After fleeing the dressing room, cursing and crying, nobody heard from Deborah for two weeks. Angela and Ambrose were, of course, beyond worried, but they knew trying to contact her would be useless. She wouldn't answer them anyway, even if they tried their best to reach her.
"Oh, darling, what have we done?!" Angela mourned. She was amazed she had any tears left to cry at this point.
"I… I don't know…" Ambrose's face twisted in pain and regret. It seemed so obvious now. How could he have ever thought this was a good idea?
But…in those moments with Lola… he forgot… He forgot everything, and everyone, except for her. Angela had done her job too well. In his addled mind, maybe he did make up an excuse. Why did it matter if he was with Lola since Deborah had Angela?
It was not that simple though. He was within his right to want someone else since Angela and Deborah were together, but perhaps it wasn't the best idea to try to find a partner in someone who was, in a way, half of Angela.
"We should've told her, we should've told her!" Angela kicked herself over and over again. Maybe she was right, maybe if she'd at least come clean earlier, Deborah wouldn't have felt so betrayed. But then again, none of them could've predicted this outcome.
Furthermore, as much as Angela hated to admit it, she hadn't wanted to tell Deborah. She hadn't wanted Deborah to know she was making moves on a man they both used to love.It was yet another unintended side effect of the serum. Even though Lola was Angela's past made flesh, the serum still affected Angela, too. For the entire duration of her affair with Ambrose, she felt a level of guilt knowing she was lying to Deborah, but that serum altered her in the worst way possible. She felt guilty, but not enough to stop, and that was why the affair lasted for so long.
I thought I was over him! I thought I moved past all of that!... Apparently not…
Whatever lingering feelings Angela might've had on the matter, even if she hadn't realized they were lingering, they'd come back to haunt her. Now, because of her, two more people were suffering. Angela wrapped her arms around herself and grit her teeth to hold in a sob.
Why? Why? WHY?! Why can't I do anything right, and why can't anything ever go my way?!
It was self-piteous, she knew, but she still couldn't help but wonder. Everything had been so perfect! So why did it all have to come crashing down? And furthermore, why did it have to be because of her? Why had she thought this would be a good idea?!
Because love made them crazy. It made all of them crazy. Even when Angela thought she was over Ambrose, she wasn't. And nor was Deborah, apparently. It looked like some hatchets were harder to bury than they seemed. But now, the hatchets were being unearthed. Angela could only wonder how much blood they would spill before the nightmare would finally be over.
ooo
After all the radio silence, Deborah suddenly made a surprise broadcast. It was a short video posted to her social media, but it didn't take long for the video to go viral and hit the top trending spot.
"Hello, all!" Deborah's smile was tired, but at least she was smiling. "I know I've been unusually quiet of late, but I've been going through some… personal issues. Do not worry, though, I am doing much better! My family has been so wonderfully supportive!"
It seemed innocent enough. Deborah even flashed a smile at someone off-camera. The camera was actually a little crooked. Not so much that it was distracting, but just enough to give the video a more friendly and casual atmosphere. A moment later, three others joined Deborah on-screen. The first was a short, stocky, middle-aged man with dark eyes and thinning silver hair. The top of his head was already entirely bald. The next was a woman, tall and thin. She looked like Deborah, pale golden hair and icy blue eyes, although her hair was much shorter. Last was another tall, thin woman, but her long hair and sharp eyes were dark. She wore a grim expression while the other two were neutral.
What was most striking, though, were the outfits. All four of them wore pitch black, the women in dresses and the man in a suit. It seemed as if there were bits of black sequins on the outfits because, occasionally, the outfits would shimmer when someone moved. The only bit of color was the gold tie hanging from each neck. Upon closer inspection, they all had a faint chainmail design on the front, like interlocking armor plates.
Deborah prattled on for a minute more, light and airy, but when she drew the video to a close, that was when the implied threat came in.
"Anyway, that will be all for now. I just wanted to give everyone who was concerned an update. You needn't worry any longer, you will definitely be seeing more of my family and I very soon." As she said this, she and the three people behind her started nodding in perfect sync, as if to affirm her statement. Three seconds later, the camera abruptly cut to black.
Ambrose slowly set down his phone, shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath. Standing beside him, looking over his shoulder, was Angela, shaking like a leaf, tears brimming in her eyes yet again. Neither of them spoke, they didn't even know what to say, but they were thinking the same thing: Perhaps it's melodramatic to phrase it like this, but… that felt almost like a declaration of war… No, that's exactly what it was.
"Oh, Ambrose…" Angela finally whimpered, "What have we done?"
ooo
While Jekyll and Moulton were grieving for the living, Deborah was already hard at work making plots and plans. Risen from the ashes, she was ready to watch the rest of the world burn red with her. Jekyll and Moulton were dead right. That video was a "declaration of war", having the entire Lavish family standing united like that. There was no other way to interpret it. Deborah was on the warpath now.
"They said I did something bad?! Don't blame me! Love made them crazy!" Deborah complained to no one, trying to reassure herself just as much as she was her invisible audience. "She's the one who started this sick little game the night she dared call my man her darling!"
Deborah was damn sick and tired of it. Sick and tired of all of it! All the petty, twisted games. All the lies and false promises! She'd been cheated on and lied to, how else was she supposed to feel other than devastated, heartbroken, and outraged? Worst of all, though, Jekyll was skewing the story, making herself out to be the victim again, but how could she do that when she was the one who created Hyde?! And even more than that, she allowed Hyde to run free for… how long?! How long had the two been fucking behind Deborah's back?!
She thought hard. When was the first time Jekyll started acting weird around her? Well, she couldn't place an exact date, but she did know that the doctor had grown increasingly withdrawn of late. She'd assumed that Jekyll was just close to a scientific breakthrough. In a way, that was true, Deborah just didn't realize what that entailed…
"Jekyll always told me she was too tired to hang out with me, but apparently that didn't apply to Moulton!" she growled bitterly.
Either way, nothing that happened could ever be misconstrued as "accidental", so how dare Jekyll try to play the victim card?!
"It's not my fault she didn't have the nerve to ask years ago! Why should I be punished for her crimes? She made a complete and utter fool of me!"
This was not something Deborah admitted lightly. She clenched her fists so hard her nails nearly drew blood. It wasn't just that she'd been made into a fool. She'd broken down crying in front of them! Those two… traitors! Then of course, rumors started to fly, swift and vicious. That was another reason for Deborah's sudden silence. She knew the tabloids would be after like sharks after a drop of blood right before the feeding frenzy.
Sure enough, the gossip and speculation only seemed to get louder and louder the longer Deborah remained silent. Everyone wanted in on the drama. They wanted to know who that strange little woman was that came creeping out of the dressing room in an outfit countless sizes too big for her. They wanted to know why Deborah had run out only a minute earlier, screaming and crying. But they all recognized the man who emerged from the dressing room. Deborah's own manager/agent. The scandal was unspeakable!
"It's not even that bad!" Deborah had pouted at her father. Of course, she was beyond hurt, but the shame of the bad press was not what she cared about. "Romance scandals happen all the time!"
"But it isn't supposed to happen to this family!" Mr. Lavish snapped. Deborah grit her teeth, she felt something stinging behind her eyes.
"Fine, I'll fix it," she managed to snarl, just barely concealing a sob.
"You better," Mr. Lavish matched his younger daughter's tone, scowling at her before slinking off. He had his own mess to clean up thanks to her.
That was the thing. Even if it was only just another overhyped sex scandal, because it happened to a Lavish, suddenly everyone wanted in on it. And since every Lavish had some sort of power within some sort of social circle, that meant whatever affected one affected all. Mr. Lavish was suffering scorn from his business associates. Why couldn't he keep his wild child on a tighter leash, as any good father would? Meanwhile, Mrs. Lavish was battling the press on her own front. As a powerful politician, and a woman, having a daughter caught up in a sex scandal only made her own life and job twice as difficult. But on they fought, for their family did not suffer fools or enemies to live.
While the parents dealt in damage control and public relations on the "frontlines", that left Deborah and her older sister, Eleanor, to handle the background tasks. While Deborah schemed, Eleanor was sneaking around the streets and gathering "intel". She was trying to gauge the public reaction by lurking among them, and helping figure out if there would be any good retaliatory opportunities up and coming. She wasn't necessarily out for vengeance, but to allow this affront to go unanswered would tank the family reputation even more. They could not allow that to happen!
ooo
"God, it hurts," Deborah was breathing hard, struggling in vain to keep the tears at bay. "It hurts so fucking much!"
Truly, it felt like another glass shard to the heart every time she was reminded of just how little she mattered… to anyone! Even to the ones she loved most, it was clear they did not love her even a fraction as much as she loved them. But why did it always have to be like that?
Why was she always the friend nobody liked? Why could she never harden her heart and care just as little as everyone else? Was she really too tough to love? Was she really so terrible? Why could she never stop? Never change? Never fix herself? Was this her lot in life? To be alone, and the least favorite, forever? Always dysfunctional and pushed aside when someone better came along? Poor, stupid Deborah, she forgot the most important rule of her life: You gotta leave before you get left.
Was it fated that only her family would ever remain loyal to her? But it was hardly out of love. No, they only stayed together to save face. It wasn't a road Deborah wanted to walk anymore, but what other choice did she have when that was the only road left? During her silence, neither Jekyll nor Moulton had even tried to contact her, just like the "friend group" of old. History was repeating itself in the most painful way possible.
Perhaps it was for the best, even Deborah had to admit that if they'd tried, it probably would've only made things worse. But she hated thinking that while she was alone in this, at least they had each other. And they seemed happy with that, they didn't seem to miss her at all. Did they even notice or care? As usual, she was the last to know, too unimportant to forewarn. Well, not this time! This time, she'd strike first, hard and fast.
"This time the gun is mine," she muttered grimly. The first time she ever said that, she wasn't being literal, now though…? There was a pistol in her nightstand drawer. First, she would learn to shoot. Then, she would learn to kill.
I've never had an actual hitlist before, she mused, a grim smile slowly spreading across her face.
She checked it once: Angela Jekyll.
She checked it twice: Ambrose Moulton.
Deborah may have wanted revenge on Jekyll, but Moulton had to be dealt with, too. Not only would he likely attempt to thwart any plan Deborah made against Jekyll, but he was guilty, too. He'd known about Hyde and still didn't feel the need to tell Deborah. He was complicit in the illicit affair. But because Deborah did feel a smidgeon more fondness for him than Jekyll, although she still wasn't sure if she would kill him as well, she did wish to… remove him first. It was a blessing, the way she saw it. He would miss all the action, again, but served him right!
ooo
Deborah stared up at Vine and Vinyl Recording Studios, only just barely holding back a snarl. Here was the place where they'd spent so many days and nights before, both as coworkers and as friends. It made her blood boil to imagine him inside, going about his day like normal, completely heedless to how much pain he'd left her in. But he'd be on lunch break soon, she just had to wait a little bit longer…
I loved you, Moulton! I really, really, loved you! You were one of my first and only friends… HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!
They'd both used her. It was his fault for insisting Deborah and Jekyll become friends, then it was Jekyll's fault for stealing him away and locking Deborah out even though they used to share a bed. They both made her a third wheel, calling her a friend and then leaving her in the dark for weeks. And who knew what might've happened had Deborah never found out about Hyde? It was clear from Hyde's reaction that Deborah wasn't supposed to know about her. That meant Moulton and Jekyll would've kept on lying indefinitely if she hadn't walked in on them. More glass shards.
"Deborah!" the singer felt her blood run cold. It was time. Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat, she kicked herself.
"Moulton," her voice was unreadable as he exited the Vine and Vinyl Recording Studios.
"Deborah, please, whatever you might be planning, please don't!" he muttered urgently.
Deborah inhaled sharply. Planning. This was the first time he even tried to talk to her in weeks and the first thing he did was accuse her of scheming.
ME?! I'M the one who's plotting?!
Deception was a game two could play at. He would be the last to know, she would make sure of it. Revenge would be so sweet…
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Deborah, I know you're upset, and you have every right to be!" Ambrose pleaded. "I know we both hurt you, and I don't know why I ever thought it would be a good idea, but…"
For just a second, Deborah almost started listening. He apologized. Over and over again. But then, he started pleading for someone else.
"And please, don't take your anger out on Angela either. She had no idea how fast her experiment would spin out of con—"
"Then that's HER PROBLEM, ISN'T IT?!" Deborah interrupted, snarling. "She's a scientist! If she didn't have her experiment thoroughly vetted, she should've never been allowed to test it out to begin with!"
And just like that, Deborah's heart hardened again. She snapped her fingers, and suddenly, a man lunged at Moulton from the shadows. Moulton cried out as he was suddenly thrown back against the studio doors. Deborah flinched but said nothing.
"Mr. Moulton, you're under arrest," the man growled.
"Wh—what?! What the devil are you doing?! Deborah!"
"You have the right to remain silent!" the man, an officer, tightened his grip on Ambrose.
"What am I being arrested for?!" he interrupted. He didn't push back against the officer, but he wasn't just going to lie down and take this.
"We have evidence you willingly supported illegal drug trials," the cop replied coldly. "And actively withheld knowledge of that crime."
"Illegal drug…" Ambrose slowly turned his head towards Deborah, but she was already walking away. "Deborah!" She didn't look back.
ooo
Angela knew something was wrong the moment Ambrose suddenly stopped answering her texts and calls, but the full severity of the issue didn't sink in until someone else called her to interrogate her about her experiments.
"Wait, who is this?" she demanded. It was a voice she thought she recognized, but she couldn't place it. "How do you know about—?"
"We were informed that your experiments have been in violation of several laws and ethical codes and your refusal to report on any of your work will be taken as an act of defiance." The voice on the other end of the line cut through her like a knife.
For half a second, Angela wanted to despair, wondering how her luck could get any worse, but then she realized that it hadn't been luck at all. She didn't need to ask to know Deborah was somehow responsible. She felt her blood run cold. So… the secret was out, then. And that was why the voice sounded vaguely familiar, it was someone on their local ethical committee for scientific research.
Angela switched from the phone app to the internet, hanging up on her caller. Sure, it would land her in some serious trouble, but she was already in serious trouble because of Deborah. At this point, Angela was starting to realize that Deborah was a much deadlier foe than any of them could've ever imagined. How far was she going to go before she was satisfied?!
"She didn't…" Angela went pale. Angela didn't just find confirmation that Ambrose Moulton was now in jail for illegal drug trials. Apparently, Deborah was willing to go very far. Not only had Deborah doxed her, revealing the address of her house/lab, she'd also doxed Angela's parents and sent some not-so-subtle hints to her fans that she wanted them to make Angela's life Hell. They weren't supposed to do anything serious or direct, but the Dangerous Debutante, who had since become Deadly, made sure all of her fans knew that Dr. Angela Jekyll did something bad to her and now she had to pay for it!
You may have a She-Hulk, Jekyll, Deborah sneered to herself, But I have an army!
Alongside her family and all of their connections, Deborah had a legion of fans. Now it was Jekyll's turn to be completely and utterly alone. Now she would know what it felt like to be left out and ganged up on. I'll ruin your life, since you wouldn't be in mine. It was the whole world vs. one. Was Jekyll ready for it? Her last line of defense was gone, Moulton wouldn't save her now, nothing could protect her from Deborah's wrath.
Deborah checked her updated hit list: Lola Hyde.
She checked it twice: Angela Jekyll.
If there was one silver lining to Jekyll's alter ego, it meant that Deborah had the supreme pleasure of getting to kill her twice.
ooo
A week passed and Jekyll was still alive. Deborah knew how to shoot, but she still had one more lesson to learn. She paced her room, trying to think of something, anything, that would help strengthen her resolve and harden her heart. Then at last, she got a crazy idea. She, obviously, could not contact Jekyll, for she had been smart enough to go into hiding not long after Moulton's arrest. But Moulton…? He was her crazy idea.
"Moulton."
"Deborah!"
"Don't call me that."
"… Ms. Lavish."
For half a second, he'd been hopeful, even relieved. She might've been the reason why he was here, but even so, he still had fond memories of her and couldn't help but pity her. Maybe she didn't want it, but he couldn't have imagined that these past few weeks had been any easier on her than it had been on him or anyone else involved in the family feuds. But barely had he gotten to revel in the fact that he was seeing her face again when her icy voice acted like a cold splash of reality. Of course, he knew she'd still be upset, but that tone was so chilling and hollow…
"Wh—what brings you here?"
"Where would Jekyll go if she went into hiding?"
"Wh—what?"
"You heard me, Moulton. Now answer! You can't save her anymore. Might as well give up the ghost now and maybe I'll go easy on her."
"Deb—, Ms. Lavish,… Please, this isn't you!"
"Just because it's not a side of me that you like, that doesn't mean it's not still me."
"But I mean it! This isn't you! I know you, Ms. Lavish, I—!"
"DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT ME!"
"Deb—, Ms. Lavish…"
Deborah could feel her pulse, temperature, and temper rising. She clenched her fists and teeth. Good… Good! This was exactly what she'd been hoping for… Of course, she wasn't stupid enough to think Moulton would ever actually betray Jekyll. No, of course not! He'd never hurt his true love! Nobody cared about Deborah, despite all their false claims and promises, but everyone adored Angela, for some reason!
Deborah wanted to give a single, dry laugh of despair, but something was burning her throat and eyes. She was shaking now. This was exactly what she'd wanted… To trigger her anger, her deepest rage and wrath. That was true motive behind this visit. But she knew ahead of time that in order for it to work, it was going to have to hurt like Hell. It certainly did.
Listening to him now, begging for Jekyll's life, and insisting he "knew" her. Yeah. Sure. He knew her so well that he considered fucking her partner behind her back to be a good idea. He considered it a good idea to never tell her, to never even want to tell her. Sure, that was fantastic for someone with anger, trust, and abandonment issues. What a brilliant idea, Moulton. Truly, he knew Deborah like no other. He knew exactly what would traumatize her the most: infidelity while she remained faithful. He cut her to the bone, but if she bled, he'd be the last to know.
"Please, Ms. Lavish! It's not too late to turn this entire thing around, to start over!" Ambrose pleaded.
"Pfft, just because you are finally unsatisfied with the outcome of this little game doesn't mean now you get to try to push the reset button. I've wanted to do that since the night I fucking walked in on my two best friends going at each other behind my back!"
I didn't have a choice, why should you? You were the one to blame, why am I being punished? You CHOSE to fuck Hyde. Multiple times. Knowing she was Jekyll. Truly, how is it fair? When will my grievances be addressed? When will I be allowed to be angry? DON'T BLAME ME!
"I will not move past this, not until every hurt has been addressed on my terms! It is the least I am owed!"
All I've thought about for the past… how long has it been?... is karma. Revenge. Getting back at the ones who hurt me, since no one else will help. Maybe everyone else is ready to move on, but I'm not, and for once in my life, I deserve to call the shots. They want drama? They'll GET drama!
"Mark my words, Moulton," she said suddenly, interrupting him mid-plea. She hadn't heard a thing he'd said over the past two minutes. "I don't know what the future holds, but know this: Maybe I got mine, but someday you'll All. Get. YOURS!" Another declaration of war. She'd done it. She finally had the strength to turn away. To walk from the jailcell without ever looking back. No, her eyes were only on the future now.
ooo
Deborah stared down at the black iron key in her hand. She smiled at it grimly as she slid it into the lock on Jekyll's lab door.
I wonder if she forgot she gave me a spare?
She was not surprised to find the lab completely empty and dark. Jekyll had, after all, gone into hiding only a little while ago. Of course, she cleared out her lab as well. Oh well, Deborah wasn't necessarily here for anything other than the lab itself anyway. She pulled a lighter from her pocket. Just as she'd promised forever ago, she would show Jekyll what happened when she dared play with fire. It was time to go ahead and light things up.
Maybe it was harsh, but what did Deborah care? She didn't trust them. She didn't trust anyone. She had to do this. And she had to act swift and hard. Besides, nobody trusted her either. Not Jekyll, not Moulton, not even her own family. They were supporting her only to save face. Nobody trusted Deborah. Well, two could play at that game. After seeing how easy it was for lovers to turn on each other, she didn't trust anyone either.
Right before Deborah turned on the lighter, she found a stash of that mysterious potion that led to Lola Hyde's creation. At first, Deborah was wary of it. Why did Jekyll leave some of her potion behind but take everything else? But then she realized that the flasks were at the top back of a high cabinet. Had Hyde perhaps stored them there? It would explain the height, and why Jekyll had missed them…
At the mere thought of the other woman, though, Deborah began to seethe all over again. She was surprised by how much hatred she felt for Hyde, but she allowed it to consume her. That would make her night a lot easier. And then, she got another crazy idea… Bigger and bigger and bigger, wider and wider, stronger and stronger, taller and taller. Hating her took away the pain, made her feel so strong!
Ripping out of her dress, Deborah pitched and moaned, back arching as she swayed to and fro, lost in the waves of her own transformation. Was it the room that was spinning, or was she? But more pressing than that, she could've sworn her heard a new voice in her head now.
I'll be the actress starring in their bad dreams…
At the same time, to steel her nerves, Deborah whispered to herself, "I don't trust nobody and nobody trusts me."
The voice in her head chimed in again. I'll be the actress starring in their bad dreams…
Yes… YES! Deborah could feel the power flowing through her, through her blood and into every part of her body! It felt so GOOD!
"I don't trust nobody and nobody trusts me!" Never again, never.
I'll be the actress starring in their bad dreams…
The creature that emerged from Deborah, although new to the world, already felt as if it had a mind from eons ago, the mind of a warrior and strategist both. Though her fingers were massive, she managed to fumble with the lighter just long enough to get it to spark to life.
I don't trust nobody and nobody trusts me…
"I AM the monster starring in their bad dreams!" At last, she'd done it. She'd learned the second lesson. She finally felt ready…
The inferno roared all around her and the monster raised her arms in triumph. Anyone else would've fled the burning building in a panic, but it was as if the potion had granted immunity as well as a new body. She could feel the flames on her skin and knew she would not be able to linger forever, but it wasn't unbearable just yet. She wanted to milk her revenge for all it was worth! To really make a statement!
The Deadly Debutante swung her massive head around the lab, greedily drinking in the lovely sight of the old building going down in flames. It was only with a hint of regret that she wished she could've waited until after Jekyll was back inside to burn the lab down. How wonderful it would've been to hear her screams as she ignited. It would've coupled beautifully with the sounds of splintering wood and… squeaking?
Over the dull roar of the flames, the monster suddenly became aware that there was something else in the lab with her. Not a human, but rats. Lab rats! The monster realized as soon as she caught a glimpse of the cages lining one side of the lab. She watched them squeal as they ran to and fro, unable to escape the ever-approaching inferno. A few of them clawed and chewed at the bars, but to no avail. A small, crooked smile spread across her face. It wasn't Jekyll, but surely some fresh-fried rats would feel satisfying, too, especially knowing how special they were to Jekyll.
She took a step closer, morbid curiosity making her eager to see what it would look like to watch a cage of rats slowly burn to death one by one. She picked up the cages, hands so big and strong that she was easily able to hold them all in her arms. She brought them close to her face, cackling and growling and muttering in an inhuman tongue. She loved watching their raw terror and wild desperation for survival.
The flames were starting to get too hot, though, and she couldn't linger any longer. With regret, she turned to the staircase that would take her up and out. She was easily able to jump the entire thing in one bound and was outside in less than two seconds. The cages were still in her arms.
ooo
Her rampage was not done, however. She still had to find and kill Jekyll and Hyde. She was so big and strong, too, that she was sure she'd make short work of both of them. Especially Jekyll. It wouldn't take more than one squeeze to turn her into a lovely red mess all over the floor. She was sure she could hold Jekyll's entire head in one hand, and crush it as easily as a grape, turning her head and everything in it into a fine red mist. Maybe she'd kill Jekyll first so that she could savor a more final and epic showdown with Hyde, the real cause of all these problems. Or maybe she would kill Hyde first and torment Jekyll over the fact that she'd lost her very last line of defense.
But first, the thrill of getting to set fire to Jekyll's lab made her hungry for more wanton destruction. She instantly set course for Moulton's mansion. She was easily able to kick in the door and punch a hole above it in order to create an opening wide enough for her to squeeze in. She lost her lighter in Jekyll's lab, but there were so many candles and matches in Moulton's mansion that it would be easy to get a second blaze going.
There was only one issue. Unlike Jekyll's lab, Moulton's mansion was in a highly populated area. It was amazing enough that she'd been able to break in without anyone noticing. A fire, though, would easily spin out of control, and that would make it even harder for her to evade capture. If she wanted to destroy Moulton's mansion, it couldn't be through fire, but with a body as massive and strong as hers…
Halfway through her rampage, she reached Moulton's study. In the corner was the statue of Aphrodite. She looked at it in pure disgust. How hideous it was! Too perfect, too pretty, too sculpted and smooth! No one was that flawless, not even a goddess! Aphrodite was a spiteful, petty bitch. She shouldn't have looked so pure and bright, love was twisted and cruel. It was an exaggeration of Deborah, that was all it had ever been, never the truth. Even Moulton had never been able to see or love her for who she was, only the pretty body that she was always putting on display.
That is NOT me! NOT Jekyll! NOT Hyde! That statue is… an abomination! A freak of nature! It resembles nothing and no one! It is just a stupid, fanciful idea of what true beauty is and false idol of love! It is little more than an over glorification of idolatry and adultery, both!
It didn't take her long to reduce most of the statue to dust just as she'd reduced Jekyll's lab to ash.
Next came the rest of the study, books torn apart, and shelves and desks overturned. She was almost done when a ringtone suddenly pierced the air. She paused mid-punch, astounded. Even though she'd been rampaging, she'd missed a few spots, apparently. Without even thinking, she grabbed the rotary phone, one of the few things still unbroken in Moulton's study. Jekyll's shrill, terrified voice greeted her.
"Deborah! My lab! Did you—?!" Even though she had no idea what was going on, she was quick to put two and two together and even figured out that Deborah was likely headed to Ambrose's mansion next. She was spot-on and managed to call mid-rampage.
The monster couldn't hold back a laugh. Jekyll immediately went quiet when she realized she did not recognize the voice on the other end.
"D—D—Deborah…?" She sounded scared, as if she didn't want to know the answer even though she already subconsciously did.
The monster grinned. "I'm sorry, the old Deborah can't come to the phone right now… Why?... Oh…"
Because she's DEAD!
On the other end, Angela heard something smash against what sounded like stone, then the line went dead, too.
ooo
"Wh—who are you?!" Mr. Lavish's voice was comically high and squeaky as he found himself suddenly staring up at a very large, very ugly, very angry, very naked lady at the foot of his bed. Two hands shot out, one grabbing him by his neck and one grabbing his sleeping wife in the same way. She woke with a strangled screech, she and her husband suddenly lifted clean out of their bed by this strange monster woman.
"Family meeting. Now." Four eyes widened in horror.
Five minutes later, the four Lavishes were sitting around the kitchen table at 2 AM. Three of them looked terrified and disoriented, hair and night-clothing a mess. The fourth towered over them, beefy arms crossed, and teeth bared in a threatening snarl.
"You're turning the Lavish family name over to me. Now."
"Wh—what?! Are you mad?!" Mr. Lavish's words were outraged and indignant, but his tone and body language gave him away. The other two were mute, shellshocked. Mrs. Lavish's mouth was hanging open comically while Eleanor eyes were bugged out. A fist was brought down onto the table. The wood shattered. The monster cursed herself. It felt good, being strong, but she was so strong that the table broke without her meaning for it to.
It did the trick, though, and Mr. Lavish's hasty and shaky hand made a mess across an old document. It was a contract he'd created years ago that formally assigned rights and responsibilities to each Lavish in print so that there could be no dispute over who was owed what. Of course, he was the head of the house, his wife having married in from another family.
It was time for a change in leadership, though, the monster thought.
In shaky font, Mr. Lavish managed to write out Deborah's name. The monster grunted. Not good enough. Her name had to be there too. She indicated as such, impatiently tapping the blank space beside Deborah's name.
"Wh—what? A—are you n—not… Deborah?"
That gave the monster pause. She wasn't sure how to answer that. She even tilted her head, as if to indicate her uncertainty. As far as she was concerned, she was just a creature of war, even more single-minded than Hyde. She had no time to bother with names and titles when there were battles to be fought and revenge and retribution to be sought. If Hyde was vanity, christening herself mere minutes after her "birth", then this monster was violence, and she felt no need for names at all.
Although, she couldn't help but remember that her predecessor's name was rather… "warrish", too… The name Deborah meant "bee", a creature known for its sweet honey, sharp sting, and impressive work ethic. More importantly, though, the most famous Deborah of all was the Fourth of the 12 Judges of Israel. According to the Old Testament, she led her people to victory against the tyrannical Canaanites. She was blessed with power by God and the general of the Israelites was more than happy to accept her wise council. Her mind was as sharp as any sword or stinger, and she was even described as fiery by the Bible itself.
The monster tapped the paper again, insistently. Regardless of who she was, that was why her name was being written down beside Deborah's. She wanted a cut of the power, and she wanted to ensure that if anyone tried to take it back, it wouldn't be easy.
"But… what is… What do you want me to write?" the man asked, gulping nervously. His wife's eyes were now glued to the table in fear and shame. Eleanor was still staring at the monster, wide-eyed and wide-mouthed. There was a moment of silence before the beast rumbled out an answer.
"Enyo."
None of the others questioned it, but only Eleanor understood. Ares' female equivalent…
A new Goddess was ascending to her own throne, her own Olympus, finally taking her rightful place atop the family tree as its commander in chief, as she should've always been. A new era was dawning, both for her and the family as a whole. Soon, all would bow before her as she helped bring the Lavish family to new heights.
Long live Enyo, Goddess of War! And long live Deborah Lavish, the Dangerous One, the Deadly Debutante! The new leaders of the Lavish family! No one would ever betray or count them out ever again!
This is the monster you made of me, Daddy. You wanted me to fix things, so I did. Now look what you just made me do.