7. The One That Calls the Shots

A short while later we had finished our homework and I stretched wide, feeling accomplished. It was great not to be stressing over this damn math book until two in the morning. Who gives homework on the first week of school? Why did it have to be so hard as well?

I got up and looked around. “Should we go find the girls?”

“I suppose.” Juliet nodded and stood as well. Then she started walking to show me where they were.

“What are they doing, anyway?”

“Smart people stuff.”

“Aren’t you included?”

“Usually they work without me.”

I gave her a sidelong glance. That seemed weird. “You’re not invited?”

“If it was something that concerned me, they’d tell me, right?” Juliet’s eyes were so kind and filled with the sort of trust you could only find in a person worthy of holding the holy grail. Miya didn’t deserve such a friend. Oh, who am I kidding? I hardly knew Miya.

“That’s odd.”

“You think?”

The house was easily the largest house, or mansion I had ever been in, but the problem was how empty it was. Looking around, I didn’t see a single person. It left an ominous impression on me. I don’t know what I was expecting though. Maids?

We knocked on a door and entered into a spacious room that was decked out with various monitors, and computer equipment. Hard to tell what Ayase, and Miya were doing. It could have been as simple as playing video games, or as oddly predictable as hacking NASA.

Miya shut off the monitor in front of her and spun around expectantly. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, did the creepy boy do anything bad to you, Juliet?” Ayase added.

“Excuse me?” I attempted to defend my honor but was cut off abruptly by Miya.

“Well?”

“I just wanted you to double check the math homework,” Juliet replied.

“You don’t need my help with that,” Miya almost sounded sad, she gave off a despondent expression, “you’re plenty smart enough to handle that.”

“I just feel better when you look over it,” Juliet gripped her hands together lightly and looked over at me.

Miya seemed to sigh. “Fine.” She took the paper and looked over it robotically with a swift scan of her eyes and returned it to Juliet’s sweating palm. “As I said, it’s perfect.”

“Thank you, Miya!”

“Juliet did great, I didn’t understand anything until she explained it,” I gave her some praise.

Miya patted Juliet’s head and glanced over at me. “Right.”

Then there was a ringing. Miya turned and answered a phone that was resting on the table. “Hello?” After a brief pause Miya’s eyes transformed into a pit of fire and brimstone. “Yes? Nyet!” Then she proceeded to speak in distorted, angry sounding Russian. It wasn’t anything I could understand, nor hope for her to translate for me. It was weird to think she could speak so many languages. What’s that? Japanese, Russian, and English? Or was there more? Was Miya even human?

After a brief conversation Miya slammed the phone down with enough force to make Juliet jump timidly. She leaned back in her chair with a look that was a hybrid cross somewhere in between a hungry crocodile, and an expectant viper.

Miya spoke in Japanese, issuing some type of order to Ayase.

“On it,” Ayase said and pulled out her phone.

I folded my arms, and glanced over at Juliet. “Trouble?”

“I don’t know…” Juliet replied.

Ayase hung up quickly.

“Don’t worry about it,” Miya seemed to order it, rather than sound reassuring.

“Am I interrupting something? Should I leave?”

There was the sound of footsteps. It echoed through the hall as Miya tapped on her desk, and the door burst open in moments. A woman ran in with a determined look plastered across her highly refined features.

“You called?” The woman sounded in a rush, possibly concerned she might have been too late. “Is this the sack of meat that’s bothering you?” She said this looking me over, “should I release him from his mortal coil?”

“From my what…”I said dumbfounded.

“Sadly, killing him won’t be necessary as of right now. I have something else I need you to deal with,” Miya explained, and possibly saved my life. I don’t know.

Who the heck was this crazy lady? What was that about killing me? Was it Miya’s bodyguard? One of her bodyguards. For some reason I imagine her having several.

The older woman was tall, perhaps 5’10, or so. Because she was taller than I was and I was 5’9. She had blonde hair, tied up and a gorgeous frame, busty and full-bodied. She looked like she worked out often.

Miya handed the woman a slip of paper, which the woman looked over briefly, and then swiftly headed out of the room. She seemed to be in even more of a hurry.

“She, uhm, your bodyguard?” I shot.

“No, just an employee,” Miya answered, but looked up at Ayase, “we pay her, right?”

“Yes,” Ayase clarified.

You know, it was bad enough that Miya is the most terrifying girl I had ever met. But right then I was beginning to learn the true nature of her danger. If I had any sense at all, I would have bolted out of that room, that house, and went back to Washington. Never looking back. But, I am not that intelligent.

“Juliet, come here,” Miya called.

Juliet quickly scampered over, and I was forced to witness Miya assert her dominance by gripping Juliet and holding her closer. Juliet looked to be a tad confused but I didn’t think much about it. Come on now Miya, what are you doing?

“I guess I better go,” I decided. It was getting late anyway.

“Uh wait,” Juliet called out, scrambling to break free of Miya’s clutches.

“It’s okay, really.” I looked around as I started to walk out but realized how massive this house was. Damn. I turned around. “How do I get out of here?”

Juliet struggled a little harder and broke free, only to trip and crash against the desk sending various papers flying everywhere. The scattered papers fluttered around and blanketed the floor. Juliet began apologizing profusely and rushed to pick up the papers, she seemed on the verge of tears.

“I’m so sorry!” Juliet cried, elongating her words and continued to pick up the mass of papers. I decided to help her out. Miya was looking down at her with a motherly expression.

“Juliet…” Miya said.

“I’m sorry!” Juliet was rushing faster.

“Juliet.”

“Here.” I handed Juliet some of the papers.

“I’m sorry!”

“Juliet.” Miya placed her hand on Juliet’s shoulder.

Juliet looked up like a child that was preparing to be scolded.

Miya didn’t scold her though. She merely held a comforting smile. “It’s fine.”

“I just don’t want to upset you,” Juliet explained. “I panicked, I don’t want to make you angry.”

“It’s okay. Take it easy. You could never make me angry.”

Miya set the papers on the table and then assisted Juliet up. After that her attention transferred onto me, and for god knows what reason she gave me a look of dissatisfaction. Her eyes peered over me as if I was an ant that she found on the kitchen table, and she was deciding whether to follow me back to where I came from, or kill me right there.

“Meet me tomorrow after school, on the corner of thirteenth, and L. Five thirteen P.M.” Miya ordered.

I looked at her curiously, “why?”

“Because I told you to.”

“You can’t just order people around!” It was outrageous. “You can’t just order me around. I appreciate you helping me out. It’s not as if I won’t go, but the least you can do is tell me why?”

“I can, and I will, just be there. This conversation is over,” Miya concluded and returned to her desk.

I looked at her distastefully. Miya, why are you such a bitch?