WARNING: No Bo/Lo interaction in this one. It's short and plot advancing. Bo/Lo are in it.
A.N: Just a quick thank you to everyone who is still reading and reviewing you're all awesome!
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Part Two: Castle of Glass
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Dani's POV
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3:03 a.m.
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So this is what they made to hold the biggest and badest…?
It's not really bad at all…peculiar, but not bad. Black on black on black on black. Everything black and only navy blue fluorescents lined along the floor boards. Kinda looks like they ran out of funding and grabbed some glow stick. Decent size room. Single digital clock on the wall ridiculously high built into the wall, navy blue numbers. They really love running with the symbolic shit. And then an eight by eight octagon aquarium style cell. No bars, just some type of special glass from the floor to the ceiling. No bed or toilet. No bench. Just a foam padding.
My bare feet tapping it once or twice. Weirdos took my damn shoes. No decency to even give me some damn slippers. I could die of a damn cold in here.
Sighing to myself as I walk around the perimeter of my cell, one question on my mind; who the fuck has the Aqua Man fetish.
Yawning I find myself looking back up at the clock.
This shit is gonna get real old real fucking fast.
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4:15 a.m.
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"Places, places, get in your places…throw on your dress and put on your doll faces…" Words trailing into a hum along with the tune in my head, door opening to reveal…dum..dum..dum..Charlie! "I knew you'd be the first."
"They don't know I'm here."
"No one ever knows where you are." I laugh, staring up at the ceiling not quite interested enough yet to sit up. "Any of you really, come to think of it."
"They're horrible parents,"
"Maybe the problem is you're horrible children."
"Why me?"
"Come on Charlie, let's not dive straight into boring me. At least put a little effort."
"And who are you?" She snaps, baby girl grew some balls today. Brow raising, I turn my head to look at her as she stands right up to the glass. "Remind me of that Dani. Some pervert creeping around picking up young girls…who you happen to be related to? Someone so bad ass no one even knew you were alive or hell, existed?"
"Well damn!" Laughing, I push myself up onto my elbows. "Okay you got to tell me, sister to sister…did you get some pussy?"
"I've been busy dealing with the mess you left. I've been dealing with the fact my aunt is dying."
"Mm-hm…mm-hm, but that's not an answer."
"What is wrong with you?"
"Okay lamb-chop, let me guess how this went…" Fully sitting up, hands on my knees as I stretch. "Shock and awe. Pain and destruction. Blah blah blah. Uh-oh big reveal…everyone finds out you've been border hopping. Oh wait, followed up with the fact Auntie Kenzi is dying at…dum dum dum…your hand. Mother gets all soapbox,"
"Are you done Dani?"
"Nope, because then we got you all riled up. What is little Charlie gonna do? Oh I know, run back over the wall right to the human whore. You're thinking you're gonna…" My eyes run over her, over her face debating which way little Miss. Innocent went. "Get some honor back? Kill her? Maybe bring her back? But the fact is that you're not made for that. No, not yet. And you're like every other young girl in love with the wrong guy…girl. What did you have a nice little talk? Maybe a little tussle?"
"You're sick."
"Still didn't answer."
"I don't know why I came." She turns, starting toward the door so over dramatic.
"You came because you wanted to know why."
"I can see why, you're sick."
"No, not why I am me…why you're you. You want to know why it's soooo easy for you to break off. Why you don't care that all those people died…not really. You're hoping I can give you some answer…or maybe some excuse."
"I care."
"You care about Trini and her little meat bags more than your own people. The people you've grown up with and lived with. Tell me Char-Char, where's the tears for sweet little Mila? Where's the tears for that teacher of yours you rambled on about coming to that ridiculous play?"
"I care."
"Sure you do." Running my finger along the glass, the shape of her figure. "Or maybe you think the fact that your abilities haven't kicked in yet, it makes you one of them?"
"I'm not."
"Did you know that only fifty thousand births a year are succubi? Only one out of every three-hundred thousand births are defective. That means only one every six years is…defective. Normally parents kill them." I laugh watching her eyes widen in shock. "Question, do you think your parents would kill you if they knew you were defective? Would it rule you out of possible succession? Questions, questions."
"I don't plan to rule and I'm under no illusions, unlike you. I am not one of them."
"And you never will be, powers or not because at the end of the day your blood is stained."
"Goodbye Dani."
One day that girl might actually be entertaining…not now though.
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5:18 a.m.
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"Well, this is unexpected." Rolling from my back onto my stomach. Eyes shifting from the clock to my unexpected guest. "I figured you'd be last."
"It's nice to see you captivity again."
"It's nice to see you…actually naw, sorry brother, I got nothing."
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Yawning, rolling my eyes at the drunken pathetic mess in front of me.
"What they're saying."
"I'm kinda in this fish tank, don't know what's being said."
His hands slam against the glass, his feet tripping over one another. "Is it true?!"
"This is not a good look on you Sean."
"Answer me."
"Everyone wants answers. Answers, answers, answers. What am I a vending machine?"
"Tell me Danielle."
Rolling my eyes, I push myself up onto my feet. "Are you talking about the fact that I kind of…might have…sorta…kinda…probably did kill grand pappy Jack?" Laughing, I start circling my perimeter again. "Word travels fast!"
"Is it true?"
"Or really damn slow. Tammy was supposed to tell that a while ago, specifically let her sneak around for that purpose. I swear, trying to plot out a reveal around here is impossible."
"So…you're Hades now?"
"Mm-hm, the one and only." I watch him fall silent, starting to think. He's like a two legged dog trying to dig a hole. He's just grasping at straws now. Blank look on his dumb face. "Come on Sean, you're almost there…put it together and ask…it's why you came."
"Can you talk to the dead?"
W…t..f. "Talk to the dead? I'm Hades not the Ghost Whisperer." Running my hands through my hair, eyes glancing at the clock. "I can bring your human back, for a price."
He stumbles back. "You lie."
"No, actually I don't. See funny thing, I have to actually take souls I don't just get them, unless someone sends them to me. Sorta like greeting cards, Hey from Oklahoma, here's fifty souls, enjoy." I can't help laughing at his lack of amusement. "It's all really complicated. Anyway, I did not orchestrate that horrible tragedy but I may have went shopping."
"You're…you're lying."
"No, I'm not. You can have her back Sean, just one teeny tiny favor and she's all yours."
"Even if I did believe you…" Just like that, got the drunky. "I wouldn't hurt our parents or our family."
"Relax, relax. I don't want anyone hurt. No one is listening to me, I'm all nice and good dammit! All I want from you is your support."
"In what?"
"You'll know soon, very soon. But for now, I'd probably want to get a ride home a.s.a.p."
His faces changes from incoherent to anger to shock to disbelief…to dare I say hope.
Didn't even have to use my speech…this is getting a little boring.
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9:08 a.m.
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And here comes the walking ad for constipation.
"Ethan, or as I liked to call you for a while, Sean lite."
"That's a compliment." Hesitantly he makes his way closer, glancing over his shoulder as the door closes.
"It's okay boy wonder, no one is around you can stop pretending."
"I'm not."
"Everyone is pretending." Sighing, I stand up eyes on the clock. "This family is full of pretenders. Mostly we pretend to be sane, but hey it's also nice to keep it a little interesting every once and a while. Charlie pretends to care about this family. Michael pretends he's important. Ria pretends she isn't a little sick. Sean pretends he's interesting. You pretend you aren't a failure."
"And what do you pretend to be?" His hands go into his pockets, looks like a politician.
"Me? I could make a joke but I feel like we're having a moment here, I pretend I don't care."
"And you do?"
"Shh." Finger to my lips, smirking. "Life in the underworld can be a bitch, makes you really start to reevaluate some shit."
"If you really wanted to make amends…?"
"I don't want to make amends."
"You just implied…"
"I'm not sorry for what I've done, I just want some family time."
"That's why you're here?"
Overplayed your hand. "I'm here," Arms raised implying my current situation. "Because I'm killing time."
"That's all?"
"Piece of advice, I wouldn't go to law school buddy, you're horrible at this. Go run and tell Bo that if she wants answers she's going to have to face me."
Pathetic. He'll be the first to die.
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1:56 p.m.
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Eyes fixed on the clock, feet tapping against the glass as I lean back on my hands. The beat playing in the back of my mind causing my head to nod. "You can sell yourself if you've got no soul…Nowadays auditions to the devil are sold…" Trailing off, hum keeping up with the beat set by my feet. Eyes on the door as Bo takes a single step in. "From the boardwalk, I see the ghost on the beach…Memories of my city keep haunting me."
"Still hiding behind songs, afraid of your own voice."
My eyes running over her, grey and white Nikes. Glad to see they made it to the new world. Grey sweats and a tight white tee. She found that sporty soccer mom look and stuck with it…several decades later. "Bo, glad to see not much has changed. Or has it, I'm curious."
"Ah yes, schoolyard insults. Your specialty, forgot you never quite grew out of the high school mentality."
"Unfortunately a side effect from being a product of you."
"Believe me Danielle, I am just as disgusted by the thought as you."
"Ouch."
"Right." She sort of rolls her eyes, scoffing. "Forgot, you're pretending to care."
"You don't think I can actually care?"
"No, I don't." She edges closer, eyes narrow as if she's expecting me to attack. "I think this like everything else in your life has been is just a game."
"Maybe you aren't so stupid." My eyes glancing at the clock. "I wonder, will you play this time? Or will you linger in the background once again?" Eyes returning to her as she's inched a foot closer. "Everyone's favorite cheerleader."
"So you admit it."
"I admit nothing." Laughing, sitting up straight as I slap my knees with a smile watching her grow closer. I wonder if she's afraid of me because she's smart or because she knows she's weak right now. "You want to know something Ms. Beaver?"
"Ha." She nods, almost letting out a laugh. "Sure, I know how you love to hear the sound of your own voice."
"Some may argue you've been the strongest of us all. The unseen and unpraised hero of our tale." Hand running through my hair, almost disgusted the thought. "And what a tale it's been, huh Bo."
"It that what they say?"
"Mm-hm." I nod. "You've kept true to who you are, always beaten but never quite broken. You've gotten the life you truly wanted, a housewife with children to correct the failings of your parents. You've been the best mom and best wife you could be. You've been the best sister and the best office employee. You got the white picket fence." Slowly I clap my hands together, earning a lackluster fuck-you smile from her. "Brava."
"You've really mastered condescension, one of the only emotions you can manage."
"There's just a small problem with all of this."
"Is there?"
"Mm-hm, because you achieved it all. But in all of this you lost the woman you were. You lost the woman everyone fell in love with. You lost the fighter within that made you a survivor. You lost the drive and anger that gave you power. You lost the right to be called a champion. If you ever were one."
"I've gained more than I lost."
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes."
"Always a terrible liar." Eyes finding the clock, I push myself up to stand as she's found her way in front of me. "So now I pose a question to you as I did to my mother. Will you remain fighting in the sidelines, remaining true to who you've become. Who you always wanted to be. Or is there still one goof fight left in you, old girl?"
"Whatever this is Danielle, I won't play. None of us will."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then why come?"
"I guess to say goodbye."
"You think mother will allow you to kill me?"
"I think that after today you will never see the light of day again. In fact you won't see anything. This right here Danielle is the end of the line."
"Oh Bo, still so…you."
"And you're still so you." She steps up to the glass. "Why did you kill him?"
"Do you care? I wasn't aware you cared."
"Call it curiosity." Her eyes running over me. "Why?"
"Because I didn't enjoy hell." Laughing, my routine pacing of my cell beginning. "Ironically same reason I wanted to rejoin my family."
"Is this the part you tell me some sob story? Something you managed to make up to resemble a person."
"No sob story. I died. Jack took my soul. Had some fun…correction, he had some fun. It was an educational experience really. Made me really miss my fam, even you in a fucked up way Bo."
"I'm touched."
"Believe it or not Bo, I just want my family and I will get it. If you just step aside this can be easy."
"Just want family?"
"That's all." Steps slowing, coming to a stop in front of her. She's just so…plain. "Cross my heart."
She silent for a moment, looking down at my knees. "Me and Lauren, we're fighting right now."
"Usually are."
"No, no." Shaking her head, she sort of smiles. "It's rather rare now. Normally though it isn't quite serious, and a part of me kind of loves it. It's bad, I know but I do."
"Miss the drama that much?"
"No, I love the makeup sex." She looks up, eyes meeting mine. "And when she's in the wrong, let me tell you…she definitely goes the extra mile to make up for it."
She jumps and for a second I'm not sure why. Her reaction causing confusion. How rare. Staring at her I wait a moment, smirk on my lips as I realize my hands hand found the glass, a small crack in it now. Blood dripping from my hands down the glass. Huh. Thought I had myself under control, kudos Bo. Smirking, I step back from the glass, giving her a nod.
After several moments of silence she smiles. "And that right there is why you could never be welcomed."
"Anger issues run in the family."
"No, the real issue. Whether your story is real or not, whether your intention is real or not…this could never work. Even if we moved passed everything. Even if we put everything behind us there's still one problem." Running her hand through her hair she steps back. "I know you call her mother still, but I don't know if you really…understand that. Maybe you don't, maybe there's a disconnect. I hope to god there is. I hope one day I can look back and accept that something just didn't click for you. But regardless Danielle, it doesn't matter."
"No?"
"No, because you're not broken. What's wrong with you can't be fixed. There's something inside of you that is wrong. Deep inside there is something that isn't right."
"Well, if that's how you really feel…"
"It is."
"Then," Sighing, eyes shifting back to the clock. "Game on."
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3:03 P.M.
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"Well, wasn't really expecting you." I stop my pushups, hopping to my feet as Kenzi hobbles in. "Looking a little like death there mama." Laughing, she only glares. "Where's the sense of humor?"
"I lost it a long time ago."
"That's not true. I've seen you and Mikey and Riri enjoying yourselves. It's sweet. Reminds me of us once upon a time."
"Do you know I could kill you?"
"Um…huh?"
"Your cell, I have the access codes, One press of the button and…it's over."
"This got interesting real fast." I chuckle, folding my arms over my chest. "I suppose this would be a good time to apologize for that Hale business."
"Probably, but it won't mean anything."
"Oh come on Aunt Kenz."
"Shut up." She snaps. Damn, leave it to good ole Auntie K to keep shit interesting. Even on death's steps she's got balls bigger than all of them. "My niece Dani died when she was five. This imitation of her, it means nothing."
"Ouchy."
"You mean nothing Danielle, haven't for a long time."
"Then why come?"
"Because you hurt my family…you still want to. You killed the love of my life, the man that was everything to me."
"Question in this little speech," I raise my hand halfway. "Was he still your everything when you had Iel's dick in side ya…cause that seems a little bit suspect."
"Bo, she thinks this plea for a family is bullshit, but I don't. I think something happened. I think in your sick little mind you really do want to connect. Not to Bo, never to Bo. But to me and the rest. So for whatever little hurt it may bring you…whatever little dent in your plan…I wanted to look you in your face and tell you, you mean nothing."
"You know," Sighing, shaking my head. "It really wasn't personal. I didn't get pleasure out of killing him, wasn't even to hurt you. It was about Bo. Believe it or not I have fond memories of Uncle Hale. Talked to him quite a bit, he was a great listener. AND before you get your panties in a bunch…I meant that sincerely."
"I hope hell is real Danielle, and I hope you go there for an eternity." She smiles almost gently, starting to turn away.
Well damn. "One question, why five?"
"What?"
"Why five? Why not just say I never was?"
"Because I had a niece, a beautiful baby girl. I changed her diapers and got threw up on. Spent more nights awake than asleep. Enzi was her second word right after Ommy. She was sweet and amazing. She loved her uncle and me, her parents. She had the whole world waiting for her and she was going to be amazing." She looks away from me. "But at five she died, I didn't know it then, but that's when. We were at the park and this stray cat hissed at her, went to bite her and she grabbed it by the throat throwing it. I shook it off, but that was the first sign of you…the parasite that killed my niece. That's why."
"That girl is still alive Kenzi, still me. Still remember that…all of it."
"Funny thing about parasites, that when they take you over they leave nothing but take everything…memories included."
Well fuck…that kinda hurt.
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3:59 p.m.
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"I am pretty fuckin' popular today." The sound of the door pulling my attention from the clock. "Oh you, actually happy to see you."
Ria walks up halfway to the glass, Mikey boy standing in the doorway. Neither saying a word.
"Threesome today?"
Silence.
"Glad to see you healed completely, gave me quite the scare there limping over to mother. I didn't give you enough chi to last that long."
Silence.
"So, you gonna be the one in charge this time? I don't usually do submissive but I'll go for it."
Silence….my eyes shifting to Mikey.
"Plan to watch?"
They say nothing…at all. Just creepily stare at me like a caged animal at the zoo.
Well…alright then.
Weirdos.
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4:47 p.m.
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"Welcome to your life…there's no turning back…" Singing to my own beat, hopping around my cell keeping an eyes on the clock. "It's my own desire…it's my own remorse."
If I have to kill someone it's definitely going to be Ethan…so damn boring.
And that hair…what's with his hair…what is this, the nineties?
But he's easy to manipulate…hm, decisions, decisions.
"I can't stand this indecision…married with a lack of vision…"
How's the rest of the damn song go…?
Can't remember the words….
My eyes back on the clock.
I hate the damn silence.
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5:08 p.m.
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"Hello mother, it's been a while."
"A lifetime."
"A lifetime." I repeat her, standing back up. "I didn't think you'd be last."
"I should have been the only."
"Well you know this family, never big on rules."
"Unfortunately." She walks straight up to the glass, fearless. "Are you comfortable?"
"I'm fine." I shrug. How sweet of her to ask. "I've been in a looney bin and a prisoner in the underworld, this isn't exactly the seventh level of hell."
"Ah, yes I did hear that…tale."
"Not a tale mother, I died. You make the city go boom and well I did too. Not that I hold it against you, but I died, did a stint with grand pappy. Did you know he preferred to be called The Architect? Said everything was his design. Everything. Akuma and Koari and some other people can't remember the names of. Said he set the steps in motion long ago. Even back to your birth. He was a bit of a talker."
"Crazy people say a lot of things."
"They do, but enough about my time away. When I came back to the land of the living well imagine my surprise."
"Quite the change, hm?" She nods, arms folded over her chest as she stands up straight. Poor mother, she looks tired.
"The world fell and you rebuilt it in your image. Humanity crumbled and you rewrote the definition. Your family ripped apart and you stitched it back together how you felt it should be. It took nearly a century, but you've done it. Brava."
"Thank you."
"As you know," I come closer to the glass, getting a better look at her. "I've seen my replacements, they're cute, but they pale in comparison. You must have realized that early on. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many. Failure is and always has been unacceptable. To you."
"To you as well."
"I've often wondered, do they know about me? Do they know our story? Do they feel something is missing from theirs? Do they ever wonder why there is a crown beside there's, never worn? Do they ever wonder why the five dollar coin remains faceless?"
"It's possible."
"Curiosity." I shrug.
"Have you gotten your answers?"
"I don't know really mother, maybe."
"Sometimes we never get the answers we're searching for."
"Interestingly enough, that bring us here." I snap my fingers, feeling myself get almost giddy. "You must be curious by now. Why here? Why now? What desire? Well mother, we've played many games over the years. Only two have ever mattered. By my count I took the first, showed you just what you were capable of. By my count you took the second, rebuilding everything just how you desired. Minus me. We both know a stalemate is unacceptable. So now it's time to finish this once and for all. Either I get what I want or you get what you think you want. A life without me."
"Is that what you think I want?"
"Are you telling me it's not?" She says nothing. "It goes without saying, all bets are off this time mother. There are no exceptions and there is no mercy. Once and for all we will settle this. Us."
"Dani, this already over. It's already done. This is the end. There is nothing beyond this. You will go and stay away."
"You won't kill me?"
"No, I won't."
"Why?"
"Because I still care Dani, you are still my child and I look at you and I still care. I hate that I do, but I do. I can't have you out in the world. I can't have you around the family. But I can't kill you, not now."
"Eventually?"
"Yes, one day I will stop caring. One day I will make peace that my daughter died long ago. And on that day, this will truly end."
"That's…not very nice mother."
"No one has ever accused me of being nice."
I can't help laughing, she does have a point. "Are you mad, about Ria?"
"What do you think?"
"Honestly, fifty-fifty."
"You tortured my daughter."
"Least favorite one though."
"Stop." She holds up her hand, silencing me. "Just tell me something Dani, honestly."
"Open book."
"Was it me? Was it something I did to you?"
"What?"
"The way you are, what you've become…did I do something?" She stares at me with those big doe eyes, begging for an answer she already knows. "Did I do this to you?"
"Mother," My hand reaching out, open palm on the glass. "There's nothing you could have done to change me."
"Would you tell me if I did?"
"No mother, I wouldn't." Shaking my head, hand falling to my side. "I never could stand to see you in pain."
"It's funny, the ones we don't want to hurt are the ones we end up hurting the most."
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6:06 p.m.
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Well, this didn't quite go as planned now did it.
Had a whole speech ready for a sibling I didn't get to use…so inconsiderate.
Standing up, I brush myself off.
I don't understand what's so damn hard to understand…all I want is a little family time.
Is that too much to ask?
My eyes on the clock.
"Guess it's time." Fist clenched as throw a punch, aiming for the little crack from earlier.
Glass shattering with minimal effort. Guess they haven't tested this in a bit.
Hopping from the platform down to the ground, eyes on the door. "Here we go."