CHAPTER EIGHT

“As I confess, it is my nature’s plague to spy into abuses and oft my jealousy.”

- William Shakespeare

 

When Alice entered her Aunt Victory’s house, she was confused to see Victory standing in the middle of the foyer wearing black, cat hair covered underwear and no bra. Her fleshy titties were in full swing and she was talking to herself. She was pacing in large circles and when she saw Alice she rushed over to her and pulled her into her sweaty body.

When Alice wiggled away from her, Victory gripped both sides of her arms and said, “She said no, Alice. She said no about the money for the car as if I didn’t matter!” she screamed. “Now I’m not going to be able to afford a wedding gift for the kids. It’s embarrassing.”

“You don’t have any money? Or anywhere else to get cash?” Alice asked trying to keep face and provide another fake solution outside of her favorite.

War on Nine Prophet.

Victory looked guilty and sat on the sofa. “You don’t understand money. It’s tough holding onto it if you have responsibilities.”

“You had millions though.”

“When you grow up like we did, a million is a few hundred.” She paused. “When my father was alive he would’ve never let me go without! And now look! I can’t even provide a wedding gift to my own kids! What kind of mother am I? Every bride deserves a Mercedes!”

Alice tried to prevent from smiling but hearing that her aunt was distraught by something the prized Nine did, caused her great pleasure. The other night, at the dinner, wore on Alice. She didn’t realize how much pain she was in until her mother embarrassed her. Not necessarily in front of her family, but in front of Nine. Showcasing her vulnerability inspired her even more to get revenge on Nine. She exposed her weak side and now it was time to show the tenacious side.

Besides, things were looking up for her. Finally her family was coming around to seeing things her way, starting with Victory. Nine had to be relieved of her power by any means accessible.

“So what does that mean, Aunt Victory? For us? For the family?”

Victory wiped the tears from her face, and flopped back on the sofa. “Oh, Alice…you’re such a silly child.” She crossed and uncrossed her legs. “Why must everything require action?”

“Because inaction could lead to not being prepared. Every action makes us tough and vigilant.” Alice looked over at her aunt and trekked toward her. When she saw how frantic she was, she sighed. “Auntie, you act as if you don’t know your true birthright at the Prophet table. Has grandfather been gone that long that you have gone blind?”

“I do know my place but—”

“But what? You continue to let that baboon run the family fortune anyway.” She threw her hands up in the air. “How do we know at this point that there is even money still available? You heard her at the dinner. She entering into a new wine venture and that means putting up more capital. She’s floundering everything! We’ll be lucky if we’ll see pennies.”

Victory’s voice was shaky. “We don’t know how much is left.”

“Exactly. I’m not asking you to do any work, Aunt Victory, except talk to the rest of the family and tell them that we have to meet. They don’t trust me because they think that I’m angry over grandfather’s dismissal of me in his will. And because Nine cut off only me.”

“Are you bitter?”

Alice sighed and sat next to her. “I was at first. Now I understand that grandfather wasn’t well before he died. He probably wasn’t in his right frame of mind and she may have even poisoned him.”

“Come on, Alice!” she laughed. “These productions you put on in your head should be written down.” She scratched her right titty. “Even Spielberg couldn’t create them.”

“I’m serious!” Her eyes bulged. “How did he go from keeping her in the basement to giving her everything?”

Victory rubbed her throbbing temples, not wanting to fight a woman with such a violent passion. “You’re right. I didn’t even know she was alive before he introduced her at the dinner that day.”

Alice focused on her aunt’s lack of clothing. “Aunt Victory, why are you naked?”

“I was working out. Running around the house and stuff. I’m trying to get slim for the wedding.”

Alice looked upon her and said, “You have a long way to go, don’t you?”

“You have to start somewhere,” Victory stated.

“Blades of orange are on fire,” Isabel yelled from inside of her room. Her voice was so loud she reached octaves Alice didn’t think were possible. “Blades are on fire and they’re piercing our skin! Make them stop!”

Frustrated with her daughter’s insane rants, Victory hopped up and rushed to see what she wanted. “I’m not sure how much I’m going to be able to deal with from Isabel. It may be time for her to go in the mental house with the other crazies where she belongs.”

“We’re the Prophets, Auntie. Isn’t she already in the crazy house?” Alice asked.

 

****

 

Alice strolled down the street toward her car with not a care in the world when Nine pulled up in her gold Maybach. Slowly the back window rolled down and Nine peered out and ordered, “Get in.”

With a noisy exhalation and a roll of her eyes, Alice said, “I was going to my car.”

“It was a statement not a question.” Nine leaned back in her seat and rolled the window up as she impatiently waited.

Alice looked up the street and sighed. The last thing she wanted was to be anywhere near Nine but she reasoned that with her plans in motion, everything would be going her way in time. So what were a few minutes when soon she would have millions?

So she got inside.

Once seated, she asked, “What do you want?”

“How was your day?” She was calm.

Alice frowned and attempted to hide her disdain for her boss cousin. She did an awful job and with another roll of the eyes, she asked, “Fine. Why?”

“Did you thank me for rising up this morning?” Nine asked in a soothing tone. “And having access to your day.”

She gave her an incredulous stare. Confused, she said, “No.”

“Well you should have, because today was the day I instructed one of my soldiers to kill you.”

The strength Alice possessed moments earlier suddenly diminished.

“But I am not going to do it now, Alice. Do you know why?”

Trembling at the realization that she was supposed to be taken from this earth, she said, “No.”

“Because I am going to give you a chance to hang yourself. I am going to give you a chance to stay out of my way. Maybe, just maybe, we will have a relationship in the future.”

With bulging eyes, she asked, “Why would you do that?”

Nine sighed. “Because I saw the look on your face when your mother spoke to you so harshly at dinner. And I know what it feels like not to have the love of your birth mother. Before you and I, Prophet women in this family were weak.” She paused. “I am not condoning what you did to me; you were the cause of some of my worst nightmares. But suddenly things make sense and I want to give you a chance to do what is right.” Nine touched her leg. “Do not make me kill you, Alice. Do not make me regret this day because if I do, your passing will not be unchallenging. There will be nothing but dark days ahead for you if you fuck up. And you will beg me for the day that your soul will be released and it will never come.” She looked into her eyes. “Do you hear me? Never come.”

Alice readjusted in her seat, while two drops of sweat rolled down her forehead and fell into her eyes.

“I am offering a chance that I never thought was possible for you. For us.” Nine swallowed. “To start all over.” She raised her hand for Alice to shake it. “Do you want this gift?”

Alice looked down at Nine’s well-manicured fingers and slowly shook her hand. “Yes, I do…thank…thank you,” she whispered.

When Alice got out of Nine’s car, she waited until it was out of sight. When she was gone she rushed to the side of Victory’s house and threw up in the rose bushes.

Her insides didn’t stop rocking until she saw blood.