Falling In With The Beasts.

Daisy.

Despite my best attempts to keep composed, I could feel myself acting strangely and Black seemed to be up to something.
"You knew that it was going to happen eventually so you can't be too upset. I've literally told you before. Perhaps I kept some of the truth back but it could have been worse. I mean, you are alive and I have taught you to check for food poisoning. Really I did you a favour but you sit there like I am in the wrong." I didn't dignify his words with a response and the silence was eating at him.
"Okay, the poison was too far and maybe I could have used something other than ricin and maybe I could have called for an ambulance sooner but you recovered. By the third time, you could smell it from a mile away and the fourth time it didn't even hurt you that much." Oconnell sat silently watching the encounter and panic was set over his face as he heard his words.

"Ms Kim, we are here." I looked out and watched the scenery with confusion.

"Look, yes I did manipulate a situation so that you admitted to being a lesbian and also admitting to your childhood but you have to admit that I wasn't exactly happy about it. You hardly lived a nice life so really, I am the victim here and you are looking over my life to pity yourself." I rolled my eyes and Oconnell looked between us as Black put my life out in public.

"Bisexual. I'm not a lesbian. Unless you meant where I was born which would be Korea, not Lebanon." My quiet words were nearly missed but I knew everyone else had heard and part of me had stopped even caring about it. I had opened up about myself and I felt stupid for believing that it was going to end well.

"Sorry, Bisexual." Black looked like he could say something else but I spoke up.

"This isn't the office. Why did you bring me here?" I looked in the mirror and met eyes with the driver.

"Mr Grim sent one of his workers out and said that you might want me to drop you off here. Especially if Black joins." I nodded before sighing out and huffing.

"Oh, kiss me next time Black. When I get fucked I like to at least taste their lies." I began to climb out and just as I passed Black his eyes were wide and panicked. It wasn't me though that made him feel that way. He was watching the house.

"No. Uh, Aria. Go back to the office and have your meetings. Today the BP group will be coming over and you can't miss that." I ignored his words and climbed out of the car before waving the driver off.

"I can find my own way back. Just drop Black in the most inconvenient place." The car left and I watched around me as the day was only just beginning. My heart was hurting and the area around me was familiar.

"Aria?" The voice was familiar and I looked around me until I saw a face that I never wanted to see again.

"Daisy. How are you? I haven't seen you for years." My voice was still bland and she visibly held back as she looked at me.

"Good. Are you okay? You sound different and look like you have a 9-5 job at a fancy business." I just agreed quietly and looked around me.

"Yeah, my business is doing well. Uh, sorry. My car dropped me off here and I thought that something else was going on. I will be off." My eyes couldn't take in the air around me enough as I saw her and the world she had built.

"Look, I am looking after Sammy's eldest but feel free to come in. If you have the time. If you wait half an hour, I can drop you off at your business. Sammy will take her daughter then. I don't have a car seat for her is all." I looked at the street around me and agreed with her before slowly walking to her home. My shoes were slipped off and a small child was seen holding a tablet as she watched the screen closely.

"Sorry, Sammy has taken the twins out to see her parents but Toni wanted to stay with me." We sat on the sofa together and I looked at the walls. Pictures of two children were seen everywhere but there were hardly any toys and the house seemed highly clean. No pictures of Toni could be seen either.

"What have you been up to? I see the kids' pictures and they must be keeping you busy. Do you work or does Sammy?" I kept a quaint smile on my face but she couldn't keep her one.

"We aren't together anymore. I have gone back to school so that I can work properly but Sammy has the kids. I get to care for them on alternate weekends." I kept my face as blank as I could before I made my response.

"Well, I am sorry. As they grow up though you will get to do more and you must have lots of time to revise and play the flute. You were always so good at the flute." Her agreement eventually came and like a switch, she suddenly changed as tears were almost falling.

"I know what you are thinking and I know that you won't be surprised to know that it was my fault. I found someone else. Toni's dad was lovely and we got along. Sammy and he only ended because they both felt like it was too early for a relationship and then we found each other and he felt so left out." Silently I felt a wave of deja vu and a polite smile crept over my face.

"Daisy. Look." A small girl crept in and suddenly turned to me as she pranced around. A sniff could be heard as she then wiped her nose on her arm.

"Oh, this is lovely, " Daisy responded while looking at the paper. A picture was made and as I looked at it, I smiled at the crayon marks left on the paper.

"This is my friend. Arnold." For a split second, Daisy dropped her smile until it was found again and the small girl never seemed to even notice.
"He said that he didn't want to see you because you are scary. Arnold said that Aria wanted to take him away so I want you to have this picture of him so that you never take him away. He is my friend and you can't take him away." Her eyes bore into mine like a tiger while attacking and I shifted towards her.

"Well, tell Arnold that I am in no mood to take him away and if you are so determined on keeping him then who am I to fight you?" A small arm extended and beckoned to something just outside the door.

"See? I told you she was good. Come here, Arnold." A stern tone was used and after a moment of a pause, a smile grew and my eyes had stuck to the picture she had drawn and I couldn't stop watching all the details she had included.

"Can I have a closer look?" The paper was handed over and I could see all of the details until movement caught the corner of my eye.

"You can see me. I knew it, Grim sent you here to take me away but I'm not going. You will have to kill me again." I darted my eyes back to the paper and then stood up.

"I must be off. It was lovely to meet all of you. Daisy, stay safe, Sammy, stay out of trouble and Arnold-" I looked right into his eyes and Daisy kept her eyes on me -"keep her safe." I walked from the house and saw a black car parked out the front of the house. Daisy waved me off but I barely responded before climbing into the car.

"24601, why is Mr Grim such a sadistic bitch?" Nothing was said in reply and I began to close my eyes.

"I assume that was supposed to be a joke or snide comment to make a joke as you picked your voice up. Mr Grim told me that when you left you would need this book and it will answer your questions. Just be careful. This isn't as innocent as your past few books. I would warn you to take everything seriously and perhaps read it as quickly as you can." A large black book was hoisted from the footwell on the driver's side and handed to me as I was left to think.

"When you say that this book is bad, don't tell me that I am going to be able to kill anyone." His head shook and I flipped the cover over and started to read the first page.

"Don't worry about knowing everything. Just make notes and I can answer your questions whenever you need me to. I assume Black told you that Grims don't need to sleep." I shook my head and swore under my breath before smacking the dashboard.

"That bloody motherfucker. He told me that Grims have to sleep, more so than me. When I asked him how they claim dead people at night, he told me that they just waited or Grims from another country. I didn't believe him but he wouldn't normally lie about work."

"You look confused, " 24601 commented before turning into another lane.

"I don't speak this language."