Chapter 6, This is a robbery

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"Hello, Miss Marigold. I'm so sorry about this," Mr Wessils says before Southern scum - armed heavily, swarm through the front door - past my English Teacher.

"What the hell?" I exclaim when two guys start dragging me further into the house.

I take a deep breath - calling apron my training and more recently, my persistence to get my body back to top notch. Witch a scary amount of focus, I pull down my arm - making one of the Sourthern scum jerk forward, and then I power kick his jaw. When his grip loosens, I give a fast twirl - causing the other Southern scum's arm to twist as I quickly pull my arm up and have his hands behind his back. Without much thought, I shove him into the hard wall and he goes down without much effort.

When I turn, teeth bared and ready for whoever is next, I spot Blake, Owen and Sean at gun point. At least two dozen Southerners surround us and is ready to blow half of my inner gang's heads off.

Mr Wessils winces at the look I hand him.

"So it's true. It's been the South all along," I growl. 

The Southern scum are still pointing guns at my inner-gang, but I don't get nervous. I'm focused on Mr Wessils and how the hell I'm going to beat the living crap out of him. Somehow, through the cold, unyielding shell I'm in, the girl in the dark, wonders if I'd even flinch if one of my boys got killed.

"Depends on what you're referring to," Mr Wessils answers.

That girl inside quickly gets drowned out and I straighten my back. "You killed my parents. You killed the Sterling leaders. You killed Trebor," I say and hand my English teacher an icy glare.

The South will pay with their lives.

Mr Wessils looks at me for a long moment before he answers: "Yes."

I don't feel anger. I don't feel sadness. I don't even feel betrayal. All I feel is nothing. A cold, hollow hole in my chest that wants to get filled. Wiping out everyone in the South and perhaps even the North is the only thing that might satisfy me right now.

I ignore that girl deep down that's squirming at the idea of actually killing someone. I've never delivered a fatal wound before.

"Then you, and your scum, must die," I say.

Mr Wessils laughs, revealing that dimple all the girls in class were going on about. And when he looks back at me, he pushes back his curly hazel hair. "I'm sorry, Miss Marigold, but you're kind of outnumbered here," he points out.

In one, quick motion, I grab a gun from my back pocket, flick off the safety, and point it straight at Mr Wessils. Everyone else stiffens and my inner-gang looks really stressed out.

"How about I just kill you," I growl.

Mr Wessils raises his hands, suddenly not so laid-back and a bead of sweat slides down his forehead. I can only imagine how I must look with the determination in my eye and unflinching hold on my gun. 

"You won't actually kill someone. You might claim the Sterling gang, but you're no killer. Your conscious won't allow it," Mr Wessils says.

"You'd be surprised at what my conscious would allow. Killing the Southern leader might actually just satisfy me," I reply.

Mr Wessils lets out another nervous laugh - that dimple returning before he says: "You got it all wrong. I might be in the inner-gang, but I'm definitely not one of the Southern leaders."

"One of them?" I ask.

"Yes, there are two," Mr Wessils explains.

Two leaders? Who could they be? Have I met them before? And why aren't they here? Not so inclined to reveal themselves or still on their way?

I cock my gun and Mr Wessils takes a slow step back while all the other Southern scum cocks their guns at my inner-gang. It would send a bad image if I got my inner-gang killed so soon after they pledged themselves to me. 

"Goldy, you do this and we all die without a doubt. Reason with him," Owen pleads from the floor.

"Don't kill him. We'll do the killing. You can't handle it," Blake whispers.

"Blake's right. Murder isn't something your state of mind can handle," Sean adds.

I don't feel hurt or anger or even understanding at their words. All I feel is how comfortable the trigger would be if I pulled it and bury a bullied between Mr Wessils' eyes.

"Listen to your inner gang, Miss Marigold," Mr Wessils says.

My parents got murdered in here. By the gang that worked for them. The gang that has us at gun point right now. I can't possible just let this go. Let the death of my mother and father go. I think back to how pretty my mother's pale blue eyes looked. How she loved me...

"It's Rebma D'logiram now," I sneer at Mr Wessils.

But right before I can pull the trigger, someone walks up behind me and plucks it from out of my grip. "What the-"

"Let me decide where to aim," Xavier Jilten says with a cocky grin.

Everyone looks up in shock.

"Make it rain," Xavier smirks.

I look behind me and three guys with heavy automatics start firing at the Southern scum before they can even think to raise their guns. One of the guys is Jack, the traitor. The other is a charming looking brunette that sends me a wink and the third is a giant, lean man with an unflinching appearance.

A red head woman steps up next to me and I spin towards her - fists raised.

"Relax, ye lassie, I'm the last person to be gettin' in a fight. Let the lads handle that," she says and lightly brushes her shoulder against mine.

"What the hell is this?" I ask Xavier while he's holding my gun raised at the now scared-shitless Mr Wessils. Bodies start piling the floor and before I know it, all the Southern scum are dead.

He doesn't answer and just keeps the gun raised at Mr Wessils.

"What? You think I need to be rescued? I had this!" I exclaim frustrated, because everyone just keeps thinking I need to be rescued, like I'm some sort of fragile little girl. Even now, when I'm Sterling's rightful leader, does Blake and Owen and everyone doubt me. Everyone keeps going on about how killing someone will ruin me once and for all.

Xavier scoffs. "This is not a rescue," he says and then walks over to Mr Wessils. With one quick swing, Xavier lands the hilt of my gun onto Mr Wessils' head and the latter goes down cold. Xavier motions for one of his larger guys and the giant walks over before picking Mr Wessils up and carrying him to the door.

"This is a robbery," Xavier says and walks past me.

What the hell? A robbery?

"We're stealing yer intruder for questioning. Ye're not the only one that wants the South destroyed," the red head explains with a friendly smile before walking after Xavier.

I spot Jack sending an apologetic look at Blake before the five Northerners walk back towards the front door. They waltz in here, kill the South and steal Mr Wessils, I think to myself. They can't just leave like this!

"Owen," I growl and everyone quickly turns to Owen who's finally managed to grab his gun and aim it at Xavier.

Xavier doesn't look panicked at all and only dusts some invisible dust off of his usual maroon suit. When is that guy not wearing a suit? Or at least something maroon with it?

"I'd get rid of the bodies if I were you. Y'know, for the Sterling meeting? I don't think they mind dead guys, but just clean up to make the place look and smell a bit better," Xavier says before walking out of the door with his gang. It can't possibly be his inner-gang. I've never heard of a girl being in an inner gang before. I thought me, being a leader, was shocking enough. Perhaps the red head is just his candy or something.

Owen doesn't shoot at Xavier and I never really expected him to either. "Get rid of the bodies," I order my inner gang before running after the North to their car.

The giant man stuffs Mr Wessils into the boot and the red head woman slides into the black car gently with her scary stilettos, while Jack also quickly ducks in without a word and the fourth guy sends me a flirty smirk before climbing in as well.

"I'm not letting you take him. He's my prisoner, I get to question him," I growl at Xavier.

Xavier turns back to me with his poison green eyes and as always neat auburn hair. "You were going to kill him," he says.

"Great! Now even the guy that's probably killed the most people, has a problem with me killing as well!" I exclaim and throw my hands up.

"I never said I have a problem with you killing anybody, Marigold. You'll be doing a lot of that once we're married. I don't expect you to sit at home while I do all the work. It's just that you were going to kill Jaacobah before getting some valuable information," Xavier points out and refers to Mr Wessils.

"You're crazy if you still think we're getting married," I scoff.

Xavier has this amused smile and takes a few steps closer. I don't step back and as usual, the air around me feels toxic. Poisonous and lethal and for the first time ever since I woke up, I feel an emotion scream through me.

I hate Xavier Jilten. 

If he perhaps tried warning us about the South without creating these fake fights and posing as the villain, Matt and Calvin would still be alive. Lynch would never have gotten hurt and I'd never have gotten my uncle's heart. Jessy, my cousin, would still be my friend. 

"Marigold, the South is exposed. They aren't going to be holding back for much longer. And when they reveal only a speck of what they can do, you'll start running for me. I'm not letting this go anytime soon," Xavier says.

"Sterling doesn't need the North," I say with a nasty glare at the devil.

"Perhaps you're right. Maybe Sterling doesn't need the North. But you, Marigold, need me," Xavier says. "I expect an answer at the masquerade," he adds before sliding into the car and driving off.

I flip him off while the North disappears down the street.

I have a lot to deal with. Bringing Sterling back together, figuring out who's the real enemy and how the hell I'm taking down the South. Xavier and his persistence to marry me is not something I want on my plate right now.

Frustrated, I walk back to my old house and my inner-gang is dragging the last of the bodies through the back door. Blake is the first to see me and hands me a reassuring smile. It's times like these that I wish I could just have someone by my side. Someone that can hold me when I feel like collapsing. We all narrowly missed death today. If it wasn't for the devil, also known as Xavier Jilten, we'd all be six-feet under. 

And I hate that.

Blake walks up to me and Owen is quick to follow. "What were you going to do if Xavier didn't show up?" Blake asks.

"What's the Masquerade?" I ask instead.

Questions cancel out questions.

"It's the biggest dance of the year for gangs. Usually right at the end of winter for all the gangs to come together. It's the most important event and no weapons are allowed. Everyone uses it as a chance to discuss treaties and merges and deals," Blake explains.

"Every year there's a different host. Last year was us, the East, and the year before that was Sterling. This year, it's Trojan. They're a big thing on the other side of the country. Its a very, very long flight," Owen adds.

"And will the South be there?" I ask.

"Everyone will be there," Blake answers.

I nod my head and already plans are forming. "When is it?" I ask.

"It's supposed to be in two weeks, but Trojan moved it for a month," Owen explains. I take it in, thinking about how we can't let the opportunity slide by. How Xavier wants my answer to his proposal by then. And at the same moment, I hear a knock on the front door.     

The original Sterling gang is here.

Hey goldies!

Who can't wait for the masquerade? I'm soooo excited for it! It'll be a few more chapters though, because I want to get some ship time for Amwen and Blamber and also we need to figure out Sterling as well. Let me check some ships while we're here.

Amwen

Blamber

Xamber

Other

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~ Holly Shmit

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