Chapter Seven
Day two I am awake I am still here. This is not a dream. I am out of the void. I am surrounded by witches and I am sleeping above a frog green bar. Strange how everything has happened, one day I am rotting in the void and then I am here seeking something so familiar to me.
I am here and I will do my job. I will find my brother. Every person here has so much faith in me. I have no faith in myself. Yes, I know I am perdition. I am the one to stop it all. I am trying to wrap my head around all this and I can’t seem to focus.
For now, I will focus on getting out of bed and meeting this Ryan person. He knows how to find Damnation. He is the one they need to be thanking not me. They all seem to think I am the savior of their world. I am just a girl with daddy issues and a crazy brother and evidently a psycho mother. I am not sure if I can focus beyond the day. I am just going to get through the day. I will meet Ryan to see how he can help and find my brother.
I am dressed. I am standing on this busy street waiting for a guy I do not know to pick me up and take me to somewhere I have never been. I am terrified.
As I wait here comes Camilla Dawn chipper as ever. How can one person be that happy? She is an angel, well maybe not an angel. She is amazing. I have never had anyone like her in my life. My life has been surrounded by the tormented ones or the souls serving my father.
As I stand here admiring Camilla I hear a loud noise coming from the street, what in the hell is that?
“Perdition, its JJ.” She said. She is waving her arm.
“Camilla he knows we are here,” I speak sharply to her. I should not have done that. But I did and now it’s over, maybe I should apologize.
JJ pulls up in his truck. It’s a 1975 Chevy. I only know this because I have seen one in the void. My outdated information comes in handy sometimes.
He gets out of this big orange monstrosity. He walks up to me and Camilla Dawn
“Girls are you ready?” This man grabbed us up before we could even answer.
“Yes,” I screamed as he picked me up and sat me in the seat.
The floorboard is orange. What have I gotten myself into? All I know is somebody better know where to find my brother? Camilla is sitting beside me smiling as usual. This chipper personality is starting to get to me. Here we go off to meet Ryan leaving the green pub heading off in a big orange monstrosity. This thing we are in will hopefully get us where we are going.
I have never seen anything like this. It is so beautiful. As we ride along in this big orange going to Ryan’s house all I can think of is my dad. I miss my dad. I miss KoKo. I did not get to mourn his death. I can’t wrap my head around everything that has happened. I have lost everyone in my life. I am now surrounded by this amazing family. Maybe today will be a good day. It will be a good day. I am perdition.
We ride along. I find myself lost in the amazing scenery. I was not prepared for everything that has happened to me. I am going to survive everything that is going on. JJ rides in silence. I think he knows what is to come. Honestly, I am terrified as I take this ride. I am scared. I should not be but I am. I keep reminding myself I am perdition.
I can feel every single rock on this long winding dirt road. There is a small home at the end. I can see the top of it as we drive up. Guys are working on the fence. They stop as we drive by. They are staring at me.
It makes me so uncomfortable when they do that. I know everyone means well, but I am still trying to figure all this out.
JJ hits a huge rock. I bump my head on the headliner. “Ouch,” I screamed. He hits the brakes.
“Are you okay Perdition?” He looks terrified.
“I am fine. Can we continue?” I smile.
He looks like something is wrong. I am scared. “Is there something you are leaving out? You seem distracted JJ.” I ask.
He keeps staring at the road ahead. He doesn't answer. Something is wrong here. I close my eyes and try to listen in on my surrounding.
His hand touches me “We are here. No worries Perdition.” I believe him. I know something is wrong but I believe I am safe.
Camilla Dawn bounces out of the truck. “Hey, guys.”
We have a live one here. I swear she is pure energy. Her perfect blond ponytail bounces as she walks to the house. Several dogs run up to greet her. A lady and man come out of the house.
“Big mama! Mayhem” She screams and runs toward them. People do not typically get out of the void and get to return to their homes. She deserves to see them.
“Where is Ryan?” I could hear her asking Big Mama. Camilla Dawn falls to the ground.
JJ jumps out of the truck. “Stay here Perdition” He takes off after Camilla Dawn.
“Do not upset her. We cannot have her falling back into the void.” He scolds them.
“JJ! They took Ryan. They took him.” JJ picks her up and takes her into the house.
Everyone looks at me. I am still in Big Orange. I am not sure if I should get out. Okay, deep breath in and I am going to get out of this truck and find out what is going on. 1..2…3.
JJ is at my door when I open my eyes. “Come on let’s get you inside,” JJ says.
I get out of the truck. I cannot stop staring at everything. The white house, the white fence, the trucks, the hay, this is my first time on a farm and all I can feel is fear. Everyone is afraid. I step upon the porch. I am two steps behind JJ.
“Perdition this is Big Mama and her son Mayhem. They are descendants.”
Big Mama hugs me “Are you hungry Darling?” she asks.
Mayhem looks in my eyes. I am at peace almost immediately “Mama I am going to take her around the farm. We need to talk.” He said. “Perdition come with me.”
He takes me by the hand and leads me off the porch. “I guess you've never been anywhere like this before.” He says with a smile.
He is beautiful. “I have lived in the underworld since I was a baby. I was trapped in the void for a while. So No I have never experienced anything like this. It is amazing.” I replied as we walked.
“Mayhem where is Ryan? I was told he could help find my brother?” I inquired.
Mayhem stopped. “There is a lot to tell you and little time to explain everything. So I am going to give you as much information as I can.” He put his hands on my arms and looked in my eyes.
“I understand,” I say to him.
He let go of my arms as we walk toward the barn. “Come on Perdition. We got work to do.” He says.
I followed him to the barn. This place has a peaceful feeling. I have felt anguish my entire life but here I feel a strange peace. I feel connected.
“You are connected Perdition. You are connected to me.” He said as he opened the door to allow me to walk in front of him.
“I am connected to you. I do not understand.” I say as I walk into the barn.
I turn to look at him but the people in the barn catch my eye. “Oh my Hell. What is going on here?” I say aloud.
I look at every inch of the inside of the barn. I can’t believe what is in front of me. There are people from the void. There are a lot of people from the void.
“What happened? How did all of you get out?” I scream. I can’t believe what I am seeing. How can this be?
“Perdition you left the door open? We followed you out.” A small voice said.
“That is great. I think.” I say.
“You saved us all Perdition.” I hear a young woman say.
“We are going to help you defeat Venus. We have to save the topside. We can help you.” The voices are starting to overwhelm me.
I pulled myself out of the void. I pulled all these people out too.
“What are all of you doing now that you are out? Why are you here?” I sit down on the ground. I can’t stop staring at everyone. “Can someone please explain to me what it is going on?”
Mayhem takes me by the hand. “I wanted you to see this before I tell you everything.”He says calmly.
I believe him. I am not sure why he is so important to me or why I feel completely safe with him, but I do. We continue to walk.
“Are you hungry Perdition? Is there anything you need right now?” He asks me as he sits down on a concrete picnic table. I sit down beside him.
“I just need to know where my brother is. I feel like everyone is avoiding the answer. Where is he? Where is Ryan? How did or why did all these people follow me out of the void?”I ask.
I stop and look him in the eye waiting for answers. He takes his big strong tanned hand and places it on top of mine.
“Perdition, they followed you because you needed them. They feel loyal to you because you were always there for them. Now they feel like they need to be there for you. You were the only person trying to help them when they landed in the void for various reasons. You came every day. You talked to them. You helped them work out their issues so they could leave the void. You opened the door. You never judged them. You were just there for them.” He says,
“Do you understand the complications of what has happened?” I ask him.
“Do you understand the void should not be there? Those people were trapped in the void because they are descendants? They committed no crimes but were banned from the golden city.” Mayhem says.
His voice gets louder with every single word. He is telling me the truth. No lies with Mayhem only honesty. I have never had anyone be completely honest with me until now.
“Tell me the rest. Let’s get this over with?” I inquire.
“It is not that simple Perdition. Honey your story is a long one. You know your mother is alive. Do you know everything surrounding her life?” he asks me.
“KoKo was murdered for the lies he told about my mother being dead. My father killed him. I know enough. I know I was born to serve the garden.”I scream at him.
I jump to my feet and immediately fall to the ground. The topside is too complicated for me.
“The garden is out of balance. It needs a twin. We do not need to get into all that now. We need to focus on Isaac and Damnation. Isaac is bitter and he wants to end life on earth. He needs Damnation to do it. They are going to release Venus. She is not the angel she once was. She is fallen and evil. She is hellfire. She will destroy the topside. The descendants have some powers. We can get you there. We can help you in battle but you are the only one that can defeat her. I am sorry Perdition but it’s up to you.” Mayhem says,
He stops to let me process everything he is telling me. I stare into his eyes. I just can’t stop looking into his eyes. He is so familiar to me. His voice, His eyes, and his touch, but I know he is leaving out something. What is he not telling me? I wonder.
“What about Ryan?” I ask
“Ryan knows how to find Damnation. Of course, they knew how to find him.” Mayhem responds.
Mayhem touches my arm. I can feel the golden city. I see my mother. I see my brother. It stops when he releases me.
“What happened?”I ask as I slowly fall back to the ground. I hear muffled noises and distant voices but I can’t make them out.
I feel myself fall. I feel the void and I hear the voices in the distance. I am not sure what is going on. Am I going back in the void? “No no no” I scream.
Mayhem is sitting in a chair beside the bed. I am in the farmhouse.
“Did you dream of the void?” He asks.
“I did. How did you know?” I ask him.
I am on a floral bed in a floral room. It is so comfy.
“I know because I have been there. You saved me too Perdition. I was trapped for many years in that hell. You came to me so many times. You gave me the courage to walk out of the void.” Mayhem says,
“I can’t remember. I am sorry. I remember every person I have ever visited in the void. Why can I not remember you Mayhem?” I ask him as I look in his eyes looking for answers.
Those eyes are so familiar to me. I know the answers are in those eyes. He knows why I can’t remember him, but he isn’t telling me. He is protecting me. I don’t know why but I am important to him. There is so much more to him.
Chapter eightDay threeI am still at the farm. I do not want to leave. Why can I not just stay here? I know I cannot stay here. There is so much to be done and as quickly as possible. I feel so connected here. This place feels like home.“This is your home Perdition.” I hear a voice speaking to me but I am not sure who it is.I am losing my mind. The void was hard on me. My mind keeps going back to it. I have spent my life not belonging anywhere. I do not belong in the underworld, I do not belong in the void, and I do not belong here. I feel lost. I am hurting.I want to talk to my father. I have so many questions for him. I want him to know I am okay and that I love him. I want him to know I understand why he killed Koko. I may not agree but I understand.Celestials deal with their problems so differently than normal people. I wonder if he is capable of for
Chapter nine“There are no children in the void,” I say as I open my eyes.Mayhem places his hand on mine. “There were two, a set of twins. They were with you there. You cared for them.” He says,I feel like I am losing my mind. I feel like I am falling. What else are they going to tell me?“Maybe we should stop and tell you before we get there?” Mayhem says to me.“No, let’s just get Ryan and go from there. Okay.” I respond.“It’s the next road up here on the left Mayhem. Turn off your lights. I am not sure if he is alone or if Damnation is with him. We think Damnation is in the garden. I am not sure. Let’s just be careful.” Sunnie says.“I thought Damnation had him,” I ask.“His followers took him. He got word to me where he was. I contacted Mayhem to help me get him back. No worr
Day FourWe arrive at the bar just after midnight. Day four on topside I guess, let’s see what today holds.I help Mayhem with the twins. JJ and Camilla Dawn meet us at the door.“Get in here. Everything is going crazy.” She tells me.She is so dramatic. I am already aware that everything went sideways. I was there. I will let her fret over me; it is what she does best. This girl worries way too much.“P do you know what is going on honey?” She asks me.“Well my bubbly friend I know Sunnie tried to kill me, my brother is more psychotic than I originally thought, and I also know I was trapped for 900 years in hell. Oh and before I forget there are two children caught up in all of this. Did I leave anything out?” I say to her a little too dramatic.Camilla is staring at me like I am crazy. “I am going to get you a drink of Heaven's nectar. Is that okay?&rdqu
Day 5 I am awake, I'm not sure what's going on everything seems quiet. I hear ringing. It seems to be getting louder. Maybe I need to check on that. I wonder where Camilla is. I don't hear mayhem I don't hear the twins. Why is it so quiet? The ringing it seems so loud. I'll go downstairs and see if I see anybody maybe I should stay here I'm not sure what to do. Mayhem says I need to listen he told me to stay here. I just know there's something wrong. The last thing I remember is coming to rest yesterday morning. I can't stay here I have to look. I have to check on everybody. Something is not right. I push the covers off and I step onto the floor. The ri
The three of us walk towards the bar. "Sam, who is that at the bar? Is it Bowen? That looks like Bowen!” I ask. I don't give Sam time to answer I run for the bar. I run straight to Bowen. It is Bowen. I hope he is here to help. He turns around and looks straight at me. He smiles but it's a sad smile. He reaches for me, but at this very moment, I'm not sure what to do. I have no idea whose side he's on. “Why are you here Bowen?" I ask him. "Are you here for me or are you here for my brother?" Bowen looks at us. “I’m not here for you. I'm here for Camilla Dawn. She summoned me.”
Day SixThere are so many memories in my brain now. I can smell my mother. I see my father. The fight that started this mess. Why? It is hard for me to understand why a garden built for humans can cause so much pain and suffering.The truth. The ugly hidden truth about the topside and the humans living there. The garden is home to everything needed to end the topside. Somehow in this mess, my mother became the caretaker of evil. When humans failed the garden and were tossed out my mother was the only one left there. No way out.She has been stranded there with no wings and no children for centuries. In the process, she has lost everything she ever loved. She was left abandoned. The only way out is to open the doors. Two celestial twins must open the doors. Only one twin will survive. A sacrifice must be made for her to leave.Her vengeance has grown. She no longer cares. She just wants out to kill everything on the topside. Now she has
The moon is full. “Sarge, are you ready?” I ask as I run my fingers through his fur. He looks at me with his big eyes and acknowledges he is ready. He gets up. I am still sitting beside the rock grave. He places his paw on my knee. I can hear him.“Stay still.” He sits in front of me and begins to howl. He stops places his nose to mine. He looks in my eyes. I start to think of KoKo. I focus on KoKo in the void. Sarge howls again.“He can hear you, Sarge.” Sarge keeps howling.“Come to us KoKo!” Sarge howls again. I can feel KoKo breaking free.“Follow my voice KoKo!” I scream.Sarge continues to howl. I can feel every move KoKo is making. He is trying to get to me.“KoKo! I command you to come to me now!” I scream.Sarge scrambles around the grave. KoKo is breaking free. It will not be a simple task for him. Sarge and I will wait for him. Eyes are on h
Day Seven235 A.M.I just want to sleep. I hear the wind, I smell the trees, and I am overthinking everything right now. The smells of magnolias are in the air. I think of my mother.There are so many thoughts in my head. I remember KoKo bringing me to this cabin as a child. The cabin that is in between all the worlds feels safe. It was a place for me and my brother to just be children, a place where we could build a fire and play in the grass. I can’t believe I had forgotten this place.Life is so strange. Here I am back in this cabin hiding from the world. KoKo is weak. I do not know how long he can live on the topside. His time is limited. Sarge lies with him. Aren’t we a nice trio? The three of us a dog, an injured demon, and a celestial that has no idea how to even begin.I know I have to save Camilla Dawn and from there she can help me get my children. We can go home. Do I go back to the underworld? I have no i
Perdition had little time to get everyone safe. She wasn’t sure how she would handle Sam. She planned to get Angie and Mrs. Bee as far away from New Orleans as possible with the newborns. She also had to deal with Mayhem, Tiffany, JJ, and Chaos. She planned to use Chaos to distract Jaza. She wasn’t sure how much she could depend on him. Jaza had to die. She knew there would be hell to pay, but it had to be done. What was the worst they could do to her? Send her to the void. She wasn’t afraid, and there was no one as powerful as her. Not even her brother could come close to her power. She could feel it growing every day. Now she just had to figure out exactly how to use it to save her friends. Her powers were strong but raw. She still had difficulty focusing on just using her power and not it taking over. She knew she needed to focu
Jaza was no fool. Whatever Perdition was planning, he was prepared. He was on guard. He had sent word to every watcher hiding on earth to be ready. Perdition had contacted Labith and told her to bring Jaza to the inn tonight. Perdition was ready to give up Camilla Dawn in exchange Jaza would leave Sam alone and not interfere with the babies. Labith knew there was no way Perdition would just quietly hand over Camilla Dawn. She knew she was up to something. Labith had raised the once sweet girl. She knew her better than anyone. “What do you think she is up to?” Jaza asked Labith. Labith walked into Jaza’s chamber. It is such a dark and menacing place. Labith did not like being in closed spaces with him. “I honestly cannot say Jaza,” Labith answered him.“She is unique, isn’t she?” Jaza says as he moves closer to Labith
“Because we are from yesterday.” Camilla Dawn says. Key stops what she is doing and runs to her side.“What? What are you saying?” Key says.“Because we are from yesterday and we know nothing because our days on earth are like a shadow.” Camilla Dawn says.“I do not understand,” Key says. Camilla Dawn opens her eyes. She stares into Key’s eyes.“I am scared.” Camilla Dawn says. Camilla Dawn closes her eyes and goes back to sleep.Camilla Dawn slips into a deep sleep. Her mind is reliving her past. It’s slow torture for her. She has tried to pay for her past. There is no way to make it right unless she gives in to the watchers.As vivid images flash before her, she knows what she must do. She must submit to Jaza. She cannot let anyone else get hurt. The image of Sam being stabbed plays for her over and over. “No!” She screams.Key watc
Sam was a little drunk when he entered his room. He knew how Mrs. Bee felt about smoking in the rooms, but he desperately needed one. He almost smoked in the room, then he remembered how mean Bee could be if she felt disrespected. He decided it was best if he stepped outside his room. He turned the radio on to his favorite New Orleans station.“Sweet Jazz.” He said out loud. “Nothing like it.” Sam stood outside his room smoking. As the rain fell in New Orleans, the sweet rain and sounds of Jazz coming out of his radio he could only think of Angie.“I was so stupid.” He said.“Yes, you were and still are idiotic.” A soft voice said.It was Angie. She looked amazing standing there. “I’m sorry I brought her here. I am sorry I hurt you and mostly I am just sorry.” He sa
Perdition wanted to check on Camilla Dawn and the babies. Key was with her.“Is she ok?” Perdition asks. Key shakes her head. “I do not know what is wrong with her. Mrs. Bee thinks it has something to do with the black magic, and honestly, I do too. I think she is drained.” Key says.“I think I can wake her.” Perdition says.“Why did Sam bring her here?” Perdition asks as Sam enters the room with Angie.“I thought she would be safe here.” He says.“Well, I am not so sure about that.” Perdition says. Perdition keeps staring at Sam. “You’re not being truthful, Sam. Why are you really here?” she asks him.Sam looks out the door of Camilla Dawn's room. He sees Mayhem waiting patiently.“Look, this all happened fast. We got word where Camilla Dawn was and where Mayhems kids were and we just … well, we just ended up here.
JJ sat in his room at the B&B contemplating what he should do. He didn’t want to go out into the city and leave the girls without someone close by. He wanted to go look for Perdition, but he felt that could wait at least one more day. Besides, as soon as Perdition and Chaos figured out they were in the city, the two would probably seek them out. He hoped they would anyway. He hoped he could talk to her and maybe reason with her.First, he needed Chaos out of the way. How in the hell would he get him out of the way? He thought about knocking him out cold. He figured it wouldn’t be that hard. The thought brought a smile to his face. The winds were blowing hard, and the rain was coming in. JJ opened his door.Rain in New Orleans was different. It was a spiritual experience. JJ had a deep love for New Orleans. Something he and Sam had in common. Sam would’ve never left New Orleans if Camilla Dawn would’ve just stayed away. He could&r
How was he holding up? All Angie could think of was how strong he has to be. There is no way he could just hold all this in. Not only is he caring for his ex-wife and her two newborns, but he has to hunt down the daughter of Lucifer and get her to come back to the side of the descendants.She was so infatuated with him. He was a sexy beast of a man. Maria knew she needed to make an exit. She knew Angie would want time with him alone. Angie would want to try again.Angie was in love with Sam. Their time in New Orleans was epic, to say the least about it. She thought he felt the same way too.In the end, Sam had to put distance between everything that had happened to him in New Orleans and his life. He could not get past losing his children. Now playing in his mind as he drank whiskey in the Devils Café with his old life, all he could think was what Bee meant by maybe we can make it right.What had happened to them? Where were the
The Devils Café was owned and operated by Mrs. Bee since her husband died. He bought the café because Bee loved the view from the balcony. It connected to her B & B, and she wanted to look out from the upstairs and drink her jack laced coffee every morning. She told him it would be a good business investment. He knew she loved the view.She went there every morning since they opened the B & B. He gave her the key to the Devils Café on their 10th wedding anniversary. She loved that little bar. Sam helped her run it when he was in New Orleans and now her daughter Maria and her son-in-law Ernie run it.She doesn’t go upstairs as often. In her later years, her knees bother her too much to go up the steps to the view she loves so much. Now and then she will still make it up to her beloved view of the city. Bee has a passion for New Orleans. A passion only a lifelong resident of the city has.“Sam,” Maria call
When they get to the front of the B & B there is a bright red bar, The Devils Café.“Are you serious?” Tiff says.“Everything in here is red. So when Sam opened the Frog Pen, he did everything green. He said this place inspired him. They have a drink here called wide open hell. Let’s get one.” Mayhem says.“Okay, but just one. I am not a drinker.” She says.“You work in a bar and you’re not a drinker. Okay, sounds about right.” Mayhem says.“We need to walk around the streets and just make sure we don’t see anyone that might you know be looking for us.” He says.She nods. “I guess we are a couple then tonight.” She smiles at him. Tiffany slams her drink and jumps up from the bar.“You ready?” Mayhem drinks the rest of his drink and takes her by the hand. The two of them go out onto Rampart Street.