Novels2Search

~8~

Meanwhile, a woman was pacing back and forth in her room in Paris, France. She was very small and looked rather young, with golden blonde hair that came down to her knees. With her amber-colored eyes and her sun-kissed complexion. She wore a white evening gown robe that complimented her hourglass figure.

Constantly, she was calling someone on her smartphone. Sadly, no one picked up. She had to go out and face the public without hearing her voice.

She called again, but it went straight to voice mail, “It’s me again. I hope you two are okay. I’m still working but would like to spend more time with you when I return. I love you, bye.”

She hung up, wondering if she was doing the right thing...

“Didn’t hear anything back, big sis?” a young man’s voice chimed in.

She turned to see a tall, muscular man with short golden hair unkempt and crimson-red eyes. He was also wearing a red and black suit.

Maria sighed as she recognized him, “No, Kenny. And who did your hair?”

His full name was Kenny Van Boutonnière; he was her senior advisor.

“Ladies love the look. They always have the urge to run their fingers through it,” Kenny said with a devious smile.

Maria scowled, “I’m not even going to go there... You and your son should be in prison.”

His smile dissipated, knowing the truth, “He is seeing my shrink and taking his meds.”

“Of course, since now I am his guardian.” Maria disbelieved.

“He pisses in a cup every day. He can’t get it up if he tried now.” Kenny is defending his son.

Then, another tall, muscular man with pale green angel wings entered her dressing room. He had dark hair and green eyes and wore a blue robe.

Maria sees this angelic man and invites him in, “What is it, Zachariah?”

Zachariah closed the door and joined the group, “Holy Mother, everyone is in attendance.”

Maria sighed, “Good.”

“Why are you doing this anyway?” Kenny questioned.

“Because your baby sister wants to, Kenneth,” Zachariah admonished. “I know you don’t believe in miracles, but I’m looking at--!”

“Shut up! Both of you!” Maria demanded. “Let it be done! You better behave, Kenny. And you, Zach, focus on yourself. There are still a lot of moving parts that are in play. Do not overreach, and know your roles. Is that clear?”

“I know what I need to do. But I’m just sick and tired of people bullying my son!” Kenny shouted as he stormed out of the room.

“Meanwhile, he chose to rape those girls...” Zachariah admonished.

“Like your wife chose to cheat on you. Tell me, did they ever find the guy’s body?” Maria fired back.

Zachariah wanted to speak about it, but he chose not to. “Your excellency...” with a graceful bow, leaving the room.

Alone again, she looked at her phone and got a text back from a recognized number. She received an image of a heart with red lipstick kiss in the middle. This made Maria smile, giving her the confidence to go out there.

Setting her phone in her purse, Maria left it behind and left the dressing room. She was flanked by six security guards while walking down the hallway.

Maria was holding a charity ball in Downtown Paris. The charity is being thrown at one of her churches. The same church holds a lot of unsavory history.

The party is being held upstairs in the attic. The attic has a ballroom in the attic with a glass ceiling. Kenneth is already there eating and talking with other people. A few minutes later, the press showed up. Precipitately, she accidentally ran into a woman with long black hair and long blonde streaks. She was wearing a red sheath dress with matching high heels.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Maria recognized the woman, “Charlotte!”

“Hello, Maria!” Charlotte greeted her while hugging her.

Charlotte F. Boutonnière is Maria’s and Kenny’s younger sister. She works for the Third Revelation as their investment broker and financial advisor. Although she does not support what Maria is doing, Charlotte wants to be the moral compass of the Third Revelation and her family.

“It seems you have brought the animal kingdom here tonight,” Maria heckled.

“Don’t start.” Charlotte chided. “After everything that has happened--”

“Is happening for a reason. Is that clear?” Maria said with a smile. “Work on your speech. I’ll take my seat.”

As Maria leaves and takes her seat, Charlotte only wonders what she is up to. She couldn’t think about it now as she also needed to work on a few things before starting the program.

Maria takes her seat as Kenny sits with her at the table

“Did you at least say hi?” Maria wondered.

“Why?” He denied.

“Just asking...” Maria mocked.

Kenny shakes his head.

“Why are you even here then?” Maria questioned.

“Don't worry about it, okay?” Kenny said

“I believe there is a lot to worry about when you have a convicted felon--”

“I don’t give a fuck anymore...” Kenny said.

“Don't worry. She's harmless. A little bug in the garbage can.” Maria said. “There are eight units outside this building. Do not fuck up. I’m here for the same reason why everyone else is here. Do some of them look familiar?”

“Yeah...” He looked around.

“And if you are doing something vindictive, I suggest--”

“I won’t!” he said out loud.

Everyone sat down by the table as Charlotte was still standing.

“Hello everyone. And welcome to our Fourth Annual Divine Eye Convention. As you all know, the Ace Slayers were a band of bounty hunters trained to kill nephalems. The European government funded the Slayers for 23 years before they pulled the plug in in 2005. They have found out the Ace Slayers started killing innocent nephalems and that she wrote. Many years ago, my mother was a part of that group and killed a lot of nephalems. I never understood why at a young age until I grew up and started thinking for myself. She gave... she gave humankind a bad name. 30,000 Ace Slayers came here for their first meeting. Six hundred thousand nephalems died in the hands of my mother, Maria Montague, and the rest of the slayers. A few years after the European government shut them down, it was picked up by the Third Revelation until they were disbanded last year.”

Then, all the attention was on Maria as she said nothing.

“Once again, I'm sorry. That is why I brought 50 families here tonight who have lost their mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. We, the Third Revelation, want to make things right. We want you to walk down the street without looking behind your shoulder in fear. The Boutonnière and the Montague families have raised 73 million Euros, so many others who were affected by this tragedy to receive medical and housing assistance as well as financial assistance for bills and funeral costs.”

Everyone cheers and applauds as the bankers give checks to every family. Kenny was irate at the whole set-up. She was using the Third Revelation funds for this stunt this entire time. A little boy even hugs Maria as she is in shock.

“Everyone! I know I cannot nor can ever buy your trust, love, and respect. But I want all of you to know I'm just here to set things straight. And that is my mission, my goal!” Charlotte said.

Everyone said thank you as they applauded. Then their attention was on Maria as her face was red and sweating.

W-what... what can-- I can I say?” Maria fumbled her words. “I'm... I am lost--”

Everyone laughs.

“All this time. All my money--”

“It is not all your money. About 19 million was--”

“Let me tell you something. You can't get over the fact that we humans prevailed over you at something.” Kenny snapped. “As humans, we can adapt to just about anything. Anything you throw at us, we can handle. We saw you as a threat. Those 600,000 nephalems were felons, offenders, predators, and we derailed the whole fuckin' bunch of them.”

Charlotte knew what would happen as she tried to reel in her brother, “Kenneth, please--”

“Lord! Oh, Lord! Send me hell right now with a Beretta and three bullets because I... I don't give two shakes of shit! And as for...” Kenny laughs. “And as for you, Charlotte, our mother is turning over in her grave. You have SHOWED ME that you are a traitor. You have shown me clearly that you are an adversary and a kiss-ass. You have shown me... you have shown me that you will never--”

“Kenny! Please. What's done is done.” Maria cut Kenny off as she addressed the crowd. “Enjoy-- enjoy the checks. We're leaving, Kenny.”

Kenny and Maria storm out of the room. Zachariah approaches Charlotte.

“What you have done today has taken courage and love. They’ll get over it.” He praised her as he walked away and out of the room, leaving her alone.

I am doing the right thing! She thought.

A few moments later, everyone starts to eat and have a good time. Charlotte began to speak with the press about the new foundation she would establish.

Brusquely, a helicopter flies over the ceiling, shooting at everyone with three chain guns. They tried to escape, but someone had locked the doors with handcuffs so no one would escape. Everyone is running around the room, screaming bloody murder and trying to hide from the barrage of gunfire showering from the sky. But one by one, people were getting gunned down.

Charlotte was already shot twice in the leg and the shoulder. She musters enough strength to save a widow and her son, even with her injuries. Five minutes later, the helicopter stopped shooting and flew away. There was a river of blood, and everyone was lying in it. Two families avoided the gunfire; four were severely injured but survived, but the rest were all dead. Eighty-seven people were gunned down that night.

As for Charlotte, she will live. But already, she wished she was dead.