Page 72 of Babalon

Lucien

Present Day

Darkwater is a beautiful place.

I have hot meals multiple times a day, a shower with water that comes out in more than a single stream, a bed that has blankets, and working plumbing. There are people for me to sit here and watch all day, learning the hierarchy that inmates respect, and so much more. I have experienced similar jail amenities in the past, but nothing to this degree, this is bordering on a five-star experience. Where do I leave my prison review? There’s just one little thing, rather one person, who has dominated my thoughts, and I’ve yet to meet her.

Officially, that is.

Between the Lord and I, I have been watching her since I arrived. A few days after the cafeteria incident, I walked right past her and could feel the hostility radiating off her. She vibrated with anger and disdain, likely for those that she guards day in and day out. I feel the exact same way, little Nadia. If only you knew that you are admired so.

I almost didn’t recognize her at first; she has changed so much since I saw her last, but I couldn’t mistake those eyes. Once sharp and bright, now dulled with the passing of time. Keeping my distance, I can see the juvenile version of her in her older features. The cherub cheeks she had when we were adolescents, long gone, and replaced by a young woman that turns heads without even realizing it.

Part of me wants to know what happened between then and now. Why she looks so vacant, why she walks the halls of this prison like she isn’t a little lamb in a cage full of predators. Instead of staying near the other guards, she manhandles the inmates like they’re not twice her size.

She’s brutal, just like me.

She may not know the extent of what she is capable of but I will show her. The Lord deems it so. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. I would be sitting in a hardwood chair, with straps and leads attached to me. Creating a circuit that would only be missing the electrical current needed to send me out of this world and into the next. I can, no I will, show her the strength she has inside—the monster lingering within that is begging to come out.

Little Nadia, how I have missed you.

Watching as she goads the group of Neanderthals, I stand back with one arm folded over my chest as the other rests on it, chewing on the thumb nail while I stare at the interaction. My teeth pinch the keratin into slivers before I spit them out unceremoniously. She is stunning; how she handles peoplewhile acting like she has not a care in the world. I can see right through her though, she may not care about the bulk of the population, but there is something deep inside of her that keeps her from truly lashing out. I need to find out what it is. What will send her over and beyond.

Poor thing still has humanity lingering in that brain of hers, and I need to extract it. If not for myself, then for her.

I could say she maintains a level of innocence about her, but we all know the truth, she is damaged. And just like the rest of us, she belongs here. The men in this prison may think she belongs to them, the glue that holds the population in their designated places, but she belongs to me. And perhaps it is time that they learned that Nadia is mine.

I may not be a greedy man, willing to give to those less fortunate than myself, but I’m not sure I can share her like God intends. She’s to cause havoc amongst the masses, both inside and outside of these walls. Her participation is vital to my success, but she doesn’t need to know that, not yet.

Right now, what she does need, is an extra set of eyes on her in the event the chess pieces move too soon and they come for her.

You’re doing so good, Lucien. Look how far you have come; I am proud of you.

There’s the feminine voice again—Mother. She perks up when I need reassurance from a source outside of my savior. She has helped lead me to this point with her words of encouragement.

“Thank you, Mother. I don’t know if I would have the strength without you,” I speak aloud albeit quietly.

Time, it’s going to take time to put things in motion, but luckily for Nadia, I have all the time in the world. Until then, I think I should go introduce myself. Rekindle the spark we had when we were children.

With one foot in front of the other, I make my way over, her curious glances following the men as they pass through the opendoor beside her. From here, I can see a group of Hispanic men and black men standing in the center of the rec yard. Whatever it is they are scheming, I’m going to use it to my advantage.

As I move quietly over to stand just to the right of her back, I lean in and draw in a deep breath. The scent of her shampoo floods my nostrils and makes me groan. The sound startles her causing her to whirl around, and put space between us. The furrow of her brows makes me chuckle along with the fire in those silver orbs.

“Jumpy,” I tease.

“Keep your distance, inmate, you know the rules,” she hissed swiftly, hand hovering over the retractable baton she carries around like a life raft. Too bad that’s the only thing, aside from her little side gig, that keeps her safe.

“Do I?”

I blink at her, my lips threatening to smile at the way she goes into an immediate defense. It’s refreshing to see that she has fight in her, one thing I will have to break.

“Don’t you have shit to do? Get lost.”

“I do, I wanted to introduce myself though. I’ve seen you around, you have quite the upper hand here. It is fascinating to see how you handle these men. Tell me, what do you have on them, I’m curious.”

“What do you mean, have on them?” she actually looks surprised at that.

“Don’t play coy, Officer. You know what I’m talking about.”

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