And Then, There Was Fire.

thirty.

V I R G I N I A

"It's open!" Alexia shouted from the dining area of her apartment after her apartment doorbell rang, expecting her guest at this hour.

Her cousin walked through the door, sighing as she closed the door before stepping across Alexia's living room. "Anything yet?" Her cousin asked, removing her Michael Kors crossbody purse from her shoulder as she placed it on the barstool at Alexia's counter.

"Aubrey was fucking useless." Alexia stated absentmindedly, focused on her work that laid out on her black dining table. "Apparently he and Trey got into it, over that fucking bitch, before they went M.I.A." She added under her breath.

Walking towards Alexia, her cousin eyed what was on the table which caused her to realize the call for her visit was more serious than she assumed. "What? Like physically?" She asked, placing a hand on the top of one of Alexia's chairs while her free hand raised to rake the strands to her styled bob behind her ear.

"Burn marks on his neck." Alexia answered, finally glancing up into her hazel eyes. "They know of their selves. I know it." Alexia stated adamantly.

"What's this?" She asked, referring to the multiple small mason jars on the table, filled with a variety of herbs, soil, seeds and oil.

Alexia hesitated from answering her, focusing on the measurement she was taking from a jar.

"Rashelle," Alexia began with a frustrated tone. "I am tired, of this bitch being in my way."

Rashelle's lips pulled apart, slowly realizing what Alexia was creating. "Lucretia said this was only for emergencies." Rashelle reminded Alexia without needing to ask what she was doing again, already familiar with her aunt's spell-bound concoctions.

"And my mother would agree that this is an emergency." Alexia smirked. "I can't rely on Aubrey to do his fucking job and to keep her at bay. He's too nice; him and his bloodline's righteous ways."

"How would you explain this to Luciferedes?" Rashelle asked, trying to remain as the rational one between the two of them.

Alexia finally gave her, her full attention by sighing as she looked back up at Rashelle.

"My father's only goal is for me to bring Trey back, as my immaculate, in a great unification that thanks to my dear mother," She began to smile, waving her hand to reference all the mason jars. "we can accomplish."

"Then why won't you just try," Rashelle desperately began as she walked around the table, pulling a chair out adjacent to Alexia to sit into. "another round of the erotas mix, and try him again?" Alexia could now hear the worry in her cousin's voice. "Doing this to Lauren now, would make everything fall apart."

Alexia stared at her as if she was offended. "It's already falling the fuck apart. The erotas isn't working with her around!" Alexia said, referring to the concoction that was used for her to manipulate Trey. "You said it yourself when you seen them in D.C." Alexia reminded her, referring to the 24-hour diner Rashelle was tasked to work at that Trey and his friends frequented each time they partied in D.C.

"But if Aubrey was able to work her for as long as he did with it-" She began to justify before being interrupted.

"Why does it sound like you're against my father's wishes now?" Alexia asked, thinning her eyes while leaning her face against her fist to look at her. Rashelle deflated into her chair, dropping the attempt as she could now see that Alexia was committed.