Ashlee finished drying the dishes. She looked over at Lee, sitting at the table, planning out the bills to pay when they got paid tomorrow. She kept looking at the clock. The more she did, the more guilty she felt.
It passed seven o’clock, and by then she knew it was too late. Grimaulkin hadn’t said what time the class would start, but she thought that any later than that would be impossible.
“Okay,” said Lee. “Internet or satellite?”
“We can only pay one or the other?” She came over to look at the stack of bills he was going through.
“If you want to keep the phone for the month. We’re already a month behind there.”
“I thought they were going to give us a lower rate on the phone.”
“They did.”
Priority was always rent. Then utilities. Then gas. Then food. That didn’t leave much for anything else. Why was it always so tight every week?
“We’ll have to cut out the sports channels,” he said with a heavy sigh. Then he looked up at her. He was sacrificing something, now it was her turn.
The only thing she really used was the internet. And she needed to keep contact with the High Priest that way. Lee didn’t know anything about that.
“I can stop getting coffee in the morning.”
He looked at her as if to say, “Really.”
“Add it up!” she snapped, and went back into the kitchen. “Three dollars a day times thirty days. Add it up!”
He did, and realized it was almost a hundred dollars, more than his sports channels. She’d upped the ante, and she knew it. Her husband’s competitive nature would kick in, and he’d have to give up something else.
She didn’t have the time or want to play his stupid poker game. “I’m going online.” She tossed the towel on the counter and went to the TV area. Since it was an open plan, he could glare at her back like he was doing now. I’m not going to turn around because then it’ll end up being a fight. I’m not going to.
The eight year old computer finally finished booting and she logged on to a secure website. After entering three passwords and answering a trivia question about 80’s TV shows, she was in.
Four of her covenmates were there, Ravensblut, ickicikimiki, and Stash182. She announced herself, Yellofate.
R: what happened at class?
Y: didn’t go
R: Why?
i: how cum?
Y: no time dh wanted dinner.
i: do u no ne thin bout him?
R: what are u going to do now?
S: DH my ass.
R: We need to know, HE’S taking our Stuff.
Y: I know maybe I can see him tomorrow and ask for something
S: Like an amulet? HE’LL sense that on you.
Y: A lesson or something
i: i can go
R: you’re in the shop you can’t go
S: You work for him, you know he’ll sense you using another mage.
Y: Im the only one not working for him but I can’t talk about it. THAT spell won’t let me.
S: Can the mage deduce something?
Y: couldn’t tell.
S: HIS power is waning, it’s after new moon.
i: was a prick at work yesterday makin shit levetate n showin off. Took 88 out to lunch prolly somethin about new moon HE used some1 I no that.
S: All right, maybe not waning that much…
R: Just a little spell maybe he can teach you on lunch.
Y: not that easy, you know that.
S: Not a natural at that, but you’re a natural mage, it doesn’t matter, it’s still power
R: miki has HE poked your mind?
i: think so nothin there lol
[acecom] has entered the chatroom.
S: Ace
Y: hey ace
i: ace
R: yo, ace
A: yo, peeps.
i: how bout that shit today yo.
A: What shit?
i: HE TOOK 88 out
A: yea
S: Any idea why?
A: Planning another big one, prolly full moon.
R: Not on the sabbat.
Y: We’ll all be there, he can use us all and the sacrifice.
A: Jesus, don’t use that word.
Y: It is!
S: HE could be sensing this now.
R: HE’S not a technomancer
A: Our thoughts. He could be reading us now.
i: better log b4 trouble l8r
[ickicikimiki] has left the chatroom.
[acecom] has left the chatroom.
[Stash182] has left the chatroom.
R: take that class, Yello, we need it
You have left the chatroom.
She jumped next on Pogo. About half an hour later, she got an IM.
REF3000: Misty, I didn’t see you Wednesday night, is everything all right?
She spat, “Fuck.”
REF3000: Don’t swear. Was it something at home?
Misti1990: my husband didn’t want me to go.
REF3000: You need to get rid of him, or get him to allow you your freedom. You miss your freedom, don’t you?
Ashlee knew that the short time she had spent with him was one of the most wonderful but scary times she’d ever had. He would treat her like a queen in front of everyone, but at home he would ravage her body and soul, then give her energy to face the day so no one would ever know differently. She refused to think of what she really thought of that.
REF3000: It’s not like you missed any of that. You enjoyed giving it to me.
Misti1990: I cheated on my husband.
REF3000: That’s not cheating.
How can you think that?! she thought angrily.
REF3000: It’s only an exchange of power. Speaking of which, I may need you tomorrow. I have some lessons to impart and I will be needing your abilities.
Misti1990: Not while I’m driving.
REF3000: One never knows.
She closed the window and turned away from the computer, knowing that wouldn’t make a difference because he was inside her head at this moment, using Dirk’s mind-sending ability. Psionics had a special place in his heart.
She forced herself to concentrate, to try and push him out. He merely pushed back, and hard enough to make her gasp.
The next thing she knew she was on the floor and Lee was crouched over her. “Ash? The headache again?”
She nodded, her focus clearing. HE was gone from her mind.
“You should get that looked at. You might have a brain tumor or something.” He helped her up into the chair.
“We can’t afford the medical bills.”
“We can make payments.”
She smiled weakly. “I’ll be all right.”
He didn’t look too convinced, and then glanced at the screen. “That cyberstalker again?” He grew angry.
The IM had been reopened, and on the screen was:
REF3000: I own you.
“What’s that mean?”
“I don’t know,” she said, and shut the window.
“Can’t you block him or something?”
“He keeps changing his username.” Good thing her husband was computer illiterate and didn’t even know where the on button was.
“Oh. I know you’ll figure something out.”
“I think I’ll go to bed.”
As she drifted off to sleep, she heard his voice, “I own you” and what he did to her whenever he said that. She held herself, shaking, twisted into a ball.
Hit me again, my Lord.
Words: 1208
Inspiration: Continuing Soul of the Sky
Music: Lay it Down – Journey
Comments: Abuse is so easy to use as a motivation for revenge. The five members of the coven – there are probably more – have different reasons for conspiring against the High Priest MacDubh. By the way: DH means “dear husband”.