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Belle sat on the edge of her bed, taking one last look around before she packed up and headed for her brother’s house. Villa Broussard. To her knowledge Patrice had purchased it in thought of Cyn Aster. It was where she rested after all. Still Belle couldn't help but feel jealousy creep in, when she thought about not having the opportunity to be closer to Pat in the past. How nice would it have been to have something dedicated to her? It was ok she supposed, being self sufficient was working out well for her. It was making her stronger and wiser as things were turning out.

“Stupid villa,” she mumbled under her breath as she tried hard to battle the good and evil thoughts in her head. It got harder with every decision it seemed.

Pulling a few garments from her closet, she tidied up and moved to lock up her house. The only person able to enter as invited was Adley, any others would be caught on her all new security cam and subject to a good *** whoopin when she got home. Belle turned down the lights, cut off the TV and slipped out into the hallway. She guessed a few days away from home would do her good. Her routine was starting to make her go crazy, maybe a few days with the bro would be beneficial. In all actuality she didn't have much of a choice. Patrice had bought her during the auction. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting,but the buyer didn't seem to matter much when she kept hearing dollar bills adding up.

Belle loaded her things into the jeep rental, the one she was using until her car came out of the auction show. It was nice really, she thought about just buying it for the winter. The sports car wouldn't stand a chance out there with the way the snow and ice held the city captive for months. She shrugged her shoulders in thought as she got in and took off. The villa wasn't too far from West towers and when she arrived she was thankful to find some good on street parking. Turning the engine off she sat and stared at the front of the villa. It was gorgeous, but it lacked character. Belle laughed deep in her chest as she thought about adding something special to it. Maybe it would make her feel better about the whole not getting anything memorable from her brother.

She mocked her twins name in her mind, as she got out went around back to the trunk and calmly pulled out two bags that clanked together. Rummaging through them, she snickered like a deviant and pulled out two cans of spray paint. One a brilliant color of blue and the other a basic black. It was like she didn't even need to think twice from that point forward, her body seemed to be taking over before her mind had time to catch up. Belle looked up and down the street as she approached the house. No witnesses. Perfect. Even if there were she still wouldn’t feel compelled to correct her actions, it would have just met more people to laugh when her brother got home to his surprise.

Giving the two cans a good shake, she started on the left side and wrote in large sloppy letters ‘ABELLE WAS HERE’ Classic name tagging, except for she didn't put the date. She highlighted the pink with the black and then stood back to marvel in her work. Nice graffiti, she nodded and gave herself a pat on the back. Pat had wanted to win her so she assumed she should start there time off on the right foot. That thought alone, made her burst into hearty laughter. No matter. She still went up to the door and pounded her little fists of fury against it, like she was the feds with important matters.

Had it been a good idea to buy his sister at the auction? Patrice sat on his couch in front of the fireplace. The Harper Rock News on his lap, but even though he was turning a page from time to time, he wasn’t really reading it. He was looking back on all the quarrels he had with his sister in the past, from childhood on. Buying her was asking for trouble. Yet on the other hand his sister seemed to have matured into a more grown up person before her disappearance. He had been running the gun shop with her, and she seemed to to a great job as a business owner, something he never had thought of her. Well she always had been, stubborn, headstrong. If she set her mind on the right course, instead of focussing on being a pest, she could achieve great things with her determination.

She had been married, and part of Tytonidae, that secretive organisation focussed on keeping the masquerade. Both things sounded like responsible adult things. Being married demanded a lot of dedication, being part of an organisation as elite as Tytonidae even more. Was she still married to Chaindog? Still a part of Tytonidae? He hadn’t heard about either. How would he deal with his wife missing, how would they deal with one of their most ferocious hitter gone? He’d ask her all of that. So many things to discuss. He was sure they’d make full use of their time together. Maybe they should tighten their bonds as siblings too, have some fun activities. Shooting was great, she loved guns. And even though he preferred blades, he had quite a fondness for firearms too. He really loved all kinds of weapons.

And when all that was done, they could use the remaining time to discuss business decisions, maybe opening another shop together, or a franchise of the Emporium in another city. Why only have the Broussard name represented in Harper Rock? How about expanding? Toronto, Montreal, New York? She seemed to be more business savvy than him, had quite a knack for it. Maybe this time it could be him to learn from his little sister. He chuckled softly at the thought. It was nice to imagine though that she had matured, became more sensible and reliable. The Broussard family in Harper Rock - the true Broussard of course - it was mainly her and him right now. Gotta stick together and have each others back. He hoped she’d finally learn and understand this one day.

Some frantic banging on the door interrupted his reflections. This really sounded like her. Only Abelle would bang on his door like this. Seemed she still saw herself as the most important person in the world. Some things would never change. But she was a grown woman now, no longer the little troublemaker. Pat got up from his couch, and headed towards the door. He wanted to open it himself, well not that Pancho was around to do so anyway. He wondered where the human was this time.

Even though he was at home, Patrice was dressed almost formally, wearing black designer pants, a white shirt and a black pinstripe vest. Only the fact that he was wearing a couple of his magic amulets dangling around his neck instead of a tie made his attire look somewhat casual.

The banging got even louder the closer he got to the door. That girl never seemed to tire. “Good evening Abelle”, he addressed her, not surprised at all that it was really her who was waiting outside. There was something odd though. The smell of fresh paint in the air, a spray can on the ground…

“Two minutes too long with that not answering business...” Belle snickered under her breath, as she shrugged with a smile. “so i thought I’d let you know I was here...another way?,” she gave him a mock questioning glance, happy to see any aggravation on his face.

Belle was not much of an artist, but she had to admit that her work on the side of his house was pretty epic. Nice big lettering, bright colors....it made her step back away from the door as he answered, just to admire it a little more. She had a million tricks up her sleeves for if and when she got bored or just simply wanted to be….evil. Most of her nights were spent by herself, and being a daywalker didn’t make any difference. A loner had to keep one’s self occupied. This wouldn’t be her first rodeo with tagging and destroying property. She made her evenings while hunting eventful to say the least.

“I promise not to be too much of a *****,” she smiled widely up at him as she came through the front door. “I will admit however that I have been a bit extra cranky from what I’m told…”she smiled and took a look around. It was Cyn who got to see such a beautiful home. A beautiful home with their name on it. Probably Isi did too...who knew. She hadn't seen it though, and she was the one that owned a shop with him. Belle rolled her eyes to herself and shook her head. Feeling sorry or left out, was a feeling she had long since overcome.

“I been trying so hard to work on my mood swing and this temper issue as well,” she stopped and turned to look at him now. “I mean it's not like I am seeing a head doctor or anything,” she explained as she sighed, thinking about all the horrible things many of her employees had said behind her back. They thought she didn't hear...but she heard. “Hmm,” her light bulb went on randomly as she got another business thought. Invest in medical offices...preferably mental illness. She was smiling way too hard, for her brother not to at least question her sanity.

“So yes….trying to work on those issues,” she laughed and sighed heavily. “Fails by the way...all fails,” her laugh faded and a more serious look formed on her sweet face. “And so...like I said...I promise to TRY not to be much of a *****,” she winked and preened, feeling more confident than a second grader who won a spelling bee.

“Figure we can go over some figures as well while I’m here,” she indeed planned a few things for them. He may have bought her, but she wasn't going to use her time uselessly regardless. Every minute of everyday counted. “Talk about expanding or something….” she snorted and looked around again. Stunning really. “See if I can work on getting myself a place like this, bigger perhaps,” she got lost in thought for a moment, as her dream home came into vision. Ultimate goals for now, but not far out of reach if she played all her cards right and ran things smoothly. Hopefully the new year would be bringing new opportunities for growth and advancement.

“Aren't you happy to have me?” she stopped and gave him a little dirty look. “Damn Patrice, you are a horrible host so far,” she shook her head and dropped her bags, wanting to get a better look at palace Broussard.

Did she really? He noticed that his sister was looking at the wall of his house. And she was looking as if there was something that fascinated her, made her proud even. Ignoring what she had just said to him, he stepped out to see for himself. And yes she had really done it. Sprayed her name upon the wall ‘Abelle was here”. In huge lettering, covering the whole wall. The question no longer was if his sister was nuts. The question rather was how nuts she was.

The last longer conversation he had with her was about her hunting for Tytonidae. And she seemed rather sane, mature in her reflections about the morality of it. At least to him. But this? This was the work of an ill-behaved school kid, not of a responsible adult. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He looked at her, shaking his head. This would cost him thousands to get it painted over. Unless he had Pancho do it. But he doubted that Pancho had the skills to make the wall look as immaculate as before Abelle’s arrival.

“Extra cranky? Yes I bet”, he sighed, so shocked by what he had just seen that he only listened to her with half his attention. “Sure you don’t want to consider professional medical help?” Preferably the stationary kind. What was he getting himself into with this sister? She was a lot of trouble. And it seemed it had gotten even worse then ever before.

Business, she started to talk business now. Maybe that was something that could keep her sane. Or at least a semblance of sanity. “Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea”, he nodded reassuringly. “There are plenty of business decisions to discuss. Why don’t you come inside and we can do so.”

Did he just invite her in? He almost regretted it already as she started to complain. But he just sighed and lead her into the main hall. “This is the Villa Broussard. And I’d really advise you to keep everything here the way it is. Leave the spray cans outside.” The thought of her messing with the precious interior of the mansion, with the marble floors, the antique furniture or the tastefully picked works of art made his heart sink. He gave his sister a stern look to make sure he would not tolerate any further vandalism of his property.

Belle smiled up at Patrice, as he seemed truly impressed with her work. She couldn’t remember when she seen him so pissed, this was great. Sibling love for sure. Slipping past him into the house, she tried not to laugh. Perhaps she was being childish, but she didn't care. If there was any time to act immature, it was here in the presence of her sibling. She’d give him hell and he would retaliate she was sure. Three days full of bliss...probably not.

“I promise not to break anything, or dirty anything up,” she rolled her eyes and shook her head. Was he really about to be a stick in the ***? He was a killer just like her. How in the world did he become so docile compared to her? Maybe she had been born with a beast inside her, maybe she was more different than she even thought. She really wanted to believe what she said about not breaking anything but sometime….sometime **** just happened. She laughed again under her breath and eyed all the expensive pieces of work and art.

“I’m gonna need some proper office space too for the duration,” she looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. “Might be here for play time, but if we want things to be run right...we can take a few hours and discuss the more serious matters of life,” her voice was cold and rather bothered. The money was great and granted it was her brother, she had to take some mercy on him, for even wanting to bid on her. If she were him, she wouldn't have. Her attitude was bad, her mouth foul, she had moments of blood raging that kept her up at night sometime. She lived her days out like a normal human would. 9-5, shielding herself from the sun, having to come up with lies as to why she wasn't able to go outside. What was it? That disease where one could not be exposed. Photosensitivity.

“Little tips about me,” she stopped and looked back at him, while tapping her chin thoughtfully. “I wake up at 6am sharp. I am at the main office by no later than 8am,” she sighed and found a couch to plop on, bouncing on it slightly like a child. “I condition the rest of the businesses, calling, conferences, maintenance...all that. That takes me until about noon. I then cover up and head out to hunt before everyone wakes up,” she smiled and waggled her finger. “Catch the good things at that hour,” she was yammering away just like she used to when younger. “ Pretty boring I guess,” she rolled those beautiful blues. “I don't expect you to follow my hours, though you do have daywalker and I assume you exercise it?” lowering her eyes, she looked as though she might scold him otherwise.

“This couch,” she stopped and bounced her bottom again against it. “Probably like thousands of dollars,” she smiled and wiggled more, bouncing higher, until she nearly popped off the pillows. There weren’t many things that made her laugh like a maniac, but this was one. “It has some nice springing action...I could pop right off like a trampoline” she wasn't even trying to be vindictive at the moment, her child like mind was just taking over. Such a big pretty house, lots of cool things to “touch”. If Pat wasn't so strong, she swore she would tie him up in the basement and take over the house.

“I’ll take one of these for my housewarming gift...ya know when i get a mansion like yours of course,” she was teasing him now and stuck out her tongue.

“Office space yes, I am sure I can arrange for that”, Patrice nodded. The villa was spacious enough and a lot of it wasn’t even used by anyone at the moment. His sister had a very interesting personality indeed. At one moment childish and immature, then cold an businesslike the next. He wondered which of these conditions was close to her real self. He raised his eyebrow as she began describing her schedule, as if she was about to dictate it to him.

“Yes I do have daywalker.” He replied. “And it is nice that you’ve told me your usual schedule. But do not expect to be the one to decide when I rise. I’d say it would be the other way around.” He reminded her. What did she think she was doing here, with her head all full of demands.

And then he just stopped and stared at her. From one moment to the other she all of the sudden began to laugh like some crazy child and to bounce up and down on his couch – a designer piece imported from France – as if it was some trampoline. “Abelle!” he admonished her in a strict tone, hardly able to suppress his anger. She really had a way to drive him nuts. First the spray painting on his mansion’s façade. And now her careless bouncing on the valuable couch.

Slowly he stepped closer to her, looking at her seriously as he placed his strong hands on her shoulders. “You better behave, or you are going to end up getting into some real trouble with me, little sister.” He told her. It seemed that rather sooner than later he’d end up having to discipline his crazy sister. Otherwise she’d end up devastating his property like some whirlwind of destruction. Why didn’t he take all this potential trouble into account when bidding on her at that fateful auction?

Belle stopped bouncing immediately. She could see the aggravation in his eyes and just from prior experience with his temper, she knew when to leave well enough alone. The little sister from hell, she was. And she played the part damn good. A little smile spread over her lips, and she nodded her head in his direction. “Yes dont want to get punished,” she laughed and pushed her way away from the couch,despite his domineering touch. Looking back she seen her little butt imprinted on the fabric. “It’ll work its way out,” she assured him and slowly began to walk away.

They both were determined “souls”. Just to different extremes. Belle looked back at him, with the same look he gave her when he rebuttled her on scheduling. Her mind was already twisting and turning with ways she could make him wake up at the time she was used to. Maybe tonight she would let him sleep...maybe not. He would never see it coming. Slowly folding her arms over her chest, she really felt like scolded child. It brought her back, way back to when she really loathed him. At least now they adults and knew how to put differences aside for the sake of business...something they did very well together.

“Same old, same old,” she shrugged and nosily peeked around his house. “You’re the older sibling...you’ll spank me,” she let her words trail off as her obvious disinterest of the subject was apparent. If they had been just a little closer in age, it would have maybe ended up differently; or maybe if he was a bit more “bad” they could bond.

“What do you do all day?” she asked him in french. She spoke it with no one really, maybe some clients throughout the week, but most just spoke english. The fact her accent was slowly slipping upset her, she rather liked her language and having bi lingual skills, was an obvious plus in business. It worked in her benefit. It was nice to speak it with Patrice however, it just made things feel like home, she guessed.

“Do you sit around in your mansion all day and play family man?” she was half teasing but also wanting to know what exactly it was that he did. His name wasn't familiar in the city really, neither was his wife’s. Did they just sit around all day and stare at walls?

“When do I meet your wife by the way?” she winked at him.

Seeing her bottom imprinted on the sofa, he raised his eyebrow, but said nothing. She was right, it would work its way out or if not, Pancho would be able to fix it. “Spank you?” He looked at her, and laughed. “You wish!” He wondered if this auction deal also included punishing her if she misbehaved. It seemed it did though. Which could make matters interesting. She’d better not overdo it with her childish behaviour.

Abelle seemed to have realized that too though, as she changed the subject, and to his surprise switched into the French tongue of her father, the language they grew up with. He had no one to speak French to anymore, apart from her. When he replied he noticed he already had a hint of a foreign accent to it, somewhere between New England and Canadian. English had become more easy for him to speak lately than his native tongue. “I think you know what I do”, he replied. “Its still the same as it was when we last talked about it. You were chasing down masquerade violators back then – to you still do this? And I, I still clean out the vermin, killing those creatures that endanger our existence – paladins, blood thieves, fadebeasts, and those strange critters in the caverns.” The prey had become somewhat more challenging than last time the talked, but the task was just the same. It was nothing spectacular, but the hunt still gave him some excitement and a sense of purpose.

“And in between I craft. I’ve got my workbench here in the villa, but I could craft just everywhere, I carry the tools with me most of the time. Guns, traps, even jewellery. I can show you my collection if you like, and demonstrate how it is done. It isn’t too hard, just requires some patience and the right material.” He suddenly stop, realizing he was starting to talk on and on about his crafting hobby, something that might actually start to bore his sister. And a bored Abelle was an Abelle that started to cause trouble.

She’d soon be busy though, for from behind her, Pat saw Pancho approaching, the man carrying a bucket of paint in his hand, and wearing his overalls. Pancho was about to fix the damage Abelle had caused to the villa’s wall with her spray paint. But Pat had a better idea then having Pancho do this. “But now there is something else to do”. He looked his sister over, then added ”I suggest you now change into something you don’t mind getting dirty with paint. There’s work to do outside! Pancho can get you some suitable clothes if you didn’t bring anything with you.”

Turning away, he remembered her asking about his wife. "Yes, I'll introduce her to you soon. You two really haven't met so far?"