Charmed - 6.

CHARLONDRA

I get into the Suburban followed closely behind by Sphynx. I wouldn't exactly say that we're friends. I didn't even know his real name - we all used aliases. But at least he'd made sure I wasn't left behind when I was talking to Soleil in the foyer. Speaking of whom, I see my friend making a fuss at the door of the car before she's led away by security and we drive off.

She thinks she's my mother or, at best, an older sister with the way she behaves at times when in reality I'm the more responsible and level-headed one between the two of us. Homegirl is only 6 months older than me and still doesn't have her license. She needs to get her priorities in check.

"Is that your sister?" asks Sphynx.

"No, a friend."

"We've been sworn to secrecy. We can't even tell each other who we really are. What were you thinking bringing her here?" he whisper-shouts at me.

We're the only people talking in the car of four and I have no doubts the others are listening in. I know I would be.

"It's complicated."

"What's in the bag?"

I tighten my grip and look out of the window. I don't want to talk about my failure in completing the last task or the pass I'd been given. Tensions were high with 6 fewer people than I'd previously met at the mansion back in Long Island. We were slowly being eliminated and I could sense the competitiveness among this cohort from the short time I'd spent with them.

Sphynx may have been soft-spoken, but I didn't want to give him any ammunition to use against me. If he'd made it this far then he was smarter than those who hadn't. For all I know, he could've been buttering me up to let my guard down only to stab me in the back when I least expected it.

The car is blanketed in silence as we drive into the night. The light of the city fades when we enter the desert. I start to get a little nervous and take out my phone to text Soleil only to see that I don't have any service.

What if they brought us here so they could easily dump our bodies in this vast wasteland? I've heard the stories about Vegas being the playground of gangsters. What if I'm about to be recruited to work for one of them? They probably want to know whether I can run game on the wealthy and stupid who come here to try their luck at fortune.

I take a deep calming breath to stop my imagination from running wild. I've come this far and I know how to defend myself. My father being who he is had me trained in the event I was kidnapped.

I'd also sent Goldie a message with all the necessary info and my location as a failsafe. I don't know whether they were a he or she and it didn't really matter at this point. We had been friends for years and I was hoping to meet them soon. Despite not hearing back from them, I hoped Soleil was right about one thing and we'd meet on this wild adventure. The worst thing I could do now is panic without reason.

We arrive at a vast estate with an incredibly long and lush driveway. The car door is opened and we step out into what feels like an oasis. There's even a sprawling fountain in the middle of the circular driveway. Everyone is quiet even though you can see the questions behind our curious stares.

We're led inside the glass house in a single file. It is a modern minimalist's dream. We come to a stop in the middle of the lobby where three servers dressed in a black tux and white gloves stand before us. One holds a silver platter with an array of masks on it, another holds a box, and the other a clipboard.

"When I call out your name please step forward, select a mask, drop your phone in the box then proceed through the red door behind me. You will get your phones back when you leave," says the man holding a clipboard.

One by one, each person steps forward once their name is called. "... Sphynx, Violet, Nine Tails." The man drops the clipboard to his side and looks up as if done.

I'm the only one left.

My hands are sweating, and my heart is beating double-time. Why didn't he call my name? The silver platter is empty and the man holding it walks off to the left, followed by the one carrying the box with the cellphones who disappear down the hallway.

"Follow me," says the man with the clipboard and heads down a hallway on the right.

I walk behind him not sure of what to expect. The strain in my arms from lugging around this money has me buzzing with pins and needles. I switch hands and try to shake it off.

They probably want me to buy-in before I can proceed to the next round. They're also likely to ask me why I didn't take the money and where I got the cash from, I reassure myself.

I watched Soleil pull it out of a vent, but I have no idea why it was there in the first place. When this is over, we need to have a serious discussion about her parents and these wishes. I tend to be one-track-minded and didn't want to focus on anything other than the task I'd been given. I breathe deeply in an attempt to calm my racing heart and think of plausible answers to my hypothetical questions.

The man in front of me stops at a black door which stands in stark contrast to the white walls and opens it. He steps aside for me to enter. I walk in and he shuts it behind me. When I look back, I'm alone and the door on this side is painted white. The monochromatic theme is switched around in this room with its black walls and dim lighting.

The space looks like a boardroom. The table and chairs appear to be made of glass or maybe it's plastic, but I highly doubt they'd opt for the cheap material. I move a few feet forward not wanting to be too far from the door in case I need to make a run for it. I drop the bag and flex my fingers trying to encourage blood flow back into the digits.

I wait and wait and wait.

I'm glad I chose a comfortable pair of heels and walk around a bit. There's not much to look at. The walls are bare. Just as I'm about to take a seat, the door in front of me opens and in walk three men. Two are dressed in black suits and the one in the middle wears green.

I'm 5'7 and weigh 120 lbs. If anything were to happen, not only am I outnumbered but these men look like they're twice my size. I'd be fucked. Hopefully, that's not their thing because I'd rather die than have a strange man force himself on me.

The one in green sits down at the head of the table and the other two remain standing beside him like guards. I can't see their faces. It's as if the lighting is strategically placed on this end but not theirs.

"Do you have your buy-in?" asks the man in green.

I exhale in relief and breathily reply, "Yes."

I walk over to the bag and pick it up. Mr Green motions to the man on his right who makes his way over to me and takes it out of my hands. He empties the contents onto the table and starts counting. When he's done he nods in approval to his boss who in turn motions to the man on his left.

He comes over and counts the money again. He also nods in approval.

"Good," says the man in green.

The two pack the bag and take it with them returning to their original position.

"Charlondra Addis Weru," says the man in green, slowly rising from his seat.

I steel my spine. I'm not surprised he knows my name since they've been sending invitations to my various addresses and booking my flights and accommodation. His steps are confident and measured as he approaches me.

I take note of his salt-and-pepper hair. When he stops in front of me I have to crane my head a little to look at him. The colour of his eyes is shocking - a blend of orange, yellow and red like molten lava. I don't even get the chance to register his face because I'm hypnotized by his gaze.

"You disappoint me. So much potential yet you fail to follow simple instructions. Were you not sworn to secrecy?"

I'm about to deflect, deny and maybe explain myself if push comes to shove, but I don't get a word out before his hand wraps around my throat. I'm lifted off the ground and brought to eye level with him.

"I see everything. From the minute you accepted my invitation, you gave me access to your life - your family, friends, emails, calls, records and devices. I know everything about your past and present and I plan to dictate your future including the time you spend with the little orphan you came with."

It's a shock to the system - both his words and actions. My eyes water. He draws me closer and tucks the hair that's fallen into my face behind my ear. The gesture sends a chill down my spine despite his hot breath fanning against my cheek.

"I also know about that stupid little app you've been using. You're not as smart as you think you are otherwise, you'd have figured out that I'm not Goldie, my dear."

I close my eyes in terror allowing the tears to fall. I fucked up. Is it too late to turn back now?

HIDDE

A few days ago...

I hadn't spoken to Trix in a while even though the holidays were the times we'd hang out the most. I chalked it up to the fact that I wasn't a kid anymore. I was outgrowing these online spaces as life demanded more and more of my time.

I no longer had the luxury of playing video games, goofing off on the web, and chatting to people I'd never met about the most random of topics when my father was signing me up for tech internships on one hand and Oupa was coaxing me into the family law firm on the other.

Hanging out with the guys in Plett had been the most relaxation I'd gotten this year. That is until Tshepo called me about a passed-out Brice and news of Soleil who'd gone missing. I knew she was safe because she'd answered my call before swiftly hanging up when she figured out who was on the other end.

I loved my cousin, but I couldn't figure out whether he went looking for trouble or whether trouble came looking for him. He explained what happened with Ariel and had the gall to call the situation a misunderstanding. Conscientiousness was not one of his strong suits, so I'd advised him to give Soleil some time to cool off and he'd surprisingly agreed.

He didn't verbalize it though. Just locked himself in the pool house and blasted Linkin Park's Meteora album on repeat. Honestly speaking, I'd rather deal with an emo Brice than a pissed-off Brice. Everyone had packed up and left yesterday except for me, Hailey, and Brice. Hailey and I were ensuring everything was back in order before we caught our flight out tomorrow.

The house was unusually quiet which left me with some downtime to chill. I downloaded the app I deleted at the start of exams and reactivated my profile. I wasn't surprised to see I had a few messages in my inbox. What surprised me was from who.

Trix had sent me her personal information and location.

I had been talking to Charlondra all this time.

I sat in a mild state of shock wondering how I'd never put two and two together. Then again, she didn't seem to like me much around school and despite how close her best friend had gotten to my cousin, we'd never hung out except the night of Halloween when she got wasted and I had to carry her back to her dorm room.

Why was she now revealing her identity? The app was prized for its anonymity and end-to-end encryption. She'd sent a few other messages earlier so I scrolled up to read them. I felt bad for not getting back to her sooner. It was like reading a one-sided conversation she'd been having. I didn't ghost people or ignore messages.

By the sound of things, she wanted to meet up and get to know me. Before I knew who she was, I would have said no. Now I was curious.

The image of a wax seal catches my attention. The imprint looks like the open jaw of an animal. I'm not sure which one though. I download it and send it to Divin. He works with high-profile clients who are old school and sometimes they send handwritten letters with headers bearing a family crest. Maybe he's seen it before.

I get up and make my way to the pool house. Brice descends from old nobility and may have an idea of who it belongs to.

I'm annoyed to find the door locked. I retrieve the spare key from the pool pump and let myself in. The place looks like a pigsty.

"Brice?" I called out.

The curtains don't look like they've been opened in a few days and by the smell of things the windows haven't been opened either.

I make my way to his bedroom where the smell is even worse. He lays in bed surrounded by a pile of empty bottles. The TV is on but muted. I switch it off, open the curtains, and pull the covers off him.

"What do you want from me?" he groans, before burrowing his head into the pillow away from the light.

"When last did you hit the shower? You stink."

"Get the fuck out."

"Can you pull yourself together for two minutes? I need your help."

He rolls over and rubs his eyes.

"I'm not capable of much at the moment," Brice mumbles.

"Take a look at this." I shove my phone in his face. "Have you ever seen this before?"

He takes the phone out of my hand and sits up. His eyes are bloodshot and he blinks a few times trying to adjust his focus. I've never seen my cousin in such a state.

He looks like he's been drinking one way. He looks like shit.

"I can't see properly." He hands me the phone back before getting up and heading into the bathroom.

Soon after, my phone buzzes with a text from Divin.

Where'd you get this from?

A friend...

Stay away from them.

Why?

They're bad news.

I immediately call him back frustrated with how vague he's being.

"What do you mean by bad news?" I ask as soon as he picks up.

"Hello to you too Hidde. I would have hoped with all the money your parents spent at Milton the least they could have taught you was some manners."

"Uncle... I never pegged you as one for pleasantries, but if you insist. Bonjour?"

"I see Brice is rubbing off on you. Anyway, who's this friend of yours? I'd be careful considering the company they keep. Those dogs are loyal to no one but themselves."

I put the call on speaker and take a look at the photo again.

"The sigil is a dog's snarl?"

"A wolf. It's the curse of the wolf. The poster child of 'pas op voor de hond''. Every ominous tale you've ever heard about wolves stems from that house. It looks like your friend is being recruited." Beware the dog.

"I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into. She asked me to look into it."

"My dear boy," Divin chuckles without humour. "Put away your childishness and don't be naive. If she didn't know before, I'm sure she knows now."

My grip on the phone tightens. Is that why Charlondra revealed her identity to me? Could she be in danger?

"I see. And where do they originate from?"

"The House of Velite dates back to Rome, but they've branched off into other lands. Needless to say, don't go looking for them."

I hang up because I'm going to do just that. Maybe Divin is right and Brice has rubbed off on me more than I thought.

Brice walks back into the room looking as washed up as ever. He didn't flush and definitely didn't wash his hands. I would lecture him about his personal hygiene but there are more pressing matters.

"Do you know where Soleil is?"

"If I knew that, do you think I'd still be here?"

He climbs back into bed.

"Have you tried looking for her?"

"I can't. She took everything from me. Ariel sucked me dry. She drained my powers. I have nothing left. I'm nothing without them. I'm going to fail the next trial. I'm going to die. Soleil hates me and is probably fucking someone else to get back at me"

"Gotdamit Brice!" I pause trying to reel in my mounting temper. I've had it with his emo shit. I've changed my mind. I want him pissed off. Pissed Brice gets shit done. "She's in danger."

That seems to get his attention. He sits up looking a little more alert. I'm thinking of Charlondra, but Soleil could be implicated in this mess too.

"What do you mean?"

"They're in Las Vegas. Shower and pack. I'll explain on the way to the airport."

01 / 09 / 2024

WC: 3 027

This will be the last update of Charmed on Wattpad. I will leave this book up for 1 more week before I begin the unpublishing process.

Thank you so much for your continued support ♥️

Do consider signing up to Follow me on Ream for the next 3 chapters that are open to my followers to read for FREE!