CH 19: Fragments

Charlie's conversation with her father surprisingly went over fairly well. Lucifer agreed to help schedule a meeting with heaven for his daughter but was very clear in saying that it may take some time to do so. It was later in the day, mid-afternoon to early evening, and Esme was helping Charlie clean up the decorations from her father's arrival. She's standing up on top of a chair, pulling down some of the streamers they had set up earlier.

"So..." Charlie begins, appearing nervous to engage in conversation with Esme, "You don't remember anything of your past life?"

"Are you still focused on this?" Esme asks coldly, narrowing her eyes at the streamer on the wall and yanking it down with force.

"It's just that you've been a closed book ever since you've arrived..." Charlie explains, steading the chair for her to balance on, "I want to make sure you feel comfortable enough to share with everyone."

"Share my life story for a bunch of people I still am getting to know?" She looks down at her with a raised brow. "No, thank you..." She steps down, rolling up the streamer in her hand.

"I can tell ya somethings about her!" Angel chimes from the couch, leaning his head back while sucking on a popsicle, "For starters, don't let this gal fool you, she's been around. Trust me~"

"You make me sound like a whoreish woman..." Esme growls, turning back to Charlie, "What he means is, my family and his were involved with some crime and I've witnessed quite a few things."

"Ah, so you remember that. That's a start!" Charlie says excitedly, making a swinging motion with her arm.

"I didn't realize this was a race..." Esme mumbles, walking to the garbage and throwing away the streamer still in her hand, "I remember most of my beginning life, just towards the end things get hazy. But, I remember I always loved living in New York. I imagine I lived there forever."

"What are you talking about?" Angel turns his head from the couch, "You left us years before you disappeared."

"I did?"

There's a rush of black smoke and suddenly Alastor appears by the couch, listening intently to Angel's conversation, "Yes, do explain, we are all fascinated to learn more about The Siren herself~" he says cheerfully, secretly observing how much she would respond to now that the second half of her life was being mentioned.

"You left Es. You left with Margo to Louisana and decided to stay there."

"That's absurd, I loved Manhattan." Esme scoffs, shaking her head from side to side. She walks over to the flower centerpiece she had made earlier and picks it up, carrying it to the couch.

"You, apparently, loved something else more than Manhattan..." Angel pauses, mumbling under his breath, "...or us."

"And what was that?" Alastor asks with a knowing grin.

"Her husband," Angel responds with a huff.

Esme's hand slips on the centerpiece, causing it to fall on the ground and shatter, "Fuck..." She winces, holding her hands tightly from shaking, before bending down and picking up the flowers from among the glass.

Alastor smirks at this reaction, snapping his fingers and making the glass disappear.

"You were married?!" Charlie beams, leaning towards Esme, "Oh, that must have been so beautiful! Don't you love a good love story, Vaggie?"

Esme remains quiet as Charlie approaches her, "Sooooo how did the two of you meet? Oh, what's his name?" Esme keeps turning away from her, but Charlie obviously doesn't read her body language, continuing to follow her bouncing from spot to spot, "Oh, do you think he's here?" She gasps, "We should totally find him, what was he-"

"ENOUGH!" Esme shouts, her voice echoing in the space. Her true demon form revealed, her eyes staring deeply into Charlie's. In response, Charlie grabs her head and backs up, feeling a sharp pain from inside her skull. Esme's eyes widen, dimming her eyes and pulling back her fangs, "Oh, I'm sorry Princess." She rushes to help her, laying a hand on her head. "I-" She stands up, seeing Charlie taking in a few deep breaths and steadying herself.

"I know nothing of him..." She mumbles, "Not a face, not a name, nothing." She turns away, "I'm sorry to have hurt you, I just....I get defensive when I think about that time." She glares at Angel, "I don't know why you would say that."

Esme turns back to Charlie, extending her hands and reaching out for her. Charlie takes her hands and smiles sadly, "I know he was a good man, he had to be. I know myself, I would have never fallen in love with a monster, but..." She sighs and reaches back to her head, parting her hair.

A screech of a record can be heard.

"How do you think this got here?" Esme questions, looking back at Charlie with ashamed eyes.

Charlie gasps and goes to reach for her head, but Esme pulls away, "I don't need your pity. It was an accident, I know he didn't mean it. I've seen it played in my memories over and over, just fragments of a piece of time." She sighs, "But in every one, I hear his screams, his pleas."

Alastor swallows thickly.

"He never meant to hurt me.." She whispers.

"But, you're still waiting.." Husk sighs from the counter.

Angel's gaze hardens and becomes cold, icy, something very different from his usual demeanor around Esme,"I swear if I ever see that man, you betta hope I d-" 

"He was a good man!" Esme shouts. She pauses and looks at her ring, "He had to be..."

"Oh, is that?" Charlie reaches for her hand, looking closely at the ring.

"My ring, I suppose." Esme moves her hand closer to Charlie's eyes, "But if you look closely, there are runes encrusted along it. These are all protection symbols." Her eyes meet Charlie, "He never wanted me hurt." She whispers.

Charlie pulls away from Esme and as soon as she turns her back, she turns her head to Alastor.

She'd seen those symbols before.

He turns his face, refusing to meet her gaze, but keeps his everlasting smile.

"So, you may ask yourself why and you may look at me like I'm just some lovesick fool, but I know this was an accident." She glares at Husk before walking to the nearby piano Alastor had conjured earlier, but never removed. He knew she would gravitate towards it. "I just know it." She whispers.

Heart of Stone, Natalie Paris 🎵

You got a good heart,

But I know it changes,

A restless tide,

Untamable

Her fingers run along the keys, playing in a soft gentle melody.

You came my way,

And I knew a storm could come too,

You lift me high,

Or let me fall,

Esme smiles softly looking down at her hands.

But I took your hands,

Promised I'd withstand,

And blaze you blew my way,

'Cuz something inside it solidified,

And I knew I'd always stay,

She sighs and picks up the tempo.

You can build me up,

You can tear me down,

You can try but I'm unbreakable,

You can do your best,

But I'll stand the test,

You'll find that I'm unshakable,

When the fires burned,

When the wind has blown,

When the water's dried,

You'll still find stone,

Esme smiles sadly, pressing deeper into the keys,

My heart of stone...

You say we're perfect,

A perfect match made,

You hold me close for the world to see,

And when I say you're the only one I've ever loved,

I mean those words truthfully...

Deep within him, Alastor could slowly feel his heart breaking from deep rotting guilt. Charlie glances at him with saddened and disappointed eyes.

You can try but I'm unbreakable,

You can do your best,

But I'll stand the test,

You'll find that I'm unshakable,

When the fires burned,

When the wind has blown,

When the water's dried,

You'll still find stone,

My heart of stone,

Esme's eyes fill with tears, pausing before playing again,

Soon I'll have to go,

I'll never see him grow,

But I hope my love will know,

He'll never be alone,

'Cuz like a river runs dry

And leaves its scars behind,

I'll be by your side,

Because my love is set in stone.

There's another pause in the music, the silence being filled by the sound of a silent record skipping.

You can try but I'm unbreakable,

You can do your best,

But I'll stand the test,

You'll find that I'm unshakable,

When the fires burned,

When the wind has blown,

When the water's dried,

You'll still find stone

My heart of stone....

Esme sighed and pulled away from the piano, smiling softly and running her hands along the keys, "It's been a while since I've been at a piano..." She mumbles. She stands up, turning to the group, "So, you may call me a clown or whatever you'd like, but I'm going to continue with my afterlife. I hope you all join me."

Charlie doesn't say anything but pulls Esme into a deep hug. Esme stiffens at the sudden touch, but eventually softens and rests her head on top of Charlie's shoulders, squeezing her in response. 

🖤Words: 1538🖤

~ Artemis 💗🦌