MG roulette (Hell-hounds part two)

(Wednesday, my home thee days after Julies `visit`)

It was a interesting couple of day's. I was supposed to have done this on Sunday but as I learned the fun way, one does not simply say no to hell-hound's, the heated rounds all thought the days where distracting to the goal at hand, only now had I got them to settle down.

My two friends and I were seated around the table with drinks while the girl's where watching TV, we were talking about what to do about Julie.

“So remind me.” Kevin said as he opened his coke. “How did you two break up.”

“Is it really necessary? I'm pretty sure I told you already.” I told him.

“But you haven't told us, now that I think about it.” Cerrine spoke up from the sofa. “I want to know more about this mess.” the other girls nodded in agreement.

“I too haven't heard the details.” John said. “It would be good for everyone to be on the same page.”

He had a point, might as well tell them. “It was a shouting match at a fashion showcase in west end.” I began. “Apparently me just being there was making her look bad but she would forgive me if I bought her new shoes. At that point I snapped and told her that I had enough of how she was treating me like crap.”

“And how did she take that?” asked John.

“Not well, she decided to let loose some choice words about my family, If I didn't suppress my anger I would have put her down with a smashed jaw.” I growled out, I really didn't like remembering what she said. Growling form the sofa told me that the hell-hounds shared my anger. It was safe to assume that their opinion of Julie had gone down another nocth.

“And then what happened.” asked Kevin as he leaned forward like a housewife hearing gossip.

“The argument dissolved into insult throwing and I left her a screaming wreck in the hallway. Since then I've got phone calls from her and her manager, telling me we have to get back together.” I finished and started to drink my orange juice.

“I take it's for some PR stunt to fix/ improve her career?” I nodded to John's question.

Kevin was confused. “How is this a PR stunt? I don't get how this will help her?”

I put down my glass and cleared my throat “Simple really, I publicly apologise to Julie and we declare ourselves back together then we can be seen as a couple that's `fighting thought our problems`. Then after a while we she could break up on her terms and I can be seen at best as a Moron and at worst complete scum for `Treating her wrong`.

“And now she's using blackmail to get what she wants.” John finished. “No wonder she left you alone. She was setting up all of this."

I once more nodded. “I can't believe this, I kinda just want this to be over, it cant get any worse then this!” I groaned out.

The growling from the sofa had returned. “That subhuman is on TV!” I looked over to see that the fire the girls had blazed up and their tails had stiffened.

I was pretty sure Bernice meant Julie as I had heard that `Subhuman` was a term for humans that were considered trash in a MG's eyes. We around the table shifted around to look at the TV. While Cerrine used the remote to turn the volume up a little.

Sure enough, the screen showed a talk show stage with two chairs, Julie sitting in one and a older woman (who was probably the host) occupying the other, dressed in a red dress with some kind of rose pattern. It looked liked the show had just started as some form of opening jingle played in the background. The jingle faded out as the woman spoke.

“Hello and welcome to the red room, the place to be if you want to hear about the life of celebs! I'm your host Penelope Rose and today we have with us a new up and coming model on the fashion circuit, ladies and gentlemen please welcome Julie smith!”

The crowed launched in to cheers as Julie smiled and waved for the audience and the camera. It all returned to quiet as Penelope started again. “Well Julie, I suppose we shall get the usual questions out the way first, how are your felling being here today.”

“I feel great Penelope.” said Julie with a smile. “Its a wonderful be to here for this show.”

“Good, good.” Penelope said with a chuckle. “And how its the Model's life is treating you?”

“Also wonderful, I've worked with so many nice people, I hope that my good luck continues.” she finished with a wink to the camera, making the audience break out in cheers and cry of how cute, but I knew better, that smile was so plastic it could make a Barbie doll cry in shame.

The hell-hounds where also unimpressed “I can smell the falseness from here.” Russila said flatly. “Why are they accepting this?”

“Fake or not, you'd be surprised how far good looks, a smile and some kind words to the right people can take you.” I told her as we brought our attention back to the TV.

“Well then, on to the more meaty stuff, any big plans for the near future?” Penelope asked her guest.

“Actually we are planning to do a fashion showcase on Friday at the twin greens centre.” I could feel my eyes narrowing at that. The twin greens centre had a shopping mall connected to it, in that store was `The Soldiers Load Out` the game store I worked in.

“I see, and how many new outfits are we going to see there?”

“That's a secret” Julie said with a giggle. “But all I can say is that me and my boyfriend will be there.”

“Boyfriend?” The host said with a raised eyebrow. “Ah yes, I had head about your breakup.”

“Oh, that.” Julie gave a dismissive wave.” Don't worry about that, we're still together.” Mummers surface though the audience at her declaration. Those in the house were whiteness to another sound; my anguish.

“What the Hell?!” I said as my words became inaudible even for my brain. I half calmed down and returned my focus was to the screen, if I had laser beam eye's I would have put two holes through the TV.

Penelope was surprised and curious, her eyebrow was raised to the point where it could slide down and become a uni with the other one. “Is that so? I had heard at thee west end show case that he a called you and I quote `A flower with nectar to poison 3 whole hives` and `A Kinder surprise that holds Satan in the capsule.` while you had called him `Scum that wasn't fit to lick my feet`. There was also a rumour that he had moved on.”

Julies face darkened to what had to be the most honest expression I saw since this show came on. “Surely you know that couple's say the meanest things when a spat gets out of hand.” she said with a sinister snigger. “We've had a talk and he's sorry about the things he said and wants me back in his life. Its part of what Friday is for, he will declare himself a new man and those little dogs wont stop us.” She said the last part though gritted teeth.

“Little dogs?” the host repeated confused. Then her eye's seemed to widen for a second before her expression, while still neutral at best, had darkened a little. Penelope's face was unreadable, it was like she knew something.

“Oh don't worry about that! Their are Just some dirty stray's in his neighbourhood that don't like me.”

To her credit, Penelope wasn't fully buying it. “Forgive my bluntness but from what I've heard about what's going on between you to it doesn't sound like you've got a stable relation ship to begin with.”

“Well you should come down and I'll show you just how stable we are. He now knows better and we have worked though our problems.” Julie turned to the camera. “If you can hear me darling were gonna show the whole world the new you on Friday and everyone will be happy!” she then blew a kiss to the camera. The crowed ate it up and started chanting `Love for Julie`.

On the other hand, the host's face looked clearly like the goodwill had been lost somewhere. Her face snapped back to normal after she noticed the camera was on her “I see... so that is all form Julie, coming up next. Our friend Anna interview's pop singer Kate parsons followed by a performance. Join us after the break!” The jingle had kicked in and Penelope quickly dismissed herself form the stage as the Julie stayed to listen to chants into the fadeout to adverts.

I wanted and scream and break something “That bitch!” roared to the ceiling as I shot out of my chair “She pulled this crap, god-damnit!”

She had already gone to far with the blackmail, and now this crap. I needed to calm down. I took a few deep breaths and sat down as the room was blanketed in quiet Apart form the TV. As I was deep in thought. I was cornered more narrowly then before. That wasn't a interview for Julie, that was a declaration of war and she held all the cards. Either I lose my job or be doomed to a downhill spiral at the whims of a models PR campaign. No matter what, I lose at this point.

No! I cant think like that! I shouldn't get mad, I should get even! No... I should strive for total victory!

“So what are we going to do?” asked Kevin.

“Well first we need a plan.” I said “There is a way out of this mess, all we need is a first step and the rest will make itself known.”

“Perhaps I can be of assistance.” A familiar voice from out of nowhere made itself known. A puff of blue smoke bust from the middle of the room, in the centre stood the blue sage himself, 3M.

“About time you showed up.” Russilia said staring at the rooms new occupant. “Why take two days to answer my call?”

“You must forgive me child. All contact and requests are filtered through the Tengu network so there might be a delay, and I was occupied with a repair job.” he replied and finished with a bow.

“Repair job?” I parroted.

“Ushi-oni on a sugar rush” the wizard answered with a shiver.

The hell-hounds let out a combined “oh!” in realisation while me and the guys where left confused. I had flicked thought the encyclopaedia that I got describing the women involved with the game. But I don't remember what a Ushi-oni was. If his tone was any indication I didn't want to know.

“But that's irrelevant. Tell me about this problem I was called for.”

Between the women and me, the story was told to 3M. When we finished he stood still with is arms crossed deep in thought, or I think he didn't, with the mask it was kinda hard to tell.

“Right, I've got just the thing!” he exclaimed, breaking the silence. He pointed at me. “Get ready for Friday boy, we're going to that showcase!”

“How is that going to help me?” I asked.

“Simple, I am a magician, and what do all magician's love?” he asked playfully.

It hit me. “The stage.” I whispered I Knew it! This was it, my first step! My mind went into serious overdrive as it toyed with what I had in front of me.

“Um... you're doing that thing again.” Kevin said nervously. “Seriously it freaks me out every time.”

“Doing what?”

“I don't think anyone's told you this but you have this really sinister smile whenever you go into planning mode.” John informed me. “Either that or your making one of you're `bacon related experiments`. We're just waiting for the next part.”

Really? I was like that? I looked at the women in the room. They all sat there with... heated smiles? Their tails where wagging with little restraint.

“He's right, you do that, for us it means the night is going to be... fun.” Cerrine stated licking her lips. Her and the other two now had that `no escaping the bed till the afternoon` look. I'm in for it later.

“What ever the case, Lets get to work, we've got planning to do and its time Julie is removed from my life.” my mind returned to the idea bucket and pulled a particularly interesting one. I told it to the others and they all seemed to enjoy the thought.

“I can go the extra mile on that to help you out. I just need to call my wife to sort it...” 3M reach for his pocked for what I assumed was a phone, but paused when he notice everyone staring at him." What is it?”

“You're married!?” Kevin shouted like he couldn't believe it.

“Is that so hard to believe?” he replied with a curious tone. I'm sure behind that glass is a raised eyebrow. I don't think he was expecting a combined blunt “yes” from the five other people in the room in the room. He muttered something about getting no respect as he got his phone out.

I had remained silent as my focus was more on the task at hand. Everything was about to begin, come Friday, I would not have to deal with that woman or again. Julie declared war, I was making my nuke. as they say, fight fire with hotter fire.

It was only later that I found out that the “second part.” of my planning mode was Evil laughter.

(Friday, just outside the twin greens centre.)

This was it.

Planning, mapping and some surprising phone calls later we where there, I had on a classy black suit on and was round the side of the building drinking a coke. Waiting for the event to get started. While I was waiting I realised I had no idea what 3M's `extra mile` was, all I knew was that it involved Julie's dad.

“Hi darling!” a unwilling familiar voice made its presence known. “I'm glad you remembered the no dogs rule.”

And there she is, a woman I considered so evil Maleficent would take notes. Julie wrapped her arm around mine ignoring my disgust at her touching me and pulled me to the main entrance. “So darling, ready to show the world our love?”

“There Is no love here Julie, lets just get this over with.” I told her.

“Now that wont do at all, we're supposed to be a happy couple, come on smile!” She said as she tugged me along.

“I'll smile when you let go of my arm.” I replied.

Julie lost her `pretty face` and snarled “Now look here you piece of shit, this has to go off without a hitch so I can fix the damage you did! Now smile or else I'll-”

“I get it!” I told her and gave her a grin. Her face returned to normal.

“Good, now keep that up and come on!” he said as I was more or less dragged inside with the fashion journalists swamping us for info. I kept myself quiet and gave my best `someone put salt in my tea` frown my face could manage when she wasn't looking. The new people must have caught that some thing was up as they didn't call me out on it.

I entered the hall and took a look around. It was fitted for the show and and got my front row seat at the end of the runway. Julie had gone off to get ready for the the show. I had to sit there for 2 hours as models came out in ne dress after new dress. The whole thing bored me. I looked around and saw that to my left the manager from the store was here, nervous as what happened here might cost him his job. Right next to him sat Penelope, clearly as uninterested in the show as me.

Just as the show was wrapping up the my phone rang, right on time. “That you John?” I asked.

“Yes, everyone is ready, all we need is your signal.” the voice on the phone spoke.

“Ok, Julie's come out now, you know what to do.” I said as I hung up. My eyes focused on the runway as Julie reached the end of it with 2 microphones in hand.

“Thank you all for coming, I know you've all had a good time.” she paused for the cheers of the crowd. “Now we will hear from a special someone. Will that person please come up to the stage.”

This was it. I stepped up on to the runway, hearing the rumbles in audience as I joined Julie on stage. I took another look around, Julie's farther was here along with several news crews, perfect. Julie handed a microphone to me. “Make it count.” she almost growled in my ear.

Oh I'll make it count. I could almost taste the smile on my face as I begun. “Ladies and gents, I'm pretty sure you've all heard of the indecent at the showcase a while back right?” I saw nods in the audience. “And I'm sure you've all heard about what the Julie said about today. Right? I believe her words where and I quote `See how stable our relationship is.`”

Julie looked at me with a confused face, silently asking what I was doing. “Well I've got little presentation for you all to enjoy!” I shouted, put my arm out and snapped my fingers and watched as the lights went out.

A projector screen on runway stage showing a up with a photo of me when I was still in my relationship with Julie. Even I was surprised with how dead I looked as I hadn't see it before. Shocked gasps looked at the sight me.

“I don't need to tell you who that is now do I?” I said with a chuckle. “This was me 2 months ago, I near broken shell of man with no respect for himself.”

“Darling, what are you doing?” Julie tried to sound confused but it was clear she was shaken, good.

“Sorry Julie, question time is later.” I told her as I snapped my fingers again, the screen changed to a image of me being shouted at by Julie in the corner of a clothes shop while a member of her security detail was pouncing at the cameraman. The whispers in the audience grew louder as Julie stared to look a little sweaty. Another snap, the image changed to her slapping a drink out of my hands.

“Now I'm sure you've all got this perfect image of who Julie is, a sweet little angel who's dad owns a mega corporation, right? Well your wrong. she is bossy, manipulative and will stoop to blackmail to get what she wants.” Another, finger snap, the image turned to the fateful showcase that caused this showing Julie shouting in my face and other people around staring in shock.

“But that's why you're here right? We got thought all our issues together and now you here to declare to your love.” Julie was trying to save face with a smile but her eyes screamed murder.

Now to go for the body blow. “Now Julie, unlike you I don't like lying on national TV so I'll say that I am here to declare love.” Julie gave a sigh of relief. “But not to you.” I finished flat and cold.

Wow, my first crowd kill. The entire place when dead silent as Julies eye's widened to the point it look like they where going to make a break for it. “What?”

Yet one more finger snap, the image changed to me and the Hell-hound's happily relaxing in a bar, drinking the night away. “These are the girls I love!”

A random audience member shouted out “The roulette!”

“Yeah that's right, I love three women and they all love me! I wont separate with them for anything and before any of you can say something, I met them after the break up.”

“Stop it! Your ruining everything!” Julie shouted.

I ignored her. “Now people given what you've herd from me and rumours from before, can you guess why I'm even here tonight?” a few people gasped in realisation. “That's right! I've almost lost my job just so Julie here can pull a PR stunt and ruin my life in exchange for her fame! I had no intension to play along with this farce.”

Julie's was starting to panic. “He's lying!”

“Is he?” Penelople's voice made itself know thought the crowed as a spotlight (that I know was controlled by Kevin) showed where she was. “It was me who supplied those images, my husband was having sudden trouble at his job, if it wasn't for your interview with me I wouldn't have made the connection. That this man and one of my husbands employees was the same person.”

I turned to my boss and he was trying to make himself smaller. Huh, so that's why he was here next to her and she wanted in on this, small world after all.

“No! This Isn't happening! This isn't what I wanted!” Julie was getting hysterical. She then realised something and composed her self. “Fine, consider yourself out of a job then.” she then started to laugh. “Did you for get daring? I own you!” she almost screamed as she seemed to have forgoten we where on live TV, even if she won today her Image as a pure, kind girl was smashed.

Body blow number 2. “Do you really think I would come here and do this without a plan?” I one more put my arm out and snapped my fingers.

Onto the stage walked on John and a woman even I hadn't seen, I believe she was a Tanuki if the raccoon parts where anything to go by. Why she had her arm around John was a question for later.

“Greetings. I am Shizune, head of the Emerald tree company.” she addressed the crowd with a soft tone and a graceful bow. “I am here to announce a few of my purchases.” Even I rose a eyebrow at that. “The emerald tree company had its eye's on the twin greens centre for a while, only for it to be bought up by smith corporation, so I decided to strike higher...”

“Who are you to be talking like my father's company means nothing?” Julie asked Shizune.

Shizune's graceful smile was replaced by a grin I know to be `business evil`. “His new boss, that's who, Me and my new husband now own smith corporation and all its assets. You have no control over his life anymore.” she finished nodding towards me.

I see, this was 3M's extra mile.

Julie was shaking from head to toe in rage. “How dare you! Its Not over, I'll-”

“Drop it, it's over Julie, it was over then and it should of stayed over when I left. The only one you can blame for all of this is your self.” she stopped her rambling and locked eyes with me.

It happened, for the second time I've ever seen it. Julie 100% unhinged, her face almost looked mutated compared to the plastic smile. “You think this is funny don't you, ruining me like this?”

“I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but you acted like a cartoon villain, so you get defeated like a cartoon vill-” my words where cut off as Julies hands gripped around my neck and forced me to the ground in a tackle, what the hell where they feeding models these days! This grip is unreal!

Julie released a laugh that can only be described as batty-nugget while choking me with all her strength. “As if I'll let some little low-born shit do this to me, You where supposed to be my stool, my ladder to the next level! You are nothing without me! You hear me!? Nothing! If you're going to try and do this to a girl like me, then dying is all you're good for!” the others tried to help me but where blocked by her security detail, loyal to the end I guess.

“Let... go!” I said as I tried to pry off her hands.

The grip got tighter “No! You've got no life worth ruining, so I'll go for the next best thing! Removing your worthless, shit eating, bacon munching, Julie defying existence! If I don't deserve a modelling career, then you don't deserve to live!”

Let me just say that self defence is probably the only good reason to hit a woman and I wanted her off me so after trying to pry her arms of I did the only thing I could, gave her a clean punch to the face. “Piss off!” I wheezed out as air flowed though my lungs and I got back up.

It was clear by the look in her eyes that reason had gone on vacation as she was gearing up to attack me again, when A low but feminine voice growled out for all to hear. “Do you know the rules of the hell-hound?”

Julie had stopped in her tracks and looked around to see the voice's origin, then yelped in surprise as a pillar of fire erupted to her right. When it cleared it showed Rusillia.

“Never trouble the hounds of hell, there will be no good story's to tell.” She said and as soon as she finished another pillar of fire, this time revealing Bernice.

“Never attack attack a hell-hounds gate, victims will only seal their fate.” she continued the chanting rhyme as the air was starting to thicken. A third pillar made itself known. This time by my side and revealing Cerrine. I looked a her and in that moment I was thankful I wasn't ever the target of the hell-hound's anger as while all three women looked at peace, their eyes told me they where going to kill some thing.

Unaware of my thoughts Cerrine continued the Chant “Never insult a hell-hound's might, lest you want to feel their bite.” Julie was scared now by the spectacle the wolf women where putting on. All three walked to slowly surround her. They then all spoke as one.

“And never trouble what hell-hound's own, They'll engrave fury down to the bone.”

The audience was silent, but many of them had pulled out everything I knew had a camera in it to film this.

“You try to ruin our husbands life, and then when you didn't get what you wanted you tried to kill him, its time you learned your place, Subhuman!” Cerrine almost roared in Julies face. “I shall make good on my promise, I shall break you.”

“You cant kill me, the whole worlds watching! You'll be considered a monster!” Julie stuttered out.

“Believe me when I say I would not kill you even if we were alone, hell is already a annoying place without you to occupy it. We, the Cerberus sisters shall show hell, we'll make you feel hell, we'll even make you taste it... and as for me being considered a monster...” Cerrine got close to Julie and whispered in her ear, but we still heard it due to Julie's microphone.

“I already am one.”

A giant fire pillar engulfed the 3 hell-hounds and Julie, the difference was that this fire was black and red, all we could hear was the crackle of the fire and Julies screams. After about a minuet it all stopped to show Julie and the other's again, only now Julie was a stuttering mess rocking back and forth in the fetal position.

(5 minutes later.)

Every thing was getting pack up as the showcase ended with the crowed clearing out and leaving. The the security detail had tried to pick Julie up but they where intercepted by the newly arrived police and arrested along side her. a woman cop came up to me, her skin wars dark and her hair was strangely white. “I saw the show and heard what she tried to do, we'll try to put her to justice.” She told me. “apparently there's a lot of background drama going on with her attitude and business deals, not all of it is legal.”

“Thanks.”

“Don't mention it.” she said as her eyes flashed red and she gave a grin. “Stay out of trouble now. And if you see that boy Kevin, tell him I'll be waiting.” she left giggling to herself as she left and I stood there questioning what I saw and was then joined by John and shizune.

“Even without this plot, is was a brilliant plus for my company, thanks for that.” said Shizune casually, the graceful thing must have been a act.

“What I want to know is how did you to end up together?” I asked

“3M wanted me in on your plan and Jonny here was helping me as a middle man, one thing just led to another.” she finished with a shrug while John blushed and thought the floor had something good to look at. “I'll see you around, seeing as your a indirect employee of mine and my husband's friend.”

I nodded and waved at them as they left. With the hall emptied I exited the place and took a deep breath, then roared in victory with all my might. I had done It! No more Julie! The nightmare was over! I was just short of doing my happy dance when the hell-hounds showed up and we started the walk home.

“So now that's over, what's the plan now?” Bernice asked.

“This” I said as one by one I grabbed them and kissed them deeply. By the time I was finished the where all shaking with excitement, their tales almost spinning in joy. I was then suddenly lifted up and held by all three as they sprinted to my house.

“Get ready big boy, we plan to celebrate our victory here, and the first thing to do is you. You are not leaving the bed for a week!”

“Funny, I was going to say the same to you three!” My thoughts wondered as we approached my house 3 things came to mind.

The first was that I was going to break some floorboards with what was in store.

Second was the bill to repair that.

And third was that I could once more say that life was indeed good.