"What in the hell are you all doing here?" Bill stood at the foot of the airplane ramp. He was looking more dapper than usual in a dark gray suit and silk tie, shoes shined and hair tied back. He had a black leather bag slung over his shoulder.
"Well," Vernita crossed her arms, "We heard, oh...through that grapevine..." she glanced at Budd who was standing next to her, "That today was your birthday....and you just happened to be flying in...thought we'd come by and pick you up. Can't let the elderly travel alone."
Bill frowned, re-shouldering his bag, "There was no need." He began walking towards the terminal.
"Oh come on Bill," Vernita implored, laughing and exchanging humored glances with Beatrix. "We thought you'd find it a pleasant surprise."
"Humph," was Bill's only answer, as he shot a glare at Budd.
Vernita rolled her eyes, following them. "So much for niceties, huh Bea."
"I don't need niceties," Bill grumbled, walking faster than the rest of the group as if he hoped to lose them in the crowd somehow. "What I need is to get my luggage and get the hell out of this airport." Vernita frowned. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Beatrix was still unsure why she decided to go along with this idea. It had been Budd's idea to begin with. He thought since Bill was so nice as to make a party for him he'd return the favor. It wasn't exactly a party more like an 'it's your birthday and we are going to celebrate it in some manner so suck it up.' Budd still found it amusing how much Bill despised the fact that he was another day older. An advantage but a small one. "How old are you now? 60 something, can't rightly remember," Budd mused with a lopsided grin on his face.
Bill glared at his younger brother for the umpteenth time in the last two minutes, "Fifty-eight you asshole," he grumbled under his breath. Having to be reminded was the last thing Bill wanted at the moment. He hated the thought of his own slow mortality. Death was one thing....but a slow decaying death was another. He didn't feel that old really. Sometimes he even almost forgot...he still felt like he did when he was twenty five...until he looked in the mirror that is.
The four-some hustled down the crowded airport receiving a few glances from passerby's but none too out of the ordinary. They came to an abrupt halt at baggage claim were numerous groups of people from various different ethnicities waited.
Beatrix peered past Vernita to Bill who looked unhappy, to say the least. She had to recall that it had been almost two weeks since she had seen him and their last encounter was less than pleasant. "How was your flight, Bill?" She asked in a casual and non-threatening tone.
Vernita decided she'd done enough damage already and fell into silence, instead amusing herself with the constantly entertaining game of airport people watching.
When they reached the baggage claim, Bill folded his arms intensely watching the bags scroll by. He glanced over at Beatrix, "Hrm, fine...bad food, noisy kids, shitty movie....the usual." Of course, both of them knew how that went all too well. "Nikishi gave me your message when I called earlier." The first sign of a faint smile crossed his face. "I-
"Hey, Bill is this your bag?" Vernita called loudly, she had just grabbed a piece of luggage off the conveyer belt.
"No," Bill replied nonchalantly, "But I'll take it."
An elderly woman nearby gave him a nasty glare, snatching the bag out of Vernita's hands.
Vernita laughed, almost doubling over, having mistaken Bill's bag for an elderly woman's.
Bill glared at her, not missing the irony. "Don't even say it Vernita." He turned back to Beatrix with a wary look, "I'm assuming this what not your idea Kiddo."
Beatrix had a delicate hand cupped to her mouth to contain her own sudden burst of laughter. Blue eyes darted to Bill. She never thought of Bill as being that old. He certainly didn't act that old. A fucked up kid at heart. Laughter contained she let her hand fall back to her side. She shook her pretty blonde head, pony tail swaying in the process. "No."
"It was mine, with Vernita's help," Budd chimed in. He still had a dopey smile on his face. He was having his own fun with this. "We almost had to drag Bea here by that fucking pony tail." He chuckled lightly.
Beatrix kept a smirk on her face. She wasn't going to take offense to Budd's comment. She brought her attention back to Bill. Slender brows furrowed in curiosity over his unfinished sentence pertaining to her message. She'd let it go for now. "I came upon my own accord. No tugging or pulling was involved. I was ecstatic about coming." She flashed an overly fake smile.
Bill raised an eyebrow at Beatrix, "I'm sure you were," he said dryly but in good humor. He appeared to be warming up a little more to this "reception".....warm being about 50 degrees......Fahrenheit. He glanced at Beatrix with a good amount of fondness.
Vernita joined them, a bag in her hands. She dropped it at Bill's feet. "This has gotta be yore's.....it's heavy as hell..."
Bill glanced down, "That's it. Hey Budd, do your old brother a favor and carry that thing..." He gave Budd a smarmy smile.....one that was long practiced on the younger man. But suddenly the smile dropped, as Bill's attention focused on something in the crowd over Budd's shoulder. Instinctually, Bill went for the gun under his jacket....which of course was not there. Of course, he knew drawing a firearm in a airport was extremely foolish, but the motion came unconsciously.
All of them were more than adept enough to quickly spot two figures pushing through the crowd of people....it was obvious they were heading right for them. It was hard to discern much about them, but the figure in front was definitely a woman....she had large black sunglasses on and a head of long black uncombed hair....it was hard to tell but she may have been Asian. The two people were moving very quickly; rudely pushing others out of their way...it was only a matter of seconds before the two groups met.
Bill frowned, saying nothing as he dropped his carry on bag to the ground.
Budd was managing with the heavy baggage when he caught Bill's eye. He slowly turned around and came face to face with a rather irate couple. He gave a quick glance to Beatrix and Vernita whom had already caught on and appeared just as confused.
All confusion was cleared when the man of obvious Japanese decent, receding hair line, thick eyebrows, and dressed in a casual suit spoke up. His voice was rough and spoke in his native tongue. "That's her, Jade. The blonde warrior that took down our master." Cold brown eyes were fixated on the only blonde there, Beatrix.
"Excuse me?" Beatrix spoke up, keeping to the native tongue to keep patrons from over hearing. Her facade was threatening but calm. This was an unexpected and unwanted surprise.
The man put on a sadistic grin as a hand roamed to his pocket. He whipped out a white envelope that was smeared with blood. In a very casual and laid back manner the man opened the envelope as if he was going to deliver an important letter. Instead of a letter he pulled out what appeared to be skin. A large chunk which he thrust in Beatrix's face. She showed no noticeable grimace. Upon closer inspection she could see through the blood stains that the skin was decorated in vibrant etchings of obscure pictures.
"Your blood is on here. You belong to him, you die with him."
Jade stood next to her taller male cohort, a similar sick smile on her face, "You get it now, yes you do..." she rasped in Japanese, her voice not exactly pleasant on the ears. She leaned up towards Beatrix, "You took him from us...." she nearly spat in the blonde's face. "It's our turn now.....you see...how the circle continues. He shared his blood with you....our blood has been shared with him. We must close the circle." She pointed a dirty fingernail at one of the swirly circles etched into the flap of skin.
Bill had remained motionless throughout this whole thing. He was watching the two Japanese very closely. Like Beatrix, he didn't appear affected by the contents of the envelope in the slightest.
Vernita could do nothing but stare in horror and utter confusion. She vaguely remembered a few days ago, Beatrix telling her about her last assignment...the target being that sick fucker. This had to be a connection...
Bill spoke up in Japanese, his tone smooth but demanding no argument, "This is not the appropriate setting. If you have a score to settle with my lady friend here, then why don't we all go to a more secluded location and deal with it there."
"NO!" Jade screamed, her voice harsh. A few bystanders were starting to stare. It was only a matter of time before security was called and all hell broke loose. "Onyx," she addressed her male companion, "Now is the time!"
Bill shook his head, still calm, "Now is the not the time."
Jade let out a little yell, and wrenched the skin out of Onyx's hand and threw it at Beatrix. It hit the front of her shirt and fell to her feet with a sickening "thwap."
Bill raised an eyebrow. Some people never learned.
"I belong to no one," Beatrix clarified in smooth Japanese. To exaggerate her point she lifted her boot from the floor and brought it down the chunk of skin. She dug the toe of her boot into the center and twisted. Squishing, unpleasant sounds admitted as she mutilated it.
Onyx screeched in horror at the heinous act. Without warning he whipped out a gun, pulled back the hammer and poised the barrel at Beatrix's head. The gasping screams from bystanders could be heard. Damnit, they had attracted attention. "You..." Onyx panted with fury. "You come with us. If any of you," his eyes darted between Vernita, Budd, and Bill. "Follow us, we'll kill her."
Bill frowned, his eyes darting to the barrel of the gun. This was not ideal. Particularly since this crazy fuckhead had just attracted far too much attention to themselves. He took a step back, hands lifted at his sides. "Very well....it's all your game now Desperado." Leave it to Bill to be a smartass to a man with a gun.
Vernita wanted to do something....anything. That thing with the skin was just too fucking weird...and she didn't even want to think what these nut cases were going to with Beatrix once they got the chance.
Jade licked her dry lips with excitement. She'd flipped out when the blonde warrior had decimated the skin of their master, but seeing Onyx draw the gun made her feel much better. She cackled a little, "Come on Onyx...we've wasted enough time...let's get on with it."
Bill's hard gaze flicked to the corner of his vision where a number of security officers were making their way through the crowd. A number of choices spread out in his mind...he swiftly made a decision. Turning slowly, as to not attract any unwarranted twitching from the already jumpy Onyx, he addressed Vernita and Budd. "Let's go...." he nodded at them sharply and hefted his own bag, "She's all yours." He met Beatrix's stare with the utmost confidence in her abilities. He hoped she would understand exactly why he was doing this what he was doing. At times, his dangerous way of playing games was hard to communicate. Motioning to Vernita and Budd, the three of them melted into the crowd and out of sight.
"Come on!!" Jade begged her counterpart, with an impatient tug on his sleeve. Onyx put a rough hand to the blonde's shoulder and pushed her forward. He kept the barrel of the gun pressed against the small of her back as a precaution. "Just keep moving and we'll be outta here in no time," he spoke gently into the blonde's ear as they weaved through the crowds. Beatrix walked in a steady manner. Her features were hard and blue eyes burned. Bill just left her. He didn't do a damn thing. In the confides and logical regions in her mind she knew that Bill only left her because if a fight broke out in public...Well, it would be a catastrophe. She couldn't remain too pissed at him and then again she couldn't expect him to save her. Bill was no knight in shinning armor.
Onyx and Jade snuck past security with impressive skills and they were now leading Beatrix at a quickened pace to an abandoned warehouse on the farther regions of the airport base. Perhaps its past use was for baggage storage. Now it set up as a 'play house'.
Budd was standing on the curb trying with little success to hail a cab. He wasn't trying too hard. "What the fuck was that about?" He questioned in an aggravated tone. "You just left her there." His eyes shot to Bill. "We aren't gonna follow 'em or anything?"
Bill cast a dark glance at his brother. He was very aware of what he had just done. "No, we are not going to follow them," he said in low tone. "We can't take the chance.....not here."
Vernita stood there in silence, her eyes burning into Bill's back. Asshole...fucking asshole, was all she could think. On impulse she came up beside him and dropped his bag that she had been carrying for some reason, at his feet. "I think you can handle the weight there Bill," she said coldly.
Bill turned on her, not amused one bit, "Don't fuck with me Vernita. Do you know what would have happened if we had stuck around there thirty seconds longer?" He said, getting in her face. Vernita took an impulsive step back; she hated seeing Bill angry...especially when it was directed at her. "Do you not realize that every fucking FBI agent and fucking secret service officer in the US has my name? It's a miracle I can still get by with alias, but if we were booked, an alias wouldn't hold water for very long. And if I go down, you are sure as hell are going down with me." He extended a threatening finger, "Don't question my tactics Vernita. I haven't survived this long by doing stupid things now have I?" Vernita shook her head, desperate to get out of this situation. "Don't you think I didn't want to reach in and break that asshole's hand, which I easily could have. And wouldn't that have been just great Vernita, Beatrix would be no longer be at gunpoint, sure but she, as well as the rest of us would be spending the next fifty to life far from sunny Mexico. If you don't think I don't care about the well being of Beatrix, let alone any of those who work for me then you apparently haven't learned a damn thing Verntia." He pulled away, taking a breath, "Besides, Beatrix can handle herself. She offed the guy those two worship...she can easily get rid of two pathetic wannabe's." He straightened his tie, "Everything is for the greater good." Bill didn't always explain himself in clear terms, but when he did....he really explained himself.
Verntia cast her eyes down at the pavement. The greater good? Wasn't the greater good almost always Bill.
Budd had managed to hail a cab while Bill was reaming on Vernita. "Get in," Bill said gruffly. Leaving the bag there for Vernita to pick up. "Asshole," she mumbled under her breath, bending to pick up the bag.
The warehouse was extremely dark and the air was damp. It smelled of rust and mildew. Jade scuttled around like an overgrown spider until she found the bank of light switches. Once illuminated, the warehouse was only creepier. The lighting was florescent and half of the lights were burning out....the banks blinking on and off in an irritating way. It gave the whole space an extremely eerie feel. In the corner, along with allot of rather bizarre looking things...was a rolling tray. There was a variety of cutlery on the tray...all of them looked as if they had never been washed. The blades were crusted with dark red stains.
"Come, come...Onyx...bring her over here!" Jade breathed excitedly, as she tottered near the tray. "We can't waste any more time!"
Onyx poked Beatrix in the back with the gun barrel to move her forward. He was grinning wide, very happy with their accomplishment. It was no easy task to trap a snake.
As blue eyes strayed around the area Beatrix came to conclude that she was out numbered and had no weapons. For now she'd have to roll with the punches until she could formulate a way out. This included being roughly strapped to what looked like a rusty piece of metal shaped like a door. It was pinned to the wall in a vertical position with leather straps for both arms and legs.
Onyx began pinning up her arms over head. A thought of some fucked up Stephen King novel crossed with Frankenstein flared in her mind. Once secure Onyx turned to his comrade. "Ready," he stated clearly. A fleeting glance was given to the blonde whose facade stood emotionless but blue eyes flared with intense flames.
Jade rechecked all of the straps again just to be sure. She nodded vigorously to Onyx, "Yes...yes..." She scuttled over to the tray, picking up a few pieces of cutlery and setting them back down one at a time and then picking them back up. She did this for a minute or two. It was hard to tell if she was just having a problem deciding which one to use, or she was just flat out crazy. Finally, Jade settled on a rusty looking thing...a long piece of metal that looked more like a stunted fire poker than a knife. Like all of the rest, it was crusted with a good coating of long dried blood. Digging into the pockets of her dirty baggy pants, Jade pulled out an equally dirty looking lemon. She jabbed the end of the poker into the lemon, making sure the end was well coated. Happy with the results, she swung the poker around to face Beatrix.
Jade was still wearing her sunglasses, so it was hard to read her expression...but she seemed more than gleeful. "Your really going to like this one...blonde warrior..." she grated in her strange voice, drawing the poker right up Beatrix's cheek.
Beatrix stared at the lemon scented poker with bafflement and anxiety. Her nostrils were flared and beads of sweat were trailing down her brow. Her lips remained in a tight line as all her breathing was admitted through her nose. Not the most calming breathing technique but she wasn't big on being calm. "You got anything to say before we begin?" Onyx questioned her. He almost appeared to be bouncing with childish glee. No response passed through Beatrix's lips.
He frowned slightly and took a step to the other side of the upright scrap of metal. "Look at those eyes," he mused quietly. "This bitch is furious." He grinned sadistically. "Go on Jade."
Jade was also nearly bouncing with childish glee. "Gladly, Onyx...gladly..." she breathed with excitement. She licked her lips, continued to advance on Beatrix with deliberate slowness. Jade rested the piece of metal directly on Beatrix's skin, so the blonde warrior could feel the coldness that was about to pierce through that pretty face of hers. "This.....is for Karn.....his blood....that you spilt," With that, Jade lifted the poker high and brought it down with insane ferociousness.
With lightening fast speed and accuracy Beatrix had squeezed her foot out of her boot and brought it up high to nail Jade in the chest. This made the woman stumble and instead of bringing the poker down on her face it went deep into Beatrix's shoulder. She yelled out in pain but this didn't falter her from catching out of the corner of her eye Onyx. He had a handy device in his hand. It looked similar to scalpel that doctors used but it was hard to tell with the blood. Her other foot came out of the boot and extended it to the side to catch him in the chest. Onyx fell back against a tray sending utensils flying.
Beatrix took this chance to suck up her pain no matter how much a lemon scented poker dug deep into her shoulder hurt, she moved. She planted black socked feet flat against the metal table; knees bent, and hoisted herself into a bizarre hand stand. The tips of her toes clung to the edge of the table that was up against the wall to keep from falling back over.
She tilted her head down and took the straps of the buckle in-between her teeth and began to pull. A fierce whip of her head was given to keep from eating her hair and only the leather. A hard task to fulfill but the hole was slowly coming off of the buckle.
Jade went screaming and fell backwards onto the cold concrete floor. She laid their coughing for a few moments, her lungs burning. When she managed to pull herself up onto her elbows, she saw the blonde warrior performing one of the most bizarre maneuvers she had ever seen. The freaky thing...was that it was working.
Screeching in frustration, Jade picked herself up. She looked utterly confused for a moment and then she dove over to where Onyx had fell...far more interested in grabbing a deadly utensil of choice than helping her comrade. She scooped up a large butcher knife, unoriginal...but effective. She ran towards the contorted blonde blade raised for a murderous slash.
Beatrix saw Jade coming with the knife. She tugged harder at the buckle. Finally it came loose enough that she could stop using her teeth and tugged her one hand free. As she removed her arm she outstretched it to take the slash from the butcher knife on her forearm. She winced as a new found gash spilled blood. Before Jade could take in another slash Beatrix snatched her wrist and snapped it back like a twig.
The woman stumbled away screaming. This gave Black Mamba time to work on her other arm which proved to be much harder. Keeping balance upside down with only one hand and using the other to unbuckle herself was one hell of a task. The blood was bleeding enough from her wounds she wasn't too concerned about it rushing to her head.
Onyx looked over to Jade in horror. He yelled in a furious rage and began to shuffle on the floor to gain himself a weapon.
Blue eyes darted over to Onyx in a mild panic and focused back on the buckle which was being stubborn. "Come on you...bitch.." she muttered. Eyes lit up when the buckle came loose and forgetting about gravity she fell to the floor with a thud.
Jade cradled her wrist, whimpering. She swayed with pain and nausea nearly loosing her footing. After a few moments, her desire to draw blood from this blonde warrior far outweighed the pain in her wrist. She stumbled forward, blinking. Very ungracefully, she fell to her knees, scrambling with one hand for another weapon. She hardly even noticed Onyx doing the same. Scooping up something sharp, she stumbled back towards where she had last seen the blonde woman. Yelling like some hell spawned banshee, Jade threw herself onto the back of the blonde warrior who had apparently fallen. Jade latched on as best she could with a broken wrist, her other arm wrapping around the woman's neck...the knife in her hand digging into the woman's skin. "DIE!!!!" She screamed with little dignity.
Beatrix yelled out in her own amount of pain. She began to thrash around trying to get the woman unlatched from her back. But, Jade had somewhat of an advantage with a knife lodged into the blonde's back for added support. Her teeth were clenched and jaw tight to help with the amount of pain she was enduring. Beatrix heard an aggressive yell from her right side. Onyx was coming at her with a knife. She needed her own weapon. Blue eyes scanned her area franticly but with good measure. Wait, what the hell was she looking on the floor for, she already had one.
As Onyx came upon, bringing down his knife, Beatrix let out a grunt of pain as she wrenched the rod in her shoulder out and thrust it deep into Onyx's chest as the man attempted to come down on her. He stumbled to his knees, gargled blood, and dropped dead. Her breathing labored and sweat drenched she had one more psycho to deal with. The one latched to her back. Blood was already beginning to flow down the sides of her mouth, she couldn't last much longer with the knife in her back.
Black Mamba, going on a new dose of adrenaline rose unsteadily to her feet and rammed herself backwards into the table she had recently been latched on to. She screamed in agony as the knife went in deeper. But, all was not done in vein. Jade happened to make contact with a sharp piece of metal that been sticking out on the table, possibly where the buckle had been tied.
The woman went limp and Beatrix felt the weight on her back dissipate. She took a stumbling step back; a hand came up, and pulled the knife out of her back with a sickening slush. She dropped it to the floor. She stayed in this standing position, her back arched forward, hair dampened with sweat, her chest heaving, and blue eyes sober for a good few seconds before she collapsed to her knees.
It had been quite some time since she'd been stabbed four to five times. Gulping down her pain she reached a hand over to Onyx's dead body to dig out a cell phone. Handy device. Lying on her side, pooling in her own blood, she dialed quickly. "Bill..."
Bill had received Beatrix's call when still in the cab. He had only had to listen for one second and his heart, no matter how stony it was, dropped like a stone.
"Turn this cab around....now!" He shouted to the driver.
"Sir...eh..." the man seemed confused.
"If you don't turn this car around right now, I'll fucking break your neck, turn it around myself and toss you out at 80 miles per hour." Well, that seemed to work pretty well.
Unfortunately it took them sometime to track down Beatrix. Even with Vernita, Budd and Bill all searching in different directions, communicating via cell phones. Finally, Vernita found her in one of the outer warehouses. "Bill....I think you'd better get over here...now...." Vernita spoke solemnly in her phone, standing over Beatrix.
Bill sprinted into the warehouse, out of breath and skidded to his knees next to Beatrix. "Jesus fucking Christ..." he swore removing his jacket and wrapping Beatrix up in it as best as possible. She looked terrible...multiple stab wounds. It was hard to tell how many with so much blood, but it was at least three. For the first time in.....a very long time, he felt bad...it was a rare feeling for Bill, but it was an extremely bitter pill to swallow. There was a look of obvious regret and self hatred on his face as he picked Beatrix up. But he didn't have time to think about it now...there would be more than enough time later.
The cab driver was now being extremely cooperative and he was even willing to wait for them....the clock running of course. He gawked at them when they returned with a bloody woman wrapped in a suit jacket, but wisely he said nothing.
"Drive like I've got a gun pointed at the back of your head," Bill said with venom. Seconds later, there was the sound of a hammer being pulled back. The driver swallowed and turned the keys without turning around. Bill refused to let anybody else touch Beatrix the entire way back. All he could do was hold her as tightly as possible, in hopes of stopping some of her circulation.
Beatrix was aware enough to know that she had blacked out in the warehouse at some point because when she woke up there was Vernita followed closely by Bill and Budd. The only advantage of being awake at that point was helping aid herself to the cab. During the cab ride Beatrix wasn't aware of much. She was trembling uncontrollably in a cold sweat even if she was close to Bill.
Upon arriving at the hacienda Budd was left in the cab to bicker with the driver that he didn't need to tell anyone about what he had seen. Vernita and Bill had taken Beatrix inside as time was of the essence. "Just take the fucking money," Budd growled and threw the roll of twenties at the cab driver. The driver as kind hearted as he was, was also greedy and took the money. He wouldn't say a word and drove off.
When Budd came back inside Bill and Vernita had already busied themselves with tending to Beatrix's multiple stab wounds. His boots thudded lightly against the oaken floor as he stopped and stood behind the couch. He looked down at the blood splattered blonde with obvious regret and worry. He licked his lips. "That's some bad shit," he muttered.
"Shut the fuck up Budd," Bill snapped, from his kneeling position by the couch, "Be useful and grab that huge first aid kit in the hallway cabinet. Now!"
Bill turned his attention back to Beatrix, who was sprawled out on his couch.....bleeding all over it. Well, he was beginning to not like this couch anymore anyways.
She kept trying to curl up into a ball, out of feeling cold. Vernita was doing her best to keep her from doing so...it was only making things worse.
Bill grabbed Beatrix by the face, looking at her very intensely, "Kiddo....your going into shock...you need to stop moving. You're going to tear upon those wounds further if you do...I know your cold...just don't move...."
Budd had returned with the kit, which Bill turned upside down...spilling the contents all over the floor. This all seemed oddly familiar to him....except he had been the one lying in the pool of blood. "Vernita, grab me that antiseptic, that roll of bandages...the cotton swabs........shit woman...move faster than that!"
Vernita literally threw the ordered items at Bill, who could care less at the moment. He went back to leaning over Beatrix, "Ok....Kiddo.....I'm taking your shirt off now....don't freak out, you'll just end up bleeding to death." He didn't exactly remove, it was more like her tore her shirt off...tossing the shredded piece of fabric aside. In retrospect, it probably would have been better to be gentler about it. But for Bill, speed was more important than being gentle. He removed his tie and knotted it tightly around her wrist. He would take care of that one later...for now, that would do. He then unrolled some wrapping and biting a long strand away from the roll, he wrapped it tightly around the wound on her upper arm. It would work as a temporary hold. The back wound was the worst, he had to fully tend to that first. Bill pressed a hand on Beatrix's forehead, "Your going to have to help me here....I need to get to your back...."
She was so fucking cold. Beatrix felt like she was locked in a meat freezer and she couldn't stop shivering. She had received numerous stab wounds before this but they had never gone so deep. She was almost sure she may have punctured a vital vessel when she thrust that butcher knife into her back. It was stupid but at the time it was her only alternative. Now she regretted it. Her breathing was coming in quick pained gasps and blue hues stared intensely on Bill. Her facade wasn't readable except for immense pain and a flicker of determination. A hand lifted up and crimson stained fingers gripped to the back of the couch. She gripped it with all her remaining strength and using as much upper body power as she could, Beatrix tried to move on her side, her back facing Bill.
Bill caught a glimpse of her back wound, when she partially rolled over. It was a very deep gash....at least a couple inches in...not good at all...
She was almost there, her arm shaking violently. Almost...She screamed out in agony and returned to lie on her back. Tears stung her eyes and she shook her blonde head fiercely. Her lower lip quivered, emotion betraying her, she choked out, "I can't!"
He frowned as she gave up the battle. "Of course you can," he nearly yelled at her, hands grasping to her shoulders, "You can do any fucking thing you set your mind to Kiddo!" He wasn't just pep talking her; it was the absolute truth as Bill saw it.
Vernita was standing behind Bill, her arms crossed over her chest...as if she was hugging herself. The whole thing was pretty damn hard to watch, but she was determined to stay there in case she was needed again...which was likely.
"Christ!" Bill yelled at Beatrix, almost face to face with her like some drill sergeant, "You're going to roll over if it's the last goddamn thing you! Do you hear me?" With a snarl, he took her arms and wrapped them around his neck and pulled himself up into a sitting position. Beatrix was almost dead weight on his neck, and he couldn't do this by himself...not to mention she was shaking horribly. "I'm going to try and flip you Kiddo...but you're going to have to help me....." He didn't care if she broke down; she was going to do this.
Beatrix kept on shaking her head in protest until she found the inner strength to finally nod. Tears were burning her eyes but she didn't shed them and instead endured the blurry vision. She had to do this or she'd die. She didn't want to die, not necessarily. She liked her life as un-normal and fucked up as it was. And the mere fact that a couple of psychotic whack jobs took the Black Mamba down was the worst possible way to die. A fighter of her stature deserved respect in the time of death or at least a worthy killer. She was going off on a tangent. She could do this. She had to be void of all emotion and feeling. That included pain. Mind over body. Besides, she couldn't let Bill down. He had so much confidence in her abilities. Her cheeks puffed and she exasperated a breath of air. A firm nod followed to signal to Bill she was ready to try again. Her eyes closed tight and with a quick fluid and strained motion, with Bill's aid she rolled over. She did it, her face falling into the back of the cushions of the couch and her screams muffled. Fuck, that hurt.
Bill smiled, genuinely proud. He knew for a fact, that that wasn't an easy thing to do. "Good girl. I knew you could do it," he said in a much more genial tone of voice and gave her uninjured arm a little squeeze.
"Ok, Vernita..." he pivoted on his knees, back to business. "Hand me that bottle of antiseptic...and come around the front here...hold onto her if she jumps." Which was likely. Bill didn't remember much when he had been the victim of the same bottle of antiseptic...but most people generally react the same.....with extreme violence in the midst of almost unbearable pain. And violence fit Beatrix like a glove.
He exchanged a look with Vernita who was now hovering nearby. Placing a hand on the middle of Beatrix's back to pin her down, Bill tilted the bottle and poured a good amount right into the large gash in her back.
This time she didn't scream in pain but buried her face into the back of couch to such an extent she came close to suffocating herself. Beatrix tried her best not to jump as the antiseptic poured onto her tenderly raw skin. But, she began to thrash out due to human survival instincts. She felt added weight on her legs. Budd had joined in by pinning Beatrix's legs down so they didn't kick anyone or anything. His expression remained furrowed in concern and he kept silent in the same manner he did with Bill. Vernita had joined in, holding Beatrix's shoulders down, as the woman understandably put up a vicious battle with pain. She exchanged glances with Budd, who was looking extremely sober at the moment.
Bill grimaced as he was forced to apply more pressure to her torso. He tipped the antiseptic bottle up and set it aside. He knew he had to get that wound closed as soon as possible, but he would give her a few more moments to cope with the current douse of pain...before the next round came.
"Keep holding her," he instructed Vernita and Budd, as he went back to the pile of first aid products scattered on the floor. He returned with stitching equipment. After wiping the blood off around the wound, he threaded the needle, his expression cold and decisively neutral.
He leaned over to Beatrix's ear, her face still buried into the couch, "This is gunna hurt like a fucking bitch Kiddo....but I don't think I have to tell you that, I'd try and black out," he smiled, "Don't you just love irony...I know I do...." With that he leaned back, and needle in hand, he plunged it into her skin with one swift movement.
A scream followed but it was more chocked with tears of pain and anger. Beatrix felt nauseous. Not just because of the pain but because in that moment she realized that Bill was masochistic. When she stated it a few weeks ago she didn't fully believe it. She had just been annoyed and wanted something to throw at him. It was unsettling but her mind was too mashed to dawn on it any longer. Instead her body went limp and she passed into unconsciousness.
Bill had done the best he could for Beatrix. Which was pretty damn good for somebody who spent most of his life trying to kill people not save their lives. Having her passed out certainly helped. After stitching up her back, he attended to the other two wounds which weren't nearly as bad. The one of her upper arm needed a few stitches, but the cut on her wrist didn't...so he wrapped it up tightly after all the necessary steps. He then managed to force her to swallow a few pain killers and then wrapped her up in a ridiculous amount of blankets. With Budd's help they gingerly laid her in the middle of Bill's bed.
After that...it was only a matter of watching to make sure she didn't thrash around or get sick or anything that could hinder the healing process and Bill of course took the job very willingly. After all, hadn't she done the same for him not so long ago? He had been sitting on a chair, next to the bed...halfway watching television, when he fell asleep. It was a tiring job watching over somebody....he'd nearly forgotten what it was like.
Beatrix finally awoke. As lids fluttered open she wanted to spring up in uncertainty and momentary fear but her body hindered this action. She was wrapped tight in blankets and her head felt like it weighed fifty pounds. Not to mention the numbing pain through out her body. She closed her eyes again and shut lids tightly to gain back self control and clear away the grogginess of sleeping and the drugs.
She reopened and dilated blue hues wandered past the television and back around to the man sleeping in the chair. Numerous emotions ran through Beatrix's head at that moment. Many of them unclear and unwelcoming. She decided. Her facade turned placid. "There's a lot to be said about the older man whom sleeps when he is supposed to be keeping a watchful eye," she stated in a tone that leveled above freezing.
Bill smiled, eyes still closed, "What do they say, hrm?" He said, his voice scratchy, "That he's losing his touch? That he's past his prime? Or maybe that he's a fucking bastard who wouldn't have had to keep a watchful eye if he hadn't made a bad decision." He opened his eyes, fixing her with a look that wavered somewhere between self loathing and wariness. He knew Beatrix was not even close to being won over that easily. She was pissed at him...and rightly so. But he thought he'd at least attempt to get off on the right foot.
He stood up and went over to the bed, sitting on the edge. "How do you feel? Besides feeling like shit that is?" He wanted to do or say something comforting, but she was far from that point and he knew better. Best to retain to the important matters. "Are those bandages still dry? I was afraid to check...thought you might pop an eye out or slam my nose back into my brain cavity." A fleeting smile.
Beatrix gave him a look. "Not a bad idea," she muttered to herself. She made a small motion. "Go on, check the bandages." Half of this was playful and the other half was out of pure spite. This proved that she wasn't about to thaw in front of him easily. There had been something about his words and actions earlier that didn't sit right. When the situation had been flipped she had been so caring and maternal. Bill was...Bill.
She tore her gaze from him and stared off with a distant expression. Her mind wasn't completely clear as she was still feeding off the drugs. "They're dry." She admitted lightly. "And yes, I do feel like shit." A heart beat. She wanted to say something else but stopped herself. It wasn't the right place.
Bill looked down at her with a furrowed brow, knowing full well that she was just daring him out of spite....well and maybe she was teasing him a little...but he was too tired to know much of the difference at this point. "I see." He said dryly. "Well, do let me know if any blood starts showing up," he stated matter of factly. Something beyond three stab wounds was bothering her, and he could tell. He found it a little infuriating....well more than a little. He'd saved her goddamned life, what more did she want? Breakfast in bed?
"Can I get you anything to eat? Something to drink?" He quarried, the idea sparking.
When Beatrix got like this, it drove him fucking crazy. He just wished she'd come out and say it, and he was beyond even asking her. All women were like this, he reminded himself with a wary frown. They expected all men to be mind readers and know exactly what they wanted without being told. It was fucking ridiculous! He, like most men were usually more than willing to please....if they were only informed of what to do. In his mind, he always said what he was going to say....why shouldn't she?
Of course, Bill like many people was looking over his own personality flaws. While he was more aware of them than most people and perhaps possessed more than most people. At this moment, he didn't make the connection, instead he blamed it on the gap between the sexes. Far easier than blaming himself. The mere concept that things he had done earlier had jarred her didn't even occur to him. In his mind, he had done what he had to do and done it damn well. What he was painfully aware of was leaving her at the airport....he realized that...but it was more than that with her right now...and he knew it. He'd give it one shot...but that was it. He leaned on his elbow, leveling a look at her, "Is there anything I can do, get, not do, not get, for you? Honestly? I'm trying here Kiddo...."
She returned the leveled eye. Her slowly drugged mind was putting pieces together. She wouldn't tell Bill what was on her mind, not all of it. She was like any woman but with a few more thorns to pick through. Beatrix came to the conclusion that Bill in this moment was acting nice, sentimental, maternal. He was far from any of those emotions. He could be sweet and sometimes that was hard to fathom but this was worse.
Something about his actions and his words from earlier when he was pouring on the antiseptic had struck a nerve. It struck a foreshadow she'd never see coming. Long ago men who shook the world for their own purposes were called conquerors. In this day in age, the men whom shook the world for their own power and greed are called corrupters. And of the world's corrupters Bill stands alone. For while he corrupts the world, inside he is pure.
He was corrupting Beatrix.
She steadly tilted her chin up. "You...can stop...trying."
Bill blinked as if he had just been slapped. In many ways he just had been.
The corruptor dropped his act. "Very well," he said quietly, pulling himself up and quickly standing up. "If you need anything, I will have Nikishi nearby." That was it, he was done. If Beatrix wanted maternal care, from now on....a woman...well anybody besides him, was going to have to supply it for her. Bill knew he should have realized that a hell of a lot sooner. Beatrix was simply too smart to fool and she knew him too well for him to continue to try. He turned and left without another word. Much the same way he had turned an unfeeling back on many victims.
Bill left instructions with Nikishi and grabbed a set of car keys. With the roar of a huge V16 engine, he was gone. He wasn't going to lie...to himself at least, he was angry. But he was also acceptant. He accepted that his rather transparent attempt to be something he was not was blatantly obvious to Beatrix. Why hadn't this dilemma ever happened to him before? Well, for the simple reason that he'd never in his life let somebody get as close as her...close to the ugly truth that was Bill. The Bill that would happily let the whole world burn around him while he stood untouched in the middle. Perhaps because she had gotten so close to the flame, he had felt some stupid need to throw up a couple decoys...but for whose protection? Hers or his? Bill was a murdering bastard, a liar, a manipulator, a corruptor, prone to be sadistic, a man who, in the end, would mow down every person in his path for his own benefit, and yes...even a masochist. He did not lack love, nor compassion....nor the ability to care, but it was a crowded house and often something had to give. And the weaker of these traits were always the first to go.
Yes, Bill was a corruptor amongst corruptors and nobody, not even Beatrix Kiddo, was ever going to change that.
The remainder of the week Beatrix saw very little of Bill. She was thankful for it in more ways than one. It helped speed up her recovery by taking time to focus on her own welfare than the welfare of her relationship with him. At nights her mind did wander to vacant thoughts that made little to no sense and confused her further. So, she stopped.
It was early in the morning and Beatrix was finishing up in the bathroom. She was clad in a black sports bra and a pair of black sweat pants. She was standing in front of the mirror, idly running a comb through blonde locks when she saw a shadowed figure approach in the reflection of the mirror. Slender brows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you were fairing." O-Ren's graceful figure became visible. "I feel awful about what happened."
Beatrix laughed crudely. "Like shit you do." The half breed kept a straight face. "Bill told me the gist of what happened. I received the fill ins from Vernita."
The blonde didn't give much of a reaction but put down the brush and turned to face her. "Don't fuck with me O-Ren. I know you didn't set me up but you failed to inform me just how fucked up that man was. For every assignment we need to know all the details.." She put up a single white finger. "Let me finish...I know you like...challenging me...and hell, I won but you put me and everyone else at risk. I'm not gonna squeal on you because like hell do we want Bill involved. So, be warned...I'm not going to take that shit from you any longer."
Indeed, Bill....when he set his mind to something, was a staunch supporter of himself. He stayed at a pleasant distance from Beatrix, said very little and went on with his business. He retained his typical luke warm demeanor that fell between the lines of blatant rudeness and complete indifference. He was a fully closed and secured safe; it was impossible to even guess at what he was thinking...which was probably a good thing for all involved.
Vernita was still pretty pissed at Bill about the whole thing at the airport. It was one of those situations that made her realize how much of a sociopath asshole Bill really was. Having to help him, while he basically held Beatrix down and administered one of the most effective but sadistic first aid jobs she'd ever seen hadn't settled very well with her either. She killed for the man, but if made her question just how far she would go with that oath. What if that killing got too close to home? But, Vernita found she couldn't ponder that topic too long...she found she was simply too loyal to Bill to even question something like that. And just seeing him made her completely forget she had doubted herself. Even just sitting there he scared her.
"Hey Bill...."
"Hrm.." He seemed far more interested in reading through a large pile of papers he had spread across the bar. A half attended to glass of scotch sat in the middle.
"Um....where's Bea?"
He waved a hand, not even looking up, "...Down the hall....somewhere...I think......"
Vernita scowled, "Thanks......" she turned and headed down the hallway, "....I think..." she mumbled under her breath. She hadn't gone very far, when she heard two voices....Beatrix and the soft tone of O-Ren. Vernita had a moment of internal guilt, but it was quickly overruled by fierce curiosity. Flattening herself against the wall like a true expert, she became invisible. Ok, so it was a little petty...but this was just too good to pass up.
O-Ren blinked. Silence sparked between the two women in the confides of the bathroom. Finally O-Ren spoke up in her overly cool demeanor. "Very well. I'll take care to that warning."
Beatrix gave a reaffirming nod and turned back to her reflection. The bags under her eyes were fading due to simple pleasures of a peaceful nights sleep. She raked a hand through her bangs nonchalantly.
"How are you feeling?" O-Ren pressed in a civil note.
"How would you feel after being stabbed three times?"
O-Ren made a face at this and leaned up against the bathroom door frame. "I would feel like shit and most likely look like shit...but you, Bea, you never look like shit."
That blonde head tilted to stare down at the porcelain sink. A smirk tugged at her lips. She was thankful that O-Ren faded off the earlier topic. That allowed high hopes that their own private challenge would slip past Bill. "If you're trying to fuck you're way out of this, your attempts are failing."
O-Ren scowled. "Fuck. It was worth a try was it not?"
"Course it was."
"Whoa, hey there ladies," Vernita grinned, having took a few steps back and rewalking into the bathroom. The tactic was doubtfully going to fool these two, but it was worth a try. "What's up? Are we having some sort of girl's party in the bathroom? I'm sure Bill would be elated to know that."
Silence. Ok, bad joke.....neither of them seemed to be much in a joking mood.
Vernita let the smile drop, leaning on the opposite side of the door, across from O-Ren. "You look a hell of a lot better Bea," she nodded to the blonde at the mirror. And it was true, Beatrix did look much better than the last time she'd seen her a few days ago. "O-Ren, good to see ya...it's been awhile," she addressed the placid looking Asian woman.
Vernita had pretty much heard everything. But whatever shit was between these two, was their business. She just didn't want to see them at each other's throats...because it sure as hell wasn't gunna be pretty. There was an awkward silence.
"So...uh...anybody seen Elle lately?" Lame...but it was something.
"No, thankfully," Beatrix replied with added enthusiasm. The last thing she wanted to do was see Elle. Blue eyes watched through the reflection of the two women. She knew Vernita had heard herself and O-Ren. It didn't bother Beatrix. Vernita had been the one whom instructed her to face O-Ren on the dilemma. She had and so far it was going nicely.
"Actually," O-Ren broke in. "I saw her a few days ago. She was askin' about you Bea after what...happened." O-Ren held an amused grin.
A brow rose curiously. "What'd she want?"
O-Ren shrugged. "She wanted to know how you were or something along those lines. I wasn't paying attention."
"That's sweet of her."
"Indeed. I do believe Elle has an unhealthy fascination with you, Bea."
Beatrix turned her head to O-Ren, her facade placid. "And you are just realizing this now?" For some reason she was enjoying this friendly and civil discussion among 'friends'.
Vernita laughed, "Yeah...seriously Bea....I didn't really even notice it until fairly recently, but she's definitely obsessed with you in an unfriendly sort of way."
Elle wasn't exactly "one of the girls." It just wasn't her kind of thing. She had never done well socially and she had more than a mild distrust for all women. She was something of a loner, and when she was with people...they were generally men. But usually Elle was by herself...like the one-eyed lone wolf she was. She seemed to prefer it that way, and nobody was apt to argue.
"She was probably happy to know you were still alive....." Vernita quipped, checking her own reflection in the mirror....pure habit, ".....so she could still fantasize about killing you." She snorted, "That's probably the type of shit that woman fantasizes about at night." She pulled a face, "Augh....forget it...I don't even want to think about that."
Happy with her hair, Vernita wasn't exactly the prissy type; she went back to leaning on the doorframe. "So how's everything going in Tokyo O-Ren?" It was no secret that O-Ren had some goings on in the Tokyo underground. So far they had remained fairly casual, but who was to say what the woman was capable of...she had already overcome some pretty damn harsh obstacles in her young years. Bill of course was being more than supportive of the whole thing....so, one was to presume that in the end, there had to be something in it for him.
O-Ren decided to copy Vernita's actions and moved in front of the mirror herself. A light push with an open palm was given to Beatrix's shoulder to allow the half breed more room in the mirror. The blonde put on a firm expression and pushed her back in an all out playful manner. None using the strength they were capable of.
"I don't share," Beatrix stated flatly and snatched up a hair tie from the sink.
"I see," O-Ren replied and faired with the portion of mirror she was allowed. Her dark brown eyes stared through the mirror to Vernita. "To answer your earlier question, things are going nicely. I've already created 'friends' with a few of the Yukzia clan."
Vernita watched Beatrix and O-Ren shove at the mirror. She was grateful that the simple action didn't turn into a full out brawl.....which would have been much more likely if Elle was here.
Beatrix raised a curious brow. "Friends?"
"Associates, if you prefer." O-Ren wasn't going to give full out details on her doings in Tokyo but unlike Beatrix whom told nothing when things could be told. O-Ren didn't give details due to the secretive factor. The only one given full details on all her trips to Tokyo on business was Bill. "To feed your curiosity; my findings in the Underground is it is slowly degrading and the clan is beginning to loose their own associates. I plan to see that that does not happen."
Vernita nodded, back to leaning on the doorframe. "Good to hear O-Ren. Fine line between friends and associates, as they say....." She shrugged, knowing the woman's capabilities. "I'm sure you'll manage....." Then again for a female, Japanese/Chinese American to get anywhere in the Yakuza was going to be one hell of an undertaking....but if anybody was going to do that, it would be O-Ren.
Bill passed by down the hallway, giving the woman filled bathroom a truly comical, "What the fuck?" look.
Vernita laughed, sticking her head out of the room, "Hey Bill, wanna join us?"
"I think I'll pass," came his dry reply from the end of the hallway, before he went into the back bedroom.
Vernita smirked, pulling her head back inside the room. "Jesus Christ girl," she looked at Beatrix, "We need to fatten you up a bit....maybe I should keep taking you to that burger joint. Nothing like some good old American grease to put some meat on ya..."
Just then Nikishi rounded the corner, a tray of things in her hands. She spotted the trio of women just in time to not run into them. "Oh! Excuse me ladies....I did not realize you were all using this room together."
Vernita laughed, "Well...using it would be a bit of a stretch."
Beatrix put flat palms to her stomach region and turned to the side in front of the mirror, in profile of herself. She held her head up in a regal stature as she inspected herself. "I'm not that skinny," she retorted to Vernita's earlier comment.
O-Ren, wearing a devilish smile glanced over to Beatrix. "Do you ever eat?"
"Course I do. I have a fast metabolism and killing off sadomasochistic bastards can bring on quite a work out," she stated matter-of-factly. She exchanged a knowing glance with O-Ren and the point was settled.
The blonde turned back around to come full frontal to the mirror and pulled locks of blonde hair up in to her casual high pony tail. "We should do something," O-Ren suggested quietly clearing the silence.
"You mean have a three-some in the bathroom is not your idea of fun?" A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Not exactly."
All Nikishi had to hear was "threesome in the bathroom" and she was out of there, whatever menial chore she had been intending to perform in the room was gladly put aside for later.
"Yeah, we should so something," a sly mischievous grin spread across Vernita's face. Vernita had always been something of a trouble maker. If there was some mischief to be bad, she was generally there in a heartbeat. "I dunno, what did you have in mind O-Ren?" She asked. "Hey, maybe we-"
But she was cut off the sound of the front door opening and Nikish's soft voice. Vernita, being closest to the door, leaned out. "Oh fuck....Lady Godiva herself has decided to show up," Vernita mumbled and quickly stuck her head back in the room. "Well, there goes the party. How much do you wanna bet this was no random drop by...." she tapped the side of her head, "...With that woman you never know."
Bill came walking by on his return trip, upon spotting Elle he threw his arms up in exasperation, "What is this? A female conspiracy?
Elle looked utterly confused, "Excuse me?"
"Just...augh," he waved a hand down the hallway, "They're all in my bathroom....."
Elle raised an eyebrow looking mightily intrigued and went down the hallway. Sticking her blonde head into room, she smiled sardonically, "Well....now....who wants to shave my legs?"
Vernita made a small gagging nose in the back of her throat.
"I'll pass," O-Ren said quickly and went back to primping her own hair which she had done plenty of already.
Beatrix turned her own blonde head to Elle, her facade calming and welcome. She had no intention on starting anything and was going to be on her best behavior. As well should they all. "Actually we're almost done. I'm afraid you missed out on the whole manicure and bikini waxing." She flashed a coy smile.
O-Ren glanced down at her finger nails at the mention of manicure almost inspecting to see if they were worthy of anything. Long and sharp like a wild cat's. Fitting. She grinned and went back to raking a hand through her short cut raven locks.
Vernita grimaced at the mere thought of bikini waxing. Hell, fucking, no...was her only thought on that one.
Elle returned Beatrix's coy smile, apparently deciding to play nice. She sat down rather undantily on the closed toilet seat. She stuck a cigarette in her mouth but thankfully didn't light it.
Vernita raised an eyebrow, but only smirked at this. She folded her arms, trying to get back to the "business" at hand. "So, O-Ren here suggested we all go do something." She was beyond playing such petty high school games, as in 'oh, let's exclude Elle.'
Elle looked amused, "You mean....like a girlie thingy....or something?" A daunting prospect for Elle. She looked a little uneasy at the thought.
"Well, it's getting a little crowded in here and I think Bill's starting to get paranoid out there...thinking we are plotting a coup or something."
Elle's eye widened, "Maybe we are..." she said dramatically.
O-Ren sparked up with a sly smile. "Or maybe, we could have a four-some now."
Beatrix raised a brow but just laughed at that and shook her head in high found amusement. "Mmm...four-some," the tall blonde cooed and she put hands behind her onto the counter and leaned back in an all out seductive manner.
"That was a joke," O-Ren clarified.
"I know." Bea pushed off the counter and took a small step into the middle of the bathroom and crossed arms over her chest.
"It didn't seem like you knew," O-Ren pressed with sadistic intent. Vernita raised an eyebrow at Beatrix....ok...that was just a little too scary. Elle was sneering, obviously finding it pretty damn funny.
Beatrix just put on a straight face and stared between Elle and Vernita. Momentary pause before Bea spoke up again, "We could continue to stand here."
O-Ren dismissed that with a hand gesture.
"Well, all of you are smart assed bitches. Let's see you come up with something to do."
Vernita crossed her arms, "I'm not going to stand in this bathroom all day.....you all ain't that charming,"
Suddenly, out of the middle of nowhere, Elle took a pair of obnoxiously gaudy gold Elvis sunglasses out of her pocket and put them on. Random behavior was slightly less random coming from Elle. She began whistling aimlessly.
"What the fuck Elle?" Vernita stared at her.
Elle shrugged, chewing on the end of her cigarette, "I dunno...some young stud hottie ass on a skateboard gave them to me a few days ago in Chicago. I was like-"
"Wait!" Vernita snapped her fingers, "That's it?"
"That's what?" Elle replied
"Vegas!" Vernita grinned at Beatrix and O-Ren, "We should all go to Vegas! Hell yeah!"
Elle shrugged again, "I'm game....unless Bill decides to load a bunch of assignments on us.....which wouldn't surprise me."
Vernita frowned, "No way....I say we're going to Vegas. What do you think Bea? O-Ren? Some slots, margaritas and no sleep in the city of sin?" She grinned, hell bent on the idea. "C'mon...it will be like....a two day drive, tops!"
Beatrix was staring at Elle with utmost fascination. She blinked hard and brought her attention to Vernita. Her slender brows furrowed at Vernita's idea. "Fuck, I don't care. It's better than staying cooped up here for the next three days." It also gave her further excuse to avoid Bill.
"Agreed. Not that I'm cooped up here." A side glance from O-Ren was given to Beatrix. She turned her brown eyes away and took graceful steps to the doorway. "We'll meet back here in an hour." Instructions given the half breed walked out.
Beatrix was more or less content with the idea. She took a few steps to the doorway but on her passing by of Elle seated on the toilet, she plucked the gold Elvis sunglasses right off her nose. She nonchalantly slipped them on and paused in the mirror to view herself. "They look better on me," she stated matter-of-factly and walked right on out without a second glance to view her blonde counter part's reaction.
"Bitch..." Elle muttered.
"Well, she's right Elle....." Vernita said as she passed Elle, "The eye patch....and glasses..." she whispered, making goggle gestures out of her fingers, "..just doesn't work for ya."
"Fuck off," Elle replied, following Vernita out of the room.