South Park © T. Parker and M. Stone. Ella Tweak, Nico and Lilith belong to me.
Other cherry Chapstick-flavored OCs appearing in this chapter:
Lucy Montgomery: created by Kootie Bomb
Vivi Sykes: created by PiScEs-BlOsSoM69
Amy McCormick: created by ZombiesOnYourLawn
Sarah Murphy: created by Sorrowsnow
Lucky Day: created by Doomed-Orange-Parka
Whew. Okay. I already know this is going to be a big ol' fatty-boombalatty chapter from hell. This particular 'book' is almost done actually.. so apologies in advance for all the junk in this chappy.
1. Craig's screenname would totally be "Craig". I swearz.
2. Ella's spelling mistakes are hers, not mine. She's not the best student. ^.^
*
15:13 *** You are connected to #SPHighRocks***
***EllaBella joined #SPHighRocks
LuceLips45: Ellie!
ViviLaFrance: Still a prisoner?
EllaBella: dad out of twon 4 Harbuks. mom enforsing my sentense.
Craig: Spell check is nice.
LuceLips45: Craiglet determined to be helpful, as usual.
Craig gives LuceLips45 the finger.
ViviLaFrance: Hmm. I could always play the mom card.
BlameAmy: mom card?
ViviLaFrance: Yeah. I'll have my mom call Ella's and invite her to the carnival, sleepover… blah… blah… it always works. brb.
EllaBella: dunnoz. it might.
***McLovin joined #SPHighRocks
BlameAmy: god kenny. new screenname plz.
McLovin: it's apt, Amy. very apt.
McLovin: hey ladies! XD … and Craig, Kyle and Cartman.
Craig gives McLovin the finger.
ChallahCool: hey Kenny. you left your science book here.
AWESOM-O: fuck u Kenny.
ViviLaFrance: back! mom called yours Ella… sounded good to me.
EllaBella: yep. she said I cuold go.
LuceLips45: yesssss! together we shall be legendary!
Craig: oh god.
ViviLaFrance: meet me at Ella's, Luce. we'll get ready there and then back to mine afterwards. later guys!
***ViviLaFrance has left #SPHighRocks
LuceLips45 pinches Craig's cheek.
LuceLips45: BAMF!
***LuceLips45 has left #SPHighRocks
BlameAmy: …and i've got a thrilling four hours at Harbucks. catch up with you at the carnival.
***BlameAmy has left #SPHighRocks
Ella twisted a curl around her fingers. Vivi was pretty clever, she had to admit. Her hands moved to type a goodbye when she noticed the PM window flashing 'McLovin'. She moused over and clicked on the window.
***You are now in private chat with McLovin.
McLovin: damn girl, don't you ever check your email?
EllaBella: nope :P
McLovin: make an exception.
Ella sighed and a few mouse clicks later was browsing her inbox. She found Kenny's email and opened it.
To: EllaT
From: KennyM
Re: Grrrrreat Expectations
Attachment: A+ paper! view/download
El – Before you say it, I know it's cheating. If you don't use this, you'll probably get grounded until the end of time. I'm not having it. Next time, I'll help you write your own.
xOx
Ken
Ella opened the attachment and skimmed the paper. It looked way better than the two pages she'd struggled all week to write. She minimized the email and resumed chatting.
EllaBella: it's soooo cheeting Kenny.
McLovin: just use it El. if you get grounded again, I'll put my other eye out.
EllaBella: mrs. parker wil know its not mien
McLovin: go through and misspell every third word. XD
EllaBella: funny. herrr! why Kenny? i allredy had it writen.
McLovin: because, cupcake, I'm a very selfish boy.
EllaBella: vivi and lucy here, bbl!
***EllaBella has left #SPHighRocks
*
Your eyes flash bright
but no longer have fire
everywhere you turn
this world is your shadow
with a pretty face
you burn so many eyes
this is the movement of fear
- The Movement of Fear, Tones on Tail
Damien's ruby-black eyes shone in the firelight. He flicked a hand and the flames rose higher. Nico can't have gone far. He has to be in South Park somewhere, but it's been ten days and nothing. The jacket Lilith found at the Tweak house was the only thing to suggest Nico had been there at all.
The growing dark pressed around the woods near Stark's Pond. Damien unzipped the duffel bag and extracted the dark gray hoodie. His long, sharp nails curled into the fabric as he tried to shake the numbness flooding his mind. With a shuddering breath, he tossed the jacket in the midst of the fire and stepped back as the flames roared, shifting from orange to green. A sudden furnace-blast stung his eyes and his nose burned with the stench of sulfur.
"Are you well pleased, brother?"
Damien turned and found his quarry at last, pale and perfect as the sunlight died. It seemed as though Nico had grown taller. His black eyes glittered like jewels. His dark hair eddied around his shoulders in the soft breeze.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Damien hissed. "You've no right!"
"Shut up Damien." Nico said coolly. "You're a pest."
Damien blinked in shock, then growled. "You're in deep shit."
"No. I don't think so." Nico watched impassively as the remnants of the gray hoodie smoldered in the flames.
"Look, dickhead, you're just an ifrit. It's not for you to take the lives of mortals. You don't even have clearance for inter-dimensional travel for fuck's sake!" Damien went on. "There's a clear hierarchy and you know it!"
"A hierarchy which I have single-handedly rendered irrelevant." Nico said, amused. "I had my eye on this place for months before I came here."
"South Park? Who gives a shit about this stupid, redneck, white trash, peckerwood mountain town?"
"Everyone – or haven't you noticed?" Nico said. "When I came here, I came looking for something and those two children found me. I thought initially to use the boy, but his sister proved to be much more malleable. She'd actually seen the book and, if not for a few unfortunate events, she would have delivered it to me by now."
"What book?!" Damien snapped.
"The Necronomicon, of course." Nico said coolly. "What? You didn't know it was here? Are you sure you're the son of Satan?" Nico held up his hand at Damien's shocked expression. "The jacket was a genius touch, and it kept her well under my control. Until the day of her brother's funeral, that is."
"What are you on about?"
"Her mother helped her dress, and gave her that black rosary." Nico hissed. "I couldn't bear to go near her. When she came to bed that afternoon, it was still in her hand, and every night after." He rubbed his pale forehead. "And then the Immortal gave her his fucking jacket." Nico gave him an eerie sharp-toothed smile. "But she's returned it now and the rosary sits in her desk drawer, forgotten."
"That's enough." Damien said, running his fingers though his hair irritably. "Now go home. When dad gets back, he'll figure out what to do with you."
"Oh no. You don't get to tell me what to do ever again. I'm not done here, and you will NOT interfere." Nico flicked his fingers as Damien lunged for him.
Damien could feel his legs growing cold. He looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief as thick ice encased his feet and crept up his legs.
"Nico! You've completely flipped it! Dad is going to kill you!" Damien struggled and shivered as the ice advanced over his waist and flowed around his shoulders. A breath later, he could feel nothing but paralyzing cold.
*
"Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!" Eric Cartman squealed, although the whine had lost some of its effect after his voice cracked at age twelve.
"What is it hun?" Liane Cartman called from downstairs.
"Meeeeeeeeem! Luckeh's only been back for like, an hour and she won't get out of the bathroom!" Cartman banged on the door.
"I'm drying my hair you toad!" Lucky Day shouted through the door. Lucky had been home three hours, to be exact – just in time for the Winter Carnival. She'd spent the last year and half studying at Swotley Preparatory School in Connecticut on an academic scholarship and hated every minute of it. The food was atrocious, her fellow students snotty and the entire experience lonely and frustrating. She had been so grateful when she called her dad to tell him she wanted to come home, and he'd not made a big deal out of it. He sent her a ticket and picked her up at the airport, no questions asked. Now, as she put the finishing touches on her freshly bleached bangs, she dimly recalled why she'd been so eager to leave. Eric Cartman was still a complete chode.
"Meeeeeeeeeem!"
"All right!" Lucky opened the door suddenly, hitting Cartman's forehead with a satisfying 'klonk!'.
"AY! Ho!"
"'Scuse me, mein fatass." Lucky pushed past him and bounced down the stairs two at a time. Not that he's really fat anymore, now that he's gone full-jock. She paused at the hall closet and pulled out her well-loved fatigue jacket.
"Lucky? Where you off to?" her dad, Jason, called from the living room. He and Liane appeared at the door, arms entwined. Lucky was still weirded out by their relationship, but she had to admit it seemed to be working.
"Carnival dad. Meeting up with Vivi, Luce and Ella. Need updates on all the behavioral deviances that have transpired in my absence." Lucky said, airing out her vocab.
"Meeeem?" Cartman said sweetly. "I was thinking. Wouldn't it be super awesome if we all went together, as a family?" He blinked up at Liane, his blue eyes wide.
Lucky narrowed her eyes. "Actually I already told-"
"You know, that's a great idea Eric!" Jason piped up and smiled adoringly at Liane as she nodded.
"Oh, my poopsiekins is such a thoughtful boy." Liane gave Cartman a big squeeze and he grinned at Lucky over her shoulder.
I wonder if it's too late to go back to Connecticut…
*
"Text from Lucks, she's stuck waiting for the fam." Lucy said, closing her phone with a snap, and resuming duty at Ella's sewing machine.
Vivi checked her phone, trying not to move as Ella swept some subtle shadow over her eyes with an artist's hand.
"Tweek says the boys have left Craig's house and are on their way downtown." She opened her mouth as Ella switched to her lips, applying a light layer of gloss.
"We don't have time for that skirt Lucy." Ella said, concentrating on her living masterpiece. "Vivi is supposed to meet Tweek in twenty minutes."
"Yeah. We do. Your theme tonight, Ella, is "angel" and I'm hemming the crap out of this skirt. Don't mess with my vision."
Lucy's theme seemed to be 'peppermint'. She wore a short black dress with red and white striped tights, red sidebangs and a long peppermint-striped scarf. Ella had no idea where she found the time to concoct these ensembles, but Lucy always looked completely put together and very nice indeed. Craig will have a stroke when he gets an eyeful of the striped tights.
Vivi's clothes looked positively subdued beside Lucy's, but she looked no less fetching in her black jeans and striped sweater. Her dark green scarf exactly matched her top, and her red-violet hair brushed her shoulders, gleaming in the lamplight.
Ella stepped back and eyed the makeup critically and nodded. Subtle and cute. Not that Tweek pays attention… "You're done."
Lucy stood and handed Ella the finished white skirt. "You have ten minutes, and don't mess up your hair." She pointed to Ella's elaborate updo in which Lucy had tucked a bit of gold tinsel for a halo effect. Ella retreated to the bathroom muttering.
"Oh my God! Lucy!" Ella wailed from the bathroom. "My skirt! Half of it's missing!" She returned to the room slowly, hand on her forehead.
Lucy clapped. "Nope. It's perfect!" She walked around Ella. The newly hemmed skirt rested at mid-thigh, but with white tights and a white bell-sleeved sweater, the effect was still fairly modest.
Ella pulled on her white boots and tugged at the hem nervously. "So embarrassing."
Phones and purses were collected and the girls trooped out of the house, giggling and shoving as they made their way downtown. They caught up with the Day-Cartmans just as they reached Main Street. The girls greeted Lucky like a long-lost sister, somehow managing to shout, laugh, hug and trip all at the same time. Jason Day gave Lucky a nod that said it was all right to take off and the four girls skipped madly towards a huge knot of people mingling under a canopy of Christmas lights.
*
Lilith and Sarah Murphy walked quickly toward Stark's Pond, hands tucked in pockets and shivering against the cold. They were both late. Damien had specifically stated he'd be there at 5:30 and it was now closer to 6. Lilith, gleeful in a somber black parka, didn't look the least bit concerned.
"I told you Sarah, I'll manage Damien. He won't be mad." Lilith said, skipping a little.
Sarah wasn't entirely sure, as she was often the target of Damien's changeable mood. They would have been on time, if Lilith hadn't been so distracted by the carnival preparations. She felt a bit sorry for the girl who, until very recently, had spent her entire life in Hell. Still, if Damien was in a mood – something would burn.
"Look." Lilith pointed with a black gloved hand. "There he is." She waved enthusiastically. "Hey D!"
Sarah frowned as they neared Damien. He wasn't shouting. He wasn't greeting them. He wasn't… moving.
"Woah!" Lilith shouted, reaching him first. "Sarah! Help!"
Sarah jogged the rest of the way and gasped, clapping mittened hand over her mouth. "Oh!"
Damien stood, his face twisted in a frightful combination of fury and surprise, completely frozen. A thick crust of ice clung to his body, a frosty prison.
Lilith tapped him with her knuckle, and let out a wail of dismay at the dull knocking sound. "Sarah, you have to stay here with him. I need to get my dad – dads – right now!" she said, snapping her fingers and disappearing in a pulse of green light before Sarah could reply.
Sarah reached up and touched Damien's cheek, sniffling a bit over the absence of his typical, unnatural heat.
*
"Welcome to Harbucks, would you like to try our super-skinny, ultra-turbo, double-whip, white chocolate cinnamon mocha peppocino?" Amy McCormick said dully, probably for the two hundredth time in the last three hours. She could hear the shouts, rides and music from the carnival downtown. The clock tormented her. Another 30 minutes.
"Well that sounds just delightful!" a deep voice cooed from somewhere high above her head. "I'll take one."
Amy blinked and looked up.
Satan smiled, his sharp teeth flashing against his ruby skin. "Ash? Ash honey, what are you having?" he called over his shoulder.
Ashmodei stood next to Satan and perched his Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses atop his head. His hair flowed down his neck and formed a black pool at his shoulders. "Large black coffee, please."
Satan tossed a fifty dollar bill on the counter and turned to his husband. "I've been thinking about opening one of these in the third circle. Really stick it to those gluttons." He mused. "So what did Lilith's text say?"
Ashmodei pulled out his iPhone and tapped the screen with a slender pale finger. "Meet South Park Harbux. Urgent." He shrugged. "Could be anything. Lilith's a bit melodramatic."
Amy dawdled over the coffees. As strange as South Park was, Satan never just stopped by for a cup of java. Something had to be up. She handed the strangely beautiful Ashmodei his black coffee and got a smile in return that crept under her skin and warmed her from the inside out.
"I hope it's nothing complicated. I'd like to unpack and take a long nap." Satan said, feeling a bit peevish.
A green pulse of light announced Lilith's arrival, followed by an excited squeal.
"DADDY!" The strange girl leapt at Ashmodai and flung her arms around him.
"Hey Lil." Ashmodei patted her hair, a little embarrassed by her enthusiasm. "Where's your brother?" he asked, as Lilith gave Satan a hesitant hug.
Lilith gave him a black-lipsticked grimace, took a deep breath and started her tale. As the Devil and the demon listened, neither noticed Amy McCormick behind them wiping the counter absently, one ear turned towards the conversation.
"Ugh – now you see?! This is unacceptable Ash. That boy is completely out of control!" Satan said at the end of Lilith's ramble, looking significantly less intimidating with a whipped-cream moustache.
"Yes, all right. I'll handle it." Ashmodei said firmly.
"Ash, we talked about this. In order to be a successful blended family, you'll have to allow me to participate in both the reward and disciplinary process with your children, and vice versa." Satan whined.
Lilith shifted her gaze from one to the other, as though she were an observer at an insane Wimbledon of marital discord. She stamped her feet.
"Damien! Hello? He's at Stark's Pond right now. Nico is… I don't know where! Do something!" Lilith demanded.
Ashmodei sighed and leveled a finger at her nose. "Stay here with…" he squinted at Amy's nametag. "Amy. Do your homework or something. We'll get this sorted, ground your brother, raise the dead – whatever, and then we're going home." He was gone in a whiff of cologne and a flip of black hair, and Satan followed him like a puppy.
Lilith turned slowly and then half-smiled at Amy. "I hate my parents."
"Seriously." Amy agreed, sliding a plate towards her, a pink frosted cupcake in the center.
*
Clyde Donovan had never considered himself a lucky person. Who won Denver Broncos tickets, only to lose them again when his mother put his pants through the wash? Clyde Donovan. Who puked on Dorothy during the second grade production of "The Wizard of Oz"? Clyde Donovan. Whose button went shooting off their pants during 8th grade graduation, immediately followed by the slow humiliating slide of his waistband and exposure of his Terrance and Phillip briefs to the entire assembly? Clyde Donovan.
It was during one of those unfortunate moments that Clyde Donovan became reacquainted with Lucky Day, a girl who he'd often admired, but never had the courage to speak to. Kenny McCormick was doing a merciless impression of Wendy Testaburger haranguing Stan Marsh. Even Craig Tucker twitched his lips once or twice at the uncanny accuracy of Kenny's performance.
Kenny paused. "It's Ducky Lay!"
Clyde turned and, through some unfortunate timing of Coke slurping and laughing over Kenny's 'Wendy' voice, sprayed the front of Lucky's jacket. With Coke. From his nose. He felt his face burning right up to his hairline and grabbed a napkin out of Craig's hand and dabbed futilely at her sleeve.
"So stupid Clyde. Stupid." He repeated, scrubbing her jacket with the limp napkin. "Sorry."
"Clyde?" Lucky said, watching him scrub away, her deep green eyes wide.
"Sorry." More scrubbing.
"Clyde?"
"Stupid." Clyde said, making a mess of the napkin.
"Clyde!" Lucky grabbed his hand mid-scrub. The stained, shredded napkin hung limply from his fingers.
He looked down at her quizzically, shaggy brown bangs nearly obscuring his blue-gray eyes. His chin quivered slightly, anticipating her anger.
"How have you been?" She asked, with an impish smile.
*
Craig Tucker watched the entire Coke fiasco impassively, hands tucked in the pockets of his neatly tailored, precisely buttoned, navy pea coat. Just another day in the life of Clyde Donovan. Tweek squeaked beside him as Vivi and Lucy joined Lucky in greeting Clyde. Craig's eyes lingered on Lucy's face as she chatted animatedly with Clyde. His gaze wandered downward in silent approval of the short black dress and then paused on the striped tights, widening briefly. Jesus.
"Craigzilla!" Lucy waved and darted around Clyde to stand in front of him, her dark eyes reflecting the glittering Christmas lights around them.
"Lucy." Craig said.
"How can you pull that face on a night like this?" Lucy demanded doing a little dance in place. "I'm going to have one of those huge waffles with whipped cream, cheesy onion fries, a giant sno-cone, a-"
"Stomach pump?" Craig offered.
Lucy punched his shoulder playfully. "But first – Bumper cars!"
Craig Tucker swore he heard Token and Bebe laughing as Lucy dragged him off into the festive crowd by his perfectly pressed coat sleeve.
*
Tweek Tweak twitched. Clyde was engrossed in small talk with Lucky, Craig had abandoned him, Bebe and Token were in their own world. He looked over to Kenny for support, only to find him heading for the the church in search of Ella and presumably, the caroling. He gave Vivi a twitchy, uncertain smile.
"Hi-ACK!" Tweek coughed. "Hi Vivi." He said tentatively.
Vivi dimly heard Tweek greeting her, but found herself looking him over in unflattering surprise. Tweek, for once, was neatly put together in chocolate brown corduroy cargos and a fitted brown sweater. The dark clothes made his pale green eyes spark and emphasized the delicacy of his features. Only his crazed hair remained to testify to his usual state. He was almost beautiful in a fragile, nervous sort of way.
Tweek could feel his heart thudding. What is she looking at? What? The sweater?! Is it dorky? My hair – oh God! I should've – "Oh sweet Jesus!" Tweek clutched two handfuls of his hair. 'I can't-"
Vivi shook her head and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hi Tweek. Thank you for asking me." To her surprise, the pressure of her hand seemed to soothe him a bit, and he unhunched his shoulders.
"Ngh! Thanks f-for coming, with me I mean." Tweek amended, comforted by the touch of her smooth hand. His nose twitched. He stuffed his other hand in his pants pocket. "We could g-go get something hot to d-drink and listen to the caroling –GAH!" he took a deep breath, his cheeks suffused with pink.
Vivi giggled, it was impossible not to as the poor boy tied himself in knots trying to remain calm. "I'd love to."
Tweek smiled, the twitchiness temporarily banished from his face. His hand trembled in hers as he removed it and offered her a slightly shaky arm.
Vivi looped her arm through his and they walked on together.
*
"Your singing is appalling."
Ella turned and found Kenny McCormick looming over her shoulder. She thwapped him on the head with her carol book.
"No, I mean it." Kenny said, pitching his everpresent cigarette. "There are a few moments when I'm almost sure you'll hit the note, and then you strangle it with that little cricket voice of yours."
"Oh hi Craig, I didn't recognize you under that mop of blonde hair." Ella gave him a little shove. "Jerkface."
"So cute when you're annoyed..." He tweaked her nose, which earned him another thwap. "And a big thanks to whoever convinced you to wear that skirt." He caught her wrist before she could react.
"Blame Lucy."
"She's a goddess, all right. Okay- I'm done. I'll be golden." He held up his hands and then dropped an arm around her shoulder, leaning in to look at the music in her hands. As Father Maxi led them in "O Little Town of Bethlehem", Kenny's baritone rose, warm and polished. He caught Ella looking up at him, openmouthed, out of the corner of his eye. He caught her chin with a thin, pale finger and closed her mouth for her with a wink.
Ella completely forgot to sing and just let Kenny's voice melt around her. The night was clear and cold and she watched the stars dance over the church steeple as he sang, his arm around her shoulders like a shield. As the song faded, she turned to look up at him and then froze.
A wave of heat overtook her, as though someone had opened a furnace. An acrid smell crept into her nose, down her throat and she closed her eyes and shuddered.
"Nico."
*
Yeah. O.o That chapter was just way too long. Seriously. I'm sorry guize. There's probably another chapter – maybe two – and an epilogue and then the end of this particular episode. The sequel is already percolating in my brain.
The Movement of Fear © Tones on Tail
I'm too effin lazy to edit. ^.^ Apologizes for any atrocious spelling, grammar or other lazy hippie mistakes.