The airport was buzzing around even though everyone present at the arrival of the artifacts did everything slowly to not have them broken or damaged. The instructions were the same as always, they all knew the sanctions could go far above simple payment, with those being expensive, no one wanted to risk their work for ancient history.
Instead of the defiant weather announced by the forecast they were all pleasantly surprised to see how sunny it was. It seemed even the universe was welcoming them with how pleasant the day was. For the staff of the IMC, the International Museum Center, it was good news all the heavy measures taken to protect the historical discoveries were eagerly forgotten, too costly.
The short notice of Mrs Blake to the research center, had caused a raucous in the headquarters which ended with them bestowing the charge the IMC museum. Of all they were the ones able to handle it properly until the place provided for it was available.
Two months! It was unbelievable for all of them, but none had uterred a word all sensible both to Mrs Blake situation AND the variables mood of the Queen of Poris the woman was known to be as sharp as a two edges sword in businesses and politics. With her the limits were invisible, it was in their advantage to be the designated receptors all others considerations put aside.
They all knew the mission was tricky, to keep those artifacts meant more security, more of all the IMC already had, with the help of the federal government, thanks to Eva Malone and Jackson Barret, the state ambassador in Poris, all of it was possible.
So everyone was happy. For two months they were to handle things until the opening of Gator Center, the name of the soon to be Museum, that was to say how much of those artifacts were found, almost the equivalent of an entire village of different sorts of every day life items. The wonder with it was how expensive and extremely well kept all of those were.
The government knew it was an extremely good choice for the Poris kingdom to trust their country with them, even though they all knew backstage that it was not a stand alone gesture. Most of the time something was going on underneath the surface.
Until the grand opening that would give place to a ceremony that was not to be miss by any one invited, nothing could be confirm, but technically a powerful as they all knew the mind of the one of Queen Alister Zurow was. Or better known in the field as professor Fendrik, her maiden name, the one she had signed all her success with overseas. A genius she was and like one she will always think. Patience was the keys word
No sounds could be heard from the West part of the airport always so busy in others circumstances. The special delivery and its special guests had blocked the entire section of the international airport. Planes were kept on the ground, reserved tickets moved to the next day.
After they were all out of the plane, the Poris delegation and its security's staff were spread all over the tarmac, mingling with those already there. The event was so impressive one would think it was the president of the State that paid them a visit. Everything was so synchronized it looked like an ants procession.
Her body on autopilot, Lorelei kept her face blank waiting for it all to finish. Taking the hang of it, Alicia found herself making all the talks and smiles. At some point she had to take a hold of her friend hand to keep her near her it was so not her, but she could guess what had caused it.
"Will you smile please? For me? You will make them all run away."
As soon as the man that represented the IMC, it's general manager he had said, excused himself to take a phone call, the young Zurow mumbled in Lorelei ear.
Feeling irritated by everything, Lorelei snorted as a response making her friend smile extended, it was not what she had expected but a for a beginning no complain.
"Even for me?? Ouch! It hurt! I will commit a suicide if I have to smile to another one of those prick! When I think all the girls home said there is only gentlemen in the new world. Did you see how this one looked at me! Like I'm a..."
The ranting prank was soon cut by a very grim stare that wandered around them before jerking on her all the way followed by stern but viciously cold bewildered questions.
"What?? who!?"
The automatism of her body language warmed Alicia heart while a shy smile that betrayed her intention appeared on her lips. At least none of her internal turmoil had made her forget her lover child wellbeing. It had been something that tormented the young woman, she had wondered if maybe Lorelei would lost interest on her, now that her mother could have let her down.
Happy it was not the case she frankly smirked meetting the gray eyes as realisation filled them. Unable to hold it any longer, she started laughing at the way she rolled her eyes after understanding the prank. Not caring that people was subtly watching them Alicia wriggled her eyes at her friend still smiling in her eyes then pouted at her.
"Don't get mad at me... I want you to be focus though... Someone could do it, maybe it was not him but have you seen how they all look at us? I means..."
Patting her hand that still held hers, Lorelei finally plastered a small smile on her thin but well shaped lips. Alicia eyes focused on them a moment proud of her accomplishment, they were very beautiful, she had long understood why she was so dear in her mother heart, she had a heartwarming being both within and outside no wonder Alfred could not compete.
In fact from the beginning, she was never his league, there arere just special people like that who carried highness within them without being a part of this world monarchies. One gaze and she ruled the place as she will. That was visible at how everyone had been deferent to them particularly to her, like she was the Queen herself.
Alicia may have been the one with the name but it was clear the mandate was on Lorelei whose physical presence and absence of words had them all walking on their toes, it was comical to witness.
Alicia just wished she could take that moment of glory and make it a reason to be happy, so many people would have sell their soul to have it, only a bit of it but that was not Lorelei. She did not bend over the palace of Poris and it's richest, she would not do that in front of the president of this state himself if he was there or all others kind of wealth exposure.
Oblivious to her friend internal turmoil, Lorelei winked at her squeezing the hand that was hooked on her arm.
"You win, it's okay I will pay attention. From now on!" Smiling tenderly at how happy it made her, Lorelei just blinked her eyes at her in acknowledgement like Katiandra would always do whenever she could not hold her in a tight hug or kiss her.
Those small gestures had been passed to Lorelei in a speed she could not comprehended, in her heart Alicia had a special place as the one a child more than a sister or a friend could occupied. Well aware of that even though it was never said or because of their age difference that was barely two years but felt like thirty, Alicia nodded basking in all that tenderness that reminded her so much of her mother.
"Thanks" Doing her best to not jump around like an overjoyed child Alicia nodded then looked behind them after hearing voices coming their way.
"Shhhh, his coming back."
The rather short man walked back to them his feet doing theirs best to walk as fast as they allowed him to do. Almost popping out of the blue suit her wore, his rounded belly moved his clothes making him look like a puppet hung on strings completely out of control moving all over the place. A common utterance of humankind she called difference.
Moving all the concept of who he appeared to be away, not thinking ahead of it in any way, taking him in for the first time. She knew he was like that for a reason. In that in mind, Lorelei resettled her focus on his face, hers being a cold board.
"I'm sorry I had to answer that, if you may followed me to the warehouse were all the artifacts have been placed to sign theirs release everything is okay with your people down there. Mrs Blake told me she wanted you to..."
Talking while moving like he was in some sort of rush doing his best to never meet their gaze, the man had his hands up when his eyes caught up with cold grey one's almost freezing him on the spot. Hiding her amusement Alicia wait for what was to come.
"We already told you that! Did we not? Miss Fendrik here certainly did! Where is Mrs Blake!?"
The sudden cold and really bored on the edges voice than ran in his ears made his heart leaped doing some sort of somersaults that had him almost tripping on his own feet. The coldness of the voice was in total contradiction with the body carrying it, it was like a voice coming from the depth of a well. Scary.
He was not the only one who reacted in that panicked mode. It was like a general awkwardness that covered the whole delegation of the International Museum Center that accompanied him. Even though they were all wondering when she would talk, it took them all by surprise. There were real fearful wandering gaze all over the place, none wanting her to acknowledge them.
'Yup! Be careful what you wish for!' Alicia thought boasting internally, her gaze also on the general manager of the museum whose name she could not remember.
" YYes ma'am, I, Mrs Blake could not make it today you will be working with her to have everything ready..." His pitiful stammering was not half the message that reached Lorelei brain.
"Ohh, she will certainly be taking care of her children. Right?" The question that could have been innocent was asked in a less threatening way, but he was still doing all he could to look elsewhere.
"Nah, hmm, no ma'am. Blake assured us she would do her best to be there. Sure you will be in charge of all the exposition she will be there to show you around."
Almost sorry for their overconfident manager been chewed like never before, his people could not find his predicament hilarious knowing the lady could have the same effect on any of them.
"Hmmm... I thought she would take some vacation for her children." Pushing to make sure she was not wrong in what her brain was hinting at, Lorelei said slowly, like someone taking information on Blake wellbeing.
" No ma'am, I can confirm you it is not the case."
Stepping in the very corner of the big elevator in which they all entered to descend one level down where the cases of artifacts was charged in the cars provided, the man answered doing his best to not meet the grey intimidating gaze.
Quivers ran down his spine making his thoughts bring his mind on an image of the Qeen herself.
Glancing her way on the mirrors in front of them, horror seized his soul. He understood what Blake insinuated when saying to not misjudged miss kamali. It was like it was Fendrik in that you young lady standing in front of him, so cold it was a wonder she was able to smile as humans did.