When Jean Luc awoke the next day, Lucinda was no longer snuggled against him. She was always up so early, despite how late they went to bed.
As expected, Lucinda was enjoying breakfast on the couch with her legs propped atop the table between her and the television.
"Dumbass," she sneered at the movie she was watching. Or more specifically, the character who just got murdered.
"Morning, love."
"That's new," Lucinda turned to face him. "Love. I like that. Way more than cute, adorable, sweet and all the other bullshit." She grinned and Jean Luc smiled back.
"How long have you been up?"
"Enough time to cook you breakfast.
Since Lucinda started going to work, she never stopped.It had been a few weeks since Jean Luc saw her enter their home with little patches of blood covering her pants and an unexplainable void in her eyes.When she saw him, though, a genuinely happy smile covered her face. Jean Luc thought nothing of the blood because as she entered the cottage, her first words were, "I need a tampon."Sitting so close to her, his heart sped. That has been going on, as well."They form a picture," Lucinda said, pointing to the stars above. She had somehow convinced him to climb onto the roof and lay there."I see nothing," Jean Luc muttered. There were just stars.
"What are you doing here?" The man asked Lucinda.Jean Luc remembered him. He was the newspaperman that came once a week. What would he be doing in Dheeksha, of all places?"Out," Lucinda's voice changed as quickly as a switch. Her face was still painted with dried tears, but the word that came out of her mouth revealed nothing less than strong. Authoritative. Jean Luc had heard that voice just a few times and he was properly baffled.The man ignored his presence and talked to Lucinda as if they were alone in the room."Red, are you okay?" His voice held genuine concern. They appeared to know each other most of their lives."Out, Zak," she said it so coldly that Jean Luc felt a shive
When Jean Luc awoke the next morning, Lucinda was no longer in his arms. He grumbled, but memory resurfaced and he smiled instead.Last night must have been a dream. But then again, time with her always felt that way.He expected to see her behind the kitchen counter or hear her voice when she snickered at the television. He had anticipated her acknowledging his presence before he could step out of their room like she normally did.He was greeted with silence.It was terribly unlike her. For a moment, he thought she would pop out of nowhere to scare the living shit out of him.It never happened.With furrowed brows, Jean Luc wandered into the kitchen and a weary part of him decided to open the refrigerator in search of Lucinda. She was nowhere. He glanced at the table where two cups of coffee should have been but instead, he found a note.She had never written to him before, and he had never seen her handwriting. It was neat, pretty a
"So? What are we going to do with him?" Blake questioned."Asshole," Raven sneered at him. "He's not garbage."Behind her, Darrow stifled a laugh."Knowing Red, she'll probably kiss him goodbye and blow this town into shreds," Zak said. Dominic entertained him by laughing at his terribly unfunny comment.Raven was pretty bitter at the moment and her family was not helping."So how was it?" Celie questioned. She had been asking it again and again, but Raven had yet to answer her."Shitty," came her reply."Is love as bad as father claimed it was?""No," Raven snapped. "But he was right about one thing--it's painful. I think that's pretty obvious, isn't it?" She gestured to Jean Luc, asleep in front of them on a chair in the basement of the cottage."Okay, but how was the sex?"Raven rolled her eyes and ignored Celie. Raven hated this. Hiding who she was from Jean Luc while falling in love with him was probably the
There was a void in his chest.Jean Luc knew he was running from reality. There was absolutely no way. Lucinda could not be the sinful, vile, wicked, brutal RD.Although he dreaded to accept the truth, he must admit that it made so much sense. Her scars, her mysteries, her stories, her personality. It answered so many of his questions. He fell in love with a murderer.Themurderer. He was so deep into it that he became blind.He had been holding the hand of a demon. He had been tasting her skin. Making love to her. And for God's sake, he had enjoyed it. Tremendously.Jean Luc had once heard stories of RD impaling someone with the leg of a chair. One of them even claimed that the demon fried their skin and stuck them on the wall for decoration. Was Lucinda really capable of that?"Your name is Raven?" he asked. That made sense too. She made him say the name just a night before for a reason he was too tired to ask."I don't
There was a void in her chest.Raven hated it.Today was supposed to be a day of celebration. A day of freedom. A large part of her was so light and happy. Then, there was this infuriating feeling of guilt and loss.Jean Luc's fingerprint was used to open the door before he was escorted away by Darrow to a new home she purchased for him. Then, four members of the group strode as one into the house belonging to the irritating man who had been owing them money.They were criminals, with footsteps that almost synced with each other. A terrifying sight of two-third of the group that could end the world."Is it done?" Raven asked and received a nod in return."Everything is set. The cameras are off, too," Celie replied."Good. Follow the plan."Instantly, Zak, Blake left the group. Then, Celie separated from her to find the rich man himself. Raven would not have gone to such lengths to hunt him down if he was not a horrible person.
The last step to Raven's plan was already half done.She had been beginning to settle it ever since she started leaving her cottage frequently for the 'work' Jean Luc believed her to have.She bought a whole line of buildings from the previous owners, after discovering a safe method for a criminal to purchase land. Not just any land. A whole island--just for her family and herself. They would be the leaders they wish to be. She had plenty of debts after becoming an infamous murderer with many alliances who were just as dangerous as her. She could call in debts, use the money her crew had obtained and begin building a city. One that Domsville cannot be compared to.The group's last step would be blowing up a part of the town into shreds. To blow up the last piece of evidence that she was RD."Domsville? More like Doomsville," Blake said, proud of his little pun."No, more likeBoomsville," Zak added on. They both laughed.Raven
THREE YEARS LATERRaven felt two things within her soul perking up. One was disgust because she was back in the filthy and unchanged shore of Domsville again. The other was filled with glee and longing for the man she promised to come back to."You're ridiculous, you know that?" Darrow mumbled at her as a man from their private ship passed them and lowered his head in respect. "We caused explosions and riots in this place.""So?" Raven waved her hand dismissively. "They have no idea who we are, and if you need a reminder, we have the money to buy this whole ass town now.""It's been years, Red.""Leave her be, buddy. He's the only man out there that treats her right," Zak said. He glanced between them, then turned back to return to the ship. There were a dozen people fromMidazwho moved to their city and were working for the crew. Their pay was a pretty number."Alright then," Darrow sighed. "Let's go fin