Laying Paris In The Tomb (Chapter Two)

Chapter Two – Ground&Pound1

I woke the next morning, a very disgruntled woman for having spent the night curled up against my bedroom door. Imogen, my loving alarm clock, kicked the shit out of my door until I opened my eyes, got up, and opened the door itself – and let me tell you, the smile on her face was entirely too bright for someone who had stayed up late and risen early. I swear, sometimes I think she’s got caffeine running though her veins, rather than blood.2

After much indignation, 3 cups of coffee, and several curse words, I was more or less ready for work. I drove, of course, since Imogen isn’t the biggest fan of operating heavy machinery. We were met at the front doors of the hospital by one of the regular day nurses, Lucy, as we usually are – but we were met with panic, rather than her usual easy smiles.3

“Your... your father called. A lot.”4

“..How many times is ‘a lot?’ “5

“11 times since we started visiting hours.”6

“...”7

Imogen and I looked at each other, and simultaneously bolted, but in opposite directions – Imogen to check on our patients, and me to take care of my father and the shitestorm that was threatening to rain down on St. Ignatius’ Teaching Hospital of Cardiff, England.8

(It’s not really... a hospital, not in such concrete terms. Sure, it’s a big building with lots of advanced equipment and several floors and wards. Lots of staff, too. But the owner of the hospital, Gunner Abbey, had specific ideas about what a hospital should look and feel like. As a child, he’d watched his sick mum chronically be discharged and readmitted. She’d been incorrectly diagnosed with Munchausen’s Syndrome. Turns out she was suffering from early-onset HIV from a transplant, long before blood donours went through all the criteria they do in this day and age. She kept trying to tell her doctors that something was wrong, and they’d only talked down to her and insulted her intelligence. By the time they’d realized her mistake, she was second-stage. In other words, she had AIDS. If her doctors had just bloody listened, they could have at least maintained it, y’know?)9

So, Gunner built his hospital from the ground up. He hand-picked his staff, funders, and location. He’s one of the only heads of staff I know who knows the name of everyone in his hospital at any given time, janitorial crew included. He treats Imogen, our older sister Rumour, and I like his own children. I mean, really. Gunner was the sort of man Imogen and I WISHED we’d had, growing up.10

He was my mother’s boss, and had been for nearly...hm. Nearly 16 years, now that I think about it. The moment I met him, I wished he could have been the one my mother fell in love and conceived four children with. 11

He was endlessly kind, and 12

unimposingly handsome – 13

with his dark Hawaiian features, 14

but Irish cream coloured skin, 15

he was a wonder to look at 16

(so I might’ve come out a little more attractive, too).17

Not only that, but Gunn was the kind of person who understood kids. Teens, really. As ‘troubled’ as we had been, he always knew how to make me feel connected to the rest of the world, instead of at odds with it. He understood my musical tastes – he’d been in a rock band at a (much) younger age, and been totally into the 80s punk scene. When I was in high school, we’d stand around the hospital, or I’d trail him as he strolled the busy hallways, and we’d talk 18

anarchy in the UK, 19

CBGB’s, 20

Ian Curtis 21

– the things that I wanted to define me.22

And, after my sixteenth birthday, when I was finally allowed to date, It was Gunner that I brought my first boyfriend to. He was also there for the next boyfriend, and the next – and even my first girlfriend. 23

Nobody will ever know how I once wished (and still do) that Gunn could have been my dad. Maybe in another world, he was. Growing up, I stayed close to him, hoping to soak up some of his magic. But that, unfortunately, was something I never quite seemed to manage, so even at my current age, I still follow him about like a puppy.24

That’s why I felt no surprise when I slammed open my office door, only to find Gunn sitting in the corner, working on paperwork (Not really. He was actually just waiting for me to have my emotional breakdown so he could get it over with and get the fuck back to his day). Without looking up, he smiled warmly and very reassuringly. 25

“Don’t worry, princess. 26

I’m sure he’s just calling 27

to tell you he’s in town.” 28

Again, without looking, he could feel rather than see my look of horror.29

“Gunn, that is not even close to humorous.” 30

I threw my keys at him, setting my things down as he yelped (– a handful of metal never does anyone’s face any good, now does it?). 31

I raked my hands through my hair, beginning to pace in time to the frantic ringing of the phone. 32

“I’m gonna have to pick that up eventually, aren’t I?”33

“Yeah, Isles. I don’t think you exactly have any choice, 34

because if you don’t...” 35

He trailed off,36

“...he’ll come here.” I finished.37

Of course, I already knew the answer. It was, had always been, and would always be a black cloud of a threat, hanging darkly over my head –38

If you don’t oblige his insanity, he will come to force it upon you. 39

It was a truth my family held to be self-evident, and one we feared from some place hidden at the centre of each of us. 40

I threw myself into my rolling chair, which was stupid, because the force of gravity, or whatever it is (sorry, I never actually passed physics in second form) sent me flying and eventually slammed me forehead first into a wall. So, once the cartoon birds stopped flying ‘round my head, I grasped the edges of my desk and heaved, not stopping until I was directly behind and could therefore rest my head on the top of my desk. From where my head was covered by my hands, I spoke muffledly. 41

“Can’t you just pick up the phone 42

and tell him I simply...43

died?44

in some sort of horrible and tragic... 45

pudding accident, or something?”46

“I don’t even want to contemplate 47

were that idea came from, you sick, sick child.” 48

Gunn shook his head, then pointed to the phone. 49

“And unless you want to spend all day listening to the sweet,50

dulcet tones of hospital telecommunications hardware, 51

you’re going to have to pick up on him, my dear.”52

Groaning, I nodded. I knew he was right, but I absolutely dreaded the thought of picking up that phone and facing whatever hell lay on the other end of the line.53

“Will... will you stay with me?” 54

I asked, my voice embarrassingly small. Gunner softened, then rose and came to sit on the opposite side of my desk. He brushed my hand with his, smiling reassuringly. 55

“I’ll be right here, love. It’ll be alright.”56

After an excessively deep breath, I picked up the phone – mid-ring. 57

“Hello, Father,” 58

(I know, it sounds like a very heartfelt greeting. Trust me, it gets worse). 59

“My, my, we’ve not talked since the last time 60

you deemed it necessary to blow up our phone. 61

When was that, two years ago? 62

God, how time flies.” 63

As much as I tried, I couldn’t keep the venom out of my voice. What can I say? Old habits die very, very hard.64

“Now, Capulet, don’t you fucking talk to me that way. 65

I am your father, and the head of this family, 66

and you will show me the respect that title owes.”67

“You are my father only in the sense68

that you impregnated my mother, 69

and she chose to keep me. 70

So, really, you’re a glorified sperm donour. 71

Thanks ever so much for your contribution.”72

Bad move on my part, as you can probably tell.73

He started yelling into the phone so loudly that I set the phone down, and could still hear him even as my sister walked into the office and close the door behind her. And when the shouting stopped, I dreaded what came next – The weepy exaltations of his paternal love for us. Imogen cringed at me as I put him on speaker – If I was going to suffer through this, so was she.74

“ ‘Cap you know I love you!75

You’re my youngest, yknow!? 76

You’re my baby girl, and 77

you’re gonna grow up to be just like me. 78

How can you talk to me that way 79

when I’ve done everything I can80

to raise you right?”81

Laughing derisively, I snorted and cut him off there.82

“Oh, you mean like that time 83

you came to Mum’s house 84

and broke two windows 85

and punched a hole in our front door? 86

Or, how about cheating on Mum 87

with Naomi? 88

Oh, or divorcing her for the same skank, 89

then leaving her with TWO JOBS 90

and a handful of kids? 91

Oh, no! 92

You must mean the coke habit that got you 93

dishonourably discharged from the Royal Navy, 94

which ended up lasting my entire life 95

and causing you to ruin my sixteenth birthday? 96

That must be it. 97

Well, Father, you’re right! 98

Without you, 99

I would never have had anyone 100

to show me what kind of person not to be. 101

I’m so glad we could have this talk, 102

but I’ve got to go hang myself now. Ta!”103

I finished mock-cheerfully, then slammed the phone back down onto the hook so hard I nearly broke the entire set up. Once I’d hung up, something he said in the midst of me talking over him made me freeze at the same time as my sister, who was just realizing it, as well.104

“He’s... he’s coming here.105

To the hospital.106

He’s fucked his rotator cuff all to hell, 107

and insists that his two brilliant doctor daughters operate on him.” 108

I swear, Imogen nearly fainted by the time I got the words out in an unintelligible string, confirming our worst fears.109

“You... tell Mom and the rest of the family, 110

while I go warn hospital staff, yeah?” 111

Imogen nodded, moving to change places with me, while I pretty much bolted from the room in such a panic that I had to run into the washroom to wash my face – and vomit three or four times. I walked out and sunk down against the wall until my ass hit the floor – and then I sat, head in my hands, for quite a while. When I woke from my stupour, it was to a pair of nicely tailoured men’s shoes. 112

...Shoes I had seen before, even if just a glimpse of them.113

I lifted my gaze to the outstretched hand, then beautiful slate grey eyes of Adrien Lafayette. 114

“Come, ma cherie. A beautiful girl like you should not be so upset.” 115

I took his hand and he pulled me up, the momentum so much that I landed flush against him. His strong arms steadied me, but did not let go. 116

“Now, do you want to tell me what is wrong, or shall I find out another way?” 117

He asked me softly, eyes locked on mine. As I didn’t answer, my silence told him for me, and he nodded. 118

“Come with me, there are some people I would like for you to meet. 119

I have spoken to... Lucy, I believe, 120

and she will notify anyone who asks 121

that you are safely in my care, 122

and will be promptly returned.”123

I opened my mouth to protest, and he put his finger against my lips.124

“Non, ma cherie. I will not take no for an answer.” 125

I let a breath out against his hand, letting go of my resolve and nodding. 126

“Good. Now, please come with me. I’ve brought your things.”127

I took my bag and my phone from him once he fully released me, and he held out his arm. Placing my hand in his, I began to walk, and blanked out as I did – that was, until I stepped out of the hospital doors and into the bright morning sunlight. Adrien led me to his car, and it was exactly what my instincts had told me he would drive – some sleek black custom job that was probably tanked to hell with nitrous oxide to force it to all sorts of gorgeously dangerous speeds.128

Gentlemanly as he was, he used those old school French manners of his and opened the door, allowing me to slide into the coupe, so small I was almost claustrophobic in the enclosed space.129

“Please, play anything you like.”130

He gestured toward the iPod sitting in the cupholder. Any person who has ever met me knows that music is my salvation – which I found in all the Beatles songs on his “All You Need Is...” playlist (John Lennon and George Harrison are two of my greatest loves). He smiled at me in the mirror.131

“Ah, a Beatles fan! I knew there was a reason I liked you!”132

I grinned back in a way I hoped appeared coy:133

“Only one reason, monsieur?” 134

He smiled again.135

“Non, ma cherie. 136

There are several reasons I happen to like you –137

most of which we will discuss when138

we are not heading into the company of my cohorts.”139

“Your cohorts? I’m not sure that I understand.”140

He merely nodded, smiling mysteriously to himself, and continued to drive.141

After nearly 45 minutes of comfortable silence (with the exception of the music) we turned a corner, pulling up to a 142

gorgeous gothic-style mansion, 143

circa early 1300s English royalty. 144

I still can hardly recall seeing a more beautiful home. 145

It was all grey limestone from foundation to roof, 146

with oval-shaped windows barred from top to bottom,147

completed by wine-red turreting. 148

A green lawn seemed to stretch for hours, 149

so lushly planted that I almost wanted to take off my shoes and lay down,150

then stare up at the endless grey Cardiff sky 151

until the rain fell and the filth of the morning ceased to matter.152

I sat, staring, for a long moment after the car stopped – so long, in fact, that Adrien had to shake me from my reverie. 153

“Come, ma cherie – 154

after introductions are made, 155

you will have all the time in the world to look.”156

I slid from the coupe at his beckoning, taking his hand as I stood.157

“Cross your heart?” 158

I asked, as we walked toward the large oak and mahogany double doors that were the entrance to the house. He chuckled then. 159

“Ah, ma cherie. If only I had a heart to cross.”160

Before I could ask him what the hell he meant by that, we had crossed the beautiful grass (which, judging from the way my feet sunk into it, was just as lush as I’d assumed) in just a few of Adrien’s quick, wide steps which left me near breathless in an effort to keep up.161

The doors swung open, seemingly of their own accord, like some intro to a bad horror movie, the audience knowingly yelling “Don’t go in!” at a screen full of people who cannot hear them. I was the tiniest bit alarmed until I heard Adrien’s quiet laughter, then looked up to see him pressing a button. As he did, the doors closed. Once more, and they opened – like a garage door. I pushed him gently, rolling my eyes as if I had known the trick all along and was merely playing along for his benefit. Squaring my shoulders, I walked into the house – Sorry, the bleeding castle.162

I would’ve gladly continued purposely strolling about as if I owned the place, but, well – I didn’t – and had no idea where I was headed. Adrien, of course, knew this, as he always seemed to know such things, and took my hand in his much larger one, leading me further in as the doors closed behind us with a satisfying, air-cushioned ‘thunk.’ 163

In my know-it-allishness, I had yet to actually look at the foyer of the house, and my GOD. Like everything else that seemed to be related to Adrien, it was beautiful. The overwhelmingly large room was stylishly decorated in creams and wine tones, rich cherry-stained wood as a finisher. The hardwood floor was open and unblemished, except for a coffee table, and pieces of lavish cream-coloured leather furniture spaced throughout the room. The ceiling arched high overhead, as most ceilings do, in castles, drawing my attention to the winding staircases at either edge of the room. His eyes followed my gaze and he chuckled, shaking his head once more.164

“Not yet, ma petite. 165

There is much, much more166

for you to see of my home 167

before we explore the upper levels. 168

It will all come in good time.”169

A bit dazed by all there was to take in, I merely nodded and allowed him to lead me out of the foyer and down a long, quiet hallway. I laughed to myself, and he looked at me in surprise. 170

“Oh, excuse me, monsieur. 171

I was thinking about how much warmer it is 172

than what you would expect from a castle in the English countryside.”173

His eyebrows raised in understanding, and he opened his mouth to respond.174

“Ah, you are correct, mademoiselle. 175

The manour is insulated – 176

it offers both heat, and the necessary privacy.”177

“Privacy?”178

“You will see, cherie.”179

I stopped then, looking up at him in what I hoped looked to be righteous indignation.180

“See what!? 181

Pardon my frustration,182

Monsieur Lafayette, 183

but you speak in nothing but riddles, 184

and while I enjoy a puzzle, given my chose profession, 185

I do believe we left the hospital, so I would 186

very much like to know what the FUCK is going on.”187

He grinned, pointing to the door a few steps away. 188

“The answer is beyond that door. Please, hold your temper a moment more, and allow me to show you.” 189

I huffed, but let him lead me to the door, then stepped through it as he held it open for me.190

Before me was a spacious, yet modestly furnished, cement-walled area, softened only by a gorgeous, highly polished hardwood floor. One particular wall, the one adjacent to me, was cut open by a large fireplace, roaring to keep the room warm. However, it wasn’t the crackling blaze that surprised me – 191

It was the people in front of it. 192

There was a long pause, and then a man turned from where he sat before the fire, wrapping his knuckles in cloth.193

“...Sweet, did Adrien finally spring for hookers?”194

The others with him laughed as Adrien quickly advanced and aimed a well-placed roundhouse kick at his back, shoving him from his perch.195

“Hookers? Not for you, mon frère – we learned our lesson last time, did we not?” He laughed, then looked at me.196

“Ma cherie, please join us.”197

My heels clicked on the lavishly polished hardwood as I walked, a steady 1-2, 1-2, rhythm to keep me company amidst the unfriendly silence. All at once, the room seemed to have gotten exponentially larger, while I grew smaller with each step. By the time I stopped in front of Adrien at the opposite side of the room, I imagined I must look to be much, much smaller. So much so, in fact, that I could only be seen in all my 198

microscopic glory 199

by the unfaltering scrutiny 200

of all the men in the room.201

“Please, ma cherie. Introduce yourself.”202

“...”203

I looked at him for a long moment – I was rapidly losing my patience with his unexplained actions and his mysterious smiles. But, as I figured I couldn’t possibly feel anymore out of sorts, I spoke.204

“Right, well. 205

My name 206

is Capulet Rosencrantz. 207

I’m not a hooker,” 208

I aimed at the pretty blonde who still lay on the floor, 209

“and I have 210

no FUCKING clue 211

what I’m doing here, 212

so forgive the cat 213

that’s gotten a hold of my tongue.”214

I turned my head, glaring at Adrien.215

“Good eno-?” 216

The (increasingly rude) blonde cut me off.217

“-Adrien, she’s kind of a runt. I don’t know if she can do it.”218

That was it. I was not about to be insulted by a man whose only concern was, apparently, oversized hookers.219

“Pardon me, whoever you are, 220

but you can eat me. 221

I’m currently having the shittiest day imaginable, 222

and I’ve let Adrien drag me here223

and smile all those mysterious smiles 224

and give me those roguish winks 225

in place of telling me what the fuck is going on 226

because I trust him not to screw with me. 227

But I don’t know you, 228

so there’s not a single229

fucking230

thing231

keeping me from kicking your arse – 232

which I’m more than happy to do 233

at this current juncture – 234

so I recommend 235

that you think very, very carefully236

about the words that are about to come out of your mouth.”237

I finished in a huff, and I could feel the heat and the anger rising into my face, reddening it in frustration. To be honest, I was hoping he’d get the hell out of my face, so I was nowhere near prepared for what came next.238

“...Fine, then.” 239

He rose, having finished the wrapping on his hands, which I could now clearly see were Muay Thai wraps. As I processed that, trying to compute how entirely I’d fucked myself over, he walked to stand directly in front of me, utilizing his full height, which I imagined was well over six feet, as my forehead came to the middle of his chest. 240

I’m not one to back down from a fight, and thank god, because he wasn’t about to let me. There was a moment, a beat of a heart241

thump-thump242

between us before he swung – a left jab that landed with a sickening crunch in the mess of cartilage and bone, now formerly known as my nose.243

Adrien rose to stop him as I went wheeling back, grabbing his arm and shaking his head. 244

“No.” I shook my head.245

When I dropped my hands to break my nose’s protective covering, blood landed about the hardwood with a sound so soft it was like rainfall, and in that moment, I knew that punch, those blood patterns, this meeting – was the start of something. I could either run from it like a frightened child, or I could steer into the skid.246

...I cut the brakes, let go of the wheel, and prepared for impact.247

A hush fell over the room, different than the previous silence in that it was anticipatory, rather than uncomfortable. I shrugged out of my jacket, pulled my bag over my head, and handed them to Adrien without a word.248

The blonde looked at me, something like incredulity in his eyes.249

I merely raised my eyebrow in indifference, and began to walk backward into the room. When I’d reached the middle, I beckoned for him to follow – and he did. As we faced each other, he looked at my attire and snorted. 250

“You do know that wearing those shoes in a fight is a horrible idea, right? 251

It’s like handing me a victory, 252

because you’re an easy target – no center of balance.”253

I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, nodding mutely. 254

“If you were speaking to any other girl, you’d be right...”255

I stepped toward him and we began to slowly circle each other. 256

“...But you aren’t, on either count.” 257

Having grown tired of talking, I fell into my fighting stance and threw a 258

JabCrossHookHook259

combination at him. He blocked all but the hooks, judging from the way his left eye was beginning to swell. Most people don’t hook with their left, because it’s uncomfortable, and therefore abnormal – which makes it the perfect attack.260

From that moment, as you Americans say, it was on like Donkey Kong.261

To be honest, I can’t tell you how long we fought. I can’t tell you what blows landed and what didn’t (aside from the right hook to my fucking throat, and let me tell you, that sucked all the dick in the universe, so avoid it whenever possible). I can’t even tell you who was winning, most of the time. 262

What I can tell you is how it ended.263

My ill-placed roundhouse landed on his liver, but I didn’t retract my leg fast enough. He caught me by my heel (surprise, surprise,) and tugged me in close, with so much force that we toppled over, rendering us as such:264

Both of us bleeding265

on the floor of the room, 266

skin abraded, 267

bruised,268

swollen.269

Injuries I’d have to heal once I could find the strength to move again.270

Most importantly, though, it ended with me on my back, being straddled by a very strong blonde, who was, of course, a million times more attractive than I’d originally thought when I looked at him up close.271

“Give up?” He asked with a laugh, spitting blood and saliva to the side (God, even after a fight, his teeth were platinum white and perfectly aligned), his hands on my wrists as he leaned over me like the mount required no effort at all.272

I thrashed underneath him, having forgotten all of my previous grappling training in a fit of what seemed to be a heady combination of panic, lust, and a severe hormonal imbalance (I may need to get checked, now that I look back on it) until I realized that he was no longer trying to fight me, he was baiting me.273

I forced myself to go completely limp, locking my eyes on his.274

“Why give up when I’m so comfortable?”275

He arched a brow, then canted his head curiously.276

“Comfortable?”277

“I could do this all day.”278

“...”279

He leaned all the way over until his lips were nearly touching my ear, whispering.280

“I might take you up on that when we haven’t got an audience.”281

And just like that, he pulled away, let go of my wrists, and stood. 282

“...”283

I lay there for a minute, staring at the ceiling and trying to get my raging hormones in check. I’m not sure how long I was there, but my reverie was interrupted by the hand in my face, offering me help up. I took it, and he heaved, both of us groaning. Weaker than I wanted to admit, my knees buckled, and he caught me in his arms. He held me there for a moment, steadying me, then spoke.284

“I’m Teller.” I could hear the smile in his voice as vividly as I could feel the vibration of his deep voice in his chest, and for just a second, I felt... at home. There was a sense of safety, the likes of which I’d never found in another man’s arms – not even Adrien’s, as captivating as he was.285

I hadn’t long to ponder the significance of that feeling, though. With Teller, in those minutes during which we’d fought, the world hadn’t stopped, time hadn’t sped, or slowed. No, nothing that intense – I’d just ceased to recognize the existence of anyone else on the planet.286

However, we were not alone, and were joined by the ring of men surrounding us, clapping. Teller let me go and I forced myself to stand, afraid to imagine what I must look like. Adrien smiled at me like a proud sensei and spoke.287

“That is why you are here, ma cherie. You show a... thirst for life that most humans, let alone most women are incapable of achieving. The passion in your fight is a remarkable thing, and it is not something that happens often in this world. You already know what I do, if you think about it for a moment, but in the interest of not being mysterious any longer – I am a contract killer. As are these men. We would like to invite you to join our brotherhood.”288

“...D’you think I could get a bit of a kip before I answer?” 289

I asked dazedly, the world starting to go fuzzy at the edges.290

“Kip?” He asked confusedly, looking about at the men.291

“It means – 292

It means nap.” 293

I mumbled, my knees buckling and the world going black around me, closing in until there was nothing but warmth and silence.294