Volume VI: And Introducing Harley Morrow As - Herself

31. Coronation

        There was a new king in town, ladies and gentlemen. A new center ring. A new main attraction, if you will. The new kid in town happened to be the top dog.

        Presenting, the one, the only - Vagrant Ransom.

        And the crowd goes...wild. The last remaining Ransom. Everyone knew the stories - everyone talked about the infamous family. Doyle was the last of the Merrick family, but he was easily replaced with the last Ransom. The Ransoms were bigger, better, they were just that much...cooler. The Merrick family had the dark shadow over their name, the dark spot that never washed clean. The Ransoms covered it with cool. They were damn good at what they did. They were illusionists by nature; by virtue of necessity - they survived by it.

        But you can’t just step up and take the reins. Even if the old guy mysteriously turns up dead. Even if you’re a Ransom. Even if there’s nobody else. You have to prove something. Requiem’s “death” was Cassidy’s proof of devotion; but that doesn’t mean that it was accepted. This was Serkis’ test. Whether Requiem was in on it was debatable. She stayed hidden because she was planning with Vagrant. There’s just a lot that’s very sketchy about the whole deal. But I think it’s supposed to be that way.

        I worked, as usual. I dealt with Cassidy more and more, due to Pandora’s absence. Nobody told him that dear old Requiem was back in town. And I wasn’t going to be the bearer of bad news. No thanks. Every so often I value my life.

        He had to know...then again, denial’s fun. But he had to know. He just had to. Requiem’s not the easiest person to hide. It was a typical day at work with Cassidy, a typical night shift on a slow night. Serkis and Layne were there. They were playing music, on and off, Serkis singing half-heartedly. Very little had been said all around lately. Communications had been shut down. I hadn’t seriously talked to them since dealing with Requiem. But they had people outside my door at night. They tried to make it covert, tried to keep me calm, but I knew. There were times when I was sure Sylum was out there. I’d bet my life on it.

        The door opened and we all looked up. Requiem walked in, nonchalantly, wrapped into Vagrant. They walked in with the attitude of a king and queen, surveying their subjects. Their loyal subjects. We all looked up, at the same time. And we all looked away together. Layne played harder, Serkis sang louder, her tone completely shifted. I cleaned my glass until the squeak was a scream tearing through my head. A glass shattered. I looked over - Cassidy had dropped the one he’d been cleaning.

        The pair came right up to the bar and sat down, as if nothing was wrong. As if this was typical. Cassidy moved off to help someone else, then rethought his motion, and went over to Serkis. He almost dragged her away from where she was. I watched Requiem watch the scene. She smiled cruelly, turning her attention to catch me. I couldn’t look away fast enough. She whispered in Vagrant’s ear then turned her attention back to me.

        “Dead man walking,” she muttered, her words nearly incomprehensible. Vagrant had an arm around her, carefully keeping her in check. He was calm. Silent. They were waiting for him to come back. They were waiting to hijack him from his life. To bring their wrath down on him.

                And he didn’t have a clue. The question that was really getting to me was - would Serkis warn

him? Would she? Or wouldn’t she? To which family was she truly loyal?

        They weren’t gone long. I didn’t bother going to either to ask what was said - they wouldn’t tell me anyway. Why waste my breath? I went about my business, did what was expected of me. Nobody bothered me or stopped me in any way. Cassidy was on his way back around behind the bar when Requiem grabbed hold of him. She had to detach herself from Vagrant to do it, but she did. A few whispered words, a few short smiles, a kiss on the cheek, and she led him out the door. Vagrant looked as she went, carelessly watching her back move toward the door. He shrugged and went back to his drink.