tongue of the serpent ➵ a.b.

Chapter 28: Perception

I woke up with my nostrils pressing down on the sheets. They smelt like vanilla and sweat. The smells of lust and pain. The chilling air in the room grabbed my attention. I opened my eyes and flipped my head on the pillow to find a snoozing Andy on the opposite side. I pushed softly towards the half-naked body. I laced my hand around his chest and my left leg tangled with his own.

Mumbling came from the little boy's mouth; he was trying to speak in his sleep. His vocal chords roll and stress the love he's feeling. His body rolls to make his head face mine, and without even opening his eyes, he whispers, "Good morning, baby."

I joke around. "Hi, Daddy." I kiss his neck for dramatic flare.

His eyes finally pop open and I see mischief swirling around, planning something unknown. "Mmm, Babygirl," he titles me, and it makes me come alive inside.

His eyes droop back into his skull and eyelids close behind the dusty air surrounding us: polluted with secrets.

I wiggled and snaked out of his grasp, holding me to the bed. I stood up and went to the coffee machine, awing at the shiny chrome look it had. I set up the machine and pressed the 'On' button and let the machine do its business.

I looked upon the nightstand. No TV remote? Where could it have gone?

I check under the bed, cabinets, the desk where Andy had his suitcase on. Nothing.

Ugh, was this tiring.

I made my way to the TV stand, scanning my hands across the oak wood, trying to find the remote control.

I kneeled on the floor under the TV and opened the cabinets on the stand. Ah! The remote! I grabbed it and began to close the wooden doors.

Something caught my eye. A brush of silver that echoed without sound. It daunted me and led me right into sin itself. I reopened the cabinet and found a small, black notebook.

Much like Astaroth's, it had scribbles and marks all on the cover. I was curious as to what it was, so I opened the first page. A gigantic "KEEP OUT" sign stretched upon the manila divider. On it, was written, "Andy Biersack's Journal - Volume 6".

This was Andy's? I looked up at his body in the bed. His breathing was calm, mine, more outward and pulsated.

I closed the notebook and went to the bathroom, locking the door. Was I going to regret this? Maybe.

I opened the notebook once again and opened to the first page past the signs.

June 12
Juliet has finally done it. Her attempts to beckon me to keep her are torturing my mind. I don't want to leave her. I am absolutely and undoubtedly in love with her. But the thought remains of her manic episodes. How she hits me and I dare not hit back. It isn't healthy.

Today I tried to make a layout in my mind of what was to come. If I stayed with her, what would begin to shape? If I left her, how would she react? In my mind, she would have a frenzy. She would have at it with her accusations. Telling the press I beat her, as she's said she would do. As of now, my thoughts are leaning to stay as long as I can without the temptation of hurting her. I can barely live under these conditions.

I paused, feeling the words etch into my skin, sending promises to my brain. Promises of him leaving.

I skipped ahead some pages and began to read once more.

June 30
My manager called. Told me something was coming up to get popularity for the band.

July 1
Apparently there's a new reality TV show coming up soon. And they want me to coach the "rock act", though I have no idea want that means. Coincidental that Juliet was on The Voice? Maybe.