Before I Fall

Chapter Twelve

Boom, boom, boom! Who the hell was throwing grenades at this hour? That's what it sounded like to Morgan's ear. Her body slung haphazardly on the couch with the tail of her big white T-shirt bundled at her waist, exposing her big, naked round bottom to anyone who would've barged into her home. Boom, boom, boom! There it was again but this time it was accompanied by a familiar voice. Damn it!

"Morgan! Morgan are you there? It's me, Lourdes." Boom, boom, boom! It had slipped her mind that Lourdes was coming over today and she didn't want to greet her in this condition. Boom, boom, boom! "Come on, open up!" Lourdes shouted again. Trying to force herself out of her drunken stupor, Morgan was only able to roll on her side and groan loudly as her head hurt. That liquor really did a number on her. How the hell did she even get to the couch? The last thing she remembered was passing out with her tub of ice cream. Out of nowhere she heard footsteps clicking on her floor getting closer to her, faster and faster as they closed in on her.

"Oh no, Morgan! What happened?" Lourdes' frantic voice filled the room. Morgan felt her shirt being pulled over her hips and her body being made to sit upright on the sofa. The blinds were still closed but Lourdes found the control panel to open them letting the bleaky morning in and for once Morgan was happy there was no sunshine. Lourdes rushed back to her side, grabbing the sides of her sticky face looking in her puffy eyes, examining it along with the rest of her body.

"How did you get in here?" the groggy question managed to pass Morgan's dry lips.

"I broke in. I thought you were hurt." she replied.

"Why so early? As you can see, I'm not at my best."

"Early? It's one in the afternoon Morgan, so tell me what happened?" Lourdes questioned, her eyes fill with concern.

"Mother." was all Morgan had to say for that knowing look to cross Lourdes' face. She released a sigh then replied "I'm sorry honey." The pity she received from Lourdes was enough to make her want to cry again but instead she just silently looked out at the city layed before her.

"Stay here, I'll go make you something to get you sober. I could smell the liquor a mile away." Lourdes stated then left her side. It gave Morgan a moment to breathe and gather her senses and thoughts. Her mother was the root of all evil and Morgan hated her for making her feel this way, for feeling so pathetic. What did she expect anyway? Demons couldn't change their ways so she should've known better than to expect Mignon to welcome her back with open arms. Plus to add fuel to the fire, she chose to live with her grandmother rather than staying with her own mother. She still couldn't get over the fact that her mother wished she wasn't born, that alone cut Morgan so deep it drained her dry. Even if she did receive some form of protection from Mignon it would only be to save face rather than out of love.

Now this meant Morgan had to work three times as hard to be unstoppable that nothing could touch her. For someone who loved fiercely like she did, her hate was growing just as strong and now she wanted to hit Mignon where it hurt, to rip the one thing she's  always loved away from her and that was her precious throne. Resolution set in her bones, her intent clear, this putrid world would be hers and she'd make damn sure of it. Lourdes came back into the living room with a mug of concoction that made Morgan wrinkle her nose in disgust.

"You drank the Devil's Truth?" Lourdes was holding the unmarked bottle from last night in her other hand. Morgan could only nod.

"Morgan this shit will make you grow balls of steel and shoot bullets out your ass, no wonder you're so out of it. Anyway, I cleaned up your kitchen and I'll make you something to eat later but drink this first. You'll feel better within the hour." Morgan took the cup and downed the contents in one go. It tasted like vomit but she knew it would help with the hangover. She felt the settee dip beside her as Lourdes took a seat next to her, her eyes boring into the side of her head as Morgan continued to stare blankly at the city.

"Give me the details about yesterday M" Lourdes pleaded using her nickname and so Morgan relayed all that happened the day before from the moment she arrived in the Underworld until she passed out on the floor. Morgan was one to emote while she spoke and for the first time in her life, she didn't. No smile, no sign of frustration and that made Lourdes worried but she said nothing, only listened. When she got quiet, Lourdes stood up, stretched out her hand to Morgan and said,

"I won't let that bitch get to you M, I'm always here for you. You are perfect just the way you are and I wouldn't have it any other way." Her  million dollar smile reignited something in Morgan, she realized just how much she missed Lourdes.

"Come on, you're going to hop in the shower, put on some clothes, I'll make you something to eat then we'll relax until we're ready to go out later. I'm not taking no for an answer either missy." the finality in her voice caused Morgan to chuckle. This was the Lourdes she knew and loved. Morgan took her hand and Lourdes pulled her into a hug, kissing her head "Welcome back M." she whispered. Morgan pulled away before she stared crying again and headed up the stairs to her bedroom to get cleaned up. The more she moved around, the better she felt, too good in fact. What did she put in that brew? Thoughts of last night began fading away and she began humming as she headed to the bathroom.

Clad in her fuzzy socks, another big T-shirt and shorts she came downstairs and went to the kitchen where Lourdes was cooking. She'd taken off her heels and jacket to feel more relaxed and that she was now in her tight brown leather pants and cropped top, moving corner to corner with her bare feet.

"Hey" Morgan said with a smile, she was happy now. This was what she wanted, just her and her sister together again, forever. My sister.

"Hey drunky, feeling better?" Lourdes asked with her own smile.

"Yeah, thanks for being here for me. What was in that tea anyway? It worked like a charm."

"It's a family secret passed from one generation to the other." Speaking of which Morgan remembered what her grandmother told them about their father and felt like this was the perfect time to talk about it but she didn't know the first words to say. Wringing her hands as anxiety took over her body, she stood silently as Lourdes began cutting vegetables. It's weird that demons had to eat and do simple things like humans do because of the guise they wore but we were as far from them as possible in every way.

"We're sisters." Morgan blurted out making Lourdes chuckle.

"Of course we're sisters silly, you're my best friend in the whole world." She didn't know. This made Morgan release a sigh of relief that at least she alone wasn't left in the dark about this whole matter.

"No Lourdes, I mean blood relatives. Real sisters." Lourdes stopped what she was doing to look at Morgan's face.

"You're not joking." she concluded, a grave look changed her face.

"I'm not joking." Morgan reaffirmed. Vegetables abandoned, Lourdes rounded the island and stood by the stools, a little distance away from Morgan.

"How do you know this?"

"Nana confessed. Apparently we have the same father." Morgan could see the confusion and denial etched on her face. Maybe she was wrong for telling Lourdes, they were already best friends practically sisters already so maybe she should've kept her mouth shut. However, Lourdes would have her head for keeping this secret from her.

"You want to know the worst part about this? He's an angel."

"He's a what?!" anger blazed in her eyes at the revelation. "How long have you known M?"

"I literally found out yesterday. I'm just as shocked as you are Lourdes, but don't you see wh-" Morgan stopped when she saw Lourdes forcing her heels on and grabbing her jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"Take over from here" Lourdes ordered, her head nodding towards the stove.

"Are you coming back?"

Putting her jacket on, her sister replied with a sigh "I don't know." then raced out of her home with her bag.

Yes, she definately should have kept this to herself.