Hellfire On The Other Side

Chapter 26

   Shane exits the portal in front of Verity's house. The front door is already open. Shane chuckles. "I assume you were just waiting on me, huh?" he asks. He walks into the house and closes the door behind him. "Shane! What's up?" Verity asks. "As if I need to tell you," says Shane sitting down on the couch. "Why else would the door be wide open?" Verity sets a plate of beignets down on the table. "Looks like you got me!" she says, laughing. She sits next to Shane. "So Clara made a very dangerous deal, and you don't know what you can do to help. Or if there's anything you can do at all. Tell me about it, son." Shane takes a deep breath. "Sometimes, I hate being Clara's only confidant. I mean, it's not like she doesn't have a mother or a husband to talk to. There's just too much pressure on me, y'know?" He picks up a beignet and just holds it in his hand. "Aren't you gonna eat it? I know how much you love those," says Verity. "Any special ingredients I should know about first? I know you must've added something to these," says Shane. Verity shrugs. "Only one way to find out." Shane rolls his eyes and sets the beignets back on the plate.

   Verity smiles and says, "I'll be honest with you, Shane. I have no way of helping you deal with all of that pressure. But what I usually do whenever I feel like I have too much to focus on, I try to take care of my own things." She looks at Shane. "Well, this morning, I freed Charlene's dad from the Soul Realm. But that's only one of thousands. I don't know how to free more than one at a time just yet. Luckily, when I try to free Tiana's parents that can make things easier for me in the long run," says Shane. "But that might take way too long. I only have three months before-" Verity offers Shane a beignet. "Shane, you need to focus on yourself. Don't risk your wellbeing because a friend has their own issues," she says. Shane grabs the beignet. "So you're saying that I should just work towards my goal first, then try and help Clara? Well, I've kinda been doing that already," says Shane. "But you've also been worrying about Clara. Until you achieve your goal, forget about Clara's situation, okay?" says Verity. Shane sighs. "If that's what's gonna help me," he says. He takes a bite out of the beignet, then smiles. "Hazelnut spread inside of it! Genius!" he exclaims. "But what do I do then? After I've freed at least all of the good souls in New Orleans, how do I help Clara?" Verity looks at the circular rug on the floor. "Storytime," she says.

   Shane and Verity sit down on the rug. "I assume you're gonna tell me about your history with Roma," says Shane. "Of course, Shane. I've actually been meaning to tell you this story for a while, but you never come around," says Verity. Shane blushes and sighs. "Yeah, sorry about that, Mom," he says awkwardly. Verity laughs. "But I guess now's a great time to tell you. Take my hands," she says, holding out her hands. Shane grabs them, and asks, "Why do I need to do this?" Verity closes her eyes and says, "I want you to really get into this story." Shane closes his eyes. "Okay, then. Go ahead," he says. Verity begins to tell the story. "At this time, Roma was six months pregnant with Clara. Frollo had recently died, and I wasn't that close with her ever since she married him." 

   "What do you want, Roma?" Verity asks. She had just gotten ready to leave her house when she got a phone call from Roma. "Can you come to Paris?" Roma asks. Her voice was shaky. Verity sighs deeply. "This better be serious, Roma," she says. She hangs up the phone, then shadow warps to Paris immediately. Roma texted, "You can come into the mansion safely, I'm in the library." Verity phases into the floor as a shadow, then makes her way to the mansion library. Upon arrival, Verity gasps and asks, "Roma? Are you...?" "Pregnant? 6 months, I would have called but I didn't know how to tell you. Literally, once I got pregnant I lost all contact again. I haven't been outside these walls in 6 months," Roma said smiling. Verity's mood suddenly shifts. "Roma, what did Claude do to you?" Her voice now filled with concern and care. "It's called forced marriage V, I didn't have much choice. Not that Clopin or any of the Court cared. Claude made sure of that. I was never outside without him at my side and I could hardly sneak the phone calls, emails, and texts to you. I am just happy it's finally over, these five years are finally over..." Roma explained. Verity takes Roma's hands. "Yes, but we need to get you out of Paris," she says. "Claude may be gone, but his guards will be just as difficult." "I am leaving the mansion but not Paris. This is my home. The Court is my home. I love you V, and I would love to stay with you and Shane but I cannot just leave," Roma said. "There are guards all in this mansion and they have no reason to keep me with Claude dead. They don't listen to me and as long as Claude is dead and has no contact with anyone, I am safe. My daughter is safe." Verity sighs. "But where will you go? I doubt that the Court will take you back," she says. Roma gave a short laugh, "Already contacted Clopin. I explained everything. And Claude wasn't exactly poor. I have a house on that side of Paris. Near the Court. I can have an actual life again. And I can have my best friend back, or at least I hope so." Verity smiles and hugs Roma. "Of course," she says. "And you wouldn't mind babysitting Shane whenever I need to run an errand, would you?" "If he likes me. You haven't let me properly meet the boy," Roma said standing up. "Can you help me with these bags? I'm not supposed to do any lifting." Roma gestured to some bags and handing Verity a piece of paper with her new address on it. Verity grabs the bags and says, "Let's go!"