Marian
I was a horrible person. I deserved the sadness and pain.
I accepted the truth, because I knew survival was the cause.
I would not live if I didn’t try to manipulate my way free.
Drayton had been influenced by Elec’s need for revenge from the start.
Had I not stepped in when I did, I’d still be suffering like I had before.
Had I not lost my child at the hands of my husband, Elec would be treating me like the threat instead of Drayton.
Thing was, I knew my husband would survive this and get off so much easier than I would.
Drayton could be controlled. He didn’t know of these skills like I did.
That made me the biggest threat of all. Survival.
Yes, I would survive. I would obey Elec’s commands, and I would do what he wanted.
It was the only way to play this game. And that’s all this was: a game.
Who was smarter?
Who was stronger?
Who held the most power?
I wouldn’t win any prizes here, but I wasn’t going to lose.
It wasn’t in me. I wasn’t raised to be weak or manipulated.
I was taught to act like it. Let people think they won.
It would only last as long as I let it. In this case, it would be for a while.
After all, Elec would only see me on occasion.
Every other day, I’d be Drayton’s. We’d be happy, living our life, ruling Hollywood and raising our heirs.
Pennington would thrive under my rule and reign.
My dream would come true… as soon as I left Headquarters.
It wasn’t a trip I could put off anymore, and we all knew it.
Hadn’t this been the goal to begin with?
Elec had sure been pushing for it. He wanted me here. Now, it was time to see why.
“There’s no internal damage, just the two ribs and bruising. The fractures are barely noticeable on the x-rays, but they are there. Her bloodwork confirmed the pregnancy. She’ll need to do more bloodwork in a few days so we can monitor her numbers, but from what I can see, I’m afraid—”
“I lost it.” My voice was hoarse.
“I’m afraid so, Mrs. Pennington. I’m sorry. Is the medication working for the pain?”
“It is, thank you.”
“I’m the one sorry,” Drayton whispered, lowering his forehead to rest on the side of my head.
“I know. You didn’t mean to.” I grabbed his hand, bringing it up to kiss against his knuckles. My stare came to Elec, and I couldn’t forget his words when he thought I was influenced. I couldn’t forget what he wanted—no—what he needed from me.
God, I could still see the mix of blue and black as I stared into his eyes.
I had been so dazed and heavy. It had been easy to float through his words and follow along.
But they didn’t stick. I didn’t become someone else.
I just learned what I needed. I learned what he wanted, and I could comply with that.
I could be his friend. I could pretend that my path of my life was my choosing when I knew it wasn’t.
We were what the Elders made of us. And they had Drayton right where they wanted him.
He was part of their web now, and in time I would see what that meant.
But I was meant to comply. To be a dutiful wife and mother.
An asset, if they needed me. Asset. Yes, I was a weapon, but I’d always known that. I’d been bred to be. What did I expect?
“Mrs. Pennington just needs rest.” The doctor’s voice lowered. “She needs to take it easy and let her body heal. Let me know if there’s anything else.”
“Thank you.” Elec nodded him out, and I turned to Drayton, looking up to meet his bloodshot stare. I could feel the tension despite everyone seemed relieved. This wasn’t over; I could feel the warning, but it would be soon.
“Dray, the doctor mentioned before that it might be okay for me to get something to eat. Something light. Could you find me something? Something small? I’m starting to feel sort of… nauseous.”
“Of course.” He glanced at Elec, but looked down, nodding at me. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thank you.”
Drayton left, and I stayed silent while I waited.
Elec shifted, and I closed my eyes through the fogginess that was building in my mind.
The damn tears wouldn’t stop coming at random moments.
Even though I knew what I had done, it hadn’t hit me yet.
Not like I knew it would once I felt safe and out of this place.
These tears that wouldn’t stay in; I was drowning in guilt.
Drowning in fear. Overflowing with… anguish.
It wasn’t fair. None of it. This shouldn’t have happened.
“You’ll have another. I know that doesn’t change losing this one. I know it hurts. I… I was so sure when I left you last night—”
I opened my eyes, watching as Elec shook his head through his confusion. I slipped back into survival mode, feeling my personality shift as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“It was going so well,” I continued for him.
“We had fun. We were all talking and laughing. I got tired…” I sobbed at the flash of Drayton.
It suddenly felt so real. As if I was there all over again.
“The next thing I know, I couldn’t breathe.
The force. He—He was—” My hand came to my chest as I tried to catch my breath between the sobs that wouldn’t stop.
“He kept hitting and hitting. I was telling him to stop. And I—”
Elec’s steps were fast as he made his way to the bed.
“Shh. Look at me and here my truth. Hear what I say.” He was cupping my cheeks, his stare almost jerky as he went back and forth between my eyes.
“You’re afraid. I’ve been watching your heartrate.
It lowered when Drayton left the room. You can’t fear your husband.
I see how you’re trying to be brave, but this…
what happened… I’ll fix him. I can do that.
There’s medication for his condition. He’ll never do that again.
Had I known, I could have prevented this.
” His fingers tightened against my face almost painfully.
“I didn’t see. He put it, and I didn’t see it.
I… I missed the signs. The hints. I take responsibility for what happened, but I’m going to make up for it. Don’t fear him.”
The room rolled under me as his eyes activated and pulled me down into the void.
“No more fear. You know who you need to be. You’re loyal to me, Marian.
We’re all friends. I’m here for you. I told you that last night.
You trust me to take care of anything you need.
I will. I’ll always be here looking out for you and Drayton.
We work together. We help each other. Friends, Marian.
That’s what we are, and as your friend, I’m going to make this better. ”
“Yes.” My voice was breathless. Stolen, as my mind numbed out and I got sucked so far away. Further than before. That should have scared me, but I couldn’t feel emotion. He didn’t have me. Not completely. Did he?
“… Friends.”
“That’s my girl. That’s right.”
He snapped next to my ear, and I blinked, watching as he drew back. Seconds passed while he studied me. Maybe it was the medication. Maybe it was a combination of both. I suddenly couldn’t grasp my thoughts. I held my hand out, watching as he took it and moved in to sit on the edge of the bed.
“You said… you’re my friend.”
I wasn’t sure why I was repeating the words. My mind screamed. Warnings got louder.
“Yes. I am your friend. That’s why I’m giving you everything you want.”
“Drayton.”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Drayton. Heirs. A happy little family. You’ll have everything I never will.
A fresh start.” He moved in, grabbing my hand, rubbing over the IV.
“I never want that again. We can thank her for ruining the appeal. Your mother was great at her skills. Phenomenal, truthfully. She taught us so much.” He smiled.
“But do you know what sets her and me apart, Marian?”
I squeezed my eyes, trying to get the blurriness to subside. I shouldn’t have come here. I had to come. Think. Think!
“You’re a little pre-occupied, so I’ll tell you. Your mother could make anyone do anything. She could make them believe they were anybody. She was great at the give-and-take, but so am I. Do you want to know what makes me better than her?”
I searched his face, not able to get words to process.
“I have Headquarters. Here, I don’t need to mess with your mind to erase your memories.
That’s what this is for,” he said, angling my hand so I could see the IV.
“It’s me, in your veins. It’s the me you can’t escape.
Your mother made you a risk, Marian. A threat to us all.
We can’t have that, no matter how small or weak you are.
With this new medicine, now we don’t have to worry.
I don’t even have to watch my back.” He glanced at the machine as my pulse hit hard.
“Don’t be scared. It’ll be like the last few weeks never happened like you remember them.
I’ll make sure this new start is great for you and Drayton.
The circle will love the story of your reunion.
It’ll be romantic—story-like. You won’t remember anything your mother taught you.
It’ll be great. Like it was supposed to be.
“New…start.”
“Better than new. Better than ever, Marian. That’s what friends do. And we’re all going to be such great friends. You just wait and see.”