Purple Prey: The Case of the Filthy Baboon

Chapter 15: The Butcher in the Black Saloon

A silence filled the room for what felt like weeks but when I looked to the large clock that covered the entire ceiling, only 17 minutes had passed. My mouth hung open, dry to the bone, flies flying in and out lazily. I drifted in and out of consciousness, my mind buzzing with thoughts. Or maybe it was just the flies.

"Ah, sorry did I make the energy weird here-" Venus stammered, cutting the silence "Obsidian I- wait-" He turned to me and stopped short, "You are crying?"

"Wh-whaat?" I croaked, coughing up a little dust. I touched a hand to my numb face and inspected my sopping wet fingers. "Apparently so!" I remarked. I didn't feel like myself at all. I tried once again to depart from the loveseat and this time, it allowed me to leave. I fell forward, my legs atrophied from the lack of use, and slowly began to drag myself towards Venus. As I reached him, he bent down and lifted me to feet. My legs shook as I looked into his eyes.

"Is it... is it really true? I croaked, my voice rasping like sandpaper. I always pictured myself being smoother, if I were to be in this scenario. Less of a 40 grit sandpaper and more of a desirable partner. I felt like a loser, a let down, a non-operational forklift with rusted gears. But when my eyes met Venus', I didn't see disgust, OR regret!! He actually looked a lot more enthused than he did but a moment ago. He nodded at me, beaming, then at the Sinuous lineage twice as hard.

Suddenly the feeling rushed back into my face and legs steadied. Was this... the power of love? My face was completely soaked as I continued to sob elatedly. Venus' arms tightened around me. This was heaven. I looked up and followed Venus' eyes. Sin Sinuous looked unhappy, though I could not understand how someone could be feeling anything but jubilation right now. And it seemed like he was getting closer...

Sin Sinuous wormed both his hands between our chests and wedged us apart. I slipped across the room and landed sprawled and tangled under an artsy coffee table. Venus was physically unaffected, just looked at Sin Sinuous with a little concern.

"Absolutely not. ABSOLUTELY NOT!! A Sinuous will NOT be playing second fiddle to the likes of.. Of!!" he struggled to find a word "what even ARE you!?!?!" he stopped his black alligator skin boot on the marble floor in frustration. But his frustration was nothing compared to my own. There I was, living the dream, and this condescending Sin dared to put his hands on me and insult me like I was gonna just lay here and take it! I didn't move.

"Listen, Mr. Sinuous," I heard Venus' voice and was immediately at peace, "I understand your frustrations. I can only imagine what it would feel like to have your daughter's potential spouse snatched from your grasp by someone who does not live up to the most rudimentary standards of what you think makes an ideal partner. But I also know that deep down, you want your daughter to be happy. And above all else, you want me to be happy. And what would make me happiest, is if you would forget the idea of Severus and I marrying and let us be with who we want. Even if they are uggos!" He beamed victoriously.

"Yeah, buster!" I scraped myself out from the tables legs with my fingernails, trailing blood beside me "I may have ruptured one of my eardrums in my fall, but Venus and I will always defend each other!" I smiled at Venus and he looked at me gratefully, hand on his heart. Sin Sinuous was in some kind of frenzy. More and more locks of his hair fell onto his forehead as he stamped his feet and tore at his face. Venus came to me like a vision of an angel and hoisted me up, supporting my weight by pulling my arm over his broad shoulders.

"Other side, dear, this ear's no good," I pet the side of his chiselled face endearingly and he obliged. We locked eyes and I heard a choir of angelic voices. Nothing could ruin this moment.

I heard an anguished yell. Sin was still here, frothing at the mouth and growling at me. Severus rolled her eyes. I stared him down and looked away dismissively, fixing my attention back on Venus. He didn't have the power here anymore.