I will not fall prey to your deceptions -- Summer 1999

I was going to be meeting Ayden by our little lake.  I was wearing just a cami with some cut-off shorts -- naturally my suit was beneath it.  It was not super warm out yet since it was just hte beginning of summer... but it didn't meant that I would not get hot and want to jump right in.  I knew Ayden had said he was going to be visiting Stephanie sometime today, too... so I figured he wasn't back yet.  I went into Grandpa John's old house and figured I'd try to maek us a quick lunch to surprise him.  I heard a creak in the hallway and called out, "I didn't think you were back yet... I'm just making some lunch."  I figured I had been quiet so I didn' want him to be freaked out.

"Oh, do make mine with some sort of meat on it," I said, laughing as I walked in the only entrance into the kitchen.  I stayed in the doorway and loved the fact that she dropped what she was holding and had spun around to look at me.  Oh... she looked so lovely and dainty... I could easily hurt her.  She wasn't nearly as powerful as she thought she was.

When I heard his voice I dropped the knife -- which would have made an excellent weapon -- and spun around.  I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.  I took a deep breath and crossed my arms.  "What do you want?" I spat.  He was going ot get full forced Lucy attitude.  And I just hoped that I would be able to get to my wand before he could get to me.  I had left it on the counter and it was between both of us.  This was not an ideal situation to be in at all.

I chuckled and moved a little closer, enjoying the fact that I saw her squirm a little bit. "And what makes you take that tone with me, deary?" I questioned.  That was no way to treat a guest.  "I have a lovely proposition for you, deary, so you might want to learn some manners."

I raised my eyebrows.  A proposition?  Did he think I was mad?  "You don't deserve any manners, Greyback," I said, letting my voice get icy.  I did not like him moving closer; he had an odor about him... and I did not want to even fathom what that could be.  I saw that on the bottoms of his boots it looked dark dirt... but I had a feeling that it wasn't just dirt.

I couldn't help but laugh.  This girl was so ignorant and naïve.  Of course I deserved manners... I could kill her in a matter of seconds and she wanted to cop an attitude with me?  Staying between her and the door, I moved closer to her.  "I would love to have a nice little chat with you is all, deary.  So please... sit down," I told her.  It wasn't a suggestion... I would make her do it if I had to.

I raised my eyebrows again.  "And if I don't?" I countered.  He was not going to be telling me what I was going to be doing.  There was no way I would let my defenses get down by sitting.  I needed to stay standing... that'd be my only hope of even getting a chance to out run him if necessary.

I grinned evilly at her.  "Well, things could turn ugly quite quickly for you, deary," I told her, pointing to the chair.  "So sit."  Oh this child was goign to sit for me.  End of discussion.  I crossed my arms and waited.  We were having a beautiful stare off.  What was she going to do.

I crossed my arms and stood my ground.  What was he going to do.  I knew I was tempting fate, but I also knew this house better than he.  I knew my way out even if it was pitch black outside.  I stared at him.  "If you want to get to your proposition, that would be nice," I told him, yawning as if bored.  I knew I was definitely pushing my luck.  "You better get on with it.  Or you can leave.  One or the other.  Persionaly, I would prefer it if you left."  If what he wanted was for people to stand up to him like Ayden claimed, then I felt like I would be relatively safe.

Oh this child was good.  I sighed and shrugged.  "Well... I suppose if you don't listen to me, then Ayden wnill just have to pay the price," I said, turning to leave.  I knew that would definitely get her to at least ask me to wait.  That would be good enough.

That angered me.  "Why do you have to do that?" I asked.  I would not sit, though.  "Say what you came to say, Greyback.  I swear, if you so much as threaten Ayden's life again... you will not see the day to see that threat through."  I would protect my fiance with my life.

Ooh, do I love it when they get irritated and feisty!  I turned around and smiled.  "Oh, now you want to listen to me, deary?" I questioned.  I loved playing these games with the little kiddies.  It made my life so much more entertaining.

I didn't understand why he wanted to do all of this.  "Oh, come on..." I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.  "Look... you either talk to me... or you will leave.  I'm tired of playing your games.  And if you won't leave, then I will."  I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to... did I want to risk Apparating with him so close?  He could easily grab me and I could splinch either one of us... it wouldn't be all bad if it were him, but I wasnt' going to risk it in case it ended up in my injury and not his.

I moved a little bit closer to her yet.  "All I would like to do is speak to my son, deary," I told her in a whisper.  "Without, of course, him attacking me like a maniac.  I provoked nothing as of last time and yet he came after his innocent father."  I waved my hands as if to prove my point.  "My proposition to you is that I will not go through with my plans that I have in store for your dear parents if you get Ayden to talk to me.  You get to be the hero to this story, deary."  I eyed her curiously.  Of course I would have more plans for Ayden after a mere conversation, but there is no reason to get into all of that right this second.

I felt my blood run cold when he threatened my parents.  Hadn't he done enough to my family?  How on earth could he make me choose?  They were all my family - Ayden was me fiance after all.  I tried to act as if none of that made any difference.  "And why would I believe you?  A conversation with you will just lead to more fighting.  So I would lose either way..." I told him, just pointing out the obvious.  If he thought I was going to fall for something like this, he had another thing coming.  I would not let him get close to my family.  And yes, that included Ayden now.