Chapter 33 — Love Tryout

Susan was with a guy named Trevor at a table in a bar on Russo Street. He was handsome, and with that smile, the world seemed right. But it was not.

Susan had a major restraint on herself because Vivian was nearby. She couldn’t see her, but she felt her presence. Susan tried to distract herself with a little civil discussion with Trevor.

“You’re from around here?” he asked.

Chatter was coming from different tables, music came soft and sweet from the speakers, and the air had a romantic ambiance to it.

Susan heard everything and everyone, and it wasn’t hard to decipher who was speaking. She noticed Trevor’s words come to her like a sweet tone, and she said, “Not particularly. But I live here.” She looked around with a smile on her face. “I love this place, and the city, actually.”

“You must have been here a long time to come to that conclusion,” Trevor said.

She looked down to her glass of martini and stirred it with a bar spoon. “Not quite.” Then she looked at him and said, “But I like to think I’ve lived here that long.”

Susan felt the chilled air-conditioned environment, and although it did nothing to quell her rage, or lower the burning flame in her, she wouldn’t do anything to ruin it, not with this guy, or in the presence of Vivian who was somewhere watching. This was a night tryout to see how much she could control herself, and she was glad she hadn’t done it with Jake.

She would do it with a few more men to see which she could actually tolerate And for those which she couldn’t, she would try so much not to kill them.

“Throughout my time in this world, I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you,” Trevor said. “And this seems so surreal.”

Susan smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“So, got anywhere to go to after now?”

“Yeah. Home, most likely.”

“Can I take you?”

“Momma said never to enter cars with strangers,” she said.

Trevor leaned back against his chair with a gleeful expression on his face, both hands slightly raised. “Fine. But I could tell you all about me.”

But she already knew him. And she knew him quite well to know that he was well mannered and gentle. She had refused his offer not because she didn’t want him to know where she lived. Sure, maybe, the sight of him could make Jake jealous. No matter, she intended dating more men so as to learn control to actually be with Jake. Why she refused him was so she doesn’t kill him. Things after all always seemed to happen whenever she lost control.

For the past few days, she had found her body trying to control itself without her will. It was like a murdering spirit was about to control her form, but like her sister, Vivian, had said to her, “Susan! Your will is stronger than anything.”

Yes, she believed it. But she wasn’t willing to take that risk yet. A public place couldn’t stop her from killing either. She could so easily make all these people forget. After she had killed him, or a few of them of course. Maybe all. She could do that.

Mercy drifted to her thought, and Susan knew it was because of that little ageless girl she was trying to walk the part of peace, and caution. She didn’t want to face someone like Mercy, for, in truth, there won’t be a fight. Only disaster as Mercy was so much stronger than she was.

Trevor gave Susan his card, and she took it. They both stood as she thanked him for the night. A black Lamborghini Urus SUV roared and stopped outside the bar, some people glanced that way, and some lingered their gaze on the car.

Susan briefly shut her eyes. “That’s my sister, Janice.”

“They watch the time you stay out?” Trevor asked.

“More like babysit me. And I like to think I’m the oldest.”

Trevor laughed. “Can I see you out?”

“Sure.”

Trevor helped her set her black fur coat around her with her hands fitting into it, and she thanked him for it.

Outside the bar, the window of the Urus SUV wound down to reveal Janice in the driver’s seat, dark shades concealing her eyes.

“Thanks for tonight,” Susan said, and gave him a perk on the cheek.

“The pleasure was mine,” Trevor said.

Susan walked around the car to the passenger’s side whose door opened, she got in. When the door closed, Janice looked at Trevor with a forced smile.

Trevor smiled at her, then he waved at Susan who waved back. People were looking, but mostly at the car.

The engine roared, Janice wound up, and set the car into motion, Trevor noted the plate number was a customized one which read ‘Hill.’

Janice stared at her sister. “Should I make them forget?”

Susan knew she was referring to all those people staring at her car back there. She smiled and said, “Nah. It’s fine.”

Janice grinned. “Seems you had fun.”

Susan sighed. “A little. If I had killed him, I would have satisfied this longing which is fun, to be honest. So, a little. Besides, you and Vivian were standing as hawks over me. I couldn’t have my way even if I wanted to.”

“What if we let you have your way?” Janice said, turning into Lone Street.

“I see it all,” Susan said. “If I kill him, you and Vivian can bring him back to life.”

Janice smiled. “Yes. Yes, we could.”

“But you know that would only worsen my case. My power senses when someone who is supposed to stay dead is alive. And if I killed them and they were brought back to life, it would only make my power hungrier. Well, I should be in chains. Being this exposed sure does make me want to have my way.”

“Maybe, you should be in chains. But willing that curse in chains is more ravenous, and dangerous. And you are your curse. Or at least, it’s part of who you are. There’s no telling what would happen if you’re chained and you break free. Hell, I think no chains can hold you, even.” Janice looked at Susan. “You’re that powerful to me.”

Susan grinned. “Thanks, Janice.”