[color=gold][h3][i]On a cliff somewhere in Utah…[/i][/h3][/color] The sun was setting and was bathing the large, orange Utah cliffs. The air howled as it rushed up the cliff side and Preston opened his hand and splayed his fingers as he felt the refreshing breeze caress his arm. He was sitting in an old, red Toyota Corolla. His? Are you kidding!? If the occasion had been different, then he wouldn’t have been caught dead in such a clunker. Despite the gorgeous view of the flat Utah desert, the senior was in a foul mood for several reasons: first, which was already established, he was sitting in a Toyota Corolla that had more trash in it than what a car full of children could have created; second, he hadn’t been dressed to the nines. No, he had to dress-down because he was getting his hands dirty this evening; and lastly, third, the incessant whimpering. A young man was seated in the passenger seat, wrists tied together, and cheeks swollen having been stuffed full of cloth with duck tape sealing his lips. They weren’t the only thing swollen. Blood ran in crimson streams from each of his nostrils from a fractured nose. It dripped from his chin, staining a blue Nike T-shirt. His nose hurt to breathe through, but it had been his only method since he was gagged. Tears rolled from pink puffy eyelids, one eyelid being purple from apparent abuse. The man pathetically gazed at Preston, while the Son of Hera laid slumped in the driver’s seat, wearing a solid-grey shirt and some jeans. Sunglasses were on his face as he relaxed with his head eased back against the seat that he had adjusted into a lounge position. His one arm was halfway out the window, petting the wind, while his other was at his side, his hand holding the picture of one of the young women who had approached him that morning. [color=c71585]“I…hate…dirt bags like you,”[/color] Preston thoughtfully muttered aloud. [color=c71585]“You know, if my mother were here she would be praising me. My father?”[/color] He shrugged. [color=c71585]“Not so much. To him, I would be a murderer. But…you’ve already murdered someone haven’t you?”[/color] Slowly, Preston turned his head to lazily gaze upon the young man. His shades slid down the bridge of his nose, revealing irises that were a frightening yellow. The young man closed his eyes as though to hide himself from Preston’s unsettling gaze. Tears continued to roll down his face as he wept through his gag. [color=c71585]“You don’t deserve to cry. Just stop…”[/color] Preston continued, his eyes lowering to the picture of a young brunette girl at his school, smiling for the yearbook. She had looked so happy in the photo, but she hadn’t been when she came to him. Her very soul had been destroyed, and the life ripped out of her. [color=c71585]“Let me tell you something. There are gods, demigods, and mortals…all three can die, but there are only two ways to actually do so. They can die on the inside, and they can die on the outside. What you did, is you murdered a freshman to our school—on the inside. You targeted her knowing that she was brand new and possibly naïve to your deception.”[/color] Preston uttered a single and short chuckle from behind his lips not because he was amused but because of the audacity the man had. [color=c71585]“Yes, I suppose that gods do rape…”[/color] Preston glanced over at the young man, a smile eerily stretching across his face. [color=c71585]“But do they always get away with it?”[/color] He answered for him by shaking his head. Turning his wrist over, he glanced at his watch and sighed. Tugging his arm back into the car, he reached down between the door and the seat to grasp the lever to adjust his chair and sat upwards. [color=c71585]“Well…”[/color] he spoke, while he busied with pushing down on the brake and setting the vehicle into Neutral. He glanced up from the gear shift to flash a grin at, [color=c71585]“[b]Duncan Smith[/b]; it’s been a pleasure. Unfortunately, I must prepare for an unappealing banquet. Here…”[/color] He placed the photo of Lindsey McPherson on the dashboard before him. [color=c71585]“Meditate on that for a while. Think about the life you’ve ruined and be sure to tell my uncle. You’ll have eternity to reflect on it. Oh! I nearly forgot.”[/color] Reaching a hand into his jean pocket, Preston removed his cell phone and turned his back to Duncan, leaning against the jock as he bore his teeth in a vibrant smile. Selfie! [i]Click![/i] Leaning back into the driver’s seat, Preston smiled and giggled to himself as though the moment hadn’t been dark enough already. His finger was whipping across the flat screen of his cell phone as he went through his gallery to pull up the pic. [color=c71585]“Oh, ho, ho! Ha! Look at that!”[/color] He turned the screen to Duncan so he could see the pic. [color=c71585]“I think she’ll love it, don’t you?”[/color] Duncan began shaking his head and trying to shout angrily through his gag. “MMM! MMRRRRR!” Duncan screamed—going red-faced. Preston arched a brow at the man. [color=c71585]“Oh, are you mad? You must think I’m a sick person.”[/color] Raising the cell phone to his ear, he paged, [color=c71585]“Hello Pot? This is Kettle. How are you?”[/color] Lowering the phone, Preston stared at Duncan for a moment as though the rapist had lost his mind, and then the smile slowly returned to his lips as he popped open the driver’s side and stepped out onto the cliff side. Sliding his phone back into his pocket and shaking a fast food bag from his leg, Preston overheard Duncan’s screaming as he walked to the end of the car. [color=c71585]“Tell my uncle, I said ‘hello’,”[/color] bade Preston before he turned to face the Toyota’s rear bumper, raised his foot to set it against it, and then with one firm push, the wheels started turning and the red vehicle went rolling off the cliff side. Preston raised his hand, his thumb and index finger pressed together before they released with an audible [i]snap![/i] An explosion of fire and smoke erupted before him, belching forth from the vehicle that had spontaneously combusted in mid-descent. The crash and smash of metal as the vehicle rolled and shattered across the bottom of the cliff was like music to the Son of Hera’s ears. [i]Justice![/i] He remained to listen, watching the sun on the horizon recede behind the mountains. Preston then blinked as realization settled in. He turned around, and then left, and then right. That had been his ride! [color=c71585]“Fucking…”[/color] he began to curse. Checking his wristwatch, he sighed out through his nostrils in an irritable manner and just headed over to the road. He was certain that someone would pass by eventually and he would be able to [i]persuade[/i] them to give him a lift. The yellow faded from Preston’s eyes… [center][hr][hr][color=c71585][h1]Preston James McTavish[/h1][/color] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/d4d5d09361d6d6914b7cce5d0423d793/tumblr_n70qbyUoEp1rrlhpho1_400.gif[/img][/center] [b][u]Location;[/u][/b] The Banquet Hall and standing before the spread [b][u]Interacting With;[/u][/b] Open [b][u]Mentioned[/u]:[/b] N/A[/center][hr][hr] The McTavish had arrived an hour late due to his…car trouble. He decided to wear a [url= http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md1lo1bfW01r2wgwlo1_500.jpg]tuxedo[/url], and while he browsed the edibles, he carried in the cup of his hand a Bordeaux glass nearly full to the brim with Merlot. He needed it after dealing with that trash he had to take out. He always did enjoy living on…the edge. He kept the selection simple: cheese cubes, crackers, some crackers with an interesting paste, and a small clove of grapes. No one really came to a banquet to truly dine after all.