Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series

by Tony C. Skye

  “You remind me of someone else I know,” Julianna speaks with a tone hinting of admiration. Alexandria remains silent, but firm within her gaze. Julianna understands this woman will not be so quick to bow out as the friend standing next to her is. Granted, this woman does not know who she is, but Julianna isn’t so sure it would even matter. This woman seems refreshingly defiant.

  Most people tend to change the way they act around her; whenever, they find out who she really is. It’s not an element Julianna enjoys witnessing all that much. She would rather people just treated her like everyone else. Embracing her identity – it has no correlation to any desire of being treated like a pretty, pretty, little princess doll housed in a tower while waiting for some goof of a prince to come and save her.

  “What’s your name?”, Julianna questions the blond with long hair.

  “Alexandria,” the woman answers, “But my friends call me Alex.”

  “Hi, my name’s Julianna – the Mother of Darkwaters.”

  Alexandria takes a step back. She nervously looks over at Gale. Her friend nods. The now frazzled woman glances back towards her patient.

  “Look. When I said I could kick your ass, I didn’t mean…”

  “Don’t,” Julianna states with a hint of anger. She catches Alexandria staggering in a nervous breath.

  “I don’t need any more servants in my life,” Julianna continues, “You think you need to kick my ass, and then by all means do what you do. But don’t you ever apologize to me for being who you are. And I don’t ever want to see you back-peddle from me ever again. Don’t pretend to be somebody you’re not just because you’re around me. If you can’t be yourself whenever I’m around, then I don’t need you in my life.”

  Alexandria stares blankly.

  “I believe it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Alex speechless,” Gale quietly attempts to join into the conversation.

  Julianna looks towards the door.

  “It applies to you, too,” the teenager quickly chastises the other woman.

  Gale nods while submissively looking down at the floor by her feet.

  “Enough of that!”, Julianna yells while standing up.

  Gale jerks before looking back up. The Mother of Darkwaters is pointing her left index finger at her.

  “That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Julianna calms her voice before lowering her hand.

  “She’s just doing what we’ve always been trained to do.”

  Julianna looks to her right, “And what’s that?”

  “We’re supposed to follow without question – submit to your authority. If not, we die.”

  “Die? You guys have an exploding implant in your heads or something?”

  “No,” Gale answers, “It’s the law of the Network. We’re both Network. It’s just the way it is.”

  “And if I order you to be yourselves, then what? You still die?”

  Gale shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t know. This scenario has never been brought up before.” Gale looks to her left for confirmation.

  “Don’t ask me, I slept through that class.”

  Julianna looks at Alexandria.

  “Don’t listen to her,” Gale speaks up, “She’s not that tough.”

  Alexandria guiltily looks at her patient, “She’s right. No one sleeps through any of those classes.” Her ensuing smile brings a small grin upon Julianna’s face; albeit, it is short-lived.

  “Mindless zombies,” Julianna coos while pulling her cloth gown over her head, “I believe I would like your sponge bath now.”

  “The hell,” Alexandria’s head retreats, “You can get your ass in the shower.”

  “You’re telling me no?”, Julianna questions with a threatening tone.

  “I’m telling you – you can take that weird crap somewhere else.”

  Julianna tilts her head questioningly – her green eyes scan towards the left to view the other nurse.

  Gale crosses her arms, “I’m with Alex on this one. You’re awake now.”

  Julianna fakes innocent ignorance as she embarrassingly covers herself, “I’m sorry. I just thought when I woke up that…”

  “We weren’t here to have sex with you,” Alexandria interrupts, “It was just a clean-up mission. That’s it. We were here to do a job.”

  Julianna looks down in silence. She nods sadly, “Sorry for doing this…”

  Both of the nurses watch as their patient’s demeanor changes to that of a much angrier patron. Julianna looks up with an intimidating stare. She speaks slowly and commandingly.

  “I order you to please me,” Julianna drops her gown to the floor, “Both of you, on your knees Network whores.”

  Alexandria quickly closes the small distance between herself and her patient.

  “Don’t do it, Alex,” Gale pleas.

  “Screw this crazy bitch,” Alexandria answers while hitting Julianna with her right closed fist. The teenager’s bottom lip busts open and bleeds as she drops to the floor. Julianna instinctively reaches up and touches her left hand to her mouth.

  “Geezus, Alex,” Gale gasps.

  Alexandria grabs the cloth gown and throws it on top of Julianna, “You still feel horny?”

  Julianna removes her hand from her mouth and looks at her bloody fingers. She fights back the sudden rush of excitement within her body. She looks up at the angry nurse.

  “No,” Julianna answers with a lie.

  “Try it again and it will be much worse for you,” Alexandria threatens before turning her back on the weaker woman. She walks towards the door.

  Julianna glares at the other nurse, “Why didn’t you try to help me?”

  “I’m not a whore,” Gale gives her answer.

  “She’s not a lesbo either,” Alexandria loudly states without glancing back. She swipes her security badge through the door’s locking mechanism.

  “Wait,” Julianna calls out while standing to her feet. Alexandria turns around as Julianna puts the gown back on.

  “What do you want?”

  “You really don’t care if you get killed for this?”

  “No,” Alexandria truthfully answers as she turns and takes hold of the handle. She pushes down and opens the door.

  “Thank you.”

  Alexandria pauses. She closes the door and turns back around.

  “For what? You going to have us offed?”

  “Us?”, Gale jumps in, “There was no us when you hit her. You did that suicide mission all by yourself.”

  Julianna smiles before responding.

  “For not being a mindless zombie, Alex.” Her green stare moves towards the other nurse, “You too, Gale. I believe the police would refer to your role as an accomplice. Thanks for not intervening.”

  Gale nods. She’s beginning to understand what just happened.

  “Are you supposed to be on some kind of medication we’re not aware of?”

  Julianna looks at Alex and laughs.

  “No. I just wanted to see if you would stand up for yourself knowing your life was on the line.”

  “Honestly, I really didn’t give it all that much thought.”

  “I know,” Julianna informs the nurse, “It was instinct. But that’s what I was looking for.”

  “I’m confused.”

  Gale turns to her left so she can view her friend better.

  “I believe what the Mother is saying, is that we were being tested.”

  Alexandria’s right brow lifts questioningly.

  “She’s right,” Julianna confirms, “I have an offer for the both of you.”

  Alexandria looks at her patient – as does Gale.

  “You don’t have to accept,” Julianna begins, “And what happened in here will never leave this room. I promise. This offer is not an ultimatum. It’s a choice.”

  Alexandria and Gale both watch curiously.

  “I am giving you both the chance to make your vows to me personally. You will no longer be bound by Network protocol exce
pt for my safety. I have no say in that department.”

  “Sold,” Alexandria eagerly agrees. Her friend gives her a warning glare.

  “What?’

  “Making a vow to me is lifelong, Alex” Julianna explains for Gale, “It is not a reversible choice. You should really think it through.”

  “Network isn’t reversible either,” Alexandria counters, “And I have thought it through. I sort of had fantasies about this.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “What Alex means is that most anyone who is Network would love the chance to work for the family,” Gale explains.

  “Work? I don’t want you to work for me. You can if you want to. But that’s not really what I meant.”

  “I’m more confused,” Alexandria put her two-cents in.

  Gale nods appreciatively, “I would be honored to.”

  Julianna smiles.

  “Honored to do what?”, Alexandria questions. She is beginning to feel like she belongs on the little bus. Gale walks over and whispers in her right ear, “Friends.”

  “Ohhhhh,” Alexandria responds while feeling like she probably does belong on that little bus after all.

  Alexandria looks at Julianna, “You mean like real friends – not hired help.”

  “Real friends,” Julianna confirms, “The kind like I saw a few minutes ago.”

  “Gotcha,” Alexandria agrees with the terms, “If you ever need a bloody lip, just bring that lesbian stuff this way.”

  Julianna laughs, “We’ll do.”

  “No, don’t do,” Alexandria objects, “Once was enough.”

  “Agreed,” Gale chimes in.

  Julianna’s amusement is short-lived as the door behind the nurses makes a clicking sound. A moment later, the handle turns and the padded door is swung wide open. Two security guards rush into the room and take hold of the nurses. Julianna watches as they swiftly escort them out into the hallway.

  “What are you doing?!”, Julianna yells defiantly, “Let them go!”

  A third security officer, Charles Stevens, steps in Julianna’s way as she attempts to walk into the hallway. He is the one her grams is always posting at her door. Julianna stops and looks up at the very tall and large man.

  “What’s going on?”

  “They put your life at risk,” Charles states calmly.

  “No they didn’t. What are you talking about?”

  “They turned off the video feed to your room.”

  “I told them to. I needed a bath.”

  “Not true. I’ve seen the video that recorded the whole thing. They never spoke to you beforehand and were completely unaware of the video feed on themselves. They will be dealt with accordingly.”

  Julianna steps back as the large man begins to shut the door on her. She looks around him and can see Alexandria and Gale having their wrists zip-tied.

  “Those are my friends you’re messing with you monkeys,” Julianna hollers at the two men with their knees in the nurses backs. The two black males look at each other and shake their heads. Julianna’s nose wrinkles whenever she puts the scene together.

  Charles brows narrow, “Racism is an ugly attribute.”

  “I’m not racist you moron,” Julianna counters, “I call all of you guys with huge muscles monkeys. About all I’ve ever seen them good for is picking up weights and bullying weaker people. Like monkeys.”

  Charles gently pushes Julianna into the room.

  “See!”, Julianna yells, “Monkeys!”

  “I just have a job to do,” Charles Stevens calmly counters while shutting the door.

  Julianna rushes between his legs and belly flops herself into the hallway. She quickly stands up and turns around. Charles is already within grabbing distance. Julianna holds up her hands defensively.

  “You touch me monkey and I’ll have you put down,” Julianna threatens.

  Charles pauses. He isn’t quite sure how to handle the situation. Julianna is of the bloodline. Her position in the hallway doesn’t interfere with her immediate safety. The teenager was in more danger whenever she was alone in the room with the subordinate nurses. But as of now, his men have those two under control.

  “Please go back to your room,” Charles attempts a different route than force.

  Julianna closes her eyes. She can hear Alexandria cursing and Gale whimpering.

  “I have a job to do, too,” Julianna quietly informs the large man standing in front of her. Before he can make any objections, Julianna begins speaking in the tongue of Lilith.

  * * *

  “Gariatu Estidium Merné,” the teenager begins. She briefly pauses as she hears shuffling within the open hallway. She grins as she recognizes the sounds of kneelers.

  “Shriavet uté trovéi bélohni,” Julianna speaks with a loud authority, “Zelio xoéh ré tréls shixoi shrié féi zéch zoslexlo aynslthn.” As she reaches the last word, she vaguely feels movement within her hair. The encouraging warm breeze causes her to speak even louder,

  “Ré itiéhti ticititi yheoi xoréhnc réhn xoréé jizeati.”

  Julianna sways as her ears are filled with the sounds of someone gasping in the distance. Her lips tremble with power while she continues speaking,

  “Zéch yhnslosté shié féiéé véuté xoré sloihnhé. Ré shié slotivé tieititi yheoi xoréhnc.”

  Julianna feels her hair waving violently within the hallway in which she stands. It’s as though someone has turned on an industrial fan. Oddly enough, the rest of her body doesn’t feel anything except for the tingling sensations of a growing power.

  “Ré shié shoiohn réhn xoré sloihnhé. Zéch shrié féi slati aihn xoréé sloié. Gariatu Estidium Merné.”

  Julianna’s breath is steady and heavy as her mind recites her dark prayer,

  “To the God of Heaven be damned.

  Welcome to your Mother.

  All those I find worthy will be my adopted children.

  I rebuke every holy thing in this place.

  My hands will bless unto the darkness.

  I will devour every holy thing.

  My will be done on this day.

  To the God of Heaven be damned.”

  * * *

  Alexandria and Gale are pulled up to their knees. Their captors take places next to them upon the ceramic-tiled floor. Alexandria watches her new friend speak the strange words. She can feel an ominous power resonating from the Mother of Darkwaters. The sudden change in atmosphere has her questioning her earlier behavior. Was she brave or just downright stupid?

  A moment later, Alexandria feels an unfamiliar breeze within the hospital’s hallway. It doesn’t take her long to realize that everyone is staring at Julianna’s black raven-like hair. It is blowing in the wind – the same wind that holds no logic to its intrusive nature. She hears Gale gasp whenever Julianna’s hair freezes in mid-air, splits itself off into an evil rendition of Medusa, and then begins to strike sporadically at the air around her head.

  And just like that, when Julianna finishes with her family’s known mantra, the room falls into silence. The wind is gone – her hair falls limply around her shoulders. No one moves – not even Charles.

  * * *

  Julianna opens her eyes. Her belly growls and she sways slightly. She looks down at Charles. The head security guard looks utterly terrified.

  “I’m starving,” Julianna announces innocently. Charles doesn’t move.

  “That was kinda scary, huh?”, Julianna teases. The kneeling monkey before her remains motionless. Julianna, slowly, cocks her head to the left and then back to the right.

  “That was too much, huh monkey?”

  Again, Charles refuses to show any signs of lucidity. Julianna looks around and can see the same response from the other two guards. Gale seems speechless, but at awe. Alexandria looks mystified. Her new friends do not show the same fear as the men do; however, they do exhibit fear nonetheless. Julianna takes a deep breath and lets out a dramatic sigh.

  “Everyone up,” Julianna order
s as though she is really tired of saying the commandment.

  Like well-trained monkeys, the men quickly rise to their feet. Alexandria attempts to stand, but stumbles back to her knees. Gale doesn’t even attempt a try. Julianna points her right index finger at her friends while staring hard at the two black males.

  “Get those off of them.”

  The two men look at Charles for an answer. Julianna really dislikes it whenever people do that. But under the circumstances, she decides to remain closed-lip in order to minimize any further trauma. Charles gives the men the nod they were seeking. The guards pull out their knives and cut the women’s wrists free. Gale and Alexandria stand to their feet. Julianna crosses her arms and turns her sole attention back to the man in charge.

  “Charles,” Julianna says playfully, “Can you tell me who I am?”

  Charles nods.

  “Well? Let’s hear it. Who am I?”

  “You are the Mother,” Charles answers – his voice cracks like a boy in puberty.

  “Agreed,” Julianna winks at the man with her left eye. She unfolds her arms and claps her hands together one time.

  “Now,” Julianna continues, “Let’s order some pizza. I’m starving.”

  The teenager looks over at her new friends, “You guys hungry? Pizza sound good?”

  “Sounds great,” Alexandria answers. Gale gives her answer with a nod.

  Charles sways. Julianna puts her right hand on his chest.

  “Listen monkey, you need to order us some pizza before you pass out.”

  Charles nods, but doesn’t move his feet.

  “Charles!”, Julianna yells.

  The man shakes his cloudy head and refocuses his gaze upon the Mother.

  “That’s better,” Julianna says. She lowers her hand from his chest and offers it to him,

  “Hi Charles, my name’s Julianna. It’s not Mother. It’s not Oh great one. It’s not Master. I am Julianna. Do you understand?”

  Charles nods as he takes her hand and gently shakes it.