BUTTEFLIES AND BUBBLES

" I can't believe, Martinez mansion hasn't changed even after all these years." Enrique says, sitting on the kitchen counter.

" But the people did. This house lost its light the day it lost its children." Josephine sighs.

" For Sage." She says, handing Shawn a plate of cinnamon rolls and a piece of cheesecake.

" I wonder what I'd do without you," Shawn teases her as he walks out of the kitchen.

Enrique grabs a cinnamon roll from the tray, rushing after Shawn.

" Shawn, is there anything that can convince you to let me be Sage's therapist?" Enrique says, matching his pace.

" Enrique, I'm done talking about that." Shawn snaps, raising an eyebrow at him.

Enrique didn't dare to push his luck on the matter, he knew Shawn doesn't joke when it comes to Sage.

Unknown to them, Sabrina was already inside the room with Sage. She fed Sage the meatballs she had just made for her, which Sage gladly ate. Sabrina smiled at Sage, caressing her hair as Sage happily munched on the yummy food.

" What the fuck is going on here?" Shawn roared, the moment he walked in.

As if anger had blinded him, Shawn marched towards them and yanked Sabrina away from Sage.

" What did you mix in her food?" Shawn looks at Sabrina, his eyes accusing a thousand things.

" Nothing," she sobs.

" Spit it out, baby." Shawn says, placing his hand near Sage's lips.

Sage obediently spits out the crumbs that she was chewing on.

" How much did you feed her?" He growls at Sabrina.

" Two," she whispers.

" We need to take Sage to the hospital, God knows what this woman has fed my sister." Shawn says, pulling Sage out of the bed.

" SHAWN!" Sabrina screamed, planting a harsh slap on Shawn's face.

" I'm your sister too! Trust me for god sake, I didn't mix anything in her food." Sabrina screams, crying in between.

Shawn lets go of Sage's hand, as he takes a step towards Sabrina.

" Are my words hurting you, Sabrina? Imagine what your lies did to my Sage that day? You, and only you are the reason for every bruise Sage has. You slapped Sean, your jealousy made sure Sage didn't recover from the trauma and at the last, your lies added the cherry on top." Shawn screams, shoving her back.

Sabrina stumbles back, when Enrique catches her. He shoots her a sympathetic look before looking up at Shawn.

The bathroom door clicks open as Hades steps out, wiping his hands on his expensive ass pants. He looks at everyone's faces in the room, rolling his eyes.

" This house really provides free drama twenty-four seven." He mutters under his breathe.

" You wanna see what you did? I'll show you." Shawn hisses, his rage knew no bounds as he yanked up the sweatshirt Sage was wearing.

Enrique and Sabrina both gasped, stumbling back. It felt like the ground had slipped beneath their feet when they saw the ugly letters branded on Sage's skin.

Sage reaches for a cinnamon roll, nibbling on it slowly, not understanding what everyone in the room were talking about.

" Mumma didn't die because of Sage, she died for Sage. She sacrificed her life for so Sage can live happily but you and Jared Martinez made sure her sacrifice goes null. She trusted me and you to take care of her precious baby . . . I'm glad she's dead or else she would've died more painfully if she saw what you did." Shawn screamed as he broke down crying himself.

Sabrina slumped on the floor, hyperventilating at Shawn's words. She knew he was right, her mumma would've been so ashamed of her.

" We have to take her to the hospital." Shawn turns to Sage, who was reaching for another roll.

" No need, I made the meatballs myself Shawn. It doesn't have anything that can harm little Sage." Josephine who was standing at the door says.

" Why did you let her?" Shawn sighs, looking at Josephine disappointed.

" Don't distance her from Sage, let her see what she has done. She won't suffer without seeing what she has caused. I want her to cry tears of blood everyday, as she witnesses how brutally she has broken an innocent angel." Josephine's words calmed Shawn down.

He knew what she was doing and she was right. Guilt hurts like a bitch, but you can't feel it until you see what you've caused.

" Leave her, look who is here to meet you." She smiles, looking at the man beside her.

Everyone looks at the strange man in shock. He waves at Shawn, giving him a goofy smile.

" Elliot?" Enrique mutters.

" Hi." He smiles, leaning agaisnt the door frame.

No one could really tell if it was Elliot standing there. He was dressed in an expensive black suit, his hair combed back as his broad shoulders made him appear more intimidating.

Tattoos ran on his hand, disappearing up his sleeves. His jawline sleekly sharp and his face chiseled perfectly.

" That's Elliot!?" Hades gasps, not believing his eyes.

" Abra-kadabra, bitch." Elliot rolls his eyes, walking past Hades.

He smiles at Shawn, embracing him into a warm hug.

" You look good." Shawn chuckles, patting his shoulder.

" Elliot is the reason thirty percent of boys in Ellesmere turned gay last year." Josephine announces, earning a hearty chuckle from Elliot.

His eyes soften when they settle on Sage. She looks at him sheepishly through her eyelashes, clearly scared by his intimidating aura.

Elliot slowly raises his hand, showing her the cotton candy he brought for Sage. Sage hesitates a little before she snatches it from his hold, immediately stepping away from him in fear.

" Precious little baby," he whispers, his heart ached looking at all the damage those monsters have done to her.

" Elliot," Enrique smiles, pulling him into a hug.

" Hi," Elliot mutters, waving his hand uninterested.

" You've changed so much." Enrique chuckles.

" Enough of his talking, let's go down for dinner." Josephine says, leading them downstairs.

Shawn holds Sage's hand, helping her slowly get down the stairs. Everyone sat at their own seats, prepared to eat.

" This is for Sage, it isn't that heavy on spices." Josephine hands Shawn a pot of meatballs and pasta.

Sage smiles happily at the sight of the food. She could feel her mouth water just by looking at all the good food.

" So, what do you do for a living?" Hades questions Elliot.

" I run a dessert company." Elliot shrugs.

" Really!? Wow, candy-boy." Hades scoffs.

" Where is it?" Enrique asks, trying to initiate in his brother's life.

" Near the Jameston road. It's called 'Ellisa Sweet Bistro'" Elliot mutters, glancing at Sage.

" That's so cool. Who is Ellisa?" Shawn asks, as he blows the food cool for Sage.

" Elli is me, and Sa is Sage." Elliot whispers, with a little shrug.

" Why would you keep her name in your company?" Hades snaps.

" Because I wanted to. Do whatever fuck you can about it." Elliot snaps back with equal attitude.

Hades huffs angrily, looking away from Elliot. His eyes fall on Sage when he screams at her.

" Hey! Drop it." He screams.

Sage who was really excited to take her first bite, drops the food, her lips trembling in fear.

" What the fuck! Let her eat, bastard." Jared who just walked into the room, roared.

He saw himself in Hades at the moment. His child was hungry, but instead of feeding her with love-he always fed her with taunts and tears.

" I know we've talked about this but she should really work on using her utensils. She touches the table, her hair and after that, she touches the food. It's unhygienic." Hades explains himself as he walks to Sage, handing her a spoon.

" Use this, love." He says.

Sage scrunches her nose, glaring at him before she throws the spoon on his face.

" You slut!" Hades screams, slapping her across her face.

The table sat silent for a second, everyone not trusting what they just saw. Sage clutches her cheek, sobbing in pain when Shawn grabs the butter knife, stabbing it in Hades' abdomen.

Hades grunts, falling back.

" I'm sor-ry. I lost my temper." Hades groans in pain.

" I'm sorry, I lost mine too." Shawn screams, shoving another toast knife in his abdomen.

Despite the bluntness of the knives, Shawn managed to pierce them in his skin which inflicted excruciating pain on Hades.

Enrique and Jared run to stop Shawn but he didn't stop beating Hades into a pulp. Elliot grabs two Mason cups of milkshake before he helps Sage stand up.

" Let's go, it's not good to witness murder in such condition." He mutters, leading Sage upstairs.

She sits on his bed, clutching her cheek, sobbing in pain as he coos sweet words to her.

" It's alright. I'm so sorry for this. No one will ever hurt you again." He whispers, gently stroking her cheek.

A red patch formed on her sensitive skin, making Elliot grit his teeth in anger.

" Here," he hands her a cup, sitting beside her.

Sage drinks the milkshake quietly and soon forgets about her bruise, focusing on the delicious shake. It's difficult to focus on more than one things for her damaged mind.

Elliot looks at her, admiringly before he takes off his blazer, throwing it on the floor. He unbuttons his white shirt underneath, revealing his perfect abs.

But it wasn't his abs which he was trying to flaunt, it was the tattoo on it. A smile appeared on Sage's face when her gaze fell on his abdomen, with shaky fingers, she traced the black ink on his smooth skin.

" You love butterflies, don't you?" Elliot whispers, looking at Sage admiring the butterfly tattoos that were scattered all over his abdomen.

" This one is my favorite," he mumbles, pointing on two butterflies that were near each other.

" This one is you and this is me." He says, knowing she probably doesn't understand a word he is saying.

He picks up his Mason cup, blowing in his straw as bubbles appear in his drink. Sage looks at it in awe when he does it again. She let's out a little giggle at the sound of the bubbles.

" So precious."