Good Riddance

Violet chuckled, "It's three in the afternoon."

Kieren tilted his head to the side without opening his eyes, "Hmmm. is it?"

Violet could have died of laughter watching the faces of the rest, they had no idea what was happening before them, but they knew it screamed trouble.

"Kill, are you sure you're alright?"

"Do I look like I'm on the brink of death? I caught a cold, I had a fever, I'm fine now. Do not make me repeat myself again Zen."

Tension filled the air, Zen opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish out of water, and Violet, surprisingly, not only allowed Kieren to remain in her arms, but moved one hand to stoke his head tenderly. Her acceptance of the situation delighted Kieren to such an extent that he quite literally melted into Violet letting out a pleased sigh. Alex, admitting that they had were at the losing end of the rope moved the conversation to friendlier topics.

The Crimson Hydrangeas would be leaving tonight, there would be a small parting event in the gymnasium, and at the same time all of the parents and visitors would leave as well. The group's conversation centered around the dance, their delight at visiting with their parents, the hot gossip of Jeck once again being caught sleeping with two different women, and the probabilities of Kuznet letting them rest after the flowers left. They had laughed, Julie would apologize to Violet before Kuznet provided them with a reprieve. Kieren had not joined in any of the conversations, he had laid there not quite asleep or awake, but as peaceful as only Violet could make him.

With only forty-five minutes left before the event commenced, Ted and Tom had pointed out that they should probably leave. Their glances had once again settled on Violet, who did not need to be told that it would be best if she did not appear at their side.... at Kieren's side. Violet had rubbed Kieren's back attempting to rouse him when he spoke out, "Go on ahead, I need to speak with Violet for a moment."

It was almost painfully obvious that his guards did not wish to leave them alone, it seemed that Kieren was not quite well, and they feared the answer they had not been given. They were also however, not stupid enough to disobey an order, so they rose from their seats and walked out shoulders riddled with tension.

When the door closed behind them Violet ran her hand through his hair, "Yeah? What's the matter?" Kieren lifted his head from her body and leaned in eyes twinkling, "You left?" Violet shook her head slowly, "It would not have been ideal if everyone found out I was with you, they would assume what the school is already assuming about James and I."

Kieren grabbed her chin firmly and kissed her, slow and tender, then growing in desire and strength as she allowed it. "Why must you always be the voice of reason?" He continued speaking softly lips still rubbing against hers, "I meant it Violet, I will not share you." Violet let out a soft breath eyes uncertain, "this is an awful idea and you know it." Kieren smiled, "I don't think so."

Violet bit down on his lip softly, "What happened to you last night?"

The play faded immediately from Kieren's face. He brought a hand up, stroked Violet's bottom lip, his eyes and hand moved in unison from her lips, up her cheekbone, and around her neck. He paused and his eyes returned to meet hers, "Not yet Violet. Consider this my secret, just as you have yours." Violet raised an eyebrow, they looked at one another seriously before Violet replied, "alright."

The playful smile returned, Kieren moved in for another kiss when the sound of approaching footsteps stopped them. Kieren, annoyed, lifted himself from Violet and moved to the door, just as a knock sounded he opened it. "Oh Hi Kieren!" An annoying and unmistakable voice met Violet's ears, willing her face to remain calm she walked right past Julie, "I'll see you later Kieren."

"What was she doing with you?"

"What does that have to do with you. Excuse me I must get dressed."

"KIEREN!"

Violet tuned Julie's squabble out as she walked away, as much as she hated to admit it, the Queen's request wasn't one she should so easily disregard. Having Julie catch her alone with Kieren would not help her, thinking of her next step Violet headed for the event hall.

Violet had met up with James, who unsurprisingly, did not seem to care about the rumors. The pair found seats in the rear and spent almost the entirety of the event poking fun at the people around them. They themselves seemed to be at the root of much of the gossip -which greatly annoyed Kieren, though most could not tell- the hickey on her neck working as the seal of "they totally did it."

Violet and James ignored several provocations from both school mates and visitors as they bobbed for information on their relationship with offhanded comments, culminating in the form of one girl asking, "so was James good in bed?"

Violet had leaned in and whispered, "I'll let you know when it becomes your fucking business."

The queen, who had overheard the comment looked truly surprised and Violet felt a small twinge of relief that she was buying the rumors. Violet personally felt the event was going well, and it would have been perfect had it not been for the news that broke as they walked the Flowers to the entrance. A mousy haired boy, scrawny and meek had answered his phone and subsequently gasped out.

"What? Uncle Fallon? He was murdered!? At his house?" The boy, a Crimson Hydrangea had dissolved into a puddle of tears, he fell to the floor, and several classmates ran to comfort him. Violet looked around objectively as phones emerged and the information began to disseminate. Many went from aghast to outraged as they read headlines containing terrifying titles 'Pedophile Discovered: How he hid as a Good Samaritan.' 'Pedophile: Murdered by his Victim?' 'Is the Ruenen Hiding More dirty Secrets? How they hid Fallon's Sexual Attacks'

Violet let out an audible yawn and stretched out on the floor, it was nearing midnight and she really wanted to sleep. It was especially irksome when she was in her own room, and couldn't sleep. Why the entire crew had come barging into her bedroom, she was still unsure. She glanced over at Kieren who had plopped himself on her bed and was frowning into his computer.

"The most important issue here," Zen announced, for the millionth time, "Is that this person, this he, she, it, they're attacking Ruenen members without any repercussion! It's going to lead to others thinking we are vulnerable, look at the bigger picture."

"I'd have to disagree with you on this one Zen," Ted cut in with Tom nodding, "they killed a sicko, good riddance, and keep up the good work."

Violet looked to Alex who was, like Kieren, sitting quietly, staring into space. After the initial announcement the five of them had disappeared into Baros's office. The entire school had erupted into gossip, as parents and visitors fled back into the world to deal with the news. Violet had walked back to her room, readied herself for bed and had just crawled into said bed, when Alex knocked and they had all let themselves In.

"It goes further than that" Alex said shaking her head, "this person, they made sure that normal emergency providers discovered the scene, they wanted the world to know. Why? What do they think the Ruenen is hiding?"

Zen sighed, "We don't protect pedophiles, had the Ruenen been aware, they would have charged him and disposed of him as well!"

"Yeah," Tom replied rolling his eyes, "they would have, but quietly, and the world would have never known. They cover up a lot of shit. Always trying to be perfect."

"You are all correct, and yet," Kieren paused, "there is more, much more, this scene, and the club..... they are connected." All eyes turned to him, "What? Are you sure?" Zen leaned in, "how can you say that?"

Kieren flipped over his screen, "to the E.M.S. providers, the murderer was so angry they just set him on fire, but look, all these wounds, every single one. They match the body of the kid we found. Do you remember? Charlie Baun was his name. He had been missing for seven years, he and his sister were at that club. This was revenge, Fallon had Charlie, Fallon took everything from Charlie."

"Yeah, but Charlie was dead?" Alex looked confused, "So? How does this make sense? Charlie's ghost killed Fallon? Our murderer killed Silver and Charlie but still took revenge?"

Violet smiled, "well maybe Silver wasn't innocent but the kid was."

All eyes flashed to her and Violet watched as the lightbulb lit up in Kieren's eyes, "Of course Violet! Of course, the murderer, they are weeding out the bad ones within the Ruenen! They went after Silver and accidentally discovered Charlie. They couldn't let Charlie live, or perhaps even Charlie turned on Silver so he was killed. Understanding Charlie's pain they went after Fallon, and they wanted us to tie the crimes together... to know that Silver was in the wrong...." his voice faded, "They're going to kill more."