HATCHING PLANS.

The heavy rain continues to fall in the dark night, the lightening flashing across the sky.

Theodore footstep padded down the hallway softly drowned out by crackling thunder. His short chubby hands rubbed at his sleepy eyes as he walked drowsily with purpose to a room.

On getting there the room was filled with potted plants and flowers. He groggily counted them off yawning and realized with a stop, one was short off.

Theodore gently close the door behind him and continue down the dark hallways on search of the last plant. The path already memorized by heart.

A lone window at the end of the hallways cast looming streaks of moonlight. The curtain whipping wildly around it from the storm.

Suddenly an expanse of shadow invaded the light and loomed on the floor. Theodore pause short. He raised his gaze from his feet trailing the soft rugged floor.

He slowly blinked, his blurry sleep eyed vision clearing to reveal a dark looming figure at the high window. The figure reached out large hands to bring the window panes together and close it with a bolt. The last gust of wind blew back the hood from it cape to reveal long silvery white hair. The locks whipped back by the wind, the lightning illuminating each shine like silver sparkles in the night.

The figure sensing Theodore presence didn't turn to the little boy but instead calmly reached out a large hand and shifted the small potted plant from the edge of the sill threthening to fall over to a safe corner.

Instead of fear to grip the young boy at the stranger intrusion still veiled in the night, his small petal lips parted to whisper with all the curiousity of a child to the world.

"Who are you?.." the heavy curiosity with the lightest tone caused the man to finally glance at the boy.

A streak of lightening shone then illuminating for the first time the stranger's eyes. A surreal mix of otherworldly colours, flecks of something breathtaking with a devastating beauty and danger like the ocean and aurora display of lights from one of the most fantastical region.

The man steeled his gaze from the widening of the child's eyes, prepared for the scream of horror from his unusualness. Instead a voice reached him. Soft, bright and a spark of admiration coating his tone as he gasp in blissful shock.

"An Angel..." in all his years of living, only twice have he ever been recognized as something less than an abomination, an unworthy sight. This child before him is truely remarkable. Perharps his master made a good choice.

With the veil of the night, he slipped back into the shadows once more and disappeared to the whispered calling of the young curious one with the purest heart.

•••

The glowing ember of what remains of the wood in the fireplace cast a low glow in the dark room.

The double doors to the drawing room pushed open and Frederick strolled in.

He came to stop behind Lord Silas who sat on a large imposing chair, his large hand clenched around a glass of alchol. He raised it to his lips but paused at Frederick shifting on his feet. With a sigh he dropped the glass back down.

"Found anything?"

Frederick gaze slipped from Silas to the extinguished flames and back to him.

"Nothing amiss my lord". Frederick replied.

Silas rounded the glass on the armrest his gaze boring into the light honey colored liquid.

The silence was straining before Silas spoke up again.

"Contact nightwing" he tapped the glass "you know what to do. Arrange for the others too."

Before Frederick could open the door Silas spoke again. " if anything goes wrong.." Silas let the threat hang in the air and Frederick gave an affirmative nod before closing the door behind him.

At Frederick departure, the room was once again plunged in silence. Silas let his gaze linger to the fire place before closing his eyes, draining the liquid in a single gulp then breathed a deep sigh his fingers tapping rhythmically on the hand rest.

Something wasn't right. He could feel it through the pores of his skin.

•••

In a large office space. Three Men were sitted around the large table at the middle of the room.

"… it will bring profit if we bid our time in the right season".

Three wrap knock before the door opened. The men turned their attention to the door just as lady Valerie strolled in.

Valerie strolled into the room in haste. With a subtle bow, she whip her head to her husband direction .

"I request your presence Magnus" the room turn silent as they patiently waited for Duke Magnus reply. With a small gesture he chuckle "ah my dear, i'll be with you in a short while. As you know i have important-"

"I require your presence with immediate haste" her words were swift. The other two men in the room subtly glance at each other before turning to the Duke.

Magnus cleared his throat, heat burning his neck and creeping to taint his defined cheekbones "Gentlemen. I believe we can conclude this meeting in a more…. Convenient time" he apologized with a strained charming smile.

With a nod of acknowledgment they pack up their stuff and was seen out by the butler.

Magnus silently rolled up the map on the table to put aside with the other stacks of documents.

"Valerie".

He began calmly.

"You know fully well that meeting was of upmost import-"

"Do you imply that meeting held more importance than-"

"Don't put words in my mouth valerie" he turned to her, his chest rising.

With a deep unwinding breath, valerie slipped into character like a true actress. Her expression softened and her delicate stroke of brows pull together like she was in deep thoughts.

Seeing her change in mood, it tugged at his heart strings and he calmed down to really face her.

"My precious one.. I'm sorry for my outburst. You know no one or thing in this continent is more important than you?"

He gently cup her face. Her gaze remained down cast. "speak to me. What troubles you?"

Valerie petal lips parted and after a moment she spoke "I'm troubled. Sis.." she trailed off like she couldn't bear to continue.

"Sister is definitely acting strange" Valerie gaze up at Magnus, concern all over her features. "Her actions back at the court was so brazzen. She trampled on your name in front of so many nobilities. It trouble me they would see you as less".

Rage burned through magnus body as he remembered the utter shame he was put through in court.

His teeth clenched tight and gritted together " lucinda…" he growled through gritted teeth.

Valerie reached out and held his clenched fist. She look at him from under her lashes.

"You know.. i know just the thing to put her back in her place ".