Medford, Texas
December 31st 2056
Two years before Hope's Choice
Jennifer was dressed in something plain, nothing fancy or extravagant. A pair of jeans and a nice top, not the hoodie she liked to wear this time of year. Looking at her host she was exactly as Rene had described. Why he was so frightened of this woman was beyond her. Smiling as sweetly as she could muster for her host, she was ushered into her office. She was on her best behavior doing her best to convey emotions she didn't feel. Why she had to have this woman's approval was beyond her. To say it was an insult was an understatement. I am not a child, I am in my fricking thirties for God's sake!
"Do you go by Jenn or Jennifer?"
With the fake smile still on her face, she took the chair offered to her. Sitting next to her host she quietly disapproved of her look. Ashley was plain, not bothering to wear makeup or to adorn herself in anyway. Her host's office was plain like her, but ordered. Way too stuffy and formal for Jennifer's tastes. She answered her hosts stupid question about her name and suffered through the small talk until at last, Ashley finally got to the point.
"Jennifer I spoke to Rene, he says you have been putting a lot of pressure on him to get married. You only met a little over a year ago, don't you think you two are rushing things?"
Jennifer worked hard to keep back the anger at the question. Who in hell did she think she was asking that? If she wanted to marry this toad what was it to her? Still, this Ashley was apparently the gateway towards all her heart desired. She was careful to keep her mask that of the thoughtless moron she led Rene to believe she was.
"Not at all, if you could only see us together. I know its sudden but what we have is real. Oh, Ashley I don't think we are rushing things, he is so dear to me and we are just ready to start our lives is all. I probably sound silly to you but I am in love…. And he is too."
Jennifer paused a moment to let that comment sink in and evaluate how it hit. Ashley wasn't giving any clues, just looking deeply into her eyes as if she was searching her soul. It would have been unnerving if Rene had not warned her beforehand. So, she continued slowly, but with confidence.
"I know the family is concerned about our age gap, but in this day in age don't you think that's old fashioned? We are only a decade apart, I know lots of couples with more than that."
Jennifer took pleasure in the small dig. From looking at the pictures in the office, this Ashley was at least two decades older than her partner. Her host reacted with a small smile on her face that disappeared quickly.
"No, I suppose you are right there are lots of marriages like that now. But that isn't what we are concerned about dear. I know Rene has explained what we are. Do you really think you are ready for a new life like that? I know that kind of…. power can be appealing but it has its drawbacks."
So, she knew. Figures, Rene had been talking to her, but he didn't tell me that little fact. Asshole….
Quickly putting away her irritation at that buffoon of a man, Jennifer smiled inside. She had found Rene boring and hopelessly old fashioned when she first met him. Yet he was young, handsome and confident in himself. He was only going to be a short respite, perhaps a fun evening. Yet to her surprise Rene had turned into her greatest opportunity of her life. He wasn't as rich as she hoped but he had something far more valuable than money. Thinking on it make Jennifer deeply lustful at what she was on the verge of obtaining. Such gifts just for the asking, it had broken her mind when Rene had explained it…. and then showed her he was serious. Swallowing her own deep-felt desire she put on her most mature expression.
"I wouldn't have believed him if he hadn't showed me. Ashley I know I cant prove to you I am ready, and to be honest that doesn't matter to me. All that I want here is for Rene to love me, and to start our life together. This power of yours… well it doesn't mean anything to me."
Listening to her own voice Jennifer almost believed it herself. Deception was a skill she had learned early in life and it was coming in handy here. Still, she had to sell it, so she tossed in another unfelt emotion.
"Honestly I would marry him even if I cant join you. I love him Ashley… I really do."
Ashley didn't react for a moment, she just kept staring into her face almost without emotion. Then she shifted and recrossed her legs. When she looked up again she took a breath before beginning.
"No…. I don't think you would. A bitch like you would leave him within days of getting what you want."
Jennifer was so surprised she laughed at first. Rene had warned her that Ashley was not someone to mess with. She had assumed that meant she was a hard woman, difficult to please. But this wasn't that, no… not at all, this was a real challenge.
"No…. Ashley I love him, what we have is real. Besides, if you don't mind me saying so what business is it of yours in the first place? You aren't his mother, and you aren't a relative as far as I know. I am going to marry Rene, the only reason why I am talking to you is out of kindness. And I don't appreciate you calling me a bitch, you don't know anything about me! I love him."
She let her own mask slip just a bit there. Still, it was called for after Ashley called her a bitch. This meeting wasn't quite the way she planned. She looked down at her phone to check the time. She was going to a new year's party with Rene later and had promised to meet him. All of that was before she got this mysterious text asking her to come here. A meeting that wasn't planned for today at all. Rene had told her it would come later next month. She looked at her host with a semi-hurt look. It wasn't real, at this point she was selling herself as much as she could. Ashley's next words however made it clear she wasn't buying.
"Oh, I do child. I know all about your plans and your schemes. Rene is just a thing to you. You love him about as much as you love the last three men you used. Rene may not be my child, but he is of our people. And our kind protects its young from the likes of you."
Jennifer smirked at the melodramatic way Ashley spoke. As if it really mattered what this woman thought. She was about to counter with observations she had made on Ashley's faults when the most terrifying event of her short life came to be. Monsters in fiction were always obvious, brazen. But real ones, like the one standing before her now was far more subtle. In that moment Jennifer knew she had underestimated this woman horribly. In a flash she was confronted with every dark thing she had ever thought or planned when it came to Rene. It was like having memory itself smack you in the face. It was so sudden and powerful she fell out of her chair and into the floor.
She got up shocked at the sudden and violent thing… that had happened and turned to leave. Terrified at what she was seeing… and feeling. In a flash Ashley was no longer seated but had ahold of her shoving her hard into the concrete wall. Powerful hands had her in an iron like grip, far more powerful than should be possible. In that instant Jennifer's mind went quiet as she looked into the abyss that was standing in front of her. This wasn't trivial person, Ashley was not afraid to hurt or show her ability. In that moment she remembered what Rene had said, and how he was afraid for her. Jennifer had ignored it and forgotten that sentiment until now.
"I am sorry, even for the likes of you. I promise I will make this quick and painless as I can. When my kind kills it can be painless little one. It's more than you deserve…"
Jennifer's mind began to move again un-paused by the implication that Ashley was going to harm her. Why, yes I was going to use him but, murder.. doesn't that seem a bit much?
"What about Rene, if you hurt me what will he think? He loves me, and I love him! Even if you are right about me, think what it will do to him!"
Ashley blinked; her own countenance darkened a touch. But it moved back to a neutral expression far too quickly.
"True… but he is a good boy, he will just have to find another…. I am sure he will."