Demons Within
Chapter 32: Dusk of the Final Day
"Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation."
― Jalaluddin Mevlana Rumi.
The next day brought with it the dawn of new possibilities. For Celeste, it was the hope of a budding relationship with the son that she lost nearly two decades ago. Being the early bird she was, she wasn't surprised to find he and Jade were sound asleep, the former of which who was sprawled wildly under the blanket. She took a glance over at a prone Jade, her raven hair draping over her tranquil features. Thoughts of how the two became one danced in her mind but, she soon realized something of great relevance to her.
Liam's future.
He would have to make a decision about what he would do moving forward. With him being the descendant of her love, he was the rightful heir to the title of Voodoo King, but he also had a life before arriving in New Orleans. Her heart pressed, she decided to forget about that for the time being and instead focus on some other matters; one of those ideas included making breakfast for the couple.
Over an hour passed by when a pleasant scent caused Jade's nose to twitch, her stomach beginning to growl in a desire for whatever was the reason for that smell. Groggy and hungry, she managed to gather the strength needed to lift her body from the warmth of her slumber. She smacked her lips softly while trying to shake off the residual effects of unconsciousness. She stood up and soon found herself following the magical smell until she was in the kitchen where Celeste was finishing up the last few slices of bacon. What was even more interesting was how the woman was pleasantly humming without a care in the world. It was as if the previous night's events never happened.
"Do you normally stalk around silently?" her soft voice caused the girl to jump slightly.
Jade rubbed her eyes, settling on finding a seat at the counter. "Sorry, I smelled something good and wound up here. I wasn't trying to sneak around or anything."
"It's alright, dear. I wasn't serious about the stalking comment." The older woman giggled gently. "Would you like something to drink? Orange juice? Milk?"
"Coffee, please?" she quipped without delay, further inciting Celeste's amusement. "Preferably two sugars, no cream."
Nodding silently, the older woman grabbed a simple mug and poured the dark liquid inside, the aroma filling Jade with delight. She then handed the drink to the girl with two sugar cubes on the side for her to which she graciously accepted. Bringing the mug to her lips, the heated drink trickled down her throat, soothing her soul in the process.
"Oh God!" she let out an involuntary moan. "This is better than the stuff I have at home. What's in this?"
"Pure Jamaican bean, dear," she smiled warmly, removing the final slice from the skillet. "some rosemary, imported bay leaves, and possibly snail's sludge." As expected, Jade barely managed to keep herself from spewing the coffee across the room, a single drop spilling down her chin from her desperate attempt of courtesy. The room would erupt fill with the sound laughter as Jade rolled her eyes, realizing she'd fallen for the woman's joke.
"I see where Liam get's his sense of humor from now." the goth wiped her lips with her shirt sleeve.
"My apologies," she wiped a tear from her eye, feeling a little guilty about the result of her teasing. "I hope I didn't ruin your appetite. I was trying to lighten up the mood."
Picking up on the dampening vibe, Jade waved off the implied disinterest. "It's alright. Actually, it's one of the things I love about him."
"I shouldn't be surprised given your actions last night," she grabbed a sausage link, stuffing it in her mouth without a care. "I'm still surprised that you would sacrifice your own life, without hesitation, to stop my sister."
"It wasn't anything, really." Jade quickly turned her head, her dark hair shielding her blush from view. "Like I said, I care for Liam deeply, so it was a no-brainer. I just did what I know he would've done if the roles were reversed."
The corners of her eyes crinkled, and her lips twitched. "You did mention that you both have endured many difficult moments together. Would you mind telling me a bit about them, if you don't mind?"
Azure looked back to the meet the duality of amethyst and emerald orbs, sincerity swirling behind the latter.
"Alright, but we may be here a while."
The woman grabbed a prepared plate and set it in front of the girl before taking a seat on the other side of the counter with a large smile. "We have time."
As time went on, Lucille had finally arrived at the shop, opting to take the back way through the alley. After the events of the previous night, she opted to remain with Remy at his family's estate until morning. With her savior in tow, she entered the eerie domain only to find an unexpected guest staring back at them like a deer in headlights. Wide, green orbs locked on the two, their face devoid of any discernable feature other than surprise. From the looks of things, in Remy's eyes at least, the male appeared to have just woken up as his dreadlocks were draped over his face like a wild man. In Lucille's case, she felt her heart skip a beat as she ascertained the identity of the young man with relative ease, punctuated by her lips twitching upward.
"Mind telling us what you're doing here, mate?" The Cajun's brows drooped, creating a tense vibe towards the unknown boy; a fact that didn't go unnoticed by the previously absent minded male. "Or do I have to show you the door the hard way?"
Rolling his eyes, the darker kid scoffed at the threat made by the lanky individual standing to Lucille. "Not that it's any of YOUR business, but, I'm looking for my mom."
"Then you're in the wrong place, boy." his words sliced through the armor of his impending opponent, a point made clearer by his cocky smirk. "I hear the lost and found is on the other side of town."
"Remy!"
"Call me boy again," he snarled viciously, his emerald eyes suddenly turning to pitch blackness. "and you'll find yourself in the hospital."
"Try it... bo- OW!" Remy howled after feeling the hard fist of Lucille crack against the top of his head, forcing him to cower like a scalded dog. "What'd you do that for?"
"Leave Liam alone, Remy!" she rubbed her now aching hand, gritting her teeth from both the blow and the pompous attitude of her childhood friend. "Your sense of 'justice' will be the end of you, I swear."
"Wait? You know this kid?" he pointed at the younger male, who was none too pleased to be profiled by this stranger. "You could've said something, cher..."
She ignored his whining, she walked towards the confused Liam who stood there slackjawed at her sheer strength. This swiftly turned into a tiny sliver of worry that she'd attack him in a similar fashion. A bead of sweat made its descent down his forehead as her unreadable expression drew nearer. When she finally stopped, the young woman tilted her head, her nose flaring slightly, much to his chagrin. Despite all of this, he maintained his composure, mostly due to the dapper gentleman behind them; he didn't want him to see any sign of weakness.
"Liam!" she pulled him into a tight hug, her voice reminding him of a certain unicorn loving redhead. "I'm so happy to see you're safe!" His reply was nothing more than excitable mumbles as he once again found himself ensnared in her luscious bosom. As he flailed helplessly, Lucille simply pulled him closer, showing off her otherworldly strength crushing him even more under the large mounds of flesh on her chest. "I wish you had called first! I would've gotten cleaned up and put on something more... revealing." she nuzzled his head, as his escape attempts slowly died down, no doubt due to oxygen deprivation.
"I'd advise against it, watermelon tits," a voice, all too recognizable, made her brows twitch. "I don't mommy dearest would approve of incest in the family."
"Oh good, you're here?" Lucille droned, her demeanor shift suddenly morphing into one of anger. "Just when things were going my way."
Leaning against the door frame, Jade crossed her arms over her chest, every part of her exuding tranquility, but, her azure orbs told a different story. A stark contrast to her somber conduct, the murkiness dancing within her gates gave a clear account of how dangerous a game the woman smothering her boyfriend was playing. It was one of her natural traits that hadn't been displayed fully around Lucille due to her always being pushed by the seductive maiden. Seeing her boyfriend nearly limp under her breasts brought a slew of dastardly thoughts into her mind.
"If you don't let go of my boyfriend, I can come up with several things going your way," her voice, sweet as honey, also held a venomous flavor that blended perfectly. "like my fist, for starters." Remy and Lucille watched as the goth pushed off of the door frame, the tension growing more palpable by the second. "Or how about my boot?" Her pupils dilated, her focus and intent becoming closer to reality.
"I'd love to see you try," the darker woman spat, her lips twitching at the supposed challenge laid down by Jade. "We both know that you couldn't touch me. My spells would wipe you out before you take another step."
"I bet it could, but, I don't have to touch you to beat you," she raised an eyebrow mockingly, no doubt mimicking the bokor's seductive style. "I've already won."
"What are you talking about?" Lucille and Remy both scrunched their faces at her when Celeste walked through the curtain.
"I can answer that after you let the boy up for air." she remarked casually, her eyes glued to the 'hug' shared between her daughter and Liam. Complying with her mother's wishes, the four resisted the urge to react as Liam finally inhaled the sweet taste of air that had been taken from him moments prior. Jade herself had to concentrate extremely hard to not break down into tears laughing at the amusing idea of a cartoon version of his soul floating out of his mouth as he lied on the ground taking deep breaths. "I swear, Lucille, he's a human being, not a teddy bear."
"Could've fooled me..." she muttered under her breath, catching herself when she noticed the soft but stern look coming from the older woman. "Sorry..."
She sighed before leading the four into the living room behind the curtain where she ushered them all to have a seat. Remy sat on the couch nearest to the sleeping quarters alongside Lucille while Liam & Jade sat on the opposite couch closest to Celeste, the latter making sure to put enough distance between her boyfriend and the pair.
"Now, I know some of you may have some questions after what happened last night," she was met with a series of nods. "Lucille, you asked me why it was so important for us to rescue this young man. Well, I wasn't lying when I mentioned that he was important to us all." several emotions danced behind the younger woman's eyes, none of which were easily discernable for Celeste. "The real reason I was so determined for us to rescue Liam is that he's my son and that means..."
"Liam and I are brother and sister," she placed a hand over her mouth, turning her head to stare at the equally shocked boy across the room. "So that means..."
"You've been lusting after your own sibling," Jade took the moment to inject her two cents, her eyes watering from the giggle that tickled her throat. It would take a moment for Lucille would react properly, her dark bronze features now a ghost of its normal shade as she stared at nothing in particular. On her right, Liam stared at the floor, thankful that his hair hid whatever was present on his face at the moment. The reality of not only having a mother but now, a sister too? This was a bit much to take in for the seventeen-year-old.
Celeste shot Jade a look of disapproval, but it did little to settle the warring feelings within the two who now refused to even look at one another. Like Liam, she had never known that she had a sibling let alone one that had grown to be as attractive as he was. Amethyst/Emerald orbs blinked back tears of shame and awkwardness. Clutching the hem of her shirt, she shot up from her seat, taking off up a flight of stairs despite her mother's best attempts to reach her.
"I was afraid this would happen," the elder bowed her head. "I should probably go up and talk to her."
"No..." Everyone turned to the young man, Jade the most surprised at his sudden outburst. "I'll go. She might listen to me."
"Liam..." the goth stood up, meeting her lover's reassuring gaze.
"It'll be alright, Jade. We're both feeling pretty weird about this revelation so I probably have the best chance of her opening up about this. his palms rested on her shoulders gently. He then leaned closer until his lips barely touched her ear. "We'll talk about your 'punishment' when we get back, my monster."
Though it was only a whisper, his words managed to steal any bravado the girl possessed as she found herself frozen in place, every part of her shivering. She was used to his 'threats' and yet, there was something completely different about his tone. There was something about Liam's statement that made her knees weak and, whether she'd admit it or not, she loved it; the sense of primality despite the feather-like touch within each word spoken.
"Are you alright, Jade?" Celeste's voice thankfully pulled her from her inner musings into the abyss of lust.
"Oh, yeah..." she wrapped her arms around her torso, her lips now lifted into a sardonic smirk, her voice a bit shaky at best.
"Come, child, let's turn our attention to something more pleasant. You can't fool this old woman," she teased in hopes of lifting the girl's spirits. "Are you coming, Remy?"
"Actually, Madame Celeste," he took off his hat allowing his light brown locks to fall freely. "There's something I need to tell you as well."
After many flights of stairs, Liam found himself atop the roof of the double shop where the figure of his desire target sat on the edge farthest from him. His throat felt dry as he felt as if the weight of the world had come crashing down on him. His pulse drummed harder in his chest, threatening to shatter the ribs surrounding them as he took a few steps towards the woman, he'd just found out to be his kin.
"Go away..." his hands trembled at the sudden coldness of her words.
This didn't deter him though as he pressed forward. "We need to talk, Lucille."
"I don't want to talk about this right now."
"Then listen to what I have to say!" his sudden outburst took even him by surprise considering the amount of emotion the poured out. It was clear that he wasn't taking no for an answer as his eyes locked onto her back, searing into her soul. He took another hesitant step towards her, watching her tense up with each sound of his shoes against the concrete beneath his feet. "I know what you're feeling right now. You feel like some type of freak for putting the moves on me. I can understand that feeling, you hoping that things could be something more only to find out that you're connected to them in a way that prevents you from achieving that."
"So suddenly you're a telepath?" her bitterness slithered through her lips, constricting the air around her with each breath she took.
"More like an empath," he shoved his hands into his pocket, trying his hardest not to succumb to the burning in his stomach. "I can pick up emotions of others around me. It makes for a great bullshit detector."
"You think this is a joke?!" she turned around, revealing the hot trails of suffering and anguish that continued to sting her eyes; her words, now like lead in her throat as she uttered them."You think it's fun to make fun of me like your girlfriend does?! What more could you want from me?! Maybe you'd like to rub it in my face how I was a creep around my supposed baby brother, is that it?"
The immediate silence rang louder than any amount of yelling or screaming ever could as the two remained in their respective spots. Lost in the void of sound, Liam felt her every word penetrate him like a sharpened knife, his mind absently absorbing the sheer ferocity from Lucille. Everything inside of his head screamed for him to turn around and leave the brooding Lucille to her own devices but his conscious argued that he stay. He was used to other's giving up on him, from his past with Trina, to others in his life that viewed him as nothing more than a potential court case waiting to happen in his younger years. Fists clenched tightly as his breath grew more haggard from the intense pain welling up from within.
"Are you done?" he whispered, biting his lip as a last-ditch effort for him to control his temper.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." she scoffed, her cold glare triggering something in him that hadn't been felt since his encounters with Trina Vega some years prior. "Beat it, kid..."
"Wow," his chuckle oozed with sarcasm. "you really are as self-righteous as they come, aren't you?" This was enough to force Lucille's body to twist completely around until she was completely facing the younger male. "You think you're the only one affected by this? Are you really so selfish that you'd abandon me just like nearly everyone before you? He spoke slowly as his own gaze dulled. "I don't know all that you've endured prior to meeting you but, I can admit that. In spite of that, I'm willing to find out and learn more about that which connects us together but here you are, my supposed older sister and you're acting as if you're the younger one? You have no idea the hell I've endured and you don't seem to care, do you?"
His accusations didn't fall on deaf ears for once as Lucille, while still trying to hold onto her steely gaze, averted her eyes from the piercing glare of her own flesh and blood as his words took their effect on her. "Look I-"
"You don't know what it was like getting beaten up as a child just because you looked different only to come home and get the same treatment from your alleged guardian! I wasn't supposed to be anything more than a statistic but, I was given a chance that changed my life; a chance that's led to this very moment. I've been taken advantage of by many I thought cared about me and yet, I'm still trying to love as if nothing's happened. Now, I find out that my mother is alive and loves me enough to risk her life to save me from becoming a sacrifice and what's more, I have a beautiful sister only to hear that she wants nothing to do with me because she couldn't get her way?!"
"You don't know what it was like for me either!" she erupted, her desperation finally breaking through the fortress of anger built by Liam. "All of my life, I've felt alone in this world. Like you, I didn't know my father. I was picked on for being different and aside from Remy, I was isolated. Can you imagine a life where everything revolves around being a well-polished voodoo practitioner?! No time for friends or love, no time to discover your identity or what your purpose in life could be outside of voodoo? It's hell, Liam! Between that and racism here in New Orleans, forgive me if I wanted to enjoy some fantasy of love... Do you even know what that feels like?"
"I do actually." his reply stopped her in her tracks.
His lips twitch with a question, but it drops silently as he rocked his body slightly. The silence once again reclaimed its grasp on the siblings with only the sounds of the gulls keeping them tethered to the situation at hand. Both took in the heaviness from the other, each shrouded in mystery and darkness. Liam dragged a deep breath from the warm air around them and looked at the slightly older woman in front of him, his heart beginning to shatter at her rebuttal.
"I'm sorry," his mouth parted just enough for the words to be heard. "It seems that we both have had a rough life."
"You're right, we have." she managed a ghost of a laugh. "I guess, when you're alone, you forget that there are others who understand your trials."
"You make a good point," he ran a hand through his locs, the wave of awkwardness slowly disappearing. "I don't think I could've made it had it not been for my significant others. They're the ones who helped me to see what you are now."
Beginning to see this young man in a different light, Lucille couldn't help but giggle at the truth behind his wisdom. "I find it hard to believe that girl contributed to your growth as a man." She half-expected for him to come back with some snarky comment but instead, she was greeted by him snorting. "What?"
"It's funny, sometimes, I think the same thing myself," he shrugged. "If I hadn't been there to experience it, I might've agreed with you, sis."
"You called me sis..." she gasped.
"Well, you are my sister so, it seems fitting. Don't you agree?"
Tapping her chin, she remained silent while closing the distance between them, each step reminding the boy of her earlier attempt at smothering him with affection. Her arms outstretched, she captured him before he could act fast enough but this time, her embrace was much more reserved and natural. His eyes widened at the sudden display, his eyes once more welling up with pent-up need from his adolescent years as his inner child finally broke free. Sensing something amiss, Lucille began to pull away only to have her movement halted by his arms wrapping around her. His quiet sobs only added to the confirmation for love as she rubbed his back, her own wet crystals descending down her cheek.
They'd remain like that for only minutes, but to them both, it felt like a much needed eternity. She rubbed his back, feeling him shudder from her light touch; All the pain from his childhood flowing out like water and she was his life preserver. Sure, she was still a little bit disappointed that any avenue for a romance between them was no longer accessible, but she knew that she'd get over it in time. Right now, she wanted to be what he needed the most, a big sister that loved him unconditionally, and she would give him that in spades as she too released her inner turmoil.
The two would continue this until both were nearly drained from the emotional detox. As they pulled apart, they took a moment to compose themselves before creating a bit of distance for them to regain their bearings. Heated beams kissed their skin as they observed one another with a new mindset. For Lucille, she was staring at the shining eyes of her younger brother, her soul beckoning her to become more than a sister in title only. She was his protector, a constant reminder of his newfound discovery of love and affection from a family he previously never knew existed. For Liam, he was gazing back at his big sister, his true link in blood that solidified his emotional craving in terms of kin. She was his older sister and his spirit couldn't help but leap for joy at the idea of having someone that was truly eager to love and be loved in return as a familial unit. He swore to love and show himself deserving of having such a wonderful woman as his biological sister.
His mind reminded him of Ahrya, his 'adopted' sibling, but there was something about having his big sister here with him that truly gave him a meaning of what it meant to be a true family.
"Liam!" a voice not foreign to the two could be heard from the rooftop entrance. "Are you still up here?" As Jade poked her head out, she noticed the brother-sister duo grinning at her. Without a second thought, she went into a snarky mood, albeit with a touch of humor added on. "Oh good, you two made up. Would you like a cookie or some cake to celebrate?"
Before either could respond the collective sound of growling stomachs filled their ears for a few seconds-a few long seconds away-while the goth rolled her eyes playfully.
"I'll tell mother-in-law to buy both on the way to the beach."
Though they wanted to inquire more, Jade had disappeared, making her descent down the rather long flight of stairs, leaving the newly formed siblings to silently ask an important question:
"What do you mean 'mother-in-law'?" They called out, giving chase soon after.
The day continued like normal by the time Sikowitz and the gang arrived at the shop to pick everyone up. Including Trina and Mercedes, the bus still managed to retain some degree of comfort for the passengers. Liam wasted little time in introducing the three to his teacher and friends; no one more so than Tori Vega. Despite not knowing anyone aside from her brother and Jade, Lucille found herself welcomed by everyone, especially one Beck Oliver, who found himself unable to tear his coal eyes from the ebony beauty. To say he was smitten by her would be an understatement as his entire focus was on the slightly older woman throughout the trip.
It didn't take long for them to arrive and set up for the special get together. With the sun still pretty high up in the sky, the group chose to enjoy themselves to the fullest. Andre, Cat, & Beck teamed up to take on Trina, Mercedes, & Remy in a few rounds of volleyball, with the latter team quickly gaining an early advantage in the first game. Celeste chose to chaperone the fun alongside Erwin Sikowitz, trading secrets about how to maximize the calming effects of coconuts and herbal medicine, much to the teacher's delight. This left Liam, Tori, Jade, and his sister, Lucille, the former two were busy splashing each other while the latter two decided to take a moment to rest on the shore.
"Wow, it's been so long since I've been to the beach and relaxed," Lucille exhaled graciously, her chest lifting and falling noticeably while she adjusted her one-piece bathing suit. "It feels good to just kick back every once and awhile."
Giggling softly, Tori tucked a small tussle of her wet hair behind her ear. "I take it you don't get out much, huh?"
The Latina watched the woman shake her head, silent yet volumes are spoken by the gesture. "It's difficult when you're running a business. There's a lot needed to be done and little time to do it with."
"That sucks," she turned her honey orbs towards the warm sand that covered her toes. "It sounds like it's more of a burden than anything." She voice drifted off in the breeze, independent of much thought behind the offhanded remark until it had already escaped her lips. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't-"
"No offense taken, Tori," Lucille chuckles softly, her smile only growing in size in hopes of calming the obviously nervous girl next to her. "You actually made an honest observation. There's nothing wrong with giving your opinion on something."
Tori simply sighed softly, her demeanor steadily turning gloomier, contrasting the cloudless skies. "I guess you're right."
Lucille tilted her head slightly while her lips drooped in concern towards the tan girl. "There's something else troubling you, isn't there?" She observed closely, like a microscope, for any sign of confirmation of her inquiry. She would find in it in several ways, the first being her bottom lip slightly jut out followed by a faint quiver. Her stunning eyes suddenly appeared to have dulled as a result as well. "I understand if you don't feel comfortable enough to tell me, but, if I may give you some advice," she placed a hand on the slender girl's shoulder as she turned her head in her direction. "If you're worried about my brother's feelings about you, I suggest that you just tell him, one-on-one. Don't suffer in silence, or you'll miss out on what life has to offer you."
Stunned, Tori Vega felt any form of denial crumble before she could even fathom a response. Her eyebrows dip enough for Lucille to notice, a clear indication that she had hit the nail on the head.
"You must be psychic," she laughed softly, though there was little joy in it.
"Not really. I'm just good at picking up vibes and your chakras are way out of line," Leaning her body closer, she captured the sullen teen in a warm hug to which she was more than happy for Tori to reciprocate. "You need to speak up for yourself, or else you'll continue to believe that you're not appreciated in your relationship. Trust me, you'll feel so much better once you make your intentions known. Also, you may want to stop comparing yourself to others; Liam likes you for you, not for who you could be."
"Thank you, Lucille!" she smiled brightly, pushing away the dark clouds that plagued her emotionally. "I can see why Liam's beyond happy to have you as a sister."
Resisting the urge to tear up, Lucille instead pointed to the pair waving at them. "I suggest you go and have some fun, and stop overthinking." The atmosphere around them returned to normal when Tori rushed off without another word to join her significant others in the water, allowing Lucille the opportunity to turn her attention to a different item on her agenda. Cutting her gaze towards the pier, her full lips twisted upward. "Are you going to keep hiding, or are you going to come over?"
As she guessed, a certain young man with gray orbs gradually walked from behind one of the support beams, a sheepish look etched on his face from having been caught.
"H-how long have you known I.. I was there?" he stammered.
"Ever since you finished that fourth game of volleyball, you little pervert." Despite her chastising tone, it was clear that her words lacked the harshness necessary to convince him that he was in serious trouble. "You're Beck, right?" Despite his normally cool style, he was acting uncharacteristically nervous, something she found more than amusing. "Care to tell me why you've been spying on me all of this time?"
"W- well um... I uh.." His voice cracked, chipping away like the shards of a broken mirror. Lucille's patience was being tested as evident by the raised eyebrow she displayed while Beck tried to formulate some coherent sentence. His heartbeat increased when she continued to play with him, like a cat teasing the desperate mouse trapped in its clutches.
"Take a deep breath, alright?" The sudden shift in her tone seemed to do the trick as he followed her instruction. A smirk finds its way onto her lips, growing more seductive by the second as she pats the hot grains next to her. Not wanting to push his luck, Beck complied though, he allowed enough space between them just in case he said or did something that could make him look foolish in front of the attractive girl. "See? I don't bite unless you ask nicely." Her words sent a cool chill throughout his body, ignoring the heat pressing against his own skin. His mind began to turn over as there were so many things that crossed his mind as he did his best to keep his eyes from drifting to her voluptuous figure. "So now you've got nothing to say?"
"No, I mean... I'm just..." he stammered once more but, this time he took a deep breath. "It's been a while since I've been attracted to someone as gorgeous as you, Lucille."
Tapping her chin, she found no falsehood in his words as his face grew flush from his confession. "So, you're attracted to me? Why not prove it?"
Lost in the moment, his mind completely shut down at the questions directed at him. "What? Seriously?" he looked at her, eyes wide as a deer caught in headlights. "I mean, I'd like that but..."
"You're worried about my brother, aren't you?"
If this were a game show, she'd just asked the million dollar question. Beck, not wanting to give off the wrong signal nodded but, as with Tori previously, she knew there was more that he wasn't telling her. "What's wrong, Beck?" He gazed at her, his orbs asking how she figured that to be. "Your eyes say it all. You and Liam have history and I'm willing to bet that it's not all positive. Right?" Once more his head idly nodded to her question. "Then, why not tell me?"
"Because it involves his other sister..." he exhaled sharply as if it had literally caused him physical pain.
She saw the pain and frustration building behind his eyes, his face scrunching up into a dark scowl. "Other sister?" her tone was one of genuine curiosity. "That's the second time I've heard about this 'other sister' belonging to Liam. Please tell me, Beck."
He took a moment, checking every section of his surroundings before returning to Lucille. "If I tell you, you have to swear that you won't tell Liam." Disheartenment shrouding his features, forcing her to flinch just a little bit. He felt a twinge of comfort return when she nodded and accepted the terms. "Her name is Ahrya, she's about a few months younger than Liam and she has violet eyes that accentuate her light skin. She's the girl I'm talking about."
"That doesn't make any sense though," she interrupted him, her voice a tad over a whisper. "Everyone of us has dark skin so unless she's adopted, she couldn't be related to us; well, at least not as his sister. Our father passed away when he was barely a year old so something doesn't add up here."
This revelation forced Beck into a petrified state, his blood running cold at Lucille's words. He studied her face, hoping to find some kind of type of inconsistency that could make things fit but, her sincere expression included, he would only feel a sense of dread and despair arise within his soul. His mouth felt dry and his face grew sickly pale which alarmed the older girl. "Are you sure that she's not his sister?"
"My mother just revealed earlier today our familial ties and the one you described doesn't fit the description of another child of hers. What's so wrong with this girl, besides her fake claims to be Liam's sibling? You're acting like she's a monster."
He scoffed maliciously, his glare growing more sinister. "Being a monster would be an insult to monsters everywhere. That girl is a demon personified..."
The conversation continued with Beck explaining the two's arrival to Hollywood Arts, to her dating a fellow student back home and finally, her blackmailing him to keep tabs on Liam, Jade, and Tori. The last part was what seemed to break his resolve as he further explained his growing friendship with her brother from their time in Yerba to the current day. So many emotions danced inside of her heart but there were two things she knew: 1. Beck was as much a victim as he was a perpetrator in this situation and that he was not happy about his current position with the girl. 2. Whoever this girl was had a sick and unhealthy obsession with Liam that could escalate into something far beyond their control... Given her attitude during the past couple of weeks, she should know.
"We need to talk to my mother tonight, after this party. I'm sure she can give us some information about what's really going on."
"Are you sure? I was specifically told not to let Liam know what's going on..." he pleaded only to feel a warm palm upon his broad shoulders followed by the warmest smile he'd seen in a long time.
"I promise, we'll get things worked out before you all leave in the morning."
Several hours passed and the sun began making its departure behind the many buildings by the time the custom bus arrived back at the hotel. For the gang, most of them were eager to experience the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras with only a few opting to skip the festivities. For Liam & Jade, it was obvious why and Tori's inclusion was nothing short of expected. What was surprising was Beck's surprising 'interest' in returning to the voodoo shop with Lucille and Celeste while Remy chose to get to know Liam's friends a bit more while enjoying the fanfare himself.
Within the depths of the shop, Beck sat patiently, awaiting any answers to his torment. Meanwhile, Lucille and her mother had spent the time searching family records for an Ahrya only to come up with little to no results. From birth certificates to spiritual methods, they yielded nothing to match a face to the girl allegedly calling herself his sister. It wasn't until, by sheer coincidence, Beck's phone went off with a jingle all too infamous to him. Pulling out the device, his eyes grew bulbous when a thought occurred to him.
He had a photo of her.
Searching through his gallery, he found an appropriate image, showing it off to the duo. Surprisingly, they both recognized the figure revealed to them. Everything about her features only increased the uncomfortable Deja' Vu for Celeste, her body moving on instinct as she dug into one drawer in particular. She later pulled out an old portrait, one that revealed her and her now disgraced sister, Cecilia.
That girl is not Liam's kin, she's a spiritual copy of my sister. If she was living with my son all of this time, then that means-."
"That shade must've been keeping an eye on baby brother all of this time," Lucille added before turning back to a confused Beck Oliver. "Has anything weird been happening that could involve that girl and have you had any direct connection with her?"
His mind searched through months of memories, timeless moments of greatness and pain made him shudder until one night came to the forefront of his brain.
"Halloween night..." he shot up from the stool he'd been resting on. "On that night, she had our friend Robbie buy some strange liquid so he could spike the punch during Tori's Halloween party. It turned out, at first, that it was nothing more than a bunch of aphrodisiacs but it became something far worse as Tori, Jade, Cat, and Ahrya herself became possessed by succubi that hunted us down for our souls."
"A demonic summoning..." Celeste surmised. "Anything else?"
Nodding diligently, he resumed. "While they started chasing us each, their attention later turned to Liam's soul, so I convinced the others to split up to see if my theory was correct. Sure enough, all four girls wound up chasing Liam and me, leaving Andre and Robbie to escape; they had an unquenchable thirst for his soul and mine by extension, had it not been for Jade fighting back, and the sun coming up, who knows what would've happened." his face lit up from the haunting memories but Beck simply ran a hand through his majestic hair before continuing. "To answer your second question, Ahrya has been using me for sex frequently, the only break I've had being this trip to New Orleans."
The two women exchanged glances before coming to the same conclusion.
"Beck, we need you to remove your shirt and lie on the bed," as expected he looked at them as if they'd lost their minds. "We need to cleanse your chakras and soul from whatever she may have implanted in you all of this time. Your aura is severely polluted..."
Skepticism flashed behind his onyx eyes but he didn't try to resist; he wouldn't do that so long as it meant that it meant being rid of whatever subliminal influence was lurking inside of him. As he lied on the plush furniture, he took one more look at Lucille, registering the worry masking her lovely face. He swallowed hard as the older woman came into view. The last thing he remembered that night was sharp agony piercing through his midsection and soon after, darkness. As he drifted into unconsciousness, he could've sworn that he heard Lucille's sweet voice filling his auditory.
"Libère ton Coeur, amour."
Warning! Mature Scene... skip if sex grosses you out.
For Liam, his night would be spent lying shirtless on the bed he shared with his lovely ladies. At the moment, he was alone in the room while Tori and Jade conversed about something privately on the balcony. For a rather short vacation from L.A., he had to admit that it was nothing short of eventful but, he could stand to spend the final two weeks at home in the 'peace' of his familiar surroundings. His mind proceeded to recount the events of meeting the women whom he would later learn were his biological family, to finding out he was voodoo royalty (a fact that Jade would definitely use to her advantage somewhere down the road). Despite all that happened, his lips would settle into a soft smile. There was only one thing that seemed to be off...
"Tiger?"
'Uh-oh...' he groaned in his mind, refusing to lift his eyelids. "Yeah? What's up?"
Jade crossed her arms, not pleased with his carefree demeanor at the moment, though she'd settle on letting things play out for the time being. "Tori has something she'd like to say to you. I'd think it'd be in your best interest to listen."
Against his own feelings, the ebony boy dragged his heavy body into an upright position, the traces of fatigue visible by the fading black bags under his eyes. He missed the movements of the goth as he fixed his gaze on the Latina in front of him. "What's on your mind, Tori?" Despite her immediate silence, Liam quickly picked up that she was troubled by something. Her eyes pooled with wet misery as she bit her lip softly. "Whatever it is, you can tell me, querida."
This was it; her trigger...
Like an uncaged animal, she hopped on top of the unprepared Liam, capturing his lips with her own. Her fingers got lost in the thick black locs, tugging slightly as her free hand caressed his exposed torso. In the midst of this, he could feel her worry, her inner turmoil spilling on his flesh as she deepened the kiss, asserting her claim at dominance, daring him to challenge her. Wherever this was going, it was clear that she was going to leading him along the way. The need for air soon became too great, forcing Tori to pull away but not without biting and pulling his bottom lip, her second act as leader of this night.
"Tonight, you belong to me." her tone, while Liam could tell it was hers, he also detected a darker, more lustful presence behind her declaration. "Jade," The ivory girl smirked, grateful that she was going to be granted participation. "would you mind checking the patient?" her hair clung to her face, making her appear more wild and seductive than before, a complete contrast from the innocent girl they'd both come to know and love. Whatever this was, had finally been unleashed in full force.
"With pleasure, Vega." her azure eyes darkened, lust shrouding her orbs as well. She crawled to the end of the bed where Liam's lower half remained in place. Her mind taking her to another place, she untied the drawstring to his jogging pants savoring the print under the gray material. She licked her lips as the bulge grew longer and harder, almost to a point where Jade thought it wouldn't stop; it was a thought that she relished greatly as her sexual hunger took over. "I swear, it just gets bigger every time I see it."
"Wait, what's going onmmMMPH!" his demand for answers was halted when he felt something soft push past his lips. That soft thing, in particular, was one of Tori's breasts stuffing his mouth.
"I didn't give you permission to speak, did I?" she took his muffled jabbering as a no, the sound causing her to feel something she'd never thought possible: pleasure in control. Leaning towards him, she guided her tit deeper into his mouth as he instinctively teased her nipple. "Good, you're a quick learner, baby," she whispered, her desire pouring out freely. Meanwhile, Jade had ceased her visual marveling of his sizable package, now clutching the thick member in his soft hand. Unlike Tori, Liam knew that his gothic lover had a dominant streak that included sensual torture such as her lightly grazing his currently swollen head with her feather-like caress. Soon, the room began to fill with soft moans from their boyfriend as he endured the combined efforts of tori force feeding him while Jade did what she did best, make him lose his mind...
Twitching and throbbing, Jade was enchanted at how something so large was easily handled by her tactics. Soon enough, she grew bored of the child's play when she finally licked lips prior to leaving gentle kisses along the length of his shaft, further adding to his pent-up frustration. He did his best to look up at Tori, succeeding only in observing her soft smooth skin as she explored his features, gently encouraging him to keep going.
'Curse my tired body!' he mentally screamed.
To his bewilderment, she removed her bosom from his lips, leaving a trail of saliva from his 'nursing' before twisting her slim body over his face. Dazed and unable to process a coherent thought, he simply watched as she lowered her rear until her flower was positioned perfectly over his face. His moans vibrated through her, sending a shockwave through her lower half, eliciting a gasp from his normally sweet girlfriend. This would persist as she and Jade shared his engorged sex licking and sharing a sloppy kiss while sucking on his most sensitive spot. To make matters worse, he felt her legs wrap around his arms, removing any chance of him overpowering her completely.
"Mmmm... eat me Liam!" she whimpered, her tone now heavy with a need that only he could fulfill right now. "Eat my pussy, baby!"
She then returned her attention to his 'little friend' while Jade ran her tongue across any spot that was left unattended. This soon pushed Liam over the edge as he lost himself in his first orgasm. The intense wave of pleasure hit rocked his body in ways he hadn't felt before but he didn't stop, his own tongue expertly flicking her pleasure spot. He could feel her own sexual release approaching, prompting him to do everything from humming to writing the alphabet until he was rewarded with the sweet nectar from her honey pot flood his mouth. The intensity was so great, Tori almost feared she'd lost her voice when no sound escaped her lips. Once the intense wave subsided, she struggled to tear herself from his mouth.
"T- That was... amazing..." he huffed only to be silenced once more, this time with Jade's pool of moisture. He would soon see that, while Tori was facing away from him when she was in that position, Jade was more than willing to face the object of her affection, her sparkling sapphires gleaming in the moonlight as she watched him devour her mound with such vigor, that she wasn't sure if she would last very long. Tori climbed on top of her occupied boyfriend, more than happy that, despite his massive eruption, he was still hard as a rock. She ripped herself from the hypnotic appendage just enough to get on top and, as one final act of the creature lurking within her loins, she dropped herself onto his staff so agonizingly slow, neither could tell if this action had an end. She held her breath and waited for the pain as he entered her but luckily there was none just an overwhelming feeling of pleasure
"Jade was right," she managed to whimper, the first sign of the old Tori returning. "It's so huge."
She closed her eyes, better savoring the feeling of being stretched by the man she loved more than any that came before him. Her mind took her to places she'd only heard about in books as she bounced on him gingerly at first. Jade, on the other hand, was riding Liam's face like a rodeo, her pink pearl now stimulated to the point that every inch of her from the waist down was shaking violently and yet, she wouldn't stop. Her ivory breast bounced in sync while she rolled her hips. Liam, for his part, cupped her ass, squeezing and smacking the soft flesh resting on his face.
Sexual delight encompassed the room, moans, and flesh slapping against one another creating an orgasmic symphony with Tori Vega, Jade West, & Liam Patterson as its composures. Each knew what the other wanted and each was more than eager to push the other to the highest of heights. That familiar feeling hit Liam, who grew fearful of what could happen without protection but it wouldn't matter for long as his arousal gave way spilling inside the Latina like shots from a gun filling her to the brim with his seed. He couldn't worry about the consequences right now, he had something else at the moment that required his attention as Jade gripped his face, no doubt preparing to release her own climax.
"LIAM!" she cried out, her voice echoing into the night, soon to be lost in the wind as the floodgates opened, her very essence spilling out in torrents that threatened to drown the poor boy with its large dosages. Her breath nearly stolen, she soon found herself seeing stars as she was forced to lie next to the well-fed young man next to her.
This left Tori, who was doing her best to slide off of his now shrinking manhood, more than satisfied by what she'd experienced on this night. Crawling on his left side, she barely managed to drag the covers over the exposed forms of her and her partners before cuddling closer to her exhausted boyfriend. With Jade on his other side, he felt his body finally succumb to the effects of such an impactful task.
"Tori... Are..."
"It's okay, I'm on the pill." she giggled, the second sign that whatever had possessed her was now put to rest.
"That's a relief," Jade, too tired to put any effort in her comment, mumbled. "The last thing we need right now is another Vega running around."
The trio exchanged their final series of kisses before falling prey to their great need for sleep.
*Mature Scene End*
The dawn of a new day had arrived, banishing the shadows of the midnight hour with the suns warm rays. Somehow, everyone was able to sleep in except Liam who was restless around eight o' clock. He decided to sneak off and spend some time with his family before it would be time to go back home. A part of his heart felt empty again, knowing that he had found people that loved him dearly only to have to say goodbye so soon after. As if reading his mind, he found both Lucille and his mother, Celeste preparing to open up shop for the day when he arrived.
They took what little time remained to express their love and thankfulness for each other by having a big breakfast and discussing what their plans would be afterward. Liam mentioned something about a few colleges in California that wanted him on their scholarship programs but, also that he was keeping his options open. It was then revealed that Lucille was planning on visiting Los Angeles sometime in the coming months which only made her brother's heart jump for joy. For Celeste, while she would still maintain the shop, she would go with Lucille to visit as well, hopefully in time for graduation.
From there, they exchanged phone numbers and, for Liam and Lucille, they exchanged email addresses before he received a text from both Tori and Jade, letting him know that they were checking out and preparing to leave.
Instantly, he felt a great sorrow cover him, like storm clouds raining down on him. Of course, like any loving mother, Celeste wrapped her son in the biggest hug she could muster while he sobbed silently, clutching at the fabric of her clothes like a toddler being told they couldn't have any dessert. She whispered sweet blessings over him and even gave him a bag filled with some herbs, books, and spiritual items that would at least give him a taste of his heritage. With that, they made their way back to the hotel where Sikowitz and the others patiently awaited his arrival.
As he prepared to leave his newfound family, the teacher stopped him.
"Hold it, my boy! You can't leave without some mementos!" he chuckled brightly, pulling out a digital camera from his jeans. "Alright, let's get some big smiles!"
Several pictures were taken, each on creating and holding a different memory.
*click*
Tori, Jade, Cat, Celeste, & Lucille.
*click*
Liam, Beck, Andre, & Sikowitz.
*click*
Different pictures were taken until all the memory was used up, leaving one final mission.
"Liam could you loan us your phone?" the coconut loving man extended a hand to the confused teen.
"Um, sure..." as he did so, he was then pulled into a big hug by his mother and sister, tears of love falling with no resistance.
He struck a few pose a with his mom individually first, the most memorable one being when she gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek. When it came to Lucille, they did the same thing only, her most memorable photo was of her kissing his forehead, an act that, up to this point, he'd been the one to commit.
"Be safe, baby brother..." her voice broke as she tried to hold onto what little composure she had left. "We love you!"
"I love you too, big sis." he smiled, knowing that he had to be the stronger one of the two. "When you and mom come visit, I'll show you both all over the city."
"Promise me, that you'll stay out of trouble," Celeste spoke up, her smile also struggling to stay complete. "You have your father's blood in you, ya know?"
He nodded and assured them that things would be alright. "I promise, I'll do my best to keep away from trouble." he then kissed both women on their cheeks and, hesitantly hopped on the bus, sparing one more glance before fully boarding.
It didn't take long for the vehicle to pull off, leaving behind the two bokor women who kept waving until the transport was no longer in sight. Liam decided to hop on one of the makeshift beds, gazing at the many pictures in his phone of the family that, prior to this trip, he'd thought was extinct. From his beautiful mother to his lovely sister, he was truly grateful for this trip. Both his monster and querida agreed that it would be best if he had some time to take in everything that happened. It wasn't about them right now and both were content with that knowing their beloved would need their love and affection in due time.
As he felt his eyes grow heavy, Liam didn't bother to fight the feeling overtaking his senses as she rolled over and closed his eyes; the last thing he remembered hearing before falling asleep. were the voices of his family:
"Nous t'aimons, Liam."
Okay, I thought the previous chapter was long but, man... I would've split this into two parts but, since it's almost New Years, I decided to post this all in one chapter. I want to thank everyone for sticking with me even when I was in the midst of dealing with intense writer's block and a bit of depression. I'm grateful for you all who read and enjoy my work.
I nearly left this on a cliffhanger, but I didn't want to tease you all with that considering the holidays. I can say that the next chapter will start the next and final arc for Demons Within and I'm really looking forward to posting again soon for you guys. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this long chapter and don't be afraid to give me some feedback on what you're expecting in the upcoming chapters. I will say that Mercedes and Trina will be given a much larger role in this arc as well as Lucille, and Celeste. (Yes, I'm bringing them back since I've fallen so hard for them as OCs.)
For now, thank you all again and Happy New Year to you all!
French to English Translation
Libère ton Coeur, amour: Free your heart, love.
Nous t'aimons, Liam: We love you, Liam.