Shilo woke up in her new home. She had settled in with the Graverobber with all her immediate family murdered. The Graverobber had been the only other person to show her kindness in this strange Zydrate addicted world. Plus he grows on you very quickly with his quirkiness and general charm.
"Morning Shi."
Shilo turned to see Graves standing in the doorway; he gestured with his hand towards Shilo always blushed whenever Graves acknowledges her with his usual bow.
"Did you sleep better?"
"Sorta...I don't have the nightmares as often anymore."
"That day won't ever come, not with all this death surrounding us."
Shilo stared at her hands she had curled them in the sheets, her mind wandered.
"Someone tell me what is going on?"
"Tell her, tell her!" The Largo brothers had riled the audience to chant the question too.
Her father lying on the stage, blood flowing from the wound inflicted by Luigi asking that they just leave and forget the whole thing, his embarrassment clear, his death imminent.
She recalled Pavi draping his arm over her shoulder his silky, Italian voice in her ear
"Did you know he killed your mother?"
Shilo remembered how her heart sunk at those whispered words.
"It was just an accident…Shilo believe me!" her father pleaded, she had to pull herself away from the depressing thought, her dark eyes looking upon graves, he seated himself next to her during her daze.
"Shi~ would you like something to eat?"
She shook her head, her black locks sliding over her shoulders Graves put his hand on the exposed flesh of her shoulder. Shilo felt a shiver run through her body, the electricity from the touch sending waves of pleasure through her veins. Moving her hand to Graves' hand, she pulled it away from her shoulder.
"You just stole some Zydrate didn't you?"
"Did it happen again?"
"Yes, this time, it didn't hurt."
Graves looked down at his hand, the once gloved digits exposed, the soil from the grave he had raided buried in his fingers.
"Must be because you haven't been in contact with the Zydrate often. Your body is probably going apeshit for more of it."
Shilo sighed sadly, "Who knows, I am just a freak anyway. Spent my whole childhood in my room believing my father's lies, hating my mother falsely, and collecting dust like a rare, fragile, doll in my dad's house!"
"Damn, don't be so hard on yourself Shi, it's not your fault."
"I just feel I should've been smarter than that Graves! I feel like such a fucking moron!"
Graves wanted to wrap his arms around Shilo however he refrained from doing so since her body didn't like the Zydrate touch. Instead, he stared into her dark pools wanting to desperately to use some form of touch to convey to her that everything would be alright.
"Shi. Seriously stop beating yourself up about it, You had no way of knowing what your father's real intentions were, and all that is in the past. It'll do you shit well even to look there."
Shilo snapped her eyes to meet Graves. She could see pity buried deep within his dark pools, squeezing the sheets still in her grip she felt warm tears spill down her cheeks also noting the hesitation in Graves movement as he wanted to wipe the tears away from knew it was not the best idea at them moment. So he stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor. A sigh, he crossed his arms giving Shilo a longing look before he decided to leave.
"Shi I'm sorry, I know you've lost a lot of people, I know you are a strong, young, and capable woman. Please, get up and let's start your day. I'll find something to help ease your mind."
Graves handed one of the many scarves wrapped around his wrist and handed it to Shilo.
"Here, dry your tears, Go on Shi."
She reached out to grab the scarf, her fingers lightly brushing against Graves, a slight tremor raced through her veins, yet this time it felt.
"Oh god! Shi, are you OK? Did it hurt you?" She clenched the scarf, then shook her head "Surprisingly. It didn't. It felt intoxicating."
Graves raised his hand cupping his chin, he thought for a moment.
"That's strange. I guess there are certain times that the Z hits you.."
"Maybe you should expose me to it more.." a teasing smile on her lips.
Graves eyed Shilo, arching an eyebrow in her direction. He stepped back and bowed before Shilo, lifting his head enough to give her a smoldering gaze from his dark pools.
"As the Lady Wishes.."
"Graves this was not what I had in mind…"
"No? How else was I going to expose you more to the Z?"
"My god you are a fucking moron…" groaned Shilo as she lifted the shovel, shaking her head.
"Oh, you meant sexually, didn't you?"
"I'm going to knock some sense into you!" she pretended to swing it at Graves, but the poor guy turned his face right into the swing…
*Whack! *
"Oh god, I'm sorry!"
Paviche stole away from the GeneCO tower, taking to the Zydrate slut filled streets, Paviche could feel all the bloodshot eyes following him from the shadows. The thirst, the lust, he could sense it all, these desperate addicts would do anything for that buzz. Paviche was not up for pleasures of that sort. No, he was a class act, his standing was so high (in his mind at least) that no one was worthy to even lay eyes on him. He was heading to his favorite joint, a local gay bar that sold the only alcohol worth touching his blood painted lips. Maybe he could get some info too.
His senses were instantly assaulted by a menagerie of perfumes, with clouds of cigarette smoke, and God knows what else. 'the Pavi never said this place was clean, only that it had good booze' the heels of his Italian boots echoed throughout the bar as he made his way to the counter.
"Ahh good eve-an-ing, please a bottle of your finest Merlot, put it on my-a tab, and while you-a at it. What-a can you-a tell me, about-a Gravediggers?" He slid a wad of cash into the woman's hands. "I may have heard something…" she spoke as she fetched his wine and glass. She placed them on the counter, used a corkscrew to pop the cork off the wine bottle, and slid them to Paviche. "He's been hiding out near that cemetery that was shut down because of all them missing bodies."
Paviche poured himself some of the wine and took a sip, swishing it around in his mouth, "Ah it's exquisite, the information as well. Thank-a you!"
With the glass in one hand and bottle in other, Pavi found his way onto the dance floor, sliding his slim figure between the men dancing. So many eyes on him, then again all the eyes were always on the Pavi, this was his usual routine going to the club to pick up men, get a quickie out of the deal then move on until he was satisfied. Tonight, was different though he had heard rumors about a young woman living with a Gravedigger, Shilo he remembered her name, it left his lips many times in the darkness of his room. His hands would wander about his body, the way her skin had felt beneath his hand, the light smell of Lavender and Vanilla, the fear he could feel stemming from her, the anger, everything. Paviche never stopped thinking about her, and he knew he never would the only thing he could do to satisfy his cravings. He finds the source of his thoughts seeing a man sitting alone; he's watching all the patrons rubbing on each other. Paviche sat beside the man, he crossed his legs then leaned in close to the man. The poor guy looked so nervous that he was confident that this would be his first time even talking to a person. Once Paviche got his fix tonight, he heads out to the graveyard and finds his real prize of the night.
"This-a must be it." His dark eyes stared at the large gate before him, his eyes eventually found a notice posted on it, 'Closed due to high grave robbing activity, there are tombstones here but no bodies'
"Well-a now I'm entirely sure this is-the place." He stepped forward grabbing onto the iron bars and giving them a good shake; the chain showed no signs of giving up its' hold. "Hmm, how does-a the Pavi get inside?" he scoped out the area trying to find a way in, there obviously had to be one, he knew his sources could not be wrong, they have never been. He had searched until it was nearly dawn, his hope dwindling on ever finding the one thing in this life that he desired. Shilo would always be nothing but a sweet memory, which he'd still need to find women with hair like coal, and skin like glass to focus his desire on…
"Hey, Shi!"
His head snapped in the direction of the voice so quickly he nearly got whiplash, Pavi's ears listened carefully trying to find the source of the sound. "Shi, it's time to head back, did you grab the Z?"
"Ah ha!" triumph in his discovery Paviche headed toward it, though he treads lightly, not wanting to give away his location, not yet at least. "Yes, I've got it!" came a woman's voice. 'That voice, oh it did the Pavi good to hear it again. My siren, my muse, you are still alive.' He watched as the Graverobber, the man that stole his dark angel; climbed out from a cleverly hidden hole from a crypt on the opposite side of the cemetery. Paviche slid into the shadows and waited; he waited until the ebony hair came to meet his view, followed by the rest of her, a small gasp left his stained lips. The young lady looked around, no doubt checking that the coast was clear, she walked up to Graves and cupped his face, kissing his cheek. Paviche felt a pang of anger deep within his gullet. 'that son-a-bitch! How-a dare he take Shilo's heart from-a me.' He cracked his knuckles, 'I will have to teach him a lesson…' He would wait until an opportunity presented itself at some point to act on his aggression toward Graves, right now Shilo was all that mattered, it was time to make his move.
He stepped out from the shadow, the moonlight bathing him in its radiant beauty, the soft clack of his Italian boots meeting the pavement. Graves was the first to notice him; he had grabbed Shi by her wrist, pulling her behind him. "Well if it isn't Paviche Largo, what brings a villain like you out here? I'd think you'd not want to mingle among us filth."
"Fool, don't talk like you know me, you know nothing about the Pavi."
"I know enough to warrant my feelings."
"Hmm, such a big-a word from such-a small man." He smirked, Graves clenched his fist.
Shilo gripping Graves shoulder looked at Paviche "What do you want? Hasn't you family done enough damage? I'v lost everything, why can't you just leave me alone damn it!" apparently Shilo found her courage and stepped past Graves taking two quick steps up toward Paviche, he flinched at her sudden movement, she stabbed his chest with her finger "You family is a plague on this planet! The only legacy your father left was three parasites that still feed off the people!" Paviche stumbled back, in shock, and slightly aroused. "Well, well-a, Mia signora, the Pavi is glad-a you've not lost that-a fire. It's still doing things to-a me."
Shilo disgusted by him, her hand lifting in the air, Paviche practically threw himself at her, begging, pleading for her to hit him, "Brucio per il tuo tocco!"
"No Shi, He wants it, don't give him that pleasure. Leave him in the street like the parasite he is." Shilo's head snapped in Graves direction "He deserves this, I'd shoot him if I could!"
"Yet you have no gun, nothing. You are not going to do anything Shi."
Paviche chuckled, "Oh the Pavi is amused, You two bring him so much joy."
"Arghh! Stop talking about yourself in the third person! Shilo yelled, in her rage, she grabbed the shovel she had bought with her and smashed Paviche in the face. Paviche's eyes were the size of plates as he saw the blunt object heading at his face.
"Damn SHI! I think you killed him!" Graves shouted, he knelt by Paviche, blood oozing from his nose and mouth, his false face split. Shilo was breathing heavy, her knuckles white while she gripped the shovel. "I-I hope he's dead…"
Graves pressed two fingers against Paviche's neck, checking for a pulse, there a light thump. "He's alive. Shi let's take him to out hideout. We can maybe get something, a ransom maybe? Or just get GeneCO off our backs."
"They probably don't care about him, who would? He's filth, Graves he's wearing his sisters face! He's scum; he doesn't deserve to live!"
"Who are we to say who lives or not? We aren't Gods Shi, sure we try to be, but there will only be one."
*Translation*
"Brucio per il tuo tocco!" = "I burn for your touch!"