Post by K.I.S.S. on Jun 26, 2014 21:11:56 GMT -6
June 23, 2014
Bethany Kenyon closes her phone and nods to herself. She’s just gotten off the phone with Aerynn Donnelly and now was the time to tell everybody about the plan, knowing some of them weren’t going to like this simply because it was coming from Aerynn. She steels herself and then walks back into the front room of Jeszika Gautier’s house having arrived there a week previous after Joshua McBride’s video presentation at the last UWA show. As she walks back inside, the others, Jeszika, Jeszika’s girlfriend, Melissa Mareau, Bethany’s own girlfriend, Carrie Winter, Bethany’s sister and tag team partner, Ashley Kenyon, and the group’s manager, Nikki Peltier, all look at her in unison, all seemingly expectant.
Jeszika Gautier: So... who was that?
Bethany Kenyon: Aerynn Donnelly.
Jeszika gapes.
Jeszika Gautier: Aerynn called you?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She did.. or, should say, she texted me and i called her back.
Jeszika Gautier: What did she want?
Bethany Kenyon: To talk about us making a trip out to her place in Tahoe.
Nikki frowns.
Nikki Peltier: She has a place in Tahoe?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Nice place, big cabin, I believe it’s her boyfriend’s place.
Ashley crosses her arms.
Ashley Kenyon: You’ve been there?
Bethany nods again.
Bethany Kenyon: I have, yes.
Jeszika frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: You've been there? Since when were you all buddy buddy with Aerynn?
Bethany Kenyon: She called me before we had to team with her. Invited me out there to discuss the way things were going.
Jeszika Gautier: I see... And why does she need us to go to her place? Just to discuss team strategy or something?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: Tattoos.
Ashley shakes her head.
Ashley Kenyon: Why the fuck would we need or want to go all the way across the country to some bitch most of us don’t even like’s house just to get some ink?
Nikki’s eyes narrow.
Nikki Peltier: She found out something, didn’t she?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She hired someone to dig into McBride. Apparently it didn’t end well for whoever it was but he found out this guy deals in all kinds of shit, physical, mental, spiritual, even supernatural. She says if we want to be able to fight him, we need to get these tattoos, symbols against possession, done in the old ways from the Far East.
Ashley smirks.
Ashley Kenyon: Many Bothans died… to bring us this information.
Bethany shakes her head, clearly aggravated.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s not funny, Ash. There’s a guy lying in the hospital right now who DID almost die to bring us something!
Jeszika Gautier: Anti-possession tattoos? Like on “Supernatural?”
Ashley Kenyon: Yes, Sammy.
Jeszika gives her a droll look.
Jeszika Gautier: You know as well as anyone, I'm a Dean girl, Ash, but tattoos? They protect us somewhat from Joshua?
Nikki smirks.
Nikki Peltier: Remind me to tell J.T. that.
Jeszika Gautier: Don’t you dare, Nik! Don't you dare!
Nikki laughs.
Nikki Peltier: I wouldn't even if you wanted a man... JT's totally not your type.
Jeszika Gautier: Like I have a type....
Ashley starts to say something but before she can, Bethany cuts her off.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash, NO!
Jeszika Gautier: So B, what do we need to get tattooed?
Bethany Kenyon: Apparently, she knows a guy who does it and is bringing said guy to her place. We just have to fly over there and let him go to town on us.
Jeszika Gautier: So this is like old school tattooing? Like the Samoans do? The the little wooden thing and a hammer?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: And who need to get it?
Bethany Kenyon: Probably everybody in this room.
Melissa looks up
Melissa Mareau: Even me?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: And Carrie...
She looks away on shame.
Carrie Winter: Honey, what's wrong?
Jeszika Gautier: B... Is everything ok?
Bethany Kenyon: I just... don't like having to ask this of you two. I mean, you're a lawyer and you're a bartender... you shouldn't have to worry about this just because you fell in love with somebody who does what we do.
Melissa Mareau: I have no issues with getting tattoos... Believe it not, I have four already. I just hide them well. I knew going into this relationship that it was going to be different because of what you all do for a living. I knew what I was getting into... Kind of. But if it help, if anything helps, I will do it... As long as I can pick where I get to get the tattoos. I have a professional image to keep, and tattoos to me are a personal thing.
Carrie Winter: Bethie, considering what I used to do...
Jeszika Gautier: Are you sure we're not asking too much here Mel? I mean... You'll be stuck with this for life...
Melissa Mareau: Well since I'm hoping on being with your for life, it won't be a problem will it?
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think we should call Richie and Billy?
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki Peltier: The Red Hoods got an overseas tour for the next month or so.
Ashley Kenyon: I don’t know where Billy is.
Jeszika Gautier: When does she need us to do this?
Bethany Kenyon: Pretty much now, at our convenience. We just need to text her when we're getting off the plane and we'll get picked up and driven out to the cabin.
Jeszika Gautier: Ok... Well then what are we waiting for?
- - - - - - - -
June 26th, 2014
It’s been two days since the tattoo session at Aerynn’s place. With a million things on her mind, Bethany Kenyon seeks out somebody for a conversation she’s not sure she really wants to have. Joshua McBride had put everybody on notice and now it was time to deal with one of the possibilities he’d mentioned. She walks down the hallway and finds Melissa Mareau waiting by a door for Jeszika.
Bethany Kenyon: I need to talk to you, the secret thing has to be one of two things... it's either my mother, or it's Reno.
Sensing the gravity of the situation and of what she’s likely about to hear, Melissa nods grimly.
Melissa Mareau: Continue.
Taking a deep breath, Bethany swallows her pride and fear and nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: Reno, was a job we did early on. When we finished, we got drunk and Jezzy and I ended up in bed together. It was my first time with another woman and it scared the hell out of me. I hurt Jezzy because I wouldn't admit I was even part gay, much less that I loved her and wanted more. It took me years to get there and even then I didn't want to admit I loved her until it was too late to even think about it. If Reno is the secret, then he's going to try and tell the world that I'm not really in love with Carrie, that I'm just... pining in the corner for my best friend...
Melissa nods slowly.
Melissa Mareau: And is that the truth? Do you love Jeszika and not Carrie?
Bethany takes a deep breath. This was it, the moment of truth, as it were.
Bethany Kenyon: Do I love Jeszika? Of course I love Jeszika, she's my best friend and helped me come to terms with whom I am. I wouldn't be who I am personally or professionally without her but am I IN love with her? No, I'm IN love with Carrie. You have nothing to worry about because i could never be you. I would not be comfortable being her Domme. Even in Reno, that didn't come close to happening.
Melissa nods again, taking this in and carefully processing everything.
Melissa Mareau: I see. It takes a special kind of person to be a Domme, thats for sure. its not for the faint hearted, entrusting another persons life solely to your own hands. It takes a bond of trust that few can hold true to.
She looks over at Bethany.
Melissa Mareau: I'm glad you came to me with this. I can see the honesty in your eyes Bethany. But this other secret, how damaging could it be? How deep will he be cutting you and your sister?
Bethany’s face falls.
Bethany Kenyon: Mama....
She swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: When I was seventeen, Mama got real sick and needed a transplant. They tested everybody we knew, I was the only match. I was ready to help her... but...she said no...
Melissa frowns.
Melissa Mareau: She said no? Why?
Bethany shrugs sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: The doctors told her it would make me susceptible to infections and probably give me health problems. They told her it would keep me from doing certain jobs and that I wouldn't be able to play sports at school anymore and that it might buy her an extra year or two before something else big would go wrong... so she said no and told me not to tell Ashley because Ash was mad at the world that her Mama was dying and she was worried Ash would blame me.
Melissa nods gravely.
Melissa Mareau: Does Ash know now?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No.
Melissa nods gravely again.
Melissa Mareau: Maybe you should tell her, before she finds out from anyone else... It would be better coming from you, not being found out from him.
Bethany nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: It's almost her anniversary too.
Trying to be reassuring, Melissa
Melissa Mareau: How long ago was it?
Bethany looks down.
Bethany Kenyon: June twenty-ninth, two thousand six.
Melissa nods, the mental math kicking in quickly.
Melissa Mareau: That’s a young age to lose a parent, I wish I could understand how that feels.
Bethany nods, grateful for the effort.
Bethany Kenyon: I was seventeen, Ashley was sixteen.
Taking a deep breath, Melissa looks Bethany dead in the eyes.
Melissa Mareau: You should talk to Ash though, B...
She pauses, choosing her words carefully.
Melissa Mareau: Though tread carefully, I can be there for you if you want me. I'm sure Jezzy, Nik and Carrie would too if you ask them.
Bethany nods gratefully, not looking forward to the conversation ahead.
Bethany Kenyon: I just don't want you all to hate me if Joshua plays these cards.
Melissa nods, looking every bit the commanding presence.
Melissa Mareau: Then let everyone know, on your terms not his.
bethany nods, swallowing hard.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy knows everything about Reno, so does Carrie. Ashley and Nikki only think they do.
Melissa places her hand on Bethany’s shoulder.
Melissa Mareau: Then tell them everything, no secrets...
Nodding, Bethany looks into melissa’s eyes, hoping beyond hope.
Bethany Kenyon: And you?
Melissa allows her hand to drop back to her side as she frowns.
Melissa Mareau: Me?
Bethany nods, trying not to look away.
Bethany Kenyon: Knowing now about...
Melissa smiles reassuringly.
Melissa Mareau: I don't think any less of you you Beth. I think you’re a strong woman for coming to me about this, admitting it all to a woman you barely know.
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: You're family now.
Melissa Mareau: Family?
She muses on this.
Melissa Mareau: Always wanted sisters. I'm an only child you see...
Bethany smiles.
Bethany Kenyon: That's what Arsenal is...
Melissa frowns again.
Melissa Mareau: But I'm not part of Arsenal... I don't wrestle.
Almost laughing, Bethany nods, her smile ever growing in intensity.
Bethany Kenyon: No, but you're Jezzy's girl so we all see you like that, same way the others view Carrie.
Melissa smiles, visibly touched.
Melissa Mareau: Well I guess that makes me an honorary member of Arsenal then.
As the two of them nod to each other, Ashley Kenyon comes walking around the corner followed closely by Carrie Winter, Jeszika Gautier and Nikki Peltier. Bethany takes a deep breath and then nods to her sister.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash, we need to talk about Mama…
Ashley stops in her tracks, frowning.
Ashley Kenyon: Oh… ok…
Bethany nods to her and leads her into a side room while the others wait with Melissa.
Not five minutes later, Ashley storms out of the room, slamming the door and looking angrier than they have ever seen her before. As the door slides back open, they look to see Bethany picking herself back up off the floor, a trickle of blood coming from a spot over her right eyebrow, mingling with the tears streaming from her eyes.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh my God!
Jeszika, Carrie and Melissa hurry in to check on Bethany while Nikki quickly follows Ashley out the front door.
Carrie Winter: What happened?
Bethany shakes her head before falling into her girlfriend’s arms. Melissa sighs heavily.
Melissa Mareau: She told Ashley about their mother…
Jeszika and Carrie look at Bethany and gasp.
Carrie Winter: Oh God, Bethie…
Jeszika glances back at the door, worry written on her face.
Jeszika Gautier: There’s no telling what Ash is gonna do in that state!
Melissa looks around and then nods to the door.
Melissa Mareau: At least she’s not alone. Nikki appears to have gone after her.
Outside, Ashley goes to leap in a car and Nikki manages to catch up and slide into the passenger seat.
Nikki Peltier: So, where we going, Ash?
Ashley doesn’t bother to look over.
Ashley Kenyon: Get out, Nik…
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki Peltier: Wherever you’re going, I’m going too.
Ashley doesn’t even bother nodding as she cranks up the rental car.
Ashley Kenyon: Your funeral…
Two hours later, Nikki ducks into the bathroom at a local watering hole looking scared out of her mind. She pulls her phone out and quickly dials a number.
Nikki Peltier: Come on… come on… shit, shit, shit, SHIT!!!!
After the third ring, the voice of Jeszika Gautier answers.
Jeszika Gautier: Hello?
Nikki nods nervously.
Nikki Peltier: Jezzy, you guys gotta get down here to this, shit, what was the name… first bar off the main road. Ashley’s in here loaded on god knows what, I don’t know what she managed, but she’s ready to kill and it looks like she’s gonna fight the whole damn bar!
Panic grips Jeszika’s voice.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh shit… we’ll be there Nik, five minutes!
Nikki nods as she hears glass shatter in the next room.
Nikki Peltier: HURRY!!!
She hangs up and rushes back into the next room hoping not to find bodies on the floor.
An hour later, Bethany Kenyon sits in front of her laptop shaking her head. She turns on the camera and looks at her feet.
Bethany Kenyon: We did it again, didn’t we?
She shakes her head sadly, disbelief, shame and guilt written all over her face.
Bethany Kenyon: First Jeszika jumped when you told her to, then we all came together and I bit on your next bit of bait too, didn’t I?
Her hand balls up into a fist and starts to rise up only to stop and crash back down onto her thigh.
Bethany Kenyon: I should have known better than to let what you said get to me and yet, like the stupid bitch I am, I just HAD to start thinking what secret could you possibly have on me? What could you possibly know that I wouldn’t want getting out?
The same hand rises again, opening before the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: So, of course, I had to go and think on it, dwell on it really, and even discuss it with my friends and just like you wanted to happen when you said that, something shook loose and my sister went screaming off into the night to do something just as stupid and just a touch self-destructive, just like she always tends to when pushed and faced with something she doesn’t want to hear.
Bethany throws her head back, her gaze moving up from her feet to the sky above.
Bethany Kenyon: I should have known better, I should have known you might be bluffing and have just said that to get into my head and I should have known not to go looking in dark places I don’t really wanna see the truth in but I just…
Letting out a deep breath, she looks into the camera for the first time.
Bethany Kenyon: I won’t deny that it’s a definite possibility that you’re not bluffing, Joshua. You weren’t with Brody, you weren’t with the Bossman, you weren’t with Nick Daniels, Sentinel or Blood and now you’ve all but told us you’re going to get Melissa, so I know better than to say there’s nothing you could possibly have on me that could hurt me and my friends but I should have known better than to think you’d have dug up what I brought up to my friends and my sister. No matter how could of an investigator you were, you couldn’t have known everything there was to know about why June Twenty-Ninth is a special date in our household, nor could you know as much about Reno as I let myself fear you could have.
She sits back, taking another deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: June Twenty-Ninth, Two Thousand Six is the day Ashley and I lost our mother and on Sunday, it will have been eight years since my mother would not let me save her from the disease that was ravaging her body. Ashley didn’t know that had even been a possibility until earlier tonight when I told her to avoid the chance that you might tell her and the world that I failed…
Another deep breath and Bethany glares into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: She’s angry with me now but you shouldn’t see that as a good thing, Joshua, because she’s also angry with you and as much as she wants to smack me for this, she wants to hurt you more. Jeszika couldn’t wait to get her hands on you before because of brody but now the Melissa threat has made her really wanna see you burn. Aerynn and I, well, let’s just say we’d kinda like to see you on the floor, beaten, broken, battered, bloodied and smashed into a million glittering little pieces just like everybody else and the way we’re all feeling right now…
She shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: I really wouldn’t want to be you or your little priestess or any of your little lackeys. With Bene Elohim, Arsenal, Aerynn Donnelly and God knows how many others ready to band together against you, you had better come up with more than just a threat against a non-combatant and a few vague threats. You’re right when you say this is gonna be another lesson in violence, Joshua, the question though is, how many is it gonna take before you realize you aren’t the center of the universe? You’ve been one step ahead of us every step of the way so far, on Sunday…
She stands up, nodding defiantly.
Bethany Kenyon: We catch up… and you’re not gonna like what happens when we do!
Bethany Kenyon closes her phone and nods to herself. She’s just gotten off the phone with Aerynn Donnelly and now was the time to tell everybody about the plan, knowing some of them weren’t going to like this simply because it was coming from Aerynn. She steels herself and then walks back into the front room of Jeszika Gautier’s house having arrived there a week previous after Joshua McBride’s video presentation at the last UWA show. As she walks back inside, the others, Jeszika, Jeszika’s girlfriend, Melissa Mareau, Bethany’s own girlfriend, Carrie Winter, Bethany’s sister and tag team partner, Ashley Kenyon, and the group’s manager, Nikki Peltier, all look at her in unison, all seemingly expectant.
Jeszika Gautier: So... who was that?
Bethany Kenyon: Aerynn Donnelly.
Jeszika gapes.
Jeszika Gautier: Aerynn called you?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She did.. or, should say, she texted me and i called her back.
Jeszika Gautier: What did she want?
Bethany Kenyon: To talk about us making a trip out to her place in Tahoe.
Nikki frowns.
Nikki Peltier: She has a place in Tahoe?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Nice place, big cabin, I believe it’s her boyfriend’s place.
Ashley crosses her arms.
Ashley Kenyon: You’ve been there?
Bethany nods again.
Bethany Kenyon: I have, yes.
Jeszika frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: You've been there? Since when were you all buddy buddy with Aerynn?
Bethany Kenyon: She called me before we had to team with her. Invited me out there to discuss the way things were going.
Jeszika Gautier: I see... And why does she need us to go to her place? Just to discuss team strategy or something?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: Tattoos.
Ashley shakes her head.
Ashley Kenyon: Why the fuck would we need or want to go all the way across the country to some bitch most of us don’t even like’s house just to get some ink?
Nikki’s eyes narrow.
Nikki Peltier: She found out something, didn’t she?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She hired someone to dig into McBride. Apparently it didn’t end well for whoever it was but he found out this guy deals in all kinds of shit, physical, mental, spiritual, even supernatural. She says if we want to be able to fight him, we need to get these tattoos, symbols against possession, done in the old ways from the Far East.
Ashley smirks.
Ashley Kenyon: Many Bothans died… to bring us this information.
Bethany shakes her head, clearly aggravated.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s not funny, Ash. There’s a guy lying in the hospital right now who DID almost die to bring us something!
Jeszika Gautier: Anti-possession tattoos? Like on “Supernatural?”
Ashley Kenyon: Yes, Sammy.
Jeszika gives her a droll look.
Jeszika Gautier: You know as well as anyone, I'm a Dean girl, Ash, but tattoos? They protect us somewhat from Joshua?
Nikki smirks.
Nikki Peltier: Remind me to tell J.T. that.
Jeszika Gautier: Don’t you dare, Nik! Don't you dare!
Nikki laughs.
Nikki Peltier: I wouldn't even if you wanted a man... JT's totally not your type.
Jeszika Gautier: Like I have a type....
Ashley starts to say something but before she can, Bethany cuts her off.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash, NO!
Jeszika Gautier: So B, what do we need to get tattooed?
Bethany Kenyon: Apparently, she knows a guy who does it and is bringing said guy to her place. We just have to fly over there and let him go to town on us.
Jeszika Gautier: So this is like old school tattooing? Like the Samoans do? The the little wooden thing and a hammer?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: And who need to get it?
Bethany Kenyon: Probably everybody in this room.
Melissa looks up
Melissa Mareau: Even me?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: And Carrie...
She looks away on shame.
Carrie Winter: Honey, what's wrong?
Jeszika Gautier: B... Is everything ok?
Bethany Kenyon: I just... don't like having to ask this of you two. I mean, you're a lawyer and you're a bartender... you shouldn't have to worry about this just because you fell in love with somebody who does what we do.
Melissa Mareau: I have no issues with getting tattoos... Believe it not, I have four already. I just hide them well. I knew going into this relationship that it was going to be different because of what you all do for a living. I knew what I was getting into... Kind of. But if it help, if anything helps, I will do it... As long as I can pick where I get to get the tattoos. I have a professional image to keep, and tattoos to me are a personal thing.
Carrie Winter: Bethie, considering what I used to do...
Jeszika Gautier: Are you sure we're not asking too much here Mel? I mean... You'll be stuck with this for life...
Melissa Mareau: Well since I'm hoping on being with your for life, it won't be a problem will it?
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think we should call Richie and Billy?
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki Peltier: The Red Hoods got an overseas tour for the next month or so.
Ashley Kenyon: I don’t know where Billy is.
Jeszika Gautier: When does she need us to do this?
Bethany Kenyon: Pretty much now, at our convenience. We just need to text her when we're getting off the plane and we'll get picked up and driven out to the cabin.
Jeszika Gautier: Ok... Well then what are we waiting for?
- - - - - - - -
June 26th, 2014
It’s been two days since the tattoo session at Aerynn’s place. With a million things on her mind, Bethany Kenyon seeks out somebody for a conversation she’s not sure she really wants to have. Joshua McBride had put everybody on notice and now it was time to deal with one of the possibilities he’d mentioned. She walks down the hallway and finds Melissa Mareau waiting by a door for Jeszika.
Bethany Kenyon: I need to talk to you, the secret thing has to be one of two things... it's either my mother, or it's Reno.
Sensing the gravity of the situation and of what she’s likely about to hear, Melissa nods grimly.
Melissa Mareau: Continue.
Taking a deep breath, Bethany swallows her pride and fear and nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: Reno, was a job we did early on. When we finished, we got drunk and Jezzy and I ended up in bed together. It was my first time with another woman and it scared the hell out of me. I hurt Jezzy because I wouldn't admit I was even part gay, much less that I loved her and wanted more. It took me years to get there and even then I didn't want to admit I loved her until it was too late to even think about it. If Reno is the secret, then he's going to try and tell the world that I'm not really in love with Carrie, that I'm just... pining in the corner for my best friend...
Melissa nods slowly.
Melissa Mareau: And is that the truth? Do you love Jeszika and not Carrie?
Bethany takes a deep breath. This was it, the moment of truth, as it were.
Bethany Kenyon: Do I love Jeszika? Of course I love Jeszika, she's my best friend and helped me come to terms with whom I am. I wouldn't be who I am personally or professionally without her but am I IN love with her? No, I'm IN love with Carrie. You have nothing to worry about because i could never be you. I would not be comfortable being her Domme. Even in Reno, that didn't come close to happening.
Melissa nods again, taking this in and carefully processing everything.
Melissa Mareau: I see. It takes a special kind of person to be a Domme, thats for sure. its not for the faint hearted, entrusting another persons life solely to your own hands. It takes a bond of trust that few can hold true to.
She looks over at Bethany.
Melissa Mareau: I'm glad you came to me with this. I can see the honesty in your eyes Bethany. But this other secret, how damaging could it be? How deep will he be cutting you and your sister?
Bethany’s face falls.
Bethany Kenyon: Mama....
She swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: When I was seventeen, Mama got real sick and needed a transplant. They tested everybody we knew, I was the only match. I was ready to help her... but...she said no...
Melissa frowns.
Melissa Mareau: She said no? Why?
Bethany shrugs sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: The doctors told her it would make me susceptible to infections and probably give me health problems. They told her it would keep me from doing certain jobs and that I wouldn't be able to play sports at school anymore and that it might buy her an extra year or two before something else big would go wrong... so she said no and told me not to tell Ashley because Ash was mad at the world that her Mama was dying and she was worried Ash would blame me.
Melissa nods gravely.
Melissa Mareau: Does Ash know now?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No.
Melissa nods gravely again.
Melissa Mareau: Maybe you should tell her, before she finds out from anyone else... It would be better coming from you, not being found out from him.
Bethany nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: It's almost her anniversary too.
Trying to be reassuring, Melissa
Melissa Mareau: How long ago was it?
Bethany looks down.
Bethany Kenyon: June twenty-ninth, two thousand six.
Melissa nods, the mental math kicking in quickly.
Melissa Mareau: That’s a young age to lose a parent, I wish I could understand how that feels.
Bethany nods, grateful for the effort.
Bethany Kenyon: I was seventeen, Ashley was sixteen.
Taking a deep breath, Melissa looks Bethany dead in the eyes.
Melissa Mareau: You should talk to Ash though, B...
She pauses, choosing her words carefully.
Melissa Mareau: Though tread carefully, I can be there for you if you want me. I'm sure Jezzy, Nik and Carrie would too if you ask them.
Bethany nods gratefully, not looking forward to the conversation ahead.
Bethany Kenyon: I just don't want you all to hate me if Joshua plays these cards.
Melissa nods, looking every bit the commanding presence.
Melissa Mareau: Then let everyone know, on your terms not his.
bethany nods, swallowing hard.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy knows everything about Reno, so does Carrie. Ashley and Nikki only think they do.
Melissa places her hand on Bethany’s shoulder.
Melissa Mareau: Then tell them everything, no secrets...
Nodding, Bethany looks into melissa’s eyes, hoping beyond hope.
Bethany Kenyon: And you?
Melissa allows her hand to drop back to her side as she frowns.
Melissa Mareau: Me?
Bethany nods, trying not to look away.
Bethany Kenyon: Knowing now about...
Melissa smiles reassuringly.
Melissa Mareau: I don't think any less of you you Beth. I think you’re a strong woman for coming to me about this, admitting it all to a woman you barely know.
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: You're family now.
Melissa Mareau: Family?
She muses on this.
Melissa Mareau: Always wanted sisters. I'm an only child you see...
Bethany smiles.
Bethany Kenyon: That's what Arsenal is...
Melissa frowns again.
Melissa Mareau: But I'm not part of Arsenal... I don't wrestle.
Almost laughing, Bethany nods, her smile ever growing in intensity.
Bethany Kenyon: No, but you're Jezzy's girl so we all see you like that, same way the others view Carrie.
Melissa smiles, visibly touched.
Melissa Mareau: Well I guess that makes me an honorary member of Arsenal then.
As the two of them nod to each other, Ashley Kenyon comes walking around the corner followed closely by Carrie Winter, Jeszika Gautier and Nikki Peltier. Bethany takes a deep breath and then nods to her sister.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash, we need to talk about Mama…
Ashley stops in her tracks, frowning.
Ashley Kenyon: Oh… ok…
Bethany nods to her and leads her into a side room while the others wait with Melissa.
Not five minutes later, Ashley storms out of the room, slamming the door and looking angrier than they have ever seen her before. As the door slides back open, they look to see Bethany picking herself back up off the floor, a trickle of blood coming from a spot over her right eyebrow, mingling with the tears streaming from her eyes.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh my God!
Jeszika, Carrie and Melissa hurry in to check on Bethany while Nikki quickly follows Ashley out the front door.
Carrie Winter: What happened?
Bethany shakes her head before falling into her girlfriend’s arms. Melissa sighs heavily.
Melissa Mareau: She told Ashley about their mother…
Jeszika and Carrie look at Bethany and gasp.
Carrie Winter: Oh God, Bethie…
Jeszika glances back at the door, worry written on her face.
Jeszika Gautier: There’s no telling what Ash is gonna do in that state!
Melissa looks around and then nods to the door.
Melissa Mareau: At least she’s not alone. Nikki appears to have gone after her.
Outside, Ashley goes to leap in a car and Nikki manages to catch up and slide into the passenger seat.
Nikki Peltier: So, where we going, Ash?
Ashley doesn’t bother to look over.
Ashley Kenyon: Get out, Nik…
Nikki shakes her head.
Nikki Peltier: Wherever you’re going, I’m going too.
Ashley doesn’t even bother nodding as she cranks up the rental car.
Ashley Kenyon: Your funeral…
Two hours later, Nikki ducks into the bathroom at a local watering hole looking scared out of her mind. She pulls her phone out and quickly dials a number.
Nikki Peltier: Come on… come on… shit, shit, shit, SHIT!!!!
After the third ring, the voice of Jeszika Gautier answers.
Jeszika Gautier: Hello?
Nikki nods nervously.
Nikki Peltier: Jezzy, you guys gotta get down here to this, shit, what was the name… first bar off the main road. Ashley’s in here loaded on god knows what, I don’t know what she managed, but she’s ready to kill and it looks like she’s gonna fight the whole damn bar!
Panic grips Jeszika’s voice.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh shit… we’ll be there Nik, five minutes!
Nikki nods as she hears glass shatter in the next room.
Nikki Peltier: HURRY!!!
She hangs up and rushes back into the next room hoping not to find bodies on the floor.
An hour later, Bethany Kenyon sits in front of her laptop shaking her head. She turns on the camera and looks at her feet.
Bethany Kenyon: We did it again, didn’t we?
She shakes her head sadly, disbelief, shame and guilt written all over her face.
Bethany Kenyon: First Jeszika jumped when you told her to, then we all came together and I bit on your next bit of bait too, didn’t I?
Her hand balls up into a fist and starts to rise up only to stop and crash back down onto her thigh.
Bethany Kenyon: I should have known better than to let what you said get to me and yet, like the stupid bitch I am, I just HAD to start thinking what secret could you possibly have on me? What could you possibly know that I wouldn’t want getting out?
The same hand rises again, opening before the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: So, of course, I had to go and think on it, dwell on it really, and even discuss it with my friends and just like you wanted to happen when you said that, something shook loose and my sister went screaming off into the night to do something just as stupid and just a touch self-destructive, just like she always tends to when pushed and faced with something she doesn’t want to hear.
Bethany throws her head back, her gaze moving up from her feet to the sky above.
Bethany Kenyon: I should have known better, I should have known you might be bluffing and have just said that to get into my head and I should have known not to go looking in dark places I don’t really wanna see the truth in but I just…
Letting out a deep breath, she looks into the camera for the first time.
Bethany Kenyon: I won’t deny that it’s a definite possibility that you’re not bluffing, Joshua. You weren’t with Brody, you weren’t with the Bossman, you weren’t with Nick Daniels, Sentinel or Blood and now you’ve all but told us you’re going to get Melissa, so I know better than to say there’s nothing you could possibly have on me that could hurt me and my friends but I should have known better than to think you’d have dug up what I brought up to my friends and my sister. No matter how could of an investigator you were, you couldn’t have known everything there was to know about why June Twenty-Ninth is a special date in our household, nor could you know as much about Reno as I let myself fear you could have.
She sits back, taking another deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: June Twenty-Ninth, Two Thousand Six is the day Ashley and I lost our mother and on Sunday, it will have been eight years since my mother would not let me save her from the disease that was ravaging her body. Ashley didn’t know that had even been a possibility until earlier tonight when I told her to avoid the chance that you might tell her and the world that I failed…
Another deep breath and Bethany glares into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: She’s angry with me now but you shouldn’t see that as a good thing, Joshua, because she’s also angry with you and as much as she wants to smack me for this, she wants to hurt you more. Jeszika couldn’t wait to get her hands on you before because of brody but now the Melissa threat has made her really wanna see you burn. Aerynn and I, well, let’s just say we’d kinda like to see you on the floor, beaten, broken, battered, bloodied and smashed into a million glittering little pieces just like everybody else and the way we’re all feeling right now…
She shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: I really wouldn’t want to be you or your little priestess or any of your little lackeys. With Bene Elohim, Arsenal, Aerynn Donnelly and God knows how many others ready to band together against you, you had better come up with more than just a threat against a non-combatant and a few vague threats. You’re right when you say this is gonna be another lesson in violence, Joshua, the question though is, how many is it gonna take before you realize you aren’t the center of the universe? You’ve been one step ahead of us every step of the way so far, on Sunday…
She stands up, nodding defiantly.
Bethany Kenyon: We catch up… and you’re not gonna like what happens when we do!
