Cafe Combat

I went to lunch because I knew I would, despite the scowls, threats and challenges Gervais had thrown at me for I knew I would be going if only to keep him off balance and out of my home. The destructive electricity that had sprung up between us alarmed me and it was out of a sense of self preservation that I decided to take the war to a public forum, at least there I had some semblance of protection. Not that there was anyone who could protect me from my own family if they really wished to harm me and I was well aware of this, it was giving me the borrowed time I dearly needed if I was to implement any sort of plan.

I had no illusions as to the intent of Gervais, he would insist that I get rid of Simon or threaten his removal, only this time he would do something to get my attention for I knew he had reached his tolerance of my thwarting his plans. I needed to keep him off balance for I required more time to consider my options once established in the compound, as I knew my communications with the girls were going to be limited and since I was putting myself in harms way I had to ensure I had some sort of escape route.

I searched every part of my mind for ways to keep Gervais askew and knew that I needed one person to watch my back, for just as committed as everyone was to his destruction they were also just as daft about discretion. Tiah could not even sit in the same room without denouncing him loudly, Coco glared daggers and Jazz seethed with an anger that tainted the air around her. Our collective hatred of him was not exactly subtle and even the most obtuse of people would glean there was something going on between Mr. Dubois and the angry young girls of Bishop Vale.

I decided that there was only one person I could count on, someone who had the presence to get others together and who could influence their responses so after Gervais left I called up Zizi and together we sorted out an almost plan. I realised that I was going to have to take whatever openings I could and there would be a time I am totally on my own. As useful as Elyce would have been as an inside man, her past reputation still had me uneasy and the last thing I needed was a Dubois reverting to form when my safety was at stake. So I was left with Zizi, the person who suggested I keep Gervais too preoccupied to damage us while we plan his demise.

When I told her of the planned luncheon at Djini’s she suggested that they all join the table to keep him from being able to implement any of his threats but I told her Gervais was a creature of cracks and darkness, he would strike when no one was about and use as many proxies as he could before revealing himself in any way. The real danger would be when I was at the compound for once there, no one would be able to stop him and that is when I would require the intervention of Elyce, someone I could not trust my well being to in entirety. I suggested that she bring the others there but not tell them of our meeting, this way Gervais will believe I am keeping secrets from my friends and this illusion is one I would not mind him having. If he feels he is isolating me from my support he will grow bolder in his demands and perhaps I can deceive him into thinking that I am at the compound against my will, when it is the very place I require to be in order to implement whatever idea we come up with to remove him from this world.

Zizi did not let me down and when I entered the café I saw them out the corner of my eye, their whispers of confusion and outrage filled the space between us as I walked over to sit with Gervais. I kept my back to them for it’s far easier to lie if you are not meeting the accusing glances of others and the smirk of triumph lurking on his lips was all the confirmation I required. His cool green eyes almost glowed with satisfaction at my discomfort and I gave him a performance that fed his monstrous ego and kept him from seeing the edges to my lies, for Gervais was perceptive the way a cat can sense change in the air, he could scent the taint of lies before you finish speaking them.

He started with the removal of Simon and although I heartily agreed that I could no longer dally with Simon on a sexual or emotional level I played the distressed female at his demands. Every second I stared at the table, hiding behind my hair I could feel my heart pounding, my face flushed, surely Gervais could see through me, surely he could tell a charade, I had never been able to fool him before. But he was distracted, Zizi made sure of this, she stirred the others up into exclamations of dislike, their outrage, their hissing and glaring played right into his haughty ego. His voice, silky with triumph eased straight into me visiting the compound to learn of my family history and enjoy quality time with the obscene creatures that shared my heritage. I knew if I gave a definitive answer he would challenge any response, soon would turn into now, maybe would turn into now, and never would turn into now. So I resorted to mumbling a request for time to consider his offer but Gervais was Gervais and he put his hand on my knee to ensure there was no escape.

His touch sent a jolt vibrating beyond the physical space between us and I wondered if it reverberated into the universe causing cataclysmic events elsewhere. This time I could not meet his eyes for a different reason for I did not want him to see how his touch affected me. If I could have summoned up a sneer of loathing I would have but the turmoil of his skin against mine was too much to bear, leaving me hiding from the evil of his perceptive eyes. When he demanded my attention I looked up to find him embraced by the same compelling force, his eyes glued to mine as we were locked in an eternal coil of hate and desire and it was not without relief when it was broken by the invasion of voices clamoring for my presence. I happily fled from him knowing it was but a respite and sooner rather than later I would be facing my cousin in an encounter from which the result could only be deadly.

Previous Next