Chapter 8 Museum

Next-Day: 11: AM at Effie's Veggie Queen

Dean Ford Button-Cromwell sat with Alana-Hope and Quincy at the four-story diner. A waitress placed zucchini hash, cooked rice with veggies, and breakfast salads on the table. She hurried off and came back with large jugs of orange and carrot juice.

The dean hugged Alana-Hope. "I canceled classes today, so you can trail me on my dates, toots. Giving the school the Friday off will make me popular, especially since Monday is a holiday."

Alana-Hope glanced at her phone to check the time. "Sorry, this breakfast is now bleeding into lunch and I have an appointment."

"She promised she'd show. My date is real, but she is a troll and is like my ex-wife," the dean said.

"But why invite me? I'm not a romance reporter." Quincy dug into his rice, but he pushed his platter away and pretended to eat.

"Well, I need pointers because being a loser is new to me." The dean sipped a glass of carrot juice, and he gave Alana-Hope a hug.

Quincy said nothing, he bowed his head.

Alana-Hope inched her seat further from the dean. "Yes, I know I had to do a separate interview. She is not into you."

"It is the hair. I'm only forty, but my hair is gray and balding. I think I might shave it." Dean Ford Button-Cromwell frowned.

Alana-Hope broke her egg with her fork, and the center oozed all over her salad. "Your hair is fine, but I think I should write a single's profile instead. I'm writing one for the Prince in four hours. Bachelor articles are the rage now." She pushed her food away. "But you need to stop trashing your ex."

"Okay," he said.

"Also, I wouldn't take my dates to places that ban Marked women. Women want to go where they stand out."

The dean smirked and kissed her hand. "A Marked woman would use me like my ex did, though my ex follows the rules. She should be Marked. No, you are feeling uncomfortable because you want to be the prettiest woman in the room, believe me, you are. I'll give you a ride to your next appointment."

Alana-Hope glanced at Quincy, and mouthed, "Quincy, help me."

He looked at his watch. "Alana-Hope is helping me pick a new suit for my date tonight. After I drop her off, I need to shower and practice what I'm going to say."

"How did you land a date?" the dean asked Quincy.

Quincy smiled. "Ella has a cute friend, and I asked to be set up."

"Blind dates are worse than dating Marked women, but maybe I should lower my standards unless I can land a woman as pretty as Alana-Hope or Ella." The dean stood up and exited the restaurant.

"Alana-Hope, I'll let you drive." Quincy tossed his keys to her.

She caught them. "Take me to the veggie food truck downtown. After we find a suit, I'll walk the rest of the way. My ex used to take me here, and I loved it before I knew they only served acceptable women."

*

Four Hours Later: The Art Museum

Prince Chaz-Vice wore a suit and tie. He washed his face in the public bathroom in the art museum after he cut the ribbon in the sculpture exhibit. "I'm stupid, offering her surgery will remove the traits that make her special."

An assassin with muscles the size of refrigerators tore the bathroom door with his hands. He whipped out a laser gun and a dagger and waved them around.

Chaz slammed the closet stall door into the man and bolted down the hall, sliding around on the marbled floor.

The man dashed after Chaz, but slammed face-first into a wall next to a series of paintings of trees, impaling his foot with his dagger. He bolted back up, yanked Chaz's arm with vice-like grips, and waved his laser gun around.

Alana-Hope dropped her bag of popcorn and zucchini hash on the floor.

She, Zeda, and Ella shoved the failed assassin from behind, punched, and ripped his weapon out of his hand.

A group of school children giggled, and their teacher herded them out of the building.

The man struggled to get up. "Chaz, you have two pretty girls and a grotesque one fighting for you. They cheated. Have you ever used your muscles?"

"They have been protecting me from bullies since I was six." Chaz shrugged and folded his arms.

"No, I only met you a couple of months ago, through your charity to help Marked women. I'm writing articles that mention your charity work and your search for true love," Alana-Hope said.

"He is referring to Zeda and me," Ella said.

The man growled.

"Women with two marks have to learn to defend themselves from attacks. I'm a trained cage fighter, but I'd never take on a man your size, alone." Zeda texted, one of the few remaining police officers not fired or arrested.

"I convinced Zeda to come and talk to you." Ella hogtied the man with his socks and jacket.

"Chaz, I'm dating a new guy, but I want to be friendly with you."

"Quincy is adorable," Alana-Hope said.

The assassin glared upwards at Zeda. "Little girl, you can't fight the legions coming for you, once they sew a third Mark Badge in your skin. That man won't love you. Right now, at the Mark Board Headquarters, they are bragging when and how they will kill you."

"Why would they do that?" Chaz asked.

He didn't answer.