The Showdown

Apocalypse 

“Ugh.” I sighed, feeling nauseated of all the flower gardens this place has and sick of hearing those filthy birds sing all day. Scowling, I walked toward the edge of the forest.  Feeling the cold air made me wish for more despair in it. It already felt like a heavy burden.

I need the chaos to spread, to create destruction. Only then will the madness give me some rest. It’s getting harder to control. As soon as the thought passed through my head, it throbbed. Massaging my temples, I walked past the tree edge and entered the forest.

Seeing the people give in to the despair and chaos brings me satisfaction. I was never more alive than when they chose the path of destruction. The manipulation of their spirit. I shiver with delight and giggle like a little girl.

He called me yesterday to inform me he had a potential lead on the one we needed. I need this lead to pen out. I’m sick and tired of waiting. I need to find the fifth element. That is the only thing that will work. I walk around in the forest for a bit, getting some of this madness out of me and into the air.

I must get back to the hotel. The sun is almost up. Turning around to go back, my movement became sluggish. I feel my eyes widen at the sudden change in my motion, and the anger rises, feeding my madness.

He promised they wouldn’t be a problem. But they are here in this town. 

Pressing my lips together and making the muscle in my jaw twitch, I get my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans. With trembling fingers, I swipe open the phone and pressed the speed dial, putting the phone to my ears. 

At the second ring, he picks up.

“You promised me!” I screamed into the phone and tried to walk in a circle, feeling like I was pressing against an invisible wall. With one hand balled up in a fist. “You told me they-” He cuts me off mid-sentence, making me fume. “I know I did, but you know how powerful they are. Especially if they are working together.” He said with a sarcastic tone to his voice.

By the air that I could hear whooshing through the phone, I knew he was pacing, unaffected by them. “Fuck.” He cursed under his breath. “What are you going to do?!” I growled at him. “They are going to get in our way. I should have killed them both, when I had the chance.” I screeched at him, holding the phone closer to my mouth.

Hearing him talk again, I put the phone back to my ears. “- you might have the power of chaos and destruction but you are not all powerful. They would have killed you instead.” He hissed at me. 

My body vibrates, and I know the madness is surfacing. I need to reel it in quickly. Losing it now would make matters worse.

“I know they scare you, but -” 

I didn’t let him finish. “They do not scare me, not even you scare me.”  I said calmly, but my body was everything but calm. It was still humming with anger and madness.

“Death already has me. What more can Time and Life do to me?!” My voice came out arrogantly and I pressed the off button, ending the phone call.

Suddenly I could move normally again and I unclenched my hand. Pacing and breathing heavily, we needed to make haste with the search, now more than ever. We need to keep one or more steps ahead of them. I  can’t let this development hold me back. 

They need to leave me the fuck alone. 

I stalked back to the hotel to get ready. He wanted to take me to a stupid exhibition at the art gallery in town. I don’t have time to be going to an art gallery. I chuckle at the thought of time.

Getting out of the shower, I dry myself and get dressed in a navy jumpsuit. It hugs all my curves the right way. I paired it with my silver strappy stiletto sandals and accessorized with my silver clutch, diamond earrings and bracelet. All natural makeup, and I let my hair air dry this time.

Walking out of my room, I find him waiting for me in the suite's living room we are staying in. He looks ravishing, in his tailored striped navy suit, that accentuates his athletic physique and makes his ass look good enough to bite. 

I was worrying my lip just thinking about what we could do now instead of going to the art gallery.

Maybe later we can let our darker side come out and play. By the way he is looking at me with hooded eyes, I’m sure that I’m not the only one thinking about playtime. I feel something stirring in my lower belly and I press my thighs together while continuing to worry my lip.

At the entrance of the gallery stood a simple-looking woman, with a black dress pants and an ordinary blouse, the ones you get in a retail store. I wrinkle my nose in distaste. You would think a high end art gallery would have higher standards for the attire their employees wear to an important event like this.

He walks up to her and makes us stand closer to the woman that I felt comfortable with. Narrowing my eyes, I observe his interaction with the woman. Why must he stand so close to her? 

“Good morning, Mr. Grim. Here is a folder with the items on display in this exhibition. Hope you and your guest will enjoy it.”  She gave him the folders and showed us where to go. He smiled with tight lips and gave her a little bow with his head before he continued to walk towards the exhibition. 

“What is it, my little pet?” At hearing the words, my head snapped up and my eyes flashed at him. He chuckles. “Are you jealous of the poor woman?” He said with a fake surprise face. “Don’t be my little pet, I only have eyes for your madness.” He reassured and pinched the tip of my nose.

We walked around the gallery I felt I was being watched but it didn’t affect me, there was nothing here that could make me worry.

Standing at the back of the hall looking at an art piece on one of those tiny tables they use in galleries, he nudges me and jerks his chin in the hostess's direction. I harrumphed at him before turning to look at her.

She was talking to some other guests. The sunlight was shining on her like a spotlight, and her curly hair looked like a mane of fiery halo around her head. It was glowing and emanating power. I inhaled sharply and clasped a hand over my mouth. 

“It can not be! Her?!” I hissed through gritted teeth. 

“I don’t know for sure. It can just be a coincidence, Apocalypse.” He whispered while still looking at her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her either.  Can she be the one I have been looking for so long? This simple-looking woman? 

I was about to ask him what we were going to do, I felt them before I saw them at the entrance. “Looks like I will have my chance, after all.” I jutted my chin in the door's direction.

Crossing his hand over his chest, his full lips pouted a bit as his jaw clenched and his body went rigid. He was ready for the confrontation, that surely was going to happen.

Who did they think they were fooling? Walking in like they own the place. Her with her hair flowing like a mantel on her back and him with his mocking smile plastered on his face.

 My breathing was becoming more and more rapid as my anger rose. 

“Control your anger or we will lose everything.” He said, almost not moving his lips. “I can try, but they better not provoke me, I don’t care what you said, I will unleash it all.” I balled my hand, and I felt the muscle in my jaw twitch.

“Apocalypse, you will have to trust me on this one, I’ll handle them.” He said, still looking at them coming towards us. “And don’t let her get to you.” He added. Now they were standing before us.

“Hello Antone, Apocalypse.” She greeted him with her annoying little voice, all the while looking at him. Not even a glance my way. Making me tighten my balled fist a little more. Her way of letting me know how little she thinks of me.

“Xalvy, Finn” His way of greeting them. “What can I do for you two?” His voice was sweet as honey, but with a dark look on his face. “For starters, you can take this one over here back to where you have found her.” She jerked her head my way, again without acknowledging me.

Flashing my eyes to her and still with my hands balled into a fist, I wanted to tell her she was in no position to tell Antone what to do. How dare she talk about me like I’m nothing? Doesn’t she know that I have the power to end her? I really don’t care what he said this morning, I will end her if she keeps this up. I was fuming at the audacity to tell him to take me back. As if I was an item to be taken back to the store for a refund.

Looking at him, he had narrowed his eyes, and a sneer lingered on his lips. He was having a hard time controlling his darker side. His body vibrating with the force it took him to keep his darker side under control. “You of all people shouldn’t talk about Apocalypse like that. You who had sealed her future.”

Finn whispered something in Xalvy’s ear. She nodded, and he disappeared. “You need to stop your search. It will not end well for anyone!” She was looking at me as she made her demand.

With pity in her eyes, she looked at Antone and said with a sorrowful tone in her voice. “Goodbye big brother, hope you understand why we are here. And we are going to stop you two, by force if necessary.” Turning around, she walked over to meet Finn, and they left the art gallery.

I was losing it, the madness was taking over. I couldn’t even hear what he was saying to me, his lips were moving, he was shaking his head but nothing registered with me. I could only hear the rushing of blood in my ears. He shook me by my shoulders and I felt his kiss on my forehead. 

“You can do this Apocalypse. You are the mistress of the madness, not the other way around.” He said with a commanding voice. He then ushered me out of the gallery.