The Watchwomen

Chapter 11 (Intermission): My Destined Successor

We last read Chapter 10, in which Hailey a.k.a. The Viper briefs her fellow Paragon women—Carla Rosenblood a.k.a. Nightclaw, Cassie a.k.a. Coldsnap, and Monica Drevis a.k.a. Voltara—about the recent events that had unfolded since that morning; said events culminated in the serpentine heroine receiving a strange silver container of red vials which are supposedly the key to overcoming the surge of female assassins that have begun launching attacks as of late. They infer that there may be some mind-controlling going on, and that the Legion's troops may not be all that they seem at first glance. For the time being, though, they decide that they've made significant progress for that day and opt to take a break: Monica elects to contact her partner Herman and ask him about the red vials, Nightclaw sets out to patrol Mercury Heights, and Coldsnap stays around the apartment and starts playing video games while The Viper returns to her own home.

This time, we take a bit of a break from the main story as we find out more about what made Allie Bannister the monster that she is today.....

***********************************************************************************************

-Flashback-

-Birchwood Estate, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States-

Many, many years ago, when the Birchwood Estate mansion was still on the ground and its namesake, Bryan Birchwood, had yet to reach his prime, the property was instead taken care of by Bryan's father, Blake Birchwood. To sum it up, the Birchwood family now consisted of three generations. First, there was Blake Birchwood and his wife, both of whom soon worked to give birth to Bryan Birchwood. Bryan would then eventually go on to marry as well, and give birth to an infant son named B.B. However, several years down the road, Bryan and B.B. would both be gruesomely murdered by their own assistant Allie Bannister in her ambitious bid to take control of the estate for herself.

Allie Bannister had been around for three generations' worth of the Birchwood bloodline, with her utterly immaculate cosmetic routine enabling her to remain looking perpetually fresh, refined, and young no matter how many years actually passed. She had taken care of the Birchwood Estate when Blake was in charge, and when both Blake and his wife passed away—and Bryan became old enough to inherit it—she served him as well......until she decided that she had finally suffered enough and opted to take matters into her own hands.

But to learn exactly how she got there.....we may need to go back a little further in time.

A few decades ago, in the nursery of the Birchwood Estate within the still-grounded mansion, Blake Birchwood and his assistant Allie Bannister stood at the side railing of a sturdy crib with a black paint job, lovingly observing the baby obliviously playing around with his toys inside of it.

"He looks so adorable, doesn't he?" Blake told Allie, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

"Yes, Master," Allie replied with a smile. "Standing here beside you, looking over him.....it's as though I've been tasked with raising him as well."

"My wife and I have decided to name him Bryan," Blake revealed. "Bryan Birchwood. Someday, this mansion and its surrounding property shall all be his.....and I have no doubt that he will make good use of it."

"You sure have a lot of faith in him. Then again, if he truly does grow up to be as great as you, then I could understand why. No matter what happens, though, you have my word; I shall serve him just as loyally as I have with you."

Blake beamed emotionally and offered a hand to Allie, who took it. ".....Appreciate that," Blake responded warmly. "'Bryan Birchwood', my destined successor.....has quite the ring to it, doesn't it?"