:::::Chapter 24:::::title> </head> <body><center> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="//ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </center>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-4KX380T5BD"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-4KX380T5BD'); </script>  <geoads></geoads>   <B> <P align=justify>This chapter does NOT contain adult content. But the leadings up TO adult content. If you are not of age of consent, can't stomach such things or just plain old ain't mature DON'T READ ANY FURTHER</P> <P align=justify>The chapter after this one WILL contain adult content. Not the ACTUAL act but the leadings up to, the before, the after, and if I'm in the sick and twisted mood, a scream or two, or four, or ten. <FONT color=red>>:}</FONT> </P> <P align=justify>E-mail me with complaints compliments or just plain old thoughts. <A href="mailto:deedubya@doramail.com">deedubya@doramail.com</A> </P> <P align=justify>((((((((VIEWER DISCRETION HAS BEEN ADVISED)))))</P> <P align=justify> </P> <P align=justify>***thump*** ***thump***</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify> </P> <P align=justify> </P> <P align=justify>***thump*** ***thump***</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>If ever there had been a time in his life that Luis had <B>wanted</B> to be the alleged mafiaso that he had falsely been rumored to be, it were now, as they watched Dr. Meadows concentrate on the monitor, tapping her chin and occasionally emitting a �hrmmm�. Never in his life had being patient been so <I>HEART</I> <I>WRENHING</I>. This coming from a man that had once waited-- patiently-- whilst his dear uncle had inspected an entire 15 floor mansion for bombs, explosives and booby traps, before entering, finding a room and sleeping for the first time in 8 solid days. </P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>***thump*** *** thump***</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>But this, this he could not handle.</P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>***thump*** ***thump***</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The uncertainty of it all. The anxiety of it all. The fear and apprehension were palpable. And he hadn�t the slightest idea how to broach the subject-- or the doctor for that fact, without sounding like a complete lunatic.</P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>***thump*** ***thump***</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>As he turned to Brenda he felt his heart palpitate beneath his chest. Between the two of them he didn�t know who was suffering or panicking more. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and whispered. �I�m sure it�s okay, babe.�</P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>***thump*** ***thump***</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The doctor sat with her back to them as she moved the device along her womb, but made no move to reassure the frantic couple. It was unnerving, but on the other hand oddly reassuring that they weren't being coddled when something serious could be wrong. But it was <B>maddening </B>because she wasn't saying a word what so ever. Not so much as an <I>�ah ha!�.</I> It was about to drive Luis mad!</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Ex-excuse me." He leaned forward a little his hand never leaving his wife�s. "I don't mean to be rude... but could you tell us what you're seeing?"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Dr. Meadows smiled at them. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just had to make sure."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The looked at each other, then back to her. "Sure of what?" Sniffled Brenda, wiping her eyes with her free hand.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"That the baby's are okay." She smiled.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Both Luis and Brenda sat up sharply.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Babies?" Gasped softly, her hand over her mouth.</P><B><I> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"PLURAL?!"</B></I> Gulped Luis.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Dr. Meadow's smiled as she nodded her head enthusiastically. Luis and Brenda looked at one another in awe, amazement and a touch of fear. However not even Luis could allow himself to feel total joy. Instead his heart was heavy with fear. <I>What if history repeats itself?</I> His mind nagged incessantly overriding his initial elation. <I>I won't let it happen. I refuse too,</I> he decided as he gave Brenda a halfhearted smile that was as transparent as glass.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She could feel it too. The worry. The Dread. The all encompassing fear...</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>They couldn't control it.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>But that didn't mean they wouldn't try.</P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=center>**************************************</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"We were murdered in our home the day that Eduardo and Azora received their GED's." She sighed sadly. "They went to the ceremony early, but we never made it." She shook her head. "Most of us had already been killed by then."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"That's <B><I><U>horrible</I>.</B></U>" Exclaimed Courtney.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Yeah, they were so looking forward to that dadgum ceremony. It wasn't your average graduation ceremony. Normally people who their GED don't <I><U>get</I></U> a ceremony. But in our town they wanted the GED recipients to feel special too. So they would hold a ceremony to acknowledge their accomplishments, their success and the betterment of their future." She smiled at the memory, but then looked away sadly.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Their moment in the sun was diminished by a dark cloud though. While at the ceremony they kept looking for us, but they couldn�t find us." She recalled soberly. "A feeling of unease settled over them, causing them to leave before their names were called. They rushed home."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Antoinette winced. "They walked in on our Poppi being stabbed to death-- they startled the murderer."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"That's <I><U>awful</I>!</U>" Gasped Courtney.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Oh, it gets worse, honey." She warned. "They held our Poppi as he died, as he begged Eduardo to take care of himself and Azora. Afterwards, as they comforted one another they realized that the house was trashed. Staged in such a manner that it looked like Azora had finally lost her marbles and went on a murderess rampage.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"By that time they also heard the sirens. The cops had been alerted to the commotion and one look at the crime scene and Azora would have been on the next bus to the electric chair. But the <I><U>real</I></U> murderer hadn't counted on Eduardo being with her.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"They started to freak out. Eduardo wanted to run, but Azora-" she sighed heavily, "-Azora," she shook her head sadly. "She felt a sense of obligation. To her, in her own mind, she was responsible for our deaths. Because as long as we'd been with her there had always been this thinly veiled threat against her and us. A nameless, faceless, almost mystical presence that was watching over our every movement. Sometimes it didn't feel threatening, it was more of a protector. And sometimes. it felt like there were two presences-- one good, the other presumable, evil-- both fighting for domination over the other and in the end over us.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"And other times, it REALLY felt like there was someone following us. It was as though they were lurking in the shadows, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce." She sighed once more.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"We thought that someone was after her. It never occurred to us that it were <I><U>us</I></U> who were in the most mortal of danger."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Anyway, out of a sense of finality and guilt, Azora stayed behind. She <I><U>forced</I> </U>Eduardo to leave, because she didn't want him to be arrested as any sort of accomplice to his familys� murder."<BR><BR>"But they were innocent!" Fumed Courtney.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Antoinette shrugged. "Try telling that to a person who felt that she was responsible for the death of 90% of the only family she had ever known. It didn't matter to her, or the cops. The local priest had just been slaughtered and there stood his mysterious adopted daughter covered in his blood. On a superficial level all the evidence <B>pointed </B>to Azora as the perpetrator and Eduardo as a co-conspirator since they were the only ones left alive. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"The community wanted swift justice, and rather that look beyond the noses upon their own faces, they decided that she <B>had</B> to be guilty. Judge jury and executioner all rolled up in one." She added softly.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"But Eduardo was able to leave the scene of the crime unnoticed?" </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She nodded. "Yes, and as he ran away, and promptly got himself hit by a car driven by the <B><I><U>actual</B></I></U> murderer."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Courtney gasped. "Was he trying to tie up lose ends?"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Actually," she winced," he had forgotten about Eduardo all together and was attempting to off him that way."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"But he was able to get away, right?"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Antoinette chuckled wryly. "Of<B> course</B> he did. This is Eduardo we're talking about. Dang human cat slid across the car hood of the mo-rons car and just kept on runnin" She proclaimed almost boasting, but her smile waned as she added, "but not after getting an eye full of his family�s murderer. In other words, becoming a target for the rest of his life."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"That's HORRIFIC! But how did he --"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"-- get Azora free of the charges?" She finished her companions� sentence.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"YES!"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Well, Eduardo, after scraping what little information he could gleam off the police, looked at it piece by piece, agonizing over every detail. Eventually, he was able to prove conclusively that there wasn't an ice cubes chance in hell that Azora <B>could</B> have been the murderer even is she <B><I>tried</B></I>."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"HOW?"</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"Simple." she smiled softly. "She's left handed. And I mean VERY left-handed. Every direction is left to her. Tell her to go right and she'll turn left. Tap her on the right shoulder and she'll turn to the left. And we," she winced, knowing that what was about to say had a very surrealistic sound to it, "we were all killed by someone exceedingly right handed." She turned away from Courtney to look at the ocean.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"That must have been <B>horrific</B> for him. To have to relive those moments in order to prove her innocence... just horrific."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Antoinette let out a shaky breathe as she replied. "It was bad. Almost more than he could handle. He--" she swallowed hard against the lump forming in her throat. "He almost ended it once."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>"It took the combined efforts of Mummie, Poppie, Aurora, Fernando, Carlos, myself and Azora-- whom a nice guard at her jail had let out for one day because she could feel it coming, to keep him from going over the edge."</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She turned and bore her eyes into to Courtney�s. "Wanna talk about feeling helpless. Stand around a table with your deceased family and your adopted sister beseeching your baby brother <B><U>not</B></U> to take the pain pill and jack Daniels way out."</P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=center>XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX</P></B> <P align=center></P> <P align=justify>He had stopped muttering to himself when she had started to dress him. When she had started to button his shirt and the buttons at his wrists he had become eerily quiet, too quiet for her liking. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Coni?� She whispered, his eyes were looking off into the distance, not necessarily at anything in her room, just off in the distance. �Coni?� She called out a little louder, her hands on his shoulders.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He jumped, startled the second time. �I-I�m sorry.� He whispered, in the tone he remembered to use for fear of reprisals. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Don�t apologized, not to me at least.� She reminded him, though she knew it wouldn�t be the last time she reminded him. �C�mere.� She instructed as she stood up in front of him, with her hands out to assist him.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>It was a good thing too, as his body was weak, his spirit exhausted and his muscles sore beyond belief. With a groan she assisted him to his feet. As he stood up she had to catch him because a head rush caused his legs to become like jell-o. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Woah,� she called out breathily as she caught him, her arms under his armpits, from falling all the way to the floor. �Are you okay, Coni?� She asked softly, her eyes searching his face for a reaction, an honest to God reaction, not the guarded reaction she knew she would receive.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�I�m-- I�m fine.� He groaned, but she could tell that he was having great difficulty finding his bearings. His eyes dilated, his pupils becoming big then small until they rested at their normal size after he closed his eyes for a few seconds.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Are you sure?� She asked slowly, not letting go for fear of him falling to the floor.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He paused just long enough to give her a heart attack before quietly nodding. She hesitated to let go, but once he was on his own two feet she let go, though she stood close by just in case.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He stood before her with his eyes cast down, head bowed, shoulders slumped forward, and his arms cradling his still tender rib cage looking ravaged and near collapsed. �I hate this as much as you do.� She whispered. �You know that don�t you?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify> </P> <P align=justify> </P> <P align=justify>�I have to do this.� He whispered softly.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�I just wish there were another way.� At her confession he slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers. His eyes were filled with unshed tears, beyond the tears you could see his fear as clear as day. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He licked his lips, glanced at the door and then stepped for ward just a little. �C-c-can I have a hug?� He asked in a barely audible whisper.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She blinked, hesitating. He took her hesitation as rejection and was quick to take a step back. But she was just as quick to assuage those misinterpreted signs by pulling him into her arms against her chest and held onto him for dear life. She could feel him trembling with fear and trepidation, and she knew exactly why.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�What if it doesn�t come back to me?� His trembling voice was muffled by his own emotion and her shoulder. �What if I mess up? What if I don�t please him? Will someone that Zander loves die?� He sobbed, his fingers desperately grasping at the fabric of her clothing.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She stiffened and he had his answer. There were no assurances that she could give him. Cole was cruel and ruthless, and they both knew that he <B><I>would</B> </I>and <B><I>could</B></I> kill anyone at anytime for no other reason than he was having a bad day.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She hesitated before pulling away just enough to hold his face in her hands and wipe away his tears with the pads of her thumbs and lean their foreheads together. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Try, Coni, you have to.� <I>No pressure or anything but the lives of the people you as your former self loved are the only thing on the line.</I> But she hadn�t the audacity to say it to him whilst he was in such a fragile state. <I>When Faith gets here I�m going to give Coni to her for a spell and get good and high for a day or two. I deserve it, dammit.</I> But even the thought of it seemed less enticing now and she chided her own selfishness. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She moved her fingers from his cheeks to the back of his hair, consciously making sure that he felt her movements so as not to startle him any further. Her fingers played with his hair, eventually she threaded her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and fiddled with the longish hair there as she tried to sooth him in the only way she knew-- besides sex.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�I will�I swear.� He whispered his voice soft and breathy.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She could feel his tense muscles loosening bit by bit. �Good, good.� She offered softly, trying to lull him into his safe place, where the pain and the agony couldn�t touch him. �Just remember, whatever he does, whatever he makes you do, don�t <I>scream.</I>� She whispered with soft insistence, and prayed that it had some resonance in his mind.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>His drooping eyes opened a little. �B-But--�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Sssssh,� <I>Oh God. He really hasn�t remembered everything yet.� </I>she thought with a streak of unadulterated horror running through her. �Just remember, don�t cry and don�t scream, it�ll only make him angrier.� He shuddered at the thought. �You have to swallow down the pain and the tears and the emotions.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She pulled away to look into his eyes and was struck by the absolute timidity she way in his soft hazel eyes, that and an over abundance of fear. �Can you do that for, Petra?� She asked, her fingers still twirling his hair.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He gave her a barely perceptible nod, but it was more than enough for her to understand. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Just stuff it down?� He asked tremulously. �Just lock it away forever?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�No, no, no forever.� She assured him. �Just until you�re back with me and Cole�s not in the room and my arms around you?� The specifics were tedious, but necessary. Coleman was a stickler for detail, if nothing else.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�You--� he paused, as though somewhat afraid of the response he would receive. �Y-you w-won�t laugh at me for c-crying?� he sniffled. �Or if I f-feel like s-screaming, because of the hurt?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She shook her head. �No, and you can scream, Coni. Once you�re with me and there aren�t any witnesses around, you�re going to need it.� She assured him, her whispery voice sincere, �I�ll never laugh at you, Coni. Except for that one time, which I have apologized for, I have never laughed at you.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>His brow furrowed in confusion. �I don�t remember.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She smiled sadly. �You will,� <I>unfortunately.</P></I> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>There was a knock at the door causing them to jump apart. Coni started to breathe heavy as his face drained of all color.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Just breathe,� she whispered, patting his cheek before answering the door. �What do you want?� She demanded upon seeing that it was Max.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�The kid. I�m supposed to deliver him to Cole.� He sneered.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She blinked, then rolled her eyes incredulously. �Over <I>my</I> rotting corpse.� She hissed as she walked back to Coni, faced Max and held Coni�s hand behind her back.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�That can be arranged.� He snipped back without hesitation.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She felt Coni frantically squeeze her hand sharply. In return she gave him a barely perceptible nod of reassurance, but Max noticed and sniffed. �Awwww, how coot. Da wittle wove birds, wookin� after one another.� He mockingly put his hand over his heart-- as if he had one.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�<B>Back</B> <B><I>off</B></I> Max.� She snarled.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Why? You aren�t the only one that enjoys a quickie now and then.� His eyes raked over Coni�s body ravenously. Coni shuddered, pulling his body further behind Petra�s to block Max�s view of his form.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She could feel her blood begin to boil. �Ah ah ah.� She whispered huskily, smiling coyly at the dimwitted man she openly loathed. �Ladies first. Didn�t your momma teach you any manners?� She cooed mimicking his earlier mocking.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Ah, <I>c�mon</I> Petra! You�ve had more than ample time to have your way with him!� He complained petulantly. She half expected him to start stomping his feet and holding his breath in protest. �Let the rest of us have some fun!!�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She rolled her eyes. �Why should I? So that you and your tactless wonder twin Miles can cram you dicks up his ass before Cole? So that the two of you can demean and humiliate him <B><I>before</I> </B>Cole? Or is it that Maxy and Milesy aren�t getting any in their personal lives and have to fuck a prisoner to get their collective jollies?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�That�s NONE of your business BITCH!�</P> <P align=justify></P><B><I> <P align=justify>Score!</P></B></I> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Uh huh,� she smirked. �Soooo Maxy, how longs it been?� She quipped, her eye brow quirked playfully. �And I�m not talking about what you do to yourself when you read those smut magazines. I�m talking one on one, person to person, man to woman, consensual, <B><I>sex</B></I>.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>His face turned red with rage.</P> <P align=justify></P> <DIR> <DIR> <P align=justify>�<I>That </I>long, eh?� She tsked her tongue.</P> <P align=justify></P></DIR></DIR> <P align=justify>He stormed across the threshold, marched up to her, got into her face and wagged his finger indignantly. �You fucking <B>bitch</B>!�</P><I> <P align=justify></P></I> <P align=justify>�Well <I>you�re</I> a fucking <B><I>bastard</B></I>!� She roared back.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He raised his hand to slap her and she narrowed his eyes as if to dare him to do it. He growled before storming off. Though before he left he turned and hissed. �You�ve won this round, bitch.� He drew it out slowly, his voice gravelly and low. �But you won�t always win,� he snickered. �Isn�t that <B><I>RIGHT</B></I> Consequence?� He called out harshly. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Coni didn�t answer, he just shuddered. Petra pulled him closer to her so that he was pressed right up against her back. He laughed as he left, slamming the door so hard is nearly shook the stone walls of her room.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Petra waited until she was sure he was gone before letting out a long sputtering sigh of relief. But Coni was still shaking. She turned around and pulled him close, putting her hand on his cheek. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�You did<B><I> fine.</B></I>�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She didn�t like the look his eyes as she caressed away his tears. �Just do like I told you. Even if it means going so deep inside of yourself that it takes you a while to come back out. It that�s what you have to do to satisfy him- but not scream- then you do that. Okay?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He sniffled as he nodded. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She lifted his chin from his chest and raised it so that she could see his beautiful hazel eyes. �Show me.� She wanted to see it. It was almost like she needed to know not just for the sake of knowing, but for her own sake, she would know that he was safe.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>It only took a few seconds before his eyes clouded over. Slowly his facial muscles started to relax, and then, finally, his face was blank of all emotion. She smiled, but inwardly she hated it and herself for making him do it. But more than anything, she hated Cole for making things so it had to be this way.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Good. Good. Can you--� before she even asked his eyes drooped shut and slowly reopened. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�My, my. Something really <I>are</I> like getting on a bicycle.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�A bicycle? Coni�s never ridden on a bicycle before.� He whispered softly, biting his lip self-consciously.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Petra chuckled. �It�s a figure of speech, Coni.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Oh. I�m sorry.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Don�t be.� She smiled softly.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She looked at the clock and frowned. It was almost time for his <B><I>Date With Destiny</B></I>.<I> Destiny my ass,</I> she fumed.<I> And its all about this stupid vendetta.</I> </P><B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�</B>We have to go now.� He face fell and he once more dropped his head as Cole would expect it. Petra sighed sadly, patting his cheek. �Just remember, Coni, go as deep as you have to. And if it�s hard getting back that�s okay. I�ll take care of you.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Thank you,� he whispered softly as she led him out of the room and down the hall.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Don�t thank me yet, Coni.� As they wandered through the halls she couldn�t help but get more and more angry. Not just with Cole, but herself. �<I>Who am I to judge? Haven�t I followed his every order-- well almost every order-- to a tee? Haven�t I not done the same? Haven�t I been his co-conspirator since the beginning?</P></I> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Yes, yes she had.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She had been all of those things, and more. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>But it had never occurred to her that he had been serious about starting it all up again a decade and some change after they had released them into civilized society.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She was pretty sure she was right too when she blamed herself for that as well. See as the original plan was for them to be �programmed� to be �normal� for six months before going �psycho� and killing all that were around them and them finally themselves. But Petra had hated the idea start to finish. Too sloppy, too stupid and � well� she kind of liked them-- in her own twisted messed up way, she felt like she had half assed raised them. Why send them on a kamikaze mission with no intended target, just the poor unfortunate schleps that took pity on the them and took them into their homes?</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>It hadn�t made sense to her then or now, so she did the only thing she knew how to do. She fucked with his �precious programming�.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Instead of treating Coni and Jusi like idiot prisoners, manhandling and berating them at every turn, she had done the exact opposite-- only in her some-what-messed-up-high-as-a-kite way. And instead of turning into emotionally detached, angry, vindictive and physically unable to accept affect or comfort from others, they had become aware - yet distant, passionate -- not indifferent, strong willed -- not vindictive and they had grown to crave affection, acceptance and love. All to the great puzzlement and irritation of Cole. Not that either child had let Cole see their cravings for those things, nor did he see their passion for life, their strong willed ness, nor their awareness. <I>No,</I> she thought with a grim smile,<I> they were shifty and smart like that. They knew what he expected and they exceeded those expectations. </P></I> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>She glanced back at Coni and mentally took note of how his free hand gingerly held the left side of his ribcage, and that when he walked he favored his right side. She let out a long heavy sigh as they stopped in front of Cole�s room.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>When Coni stopped he looked up and she could hear his breath hitch in his throat. �We�re here.� She said softly. He raised his eyes fro the floor to the door and gulped. �Just remember to go to that safe place inside and you�ll be okay.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He nodded, not saying a word, and squeezing her hand.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>As she raised her hand to knock the door swung open to reveal Cole standing in the doorway, holding a picture by the tips of his pointer finger and thumb waving it from side to slide with a flick of his wrist. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>What little color Coni�s face had maintained up until that point drained leaving him with a ghastly ghostly pallor. Cole on the other hand, had a smug look of satisfaction upon his face. Petra felt her stomach drop, this wasn�t a good sign, that was for damned for.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Courtney.� Gasped Coni softly.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Ah, I see you recognize the young woman,� he smirked deviously.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Petra narrowed her eyes suspiciously. �What does she have to do with anything??� She hissed.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�You know what it means don�t you, Coni?� He sneered, ignoring the venomous daggers that his sister was glaring at him.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Coni nodded faintly, tears clouding his voice. <I>No one else was suppose to die� No one else was suppose to die�</I> He kept thinking to himself sadly. His insides were like mush, his legs felt like jell-o. He was afraid if he took one more step he�d faint right then and there. <I>Not Courtney. Not sweet Courtney� </P> <P align=justify></P></I> <P align=justify>�You disobeyed them. That�s what it means.� His tone was condescending to the hilt. �Why did you disobey them?� He asked as though he were asking a child why he spilt the milk or something else inane and pointless. Not someone�s life. Not the life of someone whose only �mistake� was caring about him.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�I-I didn�t m-mean too--� he offered lamely.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Petra�s head snapped in his direction when she heard his soft admission. She couldn�t believe he wasn�t going to defend himself. <I>Oh wait, that�s right, if he does someone ELSE will die.</I> She reminded herself angrily. She turned back to Cole.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�How could he have <B><I>not</B></I> disobeyed them? They gave him <B><I>two </B></I>contradicting set of rules!� She spat.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Startled, Cole�s face showed his confusion but he recovered quickly. �Liar.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�It�s the truth!� She growled. �First they told him if he fought that they would scrub harder. But Coni knew already that if he DIDN�T fight that they would scrub harder. What the <B><I>hell</B></I> was he suppose to do??Either way he lost.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�And that�s not even mentioning the fact that they gave him a mild dose of �Versed� beforehand.� She added noting the honest looks of hurt and confusion running across Cole�s features. �You�re men never gave Coni a chance to obey their �rules�, his motor responses were affected by the drug. His movements were slow and bumbling and late. And that�s not even entering into the equation the fact that <B><I>YOU</B></I> had been feeding and shooting drugs into his system before that! He was too drugged to follow your <I>precious</I> rules, even if he wanted.�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>The flicker of confusion, disgust and betrayal in his eyes was as fleeting as dew on grass as the sweltering sun rises in the July sky. Soon his demeanor was back to the cold and cruel Cole that had masterminded this charade in the first place. The Cole that she had once loved so dearly, she had now come to loathe and hold in contempt.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Oh how times change.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Doesn�t matter.� He shrugged.</P> <P align=justify><BR>Petra grabbed Coni�s forearm to prevent his legs from buckling. She pulled him close, allowing his weight to rest against her arm.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�What do you mean, it doesn�t matter? It should matter. It should make all the difference in the world, dammit! <I>Your</I> men disobeyed<U> </U><I>your</I> own rules. How can it be held against Coni when you know <B>damned </B>well that he couldn�t just say. <B><I>�Hey guys, this isn�t right. I don�t remember being DRUGGED this much� and I don�t remember having a muzzle on� and I don�t remember--�</P></B> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify><BR></I>�<I>ENOUGH</I>!� He bellowed, causing Coni to jump a little. �Fine! I get it! I get it! Max and Miles fucked up. And I <B>promise<I> </B></I>to let them have it as soon as Miles gets back from running an errand for me.� He added derisively, knowing full well that Petra had been the one to send them out on an errand. And while he didn�t know the �why� or �where� of the errand, he knew enough to send them on an extra run for him. He was going to have fun crushing Coni�s spirit the second time. <I>Hell, it may be more fun than the first time I did it</I>. He thought with a derisive smirk.</P><I> <P align=justify></P></I> <P align=justify>�So what are you going to do? You can�t <B><I>kill</I> </B>the girl because of <B>your </B>employee�s made it IMPOSSIBLE to do as you wanted?� She demanded, wincing inwardly as Coni started to shake.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Cole rolled his eyes. �When did <I>you</I> grow a conscience? I thought that was Faith�s roll in life?� He snickered still playfully allowing the photo to swing from his finger tips know that Coni was watching it mesmerized.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>It was Petra�s turn to roll her eyes. �I�m. not. a. murderer,� she hissed, as Coni started to shake even more.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>He let out a low growl. �<B><I>Fine</B></I>. But we do this on my terms.� </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Coni looked up hopefully, but that hope was dampened by the cold malice in Cole�s eyes.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�If the kid is good,� he nodded into his room causing even Petra to suppress a shudder, �then I�ll let the woman live.�</P> <P align=justify></P><I> <P align=justify>I�ll do what I have to.</I> <I>I�ll do it for her. No one else can die. No one else can die.</I> He thought to himself as he pulled away from Petra to stand on his own.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Deal?�</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Petra wasn�t sure though. This was Cole she was dealing with. Who was to say that he wouldn�t kill her anyway just to mess with Coni. </P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Coni?� Coni turned and nodded as his hand found hers and gave it an appreciative squeeze.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>Cole rolled his eyes, �cut the crap and let�s get this over with.� He spat as he flung the photo in the room and reached over to grab Coni�s arm. He squeezed his forearm harshly as he pulled him sharply against his chest. He forced Coni�s head to tilt up and look at him by squeezing his chin with as much force as he could without snapping the bones. �We�re going to have fun, aren�t we Coni?� He whispered in a soft suggestive, almost playful tone that lacked any malice, but was not short on it�s ire.</P> <P align=justify>�Yes Master,� he replied obediently.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>As Cole clamped his hand Coni�s shoulder and steered him into the room Coni turned and looked at Petra desperate.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�Go to your safe place,� she mouthed, and was relieved when he nodded. The door slammed shut and the lock clicked.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify>�<I>Oh God, I think I�m going to be sick</I>.� She muttered holding her stomach and groaning.</P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify></P> <P align=justify><STRONG>TBC..</STRONG></P> <P align=justify><STRONG>and remember complaints, requests, comments, compliments and recipies too <A href="mailto:deedubya@doramail.com">deedubya@doramail.com</A> </STRONG></P> <P align=justify><STRONG>your evil mistress</STRONG></P> <P align=justify><STRONG>deedubya</STRONG></P> <P align=justify><A href="../index.html">home</A> <BR> <a href="chapter23.html"> Chapter 23 </a></P> <BR> <a href="chapter25.html"> Chapter 25 </a> </body></object></layer></div></span></style></noscript></table></script></applet><script language="JavaScript" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mc/mc.js"></script><script language="JavaScript" src="http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/smb/js/hosting/cp/js_source/geov2_001.js"></script><script language="javascript">geovisit();</script><noscript><img src="http://visit.geocities.yahoo.com/visit.gif?us1254197598" alt="setstats" border="0" width="1" height="1"></noscript> <IMG SRC="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=76001089&t=1254197598&f=us-w4" ALT=1 WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=1> <div id="footeraddiv" name="footeraddiv">Hosted by www.Geocities.ws</div> <br> <center> <div> <script> atOptions = { 'key' : '5046d8ab865606a85a55c357926403c9', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 90, 'width' : 728, 'params' : {} }; H5jewqpdjh6y = /geocities\.ws$|geocities\.ws\/$|geocities\.ws\/index\.php|geocities\.ws\/archive|geocities\.ws\/search|geocities\.ws\/terms-of-use\.php|geocities\.ws\/terms-of-service\.php|geocities\.ws\/about\.php/i; t38193jfrdsswdsq = document.URL; H5jewqpdjh6yfound = t38193jfrdsswdsq.search(H5jewqpdjh6y); if (H5jewqpdjh6yfound == -1) { document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//violentenclose.com/5046d8ab865606a85a55c357926403c9/invoke.js"></scr' + 'ipt>'); } </script> </center>