Hallows: Den of Serpents

So I Can Piss Off My Sister Some More

Chiodos- Expensive Conversations In Cheap Motels

B.B.:

There's a huge divide between all of us at the moment. We're all on board with the business side of everything. Delilah is actually impressed with Carson. She's making her rounds and now that we've legally brought her back to life, Ahsan and Natalie are in charge of keeping the media off her back. They volunteered since they're interning on Espinosa's campaign team with Carson.

It's been weeks and the Blackstones are still all over the media. Since Terra was working with Thompson, they're both being blamed for all of it. The killings in New City, the kidnappings, and the disappearances. It's going to be a while before any of us can get them what they need so they can transfer their hallows to the next heir. James is keeping a close eye on their legal measures in case Alexie tries to help them but so far, he's been silent.

The only person keeping a distance is Delilah. She only approaches when we're all in the same room so none of us bring a single thing up. Everyone is following her lead but that's not what bothers me. I know she's good at this. I've always known. I want her to talk to me. I need her closer but as of late all we do is argue or ignore each other. Well, I stare at her and she pretends she doesn't see me despite me being taller than her and in her way.

"I'm sorry. My car?" I ask the man in the car. "My sister-I'll call you back,"

Panic overwhelms me as I fumble with my phone to call my sister. The line rings a couple of times.

"Hey," she answers right away and the panic subsides just a little.

"Hey," I choke out.

"Bella, what's wrong?" she asks.

"What? What's wrong?" Lucien's voice follows.

"I just got a call from a tow truck dude. You flipped my car?" I ask.

"Mom's car," she corrects.

"It was my car, Delilah," I growl. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine. It was an accident. Lucien and I were arguing-"

I hang up the phone. Victor stands in front of me as I try to shake the ringing in my ears. This is Delilah we're talking about. She wouldn't put him in danger on purpose but it doesn't feel good to hear anyone say it. This thing with Decarious is like an infected scratch spot demanding to be scratched but it's too painful to be touched. It's bleeding out right now and it'll soon start healing. Sticking to everything it comes into contact with and Delilah seems to be adamant about becoming that stupid thread surface the scab heals over. She's that, I'm going to have to rip off and reopen the wound feeling that comes with fixating on such a stupid little itch for no reason.

"You need to calm down," Victor pushes my hair out of my face and cups my cheeks. "What happened?"

"Delilah flipped my car. She's with Lucien," I whisper. His eyes search mine for an instant before he puts on his aviators.

"Let's go. Do you know where they are?" he asks. His expression went from worried to blank. I open the spyware app I put on Delilah's phone to find that they're at the house.

"Home," I answer.

We get back in the car and head over to the house. The only car parked in the driveway is Carson's Camaro. I stop Victor from getting out. When it comes to me being impulsive no one jumps into the spirit of it quite like Victor Escobar. Even Lucien hesitates if it means me getting into trouble but not him. He'd rather be there with me every step of the way.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"We need to calm down," I take a couple of breaths.

"I'd say I'm pretty f*****g calm, mamita," he gets out of the car and pulls me out to wrap his arms around me properly. "I know you want to see if they're okay. Come on,"

He gives me a tight squeeze and pulls me along with him. Lucien and Carson are sitting at the bottom of the staircase when we walk in. Delilah is sitting behind them just a few steps behind like she's being guarded. I'm glad we're all on the same page and that they know where we stand.

"Are you okay?" I ask no in particular.

"Yes," both Delilah and Lucien answer. There's no one else in the house. James is out of town. He went to pick up Holly and they're going to summon their "staff" soon.

"What happened to my car?" I emphasized my because it is my car.

"Delilah is having trouble processing your energy," Lucien explains.

"You need an outlet," I say completely understanding that but it doesn't change the fact that she used her energy in a violent manner in front of Lucien. Enough to flip my car. "It's usually s*x for us,"

"It's not your car," she stands up. I lick my lips and smile.

"You don't want to use me as an outlet, Del. I will f**k you up. Physically and verbally. Find something else," I threaten.

"It's not your car. It was mom's-"

"It's my car. Everything is f*****g mine!" I growl. "This house, the car, Lucien, Carson, everything is mine. You f*****g left everything and you want us to roll over so you can adjust and gain control? f**k you,"

"Oh, s**t," Lucien whispers.

"Excuse me?" she sneers.

"You're not excused. If you want to avoid the obvious, I'm not going to push you. But keep that s**t to yourself. You are getting in front of me when you have all this f*****g space around you. I'm not dad. You can't give me what you think I need to hear and be satisfied. You don't know me anymore. Don't f**k with me,"

"Baby-" Lucien starts.

"Shut the f**k up, Lucien," the two of us growl at the same time. He shuts his mouth so fast his teeth clack.

"Is this how it's going to be from now on?" Delilah asks. "You don't like something and you're going to lash out?"

"Lash out?" I laugh. "I'm not lashing out. You'd know when I'm lashing out. I'm trying to be patient with you and you're giving me absolutely nothing. You started doing this s**t two years ago and if I have to push you to get you to open up to me, I will f*****g do it because the last thing I want is to walk in here to f*****g find you dead again,"

"I'm not ready," she turns away.

"But you're more than okay to wiggle yourself into every aspect of my life? Did you think I didn't know you and Espinosa are trying to find a way to get me to see a shrink?"

"What?" Lucien, Carson, and Victor growl at her. She laughs.

"That's not what it looks like," she says and comes down the stairs to stand in front of me. "He thinks we're friends and that we're trying to help you out of this threesome you're trapped in," she quotes trapped in. "It's a ploy in your genius idea to make him the new Mayor. How do you even know about that?"

"Elizabeth Bradshaw is f*****g my banker. There's not a single rich asshole in Hellbourne that is ever going to keep any kind of secret from me for you. It's my name on the paychecks now,"

"Is that how it is?" she scoffs.

"Yeah, that's how it is. If you need anything from them, Carson is well-versed with them already. He can get you what you want. Can I have someone's keys?"

"Where are you going?" she demands.

"I'm going to get my nails done, Del. Do I have to ask for permission now too?"

"I want to come," Stacy shouts from somewhere in the house. The sound of her boots stampeding towards us from the dining room echo in the high ceilings and I swear I see Delilah's eyes flash gold. Stacy must have been in the ballroom. "You're not invited," she points at Delilah. "She called me a slut,"

"What?" I glare at my sister.

"Out of context,"

"f**k you, Delilah," Stacy grabs my arm. "We can take Carson's car,"

"I have s**t to do," Carson sighs but he holds out his keys anyway. He looks like he's on the verge of laughing. I snatch them out of his hand.

"What happened to your car?" I ask Lucien.

"It's in the shop. A cylinder misfired," he lets his head drop.

"Was it at the bonfire?" Victor laughs. "Te dije,"

"Shut up," he looks away bright red. I reach out cupping his face and offer the keys back to Carson.

"We can walk,"

"To Morrison Square?" Stacy's eyes grow wide.

"No, Henderson so we can acquire a vehicle," I spin her around to face the door.

"Yes!" she screams and bounces all the way to the door before whipping it over and bouncing outside. Delilah's nostrils flare with the sound of her boots smacking against the wood floor. Stacy loves overstimulating Del since we were kids and Del just falls for it every time.

"This is who I have to hang out with now. Thanks, Delilah," I rolled my eyes. I take my purse, my coat, and a pair of shades.

"Have fun," she scoffs and runs up the stairs to her room. I put the shades on satisfied with how things transpired. Now we're both f*****g miserable.

"Are you happy?" Carson asks.

"No, but none of us are right now and I'm okay with that," I shrug. "I am going to make myself feel better by spending a stupid amount of money for no f*****g reason other than spite,"

"I'll drive you. It's gonna rain in a bit. I smell it," Victor says. "You can do whatever you want after. I have to go into the city,"

No one protests as we walk out. Stacy jumps into the back seat and he drives us to the jeep dealer in town. I looked over at him and laugh.

"A Jeep?"

"You've got a hoard of boyfriends succubus. You're gonna need something bigger," he shrugs.

"Jeeps are cool," Stacy leans over the center. She climbs onto my lap and smiles. "We can get a Jeep but we can also get you something small for yourself. If you like,"

"I do. Let's just get this over with so I can piss off my sister some more," I climb out.