CH 9: Respectless

~ Esme's POV ~

I wake up from that dream to find my pillow stained with tears and my makeup smudged. This is torture, this is absolute torture. The worst part of it all is that I'm doing it to myself. There's a part of my soul that is tormenting me from the inside out, and I'm powerless to stop it.

Sometimes I wish I could just reset my memories all over again and forget the bits and pieces coming back. These past decades were agony, slowly pulling me apart by every fiber of my being. I climb out of my bed and sigh as I turn to the window once again. It's early enough that I could go for a swim and still make it back in time.

Truthfully, I wanted to go to this meeting like I wanted to choke myself with a fishing line, but it was up to the women to get the job done. Wasn't that always the case, men thinking they are the figureheads when the women are the real brain?

If I was able to play my cards right, I could have my alone time before I needed to pitch Vox's masterplan to the society. There's no way they're going to go for this anyhow, so the least I can do is catch a breather before the show begins.

So, I leave. I tuck my hands into my coat and walk away from the tower to head to the water. It's the only place I knew could clear my mind, and I haven't swum in a really long time. I can feel the sand underneath me as I rapidly approach it. I toss my coat on the sand and dive in. It's been a while since I've been underwater. I could see my skin grow colder as I opened my eyes, seeing underneath the surface with a green hue to my vision.

My transformations are always seamless, something I have to credit my magic for. I'm lucky where I'm able to touch water without the immediate switch, making it more of a mindfulness command for my body to obey.

I see other sea demons as I swim, but this time I don't avoid them. They all know who I am at this point, they wouldn't dare swim near me. I just smile and wave.

Finally, I decide to reach the surface, my hair flinging backward as I sigh and swim on top of the water on my back. I steady my breathing as I watch the red sky grow brighter, being illuminated by a light in the distance. I turn my head and notice the light coming from the radio tower, where I see two glowing red eyes staring at me.

Good heavens, how unsettling! 

I jump and sink back into the water, peering my head out.

Why is he watching me? Has he been doing this the entire time?

I wave, and the light turns off.

Rude.

I roll my eyes and swim back underneath the surface, my tail slamming in the air with a splash of annoyance. I never understood his hot and cold behavior. The second that Radio Demon manifested into this realm, his energy was always uneasy. There were secrets he kept buried deep beneath the surface, which no one dared to wander near. 

To be frank, I really didn't give a damn. I enjoyed his company, his friendship throughout the years, but I was getting sick of this lurking and bullshit behavior.

Can everyone just let me be in peace? Thanks!

I stay there for the majority of the morning, feasting on whatever little fishes I can find. A nice, easy snack for a light breakfast. I'm sure the sight of an aquatic demon swimming about with a tuna in her jaws wasn't the most welcoming greeting to the shore, but this was Hell after all. Everyone down here was either a cannibal, theft, killer, you name it. 

There was peace on the shore's floor, the sand was cool and inviting. It was a break from all the hysteria. Not for nothing, I helped keep the shore patrolled over the years; I was practically owed this relaxation!

When suddenly...

"ESME!!" A voice barks in annoyance. I groan, knowing immediately who it is from the accent. I swim back to the surface and pop my head out. Just as I expected, my little Barbie is standing on the beach with one hand on her hip and the other shooting texts a mile a minute. Her foot is going to run a hole through the grains if she isn't careful.

"Hey Vel, fancy seeing you here~" I smile innocently.

"Oh shut the fuck up bitch, we're going to be late! Stop swimming and start walking!" She shouts, yanking my coat from the sand. I roll my eyes and swim back down, grabbing one last fish for the road. If we had more time, and if I had more patience for the day, I would've sent water splashing on top of her for disturbing me. Alas, then I would have to hear her rant and rave all afternoon, and I simply didn't have the battery for that.

I emerge from the water and walk towards her, wringing my hair out. With a snap, it returns to its voluminous wave. I catch Velvette's eyes inspecting me with a judgmental glare. "What?" I sigh, putting on my coat and sinking my fangs into the little fish as we walk along. 

She groans as the creature's blood sweeps out of the flesh and across my bottom lip, covering her eyes and looking away. 

Some time passes by as we make our way across town. We could have taken the car, but then I wouldn't get to hear Velvette's lovely critiquing of my eating habits for as long as I did. The thought of missing out on such an honor nearly brings a tear to my eye. 

I suck the bone of the snack with an audible 'pop' before tossing it into a nearby trash bin. I might be a sinner, but my mother taught me not to litter. 

"So, what's the plan? We're just going to present them this thing and hope for the best?" I question, looking up at the face ID and unlocking the elevator.

"What other information could they need? It's fucking plain and simple!" Velvette smirks, pressing the button, "They want us to bend over and continue to get fucked when we have the solution right here." 

"Hmmm...."

Something about this seems fishy, and it's not me. I'll admit, I was floored to find out that these golden freaks could be defeated, but I've been in this business long enough to know that this group of Overlords weren't going to just jump without a net to catch them. The Vees had a good plan, in theory, but the way they were executing it was plain juvenile. 

After all, actions have consequences.

When we step out of the elevator, Velvette answers a phone call from Vox. She laughs and walks off towards the door talking to him, "Yes, I know, I can't wait to see the look on their stupid faces - haha!"

I go to follow her, but my head turns to the side when I hear....whimpering. I look down the other end of the hall to see a....egg? It's frantically looking around, so I walk over to investigate.

"Hello there~" I say, bending down. It jumps with a small sound at the sight of me. I catch my reflection and see that my fangs still hang from the little snack on the way. "Oh, sorry~" I retract them. "Are you lost?"

It nods. "Hmm....well maybe you'll find someone you recognize with me...come come~" I go to follow Velvette, hearing this little creature hop behind me. I found it amusing how quickly it trusted me, considering I always preferred my yolks extra runny.

I approach the door and can hear Carmilla on the other side.

"Nice of you to join us, Velvette. Will your....colleagues be joining us?"

I swing the door open, "Right on cue!~" I smile, leaning against the door frame.

"Ah Esme, so nice to see you."

"Likewise." I smile brightly with my gleaming fangs. I bend down to the little creature next to me, "See who you're looking for?"

It hops off in response. I smile and walk towards the table, sitting next to Rosie, blowing her a little kiss.

"So, as I was saying, we need to disc-"

Velvette waves her hand, obnoxiously. Jesus Vel, what about a hello or how are you?

"Yes?"

"On the topic of discussion~" She signals me and I use my magic to conjure the exorcist's head in my hand, tossing it on the table.

"Ohoho SHIT!"

"Ooooh, tasty~"

Oh, that it was. I had already snuck a snap of the birdy earlier yesterday when we were organizing how to bring it to the meeting. Vox had to nearly rip me from it's feathers, it was that delectable. 

Carmilla looks taken back, "Where did you get this?"

I smile proudly, "We found it on extermination day!"

Velvette stands up with her finger to her face, "If these holy rollers can be killed, the game has changed." She jumps up on the table, always with her dramatics, but I love her, "We can take the fight to them! The crew and I have come up with a-"

There's a loud, exaggerated, slurp from the front of the table. I turn my head to the front where Zestial is sipping at a teacup. He puts it down, "If it be true, thee and thy colleagues desire to war with such meager proof, thou art far more...foolish than I bethought."

Ugh, I knew they wouldn't go for it, but no one ever listens to me. I don't know why, it's not like I've been here for decades before them...

Velvette scoffs, "Meager proof? It's a dead fucking exorcist. I'd say that's pretty fucking definitive..." She turns to him challengingly, "You going blind old man?" she taunts.

I widen my eyes at her audacity, "Velvette...." I whisper.

"We know not how this perished. Mayhaps twas not by a demon's hand at all. If we rush to war without knowing, mightn't they purge all of Hell for daring an uprising?" He pushes his hand against the table.

He did have a point. I kept trying to tell them this. I sigh as I hear the others mumbling about how they agree.

Velvette narrows her eyes and smiles teasingly, "Oh, I get it, so Grandpa is too pussy to fight, so I guess there's no point, right?"

I gasp, "Vel...." I warn.

She ignores me, "Oh, what's the matter, fossil?" She prances to the front of the table, getting in his face, "Too senile to make a real power grab?"

Carmilla rushes in front of her face, causing her to stumble back slightly. She doesn't look happy.

(Bold: Carmilla, Italics: Velvette, Both: Zestial) 

You better show some respect!

Check your behavior, no one speaks to Zestial that way!

Did you expect us to sit back

And take your insolent, brazen display?

I inhale sharply, already knowing that this isn't going to go well. I start to stand up, but Rosie puts a hand on my leg.

You've got it twisted!

I'm not the one who needs a new attitude

Maybe you missed it, but I'm that hashtag bitch

And I will do nothing less than what I please, woo!

I'm the backbone of the Vees

Well, ouch.....

Sorry group attendin'

Since when are overlords too scared to fight?

You're long past trendin'

Sorry, bae, but I ain't swipin' right

You've lost your relevance

We can't act without more intelligence...

Ugh, no wonder I'm so respectless,

I could eat you lot for breakfast

Carmilla groans, her fists still pressing against the table. Velvette really needed to calm down, this wasn't a good look for us.

You and the Vees are inane and uninformed,

Smug wannabes, who don't heed when you've been warned!

I snap up from the table, my hair coming undone and a hiss to my throat. DON'T PUT ME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THEM! HOW DARE YOU!?

Oops! Did I strike a nerve?

'Cause when I brought out the angel's head

Couldn't help but observe,

That your wrinkled face was turning red...

I giggle with another hiss to my voice.

And why are you avoidin' war?

"That's what the guns you sell are for~" I chime in.

Thanks to my being respectless,

One thing I'm starting to suspect is,

You know why this angel's headless

Do you have a disclosure?

This meeting's over!

I sigh and roll my eyes, crossing my arms. "That was a productive meeting~" Alastor cheerfully says. I chuckle softly, that was a good one.

"Humph, fine~" Velvette walks back to the door, "Safe travel to the nursing home, fuckers~" She throws them the bird and storms out, "Kiss my ass!"

"What the hell, we literally just got here!"

I groan and drag down my eyelids, "My apologies....again, Zestial." I sigh and walk to the door.

"You can do better..." Rosie whispers to me as I walk away.

I know....

I open the door and follow Velvette out. 

 ~ Author's Note ~

Enjoy some screenshots from my friends and I brainstorming what's to come next...

Big shoutout to them for helping me thus far <3

Also, 'A Siren's Spell' is #1 in Alastor Hartfelt AND 'A Siren's Hunt' is #5 WHAAAAAA :))) 

I hope to have more chapters up soon! 

Is there anything specific you'd want to see? Any characters returning? Any scenarios you can come up with? My plan is to go a little past the finale, since we don't know what comes next for season 2. I had so much planned for book one, so book two I'm tryna be SPONTANEOUS ~  

🖤Words: 2303🖤

~ Artemis 💗🦌