Page 24 of Obsession

Her mouth. “Elizabeth,” she sighs.

“Right. Well, I’m Mary.”

“I know.” Her voice is cool, and my answering smile is tight. It seems things haven’t changed around here.

Elizabeth nods in a direction opposite to where Aris went. “I am to take you to your room,” she says.

“Right.”

She begins walking quickly and doesn’t look back to see if I’m following. I’m forced to scurry after her at a pace that is an honest workout as she leads me through familiar hallways.

We don’t speak. What could we say? I could ask why she doesn’t like me, but I have my suspicions; though I’m no longer Aris’ host—holding him back, as the Following thought—I am still of interest to him. It must drive her insane. For everything she’s given in his name, she is not the one being doted on. She is not his favorite. And how is that fair, when I don’t even want it?

I understand her hate, and it’s a shame that there’s no way to take it away. Not with the way she is now—indoctrinated, brainwashed. If I asked for another maid, I doubt that the dynamic would be any different. Maybe they’d be a better pretender, but they would think the same of me.

Elizabeth leads me to a room that’s different from the one I stayed at last time at the manor. It’s as large and vintage-looking as my old one, but there are modern incorporations in the forms of a minifridge and computer. With a quick look around, I spot a kitchenette and rooms connected to the bedroom we’re in now.

“He had it made for you,” she says distastefully.

I give her a bland look, then turn away. “Thanks. I can take it from here.”

She huffs, and I don’t look at her as she walks out, shutting the door louder than necessary.

Now alone, I explore my new space. There’s an office area I pause at, quietly taking in a bookshelf with books Aris used to make fun of me for liking—forbidden romances between fated lovers, mysteries he guessed the endings to, far-fetched and fantastical dramas.

I pick one up and blink. It’s the sequel to a book I liked. The first in the saga was released before our imprisonment, and I hadn’t known that more were written. Yet, Aris has the whole series here for me. I hardly remember mentioning the story to him.

How… thoughtful.

I put it back on the shelf, suspicious and confused.

On the desk is a desktop computer that I boot up. The system only takes a few seconds to blink to life, and, finding a user profile already created for me, I sigh.

He never doubted I’d come back.

I click onto a web browser and search for the fallout of what happened in Germany. It has only been ten minutes since we left, but there are millions of search results. The top ones are accredited news sources that tell a similar story: Ryan appeared and tore apart the city. Aris taunted world leaders that his monster would not stop, and yet, Ryan left Berlin. This is the big mystery. Why did Aris and his creature retreat? What is he planning?

My name is mentioned more than once, with video and photo evidence of my meeting with Aris on the street. Despite dying and cutting my hair, my disguise was seen through quickly, and I’ve been identified.

His old host. What is her purpose in this?

Germany is blaming the United States, since I’m their citizen and Aris’ attacks first began there. The European Union is demanding reparations and military support from the U.S., which is making Americans mad. Apparently, the country was already going to help its allies, but now they don’t want to, after being blamed.

There’s infighting and politics, which surprises me. The articles even phase out of discussing Aris, like he’s hardly a variable. I don’t get it. Maybe people know that they can’t control or stop him, so they’re trying to blame each other?

Strange.

From reputable news sources, I make my way to posts from private citizens discussing the situation. They say: We must stop him. They ask: Why did Aris leave the first time, four years ago? They speculate on this at length. Perhaps Aris is a weapon controlled by the elite, released to keep the masses from discussing socioeconomic issues. Perhaps he is an alien who escaped from government captivity, who wants revenge on all humans.

It seems that the public knows nothing about the amulet or the mages. I didn’t know that it wasn't common knowledge.

I keep reading, going from discussion posts to a different side of the internet, falling down a rabbit hole.

On just about every social media platform, there are people who want to be with Aris. As in, physically. Romantically. They aren’t worshippers or followers of Aris, but they thirst after him like he’s an actor or singer. My mouth falls open at some of the comments.

I hope he comes to NYC next on his destroy-the-world tour. Did you see him covered in blood? I’ll be throwing myself at his feet.

Attached to that is a photo with Aris’ face coated in a smatterings of dark, dried blood, his jaw and cheekbones pronounced.

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