Chiropractor anyone? jk Enjoy!
Vergil didn't wake up for the next three days. I was half worried that he'd die on me. I don't know what I was thinking. I actually am starting to believe he refuses to die just so I can't sleep in my own bed the jerk. Not that I'd have any idea what the hell I'd do with his cadaver if he ever did bite the big one. In any case he was hanging in there. At least I didn't have to worry about him going through my stuff when I was at work and he was exactly were I left him when I came back home. I'm starting to think Vergil is nicer when he's unconscious.
The day Vergil finally woke up was perfect. Perfect weather, perfect sun, perfect blue sky. That day I was also watching Jillian and Will for Elizabeth Jones again. This time Elizabeth had to pull a daytime shift and the sitter had called in sick at the last moment. Thus I was summoned with the promise of free cookies and dirt digging. What's a better combo than mud and cookies?
Mrs. D was showing the three of us how to plant everything from carrots to cacti. She had a green house on the rooftop. It smelled like heaven, if such a thing is possible. Mrs. D was doing an amazing job of replicating it for a nosey old biddy. I was retuning my guitar while Will and Jillian learned the proper watering techniques for small domesticated roses.
"Mommy's home," Jillian sang suddenly. "Mommy's home! I'm going to give her this! Bye bye Lor!" I looked up into Jillian's messy face, she was holding a dark scarlet rose that smelled like candy. Jillian is the photonegative of her brother. Blond platinum hair, pretty blue eyes, fair skin too. Will was the dark brooding one, with the brown-black movie star hair and black eyes you could fall into. Of the two of them Jillian was the more outgoing one.
"Sure honey," I told her. Slowly Will approached me as Jillian said good bye to Mrs. D.
"Thank you, Lor," Will said quietly.
"No problem," I shrugged strumming my guitar. It was still out of tune.
"You play well," he commented, watching me. "I can hear you at night sometimes, through the walls. It sounds lonely at night though. The darkness is always more evident in your music when you play at night." I stared at Will. What did he mean the 'darkness' was more obvious? How would he know what my darker side was anyhow?
"Whatever." I grabbed for a cigarette. I hadn't had one all day.
"I'd like to thank you Lor, you're a good friend. If you ever need anything, mother told me to tell you not to hesitate to ask. Mother believes she is indebted to you. No doubt it has something to do with Cage," Will said softly, looking at his hands.
"What?" I asked quietly. I sucked on my cig and sized him up.
"Mr. Cage gets released from the hospital soon," Will said. I felt my throat close up. Coughing I tried to exhaled without choking. Cage had been in the hospital for nearly a month? Too bad Vergil's little love taps hadn't killed him. I wonder…is he still possessed? Fingers crossed.
"Is he?" I asked Will softly after I'd recovered. "I doubt you need to worry too much, he cann't walk right?" Will nodded.
"Why couldn't you have killed Cage?" Will asked. There was a quiet heat to his words. "Why is he still alive? He's worthless, the entirety of his life is. Why didn't you kill him?" Will looked at me with dark eyes were detached. I know that look, he wanted bloody justice. Almost as much as I did.
"What's wrong Will, you don't believe in Karma?" I mused. "Believe me, he'll die, and when he does, it'll be a lot more painful than staying alive." If what Vergil said was anything to go on. Will stared at me, confused. I gave him a sad grin, as I felt the cigarette smoke burning my throat. "Go home Will, say hello to your mother for me."
"Good night Lor. I'm sorry if I was rude," Will started walking to the fire exit. Just as well, the sun was setting, time for me to get inside as well.
"Don't worry about it," I shrugged. That wasn't rude, that was normal. I sighed and stood up as I watched him walk away. I'd better go check on Vergil. At least he wouldn't put a guilt trip on me.
I was covered in mud. What a way to spend the day. I had to take off my shoes before I dropped onto my couch through the sun light in the ceiling. My poor guitar, I'd smudged it with mud. Nothing a little bit of cleaning wouldn't fix, however, I was taking a shower first. I don't' know how I did it, but I had dirt smeared across my face and all over my arms. Not to mention the dirk caked on my jeans. At least this time it'd wash out in the laundry, unlike a certain half demon's blood I could mention.
Vergil was still out when I passed through my room to the closet. He hadn't even moved. Lazy bum. Quietly, I closed my closet door and began to strip down. I hope like hell he got up soon, I needed a decent night's sleep, the couch was uncomfortable as hell. Yawning I wrapped a bath towel around myself, reaching for my robe I shrugged it on. A hot shower would be nice after such a long and messy day.
Vergil sniffed, it was water. And dirt. He smelled water and dirt. Stirring he pulled himself to full consciousness. Lor's apartment came into focus. Easily he sat up, listening to the running water off in the distance. Stretching he noted the bandages. It was almost amusing for a moment, almost, before it became an annoyance. He doubted he had needed them for quite as long as he'd been wearing them, still he was careful in removing them. Apparently Lauren had experience in bandaging. Rising to his feet, Vergil strode out into the main room of the girl's apartment.
It was empty. The skylight was propped open, catching the last of the sun's fading rays. On the stove a small kettle of water boiled. On her couch the raggedy teddy bear sat, smothered in layers of blankets. She was sleeping on the couch? How had she been able to use the amerhurst in the first place? Something about Lauren didn't add up.
He studied the amazing amount of empty Advil bottles on her counter. There were nearly seven and an eighth bottle already half empty. How could she down half of that let alone all of it? Even he couldn't take that much medication in such sort time period. What wasn't Lauren telling him? That and the fact that he knew virtually nothing about her was somewhat surprising. Lauren seemed to be a loose end on all accounts. It would be a while before the queen knew of her existence, that didn't put her completely out of danger however. Especially if Lauren had some live skeletons in her closet. It was something to keep in mind.
The tea was going off. Guess that shower had lasted a little too long. Oh well. Humming, I headed to the kitchen after shrugging on some pj's and my robe. I could do with a quiet night, my head was pounding with the beginnings of another headache. I was hoping a healthy dose of tea would get rid of them.
I should have known Vergil would pull a stunt on me, the jerk. I thought he was still out as I poured myself some water from the kettle. By then the head ache was in full swing, it was an effort just to pour my water. God, they were getting worse. A sharp, steady pain at my left temple and behind my left eye was increasing by the ten folds. It felt like the gnome brigade had traded in their jackhammers for rusty acupuncture needles.
The pain got so bad so quick, that for a moment I couldn't see anything, the world literally went black, like my eye had gone blind. Both of them this time. God this hurt. Gasping, I held onto the counter for support, even as I felt the kettle filled with boiling water slip from my grasp. Oh shit. That was going to hurt like a bitch when it splattered all over my feet.
"Having difficulties?" he asked. The sound of his voice made me jump, which didn't help the headache. Turning, I saw he was holding the kettle, regarding me with a flat expression and a raised eyebrow. Casually he set the tea kettle down on the stove. "Do you always drop hot water on your feet?" I sighed massaging my head.
"I have a headache," I muttered. Carefully I seeped the baggie into the water letting it turn a muddy tan color. I held onto the cup with both hands as I blew on the tea. "You want some?" He said nothing. I hadn't thought so. Vergil kept studying me as I mixed in sugar and ground up Advil tablets. I can't stand to swallow those things dry anymore, or with water for that matter. I suppose I'm building an endurance to them. What the hell did he think was so interesting?
"Anything you need in particular?" I asked annoyed. "Your stupid sword is in the sink."
"Frog pajamas?" he asked, the beginning of a smirk on his lips.
"Don't be an ass or you'll be wearing my tea," I snapped. I shuffled past him into my living room. I needed to sit down, the world was starting to spin a little on it's axis. I've never had a headache this bad. The tea was gone in record time and it didn't do me a bit of good. Laying down, I cuddled with Gram, piling the blankets high. My poor head…what was triggering these head aches? I wonder if I could get away with blaming them on Vergil.
"You're quieter," Vergil commented approvingly. He had his sword in hand. Casually he sat on the floor and began to clean it. "What's wrong? Little Lauren doesn't like headaches?" Vergil smirked, looking across the room to me. Yuck it up demon boy. Laying on the couch I didn't bother saying anything. Instead I watched him clean his sword. Never seen anyone do that up close.
"What was in the ally?" I asked after a few moments.
"A demon who was foolish," Vergil replied simply, a grin on his face, "he died slowly." First time I'd seen him grin and he was talking about who he had killed. Figures.
"You sleep with the teddy bear?" Vergil asked, his voice was laced with amusement. I stared at him across the dim room, not bothering to reply. Raising an eyebrow, he stood and walked over to me. "No retort? No comment? Interesting. Are you sure you're not dying?" I snorted.
"Well you're here," I replied flatly. My stomach was actually starting to roll. "I just have a headache."
"So you think your dear little teddy bear is going to make it all go away?" Vergil asked sarcastically. I didn't appreciate his tone. He can insult me, I don't care. I can defend myself, but he can't insult my memories. I won't fucking stand for it. I pushed myself up on my elbow, grinding my teeth together.
"Okay bozo, here's the rundown: I scrapped you off the cement, I let you stay here, and made sure you were okay," I growled warily. "You slept in my bed, which, believe me, no one does. You can afford some manners right now, seeing as I'm allowing you the use of my bed for tonight as well. So shut up about my damning teddy bear, you jackass. And since you asked, yes it does help." Chew on that demon boy.
"How so?" he asked smirking.
"Bite me," I snapped, glaring at him.
"I wouldn't dare, Lauren, I've no idea where you've been," he replied chuckling. I didn't bother to reply this time. I bet he gets a kick out of baiting me like this.
"At least I wasn't bleeding to death in an ally way four days ago," I snarled. I did not need his shit. It wasn't helping my head.
"I could fix that if you wanted me to," he smirked, his eyes cold.
"Go away," I moaned. "You're hurting my head." I rolled over squishing Gram to me. Aside from Tiffany, this stuffed teddy bear was all I had left of my family.
"I could fix that as well," he said quietly. "If you would allow me to." I snorted and glanced over to him. Was he asking for permission or being a jerk? With him I never knew.
"How?" I asked warily. Reaching out like greased lightning, he twisted my neck and head till I heard nearly every joint pop or crack. "OW!" I sat up, holding my neck. "What the hell was that?" I demanded. He regarded me with another smirk on his face. "Quit smirking!" I snapped. "That hurt! What did you do that for?"
"Do you still have a headache Lauren?" he asked calmly.
"No, but that hurt!" I snapped before thinking. Wait a minute… my head really didn't hurt. I stared at him blankly, blinking. "How did you do that?" I asked surprised. He shook his head and tucked his hands into his pockets.
"I simply pinched the pain receptor nerves. However, it's not permanent."
"You messed with my spine?" I asked him mildly. He raised an eyebrow.
"Would you rather that I snap it?" I gave him a dirty look.
"I never said I wasn't grateful, you jerk," I grumbled. "You should really consider giving someone a heads up before you're going to go messing with their spine."
"You should consider taking less advil," he replied flatly. I yawned. "Another thing," he added watching me with a bemused expression. "Cutting off the pain receptors also has a side effect of premature sleep." Christ, I knew what he had done. It was the same thing he'd done to me when we'd visited the Hellsmith.
"You jerk," I muttered as I fell backwards onto the couch. He said nothing as he watched me, a smirk never leaving his face. I could literally feel my breathing slowing down and my muscles relaxing. My eyelids felt like thousand pound weights. It wasn't long before everything faded out entirely and the nightmare started.
They were back again, why? My body hurt so much. On the far wall I could see strips of my flesh nailed up and drying. The man in white was there again, clicking his knife fingers together like a screwed up version of Edward Scissor-hands The woman in black was over me, reading from her book of secrets. I didn't want their secrets, why was I here? My own secret, where was it? It was fading away… The woman stopped droning, and the white coat leaned forward, fingers clicking together faster, as if they were a performing band. Then he was carving my arm up, slowly peeling the flesh off. I watched him do this and then I began to scream…it wasn't because of the painful secret. I was the fact that I was already dead.