'FREAKY FRIDAY'

Desmond:

“DESMOND!” LC busted through the doors in panic, sweating profusely, tripping over the Peruvian rug, cursing under her breath as Izzy looked at me in surprise.

“LC, what are you doing here? What’s wrong?” Quickly grabbing her trembling body as she collapsed into my arms, gripping to me like it was a life line.

“It’s Bailey. Something’s wrong, seriously wrong. I should still be under the ‘transformation spell’ but when I woke up I was back to normal. She called about a month ago, saying Peyton was lurking around the club. She managed to place a ‘tracking spell’ on him to keep tabs on his whereabouts, but when she noticed he was heading back to the States we swapped our identities so she could catch him. We knew he a vendetta against me, and with Derek losing his position at the firehouse, she knew he would come after me.” Flabbergasted at her rambling as Izzy helped her into the chair.

“LC, what do you mean you ‘swapped’ identities? How long have you been in her body?” Talk about some ‘FREAKY FRIDAY’ shit.

“A couple of days. Matter of fact, we swapped the night before Elicia’s transformation. Derek took the kids up to the ranch because that’s where we always wanted to retire, so she knew it would be prime for him to take advantage of ‘me’ being alone at the orphanage.” Running my hands through my hair, exhaling slowly to calm my racing emotions.

“Why did she want to catch him alone?” Izzy kneeled holding her trembling hands as the tears slowly trickled from her glazed yellow hued eyes.

“He’s her mate, but she was going to reject him. She wanted to do this alone, and it seemed like the right thing to do but when I woke up I found this on my phone.” She reached into her back pocket, pulling out her phone as she showed us a news clip of a house fire, pressing the screen to play the video.

“Breaking News from Missouri City. A massive fire has engulfed this Orphanage behind me, and the fire department is working to extinguish it. As of now, one confirmed death of a male found inside the side door of the kitchen, identity unknown at this moment, but we are unaware of any other bodies, or survivors at this moment in time. Sources say, the Orphanage is owned by the former Fire Chief Derek Clay and his wife, Lady Clay, who resided at the house with their six adopted children ranging in ages from six to sixteen, their two oldest daughters residing overseas but all forms of contact have failed at this moment in time. Follow for updates on our website and later broadcastings.” The video timed out after the reporter finished his report as LC trembled violently, dropping into Izzy’s arms sobbing heavily.

“Did you call Derek?” Izzy asked softly, brushing her hair back from her tear drenched cheeks as she nodded against her shoulder.

“It went straight to voicemail. What if the body was him? T-that means my children are all alone at the ranch, unprotected. OH GOD! What if they were attacked too?” Izzy managed to catch her as she collapsed to the floor in full-on hysteria, grabbing my phone…ring…ring…

“You know what fucking time it is Desmond?” Damian’s groggy voice yawned loudly in my ear, sliding into the on-suite bathroom as Izzy consoled LC who was beyond devastated.

“Damian, wake your fucking ass up and listen. Someone set ablaze to the Guiding Light. LC is here in hysterics, she tried calling Derek at the ranch. A body was found in the fire, but that’s all they found at the moment because the fire is so intense.” Pulling the phone away from my ear as his growling roar echoed through the speaker, bouncing off the polished granite and tile as his shuffled curses and banging doors signaled he was running through the house.

“Morgan, sweetheart! You need to wake up now. Someone set fire to the Guiding Light. LC is with Desmond at the castle, but Derek isn’t answering his phone… He’s at the ranch... Desmond, the kids?” Damian jumped back on the phone as Morgan shouted incoherently through the background, slamming a door as her voice faded away quickly.

“Derek and the kids should be at the ranch. Maybe he turned off his phone, but Damian it gets crazier.” Peeking out as Izzy walked LC out of the office with the help of a few guards.

“Bailey and LC pulled a ‘Freaky Friday’ because apparently Peyton is Bailey’s mate, and she was going to reject him. She knew he would go after her mom, so they switched bodies to bait him.” The growling shout was all the confirmation I needed.

“ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS! WHY WOULD THEY BE SO FUCKING CARELESS. JESUS..FUCKING..CHRIST!” The crashing thud of furniture followed by a demonic roar filled the office, switching over to speaker as Damian continued his tirade.

“Okay, we’re on this. Morgan just sent some of her scouts with a few of my warriors to both locations. I’ll call you back as soon as we confirm the information. Where’s Elicia and boys?” Damian slammed a glass bottle against something solid as his panting rushed through the speaker in raspy static.

“Her and the boys are here. We had our own excitement, but I’ll fill you in later. We need to find out who that body was and confirm the safety of Derek and the kids. Bailey is MIA.” The next round of growling and crashing thuds sounded out through the speaker, gripping to the desk as the realization set in of having to explain the situation to Elicia that her childhood home was gone, and her sister missing.

Exhaling heavily, hanging my head in defeat as the swirling rage roared through my body, tossing the high-back across the room as it shattered violently against the granite floor. Wood chunks shattering out in all directions as the black leather ripped like tissue paper under the force of the collision against the solid granite.
Flipping over the solid oak desk as paperwork, phones, and anything else flung out in a canvas of chaos, shattering to pieces as the floating pieces of paper fanned out across the destruction.

“Sir?” Anthony appeared with three guards as they froze in place examining the office in total chaos, looking at me with my hands running through my disheveled locks, hissing out as my fangs punctured my lip in a snarling growl.

“Send a few Elites to the Guiding Light Orphanage to assist Damian’s warriors. What ever they need do it. Do I make myself clear?” Growling out under my hands running along my face, exhaling, dropping my head back.

“YES, SIR!” They sounded off in unison, rushing away in rapid ‘poofs’.

“D-Desmond?” Snapping my head up as Elicia stood dumbfounded in the doorway, her beautiful hazel-blues scanning over the destruction that laid shattered across the polished granite flooring as she slowly stepped in, shifting aside chunks of wood and twisted leather with her bare foot.

“No. No. I’ll come to you. I don’t want you getting hurt.” Clenching my jaw tight, cursing the heavens for every piece of shit that walked this earth as she nodded softly with that soft reassuring smile that melted my once beating heart into a puddle of mush.

“What can I do for you sweet girl?” Motioning for her to step out as we walked quietly down the main hall towards the solarium, looking over as her beautiful eyes roamed the hand-carved stone work that lined the walls and ceiling depicting various scenes throughout history.

“To pick that mind of yours.” She laughed brightly, pointing to my shocked expression as we stepped into the massive solarium with hanging plants, stained glass dome highlighted beautifully by the soft amber glow of the Gothic revival lanterns that hung majestically from the decorated steel support beams.

Motioning for her to sit on the matching Victorian sofa benches upholstered in soft mint and gold silk, smiling at the bright smile that blinded me as she curled into the end with her legs tucked under her.

“What would like to ask?” Motioning to Tessa as she appeared with a tray of tea, nodding to her with a smile, setting it down on the rod-iron and oak table as she waved to Elicia with a soft smile.

“Tessa. Elicia. Tessa is one of Izzy’s Royal Guards, and close friend. Thank you Tessa.” Nodding to her as she bowed in respect ‘poofing’ away quickly.

“Hah. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that ‘poofing’ thing. The guys do it all the time in the house, scaring the ever-loving shit out of me.” Laughing lively with her pouted expression as she sipped her tea gently with a soft wink.

“Yeah, they’re quite skilled in it. They were always scaring Izzy, tickling her then disappearing before she could smack the shit out of them.” Chuckling at the memories of her ‘poofing’ through the castle looking for them then finding me to exert her frustrations in the wildest ways.

Grinning at the laughter that rolled from Elicia’s chest as she held onto her sides, wiping away happy tears.

There’s that beautiful smile.