Hallows: Merciful Death

Bratty Demon

Memphis May Fire- Make Believe

B.B.:

Lucien is being escorted into the back of the station. He punched Lovewell so hard that he put him in the hospital with severe damage to his vocals. They're saying he might need surgery. James and a couple of lawyers are here with us. My right leg can't stop bouncing up and down. Espinosa is walking towards us with a Dr. Pepper in his hand. He offers it to me as I look up at him.

"Please, take it," he sighs. I take it and set it down on the floor by my nervous tick. He sits next to me, crossing his arms over his chest, making himself comfortable. The chief of police, Jonathan Ludwig looks beyond pissed as he walks over to us.

"You and Lovewell have been on the force for twelve years now," he shouts at Espinosa. "He's been your partner-"

"f**k him," Espinosa abruptly stands up. "His f*****g mouth has always gotten us into serious s**t. He chose the wrong f*****g kid to talk s**t to. What the f**k was he even doing talking to that kid anyway?"

"Lucien Daniels is a f*****g gang banger. You're going to throw your entire partnership with Lovewell over some f*****g low life,"

"I don't give a f**k who that kid is. He called my daughter a w***e. He has no f*****g right to put Belladonna's name in his mouth for no f*****g reason at all. So yeah, he can f*****g rot on that hospital bed for all I care, sir,"

"You know exactly what she's doing," the chief bites out.

"It's none of your f*****g business, Jonathan. If she wants to f**k Lucien, Carson, Dylan, and that whole little f*****g crew it's none of your f*****g business. She can do whatever the f**k she wants with them," he growls. Oh, my god.

The chief of police looks down at me with an ugly sneer of contempt. I smile innocently at him. Espinosa steps between us catching his gaze again. The chief lets out a heavy sigh before nodding. Espinosa has a point. It's no one's business. I'm enjoying this a little more than I should.

"Let the kid go," he calls out. "You're lucky I'm not making a big f*****g deal about this, chief. I want a new partner,"

"Alright, Espinosa. I'll get you a new partner. Get your f*****g kid out of here," he sneers and turns away to leave.

Luc is released. The two of them address one another with a simple nod. That could have gone completely sideways for us. Luc could have done real-time for assaulting an officer the way he did but someone recorded the argument. Lovewell was baiting Luc until he finally snapped and punched him. A single strike to the throat. Lovewell fell and Luc just walked away as if nothing had happened. The four of us are standing outside as James brings the car around.

"I'm sorry about your partner," I whisper. He looks over at me with a smirk.

"No you're not," he shakes his head. I laugh.

"I mean I'm sorry how things ended. The last thing I want is to cause you any trouble, David," and it's the truth. I don't want to cause him trouble. I think I resent Espinosa for trying so hard to be my dad. I never meant our beef to turn into hate or whatever this is.

"I know, kid," he sighs. "Lovewell had it coming. It could have been anyone,"

"He's not wrong," I shrug. The guys look over at me. "I am doing what he said,"

"I know. But I also know whose kid you are. Dante was different. I mean, I hated him for what he put Ash through but he was a good person. I'm not okay with it but I can't exactly tell you to stop. You're a good kid. Just, not in front of me. Yeah?"

"I promise," I nod. "Call next time. Text. Please,"

"I promise," he agrees. He looks up at Luc and Carson. "Boys,"

"Espinosa," they say tightly. Espinosa gets in his car and leaves.

"I think we need to sit down and talk about this, Blackstone," Luc sighs. "It's clearly bothering you,"

"Did you guys see the place you and Lovewell were standing in front of?" I ask, going over to the car when James climbs out and opens the door for us. I get in giving my back to the driver's seat. Carson and Luc sit across from me. The two of them together like this does things to me. I don't want to talk about what bothers me. Everything f*****g bothers me. Even being alive bothers me sometimes.

"You're avoiding the subject," Luc glares at me.

"It's an old bookstore," Carson smiles.

"Right, you know what Hellbourne doesn't have? A luxury Cafe. I know that place. It's where my dad used to get his first editions. It has a basement and a sub-level basement where they kept the older books in a glass air-tight room to protect the really expensive s**t. We get some new cuts and serve coffee and scones. We're in business," I smile.

"You're a little f*****g mastermind," Luc laughs. "I love baking, How much are we talking in renovations?"

"Well, considering it was burned down. It might take a pretty penny but that's not a problem," I let out a heavy sigh. "The problem is going to be renovating that sub-basement. No one knows it's there. We'd need to pay extra for it. Probably get rid of the evidence after,"

"f**k," Carson nods. "Sounds like a plan. It works in our favor all around,"

"Not just as the front. I need more information on what we are. We trade some good s**t and we get more answers. I want to know why we're here and if we can take this f*****g darkness out. Also, see what else it can teach us,"

"What if not all of us want that?" Luc asks after a few minutes.

I look up at the two of them. Carson is looking out the window. His elbow perched on the door's armrest, his fist pressed up against his mouth. Luc has his hands on his lap and is fiddling with the ring on his middle finger. It's a bunch of teeny tiny skulls welded together all the way around.

It never occurred to me that others wouldn't have a problem with this. In all honesty, I think the only reason I have a problem with it is because I've lost two of the most important people in my life because of it. It's brought on an unimaginable amount of pain and anger without me even knowing what the f**k it is.

"I never considered that," I admit. "I've been a little preoccupied with myself. I never stopped to think of what the rest of you may want,"

They don't say a word. The two of them head over to their cars when James let us out at my house. I stop at the porch and sigh. I opened the front door to see the reaper standing there. She's not smiling this time. Her eyes aren't even on me. They're on them.

"What the f**k do you want now?" I growl. Her face turns down to look at me but she doesn't move otherwise. I walk inside stepping right through her. My body tensed up tightly and suddenly I'm being pushed back. My ass hits the wooden planks that make up the porch. "No," I shout when she appears in the doorway. "You don't get to f*****g tell me what the f**k I need to be doing. This is my life and I decide what I want to do with it,"

The door slams in my face. All of the shutters around the house shut blocking any way inside. The f*****g hallow is having a fit. Perfect. Great. This is just what I needed. A f*****g bratty demon. I stand up and sit down in one of the rocking chairs. She pulls it out from under me. Had I not been leaning forward I would have fallen on my ass again.

"Miss," James tries. I put my hand up cutting him off. The urge to run is overwhelming.

"I need some time to think. Follow if you want. I don't f*****g care,"