Chapter 9


Kevin Richardson's Side

I smoothed the front of my jacket and headed for the door. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Looking smart Richardson. Looking smart. Today was a big day. Today, if things went right, I would be made Remi's sole manager. Being Remi's sole manager, I got more than my 10%. You see, though she had power in ways I didn't at her stage, she still didn't make all the big bucks. You don't get that in the act, you get it in the business. And I was poised to control all that business. I'd keep up the Backstreet act for a while. Probably a month, if so much. Then, I'd be gone. They wouldn't miss me. The fans? They'd cry a bit. But they'd get over it.

Smiling, I picked up my briefcase and was about to leave when I heard her voice calling me yet again.

"Kevin, honey."
I whirled around, hastily.
"Yes, Mallory? I'm kind of in a rush…"
"I need a favour," she called coming in from the living room into the entrance hall.
Another one? I thought. I said, "What do you want? Make it quick."

"Will you go out with me next Friday night?"
She looked at me searchingly. I could see that she wasn't exactly sane at the moment.
"Where do you want to go?"
"There's a club that's having this open house party three day weekend. I was thinking we could go. Please? It would mean so much to me."
Glancing impatiently at my watch, I replied, "Sure, Mallory, whatever you want."
With that, I slammed the front door behind me.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mallory Fontaine's Side

As soon as he left I smiled. Soon he would see. She wasn't as sweet as he thought she was. When he sees her evil side, he wouldn't care for her anymore. And then he'd see how much he needs me. He needs me, dammit.
I slammed my fist on the table and broke a nail. "Oh, shoot."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kevin Richardson's Side

3 hours later
"I think, that that will be all gentlemen," I said, smiling widely and placing the contract with the wet ink carefully in my briefcase.
"A pleasure doing business with you."
I shook the fat guy's hand, as well as the fat guy's assistant. I turned around and strode out of the conference room.
There she was!
"Hey Remi!" I said, wrapping her up in a hug.
She pulled away and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"You okay, Richardson?"
"Yeah, deal just went through."
"Oh that sole management thing? Kay cool. I really don't care."
I just smiled.
"Remi, you are the best thing that ever happened to me, you know that?"
"No, Richardson, I won't marry you."
I laughed.
"I'm going to get out of this Backstreet thing."
"You're leaving the Backstreet boys?"
"Yeah… now that I have you, I don't need to discredit myself like that anymore."
"For real? You're going to leave, to mange my affairs?"
"Yeah, no lie."
She looked kind of nervous.
"Look, Kevin, I really do not think you should do that. It's definitely a mistake."
"What do you mean? I mean, that's what I was planning to do…all along. Don't tell me you didn't know."

I looked at her face, and something told me to panic.
"Wait, Remi… you don't get it. I have to get out of there. There's no place for me there. I just make a fool out of myself with every stupid dance move I make. Jesus, Remi don't do this to me."
"Kevin, get real. You don't look stupid. You are really important for that group. You keep everyone together. You keep everyone on check. You help get things done on time. You're the big brother for crying out loud. Besides which Kev, I won't be around very much longer. Don't leave the group. You'd just screw up a lot of peoples lives, not to mention quite a few fans who love you so much."
"What do you mean you won't be here much longer?"
"I mean, I have other things to do Kevin," she said, raising her voice.
"Dammit, don't throw away what you have right now. And don't base your hopes on me. Cause I'm not staying around here once all of you are safe. I have to move on to other people, save them too. Why do you think I came in here looking for cash? Why do you think I don't want my face shown all over the place? Why do you think I barely care about what I am doing here? I'm out to keep you safe. That's it. I am under an extreme amount of pressure here. You don't get it Kevin. Be glad you live a normal life. Be glad. Be glad you don't know."

She turned abruptly and ran down the hallway. And there my dreams lay shattered, in crystal shards littering the floor.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Remi Osuna's Side

There was the St. Patrick's Cathedral, (I have no idea if this thing even exists - author's note) rising with all its splendour out of the city square. There it was with its carved marble cherubs cavorting on its walls, the martyrs on the brink of death, their faces resplendent with love and their eyes turned to heaven. There was the Church, the one true, holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I ran into the church.
There was no mass in progress, just few caretaker priests running errands around the sacristy.
I knelt down before the crucifix and started my vigil.
I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty Creator of Heaven and earth…
Oh God my father, what is going to happen to me? What is going to happen? Am I going to succeed in this? And if I do, am I going to succeed the next time and the one after that? I am so scared Lord. And you know as well as I do that Kane has a power over me Lord, and it is so incredibly hard to resist. I know I am one of the converted. I know it's harder for us than the rest of the clean-cut world. But why must I be the one burdened with this? Why must I be the one to know? Why must I know who the demons are? Lord, I do your will, to serve you, and to protect those around me.

And then, someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up startled.

"Oh Delmar," I breathed a sigh of relief, "I was just…"
"I know," he said, a certain softness in his voice, "Am I disturbing you?"
"Um, maybe you could pray with me?"
"No… I needed to talk to you Remi. Can we step outside for a minute?"
I looked up at the crucifix. Something told me, "It's alright, I want you to be happy."
I didn't know what that meant, but I genuflected and left the church with Delmar at my side. A kindly priest smiled and nodded at us.
Outside, in the street, we walked over to the park.
"Right, Remi… I wanted to talk to you…"
"Yes?"
"Do you think? I mean, are you… are you…" "What?"
"Remi I am so worried about all of this. We're in this together…"
"Delmar please… hit me with better lines than that."
"Alright, fine. I am scared sh*tless. Is that sufficient?"
"Profanity."
"Okay, fine. Well you know what I'm trying to say, don't you?"
"Actually, no…"
"Remi… Where are you going to after this is done?"
"I have no clue, but I guess Shezrae would let me know…"
"Wherever it is, I'm coming too."
I looked at him suspiciously and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh… okay, where did that come from?"
He stalled, looked around and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Never mind. I mean, I have to move on too. We kind of make a good team. Anyway, I have to go…"
He spun on his heel and left.
"Fellas does get real schupid when dey sprung, dread."


Chapter Ten
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