AQUARIUS LOVER by Louise May Smith

chapter 4

Potentia - when i saw you first, it took every ounce of me not to kiss you. When i saw you laugh, it took every ounce of me not to fall in love. And when i saw your soul, it took every ounce of me. 

Elysian - Dear potentia, as i say you are perfect. Yet, Bently still lives among us. Every road we turn, every pub we enter he is there. We cannot go on, we cannot hide in the shadows of your husband.

Potentia - Then we lay his hands around his neck, we make a friendly gesture, and kill him. Sacrificing his body towards the devil. 

And so that is what they did. It was a Tuesday night at around half past seven, Just after dinnertime. Because shortly after, he was sure to destine his way towards the gafter. Yeah, the gafter is the old pub, but it’s not any pub, it’s the home to all those ladies in London. Those ladies you say, well Ada is just one of the lucky ones to hook up to Bently, a whore. Just like the whole lot of them. 

bite . Bite. Bite. That was it, Ada could help. Give him a swig and ‘ed be outta there. 

Now in Barley main, a street just round the vertex from Potentias home was a secret. A place no one knew about, a savagely sacrificing savings of money and guns and whiskey. Why? Because she wanted to give up hope. How was this plan ever going to work? And if it did, how would they cover it? 

Ada Freeley smith. Ada smith for shorts. Her name was shouted everywhere, every road, every lane, every pub, every station, every dock. Ada Freeley bloody Smith. What a whore. 

Ada- you alright boys. Ey boys, get over ere both of ya. What ya want, I can tell when sommins wrong. Tell me, spit it out. 

Elysian - right, u wanna play with me ada?

Ada- that ain’t what I said, was it elysian

Elysian- right business only, I need your help, dear Ada. 

Ada- what makes ya think imma help you, a Yeomanry not much more then meself ay? Ayyy.

Elysian - right listen here, you go to the Gafter tonight. You find Bently, the puffed-up one. The one who not only sets eyes on you whores, but is playing with my Potentia.

Ada- your potentia? Aint she ‘is?

Elysian - will you shut up Ada. Alright, I admit it is not Christian of me to take her away from her married man. But she needs me, and I need her.

Ada- but her father’s will? It will be broken, her bond to be gone, more than gone, broken. Lost. 

Elysian - Ada, it doesn’t have to be. We have a plan. 

Ada- right gowan

Elysian - we need you to meet Bently at the gafter tonight, then you are gonna do whatever you like with him and finish him rotten. Whilst you are doing that, me alongside P will be clearing his house, setting fire to his home. Then my darling Ada, you strangle him. And you tighten that cloth so tight his soul gets eaten by the devils of the early morning sun. Then and only then will we chuck him back in his house, we say he was burned in a house fire. 

Ada - but why me?

Elysian - ada c’mon, please. It’s you, we know he loves naughtiness and so do you. Have a right good time, and then dead. 

Ada - and what do I get from this?

Elysian - A peaceful life, oh and I can find you a lover. Long-term, someone who you will marry. Have kids with, love beyond these men in the Gafter. Did you get me?

Ada- ye a’ight. Meet ere at nine tonight. I’ll be done. 

And so that is what they did, at exactly 7.27 after dinnertime, Bently left the house for the Gafter. As planned, and all was a success. Bright burgundy blood spread over the floor like god had thrown up blood. It was a bloody mess, but despite this, the murder was covered and Bently was gone. Gone forever. Dead, In hell.