Hallows: Pretty Snakes & Devils

Low Blow, I know

In This Moment- River Of Fire

B.B.

I know I told the guys that I would drop this thing with the Fringe and the former Daemon Stone, but the universe has spoken gentlemen and the hand of science has firmly secured his hand around my throat. I am starting to believe that the universe doesn't answer my prayers because I'm usually popping up where it is least convenient for others and I'm okay with those answers. This new me business has me seeing things differently. The other night was insane. I'd never felt anything like that and resting under those runes is therapeutic. So I am in, two hundred percent.

Dec is setting up the original mannequin I had used to start Zero One. I've been waiting for my chance to blow the science fair away, but unfortunately, my focus is on the guards in the back of the showroom. Through those doors is Bellen Jaquez. The new director of the New City Fringe sector. She went in there with several other high-rank Hallows minutes after Mrs. Whitmore pointed us to our booth. The whole thing reeks extra sketchy to me.

"B," Dec tugs my lab coat. I glance at him as I finish uploading the old program.

"Yeah?"

"You have been wanting to be here for how long? And you're not even paying attention, Lil Mama. What are you doing?" he asks annoyed. He has every right to be upset about me being distracted.

"I know," I turn my attention to him. "But I can do this in my sleep. That," I glance at the guards. "They tried to get rid of Vic. Ahsan says the Fringe didn't know but what if it's not the Fringe itself? This was covered up so good we never even thought to ask. D and I accidentally stumbled into that. Accidentally, Dec. those kids would be dead. I was ready to leave,"

"You're right," he sighs. "I know you are, baby but you promised. We can't do anything about that right now. Not until Zoey decrypts what you found. Stay here with me. Can you do that?"

The guys nicknamed my bot Zoey and I love it. I'm not very good with names. With one last glance at the door, I give him what he wants. I help him finish up. He hands me the tablet and I set it down on the table in front of me as I made sure the mannequin is secure for it to move around. It is taking literally all of my self-control not to turn my attention to the doors.

This build isn't anywhere near as boss as the ones we built together. I literally built the entire thing inside of a bendable, no-face, store mannequin. Sure I added to it but it'll never be what Dec and I created together. Individually, we're amazing at this but together, there is no f*****g way anyone can keep up. Not to mention the hours we've spent together falling in love with more than just our bodies.

"I was thinking-" I straighten up and look back at Dec, except Dec isn't the one sitting there. Carson is. Carson dressed in his formal ROTC uniform. His arms are crossed over his chest and he's glaring at me. Ugh, this is definitely not a good distraction. Sexy motherfucker is everywhere. Why does he have to be here today of all days? "What are you doing here?"

"That is not the greeting I expected, B," he shakes his head. Dec stops and looks between us when he comes over with a box of activities we have for our robot. I glare at him and he laughs.

"This one wasn't on me, Baby. I didn't call him. I wanted you all to myself today," he defends himself and gifts Carson with my favorite evil side glance. "What the f**k, man?"

"Ahsan called me," he says like it's not a big deal. "We have eyes on Bellen,"

"I told you," I poke Dec in the ribs. He almost drops the box. I forget he can be hella ticklish when he's happy.

"That doesn't explain what you're doing here," I say and turn around to finally full-heartedly work on this half-assed project. If they're here, I am one step closer to getting into that room. So, for now, I can focus on this.

"Ready?" Dec asks when I finish connecting the left arm. I nod watching as he carefully presses the chest piece into place.

A lot of eyes turn our way as the gears start to turn on. I take the tablet off the table and type in the test sequence. I don't want her to get up until it's time to show her off. We named her Stevie and by we I mean Damian. Stevie isn't hooked up to any wires. She is laying on her charging station that we set up on the back table of our booth. We are four contestants away from going on stage to present her. I test her movements as Mrs. Whitmore comes over to us, his eyes wide.

"It works?" he asks and I take it personally. He takes a step back when I turn my glare at him.

"What the f**k is that supposed to mean?" I growl.

"Easy, princess," Carson places his hand on my lower back. Right, in public he plays the perfect gentleman high school sweetheart.

"I just-" he shakes his head. "You don't take anything seriously, B.B. Forgive me for thinking this wouldn't be any different,"

"Maybe if your half-assed curriculum had anything good to offer, I wouldn't have to find other ways to entertain myself," I scoff. "I have the best scores in your stupid school. You're the one that's been keeping me from doing what I really want. Had you let me graduate last year, I wouldn't have to be here with a bunch of f*****g amateurs,"

I shove my tablet into his chest and walk away. Carson of all people apologizes to him and follows after me.

"B," he grabs my arm and turns me around.

"He pisses me off. I told Rudy I didn't want him here," I rant.

"I know, B but you can't just disrespect the Dean like that in front of everyone," he scolds me but it's obvious he's enjoying this. Asshole.

"He was talking s**t to my face, Car. I don't take anything seriously. Me? I literally panic when Stacy gets a f*****g B," I growl. "That f*****g home-wrecking twink thinks he can talk to me like that? I'd break him if I didn't have Stacy to deal with,"

"As much as I'd love to see that, you need to relax," he gently tips my chin up and presses a kiss to my lips using his glamour to get me to relax. "This is a big deal for you. We've waited a long time for you to get here. Did you really think I was going to miss this?"

"I'm sorry," I shake my head.

"A lot of people from school are here to see you. Stacy did the thing on her phone," he leans in letting his glamour caress my exposed skin. Which is a lot because I'm wearing the stupid school uniform under my lab coat and it's not exactly modest. "Better?"

"Yeah," I say breathlessly.

"Okay, now take a couple of deep breaths and go apologize,"

"I will take the breaths because you smell amazing," I breathe him in. "But I'm not going to apologize,"

"Is that really First Lady behavior?" he whispers in my ear. I look up at him annoyed.

"I'll apologize if you tell me what's going on," I cross my arms over my chest. He smiles like I just said the cutest thing ever and then lowly growls at me. Just loud enough for me to hear it and maybe Dec.

"I am going to have gray hairs before we get into the White House, evil thing from the trenches," he keeps his composure and I have to give him lots of points for this because I am going to use it to my advantage. Eve slithers out from under my lab coat's sleeve, twining around his arm until she shimmies into his coat. "B.B." he clears his throat. "Baby, I will take you somewhere secluded and f**k you so hard you won't be able to give your presentation,"

"Just tell me, Carson," I hit him with his full name. Low blow, I know, but all is fair game now. A threat isn't a signed punishment agreement. He has no f*****g idea what he's unleashed and I have it in good faith of the universe that I'm not the only one who had been caged by this contract. So was he and the others. To free himself, Carson freed us all. "And after I claim first place, I expect you to have the secluded area secured," his pupils expand and then shrink back down but he doesn't lose the smile. "I'll keep the lab coat on," we both look down when I tuck my hands into the lab coat pockets and show him the new shoes he got me. I show him how cute they look and laugh. "Oh, yeah, and these,"

"Lucien didn't stand a f*****g chance with you, did he?" he shakes his head. "We're going to do all those things now. It's already imprinted in my head. But the answer is still no,"

"Fine," I click my heels together. "You asked for this, Diablo,"

"B.B. I don't like that tone," he calls after me when I spin around to go back to the Dean. He follows.

"I apologize, Dean Whitmore. I'm just kind of nervous. I was wondering if I could maybe be moved to last. My program is taking a little longer to download than expected," I bat my eyes innocently at him. He lets out a heavy sigh and nods.

"I'm sorry too, B.B. I shouldn't have said that to you," he hands me my tablet back. "Quick question. What is that?"

"My robot?"

"The thing in your hand. I've never seen an iPad like it. Is it Android?"

"No, I made it to work the robot. The programs on here are specific to Stevie," I tap it. His eyes widen.

"That alone would get you first place," he whispers.

"I know but first place isn't the only goal," I turn my attention to the judges. "They're scouting for P.A.s and interns next year and I plan to have my place secured. I'd also like them to fight over me. Can't make it too easy,"

"You just have your life all mapped out like a crazy person, don't you?" he laughs.

"Ours too," Carson mumbles.

"I need to powder my nose. Excuse me," I roll my eyes at the two of them.

Carson reaches for me but it's too late. I reach under my skirt for my blade and turn around to make sure he sees it. He excuses himself from the Dean and starts walking my way. I make it past the crowd and take a look around. When I'm close to one of the guards. I cover her mouth and press the knife into her lower back. She immediately puts her hands up.

"Shhh, this isn't about you," I whisper in her ear. "Just relax and come with me,"

"Belladonna," Carson growls when I push her into the empty stairway. She pulls her gun and starts to raise it but Carson disarms her with one hand and grips her by the throat with the other. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You're what's wrong with me. Tell me what's going on or I will gut her and strangle you with her intestines," I threaten. He looks at her nervously and shakes his head with disbelief before shoving her away. I stand in front of the stairs while he blocks the door.

"Come on, kid. Tell her whatever she wants to know," she pleads.

"Fine. They're having a meeting about the kids. They found more and they're all marked. They don't know what to make of them or where they even came from," he sighs. "Happy?"

"Grim said he had a thing to help active Hallow children into the Fringe's system. He told me the story of how he became the Stone of Darkness's Reaper. Car, what if Daemon was working with the Hunters? David's family was here and they had a real hard-on for experimenting on us. They even turned some Hallows against us,"

"That would be treason," the guard shakes her head. "No one other than a f*****g Blackstone would be stupid enough to think they can handle the Hunters,"

"You mean courageous enough. I have hunting immortals on speed dial, b***h. And if I told my dad you guys were meeting here in secret, there would be hunters crawling all over the place,"

"The rumors are true for once, huh?" she looks me over. "Daddies' little princess. Black death and a hunter piece of s**t,"

"So?" I shrug.

"You're talking about the base in Texas," she nods. "We've heard of it. We can't get anywhere near the place. There are no friendlies when we're on enemy territory like that. The hunters shoot and the Hallows do what Hallows do best to protect their babies. It's just as bad as Hellbourne,"

"Thank you for your candor-" I pause.

"Oh, I'm Giana. Giana Bennette. I am honored to meet you. Merciful Death in the Flesh. Holy s**t," she grins. "You are way f*****g hot. I mean it's ridiculous,"

"Belladonna Blackstone," I offer her my hand. She smiles and takes it.

"B.B.," she nods.

"Carson, give her my number," I smack his arm.

"For what?" he growls.

"Intel exchange, Sweetie. I want to know what they know and she's going to want to know what I know, right? And I don't know it,"

"f**k yeah. If I can help you find the assholes who have been taking kids, I'd finally have the vengeance my stone deserves," she agrees.

"See, Robin s**t, Batman," I poke him. He presses his lips together and gives her my number. "Sorry, I pretended I was going to stab you. I'm still learning how to manipulate my-"

"Enough," he wraps his hand around my throat and pulls me away from her.

"Good luck, B.B.," she waves at me as he hauls me away. He lets me go when we step out the door.

"Give me the f*****g knife," he growls and snatches it out of my hand. "Where are your other weapons?"

"If you can't get them yourself, I'm not giving them up," I don't have any other weapons. This is a room full of high school kids, but he doesn't need to know that. His eyes are staring back at my own with the fire required to incinerate a hundred bodies.

"B.B. where the hell have you been? You're on next," Mrs. Whitmore waves me over to him. His hand flinging back and forth rapidly.

"We will continue this when I am finished," I smirk.

"You bet your sweet tight ass we will," he growls. I laugh nervously as I hurry over to Dec. He laughs as he pins my name tag on my lab coat.

"You are in deep s**t," he grins. "Your survival skills a non-existent. You know that?"

"Yes, and I have access to power that makes me reckless. Ash points that out a lot in our video sessions," I nod. He laughs and holds up my tablet.

"Are you ready?" he asks.

Maybe Carson was right and I was focused on the doors because I'm nervous. This is a small step outside of the Blackstone legacy my parents created. I don't want to be known as Dante and Ashley Blackstone's daughter. The one that didn't get kidnapped as the media puts it. I want to be B.B. and one day, Dr. B.B. I'm not a rockstar. I never have been and I don't ever want to be. It's scary because literally, everyone else in my family is. I'm the oddball in a family full of misfits. They'd never judge me for failing but I will and I know that there's nothing and no one that can f**k me up the way I can. I spent two years learning that. Beating myself over and over until I nearly dived off the edge. I can't fail. I won't. My only other option is death.

"Yeah," I nod and take a deep breath.

I hold it in as we both make our way up to the stage. There is a pretty big crowd here and I feel their emotions. The nervous tightness that turns into nausea. It smells like cinnamon and vanilla. I can taste it in my mouth along with the sharp stinging scent of arrogance and competition. It's a rich scent. Like expensive liquor. Remy is close by enjoying the atmosphere provided. Ive felt her from the moment I stepped out of the Phantom with all my things.

"Ready when you are," the director hands me the mic. I take in the scent in the air and give him a nod.

"To Engrossing Death," my dad's voice nearly knocks the wind out of me. I look up to see my parents and David standing in the crowd. I tighten my hold on the mic and hold it up in front of me. Whatever you do, B.B., don't curse. Don't f*****g curse.

"Good afternoon," I greet everyone. "My name is Belladonna Blackstone and this is Decarious Adams. My partner,"

"Hello," Dec waves at everyone. He's leaning against the display table with the black box with all of Stevie's toys.

"In nineteen twenty-seven Thea Von Harbour and Fritz Lang introduced one of the greatest concepts in cinema. This black-and-white masterpiece inspired movies like the Terminator series and I-Robot. It didn't just change science fiction it changed science itself. It became an idea that many robotic specialists strive for.

"I'm not going to stand up here and tell you that I did this for the benefit of the world. When I started this project, I started because I was alone. I had just lost my sister and I couldn't even bring myself to look my mom in the eyes. It started off as a game of Shogi," I get a couple of laughs. "It was my sister's favorite game because no one could ever beat her at it. I kid you not, to this day I have no idea how to play this game," more laughs. "And then the game did something weird. It got bored. So, I presented a game I am good at. Chess and for a bit, I was better at it than her but the more we played the more she learned. So, I gave her a voice and continued to help her grow,"

I hold up my tablet and press the power button. Everyone looks back at my booth. Stevie sits up and turns her body. She jumps off the table stumbling forward and giggles when she steadies herself. When she looks up she scans the room and then starts to make her way over to me when she identifies me. The crowd moves out of her way. The emotions in the air shift. Fear. Jealousy. Excitement.

"Sup, B.B. It's been a while," she greets me and holds her fist out.

"Hey, Stevie," I bump my fist against hers. "I'd like to introduce you to some people,"

"Sure," she nods and turns to face the crowd. They all stare at us in disbelief. I take in the essence of failure and disappointment coming from the contestants. I scan the other contestants and smile as politely as I can. They know that no matter what they've created, it's just not going to compare.

"Everyone, this is Stevie. The first successful Self-Aware Mechanoid of her kind. Stevie, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Hello," she says stepping forward. "I am Prototype Zero-Zero-One. But you all may call me Stevie. I prefer it. I look forward to getting to know all of you,"