Ebony narrowed her eyes as she stood up straight, smirking at him. "Wow Blood. I didn't expect you to give me such a nice welcoming present as soon as I became part of this territory." She yawned as she took a step forward, jutting her hip to the side as she changed her weapon into a small pistol. "You should've told us you were coming. We would've cancelled." She said, smiling at him.
Blood glared at her, before being surrounded by Mafia workers."Young lady, stop acting so incredibly ridiculous." He snapped out, annoyance dripping from his words. Ebony faked a gasp. "I'm so sorry your royal highness." She faked a bow before standing up straight and glaring at him.
"Please inform me why I should give a single fuck about your opinion Blood." She snapped, as Boris stepped forward next to her, his tail flickering behind him. Ebony glanced at him, and smiled, leaning on him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and Ebony could see her father tense as his eyes narrowed.
"Blood, as much as I dislike you, Imma have to politely ask you to leave. We're celebrating' today." Gowland spoke up, stepping in front of Boris and Ebony. "Ebony, stop this little tantrum and come back." Ebony glared at him, before shaking Boris off of her.
Out of nowhere, Ebony started to charge at Blood, before Boris managed to hook his arms around her waist and hold her back.
"THATS IT. I AM DONE WITH YOU!" She yelled, struggling to get out of Boris's grip. "I AM DONE WITH YOU AND YOUR STUPIDITY!" She yelled before she threw her pistol at Blood's face. Blood dodged, but he had a surprised expression on his face. Boris let go of Ebony, as she stood still, but shook.
"I AM DONE WITH YOU! DON'T YOU GET IT? ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID? I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HAT-"
Ebony's blue eyes widened, and she could feel the pain from her cheek. Her hair covered her face, but she could barely see the outline of Blood standing in front of her. She fell onto her knees, her hand immediately going to grip her cheek. Everyone was silent, as Blood lowered his hand.
"Ebony!" Boris yelled, quickly going to check on Ebony. Ebony sat there, trembling, her eyes still wide with shock. She hadn't been hit in ages, not since….
"Ebony?" Boris asked, reaching out to touch her.
"NO! DON'T HURT ME!" She screamed, falling, and scrambling backwards away from the crowds. Everyone stood still, shocked.
"Please, please, don't touch me! Please, pl-please!" Ebony cried out, curling up into a ball, before she started sobbing. Boris looked at her, before remembering the last time she was slapped. When she was so little, and when he vowed to protect her.
He slowly walked towards Ebony.
"Ebony, it's just me, Boris. He's gone. The man is dead, remember? You're older now, you can defend yourself. It's gone. No one will hurt you. I'm here to save you again." He spoke, keeping his tone soothing. Ebony peeked up, before launching herself at him, and sobbing. "H-he was there!" SHe cried out, clinging to Boris. Boris glanced at Gowland, who and walked over to the group.
"Ebony, no one's going to hurt ya. I can promise that much." Gowland said, while ruffling her hair. She glanced up at him before closing her eyes, and relaxing.
"That… That's right… You guys are here now…" Ebony said. Boris let go of Ebony and turned to glare at Blood.
"Why THE HELL WOULD YOU SLAP HER!" He screamed, glaring at Blood. Blood's eyes quickly darted at Ebony, before settling on Boris. "Why did she start to cry?" He asked.
"LIKE HELL! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO KNOW!" Gowland yelled, pushing Ebony behind him. "Look Hatter, I'm telling ya, leave." Gowland said, glaring at the man. "Not without my daughter." Blood spat out, before walking up to her. QUickly acting, Ebony grabbed the gun she had thrown at Blood and pointed it at him with both hands.
"Don't you dare try to take me from my home." SHe growled, setting the gun straight at Blood. Blood's eyes widened, before they narrowed.
"THEY AREN'T YOUR FAMILY! WE ARE!" He yelled gesturing towards the Hatters. In the midst of her tears, Ebony saw Elliot with the Twins, who stood protectively in front of her wide eyed mother.
"No you aren't." She whispered, taking a step towards Gowland and Boris.
"Yes we ar-"
"BULLSHIT! YOU WERE NEVER THERE WHEN I NEEDED YOU!" She screamed.
"What on Earth are you talking about!" Alice yelled, stepping forward. Ebony kept her gun pointed at Blood, before she stopped, a good distance from Boris.
"Boris was there for me. He saved me. You, dear mother and father," She spat out, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "Didn't save me. Gowland helped fix me. You two didn't."
"What the hell are you talking abo-"
"I WAS RAPED! THERE! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW! I WAS RAPED AND BEATEN BY A MAN YOU COULDN'T PROTECT ME FROM! BORIS SAVED ME! YOU TWO RAN FOR PHOENIX! NOT ME! IT WAS ALWAYS HIM! ALWAYS, ALWAYS ALWAYS! HAD BORIS NOT KILLED ME, HE- He would've…" Ebony fell to the floor, dropping her gun.
Blood glared at Boris, jealousy consuming him. Boris had been there to protect his daughter. Not him. He had failed as a father… Blood quickly took a second, and shot at Boirs.
In a split second, Ebony was on her feet, stepping in front of the path of the bullet.
And Ebony's world faded to black, as the people around her screamed and yelled.