Chapter 2: Friends and Enemies... and more enemies
"Bianca"
Bianca De Milo forced her eyes not to shut, no matter how heavy her lids become. She did not have enough sleep or even slept well last night. Her mind was blank, disoriented, and her whole body was throbbing and aching. The perks of being of inherently lazy wasn't favoring her body today. Apparently, this was the third day she hasn't dreamt of anything and it's making her uncomfortable- very uncomfortable. The Queen bed of the hotel she stayed last night just wasn't soft enough. No matter how hard she tried, no matter the times she tossed and turned, sleep just wouldn't come. Despite everything, it amazed her how she is capable of moving at all. Honestly, if given the choice, she wouldn't leave her room… at all. She swiped away strayed locks of blonde hair from her face and let out a loud yawn.
"Bianca!"
The shout jolted her awake, she looked at her side and saw a pouting girl glaring at her, Lucille Reines. An acquaintance. Lucille didn't look pleased at how inattentive she was being, it felt like an insult to be distracted in her very presence. However, Bianca mentally noted that that pout of hers did not match her silky brunette hair paired with a black barrette or the colorful flowers she was carrying, but it looked cute. The mental note was just replied with an eye roll and a groan- typical. Just then, she noticed that she is in a hospital corridor heading for a room. Afternoon sunset beams colored everything golden. It felt so welcoming and soft. She didn't like it. Why can't hospitals be dark and dingy? But the bigger question is, how did she get here? She looked around in awe- in awe of how unaware of where she was going. Anyone can kidnap me, she thought.
"I'm in a hospital?" she stupidly observed.
"Yeah, and you haven't been listening to me all along!" Lucille exclaimed, peeved at her absentminded company.
They stopped at their tracks in front of a room. The door plate read, 606. The brunette breathed deeply as if she is bracing herself for an impact. She fixed and checked every position of the flowers- making sure everything is perfect and in place, followed by a pat at the barrette. Bianca still had no idea what is happening but decided not to make it obvious. It will ruin the mood- her mood… again. Lucille turned to her and held her at the shoulder with a deadpan face.
"Now," Lucille began with a serious tone, "we have to be careful with Beatrice… she can
be a little… sensitive…"
Bianca nodded. She has no clue of what is happening but she's on board.
"We're going to be very supportive and very positive about this," she smiled, a façade, "us half-breeds need to stick together, right?"
Bianca nodded… again. Staying silent and hidden is an expertise of hers. Lucille will do all the work.
She brightened her smile as she swung the door open. There a frail woman lied on a hospital bed, peering at the window with disdain. The rays of sunlight accentuated the wrinkles in her face, and gave shimmers to her white hair. She looked elderly with her white hair and wrinkles but actually she's just a teen in her sweet sixteen. The girl paid no mind to the duo that entered, even if Lucille had placed the flowers at a table nearby and sat by her. The brunette placed her hand over hers, only to pull it back, repulsed.
"Beatrice." Lucille calmly called.
Beatrice didn't budge. She continued looking at the window, pretending she was still alone. Crossed fingers, with hopes that will make them go away.
"I know it's been rough but you'll get through this," she consoled, "we're here for you."
Bianca just stood there, eyeing the two of them. It looks like a mother and child tandem. Beatrice Bryce, she recalled, that's her. Beatrice glowered and bit her lower lip. Her fist balled then snarled. Two stubs from her head grew a little, making Lucille worried and panicked. The flowers at the table rotted quickly. The room felt like it was closing in on them. The air compressed and became all musky all of a sudden, it was getting difficult to breathe. Their throats tightened, as if being choked.
"What are you looking at?" she exclaimed, albeit weakly it was stinging.
"Wh-wh-at? " Lucille tried speaking despite her being breathless.
The patient jerked and pushed her away, causing her to fall on the floor, face first and the barrette falling. The brunette hissed on impact revealing her own set of horns, approximately, two inches longer than the latter. The tip of her fingers extended sharp claws that dug deep on the cement surface. Bianca involuntarily held her arms out; a red circle formed, enclosing her and Lucille. Flames engulfed them both and they vanished. In their absence, Beatrice finally released the tears she held back.
-
The two of them appeared in an empty playground, in an empty sandbox. Their landing gave a soft thud on the sand, soiling the dress Lucille wore, making her even angrier. She looked around if there is no one else but Bianca present and shrieked. She flailed her arms and legs, scattering sands everywhere, Bianca covered her face from the sand while holding back a giggle.
"I hate it when she does that!" she whined, pounding on the sand more aggressively.
"H-hey…" Bianca withheld a laugh, trying hard not to.
Lucille caught on and blushed. Embarrassed, she stood and dusted then composed herself. She breathed through her nose and released from her mouth, calming her down. That's not how someone like her shall act. That red face was replaced with a sullen look, she walked towards the nearby swing and sat down. How fast she changes mood, Bianca remarked as she sat by the next one. They softly swing alternately, trying to entertain themselves after what happened, but to no avail.
"It's difficult being the daughter of Lucifer…" she blurted out, "all this responsibility and
"We're in a difficult situation." Bianca chimed in, getting what she meant, "we didn't choose to be their kids, they did…"
"Yeah, but like, I'm supposed to rule Hell, y'know!"
"You mean us seven are supposed to rule Hell?"
"Sure."
"Sounds like too much work for me."
"I remember what my Old Man would say to me…"
"What?"
"You dishonor the name of Morningstar!"
"You know what my father would say?"
"What?"
"Nothing, he's too lazy to do shit."
They both chortled at the self-created caricatures of their fathers, Bianca would snort at some point. Lucille then fell silent, she touched her horns and checked the sharpness of its tips. She grasped it from girth to length, feeling how solid it is and how connected it is to her skull. It has grown so much from the past few days.
"Once this grows fully, it's only queen-hood for me." She said.
"And you're okay with it?' Bianca asked.
A shrug was the only response given. She finally let go of her horns and place her hands on her lap.
"I pity Bea," Bianca admitted, grasping the chains of the swing tighter, "being the daughter of Leviathan…"
"She wouldn't want to hear that."
"And that's all there is to it for her- and us, unwilling kids of old men with powers."
"Speak for yourself."
The brunette didn't get where her vassal was going. They have powers based on their birthrights, what else could they ask. Sure, Bea got the short-end of the stick, she thought, but that's just a minor detail compared to them. Not everyone can be main course! The blonde's expression fell grim.
"It's like we have no choice," Bianca continued, "it's like she has no choice, getting sick and weak."
"And?" Lucille still didn't understand.
"And it sucks! This sucks"
Lucille just shook her head and giggled. Sometimes, Bianca doesn't make sense to her. She lurched forward and jumped then landed on her feet. Maybe being the daughter of the Prince of Sloth, Belphegor, made her creative in the excuses department. What a useless birthright. She paid no mind by giving a twirl, scattering the few remaining sand, her statements won't matter soon once she replaces her Father.
"We were born for this," Lucille stated blankly, "our existence is meant to be heirs to their thrones."
"But it doesn't have to be that way!" Bianca cried.
"It's the only way."
"There's got to be more than what we are expected to be-"
Lucille was obviously getting annoyed at Bianca's rhetoric. Her faced looked displeased and her arms folded. She tapped her foot rapidly, a sign that she is disinterested. She looked like a presence not to be messed with a moment. This made Bianca more eager to prove her point to the so-called "future queen."
"I just wish we get to be normal sometimes…" Bianca whispered with every tinge of sadness in every word, "That maybe we have better things out there for us as mortals than-"
Lucille walked towards the existential-izing teen, held her by the chin and raised her head to level with her eyes. They locked gazes, a gaze that will devour each other whole. This made Bianca stop in her tracks completely and shut her mouth.
"Darling, we weren't meant for normal." Lucille smiled, and let go of her companion, "Now, if you don't mind, bring me to my room."
"You can teleport, too." Bianca sneered.
"Don't be lazy and just do it!"
Maybe, you're lazy. She adamantly obliged because the person in front of her felt so commanding, Bianca was compelled to do so. She held her hands out and waved it. Red room and fluffy pillows, she imagined. Flames erupted from her palm and the girl before here was gone. Classic Lucille, she thought. The solitude urged her to go home, too, but she didn't feel like standing. She didn't feel like being at all. She could've had a normal life if she didn't meet Lucille and be dragged into this diplomacy thing. Now they have to locate every children of Hell that God-knows-where is and befriend them to Lucille's favor. Lesser competition for the throne, she'd explain, and… yeah, unity.
They aren't doing a good job at all, the child of Lust is all horned up and creepy, the child of Wrath is already teamed up with the child of Greed and used an exploding messenger (yes) as a declaration of overthrowing Lucille, the child of Glutton just wants to be alone with his fried chicken, Beatrice, child of Envy is avoiding them, and there she is, the child of Sloth, that doesn't want to do with any of this, at all. Even so, she's tasked to find out where they are and go there to persuade them, again, they aren't doing a good job at it. Now, she's in America, in a hotel owned by a guy in debt to Lucille's dad. She just wants to go home in Paris.
"Bianca De Milo!" A fervent shout from a far echoed all throughout the playground.
Not her again, Bianca sighed, can't this day get any worse? From the distance, she can see a girl in her pajamas, running and struggling towards her. She never fails to surprise, being able to follow them from country to country. As she comes nearer, she tripped in an invisible stone and had her face planted to the soil. She recovers quickly and limped to her direction. Sweaty, and tired, she held on the metal bar of the swing.
"B-Bianca De—e Mi-lo!" she panted, leaning at the leg of the swing, "I-I am The-resa Cruz-"
"Do you need to sit down?" Bianca offered, pointing at the vacant seat beside her.
Theresa shook her head and waved her hand in negation. She caught her breath, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Bianca looked at her, waiting for her usual script whenever they encounter each other. Despite being meant to be her nemesis, she pities the girl. Sure, she was dedicated on killing her but she is sacrificing so much of her time for something she feels she is obligated to do. When Theresa looked fine, she composed herself and stood in front of Bianca, a familiar stance.
"I am Theresa Cruz!" she announced boldly, "Blessed by the Angel of Mysteries, Raziel…"
Bianca trailed off. She's here to thwart her from sending the world asunder, she's come so far, yada-yada-yada. All that bullshit. She wafted her hand and materializes a sword with a flaming blade. She announces that through the Holy blade of Damascus, she shall be fell.
"… and also please stop teleporting from countries to countries, I don't have enough money left anymore!"
"Don't you have magic?" Bianca wondered.
"N-no…"
"What's that sword then?"
"This… is the blessing of Raziel."
"I think he should bless you more."
Bianca opened her hand only for the tired girl to clasp it while shaking her head violently. She looked pathetic and desperate and she is aware of it.
"Please!" She begged, "If you promise me you won't end the world, I won't have to kill you!"
"Aren't there like ten of you guys?" Bianca asked, "And we are like seven? Can't you just give it a rest and go back home then we'll wait for the nine more?"
"This is a sworn duty given to me by God Himself! I will not back down!"
This just made Bianca even sadder. May it be them or the Blessed, they act like they don't have a choice, it's like they were in grained to do whatever told them. Theresa then noticed the gloomy face of the person she is assigned to bring down and unclasps her hand.
"I can...ummm... not kill you if you want." she offered kindly, as she attempts to hide the sword from sight.
"I'd rather if you do."
"For three months of chasing you, I finally realize-"
"Realize what?"
"I think you just need a friend to talk to."
Theresa sat at the swing and looked at the problematic teen, waiting for her to vent out.
"I'll listen." She promised, with a sweet smile.
That made Bianca smile, a sweet gesture from a person supposed to oppose her, let alone hack her with a flaming sword. She laughed. She haven't felt like that for months! All those chases will lead to this? Man, this destiny is crazy. And she did tell what's wrong.
-
The afternoon passed with the two just talking. They expressed how they felt about this pseudo-war that has been going on and Lucille's plans on taking over Hell. They also discussed the Seven Princes of Hell! Turns out they weren't feeling so differently at all, they were both dragged into something that compromised their daily routine. It's just that what Theresa and the other Blesseds are doing sounds more meritorious than the ascendance of the Children to the Throne and the possibility of making Earth a living Hell. Such an unlikely back and forth between two polar opposites.
"It be like that sometimes." Theresa joked.
"I guess, I was born this way?" Bianca added
"Man, that Lucille really sounds bossy."
"Yeah, but don't tell her that."
"Have you tried telling her how you feel?"
That struck her. How she feels? That was new.
"You know, you two have each other and you're working as a team," she explained fondly, "she needs to know your opinions, too."
"She's the daughter of Lucifer! Why would she care about how I feel?" she exclaimed, irritated.
"Are you saying she is meant to be that way, too?"
"Yes!"
Theresa stood up to make a point. She placed her hands on her sides and put up a serious face- brows meeting and an all scrunched up forehead.
"We all have a choice to be who we want to be." She said highly.
"All those for that?" Bianca felt underwhelmed.
"I mean like, you guys put so much emphasis on who your parents are that you forget who you are!"
"You're getting cheesy."
"Heck, yeah, I am!"
Heck, yeah? Someone still uses that word? Bianca chuckled. She looked around and saw that it was already getting dark, it will be unsafe for the both of them.
"You need to go back now, it's already late." Bianca said, "You have a place to crash?"
"Yup." She nodded enthusiastically.
"Let's talk again, soon, I mean it, bye!"
"Surely!"
Bianca opened her palm and she was engulfed in flames. Theresa waved her hand good bye and was left alone.
"What am I supposed to do again?" Theresa wondered, having no idea of what just happened.
She felt a pounding in her head, somehow making her dizzy.
"I should sit this one out."
-
Bianca slowly drifted down to her soft Queen size bed. Going out and talking to people really exhausted her... she doesn't want to do that again! Not for another day! She misses Paris, her home, and her mother. She thought this will just be a little side line, or short term thing, only for it to be dragged on for so long. It's draining.
"Only until the eclipse," she sighed, "things can go back after the eclipse..."
Two months from now, Bianca recalled, on the day of the solar eclipse, Hell will rise on Earth and the Kings will bestow to their Children their position. From that point on, they can collectively rule the Underworld or make Earth an extension of Hell.
"I don't want to rule anything!" She cried tiredly, "I don't even want to be there!"
All she had to do after the eclipse is to surrender her authority and sovereign to Lucille, and she will be given freedom. Best case scenario, Lucille is able to make other six Children of Hell bow before her and surrender theirs, as well. If only. She sighed. She turned to her side, things are far from the best case scenario and even if it will be, how sure is she things will go back to normal after all this? With her thoughts and stress, tears start to well up in her eyes. She muffled her cry. Lucille doesn't like any one crying.
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