In A Blink

The band took up two rows of the plane, six first-class seats. Bluebell, C.C., and Jake took one row - the one directly next to them had Ashley, Andy, and Jinx. The flight was long and dreadfully boring in their opinions, although C.C. and Bluebell were already asleep when the plane hit 10,000 feet. Their seats were reclined, and the separator was lifted so C.C. could keep his arm around her shoulders protectively.

The plane landed, the Clan gathered their suitcases, and a taxi drove them to their hotel. Andy was scowling the entire time as he slouched down in the center seat of the SUV, although everyone knew he wasn't angry. Andy was guilty - after all, it was 'his fault' that the Black Veil Brides tour was canceled, even though it was for the fans' own safety. Bluebell reached up from behind, holding her hand on Andy's shoulder comfortingly.

Night came faster than they would have liked. The next morning, C.C. woke up to find several massive storage crates full of rosaries - many different Holding Clan symbols were there, at least three crates for each. Bluebell was out cold, exhausted by the effort she used to make so many of the charms. The drummer snuck from the room they shared, walking into the general living area and collapsing onto the couch with a groan, turning on the TV. Jinx poked his head into the room from the kitchen and smiled at the other man, motioning for him to join him in the cooking area.

"WHat's up, Jinx?" He asked as he entered, claiming a stool at the bar and straddling it carefully. Jinx poured a mug of coffee for the drummer and dropped two sugar cubes into it, no cream. "I have to talk to you about Bluebell," Jinx said calmly, remembering the strange vision of a possessed Bluebell. C.C. was immediately on guard, eyeing Jinx as he accepted the bittersweet coffee. "Okay, what about?"

Jinx leaned against the counter, looking over at Ashley who was sitting a few stools away. Apparently, the news wasn't good - the bassist already had a beer bottle, which he raised with a grimace before taking a deep swig. Eyes slightly narrowed, C.C. looked back at Jinx with an expression so deadly serious, the guitarist didn't feel quite as comfortable as he used to around his old friend. He set down his mug of coffee. "C.C., I don't think Bluebell is human."

Coffee spewed across the counter, and Jinx calmly stepped out of the way as C.C. gapped at him. "I feel you, brother," Ashley muttered bitterly, handing over a hand towel as he took another swig of beer. C.C. wiped the coffee from the table, glaring at Jinx fiercely. "Explain," he demanded, tossing the used towelette in the sink frustratedly. Jinx took a deep breath and described his vision, not leaving a single detail out - the redness of the girls' eyes, how she held her own lifeblood in her snow-pale hands, the ominous darkness around her.

"That's not all, C.C.," he said, voice lowered as he absently washed his mug, scrubbing a little too hard with the scrubbing brush. "Man Without Face spoke to me."

He didn't tell Ashley that part - this time, an entire beverage spilled across the counter as Ashley fumbled with what was left of his beer. C.C. was completely silent, just watched as Jinx rolled his eyes and tossed the towel back over. "You don't have a Voice Holding, Mystic," the man snarled quietly, using the other's holding name as a sharp spear to the guitarist's mind. "You're a Powering. Man Without Face can't speak to you-"

"He did, Destroyer," Jinx snapped in return, whirling around defiantly. Ashley's eyes widened for a moment as he took the last sip of his beer, awkwardly looking away. Jinx very rarely snapped like that - even C.C. sat back down on his stool, not realizing he had stood angrily. "I opened the portal to Unknown last night to send some of the rosaries Bluebell made to the other Clans and I saw him, just as Andy described - no hair, no face. He... he gave me a prophecy, guys."
Ashley and C.C. paled dramatically, and the mug of coffee slipped from the drummers' hands as Jinx looked at him with dead seriousness in his eyes. The white-glazed clay piece shattered on the ground the moment it touched down, but Jinx wasn't angry. If anything, the sudden break in the silence made it easier for him to give the words Man Without Face gave.

"When F.E.A.R. is close
And the end is nigh
Doomsday will come
By the wolves' eyes."

C.C. sucked in a harsh breath, standing up in a frantic. The three Clan members thought the same thing at the exact same time - Bluebells eyes. They were a vivid golden yellow, and they had all seen the resemblance of a wild creature of the color. "No," the drummer said, glaring at Jinx as his fists shook on the counter, "I won't let it happen. I won't let anything happen to her. She's just a girl!"

Jinx nodded in understanding, something Andy didn't miss as he wearily walked into the kitchen. He froze when he laid eyes on the situation: Jinx and C.C. staring each other down, Ashley slowly inching towards the exit, the broken coffee mug, and anger-clenched fists. "Are you saying that because you believe it, Destroyer?" Andy's eyes were caught by the black fog rolling from C.C.s hands as Jinx spoke, signaling that the Holding Hand was losing his temper. "Or because you love her?"

Destroyer clenched his jaw as his vision flooded red in rage, then the Holding Hand took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The black fog dissipated, and it was only C.C. again. Wordlessly, he backed away from the stool and brushed past Andy without a hello, going back to the room he and Bluebell were sharing. Andy looked at Jinx in question, and the guitarist motioned him over. Time to catch Andy up, and then Jake needed to hear it too.

By the time everyone but C.C. and Bluebell was in the kitchen, Jinx had them all caught up on what happened. Andy already knew Man Without Face spoke with Jinx - the deity had told him personally, although Andy had no idea why. Jake suddenly spoke. He told the others of the portal to the Dark Unknown he and Andy had found on their bus and set ablaze, ridding of it after the Shadow Demon had attacked their Sixth.

There was silence for a while as everyone contemplated what was going on, but that was interrupted by a pizza delivery service. "Well, we can only do one thing at a time," Jake said, standing up to get the food. "First things first, we need to get this damn charity gala or whatever over with. Then we'll focus on this prophecy. Let's get C.C. and Bluebell, eat some pizza, and try to mend things over for now."

"What about Bluebell? Should we tell her?" Andy asked, glancing at Jinx. He just shook his head, frowning slightly. "There's no need to worry about it. She's still Bluebell, our Sixth and The Creator. We still love her and we will always love her. Let's eat."

Notes

Hey guys! So sorry this took so long!! I have another chapter ready for you as an apology, do you forgive me? :3

Anyways, drop a comment about your favorite part so far! Have a great day, loveyoubye!

xoxo
LK Marie