zelda black

“Hmm.. maybe? The money is good and I can handle myself. I’ll probably be able to ‘retire’ at an early age though.”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to?”

“Darling, I don’t chose my targets like that. People choose them for me.”

“Yeah well this time might be harder than normal…” Max muttered as he averted his eyes away from the woman. He licked his lips and leaned back against the couch as she began to shed her robe off of her body. He sucked in a sharp breath as he eyed her matching underwear set. He thought that she’d quickly unbutton his shirt, but she didn’t. She was going too slow for what he wanted. He moved his hands to his shirt, helping her unbutton it and then pulled it off. He moved forward and crushed his lips to hers as he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck for leverage.

Max closed his eyes for a brief moment as he felt Zelda climb up onto him. He leaned back in the seat and hummed, wrapping his hands around her body, letting them rest on the back side of her hips. “You deal with me during my worst times. I’m just trying to compensate you for that.” He cracked a smile as he opened his eyes to look up at her. “Yes. I want you to enjoy yourself as well tonight. Not just me.” 

Zelda giggled at his words, her lips still moving along his skin. “You make it sound hard. I just have the magic touch, Max. You should know that by now.” Her tone was light as she started to nip along his jawline and ear lobe, trying to relax him little by little. “Lucky for you, I don’t have any other clients the rest of the night. You get me all to yourself.” Leaning back, she pulled off her see through robe, revealing her black lace bra and underwear. “I always enjoy myself, don’t you worry about it.” Moving forward again, she continued, unbuttoning his shirt painfully slow, letting him reveal in the slight teasing. 

Max waited in suite 8 for Zelda to get done with her show. He poured himself a drink and began taking sips of it, until he finished it. Then he poured himself some more. The recent events had caused him so much stress that he wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to relax. But he had to try. 

“It’s no big deal.” Max said, his voice monotoned as he finished off his second glass. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He fished out several hundred dollars and put it on the nearby table. “Don’t argue with me.” He insisted. “I’m not in the best mindset tonight. You’ll probably have to work some extra magic on me.” He ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh. Was this even a good idea for him in the moment? Probably not. But he had no idea how else to relax himself. 

Zelda pushed her hair back as she watched him pull the money out of his wallet, a soft sigh leaving her lips. She couldn’t object, he was quick to tell her not to. Shaking her head slightly, she sauntered up to him, speaking seductively, “Don’t worry, I will.” Straddling him as she sat on his lap, she pushed her hands through his hair. “You’re too nice to me, you know that? There’s a reason you’re my favorite, Max.” Her smile could melt the coldest of hearts, hopefully starting to relax him. She started to pepper kisses along his neck and the base of his jaw before purring into his ear, “Any special requests before we get started?”

Her heels echoed against the hallway as she walked toward the back rooms, ready to decompress after the chaos of the party. Pulling open the curtain, she offered Max a seductive smile as she stepped in. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” 

Max slipped into the bathroom of city hall, determined to find something that he might be able to use as a weapon. His strategical brain was rolling into action. He opened ever stall and searched every inch of them until he found something. A plunger. “Not the most lethal weapon…” Max grumbled to himself as he moved towards the sink. He yanked the rubber part off of the wooden stick and then glanced around. There had to be a way to sharpen it. 

“I need to start carrying my knife around with me again.” He groaned as he moved towards the blow dryer that was helpful in getting water off of hands. It was mounted to the wall. Max pressed his lips together as he ran his fingers on the underside of the metal opening. Sharp enough. He took the wooden stick and began using his strength, pushing the end of it against the bottom of the blow dryer. It wouldn’t quite sharpen the stick like Max wanted, but at least it would have some kind of point at the end. Max had his strength to do the rest. “Good enough.” He let out a breath as he rolled his shoulders. 

He moved towards the bathroom door again, swung it open, and automatically noticed someone standing there. Max raised the makeshift stake. “I swear if you try to attack me, I’ll drive this right through your chest.” 

This was more unorganized chaos than Zelda ever could have anticipated. She recognized the man who was making the announcement and the very graphic execution. Not that that was the thing that bothered her, but the fact that it was her little reporter’s father. Fantastic. For the sake of appearances, she needed to look like the rest of them, scared of her own shadow. So, that’s what she did. Mimicking the faces of everyone around her, weaving her way through the crowd to an empty hallway. Dropping the act, she kept a straight face until she ran into a familiar face, immediately looking scared again. “Max,” She said softly, her tone frightened, “Please don’t hurt me.” 

birdie grinned at the bartender as she leaned against the bar, winking at them as another drink was handed to her. “well thank you…” she all but purred. she had already had quite a few drinks and was clearly intoxicated. the past few days had been a rollercoaster for her. she needed a night like this, a night out to get her mind off everything. 

she had spent more time that she would admit picking out her outfit, something that she took very seriously. when someone walked up next to her she turned grin to them. “ao are you enjoying the night so far?” she cocked her head a little, nursing the drink in her hand. 

Zelda truly liked to remain a fly on the wall, involved in everything she could be, but only as a spectator. She used major events like these to relish in the chaos they could cause. Plus, it was an excuse to dress up, and she loved doing that. Especially when there was a theme involved. 

Naturally, she spent a majority of her time at the bar, conning free drinks out of drunk sorry saps and eavesdropping on conversations she had no business being a part of. Needing a fresh cocktail, she migrated to the nearest bartender, pleasantly surprised at the company she had found. “So far so good. How about you? You seem to be enjoying things yourself.” 

The client had requested two victims and paid handsomely for it, she definitely likes a challenge, but she knew if she was going to hit them both at the same time, she’d need some help. Thankfully, Phil was seemingly always on call. The two met lord only knows how long ago on the dark web. After working a job together, they just clicked. They lived their individual lives, but stayed in contact, calling on each other more than once to help out. So, since he was the guest on this job, Zelds went with his preferred method of disposal. Cut ‘em up and throw ‘em out. Definitely a lot more work, but she didn’t mind. When she was planning, she had allotted for a little extra time. However, she always seemed to forget how messy it was. Glancing over to Phil, she resisted the urge to wipe the sheen of sweat from her brow, knowing she’d smear blood. “I don’t know about you, but that was easier than I anticipated.” 

There were a lot of places in the city most people had no place being. Somehow, someway, Micah found herself in all of them. Really, she went wherever she was told, and if the money was good, she wasn’t opposed to crossing a few boundaries to getting the shots needed. It was all in the name of the truth and freedom of the press. That’s how she reasoned it at least, especially in the dark of night, at an old house, where a murder definitely took place, and she had no business being, she repeated it like her own personal mantra.

Press badge attached to the loop of her jeans, camera in hand, she made her away across the street, through the hold ‘CAUTION’ tape and up to the steps. The rumor was it was a drug house that an opposing rival set fire too, and the news just needed images of the aftermath for comparison. It gave her the creeps. “Just a few photos…” She murmured to herself, hand reaching for the knob before shooting around when she heard the voice of someone else. Micah jumped a bit. She’d always been the skittish type but this felt a lot like getting in trouble. But she put on a brave face and cleared her throat ready to address the person catching her off guard. “I’m… I’m press, I’m getting photos for The Tribune…” She explained, feeling a bit ashamed of herself. Her words came out like more of a plea than an explanation. Great start. “Do you know what happened here?”

Zelda walked confidently down the street, her hands tucked into her coat pockets, willing the bitter wind to cease. She was stalking her next victim, a man by the name of... well, it didn’t really matter. Within the next two days, he’d be dead and she’d get another pay day. Angry spouses are great for business. Of course, he’d been visiting his mistress on this dingy street, not that Zelda needed proof of his wrongdoings, she didn’t care, she just needed to learn his routine. And boy, did this man adore his mistress. Brushing the thoughts of work quickly out of her head, Zelda was pulled to a different focus, a young woman approaching a house cordoned off by caution tape, camera around her neck. 

Had Zelda been an opportunistic killer, this woman would have been the perfect target. Thankfully for her, she was not. 

But, she knew there were plenty of those types out here, and honestly, she didn’t need any more concerns. Clearing her throat loudly, she got the woman’s attention. Offering her her signature warm smile, she stepped toward the front door. Oh? Even more intriguing. Press. Just like her own glorious little reporter. “Your guess is as good as mine. However, isn’t it smarter to come back in the daylight? Better lighting and all that.” Zelda spoke easily, gesturing to the camera, clearly more intrigued than earlier.  

Camille felt the stun in her legs falter as she took a step backwards. Each step until she felt herself back into a steel trash bin. Her fingers tapped against the metal, wheels turn in her mind. Still, she knew how the Vasiles would handle this situation. They don’t back down, they don’t run. Perhaps if she did in the first place, she would still be able to speak. Fingers glide across her screen quickly clicking on each letter. ‘i remember now.. and I also remember where I put your case file. you’re going down.’

Zelda’s smile widened across her lips as she could see the final connections click in her half-victim’s mind. “I’m glad you remember.” Zelda continued forward, small steps toward Camille, closing off her exit path. A fake pout on her lips, “Oh no, little reporter! Whatever will I do when you strike me down?” A massive laugh erupted from her chest. “I would love to see you try. You go ahead and do that.” Slamming her hand against brick wall behind Camille, she spoke softly near her ear. “Even if you tell all your family about what I did, you’ll never find proof.” Zelda made damn sure she never left any evidence behind. Ever. 

Something wicked about that voice that made the alarm bells in her head shriek with discord. Camille timidly folded her hands together when the woman said she couldn’t read sign language.  The bones in her body stiffened and she felt something so cold radiate from the woman in front of her. Dumbfounded as it stunned her into her spot in the alley.

‘little reporter’ The words triggered the blurred figure of her nightmares. The Ursula covered in macabre to her voiceless Ariel. The knot in her stomach twisted as she felt like she would vomit on the woman in front of her. Part of her refused to think this was her attacker, but she had already started to back away. She removed the phone, still on the text-to speak as the automated feminine voice responded, “What fun did we have? I don’t remember you.” 

Camille felt her heart sink into her abdomen with dread. For one of the first times in her life, she didn’t want to know the answer. 

Zelda was watching the girl’s body language like a hawk. The moment she said the taunting nickname was the moment it shifted. A sick grin started to crawl onto her lips as she heard the phone speaking. “Oh, I think you do, Camille.” Her voice was practically a purr, she took small steps toward the other, like an animal stalking its prey. “How’d that insignia heal up? Good? Some of my best work, don’t you agree?” Gesturing to the phone in her hand, she continued to taunt. “Seems like you’re adjusting pretty well to this whole... mute thing. Proud of you for overcoming such a travesty.” The amount of mocking in her voice was nearly tangible, Zelda was having so much fun. 

“a glass human skull. morbid and beautiful, two words that describe our personalities (and professions) perfectly, if you ask me.”

Richie doesn’t trust her, that much is true. He’s surrounded by people who kill for a living but no one gives him a sketchier feel than Zelda. He tries to give her the benefit of the doubt; who is he to judge what people do? It’s just something about her that sets off the alarm bells ringing in his head. Call it intuition, a third eye, whatever, but Richie’s learned to be careful, which is a weird feeling all on its own since he’s not one to automatically judge someone off of a vibe.

Her friendly demeanor eases him up a bit, but he’s still on guard. For what, he’s not even sure himself. “So you see a random person on top of a car and your first response is to approach him? You’re something else, Zelds. And by that I mean, you’re the first one to die in a horror movie,” Richie tsks, a teasing tone evident in his voice. “You know, same ol’, same ol’. Thought about folding my art degree into a paper airplane just so it gets some action more than copying other people’s work, but you know. Pretty uneventful. How ‘bout you? Got some secrets you wanna share with the class?”

Deep down, Zelda has an inkling that Richie doesn’t trust her. Good, she thought, he’s smarter than you thought. However, that doesn’t discourage her behavior in the slightest. She’ll continue to go about as if nothing is bothering her, as if she doesn’t suspect he thinks something’s up. 

Zelda laughed at his comment, it was unexpected, but everytime she talked to Richie she was reminded of how quick-witted he was. “Sorry I have concern for people.” She didn’t. Unless those people were her close friends, friends who would immediately abandon her if they knew what she did, she could not care less what happened to them. They were all pawns, means to a paycheck. It had taken years for Zelda to fully slip into that mindset, but now, there was no going back. “I would not, I’ll have you know. I can be quite tough when I need to be.” Nodding as he spoke, she responded cooly, “Good to know. In my next life I won’t pursue an art degree. No, sorry to burst your bubble Richie, but I don’t share my secrets with the class. One of those, ‘if I tell you then I’d have to kill you’ type things.” Again, her tone was easy, relaxed, she even added in a giggle to really seal the innocent act. Whether or not he believed it was a toss up. 

“i’m fine. i can’t complain.” she paused and briefly looked around. “this alley brings back so many memories.” emma remembered she used to come back here to smoke. “i can’t believe you’re still here.” frankly, emma thought zelda would have quit by now. compared to who emma used to be, she preferred her life now. it was strange being in a place she never she would return to. it seemed like eden was a place frozen in time. “i know you’re wondering why i left…” her voice drifted off. “i just needed to get out of here. i was young and stupid. it was bad for me.” joining the fausts wasn’t exactly what she had in mind, but it was one of the better ways to leave. 

Zelda smiled as Emma reminisced on the past. At her disbelief, Zelda chuckled and extinguished her cigarette, stomping it on the ground under her heel. “Me neither. Some things never change, I guess.” The smile on her face was easy, fully concealing the fact that this job was solely to keep up appearances. Sure, she was glad for the friendships she’s made, but there was really nothing securing her to Eden. Zelda nodded, “I understand that. Moving onto bigger and better things. Leaving the little old club behind.” She finished with a playful wink. Zelds was curious, though, what Emma was doing now. “What have you been up to lately?”

emma quickly wandered into the alleyway near eden to hide. “sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” a pistol was concealed underneath her trench coat. however, as more of the light hit the other individual’s face, emma was able to recognize them. “oh my god, zelda?” emma’s heels clicked as she walked closer to her. “it’s… been awhile.” the tone of her voice was soft, maybe a little raspy. 

emma sometimes thought about how her life used to be before she was a faust. she was a dancer at eden, trying to make ends meet. it was good money, but she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life on pole. she wanted more for her life. she never slept with anyone while on the job, but she knew how sleazy some of the clients could get.

Before Zelda could assure the other woman she was fine, her eyebrows drew together at her face. “Emma.” She said with a smile. “It has, hasn’t it?” Zelda didn’t know really any details on why Emma left the club, but she couldn’t blame her. It takes a toll on even the toughest women. It wasn’t like Zelds needed it for her only source of income, which is mostly why she stayed. No one questions a stripper in regards to mysterious deaths. “How have you been?”

In the dead of the night she had a window of time to do an interview. The notes written in the file that had been unlabeled in her briefcase. It all lead back to the Art Institute and her shared theory that the O’Sheas were responsible. Though most of the evidence and police documentation seemed to point to that theory. Bright blue eyes flickered up in the sky as she shot a text to her brother. ‘I’ll be home, soon. Got some new information from Witness 543.’ The party itself had been bizarre especially with the stranger that had warned her. Camille really thought about investing in a dog to talk with her at night.  However, that was a short blessing for having no voice. For the most part, Camille moved with the shadows like a skilled assassin.

That voice. There was something vaguely familiar with it. A chill down her spine with goosebumps flourishing under her skin. A foreboding nightmarish heat boils her blood. Camille closed her eyes shut silently blaming the weather. But she spun around to meet face to face with the woman a slow shake of her head.  She doesn’t even open her mouth these days, arms moved up from her side as she started to slowly sign the letters in the air.

‘no just out for work. do I know you?’

Zelda recognized this woman immediately. A grin that would make the devil proud slithers onto her lips, the confusion on Camille’s face proves the girl doesn’t remember. “I can’t read sign language.” She said softly with a shrug. “Sorry.” Stepping toward her, Zelda knew she was going to have fun with this. Especially when the other remembered. “Don’t look so confused, little reporter.” Placing a hand over her heart, she feigned a pouted lip, “I’m hurt you’re not remembering me. We had so much fun.”