Hallows: Pretty Snakes & Devils

Thirteen Bs

I Prevail- There's Fear In Letting Go

B.B.

Downtown Hellbourne is alive at night. The paisas are all parked along the strip with their low-bright colored trucks and their bass-blowing music blaring from the subwoofers carefully hidden in their fancy little paisa-mobiles. The scent of beer and tobacco assaults my nose along with their expensive colognes and fine herbs. It's past nine P.M. and they're all gathering to do whatever it is paisas do Friday nights.

I can't believe my dad. I feel bad about what I said but it's his fault. What am I supposed to do? Not take advantage of the only man or rather ghost that actually understands me? I know the man was insane he fathered Black Death for crying out loud. But surely, he's a safer bet than the vampire waiting for me to power up the city so that we can try to make some cool clones. Right? How much damage can a ghost really do compared to Dr. Fangs?

If he's trying to protect me from psychological trauma, that ship sailed when I walked into our home to find my sixteen-year-old sister hanging from the chandelier. Maybe long before that when he blew his head off in his bathroom. I killed my mother. My point is that the ship sailed and hit an iceberg a long time ago, like the Titanic.

I came here tonight because it's the last place anyone would come looking for me. It's bright, crowded, and one hundred percent not my scene. It is, however, Rodrigo Jimenez's scene. I can see him below chopping it up with some of the big-baller Mexican guys. I know he can feel me here. Every once in a while his eyes scan the area as if he's trying to place me. Unlike Carson or Victor who already know that I wouldn't just pop up in the crowd, he doesn't think to look up. His birds must be busy with something because the other crows would have already sent a bird up.

"What are we watching?" a shiver goes down my spine when Lucien's lips press against the back of my ear. "You were so focused on your little bird down there that you left your rear wide open," he says accusingly and settles behind me so I'm sitting between his legs. I am a terrible girlfriend. I had forgotten he was here for the long weekend. "What's wrong, B?"

"Why would you think something is wrong?" I ask leaning back against him. I circle my arms around his legs and pull them closer. I miss my clingy Crow King.

"Because," he nudges behind my ear with his nose. "B.B. doesn't do crowded areas like this and she sure as hell doesn't watch Jimenez from a distance. He's too tempting," I laugh because he's right. "So, either you're upset or you aren't who you're pretending to be,"

"Hmm," I roll my eyes.

"I saw you pop in from across the way. Delilah is in there," he points at the club across the street. "Making deals and popping bottles,"

"Why aren't you in there?" I ask.

"She's got Damian with her. I'm just watching their backs," he rests his chin on my shoulder. I adjust myself so I can look at him. His golden curls are long, luscious, and shiny. He looks so good with long hair, it's criminal. I lean in pressing my lips to his. He smiles letting me take what I want.

"I miss you,"

"Not as much as I miss you," he grins and turns his attention back to the club. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"My dad is being a butthead,"

"A butthead? Oh no," he laughs. "What did Dante the Terrible do this time?"

"Nothing really," I admit. "He's just being my dad,"

"It wouldn't have upset you if it was nothing, Baby,"

"I can't be around him, Lu. I can't be around my parents because it's dangerous and him hanging around isn't helping me get over the fact that I'm the only one left. It's like I'm being reminded of everything I don't really have every time they show up. They're right there but I can't reach out,"

"Have you told them that?" he asks kissing along my neck.

I relax into him letting him do whatever he wants and he doesn't disappoint. Lucien never does. His obsession with me only seems to grow more and more. His hands are everywhere. I should have changed into something more comfortable to give him better access. I didn't know he would be here.

"They know. Chance likes to remind us all that we're not supposed to be this close," I shiver when he pulls away and the cold early fall wind dries the little wet kisses he's leaving along my exposed skin lifting goosebumps where his lips had been.

"Maybe you're looking at this the wrong way, B.B.," he says tilting my head over so he can get to my right side. "f**k, I miss you so f*****g much. Your scent. Your voice. Your laugh. I play it over and over in my head, B.B.,"

"Lucien," I laugh when he licks me.

"That sound, right there," he growls. "Like magic,"

When I look back down where Ro is, he's finally spotted me. He grins shaking his head but makes no other effort to give us his attention. I watch him for a bit before turning my attention back to the club. That's when I spot something off. There's a woman standing in line wearing a black fitted dress. Her long, black, wavy hair is overly familiar.

"Is that my mom?" I ask stopping Lucien. He looks up following my gaze.

"Why would she be here?" he asks. When she turns around I see her face and it's like looking into a f*****g mirror.

"That's her," I say pulling away from him. I crouch close to the edge of the building to get a better look at her. She's standing there with a group of other women with similar builds. They're all laughing.

"I'll call Del,"

"No," I say stopping him. "There's too many of them,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Get them out of there," I say standing up.

"Baby," he reaches for me.

"Lucien, these things are dangerous. If Delilah's vessel is compromised the gate will open. She shared my blood with others," I point at them. "I'm counting eight. I was barely able to take two with Stacy and she's really good at killing s**t,"

"Stacy?" he laughs. I look back at him and grin.

"Yeah,"

"Stacy?" he repeats with disbelief.

"You don't know Stacy like I do. Carson can vouch for me," I assure him.

"Carson likes collecting siblings the way you like collecting emotionally damaged souls," he rolls his eyes.

"You are hanging around Ash too much," I grin and turn my attention back to the stack of B.B.s. "I'm going to get Delilah and Damian out,"

"Take me with you,"

"Lucien," I turn to glare at him. "Alert the others you worry wort,"

"Right," he groans and pulls his phone out.

"Don't let them out of your sight. Ro is in the crowd of takuaches down there," I point at him. Lucien laughs at the terms and is about to say something when I pop into the area on the other side of the red rope. The walls that lead into the club itself are all painted black.

I've never been inside of a nightclub before and immediately I am drawn in by the pretty neon lights lining the ceiling. Laser and flashing lights appeal to the snake in me. I feel my body come to life but I have something important to do and I can't dwindle on how pretty it is in here. How dark and filled with chaotic energy. Easy prey is fun to come by. Evil doers just living their life to the fullest. There's nothing more cliche and nothing I have more in common with. Except, I have six overprotective boyfriends who keep me from diving into this and I love them for that.

"What the f**k are you doing here?" Delilah demands, pulling me into a dark corner. She looks me over and leans in. Where the f**k did she even come from? "Are you undercover?"

"No, where's Dami?" I laugh.

"Glow sticks," she points into the crowd. Damian is standing there with three glow sticks tucked between his fingers on each hand while he waves them around. They're hanging off his neck. He's wearing a ring around his head and is shirtless. "Cute, huh?"

"We gotta go. Trouble," I say taking her hand. Damian is in the middle of a dance-off with some girl in a dress that barely covers anything when I pop us over to him and take his hand.

"B.B." he shouts. We pop out of there back onto the rooftop where I left Lucien. "I am going to puke,"

"B," Delilah groans. I turn him away from the street view so he doesn't alert the changelings. "What was so f*****g important that you had to ruin our fun?"

"That," I point to the front of the club. "Holy s**t, there's more,"

"Yeah, a group of them just got out of an Expedition," Lucien nods.

"Tacky," Del shakes her head. "Oh, s**t, B. There's like twelve of you," she muses. "Twelve of you," she repeats a little freaked out now. Her pupils are huge. "There are twelve of you. Thirteen if we count you,"

"This is going to be f*****g weird," Lucien says excitedly. "The others are waiting on you, my love,"

"I'll be right back. Let's get a perimeter going. Do not let those f*****g things out of your sight," I point at them.

"B, how much blood did you lose?" Delilah asks looking back at me worriedly.

"A lot," I admit. I pop back to the house to find my devils loading up the back of a Hummer that hasn't been flipped tonight. "Hey,"

"B," Dec is the first to address me. "B.B., where the hell have you been?"

"Around," I shrug. "Uh, did Lucien call you guys?"

"Yeah," Carson says raising his SMG. "He said there are eight changelings in my f*****g territory,"

"Right, actually twelve. We're going to need the stone as well,"

"Seriously?" Ahsan asks. I nod.

"Where is Victor?"

"Home. Go get him while we finish up here. I'll call the others," Carson immediately starts tapping away at his phone. I pop into Victor's apartment.

"Vic?"

"Upstairs, Amor. Getting dressed," he calls back. There is a huge piece of marble in the middle of his loft and a bunch of brand-new tools. I place my hand on the smooth stone and walk around it inspecting the tools. I take a pick off the table and flip it around. This is almost as cool as a blade. "You are dressed for murder," Vic says rushing down the stairs slipping a T-shirt over his head. "Look at you,"

"What's this?" I ask slapping the stone.

"That is a new project I will be starting sometime soon," he says reaching for the pick in my hand. I pull it away shaking my head.

"You know what would be better than a brand new pick?" I ask.

"Two?" he smirks.

"A pick I used to unalive changelings with," I shrug. His smirk turns into a huge grin. He pulls me into him kissing me like I didn't spend all last night doing stuff to him because I couldn't sleep.

"You are one hundred percent correct," he says pulling away. "Don't lose it,"

"Where is Shadow? He is coming with us," I say looking around.

"Shadow," he calls out.

"Yes, King Shark?" Shadow answers from the kitchen. He's got an apron on. There are splotches of red paint meant to look like blood all over him. He's really making the robot call him that. It's too cute.

"Is that paint?" I ask.

"No," Vic smiles. He goes over to him and removes the apron. "We killed a goat for birria enchiladas. Quieres?"

He waves me over to the kitchen. There is in fact a dead-skinned baby goat on a tarp next to the island. On the counters are a couple of aluminum trays with enchiladas covered in different sauces and cheese. I didn't notice the smell at first but I am noticing it now and it really does smell good. He offers me a fork. I take a bite from one and look up at him.

"You are a genius. Remind me to bring us all back when this is over," I smile scooping the whole thing into my mouth. I laugh when I notice the huge metal pot. "We have to go. Grab your guns,"

"Yes, ma'am," he salutes me and goes back to the living room.

"Shadow, sleep mode," I order.

"Creator identified. Going into sleep mode," he announces and shuts down.

"Why?" Vic asks.

"I almost burnt Zero One's system popping her with me," I explain. "Ready?"

"Yes," he nods slipping his jacket on. I wipe my face and grab my pick off the counter before I take his hand. I place my other hand on Shadow and pop us over to the rooftop.

"Vic," Lucien says excitedly. Vic grins going over to him.

"Shadow, wake up," I order.

"All systems active," he says after a couple of minutes.

"Where are the devils?" Ro asks.

"I will be right back with them," I say plugging my phone into the robot. "Don't move, Shadow,"

"Of course," he says. I pop back to the house and call for Zero One to bring my escape kit.

"Everyone in the car," I say climbing on top of the Hummer.

"Can I come?" my dad asks from the porch.

"No, go away, Dad,"

"B.B. we have to talk about what happened?"

"Oh, you mean how you're trying to control my life from beyond the grave? No thanks, old man. Unless you're giving me back the key to the study you can f**k all the way off,"

"B.B. You're being a little s**t," he growls.

"You would know all about that, wouldn't you, Dante?" I smile. The guys try to keep their laugh to themselves as they get in. "Is Zero One in the car?"

"Yes," they all answer including Zero One.

"Zero One sleep mode," I call out and sit down on top of the Hummer. I look up at my dad to see him staring at him. "You can't help me with this, Dad. What you can do is tell Chance I'm sending the Changeling to him tonight,"

"You found her?" he smiles.

"Them," I pop us back to the rooftop.

"They all went inside," Lucien says.

"That's good," I say taking my escape kit from Zero One and I wake her up. "Go over there by Shadow,"

She gets out of the car and stands next to him. I plug her into my phone as well and upload the scanner for our tracking chips while I place my duffle bag on the floor in front of me. I pull out two robes and start dressing them both.

"Upload complete," they both announce.

"Shadow, Zoey going into battle mode," I say. Their feed comes up on my phone and I unplug them.

"Battle mode activated," they both say.

"See these tracking signals?" I ask. They both bow their heads. "That's us. If you see someone that looks like any of us and isn't this showing up as a tracking signal shoot them,"

"Affirmative," they both accept the order. Their hands instantly change into their cannons. I set their positions on my phone.

"Go to your positions. No doubles leave the building. By all means. Stay hidden," I order.

"Holy s**t," Delilah says.

"Why don't we just send them in?" Ro asks.

"They might have different active bloods inside of them. They can instantly shift to them," I explain. Stacy lands next to me and smiles.

"Sup," she gives me a nod. The robots both take off.

"The others are below," Carson says. I stand up looking them all over.

"Okay," I let out a nervous sigh. "These things have a variety of abilities. The older they are, the more powers they gather through the blood they ingest,"

"The one that got us has Panther abilities," Stacy adds.

"Right, that's how she f****d me up and there were two of them. Protection isn't going to help against it. I don't know what the other ones have up their sleeve. All I know is that if we don't get rid of these things now, she's not going to stop,"

"Why is she after you?" Damian asks.

"It's my fault," Stacy raises her hand. "B.B. and I went into this Wendigo den and I had just f****d around with Shane. These things hate shifters. Particularly tigers. The guy changer was like you're a tigress and I'm like nah man I'm an omen and he attacked me. B.B. told him to f**k off and he didn't so she killed him. The girl changer is after B.B. because she saved me from her guy. They were mates or whatever.

"She kind of snuck up on us and B.B. couldn't go after her 'cause I was down. Our blood was everywhere but she thought I was a tiger so obviously they weren't going to use it but B.B. was badly wounded. Like I thought she was gonna die badly. I don't know how she was able to take me up into our tree and take care of us. It was glorious. I cannot wait to cut into this b***h,"

"Okay, death to all Changelings," Lucien nods. "Let's go,"