Marlena sat back uncomfortably in her reclining chair. She was a tall, beautiful woman with red hair and expressive blue-green eyes. Clad only in a pair of French cut, black, cotton panties and a black cotton sports bra, it was hard to miss that she had a gaping, bloody hole just to the right of her sternum, beneath her left breast.
It was times like these that she was thankful that she did not have to breath anymore. Just because one was dead did not mean that one no longer felt pain. "Especially from a self inflicted gunshot." She muttered sourly to herself. She poked at the wound a little, like one pokes at a sore tooth - just to feel the pain. After a moment, she poked at the memory of what had happened, probing it like she probed her sternum.
They were all in the dojo with Woody and his ghoul, (who was obviously no ghoul) staked. Pete, the Sheriff, Kenneth and herself. Then, Woody had shown up, bowing to Kenneth, mumbling something about coming to see him. Suddenly, there were two Woody's and this posed a definite danger. She had immediately shot the Woody that was standing as the greater, more immediate danger.
Marlena mentally winced, remembering the look on Kenneth's usually calm and dignified face as he commanded everyone to stop and then whirled on her. She knew she never wanted to see that look on his face directed at her again.
"What the hell are you doing?" He demanded of her.
"He was a danger." She began.
Kenneth seemed frustrated. "I summoned him!"
That had given her pause. "I didn't know that."
The prince scowled at her. "Yes, you did. You were in the car with me." He just looked at her, seeming to say, 'You, of all people, should have known better.'
He was right. She had forgotten. She really screwed the pooch on this one, getting the one person she did NOT want pissed at her, mad as a hatter. Whether or not she had jumped to protect Kenneth, she had made the wrong move. Marlena probed further, letting both the mental and physical pain wash over her.
The prince had pulled her aside after executing the two Sabbat members who had been trying to set up Woody for a public attack on the Sheriff. Speaking low, almost a growl, he had issued his command. "I had summoned Woody to me. You shot him, in my dojo, without provocation and without my permission. You are to call him, apologize for your actions and make amends. Do I make myself clear?"
His tone was brooked no argument. "Yes Sir." Was all that she could say. Marlena knew she had somehow marred his honor and hospitality with her actions. She was not quite sure how, she had been defending the Prince at the time - but that did not matter. Having jumped the gun and made a mistake, she would swallow her pride and deal with the consequences of her actions.
Kenneth had given her a number to call and dismissed her without a word. Marlena wondered if she would ever be invited back into his dojo to spar or his office for conversation.
Marlena grimaced, thinking about the subsequent conversation with Woody. She had steeled herself for the call, swallowing her pride whole. It really hurt her to have to do it. She did not like Woody to begin with.
He had immediately taken a superior attitude. Marlena supposed she deserved it. She had shot him, after all. "So, you've called to apologize." She knew it was going to a tough call by the condescension in his voice.
"Yes Sir." She took a breath. "I apologize for jumping the gun and shooting you. At the time, I thought you were a danger to the Prince and the rest of us."
"Darhlin' I'm always a danger. You should know that by now." His smug drawl set her teeth on edge.
"I do apologize for my actions." She ground out, hating every minute of it.
He then began talking about making them even, inviting her over so that he could shoot her like she shot him. She had balked, not stupid enough to go to his turf, alone, so he could do her bodily harm. She suggested neutral ground if that was what he really wanted. Woody had finally settled for her shooting herself, right then and there while they were on the phone. Reluctantly, she agreed. Kenneth said to make amends and that was what she was going to do.
After she shot herself, just left of the sternum, Woody had her describe where, how and the pain she felt. It was a rather humiliating experience. It certainly put her perspective into order.
Woody needled her, "Now, I want you to write me a two page essay on the pain that you are feeling."
That was it. "I don't think so, Woody. I apologized and made amends. That is enough." She growled at him.
"Oh, OK. That's enough. Tell you what, I'll write you a two page essay on the pain that you're feeling." He laughed at her. "Did you really shoot yourself?"
"Yes." The pain was considerable. "You have my word."
"You wouldn't be lying to me, now, would you?" She could tell he was mocking her.
Marlena was quickly losing her cool. "On this matter, no. My word is my bond."
Woody had laughed loud, like the braying jackass that he was. "Sucker." He snickered, then hung up on her.
Marlena hissed to herself, fangs showing as the anger flared hot. "You just made one hell of an enemy, Woody. I -will- get you for this." The one saving grace in all this was that she was back in the good graces of the Prince again and even had the Prince ticked at Woody yet again. Marlena allowed herself a ghost of a smile, thinking of the earlier conversation with Kenneth.
She had reported to his office, feeling like a cadet in the academy again. Kenneth had motioned her in but did not invite her to sit as usual. Standing in a rough "Parade Rest" stance, she let him know that his commands had been followed.
She had kept her voice calm and neutral. "I called Woody, apologized and made amends. He is satisfied."
Kenneth nodded. "How did you make amends?" He was scanning pieces of paper and signing them, baring seeming to pay attention to her and her words.
"He had me shoot myself with the same gun I shot him with." She hoped that the humiliation of it did not show in her voice. She had to be strong. She could not show weakness at this point.
His pen stopped moving. "What?" He inquired politely.
"Woody would accept the apology only if I shot myself. At first, he wanted me to come to him so he could do it himself. I declined that option. So, he had me shoot myself right then and there, while I was on the phone with him." She had not healed the wound yet, just in case the Prince wanted proof.
"I see." Came Kenneth's stiff reply. Marlena recognized the tightening around his mouth as a sign of extreme irritation. "Woody overstepped his bounds - again."
Marlena shrugged a little. "Honor was satisfied as needed." Inwardly, she smiled. Maybe some good would come of this after all.
Kenneth looked up at her, looking as if he were going to respond then thought better of it. Marlena would have given an arm to know what he was thinking at the time. He finally nodded at her. "You may go now."
"Yes Sir." She turned, leaving quietly as thoughts of revenge against Woody raced through her head.
"Marlena." She paused at Kenneth's voice. "Can I expect you tomorrow night for our usual sparring match?"
Marlena cracked a smile. "Yes Sir. I'll be there." Then she slipped out the door.
She stood gingerly and walked carefully to the mirror. Morbid curiosity drove her to examine the wound fully. She pondered just what, exactly, she would do to Woody for this embarrassment.
In an odd way, she had to thank Woody. She had been getting comfortable and therefore, sloppy. This little lesson would go a long way towards making sure she was not sloppy in the future. She healed the wound with a bit of blood and a thought, watching it disappear. It left no trace that it had been there except for a blood smear against her pale skin. Turning from the mirror, she began to mentally lay out a very careful, but extremely lethal, plan for Mr. Woodrow Wilson Smith.
All stories, scenes, works and poetry owned by Eden Blackthorn
(c)1998 - Eden Blackthorn