Conor breathed hard as he stared up at the stars circling overhead. What was that series of emotions? He had never experienced anything like it. When the sky finally stopped spinning, he sat up and tried to collect his thoughts. The night was already cooling down rapidly and he had no desire to spend the night outside again. He slowly got to his feet and began the trudge back to the apartment. Just as he got to the end of the street vendors section of town, he noticed a flower girl closing down her stand. She still had a full bouquet of flowers that she had not managed to sell that day.
"Are those still available?" he asked gently.
The girl jumped and spun but calmed when she saw a finely dressed gentleman behind her. "Oh, umm, yes! No one wanted them because they were picked too soon. All of the buds are still closed."
"What kind of flower are they"
"O umm this is called an Alstroemeria. These will bloom into a deep red, this one into a deep purple, and this one has a hint of pink blush. I promise in a day or two they will open and be in full bloom!"
"A day or two? Why were they picked so soon?"
"My brother might have gotten a bit ambitious when in the field today. But I promise, they have always been beautiful, and actually they are my favorite of all the flowers I sell."
"How much?"
"Well, normally they are 4 copper each. However, if you save me from having to store them overnight, and take all three, how about 8 copper for the lot?"
Conor found his loose change and handed it to the girl. "Done, so one to two days?"
"Yes! Just keep them in water and they will be beautiful."
Conor arrived home to an empty apartment. Apparently, Jessica's meetings would run late again. He sighed and found a vase for the flowers and set them on the small kitchen table. Hopefully, when Jessica got up in the morning they will have begun to open.
"Here is to new beginnings."
Conor took off his suit and hung it in the closet before collapsing into bed, asleep as his head hit the pillow.
***
Conor awoke to Jessica rummaging around in the kitchen. After splashing water on his face, he went to join her. "It's Sunday, what are you doing?"
"Mom wants me to go to the Temple of Celia and meet some new high priest. I don't know why she is being religious again. Not like it did us any favors with you..."
Conor frowned. "The new Prima is a man? Celia has always had a high priestess"
"Don't look at me, you know more about that stuff than me. all I know is some talk of purge and removing Dovari taint and possibly something about a visit from members of the Temple of Abrasax as well. I will tell you about it later. I am sure you don't want to go near that place."
"Yea, thanks," Conor absently looked around the kitchen. "Hey, where are the flowers I bought?"
"You bought those? Conor, why would you buy defective flowers? They never even opened!"
Conor flew to the trash and began rescuing the flowers. "Jess! I bought these for you! They will open in a few days! Just give them time! Good things always take time. I promise, you will be glad I saved them."
She glared over her shoulder at him but didn't argue. "Why?"
"Call it an attempt to start making the first move, so you don't need to use this." He slid the family law business card across the counter. "I told you, my lawyer visit was strictly professional."
Jessica blanched seeing the card on the table and snatched it quickly. "Mother just wants me to know my options. Besides, what business would you have with a lawyer anyway?"
"Mostly stuff stemming from the passing of my mother, as well as some of the fallout from Celia's Herbals failure."
"We are still dealing with that crap? I thought father's legal team put it behind us."
"Behind the Cochan family, yes. The Cochan family washed their hands of it. I still have much to fix and repair."
"Oh. I am sorry, Conor." She brushed gently past him on her way to the door, but stopped violently, and sniffed, "Were you out drinking last night? You got drunk didn't you?"
Conor stepped back defensively, "Jess, I... I mean, after finding the card, I was a wreck."
"Oh! You loser! Sober up and pray Celia has mercy on you." She spun and stormed out the door.
Conor shook his head, "Is it just me, or has she turned bipolar?"
'No, she seems off. I blame the mother,' grumbled a deep slightly feminine voice.
Conor fell onto the couch in sheer terror looking around wildly.
"Who's there?"
"Your wife thinks you should ask for my mercy. Frankly, I think she is the one that is in need of my mercy. If she, or more aptly, her MOTHER, keeps on like this, Abrasax's wrath will seem tame to mine!"
"Celia? You are real? And you speak?"
'If I so chose. Now you have work to do. Some flowers need a bit of fertilizer to bloom best. Your business and relationship are no different.'
"I must be going mad."
A deep chuckle was all he heard in reply. Conor sat still for a long while listening and thinking. Finally, he decided voices or not, he did need to plan for the future. Finding some paper, he sat down at their little table and began planning. What he needed for his various businesses was an umbrella corporation with a few skilled managers to run each division.
'VO KRI ZIN' came a subtle suggestion against his mind.
"Vokrizin? Hmmm, that could work. I wonder if Mr. Nuri will be back tomorrow and can help set something up."