Fantasy A new start(Ebony Rose)

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

"Children are intuitive with how they perceive people. They seem them for who they truly are even if the lenses that they see them with are naive and ultimately innocent" Melody said with a shrug of her shoulders. "My sister is a bit older than Jewel is. I never had inclinations to hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, children less so. I'd rather put a knife to my own throat and cut it than harm a child who doesn't deserve it." Following Vio into the ice cream shop she watched with amusement as the little girl went from the display case to Vio's side talking a mile a minute. It was almost adorable seeing that the little girl treated Vio as a surrogate mother type instead of the elder sister she called her as. "So ladies, what are we grabbing today?" she asked folding her hands behind her back.

The older man that ran the ice cream shop raised an eyebrow watching the two women and the little girl. It was cute in a way, they looked like a family; the little girl seemed to adore the one she talking to a mile a minute while the young woman standing slightly back from them watched with amusement. "Need anymore time?" he asked.

"I think I know. Vio, Jewel what about you?" Melody asked.

 

[Ebony Rose]

“Raspberry Dream Mr. Victor.” Vio requested, sounding oddly polite even though she was just getting ice cream. However it made sense for her to try being a good role model to her adoptive little girl. “Jewel which is the flavor of the day this time?” She asked, humor lining her voice.

She kept one eye on the two females as she looked out the window briefly just in case. Danger never seemed far in her life but she would be damned if she justlet anything happen to innocents.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Jewel seemed to stop bouncing when the question was asked. Darting back over to the display case she pointed to bright pink and blue one. "Cotton Candy Swirl please" she said with the cutest little smile on her lips.

Melody watched the older man dish out the ice cream into large paper bowls. Did Jewel and Vio come here a lot that the older man knew what they wanted before they opened their mouths? It would make sense since little kids were notoriously full of energy and addicted to sweets. Only once the other two had their ice cream she stepped up to the counter and gave it one last glance. She wasn't really a sweet tooth type of person she did indulge every once in a while. It couldn't hurt if it made the little girl who seemed to like her happy. "I'll try that one with the new label, the blueberry cheesecake but make mine a small" she said reaching her wallet. There was no need to burden Vio to pay for her ice cream when she could at least contribute to this little excursion since they hadn't paid for their little lunch after classes had ended.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio probably either had charge accounts or businesses appreciated her trying to help keep the cities safe that they let small shopping get looked the other way. She ate the ice cream with a little sound of delight, apparently forgetting anything about her status or being in public. “I’m making Cerberus add this to the monthly shopping. I just can’t not have this more than twice a month.”

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Melody felt a tiny sense of amusement and serenity as she watched both Jewel and Vio enjoying their ice cream. There was something so normal and quaint in watching the big bad queen of the state and her apparently 'adopted' child act so much like a parent-child pair. It was really sweet though. Biting into her own ice cream a satisfied sound escaped her lips. It was like light creamy bliss on her tongue, her eyes closing momentarily. Just because she wasn't one for sweets didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it when she indulged. "So what's on the plan after this lovely little pit stop?" she asked after sitting down with the other two and swirling her spoon around the paper bowl.

A crash sounded outside before glass exploded inwards.

On a sort of instinct she took Jewel and pulled the little girl to the ground shielding her with her body. "I don't care what you got to do, take care of the problem and take care of it now" she said with a sharp look aimed at Vio. If someone saw them and was trying to take potshots at the other woman she had to keep Jewel out of the way. No child deserved harm for who their guardian, who their protector, was by any means.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio jumped up to her feet, already heading towards the door so she could handle whoever had been either stupid or supposedly brave enough to try something. “You and Jewel go into Victor’s office then lock up. He’s one of our safe houses.” She ordered, knowing he would put her ice cream in the freezer or at least she was due another. It gave more incentives for her to quickly take care of things.

Soon red eyes scanned the streets, looking for wherever plus whoever the source had come from. The little side pouch no longer hid its contents as instead a somewhat small yet still very powerful gun was in the hands of the owner. Known as Bittersweet Vengeance, the modified firearm once belonged to her twin brother as his underage birthday gift. However, he gave it as part his deathbed, whispering his final requests along with it.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Melody waited for the last sprinkle of glass bounced off her back before slowly getting up. Jewel was unharmed save for a thin but long gash under her left which set her blood on fire, more so seeing the fear on the little girls face. "Apologies sir but I need you to take Jewel in the back and give me a god damn gun." Very rarely did her aggression switch get flipped but with the trembling child bleeding and fearing for her life, it was not just flipped it was through the wall and stuck. "Now." Her tone was clipped as the disciplined part of her that was taught to handle a gun by her dad as a kid took over. "Sweety, I need you to go with Mr. Victor to his office" she said as kind as she could to Jewel while the ice cream shop owner but a loaded pistol and an extra clip on the countertop seemingly intimidated by the complete turn in her attitude. "Me and your big sister will be ok, I promise." Kissing the childs forehead in a soft but reassuring manner she checked the loaded gun and pulled the slide putting one in the chamber before sliding the extra clip into her pocket.

Only once Jewel and the owner were behind the locked office door Melody was out in the street with the pistol at the ready. The muzzle swung fluidly with her moves searching the street left and right trying to find the source of who attacked the shop with them inside. "See anything?" she questioned Vio as her eyes went skyward to the roofs along the street she saw the glare reflecting off what could have only been a rifle scope and fired.

Three shots and then silence after a body fell from the roof of an apartment complex. "Don't ask. Not here, not now. We need to get Jewel somewhere safer." She had no doubts Vio would have questions about her being able to handle a gun like she'd been trained as a marksman but that took second string to the only truly important thing- getting Jewel to a truly secure place so she could have a look at the long cut on the girls face.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio nodded, pulling out her phone as she began making calls. First few took care of the various few trusted just enough to answer directly to Cerberus or technically her if she ran into them when in town. The last put the queen of the streets in contact with the right hand himself as she gave the update before anything else. “Right so meet me at the safe house since that’s where I’ll be taking those two. Yeah if you feel that strong about things, bring the Hounds including Camilla. Who knew eight most dangerous people to ever live would be under my roof?” She mumbled, saying something else before hanging up. “Get her in the car and buckle up. I’m not slowing down this time.”

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

The tremor that was starting in Melody's hands stopped as they steeled again after a shot nearly hit her. With a cruel shift her eyes caught sight of the responsible party loading their weapon. Two shots between the eyes left another dead body in the streets after it dropped from a window. She knew she was going to be physically ill as soon as she was in a safe place but some cold and unfeeling part of her was in control for the moment. It was almost like she was watching a movie as her body moved with a grace she didn't even know she had as she ushered Jewel quickly into car. Even as they sped away to wherever this safe house was her grip on the heavy pistol in her hand didn't waver or loosen even as Jewel shook against her like a leaf. "Hush sweety, we're going to keep you safe I promise" she whispered in a soft almost motherly tone as her non gun occupied hand cradled the child crying against her chest.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio made sure that they were secured before getting in the driver’s seat and hitting the gas. Sure enough, the vehicle hit speeds that shouldn’t be possible yet at least they couldn’t get shot down unless by a perfect shot. However it was very unlikely thankfully, the only sounds from the hum of the engine itself. After awhile, they reached the safe house located oddly enough in the high class area of the city, hidden behind high security walls and the gate itself opened only for those with some sort of card or simply from the car getting close enough to scan.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

As soon as they were led through a door to a supremely secure room the tremor in her hands returned. The gun fell to the floor, though her trembling thumb had hit the safety, as her eyes saw an open bathroom door and ran full tilt towards it. The sound of her violent vomiting could be heard echoing as she lost not only her lunch but the ice cream she'd tried to enjoy with Vio and Jewel.

Cerberus shot Vio a look and motioned to the vomiting girl. "What's with her boss? She looks like she's seen a dead body" he said with a snort.

Jewel clung to Vio's leg refusing to let go even as concerned tear reddened eyes watched the bathroom with concern.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio shook her head, ruffling the hair of the little girl at her side. “People aren’t like us remember? They don’t have your world wide wanted prices or the socialite background I was trashed from. Too bad I didn’t forget the will hadn’t been changed before Papa croaked.”

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

"Changed to your disownment or changed in the other ways? I forget which one you refer to since if I recall right it, you said the will was changed nearly a dozen times after the old man kicked you out after your brothers death." Cerberus put it as blunt yet carefully as he usually did. He knew Vio's brother and respected the kid for his convictions but he hadn't the guts for the business his sister did.

Nearly ten minutes later Melody stumbled out of the bathroom pale as a sheet. Her stomach was empty of everything, even water, and her throat felt like it was on fire. Leaning against the wall for support she shuddered at the slight AC brushing her sweating skin. "I..Is there a bed I can lay down on?" Her voice was croaky but after ten minutes of puking up everything in her system, ten minutes after murdering two guys in self-defense, she couldn't care. The tremors had moved from her hands to envelop her body. She couldn't trust herself to stand on her own strength so even as she looked between Vio and the other assembled people she practically clung to the wall to keep her upright.

Jewel looked up even more concerned seeing the state the pretty lady was in. The way she was clinging to the wall suggested that the violence was all too new to her and that murder, even justified in defense of her life, was going to metaphorically kill her conscience. "Bed. Her. Now."

Two of the eight assembled guys snickered at the word choice from the nine year old.

"Keep laughing.. I dare you." Jewel's worried became dark in an instant, her dart gun aimed squarely at the guys while an acid green dart tip protruded from the end. Of all her dart types, this was her only true killer dart and she'd only used it once before to protect Vio from someone trying to replace her big sister as 'the new and true king' of the state.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio lazily gestured at the unfortunate individuals they needed to get a move on already. “I don’t feel like locating the next best sniper in the world so get it shut before I personally shove one of Flame’s bombs up both your backsides, blind arse.” She muttered, embedding one of her two black throwing knives mere breaths from his face anyway.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

"Pretty lady. Bed. Now." Jewel slapped the outside barrel of the dart gun against Vio's thigh. She was familiar with everyone in the room so she wasn't scared by any means of any unwanted pests getting in. "Please." She wasn't one to bust out her manners for too much, not to say she was a rude child and she'd proven she was quite polite & well mannered, but when it came to something or someone she liked she was more than happy to break them out at the drop of a hat if it would get her what she wanted. It usually did but there were a few times it hadn't.

Melody collapsed to her knees clenching her eyes shut. Her body shook like it wanted to be sick but there was nothing to throw as tears fell down her face. Even in self-defense of her own life and Jewel she just murdered two people! She wasn't religious or spiritual bit there were things that were just inherently evil no matter the justification. All her life she'd been good, always did the right thing and.. and...

"Boss, I have to agree with Jewel. She's spiraling and fast" Cerberus said as his tone shifted to a serious tone seeing the girl begin rocking back and forth with arms wrapped tight around herself.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio nodded, helping Melody to her feet and into one of the more quiet bedrooms. Once she got onto the bed, the red head ended up locking the door after putting up a sign for anyone who tried to get in. Granted anyone should get the hint since it said F Off in all caps. “And I managed to not murder my own men. Just got to get the knife from the wall later.” She mumbled, returning to the seat beside the bed. “I’m here though comfort is the worst thing I try doing.”

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Melody didn't resist Vio's help getting her into the bed. It was quiet in the room, very quiet. Hearing the word comfort made her head snap to the side where the redhead was sat. Her eyes were unfocused and glazed, her hands clench tight around her stomach still. With hesitation one arm unfolded reaching out for Vio. If it wasn't endearing by most people standards, the vulnerable girl reaching for the only nearest person for comfort, it was what she needed. Clenching onto Vio's shirt she didn't let go tugging weakly on the shirt. "I... You don't have to be..." The undeniable weakness in her near whisper was the softest and most vulnerable she'd been in her life bar none. "Can you... just for a little bit..." Her weak tugs grew the tiniest bit stronger but it was still incredibly weak. She wanted, no needed to be held and comforted. Even if it was just for a moment and if things were made awkward she needed it so bad.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio nodded, moving onto the bed so she could hold Melody even if just a little bit. “It’s alright. You aren’t alone and you will be able to find someway to get a grip.” She assured, offering not the usual things people tended to say but instead her own truth. “Just let yourself go for now and later you’ll feel a little better than before.”

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Melody didn't resist the grip and curled up into Vio. The warmth that came off her body was comforting to a degree. By no means was it any of the normal platitudes that came with self-defense killings, no these were more personal truths they felt like. She didn't know how long the tears fell from her eyes but soon the room was silent again as she cried herself to sleep, her hands going limp from their clenched positions on Vio's shirt.

The door to the room opened and closed with a quiet click as Jewel entered. Her expression was full of concern still but the sight of the pretty lady asleep on her older sister, even though the tear stains on the pretty ladies sleeping face hurt her heart, brought the tiniest measure of calm to her. "Is she going to be ok?" she asked climbing onto the bed and cuddled up to the pair. Her sister was a confident strong woman but she lacked a warm soft counterpart that could even out the more impulsive and violent reflexes that Vio possessed. The pretty lady could very well be the person her older sister needed but getting her accustomed to the chaotic bloodstained parts of her sisters life would be vital to anything happening.

 

[Ebony Rose]

“I’m sure but it will take time. Those who are not born to the streets often have difficulties adjusting.” Vio explained, holding the child closely. When she had first adopted the little girl, it was so she could grow without society hindering such a brilliant mind but the red haired young woman soon found herself needing something to nurture, to have a reason for continuing having morals at all.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Jewel curled up even closer taking one of Vio's hands in her own and the pretty ladies in the other. "Is she going to stay....?" she asked in a soft voice. The pretty lady was really kind and in the short time that she saw her interact with her sister, she saw an inspiring momentary change in Vio's character. There was a softness, a exceptionally more loving light in the redheads eyes. If she could do something to make it so that the kind lady stayed she was going to do so.

Melody unconsciously squeezed at the hand grasping her own as near whisper levels of whimpers escaped her lips, her mind kicking the horrifying image of the dead bodies plummeting to the earth to the fore of her mind.

Jewel looked up sharply at her older sister. "Do you love her?" she asked quietly. It was probably the only part of her innocence that was left after everything she had seen and done to date. As much as she looked out for her own happiness, she looked out for Vio's as well. She wanted her sister happy more than anything else in the world and if it was love that did it, if it was falling in love with this kind pretty lady she was more than happy to help her sister find that love.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio thought about everything, having always been careful in her words, her actions even when rash or questionable. “Love is so difficult to understand really. All I know is that she doesn’t need to be coerced if she doesn’t want to stay. Free will is fragile enough as it is.” She answered, recalling how much she’d already done for the sake of such things. However in the crusade for the free will of others, her own had long ago been lost.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

Jewel's eyes briefly looked to the pretty lady and then back to her sister. "I think you love her... Short time together maybe but your eyes... They are so much brighter, kinder than before..." she said with the innocence shining fiercely. "You want to protect her. Take care of her. You want her to stay here with us. With you." There was a defiance to her tone as her hand slipped from Vio's and joined other one clasping the sleeping ladies hand. It seemed to calm her tortured mind making the pretty lady nuzzle into Vio's neck. "You don't want her to feel coerced but you want her to stay with us. I can see it in your eyes big sister."

 

[Ebony Rose]

Vio held Melody closer, breathing in a scent that soothed whatever demons plagued her mind. “I don’t want to hurt people Jewel. I’d lose what resolve is left if she grew cold or worse.” She mumbled, looking more like a child than the one she had with her. That innocence very rarely showed up to start with yet it never failed to make her appear far too young for her years.

 

[Gr1mmReaper2020]

"Then protect her." There was a fierceness that replaced the defiant tone in Jewel's voice. "There are few things worth fighting for and love is one of them. You love me and that gives you a strength to fight so hard just for my sake. I think you love her too so use it to fight for her as well. You told me when you took me in that I need to fight for and protect what means the world to me no matter what. Take your own advice big sister. Protect her and love her. Don't let go either. I am young and I don't know nearly enough about like you do but what you told me about love being the strongest thing in the world, I believe in that. I believe in you more than anyone else. They do too" she motioned to the door as if to say the men and women assembled outside "so do us all a favor, believe in yourself. Give her everyone to trust you, to believe in you. To love you." With a kiss to Vio's cheek she left the bed traipsing to the door and slipping out quietly, the door closing with a near silent click.