Author's Note:
Buona sera everyone! (Or Buongiorno, whatever. I'm easy)
It's been a while, so I hope you like the 3000 and some-odd words I managed, to make up for that. The truth is, I've been struggling with this story, and until recently didn't know how to go about it. Those who have read my other stuff know I'm fond of Violence and demented relationship dynamics. It's been bugging me that there is so little of that here, so I'm ready to slip back into my old ways and give Mr. Largo a little push toward Scary.
Also
If anyone wants the photographs mentioned in this chapter, PM me and I'll link/send them to you.
These pictures kinda re-inspired me. I was lost as to how to show Pavi's darker side and stay true to his character. Thank the Goddess, Ogre gave me exactly what I needed, and now I'm happy to continue. (Cuz between you and me, I was thinking of deleting it. But not anymore!)
The last picture is the background on my comp, because his evil smile is Hella-sexy.
(This first bit was inspired by "Same Song and Dance" by Eminem. If you haven't heard it, or don't like him, listen anyway. It's just so…fucked up. *bright smile*)
R&R PLZ!!!
Pavi Largo
"Someone! Help me!!" The pretty blonde's fingers had long ago turned bloody and weak as she pounded on the deeply tinted glass of the inside of his car. (Not that it really mattered, he didn't need her hands.) Thrown carelessly across the back seat, she continued to beat at the window, sobbing and carrying on for the last half hour.
"You're only going to hurt'a yourself, bella." Pavi did a rather distracted soothing voice as he steered the car to the right, but it evidently wasn't up to par. She turned to him, eyes wide and glassy, and he suddenly regretted trying to shush her.
"Please." Her voice broke as she drug herself to the center console. The passenger seat had been leaned back as far as it could be for when she had been unconscious, so she rolled herself into it easily and grabbed his sleeve. His 200 dollar sleeve.
"Please, Mr. Largo. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry. I just…" Her voice trailed off into a quiet sob and he glanced over. The fine blue material of his sleeve was wrinkling under her bloody fingers. The shirt was ruined. Eyes narrowing slightly, he looked up at her only to shift to another worry entirely.
Her face, once smooth and rosy, was now splotchy and swollen from her continuous sobbing. He couldn't have that, not if he wanted that beautiful little face for himself. The girl (he'd already forgotten her name) seemed to take his attention as a sign that he cared, and gallingly pushed on.
"I just want to go home." And, just like that, her voice was so strained, so sweet, he nearly kissed her. Tonight had started out being just about sex. He was bored, and craving something new; but the more time he'd spent with her, the more she smiled, or batted her lashes, something in him had stirred. The need to posses her beauty; to steal it for himself like the dragons in fairytales. He hadn't been able to control himself, and as soon as he'd gotten her into his car, it'd been off to GeneCo tower. Off to the sterile, chilled rooms in the underground floors where he could properly work without distractions.
Pavi figured she deserved honesty at this point, so he didn't worry about cushioning his words when he spoke to her.
"I'm not'a taking you home tonight, bella." She didn't seem to understand at first, then the color flushed from her cheeks, her mouth falling open.
"B-but, when..?"
"You won't'a be going back any time soon." To this he chuckled softly, turning his attention back on the rubble-lined back road he'd taken, just to be safe. That probably wasn't the smartest of actions.
With a wild cry, the girl launched herself at him, clawing and biting and slapping at his face. All the while she screamed obscenities and promised retribution should he hurt her. Normally violence was not his style. Unlike Luigi, he'd didn't believe that all of life's woes could be cured with a blade and some duck-tape. (Well…)
Strangely, he didn't find himself regretting it when he shoved her back and grabbed a fistful of her hair. Fighting to gain back control of the car, he bashed her face into the dashboard in front of her and cursed. The girl slumped forward, still conscious, and let out a few soft, pitiful noises. He pulled her back up by her hair and inspected the damage. If he'd split her lip, or something worse, this whole process would have been a waste of time, and then he would have to just kill her.
Couldn't have rumors getting worse about where he obtained his faces. Papa had done his best to promote his son's startling hobby as a new fad, but people weren't stupid.
She was bleeding, but the broken skin was at the hairline. He could cut around it, so there was no problem. Pavi breathed a sigh of relief, releasing her to slump forward again, and pulled into the underground parking garage that led the employees into GeneCo.
By the time he'd parked and gotten out of the car, the girl was lucid enough to shrink away from his opening her door. She drew in a quick, deep breath, but he slapped a palm down over her mouth and leaned in close before she could release the scream.
"Hush now, cara, I do not want to have'a to make you." But I will, was the unspoken ending, which she seemed to understand. After a moment, she gave him a few little nods and he smiled, stroking her cheek lovingly. "Grazie."
Pavi had to lean into the car and lift her into his arms like a bride to get her into the building. Not because she was being needlessly difficult, but in the…passion…of the moment, he'd accidently broken her ankle. He'd really never meant to do it, she'd simply been running, and accidents happened. The convenience, however, was not lost on him, as now she couldn't run if she tried.
When they got into the elevator, she'd begun sobbing again, but the sound was muffled by his shoulder, where she'd buried her face. Her thin arms were wrapped around his neck tightly, and she trembled. If she didn't stop crying soon, he would have to wait for the swelling to go down before he could get to work, and he was not a patient man when it came to such things.
Pavi, kissed her hair, and held her closer in his arms, whispering soothing words to her. Promises he didn't intend to keep, and she probably didn't believe anyway.
But hey, it's'a the thought that counts.
Sage Makatza
"Genterns!" Dena tapped her clipboard on the steel cart beside her and waited for us to gather. She was the mother hen, the Queen Bitch, if you will, and I don't think anyone hated that more than me. I crossed my arms under my chest, staying at the fringes of the group to watch it all. The girls giggled and whispered amongst one another, eager for their next assignments. Sometimes I wondered if they were all sharing some euphoric drugs, because no one took such pleasure in their jobs. Then I got irritated that no one had bothered to let me in on the fun. Lord knew I could use the pick-me-up and Z just made working harder.
"Ok, girls, "Dena smiled brightly to everyone except me. "It's almost dawn which means.." she trailed off pointedly, waiting for someone to complete the sentence.
"Duty Call." The Gentern toward the front cried in her usual high-pitched airhead voice. Dena grinned and nodded, looking down at her clipboard.
"Right. Now, today marks a new rotation, so everyone listen closely for their assigned stations."
I sighed boredly, trying not to zone out lest I miss my name. Dena rattled off the first few stations and Genterns now assigned to them, then paused. Her eyes flicked up to the back of the crowd, to me, which made me slightly uncomfortable. It didn't help that her smile had turned wicked and cold.
"Sage." She barked my name and nodded toward the steel cart behind her. "You're on cart duty this morning." There was a collectively draw breath of pity and the girls parted for me to go to it.
"What exactly does the entail?" I asked, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Dena gave a sickly sweet smile and shrugged. "Take this cart up to the apartments on the fiftieth floor. The vitamins are labeled clearly, so you shouldn't have too much trouble."
Vitamins? What was this bitch talking about?
"Wait." I shook my head, confused. "Aren't those the Largo apartments?"
"Yes." Dena nodded, already looking down at her clipboard again. "Which also makes them top priority."
My jaw bobbed a few times as I tried to think of what to say until Dena turned her dark eyes back up to me.
"Is there a problem?" she arched a brow, probably praying I'd say Yes and give her excuse to complain to Rotti and get me canned. Seeing as it would also result in my dying, I wasn't willing to give her the chance and shook my head.
"Nope." I stormed passed her, grabbed the cart as I went and headed for the elevator.
One day that bitch would be at my mercy, and when that day came, she would find that I had none.
xXx
I'm not quite sure what it was Dena expected me to really do. Or how, for that matter, the unlucky Genterns before me had gotten through it. Was there a trick of some sort? A special tactic maybe? Whatever it was, I wished they had told me BEFORE I'd made it to the first of the Largo apartments.
Luigi's.
I was going to die if I woke him up. A tiny voice in the back of my head told me to skip his room entirely, but feared the repercussions of such an act as well. As a peacemaking gesture, I'd stolen a small portable coffee maker. My olive branch should he open his door armed.
Swallowing the knot forming in my throat, I reached up to the fake wood door then faltered. My knuckles brushed the wood soundlessly at first as I whispered motivating promises to myself that all would be fine. Again my fist raised, head turning away as if to shield me from his wrath, and I brought it down on the door hard enough to make a decent knock.
Almost instantly, the door hissed open and Luigi Largo scowled out at me, fixing his ascot into place.
"You're late."
"I am." I agreed, not wanting to offend him. Then again, my breathing wrong would offend him, so I wouldn't have much luck.
Luigi's scowl deepened into a dangerous leer and he opened his mouth to yell, but I held up a placating palm.
"Wait!" This seemed to surprise him enough that he settled, not used to having The Help speak this way, or at all. "I come baring wake-up gifts."
He frowned deeply as I turned to the cart and poured his coffee. For my own security, I placed the cart between us. It wouldn't stop him from coming after me if he really wanted to, but it would slow him down at least. (Not that I could run very fast in these heels anyway)
"It's the good stuff, not the crap we drink." I held out the small foam cup, fighting to keep myself from shaking as he stared me down. Several moments later, he reached out and snatched the cup from my hand, taking a sip, all the while glaring at me over the rim. My nerves turned off the filter on my mouth, so I couldn't keep myself quiet.
"If that's not to your liking Mr. Largo, I could run down and get you something else. Whatever you need."
"You're that bitch Pavi was groping at yesterday." He looked me up and down with a sneer, but I didn't bother correcting him.
"Yup. I'm the bitch from the limo." I smiled.
He stared at me again, only this time I thought I saw a hint of humor in his eyes. Whatever it was, the light faded quickly and his scowl returned, but he didn't pull a knife of yell so I took it as a good sign and handed over the bottle of tiny acid green pills. He popped a few into his mouth and slammed the glass back down on the cart. I was ready to offer a smile when he stepped back into his room and the door hissed back closed without a word.
Well…alrighty then. I suppose that went well.
I wasn't dead or mamed, so GO ME!
Feeling slightly more confident then I had in days, I click-clacked down the long hallway, to another door. Amber's room. I lifted my hand to knock on the door but it wooshed open before I could knock. One of the two huge, bondage guards stood in the doorway, his face blank. Even inside he wore his black shades.
"Miss Sweet is still sleeping." He spoke in a deep, monotone that made my brows rise slightly. It was hard not to smile as he reached out and grabbed the bottle on my cart labeled for Amber. "I will see that she gets these." Then he turned his back on me and the door closed.
"Yes sir." I saluted then shook my head and pushed my cart forward. A few yards down, the hallway made a sharp left and I followed, coming to a stop a few feet from the door.
Pavi was in there.
The thought clenched my stomach. This really wasn't what I needed first thing in the morning. Then again, perhaps the hour would mean he was groggy from the nights…activities. (Whatever they were, I had no desire to know) Then again, something told me that Pavi Largo was never too tired to hit on anything female.
"Damnit." I breathed and reached out to knock on the door.
Nothing happened.
I knocked again, wondering why I even bothered, but knowing I couldn't just leave. I didn't want to give him anything he could use against me. So, clenching my teeth, I knocked harder, cursing when there was still no answer.
This fuck was probably still wrapped around whatever nameless bint he'd found the night before. The thought irritated me more then it should have, but I pressed back those thoughts and tapped my foot.
"Ugggh. I hate my job." I groaned as I forced myself to reach up and touch the door handle.
It fell open before I could even try, but there was no one on the other side of the door, just darkness. I blinked a few times to see better, then pulled off my mask and tossed it onto the cart.
"Mr. Largo?" There was no answer from within the apartment. Was he a heavy sleeper? "Mr. Largo, I have your…" But I trailed off, frowning. He wasn't going to answer me, if he was even awake, and I wasn't going to get fired.
Which left only one option.
"I can't believe I'm even considering this." The fact that I spoke aloud proved just how nervous I was as I stepped into the room, bottle in hand.
The apartment was dark, more so when the damn door slid shut behind me. My arms went out to try and get a sense of my surroundings. If only I could find the fucking light panel, or a lamp I could-
"Shit!" My shin cracked against something solid and I stumbled forward, arms flying out to catch myself before I fell. They found the rough leather of a cushion…a couch maybe. Limping slightly, I trailed my hand along the back of the couch and found a side table. Upon that, was a squat, metal something. I skimmed my fingers up its smooth surface and found a tiny littly switch.
A lamp.
Sighing in relief, I clicked it on, then blinked at the sudden brightness. His living room, from what I could see in the dim light, was large and typical male. Black Leather couch and armchairs, simple wooden tables and all of this faced a wall that I assumed became his TV. At the edges of the pool of light, I saw what might have been the corner of a bar, and on the opposite side of the room, another door. His bedroom maybe?
I sighed again, rubbing my shin. If I'd just given myself a bruise, there would be hell from Dena. Genterns were meant to give surgeries and look pretty. No one wanted to ogle a redhead with an amorphous black bruise on her leg.
"Just fucking great." I breathed, already deciding I'd blame Pavi for this. It was his room after all. I was ready to storm over to his bedroom door when the drawer on the side table caught my eye. It was open enough that I could see the yellow corner of an envelope tucked away inside. While curiosity had killed that cat, I liked to think of myself as a bit more intelligent then a house pet. Nibbling on my lower lip, I pulled the drawer open just enough to retrieve the envelope, then leaned back against the couch and opened it.
There were three glossy photographs in the yellow package. Black and whites of…
"Oh god." Heart racing, I felt my stomach roll as I flipped through them.
The first was an angled shot of Pavi, before the face masks. Back when I'd admired him. He was poised around an unconscious young woman, long, curved blade against the line of her jaw. He wore white surgical gloves and in the edge of the photo, I saw the head of another girl.
What the fuck was this? I ran a finger across the photographs, holding it toward the light for closer inspection.
There were three girls, actually. Two sprawled on the ground, unconscious or dead. The blond on her back seemed unharmed, but the one propped against her stomach barely looked human. Her face was covered in a dark grayish I could only assuming was blood. Her hair was matted with it, and seeing as Pavi's gloves were now covered in it, I'm sure my guess was right. He was still working on the first girl in this image, but he'd finished half of the face, cradling her head in one hand while he skinned her with the other.
The last image was the worst for me, though it was the less extreme of the three. As it turned out, the blond was alive. The shot was a close up of Pavi kneeling above her and tilting up her chin as she stared at him with horror. The other girl was slumped in shadows halfway out of frame, but I didn't need (or want) to see her face. It seemed that he'd moved on as well, with his blade on the blonde's forehead. The smile on his face was twisted and yet…alluring. He gazed down at her with a perverse pleasure that somehow made him all the more attractive. Which in turn made my stomach roll again.
What had it been like to have him stare down at her that way, while her friend's corpses lay tangled around her? The bastard must have enjoyed it, what with the way he looked so at ease in the images. Suddenly it clicked what these were and I sucked in a breath.
Everyone knew the rumors about how he got his faces. I'd long ago come to grips with the sick fact, but this. This was different. Seeing the horror for myself was…
Frightening.
Then another thought bubbled up into my head to crash around with the other thousand. How much would someone pay for these sort of images? For slanderous evidence against a Largo? Christ, I could sell this for thousands.
And then there was the possibility of blackmail.
Suddenly excited, I stuffed the envelope back into its drawer, keeping the photographs pressed against my stomach, and closed the thing. I needed to talk to Grave. He would know how to go about this, since I didn't know the first thing about blackmailing anyone. Especially royalty. (I was just going to assume he did) Laughing to myself, I turned and snatched up Pavi's bottle of vitamins and stepped toward the door.
"You forgot the light, bella."
Every once of warmth drained from my body as I went rigid. My eyes snapped opened so wide it was uncomfortable, but I couldn't look away. Pavi Largo stood in the open door to the hallway. His gaze, already locked on me, slid down to the large black and whites I clutched to myself then snapped back up to my eyes knowingly.
I drew in a deep breath, glanced at the doorway behind him, and ran.