Chapter Ninety-One: Engagement

Chapter 91

Engagement

Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Jaxon were all in a limo to Blair and Ivy’s engagement party.

Tristan wore a black double-breasted Italian-cut suit, dark purple pressed shirt, a black tie, and shiny black leather Oxfords.

Deimos wore a black sports jacket, black trousers, a purple leopard print dress shirt with the buttons undone to expose his platinum chain, and black loafers.

Celeste’s little black dress clung tightly to her curvaceous figure like a silhouette. Her pierced navel and top half were seen through the mesh. Slices of fabric covered across her chest in a wave formation up to her neck and along her skirt. She wore black strappy high-heeled sandals, black disc earrings, and her hair was styled in a rose braided half-updo.

Jaxon wore a black sports jacket with shiny peaked lapels, a black silk dress shirt with the buttons undone to expose his dragon tattoo, black trousers, and black Chelsea boots. He had his Ray-Bans resting on top of his head. He grinned at Celeste, marveling at her in that dress.

Jaxon: “Damn baby, you’re gonna outshine her and be the star of the show! Watch out for the tantrum!”

He laughed. Celeste let out a peal of giggles.

Celeste: “And what about you?”

He purred, wiggling her nails on his chest.

Jaxon: “Oh, come on, I already know I’m gonna steal that NPC’s thunder!”

He grinned smugly, tugging at his collar. Celeste reached up and tickled his neck. Jaxon shivered at her touch and giggled.

Jaxon: “Hehehehe!”

Tristan smiled and leaned on Deimos’ shoulder. Deimos kissed Tristan’s head.

~

They entered a sprawling ballroom accented by grand columns and ornate molding. In the center of the dance floor, a grand crystal chandelier hung. On the stage where the DJ was playing, hung a large portrait of Ivy and Blair in an embrace with “ENGAGED” written in gold cursive letters. There were tables with fine white linen cloths, gold cutlery, and upholstered chairs with fine ornate carvings. On each side of the stage were big screen TVs with a slideshow of Ivy and Blair playing.

The servers wore white shirts, black bow ties, black waist coats, pants, and shoes. They carried trays of drinks and food to the tables. Ashley and Lazaros were in the kitchen working. They both wore white chef coats, aprons, black pants, and shoes with their hair tied up.

Through the large arch entryways framed by gold tapestry was an outdoor venue leading to a heart-shaped pool. Several cabanas surrounded the heart-shaped pool. At the end, on a platform with columns and lit-up steps, was a bar with hanging crystal lights from the roof trim.

Ivy was at the main table inside with Blair beside her. She wore a dark green silk sleeveless cheongsam with a gorgeous embroidered gold peacock on the front, and going down the dress, black high-heeled sandals, dangling green teardrop earrings, and her hair was styled in a bun adorned with flowers and a hairstick with a dangling peacock. Blair wore a black Italian-cut suit, white pressed shirt, black bow tie, and black Oxfords. Demetrio and Vanessa were there with them. Demetrio wore a light blue tuxedo, white pressed shirt, light blue bowtie, and light blue shoes. Vanessa wore a strapless pink dress with a circle skirt, a large bow on the back, pink sandals with a ribbon on the ankle, and pink diamond earrings surrounded by diamonds.

Amongst the other guests were Sylvia, Rosemary, Lily, Lucy Lynes, Ivy’s grandparents, an old man in a walker who can barely move, Hiroto and Mayumi Tachibana, and an old man who resembled Captain Samson with Lily on his lap.

Tristan and Deimos looked around and found a table for the four. They sat down and looked around. Deimos signalled a server. He approached them.

Deimos: “Could you bring a Corona Extra to the table?”

Tristan: “A glass of Chardonnay for me.”

He smiled. The server nodded and left.

Jaxon groused with disgust at Lily and the man. He headed straight for the bar upon seeing his parents amongst the crowd. Celeste followed him.

Celeste: “Where ya goin’?”

She grabbed onto his arm.

Jaxon: “I need a drink.”

He groused at Ivy, Blair, and his parents amongst the crowd.

Celeste: “Why?”

She asked him.

Jaxon: “I need something to soothe the incoming headache.”

He sighed, putting his arm around her. She leaned on his chest. They went outside to the pool venue to approach the bar.

Jaxon: “Jack and Coke, please.”

He nodded and turned to Celeste.

Jaxon: “And whatever my Green Queen wants!”

He draped his arm around her.

Celeste: “A Shirley Temple!”

She grinned. The bartender handed him a Jack and Coke in a Collins glass and Celeste a Shirley Temple in a tall glass with many cherries. Celeste’s eyes lit up at the number of cherries. Jaxon took a long sip of his drink and sighed. He noticed Ichiro was standing outside, speaking with Sylvia. Jaxon frowned.

Jaxon: “Ugh. That would be the most boring conversation on the planet.”

He huffed. He swung his eyes over to his parents, smiling in Ichiro’s direction.

Jaxon: “And they’re discussing how amazing he is. Yet another boring conversation.”

Mayumi and Hiroto caught his glances, and their expressions shifted into frowns.

Jaxon: “Brace yourself for an annoying conversation.”

He groaned as they approached them. Celeste sucked back her cherries and pulled the stem out of her mouth.

Mayumi: “What are you doing here, Jiro?”

She asked with strain.

Jaxon: “Here with Celeste.”

He replied quickly, placing his arm around her. Celeste looked up at Jaxon and rested her hand on his chest. His parents frowned.

Mayumi: “Oh. Nariko was such a nice girl. Your engagement party was so beautiful. Your grandmother went through so much effort. It’s such a sad shame.”

She sighed.

Celeste: “My friends and I almost got eaten by sharks because of Nariko, but sure, she’s peachy.”

She laughed a hollow laugh. Jaxon glared at Mayumi.

Jaxon: “NO, SHE WASN’T! I DIDN’T WANT TO BE WITH THAT CRAZY LITTLE BITCH!”

He snapped. People around them turned in their direction, gawking at him, yelling. Mayumi buried her face and backed away from their viewing and judging eyes.

Jaxon: “Yeah, slink away like cowards.”

Hiroto: “You watch it.”

He hissed and left.

Ivy looked at the commotion and laughed. I knew this would happen, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve for Miss Snack Thief and Mr. Bossy Pants, she thought.

A short white geek wearing thick eyeglasses and a Batman shirt, shorts, and sneakers approached Jaxon.

Geek: “Hey, Jaxon! I-I saw your sexy ticking video on Fu’s Feet Links, sir! I loved the video of you being tickled to the heavy metal music! I got a metal boner!”

He said robotically and loudly.

Geek: “I wanked it to so loud, my mom said I had to sleep in the dog house!”

He added in his monotone voice. Jaxon reddened bright red with embarrassment.

Jaxon: “SHHHH! STOP TALKING! SHUT UP!”

He screamed. Celeste knit her eyebrows.

Geek: “Jaxon, I love your sexy, ticklish feet! C-Can I nut on them, sir?”

He asked loudly.

Jaxon: “NO!”

He snapped at him.

Geek: “I remembered all the comments on the video, sir! ToesoverHoes said, ‘I get a boner every time Jaxon’s feet are tickled! I bet he gives mad footjobs!’ SuckonFeet69 said, ‘That is the hottest metal track ever!’ FeetBro just put a picture of his penis with his cum on his keyboard. That means he nutted to your video, sir!”

He relayed the comments from his video. People looked around and stared at them. Jaxon blocked his ears.

Jaxon: “La, la, la, la, la, SHUT UP! STOP TALKING!”

He snapped over him. Celeste knit her eyebrows and put her arms around Jaxon to comfort him.

Geek: “Why? I remembered every comment, sir!”

Deimos and Tristan entered.

Deimos: “Yeah, that guy still remembers every comment. That is… something.”

He muttered. Tristan surveyed Jaxon and noticed he appeared more distressed than usual.

Jaxon: “Why the FUCK is he here?!”

He gritted his teeth.

Geek: “I was invited, sir! I wasn’t gonna go because it’s my ‘masturbate to Jaxon’s feet videos’ time, but the lady said you would be here, sir! Now I can get a boner to you for real!”

He said robotically.

Tristan: “That explains everything.”

He muttered.

Jaxon: “The fuck do you mean you were invited?! By who?!”

He rasped.

Geek: “Some lady did, sir!”

Tristan: “Ivy did it, Jaxon.”

He interjected. Celeste tugged on Jaxon’s arm and knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “That bitch!”

He huffed and spotted her amongst the crowd. Ivy was laughing while talking to some people.

Jaxon marched up to her, angry as a hornet.

Jaxon: “YOU! You invited those… people to humiliate me!”

He snapped at her.

Ivy: “Hello, Jiro. Is Miss Snack Thief not keeping you happy?”

She smirked.

Jaxon: “She makes me VERY happy! You, on the other hand?! Annoy me!”

He huffed. Ivy sipped on her champagne.

Ivy: “Is that why you’re here, ranting at me and ignoring her hugging you, tugging your arm, and other things? Not good, Jiro.”

She smirked tightly. Ivy read Jaxon’s and her thoughts. Jaxon paused when he realized.

Jaxon: “Fuck you! Stay away from us!”

He huffed and marched off from her to go back to Celeste, putting his arm around her. Celeste looked at Jaxon putting his arm around her, and didn’t move.

Ivy smiled tightly. Yes, this is what happened in my favorite Hallmark movie, “He’ll be Coming Home for Christmas”, she thought.

Tristan awkwardly looked away when Jaxon came back to Celeste.

Deimos: “I’m… going to see if Ashley made their delicious pineapple squares. Come with me, Tristan?”

He took his hand and nodded. Tristan glanced back at them with worry and went with Deimos.

Tristan: “Deimos, Celeste didn’t ask me to grab her some.”

He whispered.

Deimos: “I know! I don’t want to be around that, and I don’t want you around it either!”

He whispered hoarsely as they left.

Celeste looked up at him.

Celeste: “Are you done?”

She asked.

Jaxon: “Yeah, I’m done now.”

He nodded, finishing his drink.

Celeste: “Oh, I see. You didn’t look at me doing my cherry trick or anything.”

She looked away, sad. Jaxon knit his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “Sorry, babe, I was bombarded by my parents, those creeps, and… her.”

He frowned.

Celeste: “It’s okay. It’s okay to drink your problems away.”

She said and embraced herself.

Jaxon: “Are you mad at me?!”

He knit his eyebrows. Celeste looked away and didn’t reply. She shifted her eyes.

Celeste: “I don’t know?”

Jaxon: “You so are! What would make you not mad?”

He said to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “I don’t know, Jaxon!”

She snapped. Jaxon was taken aback by her reaction, holding his hands up.

Jaxon: “Do you want me to get you more cherries?”

He offered.

Celeste: “No, I don’t want cherries! I just thought I would be enough but you always do this shit!”

She blurted angrily. Jaxon was taken aback.

Jaxon: “...What shit?”

He asked, genuinely curious.

Jaxon: “What do you mean you’re not enough?!”

He knit his eyebrows, gaping at her.

Celeste: “ ‘cause… I am not. You did this before, and I just say nothing because nothing I say ever matters, and you’re going to do what you want anyway.”

She embraced herself.

Jaxon: “Do what? What am I doing? What do you mean what you say doesn’t matter?! Of course, it matters!”

He exclaimed.

Celeste: “When we went on that stupid Oak Falls trip for her, you poured whiskey into your tea and ignored that Blair hurt me. You had to ask Tristan what was wrong with me.”

She said with hurt in her tone.

Jaxon: “Hey, we didn’t know it was for her! I didn’t ignore that he hurt you! I punched his little bitch face! I didn’t know what was wrong!”

He countered.

Celeste: “If you weren’t drinking, maybe you would have.”

She muttered. Jaxon frowned.

Jaxon: “Is that what you’re mad about? My drinking?”

He asked her for clarification.

Celeste: “And you ignored me tonight.”

She drew a long breath, thinking back on how Victor did the same when she tried to be sexy for him.

Jaxon: “Sorry, I wasn’t ignoring you. I was… overwhelmed… I didn’t want to be here in the first place around these people!”

He countered and admitted with struggle.

Celeste: “I know.”

She bowed her head.

Jaxon: “How about we get out of here and do something fun?”

He placed his hand on hers.

Celeste: “We can get out of here, but I don’t want to do anything, Jaxon.”

Jaxon put his arm around her.

Jaxon: “You sure you don’t want to steal her snacks?”

He smiled at her.

Celeste: “Yeah. I’m sure.”

Jaxon: “Is there anything I can do to put a smile on your face?”

He asked.

Celeste: “No, I need to think.”

She said flatly.

Jaxon: “Think about what?”

He knit his eyebrows.

Celeste: “I don’t know? Just… things?”

She threw her hands up. Jaxon froze in a panic. He wanted to fix this, but he didn’t know what to do. He looked over at Tristan and Deimos eating the pineapple squares at the catering tables.

Jaxon: “I’ll be right back with some snacks for you!”

He stated, rising to his feet.

Celeste: “I don’t want snacks, okay?!”

She clasped her hand over her eyes and pounded the counter, causing it to crack and break. Jaxon recoiled at her reaction.

Jaxon: “Do you want me to give you some space?”

He asked. She didn’t reply. She stormed off. Jaxon knit his eyebrows and chased after her.

When Celeste marched into the venue, Vanessa got on stage.

Vanessa: “I’m making a big announcement! I’m pregnant with Hiroto Tachibana’s baby!”

She cheered, and the spotlight shone on Hiroto. Vanessa waved at him. Hiroto froze like a deer in the headlights. Ivy’s jaw dropped. This wasn’t in ANY Hallmark movie or MY plans, she thought.

Tristan and Deimos gaped at Vanessa. Blair reddened and hung his head. Ashley smiled at her, and Jaxon laughed bitterly. Mayumi acted shocked and pretended to faint. Ivy went up to Vanessa and slapped her hard across her face, the slap echoed through the mic.

Ivy: “YOU GODDAMN WHORE! STOP MAKING MY ENGAGEMENT PARTY ABOUT YOUR AFFAIR WITH A MARRIED MAN!”

She thundered and shoved her down. Vanessa cried when she hit the floor. Ashley gasped and knit their eyebrow, tending to Vanessa.

Ivy: “GET OUT OF HERE, ASHLEY!”

She bellowed. Blair looked away. Ashley shook their head at Blair.

Ashley: “What? You invited me ‘cause you were going to help us with the shelter kitties!”

They countered.

Ivy: “And I will do that but I want that bitch out of MY house!”

She flared, glaring at Vanessa with hatred.

Ashley: “It’s not YOUR house, it’s Demetrio’s house!”

They cried and looked over at him and Blair. Blair gazed at Ashley.

Vanessa: “No, Ash! She will kick them out, too! She wants to move Tristan in with her!”

She bawled.

Ashley: “What? But Tristan is in love with Deimos!”

They exclaimed.

Ivy: “SO HE THINKS!”

She bellowed, and it echoed through the ballroom.

Tristan rolled his eyes. Deimos glared hatefully at Ivy. Tristan looked around for Celeste and Jaxon. Where are they? He wondered.

~

Celeste sat in the venue’s garden on a loveseat in front of a pond. There was a stone water fountain behind her. It had multiple cascading streams of water that flowed over two bowls into the larger basin below.

She tossed rocks to skip them across the surface. Jaxon sauntered up to her, sitting down beside her on the loveseat.

Jaxon: “The life of the party is right here.”

He said to her. Celeste looked away from him and wiped her eyes.

Celeste: “Is it?”

She laughed a hollow laugh. Jaxon put his arm around her and nodded.

Jaxon: “Yep.”

He held up his whiskey bottle and threw it into the pond. She watched it float and then sink.

Jaxon: “All I need is a bottle of love.”

He draped his arm around her. Celeste looked at him with mascara down her cheeks.

Jaxon: “Okay, that came off cringier than I intended, but you know what I mean!”

He laughed. She nodded.

Jaxon: “Sorry for being an idiot… I let that bitch get the better of me, when I should have been focusing on the TRUE Green Queen!”

He sighed and turned to her.

Celeste: “It’s okay.”

She drew a long breath and wiped her eyes.

Jaxon: “I don’t like it when you’re sad. Especially when I make you sad.”

He said, wiping her cheek. She gazed at him, brushing against her cheek, feeling the dried mascara.

Jaxon: “I wanna be the reason you laugh, not cry.”

He added, tickling his fingers against her neck. She laughed a bit.

Celeste: “Hehehehehehehehehehe!”

She scratched her own neck.

Jaxon: “That bitch should be crying, not you.”

He pouted, stroking her hair.

Celeste felt a prick in her neck. She reached behind and pulled a needle out. She then collapsed on the ground. Jaxon gasped and dove to the ground for her.

Jaxon: “CELESTE?!”

He cried, holding her in his arms.

Dougal appeared before him wearing a gold sequin zoot suit. Jaxon glared at him with hatred and disgust.

Jaxon: “YOU!”

Dougal: “Sorry, love, no girls allowed in schmoodar time!”

He pressed a special taser designed to paralyze those injected with ehtytrim against him, shocking him. Jaxon rasped in pain and fury.

Jaxon: “YARRGHHH NOOOOOOO! YOU FAT BASTARD!”

He screamed and collapsed onto the ground. Dougal grabbed his wrists and dragged him to the ground.

He pinned him down, hovering over him.

Dougal: “I got your bottle o’ love right here, love.”

He breathed on him, and the smell of peanut butter, rotten teeth, and cognac was strong on his breath. Jaxon shuddered and gagged at his ugly guy breath. Dougal’s tongue slid across his brown teeth as he drank Jaxon in. He trailed his hands on his chest, unbuttoning his shirt. Jaxon glared at him and groused.

Jaxon: “DON’T TOUCH ME!”

He barked at him, trying to move, but he couldn’t.

Dougal: “Sorry, but no doesn’t exist in Dougy time and safe words are for pussies! Now, shut up and make yourself useful!”

Jaxon screamed and rasped. Dougal pressed his mouth to his, breathing into his mouth and moaning. Jaxon gagged and tried to pull away, vomiting into his mouth. Dougal drew back and swallowed it. Jaxon’s eyes widened with disgust. Dougal chuckled and rubbed his hardness on Jaxon. Jaxon squirmed, trying to break free.

Celeste watched and squirmed to move. She gritted her teeth, feeling every nerve in her body turn to stone. She saw red when she saw Dougal start to undo his pants. Suddenly, a blast of ice knocked Dougal off Jaxon.

Dougal: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He shrieked. Tristan stood, glaring at Dougal. Deimos rushed over to Jaxon.

Deimos: “Did he do anything to you?!”

He asked as he started to heal him.

Jaxon: “That fat ugly THING fucking assaulted me!”

He groused, glaring at Dougal. Deimos glared at Dougal with hatred.

Tristan: “You did that to me when I was seventeen!”

He cried.

Dougal: “And you bloody well enjoyed it, Tristan!”

He chuckled and rose.

Jaxon: “The fuck is wrong with you?!”

He hissed at Dougal. Deimos ran to heal Celeste.

Dougal: “I’m sexy and you schmoodars know it!”

He spread his arms out and bowed.

Tristan: “I will kill you, Dougal!”

He rasped, forming an ice sword.

Celeste charged after Dougal, but she was knocked and slammed into Tristan, who both crashed into a tree and landed facedown on the ground.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He gasped, diving for her to heal her.

Deimos: “TRISTAN!”

He screamed and rushed to him.

Dougal grinned as Darashinai stood by him dressed as Haruko-chan.

Dougal: “I had fun, schmoodars, but I have to go now. You can have something to remember me by, Jaxon. Just like Tristan! Cheerio!”

Darashinai carried Dougal as she flew off in her rocket boots. Deimos glared with hatred at Dougal. Jaxon glared at Dougal with pure hatred and felt violated. Celeste watched him go and felt horrible that she couldn’t do anything to stop it. Everything that happened distracted her, and she never heard anything. Tristan embraced himself, feeling as if he relived what happened to him that night.

Jaxon: “I want to go home.”

He said numbly. Tristan looked away. Deimos held him close.

Celeste: “Okay, we’ll go home.”

~

Celeste and Jaxon arrived back home that night. Celeste went into their bedroom and flopped on the bed. Jaxon was in the bathroom, in the shower for a long time, brushing his teeth. Celeste stared at the bathroom door. Maybe we shouldn’t have gone, she thought, and hugged her legs. Finally, after what felt like a long time, the bathroom door opened, and Jaxon came out.

Celeste: “Hey.”

She said to him.

Jaxon: “Hey…”

He pursed his lips.

Celeste: “Everything okay?”

She asked.

Jaxon: “No… That big fat ugly THING did that to me!”

He collapsed onto the bed.

Celeste: “Thankfully, Tristan stopped him from doing more.”

She said as her voice trailed off. Jaxon shuddered at the thought.

Jaxon: “The only one I want kissing me is you! Not that thing!”

He groused.

Celeste: “I know that.”

She said evenly.

Jaxon: “Are you still mad at me?”

He asked.

Celeste: “That’s all you have to ask?”

She gaped at him.

Celeste: “I don’t know. You were more preoccupied with other things than me and you didn’t use to be so, maybe you’re getting bored with me.”

She shrugged. Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon: “Bored of YOU?!”

He gasped.

Jaxon: “Why would I ever get bored of you?!”

Celeste: “Because I literally had to tug on your arm and other stuff, but it didn’t peel you away from it!”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “It’s not that I’m bored of you! I was just overwhelmed by all that shit being thrown at me! That green bitch set us up! I didn’t want to go in the first place, and we never should have gone!”

He countered. She nodded.

Celeste: “Yeah, I agree we shouldn’t have gone. That’s all.”

She said numbly and rose from the bed.

Jaxon: “Where are you going?”

He asked.

Celeste: “Out.”

She said tersely.

Jaxon: “What do you mean out?!”

He rose from the bed.

Celeste: “Just OUT! I don’t know!”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “I’m coming with you!”

He snapped.

Celeste: “Why?”

Jaxon: “What do you mean, why?! Because I want to go with you!”

He countered.

Celeste: “Why, though?!”

She drew back angrily.

Jaxon: “Cause I want to be with you!”

He fired back.

Jaxon: “I fucked up and I want to make this right!”

He added.

Celeste: “I should have known he was coming! If this didn’t happen, I would have known!”

She fired at him.

Jaxon: “What?! That’s not your fault!”

He fired back.

Celeste: “He doesn’t have powers or anything! I zoned out because I was so hurt about what you did that I wasn’t paying attention to anything else!”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “What?! Well, he’s strong! I’m sorry for hurting you… That’s not your fault, what he did to me, though…”

He pursed his lips. Celeste embraced herself.

Celeste: “I’m glad Tristan and Deimos came in time.”

She declared.

Jaxon: “...Me too.”

He embraced himself, not wanting to think of what would have happened otherwise. He didn’t want to think about it. She surveyed him and drew a long breath.

She left their bedroom and went out to the living room.

Jaxon: “Where are you going?”

He asked.

Celeste: “I don’t know what is going through my head, but many things are. You were up against WORSE adversaries and never ignored me until tonight, so I do have things to think about.”

She said to him with pain in her eyes.

Jaxon: “I wasn’t ignoring you, and I’m not right now?! I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean it!”

He said with pain, not knowing what to say or do. Celeste gazed at him and drew a short breath. Jaxon gazed at her with pleading eyes. Celeste looked away.

Celeste: “I have to get out of here. I’m sorry.”

She said quickly.

Jaxon: “Celeste! Don’t leave me!”

He took her hand with pleading eyes. She stopped when he took her hand and sighed.

Jaxon: “I fucked up tonight, babe, and I’m sorry! I made the wrong green lady cry tonight, and I wanna fix that!”

He pleaded with her. Celeste heaved a deep sigh.

Celeste: “I know that, Jaxon.”

She said flatly.

Jaxon sighed and flicked his gaze over to his bass guitar.

Jaxon: “I’ve been working on a revised version of Green Queen…”

He said softly. She glanced at him. Jaxon sat on the couch with his bass guitar and began plucking the strings. She gazed at him.

Jaxon: “Green Queen! I don’t mean to be green… or mean.”

He sang along to a slowed-down, mellow version of the song.

Jaxon: “I sort of struggle to admit it, but can at times.”

He strummed.

Jaxon: “Green Queen! You’re the star of my screen, you make me want to scream…”

He strummed faster and louder.

Jaxon: “I love you…”

He strummed and reddened, shifting his gaze.

Jaxon: “You make my face red like a pepper and you are my chilli pepper…”

He sang and redenned.

Jaxon: “I fucked up, but I want to make it up because…”

He strummed.

Jaxon: “...I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”

He said matter-of-factly and stopped singing.

Celeste sighed and sat on the couch with him. She was overwhelmed with so many emotions, emotions that were foreign to her. Why did this bother me tonight? She wondered. How could I not hear Dougal? He’s a “normal” human with no powers, but I recall the number of times he overpowered Tristan, Deimos, and me, she thought. Is he getting better at his craft? She wondered.

Jaxon gazed at her and placed his hand on hers. She locked her eyes on him and grasped his hand. Jaxon smiled widely when he felt her hand on his, and he leaned in and kissed her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. Jaxon sighed happily with her in his arms, listening to her heartbeat. Celeste held him to her chest and heaved a deep sigh.

~

July, 1981

Dougal ripped Tristan’s clothes off, and slammed on top of him, slamming his mouth on his, breathing his horrid breath into Tristan’s mouth as he screamed and wailed. Tears streamed down his cheeks as this whale of a man was on top of him, rendering him helpless.

Deimos barged in and delivered a powerful blow to Dougal’s jaw and a roundhouse kick that sent him crashing into the wall. Dougal threw up blood and landed facedown on the floor with a mighty thud.

Deimos held a whimpering, trembling Tristain in his arms protectively. Dougal rose with a grin as blood dripped down his nose and from his mouth.

Deimos: “STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!”

He bellowed.

Dougal: “Well, I didn’t go all the way because of him, but now ya have somethin’ to remember me by, eh, love?”

He chuckled as he looked at Tristan, who trembled in Deimos’ arms. Deimos withdrew his switchblade, lunged at Dougal, and stabbed him in the gut. Dougal’s eyes grew large, and a croak escaped his throat. He drew back with blood oozing from his stomach and collapsed to the ground, causing it to shake.

Deimos dropped the bloody blade and held Tristan close as they looked at Dougal.

Deimos: “I will never let him hurt you again!”

Tristan: “He didn’t… do that.”

He said with strain and sobbed.

Deimos: “He did enough.”

He whispered and held him close.

Present Day

Tristan sat in his bed, Deimos holding him, as he sobbed.

Tristan: “I wish he didn’t survive that knife attack, Deimos.”

He bawled. Deimos knit his eyebrows, caressing Tristan’s hair.

Deimos: “Fucker was in a coma for a few months… and then went to jail for a few years for something unrelated. Now he’s back.”

He growled.

Tristan: “He has to die, Deimos! He won’t stop, unless he’s dead!”

He snapped through hot tears. Deimos looked down at him and nodded. They gazed into each other’s eyes and kissed.

~

Dougal paced around his room. Borko Brava was in his room with an open briefcase of sprays.

Borko: “So, my friend, how did the ‘Sole Silencers’ work? Did you spray some on your shoes?”

He asked, holding up an aerosol can with “Sole Silencers.” Dougal nodded.

Dougal: “Bitch didn’t hear me comin’ and neither did he.”

He smiled.

Borko: “Ah, good, good. I used to work for New Horizons Research. These people you know as Celeste, Deimos, Tristan, Jaxon, Fabien, et al. have what we call ‘Ethereal Prowesses’ or ‘EPs’ for short. We called them ‘Etheressums’.”

He explained as Dougal shook the can.

Borko: “These people’s hearing is VERY sensitive, so the sole silencer will be silent to them.”

He explained.

He held up a device that played a beeping sound.

Borko: “This high-frequency device just sounds like a toy plane to us, but it will hurt Etherrssums. It will subdue them.”

He grinned, showing his yellow crooked smile.

Borko: “And I have some KO, the tasers, the blow darts, and so much to subdue Etheressums.”

He patted the suitcase.

Borko: “All I require is the payment, which you promised me for months now.”

He drummed his fingers on the suitcase.

Dougal: “Yeah, well, I didn’t fuck Jaxon tonight, did I? OR TRISTAN! I NEVER TOOK HIS VIRGINITY!”

He bellowed.

Borko: “Well, if you use these tools right, you will.”

He smiled.

Dougal: “But I didn’t!”

He marched toward him.

Borko: “Regardless, I do want payment.”

He said firmly.

Dougal: “I got your quid right here!”

He pulled out a Beretta Stampede and fired it at Borko, hitting him in the leg. Borko caterwauled as the bullet hit his leg, spilling blood everywhere. He wailed in pain as he dragged himself across the floor.

Dougal: “You bloody wanker! I told you I would pay ya when I fuck Jaxon, Tristan, and Fabien! I didn’t fuck ‘em, did I?!”

He barked and aimed his gun at Borko, shooting his other leg. Borko caterwauled in pain, sobbing.

Borko: “Please! I have a daughter and grandchildren! I have a subby little, too!”

He pleaded through tears.

Dougal marched to him, stepping in his blood, and glaring at Borko, who was sliding away.

Dougal: “As if I bloody care, you son-of-a-bitch! I DIDN’T FUCK MY SCHMOODARS! You fuckin’ crook! You fuckin’ scammer! That doesn’t matter to me! I got what I wanted from ya and ya want payment, have at it, mate!”

He cocked his gun at Borko’s head and fired, shooting him in the head.

Dougal glared at Borko’s dead, glassy eyes staring up at him as blood oozed from the bullet between his eyes. Dougal’s butler stood in the doorway.

Dougal: “Get rid of this rubbish. I don’t need it anymore.”

He commanded him and waddled away. His butler bowed his head.

Dougal: “I’ll be playing with my sexy schmoodar action figures, so don’t bug me.”

He flopped on the floor, causing the bedroom to shake.