Welcome to the Masquerade

"Paper Crown" By Alec Benjamin

AN: YIKES! It's been over a month since I posted. I am so sorry, but real life and the muse for my original are not giving me any time to play in this particular sandbox. I will try Very hard not to let it go so long between chapters. I want the thank the lovely @topy0848 again for being the beta and @BijinMum for allowing me to borrow one of her characters. He will make more of an appearance later.

Standard disclaimer! I only own Lory. Everything else is the property of C.L.Stone. Constructive criticism is welcome and even requested, but flames will be used to make s'mores. I love votes and views. Please let me know your favorite lines and moments. Happy Reading.

*~*Marc*~*

Raven was muttering under his breath. "Crazy American woman drivers" was the most common phrase I understood. The rest I'm pretty sure were just curse words in Russian.

"C'mon Ray, It's not that bad. I would have thought you'd be impressed. She was driving like you." I couldn't resist the little dig. He took it in stride.

"Has Corey heard from dark girl again?" Raven wondered as we got out of the SUV. I still sometimes had to suppress the urge to kiss the ground whenever I rode with him.

"Darkholme wasn't it? And no I don't think so." I shrugged. He'd hear from her soon. Or he wouldn't.

"Hm. Remind him to take fruit cup. He will forget."

"I think he might spontaneously combust if you tell him that." I chucked to myself thinking of how Red Corey's face had turned the other morning. I loved when my brothers responded in predictable ways. It made messing with them so much easier. We had only made it a few steps beyond the hospital doors when I heard a familiar voice. Ray and I watched a very agitated Henry Anderson stalking around and gesturing as he spoke on the phone.

Loudly.

"No. He barely got half a sentence out before she bolted. She just checked out and ran."

"..."

"No," came his strangled response. "I'm not sure where she ran off to but she jumped in the Wildcat, and judging by what I saw from the window, nearly killed someone on the way out of the parking lot. I'm grounding her for life. I'm taking the keys to the car--"

"..."

"No I don't think I'm overreacting. She could be anywhere, Lily! From what we've learned she could just vanish without a trace!"

"..."

"No. Has anyone tried to contact her boys?"

"..."

"I'll get Marcus to call his boys. He said they were having a family meeting this morning."

We really couldn't help overhearing. If the girl that nearly sideswiped us on the way out was who he was talking about...I don't really know what to think. A daughter? I didn't think the Anderson's had kids. But that reaction is exactly what a good parent would have to a child running off.

When we got to Doc Roberts office, we heard Uncle Taylor on the phone. Apparently, it was our day to eavesdrop on conversations.

"North, You need to bring her home."

"..."

"She ran from me."He was telling North. "I told her I knew she was getting to know you and Luke and was trying to ask if she could give me that chance and She ran. I don't know why, she didn't even let me finish."

"..."

"Why would I send her away?" he sounded honestly baffled. "I have the chance to know my daughter who was hidden from me her whole life!"