Sprackle, Burn and Fizz

Sprackle, fizz and burning the wires was the order of the day, a momentum gathered around the latest town scandal, everyone was convinced by now that Braith was a low life party boy and Jazz the vacant actress duped by his wealth and position. Where Braith was no one knew and I was not about to ask Jazz for information, after her bitter declaration in the study she had fled back to her room leaving me and Jojo staring blankly at each other. I could see him gathering what little brain matter he had together in order to form a strategy but I stopped him cold by telling him not to worry as we girls knew how to attend with Mr. Dubois. Jojo folded his arms as if he had just been told a bunch of kittens were guarding the nation from terrorists and gave me a skeptical look which suggested that in the recesses of his mind I was already a Dubois myself. If he wanted a Dubois I would give him one and bestowed upon him my best Liselle Dubois impersonation with a glacial smile that would have made the arctic shiver and repeated not to worry his pretty little head. Jojo scowled but I did not consider that I had to justify any part of my life to him and left him to attempt some lame idea of revenge but that was not my problem, as long as he kept out of my way then I was satisfied.

I left Jazz to her sobs, went home and burned a few wires myself realising that if we were going to do anything now was the time to implement a plan, any plan and get Gervais while he was basking in the glory of his own legend. I called everyone to a meeting this morning knowing that Gervais would expect the girls to gather forces around a devastated Jazz, I think however he would have been surprised at the steely eyed creature who arrived on my doorstep, as the time for tears was long past. We waited for the others to arrive, sitting in the drawing room with the curtains closed for I wished to be out of the prying eyes of everyone. Maritka baked cakes for some obscure Slavic reason and left her scowls behind as she showed each girl into the room. By mid morning a subdued but determined gathering sat sipping coffee and making small talk. No one could quite look Jazz in the face as the vision of a naked, incoherent Braith filled all our minds, even if you had not wanted to see the clip it was like a train wreck, impossible to ignore. I knew everyone there had been burned by Gervais, Zizi, Coco, Tiah, Jazz, me and we each sat burning in our own personal fury. Then the door rang and someone who had not been invited showed up, none other than my delightful cousin Elyce.

Elyce glided in-- floating on her Dubois heritage as my family was wont to do and smiled disarmingly at the gathered group. I tried to cover up by asking if she wished to join our book club but Elyce was not stupid and refused to be deflected. She remarked that the absence of books might be a bit of a give away and suggested we consider leaving the lying up to her. I gave her the coldest look I could muster and asked her what brought her to my door and she laughed that tinkling laugh so reminiscent of Liselle. She said in a voice barely containing her amusement that where else would she be after such a revelation? This was the logical place to be, which had Zizi interrupt "You mean lead Gervais straight to us. Elyce was not disturbed by the accusation and maintained her sunny demeanor as she turned to Zizi, "My dear it does not take Gervais to work out where you would all go and if you wish to implement any type of reprisal you will require an inside man.”

What Elyce did not realise was that I planned to be the inside man for I was going to offer myself up on a plate to Gervais and be right inside the compound. I told Elyce thanks but no thanks, we could manage without her gracious help. As usual she was several steps ahead of us and had guessed our plans. She replied that if we thought having me surrender to Gervais was going to fool anyone we were mistaken, he will expect us to do exactly this in order to exact some sort of vengeance. She sat down and crossed her satin legs, her relaxed manner revealing how arrogant a Dubois can be even when not attempting to be arrogant, power always corrupts. I decided to rise to her bait and asked if our plan was so shoddy then what did she have in mind? Elyce smiled coldly and I saw echoes of Gervais deep in her soul, none of us were far removed from each other as I could see that same coldness echo in me when I thought of him.

Elyce leaned back and it was obvious she was enjoying this moment, including the alarm she could read on Coco and Tiah’s faces, as they were our weak links, whose emotional history was in their every visual expression. Elyce leaned forward slightly and said, “That is exactly what we will do, play along to his tune, for nothing makes Gervais happier than to be right and that is how we shall get him.” I did not know if she had any further plans than this but so far it was sounding very similar to the plan we had been discussing. Zizi voiced our plan, “Lucinda is going to suggest she moves into the compound on a trial basis, Gervais has a big party to celebrate and then with everyone in the house we make our move." Coco wrinkled her nose while asking the million dollar question, “Just what is our plan?” Before Elyce or Zizi or I could respond Jazz finally spoke, her voice a shaft of ice colder than either Elyce or I had ever managed, “We kill him of course.” I waited for the righteous outcry of decent law abiding citizens, the horror of young girls contemplating this heinous act but nothing was forthcoming. The room became silent and as I looked about no one could meet my eyes and so here we were, a few months out of school and planning the demise of the richest, most vicious being in our town, the death of Gervais Dubois. Nothing like going out with a bang.

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