Chapter One
I sat there, my grey eyes taking in the woman that stood before me; the name, her name, would be forever etched into my brain: Bonnibel. The woman rose to about five foot six in heels, oh how I wondered what she looked like without them on…to see her relaxed and in a pair of lounge pants. "Marceline?" The sleek New York accent hit my ears, causing me to blink and refocus my eyes back on the sleek pink skin that was adorned in pearls and one of her signature gowns. "Yes?" I asked in a low southern drawl, raising to my feet I extended my hand, my suit jacket and shirt sliding up some to reveal an expensive watch. "Thank you…for accepting my father's offer for a truce, I can't wait to let him know that we have the protection of the Don." I tilted my head as she grabbed my hand in hers and shook it firmly, it was as if she was used to dealing with his problems. "Of course." I let the words slide off my southern tongue and grace her ears, my voice alone seemed to make her shudder, I wondered what she looked like under a man's touch.
I watched her walk away from me before my silver eyes glanced away from the door as it closed with a soft click. "Tail her." I spoke in a rough tone to my second in command, Finn, my eyes darkened as I turned to the man; he was the only man I would trust with such a job. "Be discreet, I do not want her nor that excuse of a man to know we are watching them..I don't trust him." My words were almost sharp enough to cut the air, it was the tone Finn and the Flame Princess referred to as my 'boss' tone. "Yes boss." The words, those words always hit me in the gut, I hated that term..I hated what that name had brought me. Nothing. I was still in the position I was in when I was twenty, I had been given a life I had never asked for. Hell, if I had it my way I would give it all back to my father; to the man who had left this family and me without a father. Yes, I know you must be thinking he is dead but no…
Shaking my head I moved to the window that overlooked Long Beach, New York…my new home but not by choice; I could feel the rage and anger towards a non-existent man, which was basically a shadow, raise in me. I turned on my newly shined shoes causing them to scuff and I knew it but with all the money that I inherited who really cared? What was a pair of new dress shoes? I crossed the room to the newly refinished walnut door, as I opened it I swore I could still smell the varnish and it made the insides of my stomach churn more. How my hatred for this place rose more and more every day, turning right I climbed up a spiral staircase to the living quarters of the family. Quickly making my way to my room, I almost slammed the door closed as it was the first time I felt my lungs unclasp and I could breathe freely. Unjudged. Alone. God how I loved that feeling and word, Alone.
My fingers instantly went for the buttons on my suit, tugging them, pulling myself free from the stress and struggles of the world, my world. As the material slid across my torso, it was a mental relief, I was done..I could be Marceline. Marceline the Vampire. Not the don, the boss, godfather, or whatever they called me on the streets. After discarding my clothing into a pile in the corner of the room I made my way to the closet, stopping in front of a full length mirror. My eyes seemed to take in every scar on my body first, just like usual which was slightly sickening to me; most of them were from cage fighting, surviving on the streets of New Orleans. A smile tugged at my features as I noticed the first tattoo I had received. It was my first gang tattoo, that tattoo meant I would belong to the Saints until the end of time…my eyes roamed my now finished sleeves and my freshly tattooed ribs and back.
I was slender, very slender…had I lost weight? I moved closer to the glass that held the reflection, my reflection..who I really was. The thug that pulled guns two years ago to make money to get by, the gang member that had a true family…but at least I had been able to bring Finn with me, my closest friend since I was able to walk. I raised my hand to touch the black hair, my black hair…it had been that color since I was sixteen….what was even my natural hair color? I shook my head and tilted it to the side, almost analyzing my own face…it seemed foreign anymore. When was the last time I looked at myself so closely? The piercings that littered my lips, nose, and eyebrow which were all gone now, just scars remained…the scar that hid underneath my jaw from that one bar fight, and that bite mark above my shoulder on my neck that I hated, god I hated that mark but well…this is me. This is Marceline, ex-gang member and newly appointed boss of a family..no not a family..my family. I blinked at the smirk on my face that was new…when did I become so egotistical about the band of rejects my father left me with?
Turning to face the closet I began to pull my normal clothes from their confines of the back of my closet; a really loose tank top that exposed my ribs and underarms, a pair of plaid boxers, and my favorite shorts, my black boxing shorts. I let out a breath as I moved to grab my boxing bag from the bottom of the closet, tugging my beanie off the dresser I had painted black, I made my way out of that room and my house. Kickboxing sounded lovely right now.