You are My Doom

Chapter 18: Doom

Chapter 18: Doom

"Just kill me. Please just kill me." Karma's whispered plea comes nearly breaks me.

Her mangled body is still coated in nauseating layer of grime, blood and her own filth. Nearly every bone in her body is broken. Bail, that bastard kept her limbs impaled with metal steads so her body couldn't heal itself. She was brutally raped and tortured by our father's best friend. Worst of all, Lucifer knew. He fucking knew, and did nothing to stop it.

Now, my sister is laying a hotel suite in the Morningstar hotel begging me to kill her. Even though I know she would not stay dead, I know I cannot do what she is asking. Instead, I take the cowards way out. I send a message to Vice, and he brings up a 22-caliber pistol. He loads it, places it on the bed side table before retreated back into the shadows. Of course, leave me here. Why fucking not.

I look into the tortured eyes of my defeated sister. I know she will never be the same, and I cannot help but feel this is my fault. I am the oldest. I am supposed to be the protector. The one to shoulder everyone else's burdens, and yet, I failed. I knew, we all knew, Bail had his sights set on Karma. We just believed no one could touch her as long as she was living in the mortal world. After all, Bail, along with the older generations of Dark Angels are still confined to Hell. I do not know everything that lead up to Karma's kidnapping, but I do know I should have been there. I should have been keeping a better eye on my sisters' safety. I was too focused on playing house with Eden that I let Karma fall back into her worst nightmare.

"I will go draw you a bath." I let my words hang in the air, and with a last pointed look at the small caliber pistol, I walk into the bathroom and shut the door before the gun shot rings out in the silence.

Chapter 19: Doom

I have spent the past few days running myself ragged keeping up with each and everyone of my siblings. Despite the grumbling of my family, I have made their safety my number one priority. I vowed to myself no one would ever hurt one of them again. I may not be a good man, but I will be a damn good brother. The only problem with my new outlook on life? I'm completely exhausted. Keeping up with six different Morningstar's schedules has made it nearly impossible to get any sleep in the past five days.

Eden has been calling and texting me nonstop since Tuesday night. I have been to busy to respond to her messages, or at least that's what I've been telling myself. I know she deserves to hear me end it in person, but I do not know if I can look into those loving brown eyes and not fall back under her spell. I cannot hurt her, not in person at least. I guess I am hoping by ignoring her calls, she will give up on me. Maybe she will realize my darkness cannot be overcome. She is better off without me.

It is Sunday night and all of us are actually scheduled to be in the same place. Finally, I feel like I can breathe. Having my eyes on each one of my siblings will allow me to relax for the first time all week. As always, Revelation is the last to arrive to our weekly family dinner.

Revelation comes through the 10-foot-tall double doors of Pain's private dinning room on the first floor of the Morningstar Hotel. Her black pumps sink into the red and gold short stack carpet. She scurries across the room with practiced steps, never wavering in the ridiculous shoes.

My brothers call out greetings, but I stay silent. I watch as Pain introduces his date Ess to our youngest sister. Watching the two women size each other up is amusing. They are both blue eyed blonds too stubborn for their own good. However, Revelation is a highly educated lawyer with a pension for tailored business suits and pencil skirts while Esther Rose is an artist who prides herself on only wearing low cost clothing. The two seem to come to some silent understanding based on their quick embrace.

Now that everyone is here, we all start to meander towards the large dining table. I sit down at the head of the table with Ess, Pain, Panic and Becks are seated on my right while Vice, Rouge, Rapture, Karma and Revelation are on my left. Pain's most seasoned staff serves our dinner on waits on us throughout the meal.

Karma stays silent throughout dinner, only responding to direct questions with single syllables. I know she is still struggling with everything that happened to her, but no one can fault her for it. Panic and Becks' upcoming wedding seems to be the main topic. Rapture keeps offering to host the nuptials inside of his strip club Inferno, and for some reason, Becks does not seem to be on board. While Becks and Rapture are engaged in a heated discussion on the pros and cons of Rapture preforming a strip tease at the reception, Ess leans towards me.
"I know you aren't talking to Eden right now, but she asked me to give this to you."

I look in shock at Pain's girl. "How do you know Eden?"

"We're neighbors." Ess said with a bright smile. "I sort of got her drunk last week and she spilled your story..." her grin turns sheepish.

"You got her what?!" I did not mean for my voice to rise, but apparently it did. Now, I have the entire table's wrapped attention. "My cherub does not drink."

"You're cherub?" I hear Vice laugh. Rogue gives him a swift elbow to the side.

"Yes. My cherub. She does not get drunk. She drinks tea, not alcohol." An edge of hysteria crawls into my voice, but I no longer care.

"Well, she did on Tuesday. We were both upset, and she came over to get shit faced." Ess tries to explain, but her words only fuel my anger.

"It's true, brother. I saw her. She was really pissed off at you, but I explained why you hadn't been in contact." Pain jumps in and shoots a quick glance over at Karma.

"Devil Damnit" I slam my palms down on the table and stand.

"Calm the fuck down Doom." Rogue's annoyed voice cuts through my rampage. "You have been so caught up in your own guilt over what happened to Karma that you're driving everyone crazy in your quest to make up for it."

"Rogue, don't push him." Vice tries to get his woman to sit back down, but there is no stopping the red headed spit fire.

"No. He needs to hear this. What happened to Karma isn't your fault. You can't be expected to be there to protect everyone 24/7; even though you've been trying your damnedest all week. For fuck sake, y'all are the spawns of Satan! I'm pretty sure they can take care of themselves. You've been miserable all week trying to keep up with all of us. The past few months you've been happy. Like really happy. If this cherub chick is the reason, the you need to go get her. If for no other reason than just to get you off our fucking backs. So, get off of your golden thrown and grovel if you have too. Go get that girl."