Lockwood City: The Tale of Eloise

Sixteen

Pierce the Veil- Floral and Fading

Elias:

The sound of bullets firing and laughter greet me when I get back to Cherry Hill. Victoria is hanging up my mate's degrees along the staircase walls as well as pictures of her. Pictures of her through the years. I smile at the way she leans away from the camera so the attention is averted from the scar. Eloise was meant to be seen. There's a sort of elegance to the way she shies from the camera.

"She's doing better," she says. "I called in backup,"

"Who is backup?" I ask looking over at her. I might one day need it.

"Her little gamer friends. Don't know their real names," she shrugs looking over her handy work. Right, Savage and Emo. "I'm going to need yours,"

"Talk to my dad," I laugh. "Good luck. He didn't even let me take some of my class pictures from my room,"

"You're in a better mood," she smiles. My conversation with my brother is still hanging over my head.

"You know Rapunzel better than anyone. What do you think I should do?" I ask her.

Victoria looks at the picture of Eloise sitting on the hood of her car back when it was pink. She looks around eighteen or nineteen. She's wearing all black. Her hair is straight falling over her face. A little hint of a smile tugged at the edges of her lips. She's meant to look shy but there's arrogance in her eyes. Like she's being scolded and she's determined to get into trouble. Yeah, we definitely would have had some fun had we gone to school together.

"I grew up with Tec and Kels," she sighs. "I've watched over these Lockwood kids their entire life. She needs to find her place. Somewhere she feels safe. The only way she can do that is if she creates it. Lockwoods are forged in blood and war. Eloise is not going to be any different. Maybe a little different. She might be a lot more heartless than Tec and Kels combined. We're animals, Elias. Lockwoods are monsters,"

"That's what Xander said,"

"Your brother? You're running around with him again?" she smiles. "He's such a sweet boy,"

"He's the boy that was in the cell next to her," I say gently. Her smile fades.

"Oh, s**t. She's been listening to that song all day," she looks in the direction of the study.

"Okay, I'm going in. Wish me luck,"

I look over all the other pictures. My eyes land on the one where she's sitting at her desk. There's a grin on her face. She's pulling her headphones off. She was caught off guard and looked almost embarrassed.

"She has the prettiest smile doesn't she?" she touches the bottom of the black frame.

"She's always had the prettiest smile," I agree. I head over to the study.

"You have to tell us where you've been, Assail," a feminine voice with a slight Japanese accent demands. "What are those shelves behind you? You remodeled?"

"No," Eloise chuckles. "I moved,"

"What?" two voices ask.

"You moved out of your safe cave, chica?" the second voice asks. It has a hint of a Spanish accent to it. Cuban or Puerto Rican. Too soon to tell.

"Uh, yeah. I-um," she pauses. I push the door to the study open and peek inside. Her eyes were already on the door. "Hold on. AFK,"

"Hey," I greet her.

Eloise pushes the microphone away from her. She's wearing a mask over her mouth and nose with a skeleton print over it. Her hair is up in a high ponytail. She looks cute like this. Relaxed even.

"Hi, you're back," she says and stands up.

"Sit down. Keep playing. I just wanted to see if you're okay,"

"Yeah," she nods. "I'm sorry about earlier. I know I overreact sometimes,"

"That wasn't an overreaction. It was good. Embrace it," I reassure her.

"Okay," she grins. "Uh, thanks for setting everything up,"

"I had someone do it. I went out," I shake my head.

"Still. Saved me a lot of time," she smiles.

"Mind if I..?" I point at my desk.

"No, not at all. I don't have a headset right now. The cable ripped out. We get a little loud,"

"That's fine," I got over to my desk to start up the computer. "I'll be quiet,"

Everything looks good set up. She has a couple of rocking chairs by the windows. The shelves are lined with hundreds of books and texts. I didn't think she'd be able to fill the top shelves but she has. The ones on the back wall are all filled with video games and figures.

"I'm back," she announces.

"b***h, never silence me again," the first voice barks out. Her eyes crinkle a little when she smiles behind the mask.

"Calm down, Savage, You're going to choke again," she says. Humor laced her voice. The three of them laugh.

"What were you going to tell us?" the second voice asks.

"I moved,"

"You said that," Savage presses. "You said you were going to school this term. To actual class. You're not staying in the dorms, are you? I don't like that. No dorms for you,"

"I would never stay in a dorm. My father would never allow that," my mate laughs. She looks up at me and sighs. "I think maybe I should show you," she takes her camera and turns it to me. "I found my mate or rather he found me," she flinches when the two voices scream. She presses something on her keyboard and laughs. "Sorry about that,"

"It's fine," I laugh.

"Stop screaming," she turns the camera back to herself.

"Holy s**t! That's Elias Graeson," the Spanish accent shouts. "You're from Lockwood City, Assail?"

"Are you from Lockwood City?" she shoots back.

"Yeah, I used to live there. I went to L.C. High my freshman year. I moved to Gorgon City after the L.C.H. m******e,"

The Lockwood City High m******e shaped the way we patrol the city now. Some f*****g asshole walked onto campus and killed thirty-seven kids and six teachers. He used silver ammunition. About eighteen kids were poisoned with the powder. I didn't go to L.C.H. but I did volunteer to keep watch of the school when a second threat was made. I was a junior then.

"Is that where you are now?" Eloise asks.

"Mhm,"

"No. No. No. You two better not meet up without me. Nope! f**k no! That's hella dirty," Savage interrupts them.

"Emo is literally a forty-five-minute drive from where I live," my mate says. "You're in Japan, c***k,"

"I'll move to the States for you guys," she says. "Don't got s**t to keep me here,"

"Your job," Emo reminds her.

"I can draw anywhere. Imagine the three of us in one city," Savage laughs like she's excited by the idea. "We'd burn it to the ground,"

"Aye," Eloise and Emo agree.

"Let's do it," Eloise says after a while. "We've been talking about it for years. I don't see the problem,"

"Wait, wait, wait," Emo laughs. "De verdad? No me estas chingando?"

"I don't f**k around with serious s**t. You know that,"

"What city?" Savage asks.

"Lockwood," my mate and her friend say at the same time. Why do I feel nervous all of a sudden?

"Lockwood City?" Savage laughs. "It is wolf-topia. Lots of crime there. Big buildings. Alpha d**k. Sure, why the f**k not?"

"Where would we live?" Emo asks. I look up at my mate. Her eyes are on me already.

"If your friends live here, I'm bringing Jax with me," I shrug. "You're not making this a chick house,"

"I wouldn't mind Jax being here," she shrugs the same way I did.

"Jax Lavinge? As in the Lockwood leading Guard? That Jax?" Emo asks. "Okay, I know we said we didn't want our ranks to define our friendship but you've got a beta mate now. We have to learn our names. Who wants to go first?"

"My name is Ye Suhua Noland," Savage answers without hesitation.

"Japanese Mafia," my mate laughs. "f**k. You really don't have s**t holding you there,"

"b***h didn't even hesitate," Emo laughs. "Dee-Dee Santos at your service,"

"Not Gerardo Santos's daughter," my mate shakes her head. "What the f**k?" she laughs. "Wow. We all have fun background stories. Christ. I didn't expect that,"

"You gotta speak up, Assail," Ye Suhua demands. My mate looks down at her keyboard and nods before she pulls the mask off her face.

"My name is Eloise Lockwood," she says. There's silence for a few minutes.

A sense of foreboding flows over me. Eloise Lockwood has friends and they seem to be just as interesting as she is. Santos and Nolands are known worldwide. They might not be Lockwoods but putting the three together means power. Real f*****g power. She grins looking at the monitors in front of her.

"f**k," Dee-Dee breaks the silence. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair,"

There's another moment of silence and the three of them burst into a fit of giggles. Heat floods through my body coming from her. This is making her happy. I want to know more about them. I want to know the kind of influence they have on her. If their friendship steps outside of the confines of their video games. They seem close. Personally close. So close that their ranks never even mattered to them.

"Does anyone else feel like destiny just brushed up against them?" Ye Suhua asks. "Because this feels like it was written in the f*****g stars,"

"She's right, Rapunzel. What are the f*****g odds of us meeting?" Dee-Dee agrees. "Of us being put in the same lobby at sixteen? You crazy hoes are the only reason I wake up in the morning,"

"Here we go with your emo s**t," Ye Suhua laughs.

"Uwu girl and I can probably work out the math one day," my mate smirks.

"Never call me that again, Assail," Ye Suhua laughs. "Uwu girl. f**k you,"

"So, we all know a little about each other's private life," my mate sits back. "What do you say? You guys want to bend the knee for Rapunzel?"

"f**k no," the two of them say at the same time.

"But I will bend the knee for Assail," Dee-Dee laughs. "That b***h," she lets out a heavy sigh. "She's f*****g perfect,"

"Watashi to onajiyōni," Ye Suhua answers. Eloise smiles at the camera and nods. Insane in the Membrane by Cypress Hill begins to play. The three of them laugh. "I'm buying my ticket now,"

"I'll close up here," Dee-Dee adds. "Give me a week to hash s**t out con mi Papi. I'll have Valerie put in my resignation,"

"No Valerie," Eloise and Ye Suhua say at the same time.

"You hoes going to get me a new assistant?"

"Sure," Eloise nods. "I'll get you a whole team. Just get rid of Valerie. That or she'll be dog food here when you arrive,"

"I like that idea better," Ye Suhua laughs.

"I love you weird bitches. To our Respawn," Dee-Dee whoops excitedly. Eloise laughs wickedly. Just a little evil giggle in the back of her throat. Her eyes are glowing with the light from her screen.

"To our Respawn," she nods.

"To Lockwood City," Ye Suhua says. "To everything we lost and everything we're taking back,"

"Isn't it like eight in the morning over there, Ye Suhua? Are you f*****g drinking already?" Dee-Dee laughs. My mate smiles shaking her head.

"You no give me sucky-sucky. You no tell me nothing, puta," Ye Suhua growls playfully. My mate bursts into a fit of girly giggles when her eyes meet my amused gaze.

"You guys, Elias is sitting right here," she shakes her head.

"Assail's the only one getting sucky-sucky," Dee-Dee laughs.

"Me love you long time," Ye Suhua adds.

"I hate you guys right now. How about some Apex?" Eloise shakes the laughter off.

"Yes," they both agree right away.

"Let's not do that weird heart-to-heart bullshit again. You motherfuckers got me drinking at eight a.m, It's six-fifteen, actually," Ye Suhua laughs maniacally.

"Agreed," my mate positions herself at the keyboard. She pulls the mask back up over her face. "I call Bloodhound,"

"Don't take my Wraith, you little Puerto Rican psycho," Ye Suhua growls.

"b***h, I got Loba. f**k your Wraith,"

Eloise looks up at me and for a moment, our eyes meet. The storm inside of her is raging again. The coldness of her stare matches the coldness overwhelming the warmth she felt before. When she looks back at her monitor, I feel almost breathless.

"Have you eaten?" I ask her, trying to shake it off.

"Damn. That voice," Ye Suhua says.

"I did," Eloise answers.

"Did it stay down?" I ask. She shakes her head. "I'll make you something to eat,"

"I'm not-"

"Let the man make you some food, you skinny b***h. Your ass better eat it too or I'll drive there right now and f*****g shove it down your throat. Pinche Alfa pendeja. Tienes que cuidarte, mamita. Que estas pensando?" Dee-Dee scolds her. Eloise lets out a heavy sigh and nods.

"Yeah, okay," she agrees. The mom tone works on her. It's the dad tone she has a problem with. I think it's men in general.

"f**k you," Ye Suhua says. "Now I have to eat too. You scary Spanish mama,"

I get up giving them some privacy. Noland. Nolands were the top assassins in Tokyo. They worked for the Japanese Yakuza. About twenty years ago, they were taken out. I don't know why. I don't want to know. She's going to be trouble here. They have a sweet spot for justice and little to nothing can get between them and their targets.

Santos. Gerardo Santos is a notorious Rogue. He's actually friends with Alpha Tec. They're going to be happy about their little princesses being friends. At least, I hope they are. What worries me is that Gerardo is part of a crew that Chaos ran out of the city ten years ago. He's the frontman now. Gorgon City belongs to him and his family.

Eloise made some interesting friends. The odds of them meeting the way they did are nearly impossible. It does feel like Destiny is brushing up against all of us. This is a tale that starts with pain. Not just Ellie's. All of ours. If this goes into our history, how funny will it be to read about us in the future? Three little girls that met online. Half brothers brought together by a mother who didn't want either of us.

"Want some help?" I look up to see Blitz standing under the kitchen archway.

"Hey, man. When did you get here?" I ask.

"Just now," he holds up a couple of packages. "Ellie asked for a new headset and headphones. She said she broke hers in the move,"

"She's in the study,"

"Is she playing?" he asks. I nod. "Pass, her friends are nuts,"

"They're moving here," I smirk. His lips press together tightly.

"You're kidding,"

"Nope. They were just talking about it,"

"f**k," he growls. "It's not like we can say no,"

"Why not?"

"They've known each other forever and it almost happened three years ago. Emo chickened out. Something happened in her family. You gonna be okay with three introverts with high-rank rage problems?" he laughs.

"How do you know they're high-rank?" I smirk.

"The way they talk to one another. It's all code and precision. It's practiced on and off their screens. It's why my sister likes them. The alpha in her likes the challenge they bring. They might not be alphas but she gives respect where respect is due," he looks around. "Are you making dinner?"

"Trying," I nod.

"f**k off. Let me do it. Let me organize s**t for you so she has easier access to snacks," he takes the veggies from my hands and places them on the counter. He opens the fridge and groans at how disorganized it is. I would hate to live in this guy's head.

"Sure, okay," I agree.

"Please, leave the kitchen," he says without looking back at me.

"I'll be in the study," I grin.

"Take her those headsets," he calls back. I take them off the counter and excuse myself.

"You are literally the best," Eloise says when I walk into the study holding the two boxes. She gets up and takes them from me without getting too close or touching me despite my holding them up with the palm of my hand.

"Your brother brought them,"

"And you're distracting my brother," she compliments. Why does it feel like I walked into a conversation about me? As if they were all here, they'd stop talking as soon as I stepped through the doors.

"Yeah, he's very useful," Ye Suhua laughs.

Did she say useful? Is that what they were talking about? I've never cared about what others have to say about me but Eloise? Yeah, I've always cared about what she thinks of me. Since we were kids. Her approval meant everything. It still does.

"Show him the mess our fridge is and he'll be there all night," she adds.

"He's making dinner," I laugh.

"Yes," she grins. My heart almost leaps out of my chest when she grabs a kunai knife. She looks up at me worriedly. She probably sensed the sudden panic I just felt. Our bond is holding strong. "Are you okay?"

"I'll open these," I take the kunai from her and open the headsets for her. A little smile tugs on the edges of her lips.

"I'd never do that," she whispers. "I'd never disrespect everything my parents and your father sacrificed to get me back by harming myself. I'm a lot of things, but not this," she takes a seat. "Just so we're clear,"

"We are," I nod handing her the headset. She plugs it in. It lights up bright orange.

"Mic test. Does it echo?" she asks into the mouthpiece. The room gets quiet. "Perfect. Someone invite the guys to the chat so we can live stream,"

"Guys?" I whisper. Does she have guy friends on there? She pulls the headphones off.

"Did you say something?" she asks.

"No," I open the other box for her. I set the new headset down. They're black and red. "These are nice,"

"Oh, That reminds me. I made you a playlist," she says casually. "I'll send it to you right now,"

"Me?" I ask. She nods.

"Yeah, I do that. I like making playlists. That one is for late-night drives. That was fun. I'd like to do it again when you're not too busy,"