Metallic Memoriam

Chapter 4: The Crow and the Butterfly

Angelo's P.O.V.

I volunteered to babysit Cadence while Blythe and Chris were on a mini tour. Well for Blythe it is. She'll only be gone for a month. Chris is in Europe for two months. Hazel had to quit the band by the request of her cousin Sara, which pissed Blythe off to no end because of various reasons, mostly that it was three days before tour. Luckily, this girl Levi met in New Orleans, Kat, plays guitar wicked good and already knew half of Bette Noir's songs and she was a quick learner. She even got the riffs to the Lithium mash-up.

Hazel stopped over to see the baby and she was playing with her while Kelly and I started cooking in the kitchen. Kuza and Franccessca have been coming over since Cadence was born, today being no exception so they should be here any minute. That little girl is obsessed with Kuza's gauges. When Blythe gets back, Cadence will be two months old and we all find it funny when she gets frustrated because she can't sit up on her own. She tries her hardest and ends up flopping to the side and cries until Chris or Ricky cheers her up. Blythe's grandma Cadence finds it funny; she says it's because Blythe was the same way as a baby.

Cadence starts crying and we find that she flopped over once again. Just in time Franccessca walks in and scoops the baby from Hazel, tickling her belly until she stopped crying. "Nice save Gothika." Hazel smirks at Franccessca.

"Thanks, Flower Child." She shot back.

The main laptop rang and Blythe's Skype picture pops up. I hit answer and take Cadence, placing her in front of the screen with me. "There's my pretty girl!" Blythe smiles from ear to ear. Cadence bounces and coos. "How's everything going Ange?"

"Terrible. She won't stop crying. She threw Kelly into a wall-"

"I honestly believed you up until that point." Blythe starts laughing.

"Wow, really? Things have actually been going great. She's only woken up twice in the middle of the night for us. Kuza and Franccessca have been over everyday and she loves that. Hazel's over too." Hazel smiles toward the camera.

"Hey, Purple Haze. How's your warden?" Blythe says jokingly.

Hazel's smile fades, "Sara is not that bad. She just-"

"She made you quit something you love and is controlling every aspect of your life. Yes, she is that bad. She's your cousin, not your owner. If I had to drop Kessler you should drop Sara."

"Blythe-"

"Maybe you should just go Hazel. Until you stand up to Sara or you let me do it," Blythe begins, her voice ice-cold, "it's too stressful to be around you. Ange call me back when she's gone and Cadence is awake. Please and thank you." She finished, ending the call.

Cadence had fallen asleep in my arms during this whole thing so Kelly took her and put her in her bassinet. Hazel stands up - I notice her blink away tears - and walks silently out the door.

"Sad thing is," Franccessca noted, "you can't even blame Blythe."