All That We Are

If You Must Speak

Baz

The mobile on the bed between Simon and I barely rings for a second before Bunce picks up.

"Hey Baz, what's up?" she chirps, her familiar voice turned tinny by the speakerphone. The cheerfulness sounds so alien... how could anyone be happy when my aunt, a badass vampire-hunter and one of my favourite people on this earth, is kidnapped (and, honestly, most likely dead)? And she really is most likely dead. In her line of work? If it were death matched against any other fate that could logically befall a vampire-hunter, I would hope for death.

I swallow down the rising emotion in my throat. I will not cry, I order myself, Pitches do not cry over lost relatives. As if sensing my distress, Snow grips my hand more tightly, grounding me. Reminding me that the literal centre of my universe is right by my side.

"Hello, Bunce," I choke out, fighting to retain a cool head. "I um... Just got a phone call from my dad... My aunt Fiona's been kidnapped."

Saying the words out loud feels so much worse. Like a bowling ball's been lobbed at my stomach; blowing me off my feet and knocking me senseless. Simon squeezes my hand again, his other arm wrapping around my bare waist. The warmth of his skin against mine stabilises me a bit.

"Wait... What?" Asks Bunce, incredulity blooming in her voice. I can practically see her expression. Saucer-sized eyes, gaping mouth, the single raised eyebrow (both she and I can do that; Simon's dead jealous of it).

Without warning, my resolve breaks. I drop my head into my hands, pinching the bridge of my nose to relieve some of the pressure building in my brain.

"I'm sorry, Bunce. I'm sorry I can't help out with your Wellbelove plot. I'm sorry. But I have to go after her." I feel the light pressure of Simon's lips against my shoulder and his hands stroking the skin of my back comfortingly.

"No. No, I get it, Basil, just..." She sighs, "Simon." Simon. As in 'What the hell am I supposed to do with a dejected, overgrown puppy while you're gone?'. I shake my head before remembering she can't see me.

"He's right here, Penny. He knows. We talked about it. I'm leaving--"

"Tomorrow morning," She cuts me off (even though that's exactly what I was going to say, I don't have the energy to protest right now).

"Yeah, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Can you be awake to let Simon in?"

"Yes. If you need any help, just call me," she replies. I nod again.

"Thank you, Bunce. Simon--"

"No," She cuts me off again (cutting people off; the quintessence of Bunce's existence), "Don't even look at Simon bloody Snow. I mean it." I sigh, giving up on trying to rub out my mounting headache.

"I won't. Simon and I already talked about it. He's not coming with me, and won't go after me unless something happens. We agreed. There's nothing..." I trail off, realising what a blatant lie my next sentence will be, but say it anyway, "nothing to worry about. Goodbye, Bunce."

"Goodbye."

I hang up before she has the chance to add anything else. I can't bear the thought of another second of conversation.

Almost immediately, I crumple into Snow's arms, pressing my face into his chest and squeezing my eyes shut. My thoughts are racing too quickly to follow and I just wish they would stop. It would make this so much easier.

Simon lays back down, still holding me close, his lips buried in my hair.

"Shh... I've got you, you're gonna be okay... Just sleep now, Love, you'll fix this..." He murmurs.

"I hope that she's dead, Simon. For her sake-- if it's vampires that have her, I hope that she's dead," I whisper, sounding like a five year old who's afraid of the dark.

"Baz. Don't think like that. Don't think. Just sleep, baby... just sleep, I've got you now. I love you."

He holds me all night, stroking my hair and occasionally murmuring nonsensical, comforting words. Neither of us sleep. By the time the sun starts to peek over the horizon, lighting up the cloudy sky, my eyes are burning and I am dreading the daunting task ahead of me.

Aleister Crowley, if she's been Turned...

If Fiona Pitch has been Turned, and survived the Turn... I think I might have to kill her.