“I know honey, which is why you’re staying in the hotel. I’ll keep Grandpa away okay?”
“I don’t trust him....”
“Neither do I sweetheart. Which is why you’re staying far away, this is between grown ups... I’ll be alright. Stay here.”
“... be safe Daddy.”
________________________
“The hell are you doing back here?”
“Nice way to greet your father.”
“After everything you’ve done- Of course I’m not going to be nice about this!! You’re not coming here, I don’t care what Charlie or Alastor or ANYONE has to say about it!”
“You’re sure they feel the same way?”
“Doesn’t matter, leave! I’m not letting you put one hand on either of us!”
“Suppose the brat told you what I said to her then.”
“She’s not a brat, and what did you think was going to happen?! I was just going to let you walk upstairs when I very clearly heard you coming?!”
“Course I didn’t, that wasn’t the plan.”
“The plan?”
“What are you on about no-”
“Hannah?!”
“HANNAH?!!”
“H-... Hannah?”
“............. no..........”
“That HURT you little fuc-!”
“Where are they?”
“Hm?”
“Where did HE TAKE HER!!”
“Like I’m going to say that, you didn’t think I’d know about that little grudge he has on yo-”
“SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!”
“Why should I care?”
“YOU SHOULD GODDAMN CARE!! He’s RINGMASTER!! I doubt he was ever human! He EATS KIDS!! Now tell me WHERE THEY ARE!!”
“No thanks, now if you don’t mind I’m leaving the property like you want-”
“No.”
“The hell you’re not... you wanted in the hotel then welcome to the fucking Happy hotel! You’re staying until you tell me WHERE THE FUCK MY DAUGHTER IS!!”
“And if I don’t?”
“Ohhh you’d better hope you do. You won’t like it if you don’t.”
“I have a lot of grudges tubby, you’ll have to be more specific.”
“Well you and I have one thats similar I heard. You were on the surface even as a demon right?”
“Mmmm I was. So many fresh souls for the picking, its so dull down here....”
“What if I told you I wanted to get even with our mutual grudge? They know I’m looking for blood, so an extra hand might be good. I mean you’re no overlord but you’ve caused a ruckus before right?”
“You made them aware you’re out for payback... what a stupid move on your part. It will make them more cautious. Who is this ‘mutual’ grudge? I don’t usually degrade myself by allying myself with muck.”
“They’re expecting me, but not you. I don’t care how it gets done long as I get to see him suffer for it.”
“And ‘Him’ being?”
“Does the name James Smalley ring a bell?”
“........”
“Thought it did. Best way to crush him I find is by dealing with the one thing he loves most.”
“I think I already know what you’re getting at. Colour me intrigued.”
Stocking shelves of flowers was a simple enough task, his ex mother in law was nice enough to give him less taxing jobs as he settled back into work. She’d been insistent on him taking it easy.
All seemed fine on the cold day, rearranging a few vases before he heard the door chime. Another customer which Debbie would no doubt take care of... until he heard shouting and a muffled ‘Get your hands off of me!!’
Immediately James stopped what he was doing and pushed open the door from the back, gesturing for Hannah to stay where she was. He couldn’t find a sitter and Debbie never minded her Granddaughter being over.
“Debbie?” He called out uncertainly, stepping from the back before a familiar face caught his eye.
The man was worn, tired looking and disheveled, a pistol pressed to Debbie’s temple as she squirmed in his grip.
“Dad! Don’t-!”
“She helped you leave didn’t she. You wouldn’t have been able to get out on your own.” His father interrupted, venom dripping from his words. “You RUINED my life! My reputation is in tatters! My business liquidated! Even my most loyal men defected or are dead because of that monster of a mother of yours!!”
James swallowed thickly, his eyes darting from his father to the gun in hand, “Your problem is with me, not Debbie... just let her go.” He insisted, trying to keep the tremble out of his voice. It was Carlos who ruined his own life... with everything he’d done to James and his family. Karma had just caught up to him, but with Debbie in such a dangerous situation he wasn’t about to say it aloud.
“Ohhh no, I’ve learnt by now your problem. You care far too much about those around you, whatever I do to you won’t sink in. But maybe with someone else it might.” Spat Carlos with a sneer, though his eyes snapped to the door behind James for a moment.
“Daddy? Whats going on?” Hannah asked as she stepped out for a second, a second was all it took as the gun went off. It wasn’t aimed at Debbie however, James’s heart pratically stopped as he head a soft thud behind him. His blood ran cold as he dared to look, eyes wide and jaw agape. “HANNAH!!”
Debbie herself was in shock, her own eyes locked on her grandchild while Carlos smugly grinned.
“You see? I warned you bad things would happen if you went against me James.”
He didn’t have a chance for a second comment however as James lunged for him, his hand grabbing his wrist before the gun could go off again. His father was taken aback, releasing Debbie who stumbled to the floor without her cane’s support.
“I’ll KILL YOU!!” James roared, his eyes glazing as his pupils turned into slits, horns shooting from his skull and teeth turning sharp. He pounced once more as Carlos managed to pull himself away, claws out as he slammed into the older man’s chest. Claws dug into the flesh, tearing as he sank his teeth into his target’s exposed shoulder electing cry of pain. Carlos was about to fire again until James pinned his arm down, twisting it until he heard a snap and Carlos cried out in agony.
“JAMES!!” Debbie cried as she crawled over, trying to haul him off and almost getting knocked over, “James you need to stop!! He’s not worth prison time!! Please! We need to call an ambulance!!”
It took a minute for her words to sink in, his jaw hesitantly unlocking from the wheezing man’s shoulder before he kicked the gun away from Carlos. Crawling over to his child he scooped her up and cradled her, his ears pressing back as he felt Debbie’s hand rest softly on his back. He couldn’t think, he could barely breath. He could only just hear Debbie on the phone to dispatch, his heart aching as he could only hold his child close.
Viola glares at Carlos coldly, sitting in front of him as she summoned her dolls. "Do you realize the consequences of your actions? You put an innocent Child in danger for your pitiful, pathetic reasons..."
“I’m doing the world a favour, you have no idea what that little brat can do.”
“Besides, everything will be solved soon.” He jerked his head towards James who looked very very tired. He was doing everything he could to keep Ringmaster contained, “Don’t think that wimp can keep it up, and he won’t kill either of us... not while he thinks we might be needed to bring his precious baby back.”
You know, I will give Carlos a single ounce of credit here. It takes some balls to keep going after those two with all the friends they have. Which includes the Lord of Hell himself. Like damn man. He’s gonna end up flayed.
