it was vanity. She had to see herself on the news. Kessi..how can you be the Oakensoul and believe what you're saying..? "Oaken soul?" That is such a bunch of horse shit.. let me tell you what the elders would have you believing about the oaken soul.. that we're some sort of demi gods without emotion..that we have a certain purpose.. and what is that?? Did you figure it out yet?? To open that freaking gate! We open that gate and we sit here and get to build a world for ourselves..while in and out leak more and more of you half and halfs.. so that what.. there is no more magic?? Is it all washed away after a bit?? Think about it sis! I got smart and said that only halflings could come and go.. I figured.. hey..but I was only a child then. I was hoping you'd come earlier..so I could keep you here and rob them of the child they truly wanted. Selfish reasons for such an innocent don't you think? So now the silver haired one comes in all lovey dovey thinking I'd just fall into his arms. What next?? Mom sends gifts? Such shit don't you thinK? Random's mouth hung open as she looked to the gift her mother sent. Kessi I'm not even sure if that is for you. perhaps it's for him.. for if he's truly your father, she must have once been his wife. The man just perked up a bit from his now drunken stupor. Kessi looked at the package.. and to the aging but handsome drunk. Well, even if it were for him.. I suppose that I'd have to open it.. I mean he's in no damn condition. Bring the stupid thing to me I'll open it for him. Random crossed the room to the table then back to her sister.. and handed her the package.. Kessi scolded.. Don't look at me while I open it. I hate that! Random grinned and turned her back..OK.. OK I'll not look! Kessi slowly untied the red ribbon and had a warm feeling as she remembered just slightly something red she loved very much. she let the ribbon fall like water down the length of her gown to her feet.. she watched it in slow motion as another memory came to her in flash of a little girl having her hair plaited by someone with caring hands now tying in a red ribbon to secure it. She now turned back one corner of the paper and it revealed something else that was red and shiney. Then she knew it was not for her father, or anyone's father.. but for her alone. She held up a tiny red raincoat and as she lifted it to examine she heard the rattling of celeophane in the pocket.. she reached in and pulled out a package of Captain's Wafers as more memories came rushing at her. Kessi let out a horrific scream that she couldn't control and Random jumped to turn around.. and saw a huge cockroach crawling out of Kessi's little raincoat pocket. Kessi was still screaming hysterically while Random was looking for something..anything to squish it with.. and the man just sat there laughing. Not even trying to help Kessi.. he just pointed and laughed at her holding his stomach. Random found a book nearby and as she was about to slam it down on the insect.. she heard a tiny voice..Nooooooo! It's meeeeeee! Stridexxx! Random stopped cold! She bent and scooped him up discretely feeling a little icky.. but whispered to him as she turned around.. What are you doing here.. ? he spoke ..never mind let me go.. quick I'll go and release your father. He can help! She did as instructed.. Oh Oops.. where is he she faked.. Oh I think I got him.. oooh I think I stepped on him.. Kessi would still not let up screaming as Random frantically tried to think of something to help her. To be continued... by: Robin Minick