Book 1: Crimson Blitz
Chapter 16: One step closer
~Part 1: Send off~
A northeasterly wind cut through the small area of treeline that stood between the north bank of the Tennessee River and the small two lane road that briefly ran alongside of it. Even wearing a heavy MacGregor winter coat, the wind seemed to rip right through it, chilling Mel as she made his way westward along the roadside. Unseen clouds covered the sky, preparing to usher in the oncoming rainfall to a world of darkness tinged with just enough gray filtering through the overhanging dark canopy to dimly register to human vision.
There had been no traffic on the road in the ebb tide hours of dark night that lay just before the dawn and that was how Mel had wanted it. Her Jeep Outlander was parked in a heavily wooded area a quarter of a mile back up the road from the direction he’d come from, hidden far enough out of side that it wouldn’t catch a headlight from a passing vehicle and reflect its presence back toward any curious eyes.
Stopping for a moment, Mel adjusted the bag she was carrying from her right hand to his left and fished her key chain out of his pants pocket, letting her hands feel for the miniature LED flashlight that was clipped into it. She clicked it and the tiny light threw out its whitish blue beam upon the road. Cold and ghoulish, the ray of light drove the shadows back but also amplified them, giving the darkness a lurking malevolent presence that seemed ever watchful, ever aware.
She had to take care of this business quickly. Soon the day’s light would eventually come and slowly begin bringing all that were sleeping to wake with the life of a new day. She pointed the light further down the road, the beam catching the guard rail and a pair of wooden crosses covered with white paint behind it. The guard rail had been replaced by the time Mel had made his first return to this spot five years ago. Not that the old one had done any good six years ago, Melanie thought sourly to herself as she drew nearer to the crosses.
She’d been worried that she wouldn’t have enough time to do what she needed to despite being on the first flight out to the States that she could get. Since landing at McGhee-Tyson Airport a little over three hours ago, Mel had been in a race to beat the clock while darkness still covered the East Tennessee valley. She’d driven from Knoxville to Newport to pick up the wreath that she’d purchased earlier in the month under another identity, worrying the whole time that it wouldn’t be in the storage shed at the florist shop where she’d arranged to have it left or that the shed itself would be locked up with no access, her mind uneasy until the wreath was secure and in the passenger’s seat floorboard covered in a white nondescript plastic bag.
After the wreath, Mel had been forced to make a small side trip to the Wal-Mart super center in Newport to acquire the rest of the items needed. An acquaintance had once pointed out an ironic insight to her once about Wal-Mart being the only place in the world where a person could by both a stick of chewing gum and an aluminum fishing boat. Yeah, Wal-Mart was a magical place, a Shangri-La and a budget shopper’s paradise all rolled into one, the acquaintance had said. Mel hadn’t cared. To her, Wal-Mart happened to be the one place open at all hours that he could buy most things that she ever needed on such short notice.
The trip back had been quick as the nighttime traffic on the interstate was very light. She had driven back through Knoxville and into the Bearden suburb. She passed through a couple of neighborhoods bordering on modest to well-to-do homes as she drove southwest. The houses gave way to the wooded lowlands that bordered the north side of the river as she passed a few side roads, finally turning west on Badgett Road.
And toward the spot where she life had changed forever. A place of death both physical and spiritual and the beginning of a nightmare that had never let hher go. A nightmare that would continued to haunt her even now as it slowly ate away at the outer edges of her sanity.
Her footsteps brought her to the guard rail and the two crosses. She flashed her light over both of them and the beam fell upon a flower arrangement of Princess Anne tulips placed next to one of the crosses. The bulbs were orange and vibrant, even in the harsh cold of a dogwood winter’s night. He guessed that the flowers had been placed there no earlier than the day before yesterday. The beam moved back up to the cross and on a name carved into the horizontal bar and painted in black. It read:
Robert Gabrielle
Melanie swept the beam over to the other cross. It read:
Serenity Cross-Gabrielle
She began to shiver as she stood there, hher mind remembering everything in slow-motion detail. Even after all these years, it still felt as though the fire had happened only yesterday. A vehicle fatality that had claimed two lives.
Maybe it might have been better had I died with them.
She’d thought time and time again, especially on those nights when hher conscience and grief were too much for her to not remember that.
She sat down on the guard rail, swinging one leg over the side and then the other her boots made a dry crunching sound as he moved into the undergrowth and the treeline, slowly picking her way down the side of the wooded riverbank to where the dark waters of river flowed silently by. The ground was soft and moist under his feet. With each step toward the river, the dark surface rose even as her feet sank deeper and deeper into the mushy undergrowth of dead leaves, twigs, and soft ground.
Her light caught sight of a small poplar tree, slowly rocking with the wind. The tree was in a state of slow decay, further marred by an ugly scar within the trunk of the tree where the outer bark and some of the inner wood had been ripped out by an unseen hand. Even after all these years, some physical scars upon the land remained just as the mental scars he carried remained with her Treading carefully, she picked her way through the brush, taking care that the plastic bag in her left hand didn’t get caught on a bush or outlying branch.
She reached a small peninsula in the shallows of water. She stopped as she felt her boots slowly sink into the mud, just above the ankles. She would go no further than this. Not when she might be lurking just below the black surface. The water rippled as the wind blew across the river’s surface. Mel looked around, making sure she saw no hint of the green eyes that were burned into the back of hher memory. After assuring herself that no one was there, she reached into the bag and pulled out the wreath of orange blossoms. Setting the plastic bag on the ground, Mel reverently placed the wreath on top of the bag, flowers side up.
You had a bad day, you’re taking one down…
HELP ME!
You didn’t save her. You couldn’t save her.
You’re a coward.
The memories suddenly rose up, overwhelming Mel and almost driving her to his knees. She could hear Serenity’s cries for help as was stabbed.
Mel closed her eyes tightly. Slowly, she banished all the sensory memories from her mind, but it took all of her willpower to do it. She opened her eyes to find herself shivering uncontrollably. The wreath was still there. The world around her remained dark and silent, save for the bluish white glow of the key chain flashlight. Shr had to act now before she lost her nerve.
She dropped into a crouch, reaching one hand into her right coat pocket and fished out a small box of red gag candles and the yellow Bic lighter that she’d purchased at Wal-Mart earlier. She placed an individual candle in each holder on the wreath until all six spots had been filled, stopping only to place her hands back into her pockets to warm them and to keep herself from succumbing to another bout of shivering. After that, she placed the box with the remaining candles back in her pocket and picked up the lighter. Mel flicked the lighter, watching in satisfaction as the yellow flame appeared, the wind catching it and taking it around in a crazy jitterbug.
Slowly, she worked her way around the wreath of orange blossoms, lighting each of the six candles with the lighter, cupping her free hand around each of them as a wind break. Once each candle was lit, the wind could huff and puff all it wanted to. The candles would continue to burn until there was nothing left to burn.
Mel placed the lighter in her pocket and slowly picked up the wreath with gentle care. The river’s edge was only three feet away. Stretching as far as her courage would allow her to, she placed the wreath in the water and then gave it a firm shove. She watched silently as the wreath floated away from the bank and out into the darkness beyond.
”You didn’t save her. It’s your fault. Nothing you do will change that.”
Mel stood there watching silently as the wreath slowly floated away, the halo of light gradually growing smaller and smaller as the river carried it away downstream. Her look was a stoic one. Memories of that horrible night faded.
~Part 2: Vision.~
Mel was sitting down on her bed when a sharp pain happened. She knew she was getting a vision…
Rhoda Allaway felt the change in the air as she walked the streets alone in London. She heard the stories of why women should never but Rhoda didn’t care. She didn’t fear Jack the Ripper nor any person. Rhoda always carried herself with confidence and never back down. Why would she start now?
The Scotswoman looked up into the air. The moon was full and the skies were cleared. The stars were shining down on her and Rhoda knew what all this meant. She felt like she was being watched from somewhere and it caused her to grip onto ninja stars in her upper right coat pocket. Rhoda’s hair covered her shoulders as she was in black t-shirt, jeans, a purple jacket and tennis shoes. Her breathing picked up as she started to look around.
Nothing…
She didn’t see anyone but the young woman wasn’t a fool. She knew more than anyone should about things in the supernatural realm. Rhoda felt the air turn into a cold and harsh chill from it’s original warm breeze. Rhoda cursed under her breath and thought she saw something move from the corner of her eye.
Rhoda: I’m not stupid! Show yourself or else.
No reply and that made Rhoda a bit pissed. Not at the fact this person was toying her, she knew the person was a strong one. She shivered and felt someone touched with black magick was near. Another curse dropped from her mouth.
“Hello there Rhoda, niece of Alexander.”
Rhoda: Oh shit.
Stepping out from the shadows was Raven Silverhome, Rhoda hated this woman with a passion. She was looking down the murder of her parents. Raven was a skilled assassin and was a mercenary. Raven was known to work with Alexander and the Irish mob. Rhoda swear that this woman wasn’t normal though. Raven gave off that type of allure. Rhoda though was ready for combat.
Raven: I hope you don’t hate me.
Rhoda: Fuck you! That’s too late when you killed my folks.
Raven tipped her head to the side.
Raven: Languge little girl; I did what I had to.
Rhoda: Like hell! You could have killed the person who hired you.
Raven: Sorry Rhoda, the pay was too good.
Rhoda’s eyes changed to her hair colour.
Rhoda: May you burn in Hell in the fires of greed!
Raven: Aren’t you wondering why I’m here?
Rhoda didn’t move; she wasn’t about to let this woman out of her sights.
Rhoda: To kill me of course.
Raven: No...I’m here because Alexander wants you and his children home.
Rhoda rolled her eyes; that was a lie. Alexander wanted Rachel dead and only God knows for Raphael.
Rhoda: He will not ever take us. I’d rather die before that happens. How can he want his kids after he beat Rachel and my Aunt?!
Raven shrugged and Rhoda took her chance. Rhoda ran and jumped into the air. She takes out her stars with a sharp cling noise and threw them. Raven jumped back and the stars miss, sticking to the ground. Rhoda quickly got closed the gap between them. Rhoda jumped at her and pulled out handgun. Rhoda rarely used a gun but she had the training.
Raven: You should watch where I’m at.
Rhoda’s eyes turned big from feeling Raven’s breath on her left ear. Rhoda felt her hair being pulled and she was slammed to the ground.
Rhoda: Ow!
The gun flew out of her hand and landed a few feet away.
Raven: You really are stupid aren’t ya? You know lass I think I’ll just end you instead. Why bother seeing how-
One swift kick to her side and Rhoda screamed.
Raven: You’re just weak!
And another.
Raven: Why would your Uncle want you? You can’t even beat a simple vampire, a simple werewolf?
Rhoda screamed again.
Raven: No one wants you! No one loves you! NOT EVEN YOUR PARENTS!
Rhoda felt not only pain but her anger starting to boil in her. Rhoda let out a battle cry and the gun came back into her hand. Raven stood in shock and Rhoda kicked her in the shin. Raven started to fall back but Rhoda was quickly up.
Bang!
Raven felt a bullet hit her knee cap. Rhoda had disarmed the assassin.
Raven: Not going to kill me?!
Rhoda: No...you’re more useful to me than dead. I think I’ll let Lucien have a crack at you.
Fear.
Fear filled Raven’s face and that right there gave Rhoda satisfaction. Rhoda took her phone out and dialed Lucien’s number.
Lucien: Hello?
Rhoda: I gotta job for you.
Lucien: What kind?[color]
Rhoda: Gitmo.
The line went quiet and Rhoda could tell that Lucien was smirking.
Lucien: What did they do?
Rhoda: Simple, they killed my folks, they have info we need. I need a pick up in Red-head country.
Lucien: Understood. ETA in ten minutes. Stand by.
Rhoda: Understood prince of demons. 10-4!
Rhoda hung up and turned back to Raven.
Rhoda: Listen here, evil will never win at the end of the day. You have your minor victories but with my kind around you will never win. I swear I will hunt you and all your friends down and take them out. I don’t care if it kills me. I don’t fear your kind and my parents death has made me stronger. Sure I maybe damage and sure I have the Rosangela temper but I use it to fight for what is right, I fight for honor and you...you will never be better than me.
Raven started to laugh at Rhoda.
Rhoda: What are you laughing about?
Rhoda felt someone grab her from behind. With one hit Rhoda was out cold.
Raven: About time you got here. Good job Ripper.
“What do we do with the girl?”
The man helped Raven up.
Raven: Simple, leave her here. I could careless what Alexander says. I’m hurt and I need a patch up. Let’s go.
The two leave, leaving Rhoda on the street.
Mel screamed loudly and called Sam on his phone…
~Part 3: (#NP: “Rise” by: Sixx Sense)~
Beating Alexis Edwards felt pretty good, yeah she can make the same claim that Lucy can in her match; but I see this as a bit of payback for that. And well I think Steve learned never ever mock me, bad luck happened. I mean his own partner effed him over. Connor you did a good job as always, proud of you on that.
So now you and I set our sights on two people. The first of the two is Despayre. Now my daughter Athena loves this guy let me tell you. I like him as well. There is just something about him that makes me like him. It’s so cute when Athena is jumping up and down while watching SCW wanting to know if “Mommy and Aunty Lucy and Despy are going to fight.” Seriously it’s so totally cute. I love the smile you put on her face…and I hope in this match we give it our all…
And then we have Crystal. Congrats on finally trying to step up to the plate. It just isn’t enough nowadays just to leave things the way that they are and just handle business inside the ring. I believe that it is too much for people in their suits to understand but for those who have went from scrubs like myself to that position – you’d think that they would understand the stress that we’d be under right? No, that would be asking for too much. Ladies and gentlemen, as much as I enjoy doing self-reflections, I decided to allow you to see me this time, to understand by looking at my facial expressions that this is serious for me along with everyone who wants to be in my position – those of you – who will be sitting back at home, watching in the locker rooms and whispering to one another. That’s all you can do at this point isn’t it? Talk shit because you aren’t in the positions that we have earned. Being honest, it is a little annoying when half of you all believe that you can possibly hold a candle to anyone.
Crystal, time and time again you’ve fought the clan and lost. Really what is going to make this any different? Realization, it was the one thing that.. for the hell of it.. I never thought that I would be faced with. It didn’t take long, I had to work. I had to sit there and for a moment, I just began to smile. It wasn’t because I was excited for my match. It wasn’t because I knew that I was going to go out there and beat the living shit out of whoever crossed me. It was because.. this road, this chapter.. was almost done.
I had my high points and I have had my lows.. but coming off a sabbatical to becoming one of the most talked about ( Good and Bad ) fighters in the game? I have no complaints. But, with things ending in fifteen and going into sixteen.. most people will sit around and claim that this will be their year. They will claim that they will be the next big thing. As for me though? I am going to continue to do what is needed and required of me. I am going to continue to push everyone who steps in front of me and make them realize that most of them.. have a very.. very long way to go. I have always wondered about this and it wasn’t until recently that I actually had to sit down and deal with it.
I will not claim something that I am not. I will not go around trying to get people to believe that I am going to do something that I don’t have the ability to do. Crystal, I am going to show you why our match is going to be … won by me and Connor. It won’t be because you were some movie star. It won’t be because you have done everything in your power to make this pairing almost seem right, almost seem equal in terms of… well, a lot. No. The masses will tune in because their Dark Angel is going to add another victim to her kill list. You’ve seen it right? You claimed that you have. The commentators have their opinions of me. The roster has their opinions of me. Crystal, what is your opinion on the woman who will not be denied? The woman who has been doing this for what seems like forever? Will you honestly have something new to say that everyone in SCW hasn’t already heard be said about me through?
Something that I think you may want to take into consideration, Crystal. This isn’t going to be like my match with Hero or even one with Stefan Lajoie. Shit, this match isn’t even going to come close to the tag team match I was in either Crystal, let me fill you in on something. For the shits and grins, and unknown to most of the roster.. I respect you but I am going to challenge that by stating that I know some people from Hollywood and believe me.. they have shown up and shown out -- will you?
This is your chance, this is your opportunity to show the world, Inferno and those people in the back that you aren’t just a fucking joke. Show them that you are worthy to be on the roster that many of us, including some of the new people.. are weeding out the worthless ones and keeping those who actually have some talent here. Will you be tossed aside like yesterday’s trash? Oh, did the tone of the shoot just get dark? Meh. Depends on how you interpret it. At CC, I don’t have to tell you what I am going to do because you already know it. Fact, you may not be able to tell what I am going to do in the ring BUT the two things that I continue to constantly prove day in and day out is that I am going to show up and show out.. and for you Crystal, open up a couple cans of whoopass along the way.
Fade to black.
