House on the River

The alarm clock on Kira’s nightstand read seven am. Six months had gone by since she had made her heart-wrenching decision at the diner. As the early morning sun made its way through her window, delicately awaking the gelfling, she looked over contently at the man sleeping peacefully next to her. Wrapping her arm gently across his torso, Na Na’s eyes opened, flashing her a drowsy smile in the process.

“Good morning, sleepy.” She nuzzled in closer, kissing his forehead.

“What time is it?” He asked casually.

“Early enough to sleep a few more hours. That is, if you have nothing planned for today.”

Na Na pondered this for a couple of moments. Over the past few months, the two of them had discovered it had been easier than anticipated to keep their relationship hidden from the world. After all, no one had any reason to suspect they ever spoke more than two words to each other, let alone shared the same bed more often than not. Even if by some chance the other residents were openly confronted by this fact, most wouldn’t even believe it to be true.

Still, they had to take precautions. Na Na in particular had taken the utmost care to ensure his whereabouts were always accounted for when he was with her. That had, of course, been made easy by the fact that unless he had somewhere specific to be - such as band practice - the other Skeksis rarely ever cared to look beyond their own self-centered lives to notice any changes in schedule. Adding to this, he also kept his room locked by default, so nobody knew any better if he was actually in there, or not.

“We have to be in the studio later tonight, but that’s not until six. I think I can manage to stay with you a little while longer.” A half smile shown on his lips, as his eyes trailed the line of her face for a few moments. He then proceeded to kiss her deeply and passionately, instantly forcing her mind completely awake. As Kira broke the kiss, she smiled at him with an innocent expression of mock inquisition.

“Oh, I think you know,” Na Na stated matter-of-factly, answering her questioning grin.

“Do I now?” She responded, wrapping her legs around his waist, and kissing him feverishly around the neck.

Pulling himself directly on top of her almost forcibly, he responded in turn. “I would say so.”

Pulling themselves under the covers with Na Na still over top of her, the two of them kissed each other feverishly, trying to hold off a little longer on what they both knew was coming.

As she felt the tender bites across her neck and flesh, he spoke again. “You know something?”

“What’s that, my love?” She responded breathlessly, between labored gasps.

“Doing something you know you shouldn’t be doing makes it just that much better, doesn’t it.” She could feel his nails dig all the way across her back like knives as he made this little observation.

Of course, what he said needed no further explanation. She understood completely. Put over the edge by this statement, she could only nod in agreement, succumbing fully to the frenzy they were now engaged in.

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It was the following day, and Kira arrived just a few minutes early to the newsroom, before she was scheduled for work. The room was bustling with activity, with dozens of people preparing to air the daily news show, Random Exposed. Yes, work had been busy for her, and she welcomed that fact. As curious as she was about this strange world around her, she truly enjoyed her job as an up and coming journalist for the show.

Filing through the notes of her latest story, deeply engrossed in what she was doing, she did not see that someone from behind was approaching her.

“Boo!” Io exclaimed, poking her in the ribs.

“Ah!” She screamed, truly startled. “Holy gods, Io, you scared the life out of me!”

“Ha, I know. That’s why I did it!” The firery haired girl giggled loudly. Kira couldn’t hold a straight face any longer, and laughed right back at her. Although completely unaware of why it was so, Io thought to herself how good it was to see her friend smile again.

“What are you doing here, anyways?” Kira asked. “I thought you were busy working at the gift shop in the lobby downstairs.”

“I’ve been doing that part time, but I’m actually just here visiting Andre while he’s working. I know you’ve heard they just hired him as both director and producer for Random Exposed.”

Kira was indeed aware of this fact. Adding to her own anxiety, she was also fully aware of the powers Andre Linoge possessed, which she of course had also learned through her friend. “Yeah, I have heard. Tell him I said congratulations.” The gelfling wanted to give him no reason to get on his bad side. Although he had to this date given her no indication he had any intention of divulging any of her well kept secrets, she figured the kinder she was toward Mr. Linoge, the better.

“I will. Well speak of the devil, there you are,” Io exclaimed warmly toward Andre, who had come over to join their conversation.

“Well I’m no devil, although there are those who may argue differently,” he responded matter-of-factly, wearing his usual trademark smirk.

Kira smiled toward him, and he returned the expression, looking her straight in the eye. Regardless of what knowledge Andre may or may not have regarding her and her delicate situation, she held her head high, exuding the air of sheer politeness and hospitality. The three made small talk over the murmur of the small crowd gathered in the room. As the conversation went on, she witnessed Ung strut through the door, followed by Na Na and Tek. Unbeknownst to her, the three Skeksis were there to borrow some editing equipment to be used for Skinny Puppy’s latest video, ‘Pro-Test’. Pretending not to notice them, whether her secret lover was with them or not, was of course routine for her and this instance was no different.

Just as she was pondering if his quick grin at her was real or imagined, as her eyes shifted briefly towards Na Na, Andre’s cell phone rang. Picking it up, he nodded, casually telling the caller he understood, and it was no problem. He would find a replacement right away.

“That,” he paused, hanging up the phone, “Was Sydney. Apparently she and Brett had a minor fender bender, and won’t be here in time to do the news.”

Io laughed, as if this were a normal occurrence for these two. To be truthful, it really wasn’t out of the ordinary. Sydney Chase, with dark, shaggy hair not hanging quite to her shoulders, dark eye-lined eyes the color of storms, and slender, young and feminine as can be, was the human personification of a tornado. Her ‘partner in crime’, as she referred to Brett Anderson, a large man with dusty blonde hair who often looked like he just came from the beach, was that of a hurricane. These two could often be seen with Elijah Sorenson, a jittery young man, who happened to be the third element of destruction – an earthquake. Sydney and Brett also did the broadcast of the morning news show, which unfortunately; they would not be able to be a part of today.

“Go figure. Let me guess – Sydney was driving, right?” Io asked, not doing anything to stifle her laughter. Although she and Sydney were close friends, she was all too aware of her penchant for creating chaos, intended or not.

“No, it was Brett.” Andre responded.

“Oh, so that’s what she said? Trying to put the blame on poor Brett again, eh?”

“No, that’s what I know.”

“I see,” she responded. The two girls looked at each other - Kira with a look of bewilderment, and Io rolling her eyes and shaking her head as if that was just so fucking typical.

Kira looked around nervously. Yes, Andre’s unique abilities definitely made her uncomfortable. She felt herself gaze over towards the switch room. The three Skeksis were still in there, obviously conducting some sort of business. She then glanced back towards Andre, who was looking back at her, with a wry smile on his face.

As a lull fell over the conversation, he stepped back, calling over the crowd, silencing them in a matter of seconds. “Attention everyone! I’ve just gotten news our two anchors Sydney and Brett will not be able join us today. This means I am in need of two replacements. Before I choose two people, would anybody like to volunteer?”

A few moments passed. No answers. Just silence.

“Okay then. Have it your way. Let’s see. That means I will have to pick.” He scanned the swarm of people, as if he were looking for the just the right ones. His eyes finally came to rest on the wide-eyed girl standing right in front of him. He smiled. “Kira. How would you like to do the news today?”

Surprised by this, but still with her head about her, she thought it over. It was choice that indeed made sense after all, she admitted to herself. “Let’s see, I guess I could do it. I’ve done interviews before, and have been in front of the camera plenty of times, so I suppose this wouldn’t be much different.” She smiled back as self assuredly as she could muster.

“Okay, that’s one down. Thank you, my dear.” Andre noted. He scanned the crowd again, looking for that other perfect fill in. A couple of moments passed. The crowd was close to silent, as they waited to see who would be his other pick. His eyes finally zeroed on the switch room, with the three Skeksis still mulling over how to work the controls of the soundboard.

“You. Over there in the corner, messing around with our image enhancer.” Na Na looked around to each of his comrades, and then finally resting his eyes to that of Andre pointing directly at him. “SkekNa. Yes, I believe that is your name. You’re going to be our second.”

In the mille-second that it took to register what had just happened, Kira’s semi-confident demeanor changed to that of sheer, white panic. Why, why, why?! She thought anxiously to herself. How could he do such a mean and cruel thing? Her heart raced, and her breath quickened to short, uneven bursts. The tips of her fingers began to shake, and she felt as if she were about to hyperventilate. A strange, obscure thought crossed her mind. Perhaps hyperventilation would be better – maybe she would pass out, delaying momentarily the impending doom that was about to commence.

She could hear the crowd gasp, and some even giggling nervously at the thought of putting the two supposed adversaries together on closed circuit television. Her first thought was to run, but as always, when fear such as this took hold, she could not move.

Witnessing the look of terror that had seized Kira’s face, Andre whispered to her, touching her arm in mock reassurance. “Don’t worry, dear. Just cooperate, and it will all be over soon.”

As much as they fought the urge, she and Na Na looked briefly toward each other with looks of sick anxiety, and then back at Linoge. Shaking her head, the gelfling’s eyes pleaded at him madly to stop this insanity – pick somebody else - anybody! She had no idea if Na Na knew what Linoge was capable of, and for his own sake, she prayed that he didn’t.

Glancing towards the other two Skeksis beside him, he saw the expressions they wore – utter disgust. Trying to maintain some sense of dignity for appearance sake, he protested resentfully. “Why…why me? I’m not going up there with…her.” As much as he tried to maintain the guise of control, he could feel the sweat drip down his cheek.

Linoge responded without missing a beat. “Na Na. You have plenty of experience being in front of an audience. Go put on a microphone, do the morning news, and be done with it. If not, you must know I can make this much worse for you than it is now.”

He couldn’t know how, but somewhere in his psyche he knew what Andre had meant by that last statement. The man knew everything. Na Na had no answers. He could only nod his head in agreement; glaring at the man with a look he wished wholeheartedly would murder him.

“Okay, that will do it then,” Andre Linoge stated as if though he had just picked two average people standing by. Folks, go ahead and get them ready for airtime. You both know how to read the teleprompter, right?”

Although neither of them gave any answers, only pained expressions, Andre grinned in response as if they were jumping up in glee as if this were the chance of a lifetime. For Kira, her guilt-ridden thoughts turned to that of Jen, and the devastations he would suffer if he were to ever learn the truth.

Andre then turned to face Io, who had daggers in her eyes. Pulling him aside into the hallway, she began to tear into him. “You sorry son of a bitch. Just what in the mother-fuck are you are doing to that poor girl? So it’s just by chance you choose to put her up there with one of those things, one of those…Skeksis?!?” You fucking freak asshole! That was shit what you did, Linoge. Shit. Do you understand that?”

Andre regarded her with an intent smile, as Io continued to spill vulgarities his way. There was something about the way she was so easy to fire up – it was downright entertaining. “Io dear, your friend will be fine. Believe me, I am doing them both a favor. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll see what I can do to assuage her fears.”

Io rolled her eyes once again. “You call that a favor? The poor girl looks absolutely terrified!”

“As I said before, I will go over there and see what can be done. That’s my final word on this matter.” He looked at her narrowly as if to say do not question me further on this.

“Well then you better get the fuck up there right now. She looks like she’s about to faint.”

He made his way toward the two of them, now both seated nervously at the anchor desk. He thought amusingly to himself how comical it was that they dared not look even in one another’s direction. Andre motioned toward the assistant, who was helping Kira with her microphone, to leave – he wished to speak to them alone.

“Just came by to say good luck, and thank you both for filling in. This really helps us out,” Andre stated, in a tone that may have sounded sincere to anyone not privy to the situation.

As they saw him approach, both he and Kira could only glare at him in contempt, trying to maintain some semblance of control. “Why are you doing this to us?” she demanded.

“Doing what to you?” Andre asked in his ever-condescending manner. “Asking you to help out where needed?”

“You know exactly what I mean. You are a cruel, cruel man. We have done nothing to you.”

“Oh my dear Kira, if you are talking about the little secret thatyou two share you can rest assured that part is safe. For now, at least.”

Na Na’s eyes burned intensely on the man, honestly not sure this time if he would be able to contain his anger. He could feel the pent-up rage pushing him well past the limit, about to explode any minute. “Why you assh-”

Andre cut him off, motioning at him to be still. “Be careful, Slave-master. Your clan members are watching you right now. I doubt very much you would like to explain to them what exactly is troubling you at this moment.”

With that, Andre Linoge turned and left them, with the moments to airtime counting down.

Kira whispered to Na Na, as silently as possible, striving to maintain some sense of sanity. “Keep an eye ahead on the teleprompter. I’ve seen them do it before. The writers will throw stuff in there, and by the time you’ve read it aloud, you’ve embarrassed the heck out of yourself.”

Na Na only shook his head; unable to comprehend of how this was all going to end. He whispered back to her under his breath, “If a little embarrassment is all that happens to us today, I will die a happy man.”