Page 19 of Rough Diamonds

“Evie you know we had to do what we had to to save you. Fuck!” I slam my fist into the steering wheel. “You act like we had choices. We were too young and still mostly ruled by our own families. We tried everything we could,” I exhale.

“Oh yeah, like ignoring me and leaving me places. Forgetting I exist. Funny, because I got this little tattoo here.” She shakes her hand in the air. “For you guys. To show my love, my devotion, my allegiance, to you five. Instead? I get a kick in the ass and a fuck you. How do you think I’m going to act?” Evie's eyes water and I know she’s trying to hold back more.

When you grow up the way we do, any sign of emotion is nothing but a weakness. Evie is one of the strongest people I have ever met. Our love goes skin deep. “Evie.” I stop the car and park. “You have always been it.” I jump out and walk around the SUV. Opening the door, I take her into my arms. “Out of everyone, you know what this life can do to people. We couldn’t let it swallow you up. You deserved the moon. You deserve everything life has to offer. Staying with us means you're locked into this life. A life that’s not yours. I lost my soul a long time ago. I couldn't let you lose yours. We know you had a hard home life and we wanted you out of there.” I shake her gently, trying to talk sense into her.

We would do anything for Evie. In a world filled with darkness, Evie is that little firefly of light. She’s our last and only hope at salvation. “Well, I did it. I got out the only way I could, Damion, I ran.”

“We didn’t know you had a sister." My voice is so low. I’m trying to think if I remember anything about a sister.

“She was little.” Evie's vague answer doesn't settle well. I pull her out from the car and do a once-over. She’s curvy in all the right places, her tattoos sit against her glowing skin. Her hair still sits up in a high pony with her mini leather skirt and white crop top. I bend down and kiss her gently on the lips.

“Think as you want, love.” I caress her cheek. “You were it. My love won’t fail, no matter the time between us. Did I do some stupid shit? Yes, I did. But it was only because I couldn’t live life without you.”

Evie

10 years ago

Numb. I feel numb to this all. Sometimes I ask myself why I even keep trying. I was literally set up to fail in life. I roll over in bed and bring the old, thin sheets with me. It’s been so quiet lately. No guys, nothing.

My heart feels like it’s sinking into my stomach. I roll back over, trying to feel the cool patches in the bed. I’m so restless, I think it’s time to do something. Looking over at my night stand I see that it’s 2 am. That’s not stopping me.

I jump up, putting on a pair of black leggings a black hoodie and a black mask. I grab my spray paint and push everything into an old back pack. Swinging it over one shoulder, I head out. The streets are quiet. I take a second to rejoice in the peace. My head is spinning in my thoughts. I just need a second to escape everything. To escape this hell.

The air hits my face and I close my eyes. The cold kiss of air chaps my cheeks and my lips are dry, as I Iick them. I threw the black mask over my face, tucking up my hair. I decided to head over to old town. We have some abandoned houses and old warehouses. My shoes slide across the broken up concrete. I stop and take in my surroundings, slipping around to a back alley, I go through an unopened door. Some people may say that what I’m doing is destruction of property, but really when you look at it, it’s art. It’s a form of expression and right now, I need to express how I feel about this fucking life.

I carefully slide the backpack off my shoulder, putting it onto the ground before unzipping it. I take my bandanna and tie it around my face, to add an extra precaution. I’m not breathing in that shit, as good as I actually think it smells. I’m not here to huff. I take out the different colors and set them up in a row, taking off all the lids. I carefully take out my old pair of headphones and turn on some old jams. I need to lose myself in a way that grounds you. I need to touch the Earth. I need to remember that I am here, that I’m present, and that I’m still alive.

I pull out a small camping light and set it by the cans. Shaking up a can of spray paint, it’s like music to my ears hearing the clink, clink of the marble. I guide out the wall and decide what I’m going to do, moments later I'm losing myself. Using up all my colors, I carefully drop the last can and step back to take a look at my work. It looks like total destruction. It shows a heart broken in half, bleeding and leaning to the side. I tagged DEMON on one side and put a butterfly.

Looking at my phone, it's already 5 o’clock. I can’t believe I have let time slip by. Sometimes it’s the best thing, though. I don’t want to do shit today. Though, I need some money, so maybe, I’ll go to work. My clumsy fingers go to pick up the cans and one clinks and rolls away from me. I scavenge around for it, and finally find it as a boot places itself over my fingers.

My heart stops as I carefully look up. “Oh my goodness Marcus, why didn’t you say something?” I carefully pull the headphones from my ears.

“What are you doing here Evie.” The question sets me back as I finish packing up.

“Does it really matter?” I roll my eyes, “It’s not like you guys really care or something.” The ground is cold beneath my knees as I finish putting the cans back in. I turn my back and act like Marcus isn't there. I whistle to myself trying to get him and the others out of my head. As I go to grab the last can Marcus lifts me up, pushing me into the wall.

“Get off me, Marcus. I don’t understand how you guys can go from ignoring me to now, you what?”

He shakes his head and laughs pulling off my bandana and mask. “No, Angel, it's never like that.” He whispers in my ear. He places my hands above my head in one hand. “Evie we want you. We all want you.You need to stop doing this Evie.” He licks my cheek. I move my face to the side. “Don’t .” He growls in my ear. Nibbling on my ear he kisses me down my neck. “I still don’t think you have learned any lessons Evie.”

Breathlessly I react. “Marcus how am I supposed to when none of you care to be in my life. You guys just haven’t been acting right around me.” Marcus looks into the gateway to my heart. In that exact second I know the truth, but I will never admit it. I know deep down they all love me. I know they think they will save me from this life. It’s too bad because I was already taken by it before I ever met any of them. Because of them instead I chose life over death. I was born into a system that already failed me. A mother who didn’t care as long as she got what she wanted. The only father I know is my step father. I don’t consider him to be a father at all. I have always been alone until I met my boys. My DEMON boys.

“Shhh.” Marcus moves one of his hands down my body pushing his hand into my leggings. “No parties. Naughty girl.” He smirks, as he finds my clit. “You can be as naughty as you would like, but you’ll always be my Angel.” His thick finger slides inside of me.

“Marcus.” I gasp. “We can’t do this here.” He adds another and slowly sticks my walks in and out.

“What, like this?” He laughs in my ear. “You know that's not going to work Evie.” He pushes his hip into my body. Pushing his fingers deeper inside he scissors me, opening me up wider.

My eyes roll back. “Marcus.” I whisper as a moan slips from my lips.

“Tell me what you want, Evie. Should I stop?” I whine and he smiles at my antics.

“No…..please don’t.” I say breathlessly. Marcus pulls his fingers out and I whine for more. Placing the fingers he used in between my lips.

“None of that or I’ll stop. Now show me what an Angel you can be and clean up your mess.” I suck in a breath and close my lips around his fingers. I suck and swirl my tongue. Pulling his fingers out he licks them creating a rumble in his chest. Stepping back he sinks. “Undress.” I look at Marcus with my eyes lowering and my lips bunching up. “Yes Angel, do as I say.” I carefully try to undress and practically topple over myself. Marcus wraps himself around me. “Come on Evie.” He nips at my earlobe. I try again, pushing my pants down fully this time and taking them off. I pull off my hoodie and look up to Marcus.

“Now what.” I ask, he smiles at me again, and spins me back over to the mural I just did. Pushing me back to it. My ass plants itself right to the paint. “I’m going to get dirty.”