ELEVATOR CHAPTER NINE: MAKING A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
I get beside my monster of a dad, I wished I could be anywhere ht. Ear him at the moment. I would leave but I can't go out there while looking like this.
I glare at him with hatred burning in my pupils then I focus on the mirror, I turn on the faucet and cup the rushing water in my palms and splash it on my face as if I am trying to wake myself up from a terrible nightmare, this was even worse a terrible nightmare it is but I can't even wake up from it by splashing water on my face.
The water is cold, it makes me shiver and the goosebumps on my forearms become very visible, I begin to shiver as I speak.
"Listen carefully Dad," trying to tilt the power dynamics back in my corner. If I have learned anything from watching Hollywood exorcism movies it is that you can't really win against the devil, you either always have to make a deal with him or you lose.
"fix your face Adrianne," he cuts me off absentmindedly, mispronouncing my name for the umpteenth time but I am very used to it and I overlook it once again and continue speaking.
"just don't let anything happen to Mom, I promise you you'll be opening Pandora's box is something does happen to her, I know you think I'm just little Adrianna who came from your balls but I will drag you down with me and I don't mind sacrificing myself along with you if anything happens to mom." I wait for a response from him but I get none, he continues fixing his tie and shirt collar.
"You know what, I'm curious let's do this, indulge me, why now, why are you so sure you will go ahead with it this time, I mean I've been beating your mom to pulp every other Tuesday and Saturday for years and so why is this time any different, why are you so sure you'll kill yourself this time around?" his question takes me catches me off guard, I am taken aback as
"I mean you could try to fight me all those times you had the chance to and catch a black eye or two, maybe get knocked into next week or next year or the next life depending on how I am feeling honestly, why try to mess up my elegant pool," he says in a manner that has mean confused if he is being serious or it's just plain sarcasm.
"Now listen little lady, you are too young to understand what you are talking about, one say when you are all grown up you know in the distant future because it'll take a long long time for you to mature Adrianne, when you are all grown and have kids if your own you will begin to understand that sometimes in life you will have to make huge sacrifices to secure your future and most importantly your children's future, you won't get it now, you just can't get it now."
I search my clutch bag and find my mini make up kit, I begin wiping the water off my face with a towel as he spoke then I douse the towel in water flowing from the faucet, I use the wet towel to dap the wine and blood mixture off my dress as I continue threatening my dad.
I apply the Mary Kay foundation I found in my clutch bag meticulously, hoping to God there is no reason to cry or so anything that will smear my make up again for the rest of the evening, as me and my dad dialogue like The US Army and terrorists in Stockholm, Sweden.
"let's say I marry this ruthless man for your selfish interests, and anything happens to Mom, I will destroy but his and your reputation and take my life while at to, I'm not playing, just make sure that nothing happens to mom!" I warn him yet again, my hands busy turning me to Picasso with a contour brush to my face re-applying my smeared make up, I threaten him with a smile on my face as I practice the best version of my fake smiles to give to the audience when I leave this bathroom and head back out to the party.
It really does feel like making a deal with the devil, the atmosphere becomes quiet and dingy, I can hear a pin drop at this point, the hairs on my arms and neck are as erect as if electric charges had passed through them or something.
" Okay okay I hear you, just stop with the mention of death it's too gruesome for me," that is so ironic coming from the Devil himself. I honestly cannot picture the Devil being much worse than this man that ice seen do despicable things to his wife that he claims to love and to his biological daughter, the Devil will have to bring some mean competition to beat this man.
"I'll do you one, you don't mess up my deal I don't mess up your mother, do we have an agreement?" He offers like the Devil he is, he mock offers a handshake and I refuse to touch him, he insists, staring me deep in the eyes with his palm stretched out toward me, tired of the eye contact I reach out and shake the old Devil's wrinkled hand.