Desperado

Chapter Ten

Heart of Darkness

Heromine Pov

I look up seeing Fred coming back inside Pops from getting rid of the snake. "I am here for you, whenever. But why didn't you call the cops or animal control services?"

I look away feeling pain and anger rise up in my chest. If Hiram never hired those snakes I wouldn't have to deal with this. If he had kept whoever he had on payroll dealing his money he should have kept them. I shouldn't have to deal with this! I look back toward Fred knowing about the land he works so hard for. He'll be ruined by this.

"It was a message... for me from the Serpents. I didn't call the police because I don't trust them. I don't trust half the people in this damn town. Just you." I tell him.

I trust my kids but they don't know about this. I can't drag them into their father bullshit.

"Which is why you gotta tell me why the Serpents-"

"It's Hiram. He owes them money."

"How much money?"

"No, Fred. That's between Hiram and the Serpents. Thank you so much for coming here tonight. But I don't want to get you any more involved than you already are."

++++++++

"What the hell do you mean?" I ask him.

"Look I told you she shortened me," FP tells me as I stand away from people entering.

"By threatening my mother with a snake are you an idiot?" I all but hiss out to him.

"I want my money, Kat and if you can't get it for me then I'll be damn sure to find a way!" He yells probably in his trailer or the whyte wyrm.

I look around seeing my mother walking toward the entrance. She looks over and spots me. She stops as I watch her.

"This isn't finished. Pull that shit again and your boy is the one who pays the price."

"Ka-"

I hang up on him before walking past my mom. She grabs my wrist and I stop turning to her. "Was that your father lawyer?"

"No. New York friend called."

"You seemed mad...why?"

"Just news I didn't want to hear. An old friend OD on heroin." I tell her and she smiles sadly.

"I'm sorry. If you need-"

"I'll be fine. Shit happens." I tell her pulling away and finding my seat leaving a spot open for her and my mom. If she comes over.

Forsythe is going to get me in trouble. I can't just report that back to my dad. We soon turn to see Cheryl coming up to the podium.

"Oh my God," Roni whispers to me.

"Yes," Kevin says behind us.

She stands and I smirk at this. I see she's not afraid to die. A dangerous trait of mine but a powerful one for her. I guess in that we are both alike.

"Welcome to Thornhill. Thank you all for coming. If you'll kindly take your seats. I'd like to start the memorial with a few words about Jason. The last time I saw Jason I was wearing this dress.

I know it's impossible. But I swear, when I put it on, it... it feels like he's in the room with me. Even though we were twins, I used to demand I have my own birthday party. Until one year, out of the blue, Jason convinced me we had to combine them into one. It wasn't until years later, I found out why.

It was because no one wanted to come to mine. And Jason didn't want me to know. He protected me. Every single day. I wish, that day at the river, I had protected him." Cheryl sobs turning to her brother casket.

"I'm so sorry, Jay-Jay." Roni stands up going to her. "We failed you. All of us."

I smirk as she cries on my sister shoulder. Penelope comes to the podium now and looks out to us.

"I think we'll adjourn now to the Winter Salon for a light supper."

I slip through the crowd sneaking through the people. I stop quickly seeing my mother hugging Fred Andrews. Oh no. No no no. This isn't good.

++++++

"There's not a lot of love lost between your dad and Clifford. Or me and Penelope, for that matter. Still, that family... to lose a child that young... that way."

"I just spent the last 24 hours in the gothic horror story that is Cheryl Blossom's life. And it just reminded me how lucky I am. To have a mom who protects me."

I walk into the living room with my bottle water. "Hey."

"I have to tell you two about something that happened last night at Pop's."