Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series (88 page)

  
Slap!

   “You bitch!”, Caroline turns an angry stare towards Jennifer.

   “Time to go,” Jennifer says while quickly walking towards the stairs.

   “I should you throw you down the stairs,” Caroline quietly threatens.

   “You can try,” Jennifer says while still maintaining her small distance with quick steps. She slows as she takes the first step descending to the first floor.

   Caroline nervously shifts her eyes as she begins descending the stairs. When she looks at the bottom, her heart’s anger beat changes to that of fear and anxiety. Brian stands with his back to the statues of Jennifer and Danny. In front of him – against the wall – stand eight other men. They have their hands at their sides while staring straight ahead. It reminds Caroline of some horrific army movie where the soldiers are awaiting their girlie fun – awaiting
fun time
with the whores.

   As she nears the bottom stair, she runs over the plan within her mind in order to move her focus from her appearance. According to Julianna, the men against the wall have no idea why they are here. The element of surprise is a necessity. Julianna assured her that it’s impossible to hide surprise. And it will be Brian’s job to catch the pervs. She only hopes that her cousin was being truthful about Brian’s observation abilities.

    The men have been secretly numbered one through eight. The numbers run from left to right whenever facing them. Caroline and Jennifer must act submissive and accustomed to abusive behaviors from their male counterparts. This is the part which has Caroline so nervous. She feels practically naked and must act like a hired whore when she has never even been to third base.

   Caroline turns left and walks up to Brian. Behind her, Jennifer watches the men. Caroline feels Brian reach his fingers into the top of her waistband as planned. He, forcefully, yanks her closer. She feels like screaming, but makes herself stare into his chest while he groans eagerly. Brian slips a note from her back pocket and slaps her on the buttocks. Caroline feels like crying, but maintains her composure for the mission at hand.

   “That’s a fine hard ass you’ve got there,” Brian says lustfully.

   Caroline stares blankly at his chest. This scenario is taking much longer than she thought it would. Unbeknownst to her, however, Brian has already eliminated numbers three, four, and six from the line.

   “Step over there while I read this,” Brian commands.

   “You,” Brian looks at Jennifer, “Stand in front of me so I can get a better view.”

   Caroline switches places with Jennifer. Caroline’s long brown hair is in front of her face as she bows her head. She can see the guys and their expressions, but they don’t get the same variable within the equation.

   “A little closer,” Brian commands while pulling on Jennifer’s white tee-shirt, “Take it off.”

   Caroline doesn’t look to her left as Jennifer removes her shirt. She is so thankful that Jennifer took this part of the mission upon herself. Caroline knows she couldn’t have done it. There’s no way.

   “No bra,” Caroline hears Brian speak in a disgusting way, “That’s
real
nice. I like a woman who sun-bathes.”

   Caroline feels like puking as her butterflies steadily increase with each agonizing second. Time seems to stand still while Brian pretends to read the blank note he took from her rear pocket.

   Caroline’s brows narrow as she regains focus. The guy in the number one position is staring at Jennifer like he’s ready to gobble her up.

  
Creep.

  
Don’t do that!

   Caroline panics as Julianna’s words rip through her mind. It is too late. Guy number one is glancing around with a freaked out expression. Caroline watches the rest of the men, but none of them seem to be reacting.

   “Turn around,” Caroline hears Brian command Jennifer.

  
Smack!

   Caroline feels disgusted as guy number seven grins when Brian slaps his hand against Jennifer’s buttocks. She feels like marching over there and kicking him between the legs, but refrains so as to keep the plan intact.

   “I think you need to have your little girls pinched until they bleed,” Brian says, “Turn around. And I better not hear any whimpering about it. If I see tears, I’m using my teeth.”

   Soon as Brian says it – as soon as Jennifer begins to turn around – Caroline sees scowls from numbers two and five. The two
very
large guys step forward with ill-intentions towards Brian. The man harassing Jennifer quickly grabs hold of the tall cheerleader and steps between her and the two fast approaching men.

   Caroline startles as four guys wearing black suits crash through the double-doors leading from the dining room. They have to run in order to subdue Brian’s attackers in time. Caroline barely has time to start processing the struggle whenever it is ended. She can’t believe how fast the two enormous guys were put down. The only thing she can figure is that the four guys who rushed in are of equal size. Other than this, she has no idea how the fight ended before those guys took hold of Brian.

   “Thank you, ladies,” Brian’s demeanor changes to that of a kind and gentle voice, “You did wonderful, thank you. I understand your sacrifice.”

   Jennifer slips on her tee shirt as she approaches Caroline with a smile, “All done.”

   Caroline doesn’t say a word. She turns and walks towards the stairs. This time, it is her that leads. She ascends the staircase, turns left, and approaches Julianna.

   “You didn’t say
anything
about
that
!”, Caroline glares while pointing her right hand towards the staircase.

   “Would you have done it if I had of?”, Julianna questions with a calm tone.

   Caroline lowers her hand, “That’s not the point and you know it.”

   “Relax, Caroline,” Jennifer says while joining her friends in the hallway, “It’s all over.”

   Caroline turns and glares at Jennifer, “Did you know?”

   Jennifer takes hold of Caroline’s shoulders and smiles, “You kicked ass, girl. I’m so proud of you. I thought you’d fold for sure. But you didn’t.”

   Caroline doesn’t have time to stop Jennifer before the taller girl wraps her up with a hug. When Jennifer steps back, she is still smiling – her brown eyes full of pride.

   “I hate you,” Caroline responds with a pout, “My butt hurts.”

   “I know,” Jennifer says with excited eyes, “He’s
really
strong.”

   “You’re gross,” Caroline says while turning her attention towards the T-section of the hallway. She ignores her cousin as she walks past her.

   “What would you have done if he would have tried to hurt you?”, Caroline speaks to the air before her.

   “If those hands would have grabbed me,” Jennifer answers while following behind Caroline, “I would have choked him out with my tongue.”

   “You’re sick.”

   “Brian would never do something like that. But if he would’ve tried it, he’d be dead and a cleanup team would be on its way to take care of Jennifer’s floor,” Julianna answers – her words are factual and without emotion.

   Caroline turns right at the T-section. She doesn’t know how to respond to what her cousin has just said. Her mind feels so scrambled right now. She wonders if a straitjacket might be the better alternative to her new life’s choice.

   “You don’t want to be alone when you’re tied up like that.”

   Caroline immediately stops at the room’s entry leading into PR1. She turns and points her right index finger at Jennifer, “Stay out of my head.”

   “Pfft,” Jennifer mocks, “Make me. You need the practice Miss
Creep
.”

   “What’s your problem?”, Caroline counters angrily while lowering her accusing hand, “He wanted to mount you like some kind of animal. I did you a favor.”

   “And you almost blew the whole thing in the process. We would have done all of that for nothing.”

   Jennifer points at Caroline’s chest as she continues, “Practice – keep me from hearing your thoughts.”

   “You’re new at this, too.”

   Jennifer lowers her hand, “And I need as much practice as you, but I’m not acting like a spoiled brat right now.”

   Caroline shakes her head and turns around. She enters the room and begins to gather up her belongings, “I need a break or I
will
be in a straitjacket.”

   “Straitjacket?”

   Caroline pauses as she turns to look at Julianna.

   “Don’t pretend you don’t know what we’re talking about,” Caroline accuses her cousin.

   Julianna shifts her eyes from Caroline to Jennifer and back again. She shrugs her shoulders, “No clue.”

   Caroline looks at Jennifer and shakes her head with doubting eyes.

   “Where you going?”, Jennifer questions as Caroline turns her attention towards the door’s entry.

   “Home.”

   “Dressed like that?”

   Caroline stops and looks down, “Crap.”

   “Heh, it didn’t take you long to get used to it.”

   Caroline ignores the comment as she exits the room and turns left towards Jennifer’s bedroom, “I need your room.”

   “Shouldn’t I get a commission?”

   “I hate you!”, Caroline yells back.

   “You love me!”

   Jennifer winks at Julianna as she hears Caroline say
whatever
.

   “She’ll be alright,” Jennifer says, “She’s in shock. The last time I seen her act like this we were at Nationals. It’s her way of venting. She’s not going anywhere.”

   “Maybe we should have told her,” Julianna observes the obvious.

   “No way,” Jennifer defends her earlier decision, “She would have passed out on the way down the stairs and we would all be at the hospital right now. She’s okay. Trust me. I know her.”

   Julianna turns whenever Caroline comes back into the room.  Her cousin tosses her stuff on the couch and walks up to Jennifer.

   “Hands down,” Caroline says while looking up at the taller Jennifer.

   Jennifer looks at Caroline’s right open palm, “You have got to be kidding me. I did that to snap you out of your Caroline craziness.”

   “Hands down.”

  Jennifer lets out a sigh as she relaxes her arms and closes her eyes.

  
Slap!

   Jennifer opens her eyes – the left side of her face stings immensely, “That was
way
harder than my slap.”

   “You’re bigger,” Caroline counters.

   “Feel better?”, Jennifer questions.

   “Almost,” Caroline responds before turning to glare at Julianna.

   “Bend over,” Caroline orders, “It’s your turn.”

   “Uh - you probably don’t want to do that,” Jennifer speaks up.

   “Oh yes I do,” Caroline says angrily while staring at her cousin.

   “You
sure
about that?”, Jennifer tries again.

   “What are you talking about? It’s the only way to make it fair.”

   Caroline closes the distance between her and her cousin.

   “You got a problem with it?”, Caroline speaks to Julianna with angry eyes.

   “I don’t think you understand what Jennifer’s trying…”

   “Of course I understand,” Caroline cuts off Julianna’s excuse, “You tricked me and I’m paying you back. If we’re going to be friends, it’s the way it has to be.”

   Julianna hesitates. She looks at Jennifer.

   “She’s not going to save you,” Caroline interrupts, “Bend over and take it like a woman. You dished it out and you’re going to take it back.”

   “Caroline…”

   “Stop it, Jennifer,” Caroline retorts, “I have to do this or I’ll regret it later.”

   Julianna turns and places her hands on the bar stool.

   “Um - Caroline, I really think you should reconsider…”

  
Smack!

   The sting spreads itself inside of Julianna’s jeans as Caroline’s hand makes firm contact. Electricity rushes its familiar fire up her spine. Julianna’s eyes swim with the designs of black ink. Caroline turns to walk away.

   “You hit like a
wussy
, Caroline,” Julianna says angrily, “I thought you wanted to pay me back? Stop being such a child and just do it. It isn’t that hard. Grow up and hit like a woman.”

   Caroline spins around, “What did you say to me?”

   “Um,” Jennifer holds up her right hand, “Caroline?”

   “I called you a
wussy
,” Julianna reiterates her last statement. Julianna’s green eyes flash over with total blackness before the lazy swimming of black ink dances its way across her exposed emerald green eyes.

   “Try bringing honor to our family name and act like you’re part of the bloodline you weak
wussy
.”

   Caroline’s brows narrow as she steps forward and swings again. Jennifer lowers her hand and rests it upon her head as the loud smack fills the room.

   “Ha-ha-ha!”, Julianna laughs, “I thought you could actually pay me back! Ha-ha-ha! What a joke!”

  
Smack!

   “You bitch!”, Caroline snaps as she hits Julianna two more times.

   “What are you doing?!”, Caroline yells out as Jennifer grabs hold of her and pulls.   

   “She deserves it!”, Caroline defends her violent actions.

   “You’re spelled, Caroline,” Jennifer says within the girl’s right ear, “Stop it.”

   “Let me go!”, Caroline yells while trying to tear herself from Jennifer’s grip. The taller girl, however, easily turns and pushes Caroline towards the couch. Caroline spins around and begins to charge, but stops whenever Jennifer makes it apparent that she will attack back.

   “You did it, Caroline,” Jennifer speaks with her hands help up in a defensive position; “Think about it. You hit her five times – five times, Caroline.”

   Caroline’s head retreats as she looks at Julianna. Her cousin holds the bar stool with sweat beading on her face. Jennifer’s mathematical claim begins to compute within her mind. Caroline shakes her head against the strange fogginess swimming in her mind. She looks back at Jennifer. The tall girl has her back to Julianna. Julianna laughs; albeit, it sounds as though she is attempting to quite herself with each passing moment. She lets out a quite moan.