26. Soul Mates II
Chapter 26
Soul Mates II
B ellagio - Las Vegas, Nevada
April 17, 2018
(4 Days Before Death)
Charmaine emerged from the bathroom to find Darlene at the door, signing for another special delivery from Cartier. She walked away with the maroon box like it was a trophy case.
The entire evening, Darlene ignored Charmaine. Therefore, Charmaine redirected her focus and walked over to Russell.
“Hey, what’s up?” Charmaine asked.
“Nothing,” Russell mumbled.
“Why did you send Lamont away? He seemed like he wanted to hang out with you one last time,” Charmaine said.
Russell didn’t bother to answer.
“Talk to me. Your sister is fine. Everything is okay. Look at Darlene; she’s enjoying herself.”
Russell glanced at Darlene, then back out the window. “She’s a kid, Charmaine. She thinks like a kid and behaves like a kid. She never grows up.”
“C’mon, that’s not true.” Charmaine looked at Darlene, who giggled at the TV, then picked up the phone and asked for fifty thousand dollars in casino chips to be delivered to Lucio’s room, giggling again as she hung up.
“Why is she acting like that?” Charmaine asked.
“I told you, it’s not an act. She’s hyped. When she was in control and I just let her free, she was like this. All she wanted to do was play, order things off Amazon, and watch TV all night with me. She never had a chance to grow up,” Russell spoke with a voice full of sadness.
“Oh, well… then she’s okay.” Charmaine understood Darlene’s plight. Soon her life would be filled with darkness and obligation. She and Dolly would lead the battle that could be long. Seeing her become carefree and giddy with happiness over her freedom to exist made Charmaine's heart swell with emotion. Dolly must have seen this as well. It would explain why Dolly had not returned and Darlene had continued to have full control.
“She’s dangerous because of Lucio. All she ever talked about was the great vampire battle. How she would destroy them. She now has her vampires. I’m worried for her,” Russell said.
Charmaine stooped to his level. “She can hear you.”
“She doesn’t care,” Russell shrugged.
“I don’t care!” Darlene confirmed.
Charmaine blinked. “I guess you’re right.”
“We have to get her out of here, her and Dolly.” Russell's hand twitched. He held it protectively, as if he could conceal his handicap from her. “No matter what they say about Lucio, I have a feeling. It’s in my gut. It won’t go away. He’s a bad man, creature or whatever. He isn’t worth all of this. And he doesn’t understand how to protect them. I do. I’m telling you I feel it in my gut.”
“It’s gas!” Darlene quipped.
Russell ignored her. “I’m going to lie down.”
“Did you take your meds?” Darlene asked.
He didn’t respond.
“I’ll come see you soon,” Darlene sighed.
Russell stopped and looked at Charmaine with pleading eyes. “Please come get me if she tries to leave… please watch over her. Promise me.”
“She can’t stop me,” Darlene mumbled.
“If she tries to leave, come get me. Okay?” Russell asked again in a louder voice.
“I promise. I won’t let her out of my sight.”
Charmaine stood and gave Russell space to wheel away. “You need any help?”
He didn’t answer. He slammed the door behind him.
Charmaine glanced at Darlene. “He’s upset.”
“Russ’s fine. He’s just my big baby. He thinks he’s in charge, so I let him think it,” Darlene said, stuffed her mouth with fries.
“Care to explain that?” Charmaine asked.
“No,” Darlene replied.
“I’d like to understand, Darlene. Really. If not you, then help me understand, Russ,” she asked.
“Dolly wants to talk to you, but it’s my turn. She’ll come back out when the sun goes down. I promised her. Now go away and leave me alone, okay?”
I’d like to talk to you.
Charmaine froze. The voice was soft and persuasive, as if the speaker stood right behind her. She resisted the urge to check. Thanks to her new gifts from Liora’s soul joining with her own, she identified the speaker. He was right outside the door.
“Hello, Tristan?” Charmaine replied telepathically.
Darlene didn’t seem to notice, but she couldn’t be sure. Charmaine moved casually to the food carts, pretending to fix a plate.
Hello, Your Highness.
“Why so formal? We’ve already met,” Charmaine said.
Not properly. I’d like another try… Maybe we should talk.
“About?” Charmaine asked and licked her fingers.
When she turned, she saw Darlene shoot her a sideways glance before returning her attention to the television. As the Chosen One, Darlene’s powers were boundless. Charmaine had to be careful. How she wished Sonya was there.
Join me downstairs. I’ll be waiting.
“We were told not to leave, remember? The rules.” Charmaine remarked.
I assure you; the rules can never apply to you.
The doorbell to the suite rang. Darlene jumped up and pranced to the door. Charmaine braced herself and lowered her plate, ready for Tristan to charge inside if necessary.
Darlene opened the door to a man in a business suit carrying a case of casino chips. He asked her to sign a form. Darlene giggled, signed, then rudely pushed the man out the door, putting her back to it. “Wanna have some fun?!”
“What?” Charmaine asked.
“Let’s gamble,” Darlene whispered.
“But… Lucio said we couldn’t leave. And Russell is in the room. We can’t leave him. What about Dolly?” Charmaine asked.
“I’ll put Russ to sleep. Lucio isn’t the boss of me. Or you, Guardian ,” said Darlene.
“So, you know?” Charmaine gasped.
“Of course, I know. I kept ordering all that damn perfume, trying to identify your fragrance. Then you went into the bathroom, and the whole place smelled like a flower shop. Yeah, I know what you are. Did you kill Charmaine? I hope so. I can’t stand her,” said Darlene.
Darlene walked away with her chips.
“I don’t think we should leave,” Charmaine reasoned. She glanced at the door. If Tristan was outside just a minute ago, he was near. He was luring them into a trap. That had to be a bad sign for Sonya and Kaida.
“The others can’t stop me. Only Lucio can. He’s gone. Dolly said he’s gone to the Palazzo—they keep talking to each other. We can have fun before he comes back,” Darlene said.
“I dunno, Darlene. What does Dolly think of this?—”
“I’m in charge now!” Darlene said. “That’s our deal. I’m bored. I want to go. Stay here,” huffed Darlene.
“Okay! Wait. I’ll go with you. Sorry. I’m just trying to make sure we’re okay.”
“I’ll go in and talk to Russell. Put him to sleep. Then we’ll go, okay?” Darlene went straight for the room. Charmaine needed to be ready. She glanced up at the cameras installed in the living room and realized for the first time that they were all being watched.
Darlene came out of the bedroom with a wide grin after almost two hours. The sun had set. And she had changed, refreshed her makeup, put on designer jeans and a low-cut blouse with a black leather jacket. It was over eighty degrees outside, but the casino was a freezer. Her hair flowed prettily around her face. The makeup was light, fresh, and expertly done around her wide eyes. Dolly really had bloomed into her powers after accepting Darlene. They were a beautiful woman.
“All done. Had to take off those nasty, bloody clothes and shower, wash my cootchie in case Domencio comes back,” Darlene laughed.
“What did you do?” Charmaine asked.
Darlene frowned.
“I mean to Russ, to relax him?”
“I didn’t hurt him, if that’s what you’re implying!” Charmaine snapped.
“Of course not. I know you would never—” Charmaine stammered.
“He’s my baby brother. He gets stressed, and it affects him. I just made him relax. He has too much pride to ask me for my help, but I knew why he went to lie down. He’s in bed. What I did to him will wear off in a few hours. We’ll be back before he wakes or Lucio returns. Don’t worry.” Darlene repeated herself. She picked up the case of casino chips, stuffing every pocket she had with the coins.
“Go or stay, I don’t care. I’m leaving,” said Darlene.
“I’m coming,” Charmaine said. She, too, had prepared. She was ready to meet the Consiglieri.
Nzinga lay on the bed and tried to rest. Her body aches and pains had worsened. Even in her dreams, she prayed to be healed. The suffering was unbearable. When it got too bad, she forced herself to the bathroom to take more Ibuprofen. Now she feared she had taken too much. It was then she caught a battered version of herself in the mirror. She paused. When she stared at her reflection, all her trauma resurfaced. She could hear the screams of her sisters, their suffering, begging, and pleading with the Guardians. It became so loud she grabbed the soap dish and threw it at the mirror, smashing it. She gripped the sink and cut her hands on the shards of glass. Nzinga cried out in agony and wept.
Slowly, she slid to the floor. The cool tile was more of a comfort than the lumpy mattress. She pressed her face against it and wished for death.
The phone in the room rang. Nzinga ignored it. The Guardians had not bothered to heal her, to ease her suffering. She had been loyal to the cause, to the traditions of the First People, and she was abandoned.
The phone rang. The phone rang. The phone rang.
The call would end and start again. Not until all her tears stopped did, she find the strength to sit up. She got a towel and used it to absorb the blood on her hands, then stumbled out of the bathroom.
The phone rang.
Nzinga winced as she picked it up. “Hello?”
“It’s me,” said a soft voice.
“Greenlee!” Nzinga sat on the bed, hope in her heart. She put a hand to her mouth. “Is it really you? Are you okay?”
“I’m alive. The others… they could not be saved,” wheezed Greenlee.
“I am so sorry, Greenlee. I wanted to protect you. I offered my life,” Nzinga babbled, weeping.
“Shhh… it’s part of the sacrifice. Now listen carefully. The Guardians have changed plans, which means so do we. It is not over yet, Nzinga. We need you,” said Greenlee.
Nzinga nodded. “I am here. I am here to serve.”