Crows

JOJO

Through the ashes rose a dark phoenix, reborn with a fire that burned bright inside. When they took me to church the preacher gasped, goosebumps rising he muttered one word, messiah. I am the eternal woman, unable to die, with an iron fist crushing all who oppose me. There are a lot of stories surrounding me and my life, with varying degrees of truth; but I'm just Jojo, a woman with a burning desire to succeed.

                That burning passion fueled my energy in building the Gibbons family name into something that was respected as well as feared. Some saw it as an homage to my parents whom died in the fire that wrecked our already badly damaged estate, but I didn't care. The only thing I cared for was the domination and destruction of lives. Nothing felt better than ruining someone while also building my own prestige. Either the competition submitted to me or I destroyed everything they held dear.

                Yes, the thrill of the chase and the domination of others is what drove me; manipulation was a wonderful tool and everyone was just a pawn to be used in the game of life. Now, as I stared down at the mangled corpse that was once my husband, I couldn't help but feel upset at losing one of my most valuable pieces. Felix was not a good man, but he did fit nicely into my pocket and although I didn't particularly care for him, especially in the later years; him being my husband left some sort of love behind,  at least if it was only the memory of love.

                Felix was a man of sexuality and I couldn't fault him for that. His striking good looks and flirtatious manner were of godlike proportions. I bet he could even make the fabled Aphrodite, Goddess of love, blush and instead of become resentful of it, I simply used his ambitions to wiggle into other families and destroy them from within. With my 'Dark Seducer' or Male Black widow I caused affairs and controversy that shook the bedrock of even the most well placed family foundations.

                Now, one of my greatest pawns had been taken from me and I knew for certain that my family, my business, my empire, and I were under attack. The only problem was that I don't know who the other player of this game was, but I will definitely find out. It's been so long since I've had a challenge, my heart raced at the thought and my hands shook at the venerability I was not used to experiencing.

Edward approached to my right and we stood in silence staring at his body. I knew that I should act but like a trance we watched it.

Edward kept no secret from me and it was obvious that he never cared for Felix truly either, "It's a shame he had to go like that." He said softly. "I've checked the house thoroughly and everyone is on guard but we could not find the monster or animal that did this."

I stomped my foot down angrily, "Well, search again god damn it. I want it found, found and killed." I paused as I caught my breath before turning my back to him and added barely above a whisper, "Please take care of his body, Edward."

I turned and walked swiftly away from the scene as my long negligee swung behind me. As I turned the corner of the long intricate hallway, a small figure stood in a doorway. His mouth was open as he yawned and his tiny hands brushed his eyes. His black hair was disheveled and he was dressed in a one piece pajama outfit. I slowly moved to him and knelt down to look at him in the eyes. He opened his arms in an effort to be held and I obliged, picking him up and balancing him on my hip as I asked, "What are doing up?"

"I wanted to play with daddy." Said the boy while still yawning.

I inhaled deep before saying softly, "Daddy is busy. You'll have to wait. You should be in bed anyway Kevin."

"But I don't wanna," Kevin protested his dark eyes flashing in toddler defiance. I called for Katherine. She came rather quickly, looking quite distressed as I gave her a stern look.

"Due to the circumstance, I shouldn't have to point out that you should have been already here," I scolded her. With a killer running around someone should be guarding my son.

Kevin was still protesting as I added, "Now, Katherine is going to stay with you okay? And you need to stop having a fit." I handed him off to Katherine as he continued to whine, "Kevin! Enough!"

With that I turned and left him to Katherine, she would calm him down and keep him occupied.

Opposite the front door of the estate and atop the grand staircase were very large windows with a glass door leading to a balcony overlooking the back courtyard. I stepped outside, closing the door slowly behind me and approached the edge. The railing was thick, white brick that on either end were accompanied by menacing stone gargoyles. I climbed up and sat on the railing, leaning slightly on one of the gargoyles, and slid a cigarette into my mouth.

I covered my mouth with one hand and with the other flicked my fingers as they surged with heat, igniting the end of the cigarette. I took a long drag and rested my head on the stone sculpture. There were a pair of swans residing in the manmade pond sitting out behind the estate. The water rippled as they leisurely swam and it was a calming sight.

Edward was the only other person who knew of my deepest secret. The source of the fire that burned this estate and caused my parents death was mine and mine alone. I grew to have the ability to create flames from my hands and I set fire to my room one night when I was but a child. I vividly remember waking drenched in sweat from a nightmare, but I'm sure the sweat was instead from the flames that surrounded me. Edward came in and scooped me up with powerful hands bringing me to safety and ever since then he has been the only family I have left. My powers however, waned over time and now all I could manage was to produce a spark hot enough to light the end of this cigarette.

Working my way up in the world I learned quickly that those who got close enough to me ended getting burned. The literal burning passion of mine is deadly and has claimed many victims over the years. Now, as I stare out at those two swans, an inseparable pair, I realize that it was only a matter of time until my other half had been burned, but I would do everything in what was left of my power to take revenge.