Page 73 of Babalon

“I can’t say that I do, move along now.”

“You know, omission is the same as lying and lying is a sin. Don’t be that girl, Officer. Don’t lie.”

Lie again, Nadia, make this easier for me.

“Inmate, I said, move on. We are done here.”

Though she was the one who dismissed me, she takes it upon herself to move away from our little encounter. Pity, I really wanted to spend more time with her.

Without letting her get too far, I jog up beside her, grabbing her left arm and ducking back when she swings at me—a laugh falling effortlessly from my mouth.

“I wasn’t finished speaking with you.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you were or were not finished doing. Now keep your hands to your damn self.”

“I’m Lucien by the way.”

“Good for you, now go fuck yourself.”

“Fortunately, I don’t partake in sins of the flesh, unless you’re interested in joining.”

“Hardly, is there something you want other than weirding me out?”

“I just wanted to say hello and make sure you had a name for the face you’re going to be seeing a lot of.”

The way she scowls at me and makes a face of disgust can almost have put me in stitches. She’s funny.

Be gentle with her, Lulu.

“Yes, Mother,” I quickly reply.

“Don’t call me that, you fucking freak.”

“What? Oh, no, I wasn’t speaking to you. I was talking to Mother. She’s here.”

Finally releasing Nadia’s arm, I reach up and tap my temple, indicating that she exists in the dark of my mind. She grew quiet for a moment, taking a single step back as she grabs hold of the mic on her radio headset.

“This is Pierce, can I get a transport to the ding-wing over by the rec entrance? We got an inmate hearing voices.”

“No, no, no, you don’t want to do that.”

I tense and draw closer to her, towering over her by several inches, but she was sure to match me—unafraid and ready to tussle. Her chin tilts up, eyes lock on to mine, hands clenching.

Very admirable.

“Call them off before I make your day significantly worse, Nadia.”

It takes every bit of self-control I have not to curl my hands around her frail throat when she refuses to call off the hounds. I don’t need her to start jumping to conclusions so soon and put me away. Not that it matters, I could get out of observation with ease after mastering therapy over the past several years.

“This is your last warning, inmate. Back up or catch a beating,” she grumbles.

I linger, the smile that once wanted to take over my face now transforming into a look of contempt. When she doesn’t budge, or cower, I know I have met the woman who was going to complete me.

The whore of Babalon and her consort, Chaos.

My first encounter with Nadia was interesting to say the least. I learned a lot more about her from it than I ever did as a child. A good thing for me, a terrible problem for her. Either way, I am pleased that it went down the way that it did. I was wondering how she would react in the true face of evil, and now that I can see what kind of player she is going to be, I can’t wait to teach her all about herself.

Having parted from her, I moseyed down to the cafeteria as chow was finishing up. Spotting my new friend sitting alone and minding his business. The last time I spoke with him, I feel like we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but let’s be honest, everyone starts off that way with me. It’s the nature of the beast.

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