by Roaming Tigress and Shelley Inks, creator of Keleen Vanderchill
Chapter Thirteen:
I Couldn't Do It
The fiendish pair was on the path of revenge, and as it seemed, there would be nothing that would stop them. After some planning, Javert and Keleen got into a black Sedan and drove off into the night. Overly confident, Javert assumed all would go well.
"24601 Jaybird Avenue?" Keleen asked coldly, looking through a few notes Javert had jotted down. "You'd think we'd be looking for Jean Valjean."
"Good one!" Javert chuckled, running a hand through the feathers on his head. "You know, you're not a bad girl Vanderchill."
"I'm not?" She asked with fake disappointment, pouting a little for effect. "In that case, I've got to work on being more badass."
"Stick me with me and you will," Javert replied, looking into her eyes as they came to a red light. "I can assure you. My cruelty tends to rub off on people if I don't kill zem with it."
"You know, you're cute in a serial murdering sort of way," Keleen said in a playfully sultry manner, twirling a lock of hair in her fingers.
"I can't wait to see you in action tonight."
"Why, thank you Keleen," Javert answered with pride, stopping the car as the Volatili residence came into view. "As for ze action, ze same can be said of you."
After getting out of the car, Keleen clambered over the iron fence with feline agility. Her partner in crime snuck around to the back of the residence, cut the wire of the security alarm and hopped the fence. From there, the two quietly made their way in on opposite ends of the house, moving like shadows. Their professional training had paid off, but how long would it last?
Javert took to the basement, where he would wait for Steelbeak. Ze entire planning process took only five minutes, but I'll remember zis for a lifetime!
In the kitchen, the twenty-five-year-old raven haired Victoria, was making herself a cappuccino. The Australian accented she-duck looked somewhat like Magica DeSpell, only prettier with her slender built and small, petite bill. She had a predatory air about her, and truth be told she was St. Canard's most notorious arsonist. In spite of her destructive ways, however, she was a loving mother and equally as devoted to her husband.
On the floor next to her was Tatiana, an adorably chubby four year old. Her hair was short and blonde, and her feathers were only slightly lighter than her father's cornsilk colouration. Each expressive blue eye was encircled by a white patch, and her bill resembled that of a coot's. It was nearing her bedtime, and tiredly she snuggled up to her mother's legs.
Only Steelbeak's girls were at home; the rooster was away at F.O.W.L HQ, doing High Command duties. Within half an hour he planned on getting back home to spend the rest of the night with his family.
"Going to put you to bed in a moment, Tatty . . . " Victoria gently spoke to her, setting the drink down on the counter to cool down.
A click of a gun caused Victoria to snap out of her relaxed state, and protectively she stood in front of her daughter. She stared intently at the female leaning in the doorway, aiming a gun right for her. She had always spirited by nature, and never allowed much to intimidate her. Now with a family she was especially quick to react to anything she though would present a danger.
"Oh, look who it is, little miss Vanderchill," she said snidely, grabbing a steak knife from the utensil drawer. "What the bloody hell do you want?"
"I have come to avenge the pain my father went through when you and your husband took their place," Keleen snarled. "Is that good enough of a reason for you, Missus I-must-burn-everything-in-sight? Surely you must know not to touch what doesn't belong to you. I've got news you, the same applies to jobs. You and your husband had no right to barge in and take over."
"Last time I checked, mate, I was a villainess," Victoria scoffed, fearlessly holding her ground. "As such I take advantage of situations I put myself into and encounter. The old High Command had a weakness, and Steelbeak and I decided to take care of that. As you've seen, we've improved some things, like those Eggmen for example."
"I could care less!" Keleen retorted, purposely flinging a ceramic figure off the table. "Whoops, silly me! I guess you want that to be replaced?"
"OUT!" Ordered Victoria, feeling her tension rise to an uncontrollable level. "Would you like to see what'll happen when Mr. Match meets Miss. Gasoline?"
"Pah, pyros," She chortled, reaching for the walkman when Javert spoke her name. "What is it, Javert? Do you have Steelbeak yet?"
"Just shoot ze wrench, zen shoot ze daughter," Javert told her over her walkman. "Steelbeak will be here any moment. I'm ready for him. We'll be done before ten o'clock."
"Say hello to your cousin!" Keleen spat out viciously, taking aim for the appropriately firey-tempered pyromaniac and fired once.
"I'll kill you for that, bitch!" Victoria hissed, gripping a hand over the wound to her left side. She went to stab Keleen, but decided to stay by Tatiana's side in case she too would be shot at.
"I like to see you try, wrench!" Keleen taunted, twirling her gun with one finger. "My father and Javert's mother will get their jobs back, you worthless piece of trash."
All that remained for her to do was to get rid of Tatiana. She managed to find a spot on the child in which to shoot, but suddenly drew her gun away. She couldn't do it, not for anything in the world. Shooting Victoria was another, but she couldn't put herself to kill the innocent child. She felt shameful, and wished she could just pull the trigger. Javert would hate me for not completing the job, and my father would surely be ashamed of me.
"I'm not going to hurt you little one . . . " She quietly spoke to Tatiana, kneeling down to her level. "You're way too cute to have your brains blown out."
The small child hid behind her Victoria, who threateningly stared down at Keleen. "Mommy . . . Make her go away. She scares me."
"I'm not going to hurt her, 'Tori," Keleen stated calmly to the mother, slowly getting to her feet. "You on the other hand . . . "
"Don't hurt mommy!" Tatiana cried, stepping in front of Victoria. She pleadingly looked up at Keleen, hoping that she wouldn't pull the trigger again.
I give up . . . Touched by the little girl's protectiveness of her mother, Keleen sighed and shook her head. "All right, I won't, you little rascal."
Only for tonight, that is. Victoria, you will get what you rightly deserve.
After waiting in the basement for Steelbeak, Javert headed upstairs when he heard the gun go off. He wanted to see what mess Keleen made of the two, and to help her dispose of the bodies. Much to his dislike, his partner had only wounded Victoria, and the crying Tatiana remained unharmed. Just what is going on here? I thought zis woman was tough, like me!
"Did I not tell you to shoot ze child? When it comes to F.O.W.L, zere is no room for going soft!" Javert growled, suddenly and roughly grabbing her by the right arm. He spat on her in disgust, unnerved by Keleen's disobedience.
"You know ze rules of ze organization's operations, why did you not heed to zem?" He demanded in tone that made even Victoria uneasy.
"I couldn't do it, Javert . . . " Keleen said with nervous honesty, cringing slightly and looking away from him in sadness.
"I thought that's what happened," Javert growled, violently shoving her aside. "Unlike you I have no problem getting rid of hell spawn. If you can't do it, I will!"
In the corner of his eyes, he saw Steelbeak's car pull up on the driveway. Perfect, daddy's home.
Just as Victoria lead Tatiana into her bedroom, Javert salivated and tore across the kitchen. His mind was so set on murder that he could practically taste the blood of his victims. Yet, in his madness he managed to loose track of their location and he blindly tore through the house, foaming at the mouth.
For the safety of her daughter, Victoria locked Tatiana's door and remained with her. She didn't put it past the two to get in through the window.
"I won't let any harm come to you, my precious little sheila . . . " she spoke comfortingly, holding the frightened toddler close against her.
Hearing the voice, Javert stopped in his tracks and suddenly calmed down. He kicked the door open, took aim for Tatiana and pulled the trigger. Remarkably, the wound she got was only a grazing wound, but in his state he had thought he killed her.
"I'VE GOT HER, KELEEN, I'VE KILLED HER!" Javert yelled, laughing maniacally. A split second later, Victoria had grabbed him by the throat and started beating him with every inch of his life. He tried fighting back, but she was too fast, too fierce for even him to take on. He wisely beat a hasty retreat from the child's room, ducking a book being thrown at his head.
Oh, god no . . . I wish I had done something! Keleen kneeled down and cried, paying no attention to Steelbeak as he stormed into the house.