Chapter Text
Seven devils all around me
Seven devils in my house
See they were there when I woke up this morning
I'll be dead before the day is done
Crimson liquid cooled, crusted, and darkened around the edges unnoticedly began to irradiate the pale skin hidden underneath a layer of soaked fabric. Cordelia despite her lineage has never killed before. Not even a rodent when her mother so lovingly screeched at her. "Just kill the damn thing, Cordelia!" And now here she was, staring unblinkingly at soiled hands with clouded mixed matched eyes seemingly memorized by the sight. She inhaled, all five of her senses coming to life, she felt her still racing heart thunder deep within, smelled the strong scent of copper still thick in the air, it burned flared nostrils making her dizzy. In the distance, she heard the tell-tale clicking of her mother's Louboutin heels against the hardwood floor coming closer and closer.
The heavy oak door swung open a moment later revealing, Fiona clad in her usual black, wearing a slightly shocked expression across her face. "Delia I need-Jesus H. Christ! What the hell happened in here?"
Sharp eyes scanned the area, drinking in the horrific scene slightly unsettled.
The younger woman darted her gaze upward, unique eyes flashing in confusion.
"I don't-I don't know. She just wouldn't shut up and I told her to stop but she just-she just wouldn't." Cordelia stared at the enormous puddle of blood surrounding her like a crimson moat and awaited the pain of being thrown into a nearby wall and/or the ear-piercing screaming to begin. Instead, a heavy silence ensued then finally after an agonizing couple of minutes passed the clicking of heels picked up once more, each step echoing sharply within Cordelia's ears as they drew nearer and nearer. She didn't dare look up but flinched when soon she felt the touch of long delicate fingers combing through her hair.
"Shhh, Delia."
The bicolored eyed woman stiffened, maybe this was a trick. It was only after a few tense moments that it became apparent that it wasn't that she finally relaxed, leaning into the touch. How long has it been since her mother showed her any type of affection?
"It's alright, I'll take care of this." Fiona soothed, smoothing the fine hair, letting her fingers dive deeper lightly scratching the scalp with perfectly manicured nails. "Of everything."
After a few more tender pets, the older woman reached down grasping the younger blonde by the forearm and gave it a tug, encouraging her upward."Come on now. Let's get you cleaned up."
Fiona led the shaken woman towards the bathroom, sitting her down on the toilet lid, she strolled over to the tub, turning the water on, making sure it was just at the right temperature, adding bath salts here and there, when satisfied she went back to Cordelia. Tenderly, she pulled the soiled shirt up and over the head. "You know when I was just a little girl your Grandfather began teaching me how to hunt." Sure hands went around the still shaking woman, unclasping the stained bra, she let it fall precariously to the floor. "He showed me how to hold a gun." She made Cordelia stand upward onto two unsteady feet. "How to aim it." She extended her arms around Cordelia, finding the zipper almost instantly. "How to shoot." She eased it downward. "How to kill." The ruined fabric fell, pooling around the younger woman's ankles in a crumpled heap. "And eventually when I finally did take something down, do you know what he did?" Cordelia shook her head almost robotically.
"He dipped his fingers into the bullet wound then smeared the blood all over my face." The woman's eyes glazed, her mind taking her back to that day. "He said it was tradition." She grinned, scanning Cordelia from head to toe, taking in the wide smeared patches of red here and there over normally pale smooth skin. "But it looks like you've beaten me to it."
Fiona grasped a stiff hand in her own and lead the other woman to the shower until they stood beside the tub. She grasped the hem of Cordelia's panties, she carefully slid them off, bending at the waist only to get them past two trembling knees. Straightening, she gently prompted Cordelia to step within the warm water.
When fully standing in calf-deep water, Fiona applied pressure to Cordelia's shoulder, encouraging her to sit. "That's it. Good girl." Fiona cooed within Cordelia's ear, giving her a peck on the temple. "Stay right here, I'll be back in just a minute."
She went to get up only to be halted by a hand on her own. "Shh Delia, I'll be right back I promise." Temperately satisfied with the answer and feeling somewhat embarrassed at her clinginess, Cordelia loosed her grip, letting her mother free.
Fiona walked out of the bathroom making sure to keep the door open just a crack, just in case she was needed then strolled leisurely to the mutilated body. Bending at the waist she studied the bloody mess for a moment. "Jesus Christ." She'd seen a lot in her years but she'd never seen a murder quite this brutal. The face was like freshly ground beef, all bloody and to a pump, it was unrecognizable, even the hair was clumped together in sticky vile strings. It was only by the expensive clothes and a couple of blonde strands, that Fiona could finally determine who this poor soul was. Fiona lips quirked into a pleased little smile. Good, even though this girl was obviously not the supreme, she was glad to see Madison gone, she'd loathed that obnoxious little bitch.
"Damn, what went on in here?" A voice from the door broke the silence like fine glass. Recognizing the accent instantly Fiona sighed, glancing towards the source, those predatory orbs immediately landing on the African American woman. She straightened, the corner of her lips quirking into a smile. "Well, it seems my daughter has finally grown a backbone."
Marie chuckled showing off straight pearl white teeth, stepping forward, long braids gently swaying from side to side. "Is that so?" Dark eyes darted around the room, taking in the gruesome scene the voodoo queen looked impressed. "Well, she's definitely your daughter."
She snorted in mild amusement.
Despite practically being called a butcher, Fiona's chest swelled with a bit of pride. Yes, the Goode blood ran strong in those veins, but then a flash of her mother carving a maid like a Thanksgiving turkey sped through her mind, or should she say, Shelton.
"Who the hell is that?" Marie questioned, nodding toward the mutilated body.
Fiona glanced towards the body in question, amber eyes rolled heavenward. "The slut."
"Oh thank God for that, another week with that girl and I was going to kill her my damn self." Marie spat looking downward at the corpse in disdain.
Giving a nod of agreement, Fiona reached deep into her bra and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. A wave of the hand sent smoke to play around golden locks as she thought of the easiest way to clean this up.
"How's the girl?"
Fiona sighed raggedly. "Shaken of course." She took a drag, smoke puffing out through flared nostrils, caressing pale cheeks in mischievous swirls. "My Delia has such a gentle soul."
The voodoo witch let out a humorous laugh. "Your Delia huh, the same woman you slapped off a chair and called worthless not even a day ago."
"She was too damn soft! I did it for her own good." Fiona spat out through gritted teeth, eyes flashing in agitation.
A hum from the other side of the room let her know that the other woman didn't believe a word of it.
Fiona's eyes narrowed a bit. "You of all people know how bad things are right now. Just think of how Cordelia would deal with it."
A moment of silence, followed by another ragged sigh while fingers ran through golden tresses."She couldn't." She stated more to reassure herself.
The voodoo queen threw her hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, but if you were my momma, I would have either killed you or told you to kiss my black ass a long time ago." She tossed a handful of braids over her shoulder.
"You just proved my point, Delia's not like us." Fiona waved a hand, watching the body disappear leaving behind only large puddle blood behind. "She has a soul."
She turned and sauntered through the door, shutting it with a solid click. Halfway down the hall, she slipped on a pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and smiled.
There was a body needing to burn.
Bended knees drawn up to her chest, Cordelia heard the murmuring behind the door but paid it no mind. She'd killed someone. Brutishly. Bloodily. She'd slammed that cane down over and over again even when the girl had taken in her last breath.
Reclined on the loveseat, deep in the plot of a newest Stephen King, Cordelia was startled back to reality when a voice echoed just feet from her. "Hey marbles, when are we just going to kill that petrified slut?"
The headmistress sighed placing the book open upon the cushion and turned to the girl. "We can't simply kill Fiona, Madison. We have to have a plan."
Madison huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, I'm tired of these retarded none existent plans. Let's just go in there and slit the bitch's throat."
Cordelia's heart bottomed out and stomach turned at the mere thought of confronting Fiona head-on. She'd seen what the woman could do and plenty of times. The feelings must have reflected within her facial features because the girl suddenly smirked."
You're scared of her? Aren't you?" She snorted in amusement. "Our top bitch is scared of her mommy."
"That's enough." Suddenly feeling a headache coming on, she lifted upward away from the love seat, walked around it and headed to the nightstand for another fist full of pills.
"Oh, what's the matter did I hit a nerve?" The younger blonde feigned a regretful pout which quickly morphed into a wicked smirk. "Don't like people making fun of you like mommy does."
Cordelia's eyes widened a bit. "What?"
"That's right bitch, I heard it all." Dark eyes flashed in triumph. "You're worthless! Useless! Get out of my sight! Does that sound familiar?" She shouted in a nearly dead-on impression of Fiona and unknowing triggered the memory.
Her mother's outraged face flashed through her mind, all discolored with veins pulsating within that normally elegant neck. Eyes closed and she inhaled deeply willing the image to go away.
"Get out." Cordelia demanded in a low warning tone even though she knew there wasn't anything she could do. Her hands shook to open the cap causing the pill inside to rattle.
Another breathless laugh. "She's right you know."
"Get out!"
"You are worthless." Madison sneered, wanting to hit the older woman where she knew it would hurt.
"Shut up."
"And Useless."
"Shut up."
"And I bet she wishes she never gave birth to you."
And that's when she felt it; a deep snap inside, and all the anger, the sadness, the longing washed over her in a tidal wave. The medicine bottle fell to the floor with a crash, and a now empty hand grabbed the closest weapon nearby.
"Shut up, Shut up, Shut up!" Cordelia swung the walking cane with all her strength hitting Madison directly across the temple, knocking the girl down with a solid thump.
The rest was a blur. Akin to an out of body experience Cordelia saw herself slamming the cane down, again and again, even as hands flew upward to try to fruitlessly block a blow. She kept onward blood raining down, spattering here and there, getting into her mouth and eyes. The metallic taste awakening some sort of microscopic primal part of the brain long since been dormant.
It egged her onward, making sure this threat was taken care of.
When Cordelia finally came to her senses, her mind couldn't seem to process what had just taken place so her whole being shut down, bonelessly she slid down on bended knees within the still steaming pool of blood, staring at nothing and everything.
Cordelia emerged, letting the rose-scented water bead down her body as she carefully stepped out. Reaching for the enormous fluffy white towel, she quickly wrapped herself in the slightly scratchy fabric and shuffled out of the door. Anxious to get back to her mother. Her safety.
But to her shock, it wasn't Fiona who awaited her.
Cordelia jumped and clutched the towel to her chest. Marie Laveau sat perched on the bed with a champagne glass held in her grasp.
"Where-Where is Fiona?" She inwardly swore at the pathetic sound of her voice.
"Cleaning up yo mess."
The blunt statement caused the blonde to visibly wince. She glanced down at her shuffling feet, just now noticing the droplets of water dripping onto the hardwood floor. Across the room, a deep sigh echoed and an unseen pair of eyes rolled. The voodoo slid from the bed in a whisper of cloth and strode over to the vanity where she remained standing just behind the chair.
"Come here."
Cordelia eyes immediately darted upward at the demand but stood still.
"Come on now! I ain't got all day."
Not one to make a fuss, especially with a woman as dangerous as Marie Laveau she began a cautious trike over. "Sit."
Cordelia despite her state of mind lowered into the mahogany chair with all the grace of a queen, just like her mother taught her all those years before.
Marie reached over her shoulder, picking up a silver-handled brush. "My first kill," She began brushing Cordelia's hair in long soothing strokes. "Oh, I remember it well. I had that same doe-eyed look afterwards that you have now. But, you know what? I enjoyed it, just as I know you did."
Cordelia shook her head rapidly in denial.
"Ah, but you did. You enjoyed all of it." The voodoo queen threw her head back and laughed. She didn't enjoy, it did she? No, she didn't. She couldn't have.
"No-no I didn't" She shook her head once more.
"Oh now, there ain"t no shame in enjoying it."
Cordelia listened to the older woman, inwardly disagreeing with every word. How can she justify murder by saying it felt good?
"No." It was a whispered, pathetic, and everything she strived not to be.
Marie hummed in disbelief then began to speak, her words spinning, interlacing like a spider's webbing. "Oh yes, you did; that first loud scream when the knife comes down, the tug on the blade when you pulled it out of flesh... The scent of blood in the air. The feel of your heart pounding deep in your chest."
"Or in your case; a cane." A third voice chimed in and Cordelia recognized it instantly as being her mother's. Unable to turn her head, Cordelia looked in the corner of the mirror finding her mother almost immediately.
Fiona stood by the bed clutching and admiring the object in question.
From her place, Cordelia stared at her mother's reflection and squinted at the cane. In the light, she could just make out some shimmering gold strands of blonde hair sticking out from the crusted end. Her stomach rolled.
"There's also that overwhelming surge of raw power you feel when someone is squirming beneath you, desperately trying to free themselves."
Tossing it to the floor with a loud clack that made Cordelia jump, Fiona sauntered over to the liquor cabinet and pulled out two tumblers and a crystal decanter half full of scotch. She poured herself a finger's length. "It's the only thing better than sex."
Lips quirked into a mischievous smile, Fiona raised the glass in a 'cheers' gesture then took a long pull.
A hearty chuckle echoed from behind Cordelia. "Amen ta that!"
Fiona joined in the laughter and poured a second tumbler, this one just a little bit fuller than the last. She strolled over and to Cordelia's surprise handed the sparkling glass to her. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." She placed a hand on Cordelia's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Dark irises twinkling, she flashed the younger blonde that tight little smile that never seemed to reach her eyes.
Cordelia's stomach flip-flopped, wondering just what unsaid deal she just made with the devil. Unseen by her, the two older women exchanged a knowing expression. Maybe finding the next Supreme wouldn't be so difficult after all.