A C I T Y O N F I R E C H A P T E R 1
Belladonna: We'll Fight You For the Rose Garden
The news first reached him on a Monday, after a slow weekend. Doctor Arthur Molian was confronted by a bouquet of flowers reverently awaiting for him, resting daintily on top of his desk. Being the leader of an organization of murderous florists and general plant enthusiasts, it was not an unusual occurrence for him to receive a bouquet of flowers from time to time. Though it was never for the innocent reasons proper members of society might be gifted such an organism. Still, this one was much different than the usual request for him to review a particularly harrowing looking case and that was obvious from the moment he caught sight of the flowers.
These indigo colored bells were known by many names. Aconitum being the first. Wolf's bane, monkshood, devil's helmet, the Queen of all poisons. There it rested upon his desk, not only as a callout directly to him through his patron flower, but also a warning, a promise of future danger.
Held up by the heads of two blooms, a white envelope stood starkly against the flowers, with the leader's name written in golden calligraphy. There were no indications of where it was from, though the situation alone left many assumptions to be made. Upon opening the envelope and reading the letter contained with in, the enigmatic origin of this gift was quite rapidly cleared up. It had come from one of Arthur's "friends" within City Hall, a man who oversaw many of the Parks projects that had sent the first sector of Match City into the blooming beauty it was known for today. His name was Percy and under most requirements he was a pleasant enough man, except perhaps his fondness for chewing tobacco which left an unpleasant residue on his teeth and a frequent inclination to spit on the ground. A single father, he also had a weakness to his daughter's wishes and her desire to reach for higher education sent him right into the Doctor's hands. He kept Belladonna informed and his daughter would get her diploma without a debt to cripple her future.
The note was quite messy and there was a thumb-shaped stain on one corner that smelled of his addiction. It seemed to have been written in a rush and took much longer to read as some words were practically illegible. Still, the most upsetting thing about it was definitely the contents of the letter, spelling out a crisis that had risen within the Parks and Recreation department. It appeared that a very rich organization of men from district three was working to purchase the land surrounding one of the city's public parks in the hopes to privatize it and profit. This land included a relatively small rose garden that was gifted to the assassin group from an elderly man who commissioned a hit from Belladonna, asking for revenge for his granddaughter's boss. A man who had molested and fired her. Of course, the money was the important part of the deal, but the man still felt indebted even after the full price was met and offered up the garden.
Now, it seemed that the land was being contested and City Hall was wavering towards the money held beneath their nose.
Avia: They Flew The Coup
Kestrel was seething with rage. Any member of Avia within the Nest could tell, had seen him stalk by them on his way into his office, had heard the slam of his door. They could still feel it reverberating in their bones. It had taken a minute or two, but Merlin had fluttered by the quickly forming crowd around the office and slipped inside after him. She had sent a quick glare around the group before entering, telling them to beat it but no one bothered to listen. Hayden may have been second in command, but she didn’t have the kind of authority Kestrel demanded. It was obvious whenever she had the energy to follow through with her threatening hisses or would simply pass by without drama, leaving the assassins to cluster even closer to the firmly closed door.
The yelling was muffled, but held the venom that Kestrel so rarely bared, one that could still poison veins even through walls and doors. The moment the first words sounded, astonished whispers were soon to follow as professional killers descended into schoolyard gossip. "Why was I not informed of this yesterday, Hayden?! Does it not strike you as the least bit of importance?! That maybe, just maybe I should have been told that two members of our organization had… disappeared?!"
Avia had seen the way Hayden responded to her brother's anger in the past, so different from anyone else's. Usually, she would rise up to the challenge, puffed out and ready to strike back with violence instead of words, not tolerating any form of insubordination against herself. However, when he brother turned to fire and brimstone, she was a meek soul, cringing against the flame. Her fingers would clench, but remain at her side while her eyes closed and she listened. Relented. Her long hair would shade her face.
She was quiet, their audience barely able to catch it when she spoke. "I know, Ian. I'm sorry, but we weren't sure until this morning-"
She was not permitted to finish. "So you gave them a head start instead and left me utterly in the dark." He laughed and it was cruel, tormenting her. "I hope you're embarrassed, Hayden! You've behaved like a fool." His voice dropped too low to be heard then and it was to be assumed that she was dismissed as she was quick to exit the office.
This time, she had the angry to lash out, flashed it towards the whole crowd with reddened eyes. While a few reared back and others held in snarls of response, she shoved her way through them. She stalked her way up the stairs of the building, where her own personal room was and left the leader of Avia glaring through the open doorway. He caught sight of the spectators and the temperature of the room took a very sudden dive.
He stepped out, pointing at the first three assassins he saw, jabbing his finger back into his office to motion for them to head that way. "Fledgling, Owl, Pidgeon. Get in here."
Royals: Better The Devil You Know
The young bellhop named Owen was sunshine and sugar as he peeked his head through the Black King's door. He had knocked dutifully before entering and his big grin fell to a more respectful smile in the face of his leader. His shoulder was momentarily obscured and he held back a small bit as he introduced the next appointment. "The congresswoman is here to see you, sir. Mrs. Roberta Gilliam." He looked behind him after saying this, a quick whispered command and then a gasp as a professionally dressed woman stalked her way into the room past him. The Rook followed her fretfully, having failed to stop her though he could have quite easily. He wasn't sure if his King wanted him to hurt her yet.
She centered herself within Liam's office, shoulders firmly squared and her hands on her small hips. She was a fairly slight woman, seeming smaller than the boy who had escorted her inside, so she used boy language and volume to make herself big. Such a trick awarded her the title Bitch Queen of Prewland by some of her fellow congressmen. Her general obtuse and haughty behavior making her not particularly well-liked amongst most populations. Yet, she was honest and was truly making great leaps into many social issues that further divided opinions on her.
She did not wait for Liam to speak as she crossed her arms behind her back and quickly described the situation. "Listen, I won't waste any time at all. I'm sure you are aware of my position on this rotten city of yours as it is not a positive one. However, sometimes in the pursuit of good, one must dig straight into the mud and hunt out the lesser of two evils. I have come for you and your… people for help in a very sensitive issue. I assume you would like to know the details before you agree, but let me say that I would be moronic not to. A relationship between the two of us is a treasure trove you should not pass up."
She paused for a moment in her speech, as if realizing how aggressive her position was coming across. She adjusted the pin in her raven black hair and cleared her throat. For a moment, there was fear there. She was in a snakes den, caught between a rock and a hard places as they say. Out of options. In the next moment, she was hiding her desperation with a smooth, steadying breath.
"Before I divulge further and reveal sensitive information, I’d like to at least ensure your interest. So tell me, are you willing to consider me as one of your… clients?"
Owen watched from the doorway, his hands still resting upon the door knobs to Liam's study. He had yet to be dismissed and curiosity kept him standing there, hovering. He watched his leader with bright eyes, wondering if he would meet this once proud woman's request with mockery, insult or perhaps even mirth. He hoped anger, his gaze sparked with the excitement of a fight.
Familia: We Will Not Stand For This
Casey was silent when he greeted the Empress with a tray of refreshments, a teapot and many other associated objects balanced atop it. His eyes were down and his breathing was fast, shamelessly showing his fear for the aged woman. Still, he kept himself steady and his hands did not shake, he was learning, adapting to her and attempting to be stronger for her and her cause.
He straightened his back after his set the tray down beside her. Lifting up the teapot, he extracted the file from beneath it and handed it out to his leader with a quiet. "An officer requested this be delivered to you, ma'am." He swallowed and went to busy himself with preparing a proper drink to allow her to read it.
Inside first and foremost were pictures. Three young woman at first, but then more could be seen when the papers were shifted, tucked into various places throughout. There were ones of their faces, then their bodies to show the damage done. Living, but destroyed as the bruises attested to the internal blight that had been injected into them. One stark similarity was obvious, the awful brand that was burned into their skin on the highest point of their upper arms. It was a skull.
The details of the case followed with words. That young woman were being targeted and it was uncertain how many had actually been attacked. But they were raped, branded and then abandoned in a district one park, left to wander their way home or to the nearest hospital. The leads were zero, which was why it had fallen to your hands, an earnest note from one of the officers begging Familia to protect the girls of this city. There was no doubt that they needed it.
Black Cats: Another Cat In the Yard
A middle aged detective stared down the damp alleyway, grinding a spearmint stick against his molars. He had quit smoking a year ago, when he had decided he'd let the city kill him before his habit did. Still, in stressful times like these, he kind of missed the fire in his lungs. On days like these where he thought maybe the cancer would be better than Match's malice. This sector left no mercy, practically the disease itself.
And he knew it was about to get worse. The young girl, ME she says but so infantile she must be on a damn field trip from one of the high schools, she was the one to deliver the bad news. She didn't even know why he grieved as she held up the dark feather to the flashing camera lights all around, picked it up from the gunshot wound itself where it dripped crimson. He shook his head, grumbled out a "hurry up and bag it before anyone else notices. This is out of our jurisdiction." and turned his back to her.
He mourned the days he could fold into his cigarette, body hunching over it to protect from the wind. Now he just filed down his own teeth and stared down the street. They were close, damn close to the edge of the downtown area. District two was within sight. Someone was trying to cause problems in a way he just wasn't paid enough for.
-
The news hit the streets in a matter of hours, the feather on full display. The story was shown on the large television towards the back of the Black Cat Lounge. Cross wasn't quite fond of it, but it kept many of the members happy and she preferred them happy-- they didn't break her shit. Still, she could watch it sometimes in the mirror, see the stories that caught her interest and this one… this one definitely did.
She straightened, heart beating a little faster with worry of what might happen next. "Uh… Boss…?"
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