I'm sure he won't,
thought Dakota.
"So what now?"
"Now I pay another visit to Ms. Drenkova. I think it is about time to put her out of business."
Dakota could feel the fury behind the calmly spoken words and grew worried.
"We, Yemaya. We handle it. Not you. You promised me."
"I am aware of my promise."
"Okay. Let's go see what she has to say. Then we can decide what to do."
"All right. For now," said Yemaya, reluctantly. All of her instincts told her the situation wasn't going to be resolved quietly but she felt she owed Dakota the opportunity to at least try.
* * *
"Ah. Back so soon," Ms. Johnson said cordially. "Ms. Drenkova is waiting for you."
"Thank you, Ms. Johnson," Dakota said.
Escorting them to Catrina's office, she opened the door and motioned them in.
"Please be seated," said Catrina after dismissing her secretary. "I've reviewed all my ledgers and found nothing suspicious. The shipping invoices don't show any discrepancies and my people have assured me they take every measure to maintain the integrity of my business. Perhaps your sources are mistaken or have confused us with another company. It would be an understandable mistake," She suggested, amicably. "Now, is there anything else you'd like to know?" she asked, attempting to appear helpful but at the same time dismissing the two women.
"It is no mistake," Yemaya was angered by the woman's air of superiority. "Perhaps you should ask Breshni," she suggested disdainfully.
Catrina's eyes widened.
"What would Breshni know about this matter?" she said, trying to recover her composure.
"You tell me. Surely as one of your most entrusted employees, you must be aware of his phone call to a Captain Torelli a few hours ago, or did he take it upon himself to act on your behalf?"
"I resent your inference, Ms. Lysanne," snapped Catrina. "Now, I've tried my best to accommodate you and your silly accusations but enough is enough. I don't think we have anything else to discuss. Please leave," she ordered, reaching out to press the intercom button to summon her secretary.
Yemaya intercepted Catrina's hand before she could push the button and held it in a vice-like grip while she searched the woman's mind thoroughly and methodically. Within seconds she found enough information to make her recoil in disgust. The woman epitomized the worst of humanity. To her, pleasure was incremental to the suffering of others. The number of lives she had ruined was unimaginable. Yemaya could feel the rage inside her crawling from its cave. Catrina's victims were playthings; nothing more than distractions to appease the woman's lust and sadistic cravings. Sasha, however, had been different.
Yemaya snarled savagely...
an experiment. The woman took a sadistic pleasure in raping virgins. Then she would discard them like a piece of garbage. Images of the woman's "toys" being coldly and methodically shoved into the tender body, stealing her virginity and her innocence, the pain as the woman tortured Sasha again and again until she passed, out sickened her. The sadistic laughter and Catrina's orders to Breshni to revive the unconscious woman infuriated the Illusionist. Rage fed the rising monster inside of Yemaya. The final insult was her nonchalantly giving the young woman to her servant for his pleasure and then telling him to get rid of the body. Serpent-like, she uncoiled from her seat and leaned forward, her palms flattened on the desk as she released the hand and her face inches from Catrina's. Black hatred filled eyes narrowed ominously as they bored into Catrina's gray eyes.
"You like to play games, Ms. Drenkova?" she whispered through clinched teeth, her voice cold and emotionless. "So do I. You like to inflict pain. I can show you real pain."
Reaching out her right hand, she clasped the woman's chin with her fingertips. Catrina felt the pain instantly. It crawled through her brain like a fiery serpent, leaving a trail of burning agony in its path. Yemaya slowly ripped the memories from the woman's mind, one by one, gathering names and facts and caring nothing about the woman's agony or the damage left in the wake of her rampage. Layer by layer she sliced away every thought, every minute detail of the woman's past and the people whose lives she had destroyed. Perspiration trickled down Catrina's temples as she resisted the violent invasion.
"I thought you liked pain." The
beast
within Yemaya snarled. "Is that not what turns you on when you torture your victims? Their cries and the begging excite you. Tell me. How does it feel to be raped; to have your thoughts stripped away and your mind opened wide like those young girls' legs, exposed for my pleasure without your permission? You stole their virginity and their lives, Catrina. Was it worth selling your soul for a few moments of pleasure?" Yemaya whispered, almost cruelly as she caressed the older woman's cheek lovingly. "I can take you here and now and you would not resist me. I can make you beg to be taken. Would you like that? Do you want to be my slave, to satisfy my every desire, my every whim?" she continued, her voice softening seductively.
At first Dakota wasn't sure what was happening but when she saw Catrina grab her head, her face contorted in pain, she realized the
beast
was in control of Yemaya and was now inside the woman's head.
"No!" she screamed, grabbing Yemaya's arm. "Stop it, Yemaya!"
Black eyes glowered at her, menacingly. Shaking off Dakota's hand, it growled a warning. It would tolerate no interference with its thirst for revenge.
"You see, Catrina, I can be gentle, unlike you or I can be brutal," it continued, dismissing the journalist. "You never learned to be gentle. Pain was your fix, but you forgot something. Addictions are seductive. Like all things, there is a price to pay for pleasure if it is for your own selfish reasons. This is the price. Perhaps if you beg me and if I feel
benevolent
, you might get lucky. Maybe I would take pity on you and simply kill you… or not." The
beast
enjoyed the fear growing inside of the woman.
Dakota was frantic. Yemaya was no longer in control of herself and the rage was intent on killing this woman. If it succeeded then her Yemaya would be lost forever.
"Please, Yemaya," she begged. "You promised. You have to stop this, now. Don't let it kill her. You promised. Mari, Grandma... Someone please help her," prayed Dakota, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"They can't help her," interrupted a low silky voice. "She is consumed by the darkness within her."
"Who are you?" cried the journalist, looking around expecting to see someone standing near them.
"Someone who heard your prayers. What would you give to save her?" whispered the voice.
"I'd die for her."
"Dying is easy. It's the struggle to live that's hard. Would you be willing to give up your soul?"
"Yes. Yes. If that’s what it takes."
"You answer too quickly. This isn’t a game. The question is real... as are the terms. I am asking you for your soul. In return I will save your lover."
Dakota hesitated, realizing exactly what had been asked of her.
"Good. You understand the seriousness of what I ask. Now, what is your answer?"
"I’ll give you anything you want," Dakota promised, frightened but willing to sacrifice everything for Yemaya.
"Freely?"
"Freely."
"Then I will lead you to her. It is up to you to show her the way out."
Dakota suddenly felt herself being drawn into the battle between the
beast
, Catrina and Yemaya. As her mind slid past the memories, she felt the rage turn its attention toward her. Pain seared her brain like a knife cutting through flesh. Falling to her knees, she cried out, clutching her temples with her hands. Yemaya, who was struggling to regain control, felt its momentarily distraction and Dakota's pain. Her anger grew. The battle had changed dramatically. It was no longer about her. If she didn't defeat this thing, not only would she be lost, but her lover would die. Lunging forward, she forced the rage backward until she reached Dakota. Mentally, she wrapped herself around her lover’s mind, shielding it from the assault. As she soothed the pain, she continued fighting her own demon.
Dakota could feel the pain subsiding. The
beast
struggled to regain control. The effort was draining Yemaya's strength. Sensing her weakening, Dakota pushed forward, adding her own energy to Yemaya's. Still the rage resisted. Neither would yield to the other. Suddenly, Dakota felt a mental nudge from something else. Wavering slightly, the darkness retreated. Gaining confidence, the two lovers renewed their efforts. Slowly it backed away, furious at having to give ground. Unwilling to accept defeat it turned toward Catrina, striking out savagely in frustration. Yemaya blocked as much of the force as she possibly could. The
beast
screamed its fury. Finally, slinking into its cave, it lay quiet, defeated but untamed. There would be another time, it promised, glaring angrily from its lair.
Dakota felt a sharp tug as she was jerked from Yemaya’s mind.
"You have won for now. She won’t remember your intervention or mine. The next time won't be so easy and do not forget your promise," the voice reminded her and then vanished.
"Easy?" mumbled Dakota, exhausted.
Yemaya looked at Catrina and blinked. The woman was pale, dazed and sweating, but seemed unharmed.
"Is she okay?"
"I think so," Yemaya said, checking her pulse.
"What now?"
"I wish I knew. Going back inside to see how she has been affected is out of the question. At least not now. I will not go through that again." She whispered, slumping into her chair, tiredly.
Me neither,
thought Dakota. "Let's get out of here,"
"Yes. She should recover, shortly. Maybe all of this will scare her into changing."
"Wishful thinking. People like her don't scare. They adapt," replied Dakota. "But at least this might buy us some time to come up with a plan. Let's go."
Catrina opened her eyes, slightly confused. Her two visitors were gone. Not quite sure what had just occurred, she massaged her temples trying to relieve the ache.
"Damn headache," she thought. "Might as well leave. I can't get much done feeling like this. Maybe a little distraction will ease the tension."
O
NCE HOME, CATRINA took a quick shower and crawled into bed. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the conversation between her and the two women that had visited her. At the moment, she couldn't even think of their names, which angered her. Frustrated, she sent for Helena. Reluctantly, the maid entered the woman's bedroom.
"Yes, ma'am. You wish my assistance?" she inquired, her voice quivering slightly.
"I wish your services, Helena, not your assistance. I have a headache. I need a little
distraction
. I'm sure you know what I mean," smirked Catrina and then winced as a sharp pain etched its way across her left temple. .
"Ma'am. Please! You should rest. You aren't well. I can get you some aspirin. That will take care of the headache, I'm sure," offered Helena, hoping to avoid a repeat of the night before.
"I don't want a fucking aspirin, you little cunt! I want you to eat pussy, my pussy. That will take care of the headache." The pain increased. "Now get on with it before I call Breshni and have him teach you obedience."
Reluctantly, Helena undressed. Catrina watched eagerly, the moisture starting to pool between her thighs. Anticipating the girl's hard moist tongue stroking her vulva, she felt the wetness seeping down her legs. Definitely, this would relieve the headache, which was getting worse.
"Fuck!" groaned Catrina, massaging her temples as the maid climbed onto the bed. Falling back against the pillows, she motioned for Helena to begin. When she felt the woman kneel between her legs, the pain in her temples spread to the back of her head, down her neck. A voice whispered somewhere deep within her brain.
"Beware, Catrina! You have been warned," it murmured, softly.
Shaking her head to rid herself of the voice only increased the pain slicing hotly through her temples.