The texts from Troy came in unanswered, after so long he began to have concern for the child. I laughed at his threats and at some point he expected me to continue to beg him for help as I had, did he now fear the worst? I'd known he had been laid up with Terrica, sure I was willing to fight for what we had but the fact that he had betrayed me behind a misunderstanding infuriated me! I needed him once, and suddenly I'd come to realize I had to defeat the enemy alone. I began to research, it was out of my control, since I'd been in Martin's home I had been under a spell of some sort, there had been a weight on my shoulders---even when I had gone back to the suite. I couldn't trust him and I wanted to know what it was he wanted from me. I'd had an encounter with Dario, I often wondered why he was so privileged. His gait and rigid demeanor set me on fire but unwillingly, I hadn't even indulged in his presence upon gaining his acquaintance.
Kerri had finally come, I hadn't anticipated her arrogance. When I concluded my mission was accomplished and she was safe I knew it was time to leave Martin's home. The influence he had on her was astounding---I watched that brand new cockeyed bitch strut in as if she wasn't just a raggedy bitch a few months back, I'd been totally inclined to tell her. I couldn't fit into the family Martin wanted and when he mentioned giving me what my father had denied I'd known he was evil, Daddy didn't turn down shit.
When Troy said he was coming I wondered really what his motive was, if he had given a fuck about his child and I he couldn't have laid up with another bitch so easy and swiftly, was I salty? Fucking right. I regretted carrying his child, being pregnant had become an obstacle, the child was an attraction of some sort. I'd become aware and more in tune with my babies activity under certain circumstances. After he had warned me not to come, why had he decided to?
I rejected his video chats.
Martin announced a dinner, the paroxysm could be felt since the day before and I knew shit could get out of hand. I hated him, he was not the monarch he pretended to be, I needed to find his weakness. How had Pam gotten so close to him, even after Nathaniel had tried to kill him? He'd mentioned all the guests who would arrive and had called in the gardener to create an arrangement of Faux mixed Fall hydrangeas and roses in a large vase---it sat on the Regalia 9 piece dining room table. The scent was so invigorating I'd known it possessed some spiritual properties. I'd seen the ducks form and take flight through the large window that faced the pond, even if for a short distance and envied their freedom. I'd been circumscribed willingly to my own detriment. I awaited the guests to arrive and had put on the velvet Saint-Laurent asymmetrical dress that was handed to me in the Bergdorf Goodman bag. I obediently showered and arrayed the black Tahitian pearls before stepping in the elegantly tailored knee-length gown, Kie waited to zip it behind. The Bvlgari seashell clutch that sat against the wall in the walk in closet suited the Louboutin seashell knee boots, both were Navigator pearl.
Troy texted vicariously, he refused to express his genuine sentiment. I'd teased his reluctance by not responding and continued dressing for dinner lastly putting on the sugar mint gloss and spraying Prada Candy on my wrists. Where had it come from I wondered?
Fuck Kerri, fuck Troy; I had a mission to accomplish. I ignored the message I'd seen, "I see u have finally arrived at my father's home." Typical. He'd been the first one sent.
I had been texting Shonda, but suddenly stopped. There was no legislation for the exempt. She'd only began our casual friendship with remarks about her sex drive. I asked, "do u know anything about Karma Creighton's body? " She dismissed my request by saying how she had watched me while I was locked up, she'd listened to me day in and out---on the other side of the door. "Who was the man in the peacoat? U talked about him alot."
Peacoat?
Dario flaunted a duck-tailed tuxedo, the silk pocket square ornamented it and added furbishing to the satin lapel, I could tell he'd recycled the tux. What the fuck had he done to me that night, and the nights that followed? I twisted my hair and inserted the ceramic chopsticks while watching his reflection watch me---watch him. Impeccable to the oblivious, unblemished to Martin, he was his own.
The gooseberries had been arranged on a tray with mayhaw and other fruit, alongside the cheese tray. Even while clothbound the cheese wheels' aroma had filled the kitchen upon their arrival from the basement. The bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut Rose spotlighted the assemblage, "Solely for the guest of honor---one of the finest bottles from the cellar besides the Domaine de-la Romanee-Conti---"
He had gotten it in France. "I'd gone to bid on the Triumph of Achilles by Franz Matsch---the original, and was enticed by the bottle, had it shipped home before I even arrived. We'd had a big case that week."'
The snow white tuxedo signified he had once had a desire to be pure.
Troy texted more frequently, he had arrived in New Orleans. I was sure he knew where Martin lived, I wanted to know if he loved me so I asked. If so how strong was it, because I needed it more now than ever before. I watched the carving knife as it laid beside the duck---it was Thanksgiving but he preferred to call it severance. Who was he? I could find no family history whatsoever---I had asked Mama about Claudette before my transition, "I haven't saw her in years, her daughter---I saw her at Ihop once, as I've said she's deaf now, she was meeting with a guy. I recognized him but hadn't known where from until I saw the resemblance."
She wished she could do it all over again, I heard it in her voice. "Your daddy was smart, intelligent---had a future. He would have been an engineer but once he got a record he couldn't go to college and become one. His daddy disowned him ya know, then he didn't have a choice. The money had ran out and by then I was use to the finer things---the only thing I could think of was open a church. I couldn't go back to Martin, it was too late."
Who had really fucked us up? Kerri was so far gone, whose side was she really on, and where was Ayden? I'd begun to tune the voices out, they were screaming in my skull, the sounds of distant waters would come and go---when Martin was near, it would become louder. I watched Troy's Iphone location change, it was getting nearer and nearer. Maybe he did love me, but again howso? I understood he'd thought I'd set him up, but Von had been paid to park the car at the airport. While I combed through the scenario I glanced at the syringe to make sure it was not visible. Everyone except Kie was dressed for the dinner, she yet tended to the braised pork belly, I sifted through the aroma and identified the juniper berries used to fulfill its succulence. I was definitely a pilgrim in a barren land---no doubt about it.
I remembered God.
"So glad to see u in better spirits---just recently she'd tried to cast herself down! But a mighty angel had charge concerning thee."
Troy texted, he was still.
Martin kissed my cheek, our first dinner---please enjoy the festivities, the guest of honor will arrive shortly. His lavish demeanor had its own savor, he smelled like bullshit. "Ah, I hadn't expected rain. Ya know they had never seen rain, I mean down below---of course they were in a bowl, kinda reminded me of the lake of fire seeing them all---well never mind, it pays to be up above."
The thunder rolled and I'd known Troy sat at the gate. Guests soon arrived, he greeted the federal judge by straightening his tie. He had come alone.
"Hazel, u testing my muthafuckin patience."
I laughed. I had begged him---it was too late. Im a bitch, remember?
I hadn't recognized the many of high stature who had come, the upper echelon, some were politicians, some were family, he introduced Kerri and I as his daughters---but called her Charun, I googled while I watched the syringe.
He spake of symbolism, I recalled Dario's tattoos.
"I know u didn't set me up Bae, please just come out, it was Von! He was suppose to delete the messages and get rid of her phone, he put the muthafucka in the trunk with the body! I didn't fuck Terrica, on my mama, and T ain't dead!"
Nigga---u didn't give no fucks about Veronica.
However I believed him, somewhat, I had fucked up---I should have listened, but he was caught red handed, I had to do something!
We lounged recreationally and waited for the meal, I decided on some champagne---I figured it wouldn't harm anything! I popped the cork like a professional bottle opener, it flew and hit the Bacchantes crystal vase in the corner, may I have everyone's fuckin attention!!!!?
I turned up the bottle, it had costed him thousands, and conjured up a belch that wouldn't wait after I slammed it down.
He stood flabbergasted over the champagne he had paid $10,000 for.
The guests watched curiously, probably afraid for my life. I was instantly drunk.
"Apparently she didn't know it wasn't supposed to be consumed!"
Martin laughed through his teeth--"If I may be excused. Hazel darling, may I have a word with u?"
"Whew, I don't know! I mean the mixture of the champagne and demonic spirit clung to my back, I don't believe I can walk!"
Dario stood at attention, "Maybe the house nigger---"
"Now, now---let's not get all vache---U don't need to drink for the sake of the child, just come--"
"Let me go!"
I watched his boyfriend tense, ""Yasss bitch! I feel good!"
I did.
When Troy texted me I snatched away from Martin's grip embarrassing him he apologized once again, I wanted to fight that bastard! My man was free, fuck him and his hospitality!
I'd been free to leave, but something had kept me there, I was on a mission and I intended to carry it out. I made my way toward the syringe, and wanted him to fight!
I looked at his once narrow waist and saw how his belly had begun to hang, I reminded him and asked---"What did she see in u?" Meanwhile, the preacher who married Trenton and I grinned. I was sure they wondered about our incestal relationship, ha! It seemed like a lover's quarrel. As Dario approached us Martin held out his hand, "I have everything under control."
My daddy had a demon! Mama had given it to him, Martin was behind it all! It affected me while Kerri was too dumb to even be bothered! She had known I ate the ashes! Mama had made Daddy kill grandma, she had fucked us up! I loved my Daddy and he had loved me! "The biggest revenge is watching your enemy---destroy your enemies!" He didn't know why, but did he wonder why the witnesses just---disappeared, hadn't they been mainstream media? Wasn't hard to lock him up if I wanted, he had a sole purpose and was lust stricken to the worst degree! He was a virgin when ya mama got hold to him!" He whispered with his lips against my ear, angrily.
He gripped my shoulder and squeezed the bullet wound. It would always ache when it rained, I began to cause an even bigger scene, "I'm PREGNANT! LET ME GO!"
Fight meee! I just wanted him to fight me! I knew I couldn't get to the syringe on the table in the arrangement so I tried to reach the one in my thigh boot. It had slid and I tried to feel for it with my fingers, I prayed it wasn't obvious. The guests watched, I was literally drunk and with the drama! I felt like I had cheated on Troy! I believed him but why had he even called the Terrica BITCH!
Tears began to roll down the sides of my face as 9 guests watched, and as if I hadn't seen Troy's text about coming inside I started calling his name and telling Martin I didn't owe him anything for getting him released because he was the reason he was locked up! I knew because the sword was in the law library, wasn't it? Or did it guard the tree of life? Either way he had been paid!
During the commotion someone had left the door open...I had tried to leave out, but it was almost like the breath would leave my body. He stood up, "How dare u make these accusations! Putain de Vagabond!"
Oh, now ya mad...I'd known if I killed him I would fry!
As if I had a change of heart, I apologized.