Prince of Darkness vs Prom Queen 06

Marian got back in the car. "Sara wanted to surprise Trent so I didn't tell Victor where we were going. We both know he can't keep a secret to save his life. Donny is sure to overreact when he finds out you're not there but I hope he doesn't start yelling at Trent again. I'm not sure Trent could handle it. He's a sweet guy but he's certifiable."

"Sara is really good for him so, hopefully, when we get back with her Trent will finally relax. Matthew is going to be so excited his dad is coming home early. I am too and I feel bad for scolding Donovan. I'll have to think of some way to make it up to him."

Marian smiled. "You will. I don't know how you manage everything so well. Trent's been impossible. It's been like having another child around. How can he function without someone telling him what to do? How does he find his way to the movie studio? How can he give compelling performances as an actor and be a lunatic at the same time?"

Laci sighed. "I have no idea but maybe when Donovan gets home he can dominate Trent until we get back with Sara. It will do both of them some good. It will make Donovan feel needed, Trent feel loved and I could use the break."

Chapter 4 Bonding and Bromance

Donovan and Victor entered the house. Trent was sitting on the floor in the entry, his arms wrapped around Virgil the First. From across the space, Donovan was positive he could see the unicorn's usual malicious glare.

"What the hell are you doing, Trent?" Donovan demanded to know.

"Nothing," Trent answered glumly. "Just sitting here. Everybody's mad at me and Laci always says Virgil used to make her feel better. I thought he could help me."

"I wouldn't count on it. Is there any remote possibility you might know where Laci and Marian went?"

Trent looked surprised. "Did they go out? They didn't tell me. They hate me. You hate me. Sara hates me. Virgil likes me. Victor, do you still like me?"

"Sure, Trent. Want me to order some wings? You like spicy wings. How 'bout a beer?"

"Sara liked teriyaki wings. Every time I eat a wing, I'm gonna think of Sara," Trent mourned.

The little patience Donovan had was gone. "Trent you sound pathetic, maybe worse than pathetic. Get your ass up off the floor and come in the office."

Donovan didn't wait, instead stomping into the office and seating himself behind his desk. Trent dragged himself into the room, flopping into a chair, still clutching Virgil.

"Trent, what the hell happened with you and Sara? She seemed to really like you. What did you do?"

"I told her I loved her and wanted to marry her."

"And what did she say?" Donovan demanded.

"That she wanted to think it over." Trent sounded pitiful.

"And?"

"That's all. She wanted to think it over. If she loved me she would have said yes but she wanted to think it over. That was just her way of being nice. She hates me and instead of telling me she hates me she said she wanted to think it over." Trent was becoming more grief-stricken by the minute.

"Trent, you're an idiot," Donovan thundered at him. "You're carrying on like this because she wants to think it over? What the hell is wrong with that? Did it ever occur to you that maybe she just really wanted to think it over? What happens when you get offered a movie role? Do you say yes to everything or do you take a few minutes to think it over?

"Depends." Trent still sounded discouraged. "Sometimes I think it over but that's about work. Millions of people pay to see me make the right choice. This is just about me and her. She shouldn't have to think it over. She should just know."

Victor entered the office carrying a large bucket full of beer bottles surrounded with ice. "Wings are on their way. Ordered some pizza, too." He handed Trent a bottle. "Pepperoni for us. Pineapple for him. He likes the fancy stuff."

Trent looked at Donovan with wide eyes. "You like pizza with pineapple? Never woulda figured you for a pineapple kinda guy."

Victor handed Donovan a bottle. Donovan looked at him. "No glass? I always drink my beer from a chilled glass. You know that."

"Get a little crazy, Donovan," Victor urged. "Be one of the boys tonight. Drink from the bottle. It's fun."

Donovan shook his head in annoyance. "I wasn't planning on hosting a soiree. I'd like to figure out where my wife and child could have gone and get them back here." He looked at Victor. "Aren't you in the least bit worried about Marian and Jeremy?"

Trent looked confused. "Laci left?"

"Yes, Trent," Donovan was almost snarling, "Laci took Matthew and Marian took Jeremy and they all took the dog and left. We have no idea where they are. I'm not in a pizza party kind of mood."

"Laci hates me," Trent was back to being woeful. "She was the best friend I ever had, the only one I could really trust. I could talk to her about anything and always count on her and now she hates me. All I have is you guys," he hugged the stuffed unicorn in his arms, "and good old Virgil. You won't desert me, will you boy?"

For a minute Donovan could almost swear Virgil was agreeing with Trent, probably just to be spiteful. Of course the hater would take Trent's side. Maybe Trent would consider adopting Virgil. Maybe he could work out a two for one deal and get rid of Virgil and Victor. Worth thinking about.

"Trent, why don't you go back to California and talk to Sara?" Victor asked. "Whenever Donovan has an argument with Laci I always tell him to talk to her. Usually works...if he doesn't mess it up."

Trent had downed his first beer and reached for a second. "Can't. She finally called me back and she's not there. She's working wardrobe on a set in Hilton Head. She said she'd call me when she's finished."

"That's even better," Victor told him. "That's almost right across the state line. Won't take long to get there. Go talk to her. You can persuade her. Hell, if Donovan was able to persuade Laci, you should be able to persuade Sara. Laci didn't make anything easy on Donovan but look how happy they are now."

"Laci didn't want to marry you?" Trent sounded surprised. The sound of the doorbell interrupted and Donovan huffed as Victor headed to welcome his wings and pizza delivery. "Laci really loves you. She talks about you all the time. She says you're the best husband and father in the entire world. If she didn't want to marry you then maybe I really do still have a chance with Sara. Did Laci want to think it over, too?"

Donovan tried to be patient. It would have been easier without Virgil's black, beady eyes staring at him. "It was a little different with me and Laci, Trent. We come from two different worlds, have very different ways of looking at things. I still wonder if one of these days she might change her mind. Considering that no one seems to know where she went, this could be that day."

"That's what Sara said. Two different worlds. She's used to being behind the scenes and she sees how it is for me and how photographers follow me everywhere. She wasn't sure she could get used to that. She said that was why she wanted to think it over."

"That makes sense and it's a very valid reason. I never really thought about how it would be to have people watching wherever you go," Donovan acknowledged, "but if she loves you, the two of you can work it out together." Victor reentered the room, his arms full of pizza boxes and wing buckets. "How the hell much food did you order? How can you eat when you don't even know where your wife is? Aren't you in the least bit concerned? You don't seem very concerned."

"Course I am," Victor responded, "but I haven't eaten since breakfast and Trent hasn't been eating for the last few days, so it's a good time to get lots of nourishment then we can help figure out what to tell Sara."

"Thanks, Victor." Trent took another beer. "You, Virgil and Donovan are my only friends except for Laci but she still hates me. Who do you think hates me more? Sara or Laci?"

"Pretty sure I know who'd win the Trent hating contest," Donovan muttered under his breath while rubbing his temples. "If only I could order a new assistant as easily as you order wings and pizza. TRENT! Stop drinking so much beer and put the damned unicorn away before he ends up with beer and pizza breath. Bad enough he stares at me. Last thing I need is to have him breathing on me and spreading unicorn germs."

"Donovan hates Virgil," Victor informed Trent while handing him a plate full of wings and pizza.

"I don't hate him. He hates me. I just said he has a stupid name. Virgil. Hell of a name for a unicorn. He stares at me with hate because Laci used to snuggle with him and now she snuggles with me. At least she used to before she left me." He grabbed another beer from the ice filled bucket.

"Why don't you snuggle with Virgil sometimes?" Trent asked. "Maybe he's lonely."

"Then let him go get his own wife and snuggle with her," Donovan growled. "I'm not much of a unicorn snuggler and I don't trust him. Why don't you take him when you go see Sara? He might enjoy taking a little trip. He doesn't get out much these days. Little trip would be good. Big trip would be better."

"Maybe if Sara agrees to marry me, we can move here. People are nice here. They sometimes ask for autographs and pictures but they leave me alone. I'll bet Sara would like it here."

"Maybe you can buy a house near here and we can all hang out together," Victor offered ignoring Donovan's glower."

"Really? That would be fun. I'd like hanging out with you guys."

"It's lots of fun. When I told him Marian was going to marry me, Donovan bought the house next door for us. Now we're all one big happy family. Laci and Marian work together. Donovan helps me take care of Matthew and Jeremy. I take care of Marian. Laci and Marian take care of me, Matthew, Jeremy, Virgil and Virgil. We all take care of Donovan. Works great. Well, except for the part about Virgil taking care of Donovan. Virgil helps take care of him but Virgil doesn't."

"Sara really likes Laci and Marian. She doesn't even mind that I like to call Laci. She said Laci is a really good friend, or she was until she started to hate me. Sara thinks Donovan is a little scary."

"He's supposed to be scary," Victor snorted. "That's his job." He took more wings and another beer.

"Victor, could we talk about something else, like where Laci and Marian might have gone? Didn't they say anything else?" Donovan questioned.

"Why is it your job to be scary? Is it because you're the boss?" Trent asked. "Do you jump out at them and say 'BOO!'? You sound like a fun boss. Is that why you're scary?"

"Hell no," Victor responded. "He's scary because he's a Dominant." He turned to Donovan. "I already told you. Marian said she wasn't sure how long they be gone. That's it. They put the stuff and the kids and Virgil in the car, then they all drove away."

"You're a Dominant?" Trent sounded shocked as he grabbed more pizza. "S & M, BDSM, all that stuff?"

"He's been doing it for years," Victor responded. "He's really good at it. Used to help him when he had his own training facility. Helped with all his training. Good times."

Trent was staring at Donovan. "You mean like whips and chains and all that stuff? You do that to Laci?"

"No, Trent," Donovan snarled. He reached for another beer bottle.

"Laci is the whip handler in this family," Victor said as he took a long drink from the bottle in his hand.

"So Laci does it to you?" Now Trent looked really confused as he took another bottle. "Who's makin' that growling noise?"

"No, Trent," Donovan snarled louder. "Damn it Victor. Why are we talking about this? We agreed not to discuss it while Matthew and Jeremy were still too young to understand."

"Matthew and Jeremy aren't here, remember. See what a great dad he is. Donovan's a great dad," Victor informed Trent. "He didn't think he'd get the hang of it but he's a really great dad."

"That's what Laci always says. She says he's the best dad in the whole world," Trent agreed, "but I still don't understand about the whips and chains. I mean I understand. There's a famous actor who's into all that stuff. He's been playing a really loveable character for a long time but he has a black leather room in his house. It's one of those secrets that everyone in Hollywood knows but everyone acts like they don't know. Do you have a black leather room?" he asked Donovan as he took another bottle.

"No, Trent, I don't have a black leather room. I don't have a leather room of any color and the whole thing is a little complicated. Laci is not a submissive. When my clients need a trainer for their slaves and submissives, they call me and I go to them. Could we change the subject? I'd like to try and figure out where my wife went." He reached for another beer.

"Just called her and Marian again," Victor said. "Went straight to voice mail." He filled his plate with wings and pizza then reached for another bottle of beer.

"I don't understand. How can you be a Dominant and not have a submarine? Don't you need a submarine? Who's your submarine?"

"The word is submissive, Trent," Donovan stated with frustration, "and stop drinking so much. You can barely speak without alcohol much less when you're half drunk."

"Right," Trent agreed. "So, who's your submarine?"

"Virgil," Donovan sighed and reached for more pizza. "He's a great submarine."

"You hit Virgil?" Trent sounded shocked. He grabbed Virgil and held him protectively. "No wonder he hates you."

"Not that Virgil," Donovan was back to snarling, "the other Virgil."

"You shouldn't be hitting the dog, Donovan. That's not nice."

Donovan grabbed another beer, downing half the bottle in one gulp. "I don't hit the damned dog. What the hell is wrong with you Trent? How do you manage to memorize your lines when you don't seem to know how to use your own fucking brain?" He turned to Victor. "Now do you see why I didn't want to talk about this? Could we change the subject?"

Victor ignored him. "It's not about hitting, Trent. It has nothing to do with hitting. It's about discipline and control. It's a way of life. Some people need to be in control and some people like to be controlled. Donovan needs to be in control."

"So when does Laci hit you with the whip?" Trent wanted to know.

"Damn it, Trent. She doesn't. Laci used to work at the ranch and learned how to use a whip. She's an artist at it. She doesn't use it on me. I don't use it on her. Neither of us uses it on Virgil. Or Virgil. There have been a couple of times when I've thought about using it on Victor. Actually there have been more than a couple of times. And I don't know why I'm so concerned about how I'm going to explain all of this to Matthew one day. When the time comes, I can just let Trent tell him. He'll be an expert by then," Donovan was snarling again.

"Laci worked at the ranch?" Trent took another bottle of beer "I didn't know that."

"What the hell do you two talk about, Trent?" Donovan demanded. "You call her almost every day, you talk to her for hours and you never knew that she worked on a ranch? What do you talk about?

"Well, usually about what I'm doing or what movie they want me to do next. She helps me decide what to buy. Sometimes I send her pictures from the store and ask if I should get the green shirt or the blue shirt and she helps me decide. Laci's great. I love Laci, but I really love Sara. Sara is good at picking out shirts and she goes to the store with me when she's not hating me. Sara's great. Laci really worked at a ranch? Like with horses and cows? And ranch people?"

"Yes, she worked at a ranch with ranch people and stop drinking so damned much. You need to figure out how to get Sara back and you have to be coherent to do that." Donovan thought for a moment. "At least as coherent as it's possible for you to be."

"Yeah, Laci worked at that ranch for years," Victor said. "Her parents pretty much abandoned her and that was how she supported herself." Victor grabbed another bottle from the bucket.

Trent looked uncertain again. "Her parents abandoned her? But I met John. Isn't he her dad? He abandoned her? That's terrible. Why don't you hit him with the whip? He's the one who deserves it, not poor, helpless Virgil." He grabbed his new friend for another hug before finishing his drink. "Don't worry buddy. I'll protect you from the Dominator. Hey! I hear growling, again. Where's that coming from?"

"Damn it, Trent," Donovan's lack of patience was obvious, "no one gets hit with a whip. Laci's parents were divorced and each of them thought she was living with the other."

"Laci learned how to use a whip from an old cowboy who worked at the ranch," Victor told Trent. "You should ask her to show you what she can do although you should probably wait until she isn't mad at you. She even gives Donovan lessons sometimes." It was Victor's turn to take another beer from the rapidly depleting bucket. "Donovan was the one who reunited Laci with her dad. He's even better at being a husband than he is at being a dad. He'd do anything for Laci."

"Donovan's a good husband and a good dad and a good Dominator. That's nice that he'd do anything for Laci. I'd do anything for Sara if she'd stop hating me." Trent was back to sounding mournful. "It would be so nice. Sara and I could get married. We could move here and I could spend time with you guys. Maybe we'd have a baby. I'd like a little girl. She'd wear cute little pink dresses and cute little shoes. She could grow up and marry Matthew. We'd be one big, happy family forever. Hey! I hear growling again."

"Trent," Donovan was still growling, "is there even the slightest chance you might remember something if you think about it for a minute? Could you have maybe overheard Laci talking to Marian or Marian talking to Laci, or anybody talking to anybody about going anywhere at any time? Think, Trent."

Trent looked like he was thinking although, Donovan was almost certain, Trent probably wasn't sure what he was supposed to be thinking about. "No. They didn't tell me anything, but Laci was really mad so I was kinda staying away from her. She's little but she's mean. Marian's mean, too, but Laci's meaner. She yelled at me for not trying to work things out with Sara, then she really yelled at me when I interrupted her call with you but I didn't know she was talking to you. Honest. I didn't mean to make you mad, too. You're a good friend, Donovan. You even helped me with my shackles a few years ago, remember?" Trent took another bottle.

"Vividly," Donovan was still growling. He finished the last of the bottle in his hand.

"Hey! Is that how you know so much about shackles? Because you're a Dominator?" Trent questioned.

Donovan was sitting with his head in his hands, so Victor answered. "You got it Trent. Donovan knows all kinds of Dominator stuff. He's an expert. He's the best Dominator around. Ask anybody. He knows all about shackles and handcuffs, riding crops, canes. He knows how to tie all kinds of knots and, he won't admit it but, he even knows about tying privileges."

"Victor! Enough! I'm not talking about this anymore. No shackles. No tying. I'm going to call someone who can help find my wife and yours. Where the hell is the phone?"

Victor's gaze was slightly blurry. "Isn't it that thing in your hand or is that a piece of pizza? What'd you ask again?"

"Why do you need tying privileges?" Trent was sounding as blurry as Victor's vision. "What's so privilegious about tying? Is privilegious a word? I like that word. It's a good word. Privilegious. What do you tie when you are privilegiously tying whatever it is that's being tied? I privilegiously need another drink."

Donovan was staring at the bottle in his right hand and the phone in his left. "What was I asking about? Did someone want to use the phone? Who needed the phone? It's right here if you want it, whoever you are. Virgil? You making a call? Here's the phone if you need it. Go call one of your unicorn friends. Maybe one of them would like to go to California with you and Trent." The unicorn glowered. Donovan glowered back. "See! He hates me. I was being nice and he hates me. Stupid unicorn probably knows where Laci is and won't tell me. I was hoping Matthew and Jeremy would do away with you, but no, they want the other Virgil. They drag him all over the place, inside, outside, and leave you to stare and hate. Just wait, my friend. One of these days, you are going to be moose chow."