№42|Shelter From The Flames
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“Yo-you’re Cat-Catania’s si-sister?!” Cruella stammered, her eyes going wide.

“Sadly,” Bexley sighed, opening the door more to let Cruella and Delaney in, “tea?” she asked, grabbing the teapot off her desk.

Cruella nodded as she sat down in the comfy chairs in front of Bexley’s desk. Bexley passed her a cup of lavender tea, “thank you,” Cruella thanked, she was still baffled by how Bexley was even remotely related to Catania, “how...how are you two related, you so nice and kind to your workers and she’s-”

“A cruel ugly witch,” Bexley finished, Cruella chuckled and nodded.

“Exactly.”

“Catania was always like this, mean, smitefull, rude, the human embodiment of the devil.” Bexley sat down behind her desk, sipping her tea, “even when we were little all I wanted to do was be like Big Sis Cati but she kept pushing me away.”

“Cati! Cati! Look what I made!” the 8 year old Bexley ran up to her big sister who was conversing with her friends.

The 15 year old Catania looked away from her friend and at Bexley’s attempt at a fashion design.

“I made it for you Cati!” Bexley smiled widely, Catania rolled her eyes.

“Nobody, let alone me, would wear this,” Catania scoffed, throwing the design aside, “stop copying me, it’s weird. Go play in some dirt or something.”

“But…” Bexley sniffled, “I made it for you…”

“I only wear real designer stuff, like Gucci,” she ripped the design in front of her, “this is trash.”

Bexley watched as the tattered pieces of her drawing fell to the ground, her tears streaming down her cheeks.

“No matter how hard I tried to bond with her, she’d just reject me, when I turned 10 I just gave up. My dream of design however, stayed,” she noticed Cruella’s red shoes with dalmatian designs on them, “those shoes, they’re mine.”

“You made these?!” Cruella gasped, “I love the design! I have your whole animal print collection at home!”

“I’m glad you like them,” Bexley noticed the Golden Dragon leather jacket she wore. It was a black leather jacket with the golden dragons symbol. The golden embroidery Cruella added was astonishing.

“What’s a girl in the Golden Dragons doing working for Catania?” Bexley asked, chuckling softly.

“Oh, I’m not in the gang, it’s my boyfriend’s, he’s the leader. He left it in my apartment the first night we met,” Cruella blushed, “he said it looked hot on me so I took the liberty to spice it up a bit.”

“You’re dating Hexiciah Perex?!”

“That’s him.” Cruella nodded, smiling brightly.

“Wow,” Bexley gasped slightly, “I heard about everything going on with Salis, no doubt my sister is tied in with all this.”

“He paid her bail.” Cruella sighed, shaking her head.

“Of course he did,” Bexley sighed deeply, “you know Cruella, if Catania gets too much we have an opening for a fashion designer here at Muse Couture.”

“I don't know, Bexley…”

“Why don't you just design something for my new spring line, if you like working here then the job is yours. If not, it’ll always be here when you want it.” Bexley said, smiling at Cruella.

“I’ll think about it,” Cruella nodded slightly, “but right now I have to run your sister errands. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bexley.”

Delany handed her the box of doughnuts, “to remember us by.”

Cruella held one of the doughnuts in her mouth, “trust me, I will never-”

Suddenly, her phone rang, she picked it up to hear Hex rambling, “okay, Hex, slow down. What happened?”

“Salis burnt down Eloise’s school!”

°•. ✿ .•°

Julius and Ivanka practically leaped out of the car, rushing to the scene of the fire, “where’s Levi?”

“I don't know, we can't find Eloise anywhere either.” Diane began to worry as she and Gabriella scanned through the kids that rushed out of the building.

“I can't see Levi,” Ivanka’s voice was filled with worry.

“I’m going in there,” Gabriella took off her jacket, rushing towards the firery entrance, but the firemen blocked her.

“Excuse me, miss, but you can't enter, it’s dangerous.”

Gabriella chuckled cockingly, “dangers my middle name,” she tried to push past them but they weren’t letting her through, “my daughter could be burning alive in there!”

“We’ll handle it!”

“Just let me save her!”

Suddenly, a large trail of smoke flew out of one of the broken windows, the trail lending to the ground. Once the smoke cleared, it was revealed to be a burnt Levi wrapping his griffin wings around a burnt Eloise.

“Eloise!”

“Levi!”

Levi coughed hard, “is she...okay?”

“Eloise isn't as burnt as you are, your wings must have shield her from the flames.” Diane smiled, trying to grab hold of Eloise but Levi held her tighter.

“Awe,” Ivanka cooed, “he doesn't want to let her go.”

“Levi,” his father shook Levi slightly, “come one, you need to get healed by Diane.”

“Take them back to Emmanuel’s base, I’ll heal them there.” Diane stated as they drove back to the base, the entire time Levi didn’t let go of Eloise.

Julius chuckled, watching his son from the rear view mirror, “you care a lot about her huh, Levi?”

“Hm?” Levi looked up at him, “yeah…” Levi smiled, stroking her hair, “she’s really special, pa.”

“So much so, your wings sprouted just to save her.” Ivanka giggled, “congratulations on finally getting your wings, Levi.”

Levi didn’t answer, his complete attention was on Eloise, when he exited the car, Mama tried to take Eloise from him but Levi wasn’t having it. His wings blocked her access, Mama glared at him, “you listen here mister,” her glare harderend, “I don't care how much you love Eloise you’re gonna move her wings so her mother can heal her!”

Levi gulped, moving his wings, “sorry, Mama…”

“It’s alright, cutie, you and Eloise’s young love is so inspiring.” Mama chuckled, ruffling his hair.

“Julius, Ivanka. Hex and Emmanuel want to talk to you upstairs.” Mama said as Ivanka and Julius walked upstairs.

Ivanka looked back, watching as Diane healed Eloise and Levi, “don't worry about them, Diane’s our best healer.” Mama assured her.

Ivanka smiled and nodded, trusting the safety of her child into Diane. Julius opened the door to reveal Hex pacing back and forth, “that’s my niece, Emmanuel! And if it weren’t for those giffin wings she’d be burnt alive!”

“I know, Hex, I know,” Cruella placed her hand on his shoulder, “but just calm down. Eloise is fine and we’re all okay.”

“Julius,” Emmanuel looked up at him, “did any of the other gang leaders get hurt?”

“Yeah, nothing too major though, but the parents are pissed. All of the gangs who send their kids there have had their bases burnt by Salis.” Julius explained, raking his fingers through his hair, “what are we gonna do?”

“Why don't we invite all the bases that burnt down here. Sorta like a team meeting you know?” Marmalade suggested.

Hex nodded, “good idea, Marmy.” Hex smiled at her.

“Marmy?” she mouthed, laughing a little.

“It’s short for Marmalade.” Hex shugged, ruffling her hair, “cute, no?”

“Yeah it is cute.” Marmalade chuckled, punching him playfully, “I would call you “Hexy” but my sister has taken that already.”

Cruella smiled and kissed Hex’s cheek, “you’re all mine.”

“That I am, Cruella, that I am.” Hex smiled, hugging her waist.

“Hex,” Julius sat down on the couch, “I know he’s your brother and all, but this is going too far, first he burnt down our bases now he’s going after our children!”

“I know, Julius, I know” Hex sighed deeply, “but if we go any in there without a plan he’d kill us.” Hex warned, “and I don’t know about you but I don’t want to lose any more members.”

“I know you don’t Hex, neither do I, but if this continues I’m not gonna sit here and wait for more people I love to get hurt!” Julius stated, Hex groaned, rolling his eyes.

“Julius, I know you’re mad, we all are but we will have the meeting tonight and hopefully make a plan.” Emmanuel said, patting his back.

Julius nodded and muttered something under his breath, “I swear once we kill this man I want his head mounted to the wall.”

Hex laughed loudly, “don’t we all Julius, don’t we all.”

°•. ✿ .•°

Eloise blinked her eyes open, she looked around to see Diane healing her, “welcome back, hun.” she giggled, kissing her forehead.

Eloise turned towards her left to see Levi sitting beside the hospital bed, burying his face in his arms, “has he been here the entire time?”

Diane nodded, Gabriella sat beside her, “how much do you remember?”

Eloise held her temple, “I remember wings... brown wings... big ones that shielded me from the flames,” she turned towards Levi, touching his wings slightly, “he...protected me?”

Diane smiled and nodded again, “he wouldn’t let anyone touch you, hell he wouldn’t even give you to Mama.”

Eloise is taken aback, “why would he protect me?”

Gabriella sighed, shaking her head, “Eloise, don’t play dumb cause I know you’re not,” Gabriella ruffled her hair, “that boy loves you, and you him, anyone with half a brain can see that.”

Eloise blushed fiercely, “wh-what?! N-no! Yo-you got i-it all wro-wrong!” she shook her head, “h-he could-couldn’t love m-me!”

Levi lifted his head, rubbing his eyes, “hey, Elly, you’re up”

Eloise blushed and looked away, “than-thank you, for saving me...”

Levi quickly kissed her cheek, “I’ll always save you, Elly, you know that.”

Eloise's face turned as red as a tomato, “Le-Levi!”

Levi chuckled, hugging her tightly, “I’m glad your not burnt.”

Eloise hugged him back, noticing the burt feathers on his back, “sorry about your feathers.” she muttered into his shoulder.

“I’m fine, Elly,” Levi stroked her cheek, “just a few burns, not that many feathers anyways, and they can always grow back.”

Eloise whimpered, “you sure?”

Levi kissed her cheek again, “yes, I am,” Levi yawned, laying down in her lap, “good night...”

Eloise chuckled, stroking his head, “good night, you idiot.”

°•. ✿ .•°

Later that night, Hex and Cruella stood at the entrance of Emmanuel’s base, waiting for the other gang leaders to arrive.

Hex tapped his foot impatiently, “where are they?”

Cruella rubbed his shoulder, “I got a call from the Vermillion Lions, they’re running a little late.”

A black car pulled up and out came a furious middle aged man, “all right, Hex, I want the name of that man who hurt my daughter! I want his face on a wall so I can throw darts at it!”

He has long blond hair that is holded back in a ponytail with bangs hanging on the left side of his forehead and bright orange eyes.

The clothing he primarily wears is a sleeveless tunic over his dark clothing. He wears leather gloves, leather boots, and a hood-like cape decor with feathers.

“Pleasure to see you here, Kingley.” Hex nodded, shaking the man’s hand.

“I just wish we’d wouldn’t have to meet under these circumstances,” Kingsley muttered, “you know I don’t do well with fires. Ever since Tatiana’s mom died...fires just...”

“I know,” Hex sighed, “Ginger was an amazing woman and mother. I can see her every day in Tatiana.”

“Honestly, dad, I’m okay. Just some burns over my eye that’s all.” Tatiana assured him, the 10 year old exiting the car.

“Tatiana,” Kingsley ruffled her hair, “I’ll take care of this, okay?”

Tatiana glared at him, “you’re gonna kill someone aren’t you?”

Kingsley sweatdropped, “yes...”

Tatiana sighed, laughing “don’t get caught, daddy.”

Kingsley laughed, patting her shoulder, “your mom gave me that same look every time I went on mission, ya know.”

Tatiana smiled and nodded, “I know.” she skipped inside to play with Levi and Eloise.

Another car pulled up, almost hitting Kingsley’s, two women stepped out, “honestly, Hex, if this man didn’t burn down my child’s school. I’d be asleep. Let’s find this man and kill him so I can go back to sleep.”

“Selene, Darcy, always a pleasure.” Emmanuel smiled, hugging the two women and their daughter.

Selene is a young, slim, large-busted woman, with long, straight black hair that falls to the middle of her back. It was cut in the traditional Japanese "princess style."

Selene wears an elaborate blazer with gold lining, and a large collar, which is open to reveal a collared shirt and red tie underneath.

The cuffs of her jacket are tucked into a pair of white wrist-high gloves. On her legs, Selene wears a pair of black tights, which are tucked into a pair of knee-high boots and sit under a short white frilled skirt.

Selene also wears a white headband with a white ribbon tied at the middle in a bow, pointing straight up.

Darcy yawned, “she’s been wound up ever since the fire, and now that the school burnt down, she hasn’t been sleeping,”

Selene scoffed, “oh shush,” she kissed her lips, “you’re always too worried about me.”

Darcy is a slender, well-endowed young woman with short, light blue hair and fringes framing her face. She wore a black rose ornament on the left side of her head.

She dons a cloak clasped together by a star-shaped clip, with feathery protrusions that cover her chest, shoulders, and mid-back, over her blouse and shorts.

The cloak flared at her feet, where it’s divided into flowing sections secured by ribbons. She wears a black pair of socks that stopped at her mid-thighs. Her Violet Vulcan's mark is on the left side of her stomach.

Darcy kissed her back, “if I’m not then who will love?” she smiled, her British accent being known.

The little girl in Darcy’s arms shifted, rubbing her eyes, “mommies,” she yawned softly, “where are we?”

“We’re at Emmanuel’s base, me and Darcy need to talk with the other adults, you and the kids can get some sleep upstairs, all right?”

The daughter, Luna, nodded, laying back down on Darcy’s shoulder, “good...night...”

“Everyone’s here, let us begin the meeting.” Hex said, walking inside the base.

Cruella held his hand, looking up at him, “we’ll catch him. I promise.”

~A/N~

Wasn't it crazy to see Salis burn down the school?! Also who would've thought Catania would have a sister! I honestly feel bad for Bexley... I mean I would hate it if my sis was like Catania.

Also, I feel like crying everytime I update because we're only 3 chapters till the end!! 😭😭😭 I don't want this to end but I want to put up Wereology so...

Speaking of Wereology! The editor, UntameTiger edits so flipping fast! She started editing I think a couple days (maybe weeks) ago and she's already on chapter 12! Like damn! And these chapters are like 2,000 words (the longest hitting 4,500+ words) each!

She's the most amazing editor and honestly couldn't do it without her! I can't wait to post Wereology cast list on the 25th and the first chapter on the 28th!!!