Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series

by Tony C. Skye

  “How in the world is anyone supposed to understand that? Out of all of your submissives, Ju - uh - Mandie didn’t deserve it.”

  “What were you about to say?”

  “Don’t try and change this on me, Tam,” Jennifer continues, “This is about you and what you did to Mandie. Sure, the first girl you sent to the hospital. But she didn’t look anything like Mandie did. So tell me, how is someone supposed to understand this? Cause I’m not getting it at all. Geezus, Tam… you almost killed her. What is wrong with you?”

  Tamara remains silent as she stares at Jennifer. Of all of the scenarios she played in her mind before coming over, this was certainly not among them.

  “You’re right,” Tamara, finally, speaks – her tone is calm and somber.

  “Pfft - I’m always right,” Jennifer agrees.

  Tamara looks up and shakes her head – her eyes are friendly, “No.”

  She finishes with an approving grin, “But nice try.”

  “Look,” Jennifer speaks calmly, “Sorry about that. But it needed to be said. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?”

  “I know.”

  Jennifer observes Tamara’s eyes sadden – the girl’s thin lips begin trembling.

  “Aww,” Jennifer says while rounding the bar. She quickly embraces her bff in a hug, “Why are you crying?”

  “There is something wrong with me, Jen,” Tamara sobs.

  “Good grief, Tam. There’s nothing wrong with you. You just need to admit that you’re a lesbo and like to spank a girl’s ass, that’s all.”

  “What?!”, Tamara panics while pushing Jennifer away.

  Jennifer grins, “Heh.”

  Tamara wipes her eyes, “What are you talking about?”

  “Lezzzz-beeee-unnnnn. It’s not that hard to say.”

  Tamara’s head retreats questioningly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

  Jennifer looks upward, “Gawd, you even denser than Caroline.” The hostess drops her head and stares at her bff, “Stop it.”

  Tamara begins to say something, but decides against it. With her mouth slightly open, she looks away from Jennifer and stares at the bar’s surface.

  “I love you, Tam. You know that.”

  Tamara keeps staring at the bar.

  “What did you expect me from me? Did you want me throw a fit so you could have an excuse to ignore your feelings towards Mandie? I’m sure it would’ve made things easier for you, but you should know better than that from me.”

  Tamara shifts her eyes to look at Jennifer; yet, her head remains positioned in the direction of the bar.

  “You’re my best friend in the whole world. How could I ever live with myself knowing I had a chance to help you, but refused because I wanted to please you with the words you wanted from me?”

  Jennifer shakes her head, “I can’t.”

  “I do love you,” Jennifer continues, “And that’s why I’m telling you what you need to hear and not what you want me to say.”

  Jennifer crosses her arms, “So deal with it…you nasty whore.”

  Tamara lets out a quieted laugh. She takes a deep breath and exhales.

  “Lezzz,” Jennifer exaggerates the sound with her lips, “Le - lezzzzz-beeeee-unnnnn.”

  “I get it,” Tamara says quietly.

  “Say it, Tam.”

  “I don’t need to.”

  “Yes you do. Lezzzzz-le-le-le-lezzzzzzzzzzzz.”

  “Okay-okay. Just stop that.”

  Jennifer’s brows raise high on her forehead while she waits in anticipation.

  “Lesbian. Happy now?”

  Clap-clap-clap!

  “Good for you,” Jennifer says while leaning in to hug Tamara. She creates a space of about twelve-inches between their bodies. She pats Tamara’s back like she is contagious with a disease before releasing her and taking an extra step back. She looks at her bff while her right hand covers her mouth and nose.

  “Ha…ha,” Tamara says the words mockingly, “Very funny.”

  Jennifer drops her hand to her side and turns her back to Tamara, “I thought it was.”

  She walks around the bar, grabs the Crown Royal, and begins pouring, “One more to celebrate my nasty – oh so nasty – lezzzzzzzz-le-le….I just can’t say it. Sorry.”

  Jennifer winks as she pushes Tamara’s shot glass in front of her. She raises hers in the air. Tamara follows her lead.

  Clink!

  Tamara sits her glass down after gulping down its contents. She appreciates Jennifer with her eyes. Her bff returns the sentiment with a nod. She watches as Jennifer slides her phone over. She swipes her fingers over the phone and begins texting.

  “Uh-oh,” Jennifer looks at the name she sent the message to.

  “What did you do now?”

  Jennifer locks her phone and slides it away, “Nothing. Just downloaded the wrong song. Got in a hurry.”

  “I hate it when I do that.”

  “Same here.”

  “We need to talk about Mandie,” Jennifer quickly changes the subject off of her phone.

  “I ended it. There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “Actually there is,” Jennifer disagrees, “Maybe not Mandie in particular, but you.”

  “I said it. Isn’t that enough?”

  “Your spanking fetish, Tam.”

  “Whoa – I’m not sure…”

  “Oh, did I say spanking fetish? I meant severe beating to the inch of one’s life.”

  “Dammit Jen, I feel bad as it is. You’re making it sound even worse. I have plenty of guilt already. I know what I did. I was there, remember?”

  “Look,” Jennifer ignores her bff’s plea, “I’ve known you forever. I get it. It’s who you are.”

  “I’m not…”

  Jennifer holds up her left hand, “Wait.”

  Tamara pauses in mid-speech against her better judgment.

  “After talking to Mandie, I know she’s your other half. What you did to her is not the issue here. It’s the fact that she’s an anguisette.”

  “A what?”

  “An anguisette – someone who feels pain like everyone else, but whenever she perceives the slightest bit of enjoyment from her friend or lover, her pain becomes pleasurable. She can’t control it.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”

  “Mandie told me. So I looked it up. There’s not a whole lot of info on it. The word’s mainly used as an explanation for submissives in BDSM who are into extreme punishment, but that’s not accurate.”

  “Kinda sounds accurate to me.”

  “It’s not,” Jennifer replies, “Not for Mandie. She is a real anguisette.”

  “Jen, I’m not understanding where this is going.”

  “I found something about it in ancient times. Over the years, anguisette has been divided into two separate meanings. One is the BDSM meaning.”

  “And the other?”

  “The other is a spin off. They call it a succubus.”

  “Ha-ha-ha.”

  “No, I’m serious.”

  “A succubus? Ha-ha-ha.”

  “Succubus is a demon, but the terminology is linked to anguisette.”

  “So Mandie's a demon? Is that what you’re telling me? Ha-ha…”

  “Stop it and listen.”

  “I am listening. Do you know how this sounds?”

  “Mandie’s not a demon and she’s not a succubus either. The more she pleasures, the more she makes the other person desire to do more. They become spelled – both of them.”

  Tamara’s amusing attitude abruptly stops.

  “What did you just say?”

  “Ahhhh…something sound familiar?”

  Tamara stares at her bff, “She’s a witch?”

  “No, Tam. She’s an anguisette.”

  “What is an anguisette? She has magical powers?”

  Jennifer thinks better than to mention anything remotely close to what she understands about Juli
anna. She treads carefully.

  “An anguisette can’t control her actions after the first rush of pain turns on her. When she loses control, so does the other person. Mandie didn’t spell you – the anguisette did.”

  “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of. You’ve got to be messing with me.”

  “Wish I was.”

  If this was any other person attempting this conversation with her, Tamara would laugh all the way to the front door and never come back. But it’s not. It is Jennifer. And as comedic as her bff can be at times, Tamara knows when Jennifer is being serious. This is one of those moments. There isn’t a single sign of playtime within her friend’s eyes.

  “You’re actually serious.”

  “A succubus,” Jennifer continues, “is the explanation for an unseen force stealing your life force. So is incubus. Succubus is female and incubus is male. But in reality, it is a demon. People created the terms to free themselves for fantasizing about people other than their boyfriend or girlfriend.”

  Jennifer holds out both palms in a defensive manner, “No disrespect intended.”

  “None taken, Jen. But how’d they get succubus and incubus out of anguisette?”

  “I’m not sure, but they did cause that’s where I tracked it to.”

  “Hmm… still sounds weak.”

  “The only thing I can figure is that an anguisette is the exact opposite of succubus and incubus. Instead of stealing your life force, Mandie spelled you into stealing hers. Did you find it tough to stop yourself?”

  “You did see her, right?”

  “That’s exactly my point.”

  “So how do I control it?”

  Jennifer’s head retreats, “I thought you broke it off?”

  “I did, but just in case I run into another anguisette.”

  “Pfft – you know that’ll never happen. You’re in love with her and you know it.”

  Tamara checks her bff’s eyes for condemnation. She sees none.

  “I’m not in love with her. I barely know her.”

  “We’re not doing this, Tam. I watched you at practice, in the parking lot, in the restroom, walking in the hallways…”

  “Alright, I get it.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  Tamara pauses in thought before, finally, speaking.

  “Has she said anything about me?”

  Jennifer grins, “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “Come on, Jen. You’ve known me longer than her.”

  “Heh. I like seeing you beg. Maybe you’re an anguisette?”

  “Stop that. Just tell me.”

  “Maybe I should just tell you what I told her.”

  “No.”

  “She said she’d leave you alone. Whatever makes you happy.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I gave you her statement. You could’ve had mine, but…”

  “Come one, Jen. Stop messing with me. You’re killing me.”

  “I told her that I thought my bff was making the worse mistake of her life.”

  “No you didn’t.”

  “Better believe it.”

  “Is that how you feel?”

  Jennifer narrows her brows for emphasis. Her words are clear and precise.

  “You…are-the…dumbest…bitch…I-know.”

  Tamara grins.

  “I started this conversation to give you some insight, Tam. You need to understand what’s at stake. This goes beyond feelings. You are her other half...and she is yours. I can see it even if you can’t. But together, you guys are dangerous for one another.

  “And for a moment I thought you were trying to put us back together.”

  “That’s on you two lesbo freaks. I don’t give a crap about that. But what I do care about is whether or not my bff goes to prison to be executed. You had to be aware of what was going on. Now you are. My job here is finished – finito. Who you call your girlfriend is none of my business. And I damn well better not hear any details.”

  “Please tell me how you really feel.”

  “Just did, bitch.”

  “Heh,” Tamara amuses. Over the years, she and Jennifer have picked up similar behaviorisms from one another. One of which is the way they sometimes laugh.

  “So Mandie told you she was anguisette?”

  “Yep.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I thought she was a psychotic suicidal sociopath. Any more questions?”

  “No, guess not.”

  “Good – cause I have a lot to do today. And if you make me miss meeting my favorite artist in the whole world, it’s your ass.”

  “I want to see Amy, too. Why would I make you miss the party?”

  “I have no idea – just trying to make sure. There’s no telling what’s going on in that lesbian head of yours.”

  “You’re not my type,” Tamara teases back.

  “You know, it’s a good thing we’re in our senior year.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I’d seriously hate to have to chop up my bff for looking at me in the shower after cheer practice.”

  “Oh - please. I think you’d like it. Just think about all of the times we slapped each other’s butts over the years. It never felt weird and you were usually the one who always started it. Come to think of it, I only remember getting my ass slapped whenever we were naked.”

  “Pfft,” Jennifer rolls her eyes. Her brown eyes freeze in mid-roll rotation. She darts her gaze back to her grinning bff. She stares blankly. Her head retreats with an unforeseen visual.

  She watches Tamara pucker her lips and kiss the air between them. Jennifer’s eyes widen.

  “Ewww! Why’d you have to say that?”

  Tamara tilts her head curiously. “What’s the matter? I thought you enjoyed a good joke?”

  Jennifer gags. She shakes her head to combat the nausea building in her belly.

  “I think a shower sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe right after our nap?”

  Jennifer turns her head to the right as she gags again. She, frantically, waves at the air with her left hand.

  “I know you’ve been dying to talk about this. And it’s really nice to see you revisit the good ‘ole days. There’s no telling how long I’ve been like this. Maybe since we played dress up? Who can really know?”

  Jennifer gags with a convulsive response from her gut. She glances at Tamara with angry eyes. Her bff is waving at her with girlie fingers and a big smile. Jennifer immediately covers her mouth and turns her back towards her bff. She gags – her eyes fixating on the trash can by the wall directly ahead. She darts forward and drops to all fours.

  “Maybe I should try my hand at some comedy...”

  Jennifer grunts as she lets out her first signs of a purge.

  “…I mean – after all, I’ve dropped my bff to her knees...We could both get naked on the stage and…”

  Jennifer lets out a second grunt as her purge announces it is now time to be consumed. As she does it, she is reminded of how she toyed with Caroline under similar circumstances.

  “…Yep…I should try that.”

  * * *

  “Who are these people?”, Rebecca questions within her frustration. She turns and looks at Caroline. The captain of the cheer squad has her right arm pointed towards the front of her driveway.

  Caroline glances at the Network’s sports utility vehicles. Tinted windows hide the occupants inside.

  “Amy Lee’s security,” Caroline says. She points further down the street at some oncoming traffic, “But those guys are here to help us set up.”

  Rebecca follows Caroline’s pointer finger and observes a trail of semi-trucks heading towards her house.

  “What do they have in there – the entire high school?

  Caroline lowers her arm. She makes eye contact with Rebecca, “It’s a wall.”

  “A wall.”

  “Yes, a wall.”

  “And why do they have a wall?”

  Ring. Ring.<
br />
  “One sec,” Rebecca says while staring at the trucks heading her way. She reaches into her back pocket and retrieves her phone.

  “It’s Jenny,” Rebecca informs while swiping her right index finger over her phone. She reads the text message:

  Hey. Tam jst admtd hr lsbnsm. So srry for tsng u about u enjyng slppng yur cusn ass. Luv u.

  “What in the fuck?”

  Caroline’s eyes widen as she hears Rebecca’s words. It is the second time Caroline has heard this inexcusable filthy example of language usage. Jennifer, she understands. That girl has been fighting her filthy mouth for years. Rebecca, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of Jennifer – slang is her forte. Not to mention, she abhors the concepts in which that word was created. She never uses it…never. Even as high-strung as Becca can be at times, Caroline cannot recall ever hearing that word come from her Captain’s lips.

  “Something wrong?”

  Rebecca holds out her phone, “I think this is for you.”

  Caroline scans over the phone. When Rebecca lowers the screen from her face, Caroline has no idea what should be said.

  “Um - yeah…”

  “Tamara’s a lesbian. And you didn’t think I might need to know that?”

  “Uh…I thought she should tell us.”

  “So she has no idea that you know either.”

  “No.”

  Rebecca looks back at her phone with a frustrated glare.

  “Since when do you have a cousin? And you’re playing with his ass? That’s freakin’ nasty, Caroline.”

  “It’s not how it sounds. You know how Jen can be.”

  Rebecca holds her phone inches from Caroline’s face. She recites the words, “Enjoying slapping your cousin’s asssssss.”

  Caroline remains silent as Rebecca lowers her phone. She grins awkwardly and shrugs her shoulders.

  “Ma’am?”

  Rebecca looks over to her left. A man wearing a black business suit walks towards her. She swipes her phone and places it into her back pocket.

  Rebecca looks at Caroline, “We’re not even done with this yet.”