Hallows: Merciful Death

Divinity?

Motionless In White- Masterpiece

B.B.:

Black mambas are one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Left untreated, a black mamba can kill its victim in less than four hours. Slowly and painfully. They grow to be up to fourteen feet long. Fourteen feet. I'm not kidding.

Seeing or dreaming about this gorgeous little black snake can mean that there's something dark and threatening nearby. It can mean that I'm fully aware of my pain and that I'm standing right in front of it ready to finally face it. There are many interpretations of its meaning but they all say that something foreboding is coming my way. Interesting, I would have said I'm the one showing up to cause said foreboding events. It's usually how it goes for us Blackstones.

"How was the party?" mom asks when I wake up the next morning. How the hell did I get home and why is sitting in my room while I'm sleeping?

"We had a lot of fun," I say looking her over. She has the sleeves of her sweatshirt pulled all the way down into the palms of her hands. I can see the bandages through the white flimsy material.

"Yeah? How is Stacy?" she asks sitting at the edge of my bed. I looked down at my hands contemplating my options. Do I say something? Do I swallow the ache in my throat? What do I do?

"She'll get over it. Stacy is a really strong girl," I shrug. I don't want to talk about Stacy. She really is a strong girl. She's always been.

"Did she say anything?" she places her hands in mine. The gesture is a little too intimate for me so just I shake my head not wanting to lie to her out loud.

"I don't think she ever will," I admit. It's the truth. Whatever happened that night will stay with those involved. After I'm done with them, they'll never think about it again.

"Are you okay, B.B?" she asks softly.

"Yeah, ma. I'm fine," I nod. I open my mouth to ask her the same thing but she cuts off.

"You know, Lucien Daniels carried you in here last night," she smirks. "He apologized for bringing you back passed out and promised they were on their best behavior,"

"I'm sorry, ma. That's never going to happen again. I promise," I don't know if I should promise that because I wasn't anywhere near high or drunk enough to have passed out the way I did.

"That's what he said too," she sighs heavily. "You need to be careful. I am going to let last night slide. I know you and Stacy had a rough go yesterday but I don't want a repeat. Yeah?"

"Yeah," I agree without hesitation.

"Are you hung over?" she smiles as if the idea pleases her.

"Not even a little," I laugh. She groans.

"Just like your daddy," she rolls her eyes. "You want to go for a run with me? Sweat that s**t out. We can get Jamba Juice on main street,"

"Yes, just let me brush my teeth and take a quick shower?"

"Yes, you smell like honey and whiskey," she laughs. "Seventeen and tossing back the hard stuff, huh? You're definitely a Blackstone,"

She gets up and walks out of my room. I pull the covers back to find that he removed my shoes before tucking me in. I smile going to the bathroom. My eyes land on the joining door that leads into Delilah's room.

Carson's words are running through my head now. Cursed. Does he mean that literally? He spoke like he was one hundred percent sure of his words. Both of them. The way he asked about what I saw. Does this mean I'm not losing my f*****g mind?

While I feel a slight relief, a whole new set of little red flags are going up. How worried should I be about this? What do I do about it? Can the curse be broken? What the hell is going on? I need answers and I need them soon. When the rational part of me catches up, there's going to be hell to pay. For now, I want to enjoy this odd sensation. It feels a lot like I'm full and I'm not talking about food.

I meet my mom downstairs. I put one of my AirPods in my ear and tucked the case into my windbreaker's pocket. She does the same. She's wearing shorts and I'm wearing leggings. It's cold as hell outside. She's nuts. The sun isn't even peaking yet,

"What is that?" I asked pointing at her thigh. The edges of what looks like a huge tattoo is peeking out. She pulls down her shorts.

"Mom?" I laugh. "I didn't know you had tattoos,"

"Tattoo," she corrects defensively.

"What is it? I saw it already. You might as well show me," I laugh at how red she is.

"It's a black mamba," she mumbles. My stomach clenches tightly and I feel a little sick suddenly. "Your father had the same one and I loved it. Thought it was sexy so I got a matching one,"

"I don't remember dad having a snake tattoo,"

"Duh, it was in the same spot. It's kind of an intimate thing," she shrugs. She pushes her windbreaker back to show me her side.

My mom is in her early forties and she is still a babe. Her body is toned as hell. I see where Dilly and I got it from. Not that dad was some couch potato. There on her side is the black snake I saw last night. The hyper-realistic snake is surrounded by black smoke. She's not wrong it is kind of sexy but mostly terrifying.

"That's really cool,"

"Thank you," she smiles and covers it up.

"Mom, look at you. You're insanely hot," I compliment. A deep blush flushed her face making me laugh.

"B.B," she shoves my head. "You can't just say that. You're making me embarrassed,"

"Why? Don't act like you're unaware," I laugh as we walked toward the iron gate together.

"I know, it's just weird hearing you say it," she smirks as we began to stretch. "So, tell me. Which one of Anthony's kids tickles your fancy?"

"Only Luc is his son," I roll my eyes. Who says that? Tickles your fancy? That's hilarious.

"They're both his boys. I knew Anthony when we were growing up. He was in love with Yukki ever since I met them. Anything that came from her, he adored. Trust me," she smiled. "So, which one?"

"I don't-" I shake my head.

"Oh, my god. You like them both," she looks me over. "You're being safe right?"

"I told you already,"

"Right, right. No fun, B.B," she rolls her eyes. "Do they know you like them both?"

"Mom," I laugh feeling my face heat up. She's in a good mood today. As good as it gets for Ash, considering what she did to herself last night.

"They do," she nods. "Are they okay with that?"

"It's not something we've talked about. Definitely not something I've ever acted on," but I really want to. Especially after last night. The way we shared the smoke. The wicked gleam in their eyes. d**k heads.

"Hmm," she looks down at her running shoes. They're bright red. It's her favorite color.

"Hmm?" I glared at her. Why isn't she slut shaming me or something? Freak.

"Do you want to act on it?"

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "I've been friends with them ever since I can remember. Luc and Dilly were really close. I don't want to ruin that and I sure as f**k don't want to get between them. They're brothers,"

"Very valid points. Also, I can see why you refused to come with me," she smirks.

"Mom," I roll my eyes.

"Look, if they don't care, then it doesn't matter does it?"

"Aren't you supposed to say something like, B.B. That's wrong? I didn't raise you to be a f*****g w***e or something?" I ask annoyed with her. She lets out an honest laugh.

"B.B. I married your father knowing exactly who he was. Dante had a very healthy appetite. With that being said, one thing he always did for me was ask if I were okay with certain things. He never did anything that I wasn't happy about. Some people are different, B.B. You're a lot like him. Not as much as Dilly was but you get there sometimes. I will never judge you for your little indiscretions. Just keep them to yourself. This town has a way of swallowing up divinity, you know?"

"Divinity?" I smirk. She did not just say my father was a god.

"Yes, divinity, B.B. Your father used to call it his darkness. A curse even," she rolls her eyes as she touches her toes.

"It feels like it," I admit. Maybe she says that because she's standing on the outside looking in.

"I don't think it's a curse, baby. Your father was special. I dare say a god trapped in a f*****g human vessel," chills break out all over my body. "I see that same light in your eyes. I used to see it in Delilah's. Run with it, Belladonna. I know you're trying to find your footing again. It doesn't mean you can't have a little fun getting back up on that horse, huh?"

"Why don't we talk more, mom?" I ask. She grins.

"I don't think we were ready. We don't have to stop, sweetie," she pinches my chin. "I miss you too,"

"Thank you," I wrap my arms around her.

She's a lot smaller than I am now. I think I missed when that happened. She awkwardly reaches up and taps my head. She's never been very affectionate. Touch was hers and dad's love language and since his death, she kind of gave up on it. Even with Detective Espinosa. She'd get annoyed when he reached for her. They often fought because of it. Why she even married him is a total mystery but I think I know why he did it. Having a little piece is better than having nothing.

"Come on, stop getting all sappy," she pushes me away but not in a mean way.

The way mom talks about dad, it sounds like she was and still might be a devoted worshipper. Her body language speaks for itself. The way her eyes light up with grief. How she smiles. It's beautiful in a very painful kind of way. Dante Blackstone was her life. The very air she inhaled. She's been so lost without him. I have a better understanding of her now. A sort of respect.

It has to take a lot out of someone to love something so broken the way my father was. It must take a huge amount of effort to keep going now that he's gone. I don't know how she does it but I want to help her in whatever way I can. I owe her that. I owe my dad that. She was his greatest possession and I've treated her like s**t for a really long time. But divine? No, I don't think there's anything divine about any Blackstone but I like that she sees things that way. I like that she never considered my father a monster. It means he showed her all of himself and she never judged him for it.