“Impregnate Aria”

Ted’s eyes bulge and he lets out a long croak.

“What is it, Theodore?” He rereads the card before responding.

~THE GUESTS set sail with fantasies~

~They did not share with each other~

~He is dreaming of a unicorn~

~She longs to become a mother~

~ ~ ~Impregnate Aria Tonight~ ~ ~

Theodore, jamming the card into his jacket, **** a smile.“Nothing—just some updates on my responsibilities for tonight’s festivities. Speaking of which, is there anything you need for the gala?”

Richard and Aria tried to think of anything, but came up empty.

“Very well, I must make some preparations, but I will return shortly.”

He left before the churning in his gut could get the best of him. He asked around until another personal attendant told him where to find his new boss.

She was in a small office, plush with expensive fabrics and furniture. He sensed something familiar about the desk, wall-to-wall rugs, lamps and paintings. They had all come from their family’s estate. There had to be hundreds of thousands worth in that single room.

“Maxine, I can’t do this!” he declared in anguish, even though he knew she fed off of it.

She stood from the desk with a cold, gleeful grin. Her black hair had always been long, but was now quite short and swept back. He didn’t understand her outfit at all. Steampunk goggles around her neck, thigh length oriental robe of blue silk showing off her impossibly long bare legs. Her height was exaggerated by the high-heeled boots, apparently made of skin-tight latex that came up to her knees. The underside of the boots had thick, spongy treads.

“Oh but you can, Theo! You just need to remember your motivation.”

She stepped back to a velvet curtain, then pulled it aside to reveal a seven foot tall art nouveau wardrobe.

Ted gasped. “You brought it here?” His eyes were shimmering at the sight of it. It was one of his family’s most valuable furniture pieces, a breathtaking example of the short-lived style.

Ted saw his reflection in the mirrored front, framed in dynamic whorls of delicately carved wood.

He reached out to touch it, grasping the curved brass lever and finding it locked.

“Yes. Every one of mother’s lavish dresses is inside. You need to complete you mission, or it all becomes jetsam.”

“No! You can’t!”

“Ha! Don’t pretend I can be reasoned with... But I will make it easier on you.” She opens a drawer from her desk and takes out a vial, setting it on the blotter. It is filled with something iridescent. “Put this in her food. A small amount is already in all the food, but this will make her a little more... accepting of your help.”

Hours later Theodore fingered the vial in his pocket anxiously as he watched the chef expertly plate the gala dishes.