“Out of suffering
have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters
are seared with scars.”
Khalil Gibran
The Angelic Harbinger
Xaria Veronica Linette
The Angel’s Whispers
Scars…
They never go away.
No matter how many years pass by…
The scars will always be there.
Physically.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
I never understood the scars left behind by my father, Mathieu Linette.
I thought it was his way of showing me affection.
I was only four. I didn’t know any better.
Yet the most painful scar was left by my mother’s death.
That was when I was truly alone in the world.
The scars of living on the streets of Paris were nothing in comparison.
I still have the scar from when I was attacked by Nya Roux.
She was the first woman in professional wrestling who actually hated me.
Ah, the days of Legacy Wrestling Alliance…
I’ll never forget them.
They were my wake-up call to reality.
I remember how terrified I was of Martin Pierce.
“The Devil’s Own.”
It wasn’t until I took the mantle of Guardian Angel that I was brave enough to fight him.
I created the glitter-painted, sticker-covered steel chair and fought for the defenseless.
And when Scott Free created Better Than You with Nya Roux and Alec McTanner…?
James Dean, Hamza Abdul-Aziz, and I formed the Trifecta Angels.
The scars of pain.
The scars of betrayal.
The scars of a broken heart.
My heart.
How many times has it broken...?
I’ve lost count.
Thump-thump...“We’ll have her admitted into a room. What is her name?”“Xaria. Xaria Linette.”“And what is your relationship with Miss Linette?”“I… I am her best friend.”Thump-thump...
Hesitation.
The moment he found her, William Mason never left her side. Not even for a moment. The scene of the crime was a small broom closet. Xaria Linette was found within one. She was barely conscious then. Breathy. Shaky. Bloody.He allowed the medical practitioner of the Climate Pledge Arena to check on her. One of the nurses was trying to tell him something, but there was a dull sound ringing in his ears. He leaned back against the wall closest to his best friend and looked down.Thump-thump…
That’s when he saw the splotches of blood on the palm of his right hand. Her blood. It was from the back of her head. The crimson blended into her red locks of beautiful wavy hair. Everything was a blur. Voices. A collection of sounds. Nothing could break through the ringing except for his heartbeat. It must’ve been pure instinct to step into the ambulance with her. The siren was just background noise. The chaos of a hospital was completely ignored. There was only the endless loop of the dull ringing and his heart beating like a war drum.Thump-thump…
Beeeeeeeeee. . .Thump-thump…
. . .eeeeeeeeee. . .
Thump-thump…
. . .eeeeeeeeep. . .
“...William…?”
“...Monsieur William?”
It wasn’t until he felt the warmth of her hand on his that the ringing in his ears finally settled down. That was when he realized he’d been crying. His eyes were stinging red and his heart jumped into his throat..
“Xaria…” He almost choked.
His hand turned over to hold hers. The blood had been washed away in the lost time and yet he could still
feel the splotches. He looked into her eyes, and in turn, she looked into his. Fresh, clean stitches adorned her forehead. Not as many as they expected. The wound on the back of her head was washed and cleaned. It was the result of blunt force trauma. But she was strong, stronger than most people gave her credit for.
She squeezed his hand. “The worst part is a forty-eight-hour concussion check,” she chuckled softly. “If all goes well, I should be medically released Wednesday morning.”
“I… see.” He nodded and pressed his lips together. He was struggling to find the right words. “That’s good. That’s… I mean no, it’s
not good. You’ve suffered.”
She shook her head. “So have you…” Sitting up on the bed, her other hand moved up to lightly trace under his puffy eyes with a fingertip.
“Desolé.”
(I’m sorry.)“Vous n'avez rien à regretter.”
(You have nothing to be sorry about.)His other hand reached up to take hold of the hand upon his face. With both of her hands in his, he squeezed them firmly yet gently. She looked at their hands and laced their fingers together before she looked into his eyes.
Her features softened and she slowly parted her ruby lips. “Perhaps not. I just don’t want you to blame yourself for what happened.”
But she wouldn’t have been hurt…
...If you were with her.
(HEART) A C H E
(Heart) A c h e
(heart) a c h e
“What happened to you--” He stammered.
She interrupted him with a tight squeeze of his hands. “--was
not your fault. I’ve been through worse, William. I’ll be alright.”
“Xaria…” He whispered.
She was reassuring
him. She really was an angel.A soft, tired groan escaped her parted lips. He noticed this, as well as the strain in her body language, and carefully helped her to lay back down. Taking the remote for the bed, the two of them worked together to find a more comfortable position for her.
“Merci…”
(Thank you…)“De rien.”
(You’re welcome.)Now she was able to look at him without the need to sit up or lean forward. Once again, he took one of her hands and gave it a squeeze.
“I’m not going anywhere, okay?” He reassured her. Just like he did earlier in the night. “Everything is going to be alright.”
She squeezed his hand in return and lightly shook her head. “You need to be with your wife and your daughter, William.”
“What did I just say?” He offered her a knowing little smirk. “I’m
not going anywhere.”
She parted her lips and yet nothing came out. Despite that smirk, she could see his features and capture the state of his eyes. She couldn’t recollect what happened after she lost consciousness, but she could imagine the anger, fear, and pain in his entire being. He was truly worried about her. There’s nothing she could do to send him away.
“...I don’t want you to go anyway.” She confessed, a weak yet warm smile on her face.
“Paroles de fin de soirée.”
Harborview Medical Center
October 19th, 2021
1:00am PST
Let there be light.
Xaria didn’t know why she woke up at such a late hour. Except for the gentle moonlight shining through the window, her hospital room was empty. Her best friend’s absence was the first thing she noticed. They must not allow visitors to stay overnight. She must’ve fallen asleep while he was still here. She’d been tucked in, after all.
Slowly, she reached over and grabbed her smartphone. Unlocking it with a pin number caused her eyes to flinch at the brightness of the screen.
Text messages from William,
Sariel Kojima, and
Rosalyn Fernandes.
Voicemail from Michael,
Chelsea Fitzsimmons, and
Quentin Fontaine.
She’d check them all in a moment. Reaching out again, she turned on the small lamp upon the nightstand. She closed her eyes at the immediate brightness that filled the room and took a moment to adjust. Using the bed’s remote, she adjusted the bed so she’d be able to comfortably lean back. No strain. No tension. Her eyes looked over the icons of her apps and her right index finger hovered over them… until she stopped at the video camera. She lightly tapped the icon and opened up the camera’s options. After a couple of adjustments, she held it up in her right hand and looked into the lens.
Into the eyes of those who will see this.XARIA LINETTE: “Dear, oh dear… You must be surprised to see me like this.”
Her left hand waved over herself. Even now, she smiled.
XARIA LINETTE: “By the time you see this video, it will not be October 19th. It will be when I see fit. I don’t want anyone’s thoughts to interfere with what I wish to say at this very moment.
You see…
A few hours ago, someone attacked me. An unknown assailant. It was
during PWE’s fourth Victory, inside of the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. What I remember is still a blur, but… I know I was in
the parking garage. I was
on a video call with my son,
Christian. He wanted me to sing his favorite bedtime lullaby. It is something I do for him every night without fail. After the call ended, I put my phone away...
And then
there was darkness.”
A frown crossed her face.
XARIA LINETTE: “The next thing I remember was waking up
in the darkness. The back of my head was
aching. My pain receptors were
screaming. I was
cold, I was shaky, and it was
almost hard to breathe. I didn’t even know
I was bleeding. Then suddenly…
there was light. A scream of terror accompanied the light. I couldn’t see who it was, but they were calling for help.
That was when Monsieur William found me. My best friend since
Knoxville Wrestling Institute. It’s been… seven years now, oui? Heh, it feels like forever. He’s the godfather of my children, Christian, Jacques, and Pénélope.
I trust him completely. He held me and called out to me. It hurt to open my eyes, but I did. Even though my vision was blurry, I needed to see him. I could barely make out the words he was saying, but I could sense his anxiety.
I was so tired.
Then there was darkness once again.”
She sucked in a breath of air. Her right arm began to quiver, so she took the phone in her left hand and continued.
XARIA LINETTE: “After that…? I woke up here. Apparently, my major injuries were treated and my wound was cleaned and disinfected. The nurse on standby told me I was in the
Harborview Medical Center. She summoned the doctor to stitch the cut on my forehead. He asked me how I received the cut and I told him I didn’t know. He explained through a quick diagnostics that I suffered a blow to the back of my head.
Blunt force trauma. They couldn’t identify what caused it, but I imagine
Madames Knight and Jones, as well as PWE security, are trying to search for it… or at least I hope they are.”
A weak chuckle escaped her. She shook her head slowly and breathed in slowly.
XARIA LINETTE: “So… it is a mystery.
Who attacked me? Clearly, it has not yet been solved. Otherwise, I would have been notified immediately and William would have gone headhunting. The nurse told me he was waiting just outside of my room. I told her to let him in. They complied after checking my vitals and giving me extra-strength Tylenol.
Our conversation stays between us,
mon meilleur ami.Honestly, I can barely think. I can’t begin to conjure a suspect list. I have to go over the entirety of the show and find out who was there. Who would attack me?
Why…?
Now that I’ve asked that, I wonder… I wonder if it was
the Ayla’s?
Damian and Tara. The only reason why I am naming the two of you is simple.
Because of what I said to you before.I feel sorry for the children.”
Her left arm begins to quiver now. When she goes to place her phone in her right hand, her left hand trembles and it slips from her grasp. For a moment, there was darkness.
The shakiest breath was drawn. Then the camera’s visual returned and Xaria’s eyes were soft.
XARIA LINETTE: “If that is the truth? If one of you-- or perhaps both of you-- attacked me because of that single tweet…?
Then the case is closed.I would be deserving of… this. What I said was wrong. It was
horribly wrong.
As a mother, I should have never even considered verbally involving your children. As an angel of the Children of Nephilim, I know that every child is innocent.Pure.We went to
war to protect the children of the world. Some of us DIED to keep them safe!
Monsieur, Madame, I should have never… I’m sorry.
I’m sorry. Desolé. . .”
She did nothing to hide the tears welling up in her emerald green eyes. They streamed freely down her cheeks and she closed her eyes. As her red locks framed around her, she bit down on her lower lip and drew blood upon the shade of ruby.
Her right arm was shaking.
Her body was trembling.
The phone fell face down upon her lap. In the darkness, the Angel’s sobbing was all the microphone picked up.
Fontaine Video Productions presents…
“Coupable jusqu'à preuve du contraire.”
The Linette Residence
October 26th, 2021
10:00pm PST
“I’ve made you a list.”
“Of…?”
“People who are sus as fuck.”
Quite the conversation to open up to. The camera’s visual reveals the current setting: the third-floor study of the Linette residence in Malibu, California. The interior design is that of modern regality. A grandfather clock. Wooden flooring. Red curtains. A cherry oak table large enough to unfold an atlas of the entire world surrounded by matching chairs.
(Could the meetings of the Children of Nephilim have been held here?)
The Angelic Harbinger is seated at the head of the table, her legs crossed and her hands folded on the cherry oak. She’s dressed in a casual mother’s outfit. White tee, curve-hugging jeans, a pink Vans shoe on her right foot and a blue Converse sneaker on her left foot. There’s that #MomLife cap on her head too. From off-screen, a torn notebook page is set before her. An eyebrow raises. However, she keeps her eyes on the camera, or perhaps the young man behind the camera, and watches as it is set on the other end of the table. It offers the viewers an intriguing perspective.
XARIA LINETTE: “A list of suspects, mon Neveu?”
REMI FONTAINE: “Yeah. I know you said you and Blake would handle this, but…”
XARIA LINETTE: “But…?”
REMI FONTAINE: “I… I want to help you, Aunt Xaria. I won’t physically interfere. This fight is yours and Blake’s jurisdiction. Trust me, I don’t ever want to wrestle another day in my life for as long as I live. You’ve got nothing to worry about there.”
Contemplation sets on her face. There’s the slightest reluctance when she picks up the piece of paper. She looks over the page, his suspects’ list, and sighs. Her eyes move past the camera at him and she smiles.
XARIA LINETTE: “You get your stubbornness from ton père. Very well. Let’s see…
Damian Ayla. …Hm.
Kayla Richards.
Allen Chaney…”
Remi’s list consists of everyone who was present at
Victory IV. Simple, logical reasoning. Xaria couldn’t be attacked by someone who wasn’t even in Seattle. From the page, her eyes move back to him. She wears a quizzical expression.
XARIA LINETTE: “...you even included Tara.”
This is a surprise. He releases a defeated sigh.
REMI FONTAINE: “I had to. She’s under Damian’s negative influence. There’s something wrong with her and he refuses to acknowledge that. She kinda… She
really reminds me of when I was
Prince. The bloodlust and the wrath, you know? Even when we were close, I can’t remember her ever talking to me about her parents. I know I asked her when I was fourteen. For a moment? She looked… devoid of all emotion. Scary. I… never asked her again after that. I told her that I lost my mom in the same car accident I was in when I was three. She hugged me real tight. I…”
He finally realizes he’s reflecting and seems to grow silent. Xaria frowns.
XARIA LINETTE: “We can talk about it when the camera’s off. You can edit that out.”
REMI FONTAINE: “N-no! Tara… Tara needs to hear this. Despite everything, I still care about her, even if… I don’t know. I don’t want to say she
doesn’t care about me, but… Ugh.”
So much for silence. He sniffs and sucks in a breath of air.
REMI FONTAINE: “You know I never edit my shit, Aunt Xaria. My videos are always uncut and uncensored.”
XARIA LINETTE: “Oui.”
She knows. Quentin can attest to this. Her eyes fall upon the list again and they narrow.
XARIA LINETTE: “...Zoey Madigan-Star.”
REMI FONTAINE: “Yeah. I’m kind of a fan!”
Xaria gives her oldest nephew a peculiar look.
Oh. Awkward. He clears his throat.
REMI FONTAINE: “Uh, anyway, she was booked, teamed up with Kid Perfect, and faced off against Chelsea Skye and Klayton Kross. It was a pretty good match, but… There was that weird thing earlier in the show. A delivery man gave her a bouquet of tulips and hyacinth. There wasn’t a card. They were delivered with
that message.
‘Keep your spirit light and never let go of the magic within. And above all, never stop smiling.’It doesn’t sound very admirer-like, you know? But I’m probably overthinking this. I don’t think she attacked you. She’s way too nice. Though the character she plays on
Madison Tower isn’t, but that’s just a TV show. It’s acting, so no big.”
While he shrugs it off, there’s a faraway look in Xaria’s eyes.
“To deny the darkness within yourself
is to hide a part of yourself.
You’re incomplete without it.”
“What are you hiding, Sorceress Supreme…?”
It isn’t until she hears her nephew press on that she refocuses herself.
REMI FONTAINE: “...If I was a betting man, my money would be on Damian, Kayla, or Allen. Seriously, you can’t get more evil than them.”
XARIA LINETTE: “Hm. Let’s hope they never form an alliance.”
She leans back against the chair and uncrosses her legs to stretch all of her limbs. Her eyes scan the list once more and she lightly taps a certain part of the page.
XARIA LINETTE: “Let’s focus on Mademoiselle Holly Rhodes, oui? I don’t want her to think that I’m ignoring her.”
REMI FONTAINE: “Alright, shoot.”
XARIA LINETTE: “She’s new.”
Rising to her feet, she makes her way to the other end of the table. Remi must be surprised by this because the camera’s quick to move from the position it was in. It must be held in his hands now because there’s a little shakiness. He backs up, allowing the visual to capture Xaria leaning against the table with a smile.
XARIA LINETTE: “Mademoiselle Rhodes, this is… actually the first time I’m talking about you before a camera like this. I was unable to present anything for our bout at
Victory II.”
REMI FONTAINE: “Uh, yeah. That’s my fault. My Panasonic V750 sort of… decided it was going to sleep… and it never woke up again. I lost the footage. Well, the camera was seven years old. I didn’t have the money to buy a new one until just recently.”
XARIA LINETTE: “That’s because you wouldn’t let me buy you a new camera, mon Neveu.”
A soft giggle escapes her. Behind the camera, he must be grinning sheepishly.
REMI FONTAINE: “Because you’ve got more important things to pay for. You know, like stuff for the kids, groceries, this gigantic house… Anyway, this is the Fujifilm X-S10!”
He’s beaming. Like a boy with his favorite toy. She warmly smiles before regarding the camera itself, mentally wondering what Holly must be thinking of this.
XARIA LINETTE: “Mademoiselle Rhodes, you were a brand new name to me. I’d never heard of you before you joined Pro Wrestling Excellence. I’m sure most of us hadn’t. A workout junkie, as you put it, honing your craft in the wrestling industry. In a way, you’re just like me. You wanted to start over.
Why not?Because… you wish to make
your dream a reality. It makes me think of my rookie year. Shall I educate you? I was a twenty-year-old with my head in the clouds. I started
watching wrestling with my younger siblings and I was so fascinated by it,
I started to dream of myself in the ring. So my little brother helped me find a brand new wrestling company and I signed up. Sensei Alan was shocked, but I was an adult.
Technically. He couldn’t stop me, so he and the kids supported me.
My only weapons were my punches and kicks. Martial arts and tae kwon do.
A colorful, schizophrenic, blonde French girl with her best friend and guardian, Rai. No one knew who I was. When we finally met in person, one of the co-owners of LWA,
Monsieur Kyle Cross, was surprised. Some of my fellow wrestlers
laughed me off. He asked me to run the ropes and show him what I knew. I was more than happy to do this. He saw how
fearless I was to fly and he decided, right then and there, that he would take me under his wing.
In the four months that LWA was open, I became the company’s first Crossfire Division Champion and the last Undisputed World Champion. But you knew that if you tuned into my shoots for Strategic Assault and
the first Victory.
Compare and contrast. We’re more alike than you may believe, mademoiselle. We both have the heart and the training. The spirit and the determination. A limitless faith in ourselves. People initially wrote us off, but with time, they’ve learned to never forget who we are. I certainly haven’t forgotten about you. After all, you scored a victory over me. I’ll offer no excuses. My best was not enough that night.
Annihilation, however…?”
She raises her left hand and tips her hat up with a genuine smile on her face.
XARIA LINETTE: “Well, I’m no fortune teller. The future is not set in stone. Anything and everything is possible.
Anyone can defeat anyone on any given night. However, it is as I tweeted to you.
I refuse to lose.For me to suffer defeat is exactly what my mysterious assailant wants. Whoever they are, wherever they are, I know they’re going to be watching our match, Mademoiselle Rhodes. Or perhaps…
they’ll be in the ring with me?Non, I do not wish to accuse you of the crime.
Innocent until proven guilty, oui? Then again… you must understand why I cannot trust anyone in the company at the moment. Save for my best friend, Monsieur William, everyone is an equal suspect. You, Zoey, Kayla, Allen…
everyone. The longer the mystery goes?”
Her hand lowers her hat so her eyes are completely covered. A dark chuckle leaves her.
XARIA LINETTE: “...The more
agonizing my vengeance will be.”
That’s when the camera cuts off. No warning.
Darkness.
Sometimes I wish I could just. . . forget.
But my scars will never let me.
