The Lioness and the Black Widow 3

When I placed the tip of the knife to the man’s stomach, Lavinia’s voice said, “No, do not take part in their ritual. You can’t consummate the ritual with The Duchess.” I set the knife down, stood up and backed toward the door. The Duchess sat up smiling, “Your Matriarch won’t allow you to consume the meat with us?” I shook my head. Antigone rose to her feet and said, “If he doesn’t take part in the ritual, he’s not walking out of here.” The Duchess intervened, “No, let him go.”

I exited the room leaving the screams and brutality behind me. As I descended the stairs, the image of Lavinia filled my mind. She sat behind her desk wearing a raven black Victorian-style gown; her disfigured face concealed by the black wooden mask with a red stripe down the middle. Her black hair was twisted up in a bun with a long, shiny steel hairpin protruding from either side. Black Sally stood to the right of Lavinia’s desk. She wore a black turtleneck sweater under a black leather jacket; she wore a long, black skirt and black leather boots. Dark sunglasses covered her eyes, a German Shepherd sat panting at her side. To Lavinia’s left stood Damijana, The Gothic Girl was dressed identical to Sally. She clenched the handle of her bloodstained machete in her right hand.

Lavinia’s voice said, “The Duchess considers manipulation to be a sacred art. You must learn to deal with people like her. She doesn’t just tell outright lies. She makes a person question their own ability to distinguish between truth and fallacy. Her strategy is to confuse, not to convince. You cannot assume that everything she says is a lie. In fact, most of what she tells you will be the truth. As you get to know her, she will seem to be full of contradictions. She’s not. People who appear to be full of contradictions either don’t know themselves, or they are concealing themselves. The Duchess, of course, falls in the latter category. There is nothing complex or contradictory about her. She is solely motivated by her own self-interest and she is ruled by her ego. Appear to become an advocate of her ego, and she’ll consider you an indispensable ally. That’s what I want.

“I want her to put you on a collar and leash. Then you will be collar and leash which I place on her. She will then become another instrument for me to use to carry out my will. Allow yourself to fall under her spell. Become an advocate of her ego. I want you in her heart.

“Keep this in mind, Lilith is locked in the box; Octavia is still taped up in the fetal position. That’s what your peers are doing while you’re out honeymooning with The Duchess. There are many Matriarch’s whose houses I intend to infiltrate, manipulate and takeover. Would you like to continue to assist me in that endeavor? Or would you rather return to the box?”

I thought, “I don’t want the box.”

“Of course you don’t. You’d much rather spend your time playing with the other Matriarchs. Since that’s the case, I strongly suggest that you impress me with your performance. Remember, you exist for one reason and one reason alone, to carry out my will. I acknowledge your love for me Clarence. I am returning your love and rewarding your loyalty by presenting you with this opportunity. Alfred’s position is still vacant, and nothing goes on in your mind without my knowledge. Consider that when you’re tempted to betray me. And you WILL be tempted to betray me.”

I stood at the bottom of the stairs contemplating the thoughts Lavinia had just placed in my mind. I heard a man’s voice shout, “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE? WHERE’S THERESA?” The door to the attic swung open. The red-headed Duchess stood at the top of the stairs, naked and covered in blood. The man froze, his eyes widened, terror could be seen on his face, it could be smelled in the air.

Theresa barged into the kitchen. “Chris, I told to wait for me at…OH FUCK!!!” Theresa yelled as she gazed up at The Duchess. Chris stuttered, “Th-th-th-is i-is a s-s-scene right?” Theresa solemnly replied, “Yes Chris, it’s just a scene. We need to go.”

The Duchess descended the stairs, “Ah, you’re Chris, Theresa’s fiance and slave. I’ve been dying to meet you.” When The Duchess got to the bottom of the stairs, Theresa protectively stepped in front of Chris, “This isn’t necessary. Please! We’re leaving.”

Lavinia’s voice came into my mind, “What are you doing? Do you think that I want their house weak, or strong, prior to my takeover? Exploit the situation.”

I looked at The Duchess and asked, “Did you bring me to your house in order to expose me? This man is not a member of any house and he has just seen my face. My Matriarch finds this situation unacceptable and demands an immediate resolution.”

Theresa yelled, “You shut your fucking mouth! It isn’t your place to make decisions here.”

The Duchess interrupted, “Theresa, the decision has already been made. Do you want to be the one to do it?”

Theresa pleaded, “No! No! Please Duchess! I love this man! Okay? I can’t let you do this. I won’t!” Chris cried out, “Theresa! What’s happening here? Who are these people? I don’t like this Theresa! I don’t feel safe!”

I proclaimed, “Duchess, my Matriarch wants to know if this is how you normally handle your affairs in this house. She is concerned that you have a member of your house who is marrying an outsider, and who is allowing her romantic interests to take priority over proper procedure. Duchess, with all due respect, I would remind you that this is a time of war. All the other houses are watching us, analyzing how we handle this situation. My Matriarch’s position is that this is not a time that we can afford to show weakness.”

Antigone descended the stairs followed by the twins. Lavinia’s voice said, “Theresa is the only voice of wisdom and reason that they have in that house. She brings balance to their table. I want them off-balance. Eliminate her.”

I leaned toward The Duchess and whispered, “You’re on the path to becoming one of the most feared and respected Matriarch’s. That is within your reach. Something like this could ruin your reputation forever.”

In one quick and fluid motion, The Duchess turned, reached into Antigone’s back pocket, pulled out a small pistol and shot Theresa in the eye. Theresa collapsed where she stood. Chris screamed, dropped to his knees and hugged the lifeless body of his fallen Mistress. He looked up at The Duchess with tear-filled eyes. The Duchess coldly stated, “I was gonna give you a quick death. I just had to kill my best friend because of you. Now I’m not gonna kill you. You’re a slave right? Well I know the perfect Mistress for you.” The Duchess turned to me, “I’m bringing him to Lavinia. I understand that her beloved Alfred met with an untimely end. I’m hoping your Matriarch will find Chris to be an acceptable replacement for Alfred.”

I nodded my head.

The Duchess placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “Ask her to make sure he suffers as much as Alfred, and for just as many years. Tell her that I’ll consider it a favor.”

I replied, “It will be as you wish Duchess. I’ll see to it personally.