43 Meet the mastermind (1/2)
The sweet fragrance of various fruits and pastries blinded with hardy aromas numerous breakfast meats filling the vast, glistening dining room.Shelly's mouth had begun to water from halfway down the hall.But the most stunning sight by far was the couple waiting hand in by the end of the table.They both looked to be in their early 30's and held a striking resemblance to Rin.The tiny woman had rich espresso hair that trailed in gentle waves past her waist.She wore a dazzling emerald dress embroidered in a brilliant gold to match the elaborate golden jewelry.Her pale eyes shown brightly against her dark skin. The tall, lean man beside her had equally dark hair cut stylishly short.He wore a traditional suit in a deep navy and trimmed in a beautifully contrasting crimson. His eyes, though not as pale, glowed just as brightly and happily as the woman beside him.No doubt these were Rin's parents, but they didn't look nearly old enough to have a child his age.
Shelly glanced up at Rin. {Come to think about it, I don't know much about him...}She studied the lean curves of his jaws, his twinkling pale eyes, the slight upward curve of his full lips.Her eyes trailed down the column of neck to his gently muscled shoulders and down his long lean torso, where her eyes lingered. A girly giggle brought her attention back to the people in front of her.
The woman was covering her mouth with a dainty hand, doing little to hide a full-toothed smile reaching from ear to ear.Brilliantly twinkling eyes shown back at her.
The tiny lady giggled once more as Shelly glanced back and forth between the three faces staring back at her in anticipation. She glanced up at Rin in question, but before he could respond his mom rushed forward and took Shelly's hands.
”As my dear Rin was saying, I'm his mother and this is my husband. Oh, Shelly, it's so nice to meet you. We've heard so much about you, already.” She sent Rin a mischievous grin, ”My Rin, here, has been quite taken with you for some time now.”
”Mom!” Rin's face was a bright red. He rubbed his neck as he glanced down into Shelly's surprised eyes. ”I told mom about you when she was picking out something for you to wear.” He looked away as he felt his cheeks heat more.
His mother giggled again, pretending innocence, ”I didn't pick it out… Rin did…” She held Shelly at arm's length studying her. ”And what a great job he did. The color really suits you, dear.” She tilted her head to one side, studying Shelly more intensely. ”You look way too beautiful, dear, to stay inside.” She furrowed her brow and turned her attention to her son. ”I insist you take her into town and show her the sights.”
Rin shot his mom an irritated glare, ”Mooommm!” He gritted his teeth {Why can she not mind her own business… just this once!}
His mom released Shelly from one of her tiny hands and placed it on her chin in an exaggerated thoughtful expression. ”Hum… Quite right son, town isn't suited to such a beautiful princess.” Her eyes lit again, ”We could throw a ball?!”
Rin threw his hand in the air in irritation, ”MOM NO! She's tired. She's been through a lot…”
Shelly could feel Rin's building irritation and pulled her other hand away from his mom. She took Rin's large hand in both of hers. She glanced up in time to see shocked eyes look from their joined hands then met her eyes with an odd look she had never seen on his face before. She nodded her head to him before looking back at his mom and replying. ”Rin's right, I'm really tired today.” She turned her attention back to him, ”He has offered to show me around inside, though.” She sent him a kind smile.
He sighed in relief, ”That's right, I was going to show her the main halls and maybe the gardens…” Before he could finish his mom interrupted again.
”Oww, you should tell her about our history AND how the bonds work!” His mom was nearly clapping with excitement.
”Bonds?” Shelly tilted her head in question as she gazed up at Rin.
”Oh yes! The bonds between a Gen and his master, it's simply magical!” His mom all but sang as she danced around them, his father merely nodded his head in agreement. She got behind them and began pushing them toward the large buffet. ”Here dears, Hurry! Hurry! Eat up and go explore until your hearts are content!Once she had guided them in front of two chairs side by side, she quickly made her way around to the opposite side mumbling happily as she went.
Rin looked sighed as he glanced down at Shelly. ”She a little excitable.They don't get many guests here, these days.”
”These days?” Shelly asked but before Rin could answer, his mother had already taken a seat directly across from them and answered.
”Oh yes, the palace used to be teaming with people constantly. Visitors from all over…” She signed, ”but after the passing of our late master and the horrible war that took your dear sweet parents, I'm afraid many are afraid to venture outside of their own territories anymore.” She sent Shelly a sad smile before adding, ”You are lucky to have been raised in neutral territories… but unfortunately many are fearful that the US will not be neural for long since the DeMarco brothers moved there.Rumors have it that the youngest is hell-bent on finishing what his father started and getting revenge for his death…” She sighed too caught up in her own gossip to realize the amount of terror the near mention of that name cause Shelly.
Rin cupped her cheek and turned her to face him, ”Mother stop! Shell, are you ok?”
Shelly was trembling uncontrollably; panic seized her vocal cords.She could only stare up at him in wide-eyed horror.