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Once I reached her youth, I saw her in love…I saw the man that loved her. In their modest home, I watched as he drew pictures of her – as he drew pictures of things that were beautiful and pure… it was clear that things like that couldn’t exist in the world they lived in… he had a divine talent.

Then I found the moment that had caused her to be the way she is now…a beautiful, seductive woman came to this gifted man, and as her face came into view, panic consumed me – it was Bianca. I tried to deny it, but as she turned into the man, I could see the birthmark of the broken heart on the back of her neck. How could that be possible? This period of time was ages ago.

Bianca whispered into the man’s ear, and I could see the lust grow in his eyes. The man had no power against Bianca’s charms. He fell under her spell, then all of his pictures burned, taking away any proof that they had ever existed.

At that moment – the woman I was looking at lost her soul. She turned into the darkness I was seeing. Even though she had lived years past that day, she died at the moment her love was taken from her. I felt her heartache as she watched Bianca hold the man she loved – I watched as she tried over and over again to break the spell he was under. When she couldn’t take it anymore –she ended her life…and now she was trapped - committed to serving the darkness that took her love.

I didn’t know what to say to her…I knew if I said the man’s name, it would bring her more harm than good. I searched every memory, only to find that the man was the only thing in that dark world that had ever made her happy. My thoughts shifted to what I would do if I were her – if someone took the gifted one I loved. I looked at the woman and said, “Do you seek revenge?” Her eyes told me that she did. “Then only remember the love – forget the end – you’re in control…not this…whatever it is.”

I watched as she took in my words and years melted away from her image. Color rushed through the ashy image… I could see in her soul. She didn’t turn to leave – or disappear, like each one I’d helped before. She stared at me. Her eyes filled with sympathy. “Your escort is coming….your life…it will be the same.” As she said the words, dark shadows swarmed and hissed all around her. I watched as she vanished before me, not knowing if I’d saved her or not.

I put my headphones in and turned my music up as loud as I could. I tried to catch my breath as I rushed from the library. I was terrified. That night, I cried myself to sleep. I knew that that was a warning….that someone was coming for Draven….that my life would end in misery – I couldn’t let that happen…he…he was too gifted – the world needed him.

Tears streamed down my face as I saw these dark memories come to life before my eyes.

I felt Nana squeeze my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. “You thought Bianca was an escort sent to distract Draven from his gift – to trap you in the shadows.”

Through the glass panes of tears in my eyes, I stared into her wise eyes. “I still do.”

“
I’ve heard of these before…these escorts.”

“
From who?”

“
Souls I’ve helped in the past. Their only purpose in this world is to escort you through your life – to cause you to turn a blind eye to your gift. They bring darkness to you and everyone you may have helped.”

“
Put you to sleep,” I mumbled.

“
They are surviving - taking the energy that gives them existence.”

“
Why?” I asked, looking down. I felt cheated. I would almost rather live in ignorance. For a moment, I thought that may be why I forgot Draven – that it would be easier if I didn’t remember him when they took him.

“
The theory…and mind you, it’s very vague – the theory is that… escorts seduce – mystify and distract the ones that hinder the darkness. They spend their lives at the side of their victims. They’re faithful and give every desire to them – these demons even grow old with their victims. Once the life of the light is over, they simply begin again – moving on to the next pure soul.”

“
And there’s no way out…” I said as a suffocating weight came over me.

“
I would think that any bright…beautiful soul would have a moment of choice…that they would have to freely volunteer to submit to the darkness,” she whispered.

I moved my head from side to side. “This is different…I saw what it did to that woman – and I refuse to be her.”

“
How do you know that you’re not what the darkness is after?” she asked, leaning in. “Why would they go all the way to New York when Draven was right here?”

As she said that, I remembered thinking the same thing. “I don’t know…she’s a demon; I’m sure she’s plotted every move…I think Britain was one of her victims.”

“
Do you think that – or do you know that?” Nana whispered.

“
I’m not going back to that night,” I said, standing.

She stood and reached for my arm before I could turn to leave. “Face this – I will be with you – right by your side. I know you, child – I know you plan to continue this course – you plan to face them again – would it not be wise to know how they trapped you before – so you could avoid it?”

My heart started to race, and pure terror came over me. I knew that I was weak – that I had to protect myself.

I nodded as I let out a jagged breath.

“
Look at me – tell me what happened that night - what did they say?”

My eyes raced back and forth as I reached back to that night. At first, all I could see was darkness – all I could hear was an evil hiss. I searched deeper and deeper into my thoughts, and slowly I felt myself finding the light – the truth about what had happened to me.

I stared forward as the vision of that night came to life all around Nana and me. “I was going to look into her eyes. I was going to tell her my free will was sending her back to hell.”

I saw myself on my bed, listening to music. I saw the conversation with Bianca about Cancun – I didn’t even notice that she had fooled me. Once Rosa left, we moved to the living room, and Bianca called Britain and ordered food for us.

I sat down on the couch and listened to my headphones as I plotted what I’d say when Britain got there – I wanted him to see her as a demon – to understand that he was blind…I thought he was blind because all I could see when I looked at him was me…like I was his only reason in life…like he’d been told by Bianca to handle me so she could have Draven.

Bianca had brought me water. With each drink I took, the thirstier I became. By the time Britain and his friends arrived, my eyes were glassed over and all I could do was stare at him. When I couldn’t find a way to focus, I knew I’d been drugged, and I was furious – I knew she’d taken my free will. I looked at Bianca as I tried to stand and said, “You’re in trouble now,” through slurred speech.

She laughed at me. “What are you talking about, Charlie?”

As I stepped forward, I stumbled, and Britain caught me. He put his hand on my face and tried to look into my eyes, but I couldn’t see him – the drugs had taken away my ability to focus.

“
Free will – she took my free will…she took yours,” I mumbled.

As I watched these images replay all around me, I witnessed pure rage come over Britain as he glared at Bianca across the room. The friends he’d brought with him cowered away from his glare, deciding to leave the three of us alone.

“
What did you do?” he said through a locked jaw.

“
Relax…I tried to give her something to calm her down – I guess I gave her too much…she’ll come out of it – eventually,” she said with an evil tone that reflected the demon I could see she was.

“
If she ends up hating me – never speaking to me after this….I will never see you again – I will end you – do you hear me, Bianca?!” Britain said as he pulled my body to him, trying to balance me.

What could only be fear consumed her eyes, and the manipulation she was known for began as her blue eyes softened and she reached to stroke my hair gently as I laid against Britain’s chest. “I just wanted her to relax…to open up so she could see how amazing you are – see that at your side is where she belongs….I was helping, I swear.”

I watched as the image of me filled with fear…he wasn’t a victim; he was just another version of her. I felt like a fool. Then I tried to think of a way to save him anyway – knowing that someone had given him this fate – one that gave him no real life – one that was encased in darkness.

Britain’s eyes grew more fierce as he pulled me away from her. “I don’t need you for that – I never did. You’re nothing more than a pitiful excuse for a woman.”

Bianca held her innocent expression. “You need me. If not now, you will soon. More will come for her – he will come for her…and I will be the only one that can help you then.”

I knew then that I was right: she was after Draven. My hands gripped Britain’s side, trying to find my balance so I could turn and hit her. His arms tightened around me, thinking I was about to fall – which sabotaged any attempt to hit Bianca I would have made.

“
You’re wrong - if anything, you’ll only make this more complicated - and I’m done toying with you,” Britain said as he started to guide me to the couch.

“
She can see,” Bianca said loudly.

Britain looked down at me, then back at her.

“
You heard me,” Bianca said, crossing her arms. “She has some kind of mind block she uses, but it’s just a defense – she can see clearly – I’ve seen her do it – I’ve seen her help both the living and the dead.”

Britain looked down at me. “Is that true? You see my soul?” he asked in an almost hopeful tone.

I moved my head weakly from side to side. “I see nothing in you….only me….you’re a ghost.”

“
I’m not a ghost,” he said in a whisper…I was sure my words had hurt him.

“
You’re not good – not at all. You take them from me – give them back – show yourself,” I mumbled.

At that moment, a light beamed from me, and darkness from every corner of the room swarmed in my direction – horrifying screams and echoes of the damned surrounded me. As they charged at my body, I felt cold, heavy….helpless.

The shadows tortured me for hours, then all at once they were gone and it was silent. Every single part of my body was in pain. I was so weak, I couldn’t even try to run. Bianca crouched down and looked into my eyes.

“
She’s coming back around,” she said to Britain, then she tilted her head as she looked at me. “Did you like that? Do you wanna call them to you again – next time – you may wanna have a clear thought to ‘help’ them,” she laughed, “because all you’ve done now is make them mad – you’re a tease…and no one should tease the dead.”

I sat up and spit in her face. She reached back to slap me, but Britain caught her hand and flung her across the room. He then reached down, picked me up, and carried me to my bedroom. I wanted to struggle against him, but I couldn’t hold my head up any longer.

He laid me across my bed and leaned over me. I stared up, and oddly, I felt sorry for him….he looked weak; dark circles were under his eyes…it looked like all the color was wiped from his skin…like he was starving for life. “I’m gonna kill her,” I mumbled.

“
Not yet, love…it seems you show her more than me – so there is some purpose to her lingering around me,” he said as his eyes searched over my face. “I won’t let her hurt you anymore….I’m your servant.”

He leaned down to kiss my forehead, and I turned away. “I’ll give you whatever you want – anything at all…I’m at your command,” he whispered as his lips slowly moved across my cheek.

“
This is over,” I said, turning my head away.

I watched as jealousy came over him. “I’m the only man in your life – do you understand that?”

I refused to respond to that ridiculous statement.

“
Look at me, Charlie,” he commanded.

I refused.

“
What color are his eyes, Charlie?”

I looked at him with eyes full of rage. “Who’s?” I asked, blocking out every single thought of Draven.

“
That’s right,” he said as he held my stare. “There is no one else – there never has been.” I watched as his blue eyes began to flood with darkness, and I looked away as quickly as I could, fearing he was about to blind me – trick me.

I fell to the floor, and the shadows snaked toward me. I scrambled out of the way, but I wasn’t fast enough; they drug me back to my bed, and Britain stared down at me with his now dark eyes. “I think you need to rest – I think Bianca has toyed with your mind…and all of this is a nightmare.”

I heard my mom come through the front door at that moment, screaming my name. Britain waved his hand, and my bedroom door flew shut. Then he put his hand on my face and stared intently into my eyes.

“
This is a wicked dream – you were drugged by someone outside of us – we’re innocent – you cherish having me in your life; you want to protect me….you want to help me.”

I heard my mother beat against the door.

“
Charlie…do you want her to pay the price for your defiance?”

I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t focus anymore; I was barely conscious.

“
Charlie, say I’m the only man you know, and I’ll spare her.”

“
Spare her,” I mumbled as my eyes closed.

At that moment, my mother charged in, and Britain acted as if he were passed out beside me. I watched as my mother picked up my limp body and screamed my name over and over again. I heard the shadows mock her, and I watched as they reached for her….it was like they were fighting over me – that my mother was pulling me away from the shadows and because I’d called them before and hadn’t been able to help them – they were furious.