BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

15 : Front Row Seats

Mum issued a blood-curdling scream, her body writhing under the fiery flames. Cade sat opposite, calmly watching.

"Oh, my god!" I ran to Mum, bewildered and frightened to death. "Oh, my god, stop it!" I tried touching Mum but quickly withdrew my hands as the flames licked me and I felt the heat. "Please stop!" I screamed over Mum, terrified. "Please!"

"Will you show me where he is?"

"Yes, yes, I will!"

"Do you promise?"

"I promise, now stop it!"

"Very well." Cade waved his hands again, and I blinked, shocked to see Mum was no longer on fire instead she was snoozing peacefully as she sat slumped in her chair. "It was an illusion. I didn't really set your mother on fire."

His words spun around my head like angry bees and then I slowly crumpled to the ground, whispering. "Oh, my..." I was breathing heavily, my chest heaving up and down as if I'd been running for hours and my hands were clammy.

"Come on," Cade stood up, "I want to you to show me before daybreak."

I didn't do anything, I just sat there, unable to comprehend anything.

"Beatrice," Cade hunkered down, his voice soft as he said. "I need you to work with me. Would you please get up?"

"Okay," Cade stood up, pulling me up by arms and leading me over to the door. "We really need to leave now."

I looked back at Mum as he lead me out; she wasn't on fire.

"Where are you going?" Ellie came out of the living room, the small black kitten in her hands. It looked at me, blinked once before meowing and snuggling into Ellie's side. "Bea?"

"Your sister needed a lift and I'm heading that way, so I figured I'd be a good neighbour. Make a good impression." Cade smiled at Ellie, and she nodded, going back into the living room.

I briefly wondered why she didn't hear Mum's screams or my cries but I didn't have long to dwell on it as Cade bundled me into his car and drove off. When the vehicle stopped, he led me inside the Piano, going straight over to the bar and murmuring words with the barman. He sat us down at a lone table, pushing a drink towards me. "Drink it, you're in shock. It'll help,"

I blinked down at it, before slowly lifting it and taking a large gulp.

"Not all at-"

It was a little bit too late for the warning. I coughed and spluttered, the bitter and cold drink spilling down my front. Cade sighed, getting up and sitting down besides me. He wiped the front of my top with a bunch of tissues before leaving to go rid of them.

I sat there, taking measured sips and letting the drink slowly calm me and sooth. The bees slowly disappeared until none remained and my head cleared.

It was an illusion.

Mum wasn't really on fire.

Fake.

Mum was okay, fine, asleep.

Cade came back. I stood up, throwing my drink at him, fuming with rage and disbelief. He was drenched quickly and he stood there for a moment, wiping at his face before saying. "Okay, I deserved that."

I slapped him. Across the cheek. And harder than hell.

His head slowly turned to face me. "Better?"

"You fucking dick." I dropped down onto my chair, giving him dirty looks that should've sent him crawling into a corner, crying.

He sat down opposite me. "I'm sorry. I should've have done what I did-"

"No, you shouldn't have." I spat.

"But how else would I have gotten his location out of you?"

I clenched my jaw for a long time, staying silent and then I let out an angry sigh. I couldn't do this, not for Deacon, this was my family being endangered because of him and his men. What if next time it wasn't an illusion? What happened the next time they wanted something out of me? I couldn't take the chance. Anyway, I didn't owe Deacon to hide away his existence. He's done nothing wrong but hurt me, all those times when he's strangled me and...and those times when he's kissed me.

"You know," I started quietly. "I felt the heat of - of the fire."

"Your mother is fine." Cade said gently with a remorseful look. "I just used an extremely powerful illusion on you."

I swallowed, looking around before standing up and leaving. Cade followed behind without a word.



***** **** *** * *** **** *****

"That's a cool trick," I said lightly to Cade to try to distract myself from what we were doing.

He gave a shrug. "It comes in handy,"

"I bet," I muttered. Cade had been drenched with alcohol but was now dry and clean. "So I guess that's how you cleaned Mr Jones' kitchen?"

"Yes, and you."

"Huh?" I turned around, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I couldn't let you go back to your party covered in blood, could I? It might have raised a few eyebrows."

I frowned, continuing walking. How had I not realised that he had cleaned me with his trick? Maybe I had been too preoccupied freaking out over Mr Jones' death. "Mr Jones had said he had a message for me, didn't he?"

Cade heaved a heavy sigh. "Orion...or Deacon if you prefer, enjoys playing these sick jokes of his."

I hummed, feeling my stomach flip and I remembered how last night Deacon had responded and listened to my calling of what was supposedly his real name. Maybe Cade was right... "I just, I don't care anymore what happens between the two of you but I want my family out of this."

"I understand,"

I faced him. "Do you? You seem like a man to keep his promises. Promise me, Cade, you'll keep my family safe and out of this. Don't involve them anymore. Leave them out of your crap."

Cade inclined his head, holding my gaze. "I promise...if all goes to plan then you'll never see any of us ever again."

I turned away, swallowing hard. If my family were kept safe than that was all I could ask for even if it meant never seeing Deacon again - but I couldn't jeopardise their safety just for Deacon. I couldn't.

Ajax, and a young black man with brown streaks in his hair stood, armed at the edge of the forest. "Woah, wait, you're bringing guns? That wasn't part of our deal." I glared at Cade.

"It wouldn't hurt him. It'll only sedate him."

"Of course it'll hurt him! He'll-"

"You're mistaking him for a human being." Cade said quietly. "Despite his appearance, he is in no way a human."

I blinked, taking in a much needed breath to calm myself before shaking my head. "Okay...okay, let's just - let's just get this over with."



**** **** *** ** * ** *** **** ****

"He's not here." Ajax came back after surveying the area. "There are no tracks."

"He was supposed to be here," I bit down onto my bottom lip. "He's always here."

"Are you sure?" Cade came up to me, his eyes searching mine. "You do want him to be found, don't you?"

"Of course I do..."

"No," the young black man who's name I found out to be Alex reappeared, shaking his head with his long sword hanging causally over his shoulder. "I wasn't able to detect him. If he was here, it wasn't recently."

"He's covering his tracks."

"What? But I saw him..."

"When? When did you see him?"

"Two days ago in this forest on this exact spot."

"What were you doing?" Cade asked suspiciously. "Why were you seeing him?"

I shrugged. "No reason, we're friends."

"He's not someone you want to be friends with, Beatrice." Cade said darkly before sighing. "You should get home. Lock your doors and windows. Ajax, go with her. Alex, I need you to go around again, keep looking."

"I'll help you."

"No," Cade shook his head at me. "I don't think you'll be any help..."

Alex nodded for me to walk and so I did, but not before hearing Cade muttering so low I almost could have pretended I didn't hear it.

"Not while you're in love with him."



***** **** *** * *** **** *****

I had went to every room, locking each and every window and door, making sure Ellie was in her room, safe and doing her homework before going to mine. I wasn't entirely sure who to believe and what to believe since no one was telling me half-things but in the meanwhile, I had my family to keep safe and I didn't care if it was Deacon or Cade or whoever, they weren't getting in...

"What are you doing?"

Deacon lay casually across my bed, smoking and wearing an indifferent expression. The window was open and the blinds were ripped, the curtains billowing at the side and cold, frosty air slipping in. I shut the door, being sure Ellie didn't come out of her room at my shocked imperative. "What the hell did you do?" I went over to the blinds, lifting the slashes up and gaping at them in shock.

"They were pissing me off. So I moved them out of the way."

"All you had to do was lift them! Mum's going to kill me!"

"Oh, shut up." Deacon snapped harshly. "You're so whiny and annoying."

I slowly turned, affronted and shocked before common sense kicked me and I realised the blinds weren't as important enough to be freaking out - well, not at that moment. I had more pressing issues to deal with. "Why are you here? No, wait, you know what, I actually don't care. Just get out."

"Make me."

"Excuse me?" I gritted my teeth as Deacon took a large puff, blowing it slowly from the corner of his mouth. "Deacon, I said get out."

"And I said make me." He cocked an eyebrow at me, moving his jaw around before turning to look back at the ceiling.

"Okay, fine!" I scrambled to get my phone out, pressing hard on the screen. "If that's how it's - what the hell!" Deacon had suddenly appeared, his eyes dark and stormy, thrashing like a wave and his figure looming over me menacingly. "Give me back my phone, Deacon!"

"Who are you going to call? Cade, huh? What, you two are suddenly best friends?"

I backed away, hitting the wall as he approached and leaned in, trapping me against the wall.

"Bea?" Ellie called out, knocking on my door. "Is everything okay?"

Deacon watched as I answered, his jaw clenched and his face hard. "Y-yeah, Ells, everything's okay, go back to bed, I only tripped."

"Alright...cool." She mumbled before walking off.

Deacon said lowly, and with anger lining his tone. "I love how quick you are to believe that dick."

"He's done nothing but help me." I got out, holding his gaze. "I don't know what game you're playing here, killing Mr Jones, hurting-" I stopped, letting out a small gasp as Deacon slammed his fists against the wall furiously.

"And how do you know it was even me who murdered that old man? How do you know it wasn't Cade, huh?" He barked, his nostrils flaring.

"I - I don't, but -"

"But nothing! You're assuming, just believing anything he says. Listening to one side, thanks Doll, nice to know you're being fair." He snipped sarcastically.

"Your real name is Orion..."

"So? Maybe I didn't want to tell you my real name, what's the big deal?"

I looked down, swallowing. "Just leave, Deacon. I can't deal with this. Whatever's going on between you and Cade I want nothing to do with it. I'm not going to help you and endanger my family. You're on your own."

He was still for a long moment, and then he nodded once, twice, with his fists still at my head and he smiled thinly. "I see,"

I pushed at his chest when he didn't move and he pulled me forward, letting me hit his chest and then he was cupping my face, his lips gently brushing against mine. "God, killing that old guy was only the start. The funs just beginning, and trust me, Doll. You're going to want front row seats."

And then he vanished into thin air and I was left standing, lips tingling, heart thumping and a feeling that what he said was true.

It was only going to get worse.

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QUESTION: what's the funniest thing Deacon has EVER said?