by Melissa Aden
“Yay! You’re having fun. See, I told you,” Mia said.
We laughed and giddily danced together for a time as the music intensified.
“Ugh! It’s so hot in here.” Mia fanned herself with one hand, holding her curls off her damp neck with the other. “Let’s take a break.”
“You go. I’m good,” I answered, determined to hold out for Everett.
“Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Yes. I’m fantastic,” I said, twirling in circles to prove my point. The muscles in my legs were starting to burn, but I pressed on, continuing to swivel and sway and shake.
“Good,” Mia said, laughing. “I’ll come find you in a bit.”
I let go, dancing with abandon as the music phased into something more glorious. I felt someone’s touch on my hips. My heart fluttered. Everett had found me. I threw my arms in the air and danced, completely euphoric.
Then catching sight of the VIP section, I stopped. Everett was there, leaning against a wall near where Mia and others sat! Some girls vied for his attention, but he was oblivious, his piercing eyes staring directly at me.
If Everett is there, then who…
Panic spread through me as I quickly turned.
I gasped in shock.
Chapter 38
Entranced
“Don’t look so surprised!” Hagen chuckled, relishing the moment. “And don’t stop dancing with me,” he purred, draping my arms around his neck.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, pulling away. “What do you want?”
I shuddered as Jenny’s terrified face flashed through my mind, her blood-covered hands clutching tightly to her throat. The same cold fear I imagined she must have felt raced through my veins, freezing any trace of sunshine existing there. I turned to run for Everett, but Hagen caught hold of my arm and jerked me back, spinning me hard into his chest.
We were face to face. My heart dropped as I realized what he was going to do, knowing my fight would be over once he did it.
“Don’t be like this,” he soothingly said, looking deep into my eyes. “I know I hurt you, but I’m sorry. I regret everything. Please. Just dance with me.”
Hagen had entranced me before, but this was different — deeper, all-consuming, mind-numbing, stupefying. I couldn’t control myself or the strange thoughts running through my head.
From the moment I set eyes on Hagen, I knew I had to have him. I’ll do anything to make him mine. I want him. I need him. I love him.
“Okay,” I whispered, and we began to sway. “But there are so many other girls here,” I said in a far away voice. “Don’t you want them? I’m not good enough.”
“You’re the most beautiful girl here tonight. I want you, Sophie. Only you.”
“I want you, too,” I heard myself say.
With a sultry look, he leaned down and kissed my neck. It felt good to be wanted, to be loved. “Let’s get out of here. Go somewhere we’re alone.”
Don’t give in. Run! The warmth of Dio’s voice bubbled up through the ice of Hagen’s cold spell, evaporating the lies.
But then Hagen spoke again, blowing away all vapors of truth. “I can’t resist you. I’ve tried, but it’s no use. I’ve been watching you since I got here. Everyone has. You’re absolutely stunning.”
Nobody wants me but him. Hagen is my only hope for salvation, for a future, for happiness. I let his words — and the words in my head — fill me up, nourishing me like the withering, dying plant that I was.
“This past month has been absolute torture for me,” Hagen continued. “I hate being away from you. There’s a void in me that only you can satisfy. I tried to fill the void with so many different people and things, but I realized what I’ve been looking for.”
I looked into his eyes, feeling the electric anticipation of what he was about to say. “What? What have you been looking for?” I needed to hear it, desperate to know that somebody loved me, wanted me, desired me.
“You.” His voice oozed like honey, soothing and warm, taking me deeper into the trance-like state. I didn’t fight it. It felt too good. “Sophie, I need you. I want you. I love you.”
I closed my eyes, waiting for his words to make me whole and satisfy my soul, but completion never came.
He continued, “I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you, but PORTAL killed your mother.”
I gasped.
“PORTAL took her out so she couldn’t tell you the truth: that you were destined to be with me, to work for Lord Divaldo. They made up that stupid prophecy and forced your mother to lie, to tell everyone it was the Creator’s will. But your mother loved you and longed to tell you the truth, knowing that one day finding me and serving Lord Divaldo were the only things that would ever truly fulfill you.”
“No,” I whispered, confused by Hagen’s words.
“The day your mother died, it was PORTAL agents who were after you two, not Lord Divaldo. They mercilessly beat her and left her to die so she couldn’t tell you the truth. They took her away from you, Sophie. They did. And the Creator allowed it, knowing it would help his cause.”
He put his hand on my head and I immediately saw my mom: bloodied and alone, loss and grief on her tearstained face as she bled out in the middle of a dirty back alley.
“Sophie,” Mom called through anguished tears. “Dio did this to me. It’s Dio’s fault.”
“Mom!” I cried.
Removing his hand, Hagen looked on me with pity. “The agents thought they’d covered their tracks, but your father discovered the truth: that he and your mom had been betrayed, that the Creator would do anything to manipulate you for more power.”
“No.” I trembled.
“Don’t cry, my sweet Sophie. Your time of sadness is over,” Hagen said, wiping my tears. “Because it’s time for our revenge. Come with me. We’ll conquer the world, just you and I. We’ll serve Lord Divaldo together. He’ll open your eyes to how the world really is, giving you whatever you desire. We’ll raze anyone who gets in our way, reveling in our great wealth and power. The world can be ours. We can have it all, including each other.” He buried his face in my neck. “Say you’ll come with me, Sophie. Say you’ll be mine.”
Being asked to join in world domination seemed strange, but my craving for love and companionship overruled any misgivings. If agreeing to serve Divaldo was means to attain these things, then there was only one choice.
I opened my mouth to say yes, but stopped short. Something vague and blunt drove at the back of my mind, like a forgotten thought trying to break into awareness. Not really knowing why, I turned my head, again meeting Everett’s gaze.
Everett! The thought shuddered through me, like a tremor. I want Everett. I want to help PORTAL. I want to serve The Creator. I returned to my senses, remembering my earlier experience and that Dio would save me if I asked him to. Help me, Dio!
Digging his fingers into my cheeks, Hagen forcefully turned my head to face him. “What do you think you’re doing?” he seethed, sensing the shift within me. His eyes pierced mine, injecting more of his numbing venom. “Sleep with me tonight, Sophie. I want you. You said you want me, too.”
I was inexplicably tolerant to his black magic. I had to try not to laugh at how ridiculous he looked, squinting and giving me eyes as he desperately attempted to transfix me with his spell. I was unaffected and knew the truth: Hagen didn’t love me or probably even like me. It was all one big conquest to him. I didn’t want him, his lies, or to serve Divaldo.
“No!” I shouted, breaking his grip.
“What?” It was his turn to look shocked and confused.
“I don’t want you, I don’t need you, and I’ll never serve Divaldo.”
Hagen’s arrogant expression turned to one of desperation. “I know you want this, too. You have to. Come with me. Seal the deal. Please! They’ll kill me if you don’t.”
Though I felt compassion for him, I stood my ground, knowing I couldn’t trust him. “No, Hagen.”
An
ger flashed in his face. “Fine. Have it your way,” he sneered. Taking off for the stairs, he dragged me behind him with incredible strength.
“No! Stop!” I yelled, struggling.
Panic and fear overtook me as I thought of what he’d do to me if he had the chance. My mind raced. Dio had already saved me from an attack orchestrated by Divaldo once tonight. Why was this happening again?
Dio protects his followers! I haven’t officially made my declaration. I knew what to do, yelling, “You don’t have authority to harm me. I choose to serve Dio.” I fell to the ground, free of Hagen’s hold.
Hagen doubled over, his face contorted. “Don’t say that name,” he groaned, his eyes bulging in pain.
I froze, stunned by his reaction. By the time I remembered to run, he’d nearly regained his composure. I took off through the crowd of dancers and he followed, quickly gaining on me. Then Everett appeared, spinning me behind him. Hagen skidded to a halt, nearly nose to nose with Everett.
“Game over, Hagen,” Everett said. “Sophie has chosen Dio, meaning you can’t touch her now.”
Hagen cringed at the mention of Dio’s name before smiling sinisterly. “I don’t serve Divaldo anymore, meaning I’m a free agent and can do whatever I want.”
“We both know it doesn’t work like that.”
“Let’s see,” Hagen said, lunging for me.
Everett shoved me. Before I knew what was happening, I was on the floor sliding away from Hagen and Everett. Scrambling to my feet, I looked around to find the two sparring a distance away — elegantly kicking, blocking, and punching too fast for me to follow. Spotting me, Hagen broke away, catching me by the arm.
“Ahhh!” he screamed in agony, holding his hand.
I couldn’t believe it, but smoke rose from the flesh of Hagen’s hand. I looked at my arm, finding it completely fine. With determination in his eyes, Hagen reached for me again, but Everett slid in front of me, backing us towards one of the bars as he deflected a series of kicks. People ran in all directions.
I heard Everett yell something over the music. “What?” I called back.
“Get behind the bar!” Everett hollered, turning to run behind me.
He must have seen Hagen draw out his knives, for silver glinted all around us, landing with staccato pings as we launched ourselves behind the abandoned bar. Everett huddled over me as Hagen reduced all visible alcohol bottles to shards, glass and liquid raining down around us. Once the shower stopped, Everett began rummaging through nearby cabinets.
“What are you doing?”
“Hagen is out of knives,” Everett said. “I need to find a weapon before he does.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when the assault resumed, this time by serving trays launched Frisbee-style, shattering what little remained of the bar’s mirrored wall and shelving. Following Everett’s lead, I too began searching, discovering a cabinet full of glasses.
“Here!” I shouted, holding a glass out to Everett.
I fed him an assortment of glasses as he threw them, then using alcohol bottles when the glasses were gone. The process worked fine until a tray careened into Everett’s head, knocking him to the floor.
“Are you alright?” I gasped.
“Yeah.” Everett shook the stars from his eyes. “Enough of this,” he growled, grabbing two trays and jumping over the bar.
Hearing a series of loud cracks, I peered over after him. Everett and Hagen fought with a serving tray in each hand, succinctly swinging and kicking like skilled dancers. This went on for a time until Everett got a good hit over Hagen’s head. Hagen stumbled backwards, apparently stunned, before abandoning his trays and lunging, taking Everett to the ground.
The two rolled over the glass-laden floor, red blotches appearing on their shirts. Everett seemed to be winning until Hagen flipped, securing him in a chokehold. Hagen gritted his teeth in pain, maintaining the hold despite the smoke rising off his arm from direct contact with Everett’s skin. Spying a nearby tray, I grabbed it and ran, bringing it down on Hagen’s head again and again until he turned and launched me backwards. I landed on my back, slamming my head into the ground — pain well worth it for Everett to break free.
Hagen writhed on the floor, blood flowing down his face from a gash on his forehead. Everett stood and jerked him up before freezing with a gasp. His face grew pained and his eyes bulged before he quickly withdrew his hand, staring at it in disbelief. Sensing defeat, Hagen took advantage of the moment, turning and running.
Everett whipped out his phone and dialed. “Don’t let Hagen out of the building. He’s escaped,” he quickly ordered, already rushing towards me. “Are you okay?” he asked, helping me up.
“Yeah,” I answered. Hugging him, he groaned. “Sorry!” I winced, remembering the cuts covering his chest and back.
“It’s nothing,” Everett said, though it was obvious he was in pain. He turned. “I need to go.” I followed after him and he stopped. “Alone.”
“Oh,” I said. “Okay.”
He sighed. “Don’t look so defeated. I just… I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“This! Whatever this is!” He sighed, putting his hand to my cheek. “It’s for your own good. I want to be with you, Sophie — I do — but tonight only reiterates that my fixation with you prevents me from protecting you. I can’t put you at risk anymore. It’s too dangerous.”
“What?” I backed away, not understanding what he was saying. “You’re telling me you want to be with me and that you’re leaving me in the same breath?”
Everett’s face went cold. “I gotta’ go.”
He turned, his dress shoes harshly clicking across the empty dance floor. Until now, I hadn’t noticed the DJ had cut the music, and the silence only amplified the echo of Everett’s receding footsteps — the sound of him abandoning me.
I couldn’t process all that had just happened. Too many emotions cluttered the same space within me, making me feel like I’d explode: Peace about my decision to serve Dio. Fear of Hagen. Elation at Everett admitting feelings for me. Anger at him for escaping as soon as he’d done it.
I was sick of being pushed around and told what to do — tired of watching loved ones leave me. What about what I wanted? Wasn’t that what Everett had taught me? To consider what was best for me? Then I realized what I wanted was good for Everett too.
I set off in the direction Everett had gone just as the DJ began playing again. The crowd broke into pandemonium, everyone charging the dance floor as I glimpsed Everett heading up the stairs. I followed after him, but for every step forward, was pushed back two.
“Let me through. Excuse me. I need to leave, please,” I hollered. Realizing my polite approach wasn’t working, I covered my mouth and yelled, “I think I’m going to be sick!” I watched in amazement as the waters frantically parted. True to form, I ran the rest of the way with my hand over my mouth and my cheeks puffed out, making gagging noises for effect.
Reaching the stairs, I took off my shoes and sprinted to the front entrance, throwing the doors open and… wham! A painful, tingly sensation spread through my face as I dislodged it from Evan’s muscular back. It was like running headlong into a brick wall.
“What the—!” Evan turned and looked down. “Sophie!” He steadied me. Seeing the panic on my face, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen a guy with dark hair, about this tall, muscular with green eyes?” I asked, motioning frantically.
“Honey, I’ve seen a lot of people tonight,” he said, gesturing to the long line of people waiting to get into the club.
Then I remembered. “Everett Sinclair! He works at PORTAL so you should know him, right?” It was my last shred of hope.
“Rett?” Evan asked. I nodded, heart fluttering. “I’m sorry. He just left. You should go back inside. It’s cold out here.” He opened the door.
I was turning when I heard something. “Here you are, Mr. Sinclair.” I looked up. Everett
was just handing the valet attendant a tip in exchange for his car keys. He got in his car.
“No!”
I ran, the frigid Minnesota wind stinging my skin through my thin dress as I part-slid-part-sprinted across the snow-covered pavement. Using the weather to my advantage, I pushed off, surfing the ground’s icy surface in front of Everett’s car. He hit the brakes, nearly careening into my legs. I could see the stunned expression on his face through the front window. I stood there, frozen, not sure what to do.
“What are you doing?” Everett hollered incredulously. “Get. Back. Inside!”
“No!” I defiantly yelled back.
“It’s freezing out here.” He looked confused. “Go find Mia.”
“Take me with you.”
A glint of amusement pooled in his eyes, feeding my hope. It was all I needed.
“It’s not wise,” Everett started, but it was too late. I had already slid into the passenger seat beside him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going with you,” I answered.
“Sophie, it’s not safe.”
“I don’t care.”
“I’m not going back to Brightman.”
“I don’t care. I just want to be with you.” I put it out there, like a badge to see and shine.
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Drive!” I ordered.
He smiled and hit the gas.
Chapter 39
Zapped
Everett drove so fast it took my breath away. Trees, fields, and houses whizzed by in an endless blur of black and gray.
“S… s… slow duh… duh… duh… down,” I stuttered through chattering teeth.
The heater was on full blast and Everett’s coat was draped around me. I nestled into it, breathing in his smell as I shivered.
“Sorry, but I can’t. We’re being followed,” Everett calmly replied, like he’d said a normal, everyday thing.