Chapter 29 — Susan’s Account

I had a new practice. Don’t worry, it wasn’t that of death. However, it was something I hated to do. Staying still with eyes closed. And whether my eyes were closed or not, I couldn’t tell, for even in this closed state, I still could see everything.

I saw Vivian whisper words to Janice, Hannah, and Dena, and each of them looked at me like I was some form of time bomb. I could hear what they were saying, but I pretended like I couldn’t.

Beatrice and Jake had reported to work, and they usually left early these days with police escorts, thanks to Elvis, else, some of the weirdness at home, they would have been there to witness it. It was with them I wanted to spend some time with, but my sisters had considered it dangerous due to Eleanor’s power welling up in me, hence, I took their advice and avoided going to hang out with Beatrice and Jake.

I missed my favorite pastime, hanging around restaurants to meet men to fall in love with, but it made no difference, because although I did kill more people these days, I normally had my powerful sister, Vivian, or sometimes Janice, watching over me while I added more blood to the blood sea.

I was beginning to choose my victims. I didn’t just go after random guys. I went after those who hated peace. You see, I could read in their eyes. I knew their hearts. I knew when a man was about to unravel long before he even got there. It was beginning to turn into a gift, what I had thought was a curse.

One thing I recently discovered about my newfound powers was that I could read my sisters, and Hannah, which meant I could read all bloodstones. I don’t know if this extended to my mother, but I’ll have to stand before her to actually discover this which was terrifying as I hadn’t seen her for years.

I knew what she looked like then, but I don’t know what she looked like now, for my sisters did say she had changed. I assumed this included physically, and I wondered if I could stand her presence when next I saw her.

However, it was hard to believe that when we first fought Chadwick, she was with my curse because she looked so calm, and always, she coordinated herself. I don’t know if I was coordinating myself enough. Maybe, her throne, also called the throne of blood, the blood throne, or the blood seat had something to do with this.

You see, that throne was a powerful tool of its own. While the power of Eleanor could be used against the blood sea, rumor had it nothing could rival the power of the blood throne.

I imagined my mother ruled all these lines of powers that were subject to her because they knew this to be true. No one conspired against her, or even tried to say something that would demean her. The blood throne gave her the ability to see beneath, and above the blood sea. And from that seat, she could read the thought of anyone she so chose to.

I always wanted to be like her, until she banished me out of the blood sea. The rogue child, who would dare stand against her mother. Perhaps, I had spoken out of turn when I shouldn’t have. Then maybe, she would have borne this curse in silence.

But then, something came to me. What if all this was to let me see something I hadn’t seen? I thought about it long and hard, but the voices of my sisters, Hannah, and Dena were beginning to drown my thoughts, I tightened my eyes, slightly squeezed my face, not again, I opened my eyes.

“Fine,” I said looking at these four ladies. “Out with it.”

“Susan!” Vivian said, looking at me diplomatically. “You know how you react when you hear the name Faith.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “Is she in trouble?” I only asked because I didn’t want them to possibly know I could read their minds. Vivian was smart.

“Yes, she is,” Vivian said.

I stood from the sofa. “Let’s go help her.”

They all looked at me, wide-eyed.

“And you’re okay with it?” Dena asked.

“Totally. Won’t it be rude not coming to the aid of one’s enemy?”

And without letting them say anything more, I made five of us vanish.

Faith was having a hard time fighting black-tailed monsters a wizard had conjured against her people. From the deaths of her people greatly piling up, there was little she could do but submit to these monsters.

She had used all her powers, and had painfully realized she couldn’t kill them. They had thick hides, spikes all over their bodies that took most of the damage so it wouldn’t reach their skin.

I knew these creatures. My mother had cursed them. Should they see her, they would stop this dreadful deed and painfully submit without a fight. I didn’t have a problem with what these creatures did. But what I had a problem with was that they were trying to kill Faith.

I have a thing with another enemy trying to kill my enemy. I simply wouldn’t let that happen, which was why I and my sisters came with what these creatures feared the most. Lightning.

Vivian, Janice, Hannah, and Dena, I made to appear on land. But from the skies, I came with large bolts of lightning, and in one sweep, everything was over.

I was still in mid-air when I spread my hands with my gaze locked on Faith, her dead people came back to life.

I didn’t stay for a thank you. I simply made her read the look on my face which said, “I should be the one to kill you. Not them.” Then I vanished.

Faith still mouthed her thank you, and I was already home when it came as a whisper to my ears. And yes, I did say you’re welcome.

As for my sisters, Hannah, and Dena, they moved to play comforters. Not me, for that would never be my role. No true hero after all would take the credit, neither would they stick around for praises. I had other things in mind. But you may be wondering. What did Faith do to me? Well, dear reader, that is a story for another time.