Story: Vanishing Love (chapter 10)

Authors: A Markov

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Chapter 10

Title: Strong Currents

 

Author: A Markov

Violet ran the full gamut of emotions on her way to meet Chi. Mingled in with her relief that the woman would take her call and see her was the fear that there might be some underlying selfish motivation that she wouldn’t be able to figure out until she was betrayed once more. When she finally arrived at the coffee shop and saw the blonde woman, she was overcome and couldn’t stop herself from running to her and throwing herself into the familiar woman’s arms. The older woman held her with surprising strength and intensity. The emotional embrace erased Violet’s feelings of insecurity. For the first time in months, she felt safe and at peace with herself. “Oh, Chi!” She whispered. “It’s good to see you.” In the back of her mind, Rick’s warning haunted her. She wondered how Chi would feel if she knew that the woman hugging her was a super. Would she react in fear as Rick predicted? Would she dismiss it as unimportant and accept it as just another part of her? She put those thoughts out of her mind and reveled in the feeling of security she found in the woman’s embrace. Someday, she would reveal her secret and Chi would prove the cynical agent wrong.

Violet spent the next few days vacillating between gushing gratitude and crying her eyes out. The girls spent hours doing nothing but talk. Well, mostly Violet talked and Chi listened attentively without passing judgment on anything. It was the first time Violet had a confidant who wasn’t trying to tell her what to do and the experience was having a profound affect on her mentally and emotionally. She found herself wanting to open up even more. A few times she barely caught herself before blurting out her secret. The thing that held her back was that she knew that telling Chi about her double life would reveal her family as well. While she wasn’t too happy with her mom at the moment, she didn’t want to put Dash or Jack-Jack in any kind of jeopardy.

They had their first argument ten days after Violet moved in. Chi was encouraging her to contact MIT and apply for late fall admission. She offered to use her influential position to push it through the administration but Violet didn’t feel like she was ready to face the world yet and for some reason, the idea of being away from Chi caused her an anxiety she couldn’t define. In the end, Chi agreed to help her apply for late admission for the spring semester and make the summer internship that she had missed at Chi Mera Industries available until then.

That evening they watched a movie together curled up on opposite ends of the couch. When Violet stretched out, Chi accepted her feet onto her lap and gently massaged the tops. That night Violet’s dreams were vivid and filled with tension but when she woke up in the morning, she couldn’t remember any of them.

The first week they both went to work, things didn’t go very well. Every time Violet tried to see Chi at the office, she was unavailable. Chi also worked late into the evening each night and the third night Violet called to ask about dinner, the CEO pointedly reminded the girl why she was having to make up time. Friday night as they sat down to dinner, she offered to help Violet find an apartment near the Metroville University campus so she could be near the research laboratory where she was going to be working most of the time. Violet’s sullen response confused Chi and she asked, “Is everything OK?”

“Fine.” Violet replied in a tone that indicated nothing could be further from the truth.

Chi pulled on her lower lip with her teeth and regarded the girl for a moment. “You don’t sound ‘fine.’”

“How would you know, Ms. Mera?” The dark haired girl responded defiantly.

“Well, I thought we had become close over the last few months… these last weeks especially.”

“Yeah, me too.” came the sullen reply.

“Then why won’t you tell me what’s bothering you? And when did I become ‘Ms. Mera?’”

Violet studied the tabletop and twisted her cup around on its coaster. “All week, you won’t even say ‘hi’ to me and all of a sudden on the weekend we’re best friends?”

Chi looked at Violet sadly. “I thought you were smart enough to know that when we’re at the office, I’m Ms. Mera. I have to be.” She watched violet’s blue eyes shift from side to side. “In fact I’m sure you understand why I can’t be chummy with you at work, so why don’t you tell me what this is really about.” Outwardly she was calm, but her stomach was tied up in knots.

“Are you…?” Violet’s voice broke and she couldn’t go on.

Please don’t ask about The Agency. Chi thought. “Am I what?” She waited a few minutes but Violet didn’t continue. “C’mon, Vi, I can’t answer the question if I don’t know what it is.” She tried to take Violet’s hands in her own but the girl pulled away.

Finally, the dark haired girl choked out the question that had haunted her all week. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“What?” Chi was genuinely surprised and quite relieved.

It was the right response because Violet brightened immediately. “You mean… you’re not?”

“Not what?” Chi was still trying to figure out what Violet was talking about.

“Y’know, setting it up so I can be on my own. I’m not, like, some charity case, and now that I’ve got a job, you’re going to help me find a place to live and stuff…” She trailed off. Suddenly she looked Chi straight in the eyes. “You’re not going to stop being my friend?” Her eyes were filled with anxiety. “Are you?”

Relief flooded through Mirage’s body. “I’m never going to stop being your friend, Vi.” She covered the young woman’s hand with her own. “Never.”

“Really?” The question was torn from her. “What if--”

“I promise you,” Chi interrupted, “there is nothing that you could tell me that would stop me from being your friend.” She was trying to be reassuring. Violet’s response startled her. The young woman burst into tears and ran from the room.



“Hello, Helen.” Rick greeted her in a pleasantly bland voice.

“Look, Rick,” Helen began in a reasonable tone, “I know we’ve been over this a few times—“

“Twenty-three.” He deadpanned.

“—but I’m still not understanding…” She looked up in confusion, “What?”

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘twenty-three’?”

“Helen, you’ve contacted me every day since Violet was released on her own recognizance to have me explain The Agency’s position on this matter. It’s been twenty-three days.”

Unhappy and feeling like she was being made fun of, Helen snapped. “That woman tried to kill Bob! She helped kill at least five other supers and who knows how many civilians and she was part of a plot to take over the world!” She loomed over his desk. “Tell me why she’s allowed to breathe, much less live in a penthouse apartment with my daughter!”

Rick let out a deep sigh. “Mirage has her uses. One of which is to keep your daughter focused and under Agency control. Believe me, Helen, we’ve got a surveillance net around her that’s so tight, we know what foods upset her stomach.” When Helen opened her mouth to protest further he continued, “We’re monitoring them both twenty-four, seven and we’ll be able to respond to trouble in no time at all.” He heaved another sigh, “Someday, Violet is going to be one of the most powerful people on the planet and it’s my job to make sure that power is used for good.”

“That’s just the point!” Helen exclaimed. “She under that woman’s influence every day, and you’re just letting it happen!”

“You’re free to speak with her…”

Helen stormed out, unable to face the reminder that her daughter refused to acknowledge her at all.



“Helen, you know I’ll call you if she comes by.”

“Or calls?”

“Or calls.” Honey was a little exasperated. She decided to try one more time to get through to the distraught woman. “You’ve got to give her some room, Helen.”

“That woman tried to—“

“I know. But when the chips were down, she did the right thing.”

“Only ‘cause she wanted to sleep with my husband!”

Honey sighed and reminder herself that Helen was afraid her family was being torn apart. She forced a smile into her voice, “I promise I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything from Violet, OK?”

“Thanks, Honey. I’m sorry to be such a nuisance, it’s just that—“

“Sorry, Helen. Gotta go.” Honey interrupted. “Lucius’ momma is on the other line…”



Chi stood by Violet’s door and listened. It sounded like the girl was packing. She knocked softly. “Vi… sweetie… are you OK?” The packing noises stopped but she heard a sharp intake of breath and Violet began sobbing again. “Can I come in?” She opened the door without waiting for an answer. Violet had a carrisak on the bed and most of her belongings were stuffed into it. Chi looked at the crying girl lying on the bed next to her bag and asked, “Going somewhere?”

“I can’t do this.”

“You can’t do what?” Chi asked. “I’m a little confused, Vi. A few minutes ago you were worried that I was trying to get rid of you, and now that you know I’m not… you’re apparently running away…”

“You don’t understand.” Violet wailed and turned over onto her stomach.

“You’re right. I don’t understand. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?” Chi sat down and tried to stroke Violet’s hair but the girl moved further away. “Is this about my promise?” Violet let out a slightly off key sob and Chi took it as a yes. “You think there’s something that I might find out about you that’ll make me stop being your friend?”

“Yes.”

Chi fought a brief but intense internal battle. Finally she asked, “What if I told you that I already know what your secret is?”

Violet’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you saying?”

“What would you say… if I told you… that I’ve always known what your secret is?” Chi stood up and paced the room. She stopped at the far wall facing away from Violet. “Would you hate me?”

“Would I hate you?”

“If I told you that I’ve known your secret from the beginning and I arranged to meet you because of it... because I wanted to use you… because I wanted you to protect me... because… because I wanted to be close to you.” Chi closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Would you hate me then?” She whispered. “Would you stop being my friend?”

“You know who I am?” Violet was incredulous. Chi nodded. In the mirror, Violet could see the tears streaming from her closed eyes. “You’ve always known who I am?” Chi nodded again. Her arms came up and she hugged herself, still not opening her eyes. Violet still couldn’t wrap her mind around it. They had always guarded their identities jealously. How could she have found out, unless she worked for The Agency? “I want to hear you say it.” Her voice cracked. “I want to hear you tell me my secret.”

“You’re Invisagirl.”

Even expecting it, Violet was still stunned by the words. Rage boiled up inside her and she struggled to keep it in check. “You tell Dicker that I’m coming for him and when I get there I’m going to tear his ass apart!” She hissed.

“What?”

“Tell your low-life scum of a boss that I’m done with his stupid mind games and his bullshit manipulation. I’m my own fucking person and if I have to tear his goddamn building down to get him out of my ass, I got no fucking problem with it!” She picked up the phone and threw it across the room to where Chi sat stunned. “Well?”

“What?”

“CALL HIM!”

“I don’t work for Dicker.” Chi sat quietly, tears running down her face.

“Then how in the hell do you know who I am?”

“Research.” Chi said simply.

“My secret identity isn’t available on the web, you’re gonna have to do better than that.”

Chi shook her head, “Vi, you forget that I run a multi-billion dollar company.” She explained. “I have contracts and contacts with every government agency in the United States and several overseas. When I ask the local television channel or a local official for a favor, they jump to it, because I spend millions of dollars every year in this city.” She stood up and began to pace. “I’m the third largest employer in Metroville and I sponsor research facilities on every campus in the county. Every university in this state has or is erecting a building with my name on it.” The formerly contrite woman radiated confidence and power. “When I want something done, it gets done. When I want to know something, I find out. And when I want to have something, I take it.”

Chi’s quiet assessment of her power and calm demeanor cooled Violet’s rage. It was with some fear that she asked her next question. “What do you want from me?”

The blonde’s features softened. “Something I can’t buy or bully or take.” She reached out a hand, “I want a friend, Violet.” She said sincerely. “And you’re uniquely qualified.”

The answer stunned Violet. “Huh?”

“When you’re a rich and powerful woman, it’s difficult to make friends.” She sighed. “Everyone you meet has an agenda; they want something from you, power, money, sex… You… you’re smart, I can talk with you. You’re powerful enough in your own right that you don’t have to be intimidated by me. You’re a woman, so I don’t have to deal with raging hormones and wondering weather the only reason why you’re here is to get into my pants. You’re not rich, but when we met, you didn’t know I was either, so I’m pretty sure you’re not hanging around me for my money...”

Violet mulled this over for a few minutes. “But, you said you were using me… Um, that you wanted to use me…? because of my powers?”

“Not exactly… I don’t want to control your powers. I don’t want you to go out and use your powers for me. I think that your powers put you on my level.” Chi motioned for Violet to sit down and took a seat herself. “I have political and financial power, you have physical power.” She held out her two hands at an equal level. “If I have this power and you don’t then we can’t interact as equals. If you have this power, and I don’t, it’s the same situation. Do you see that?”

“I think so.” Violet said slowly. “You came to find me because you thought I was your equal.” She looked up, “But I’m sure there are lots of people who would love to be your friend…”

“I could never be sure of them.”

“How can you be sure of me?”

“When I told you who I was, it didn’t change your attitude.” Chi smiled, “I was so happy, when I realized you didn’t care about that. Then, you disappeared for a few months and I thought I would never see you again. I was devastated.”

“You missed me?”

“I had my people everywhere looking for you, trying to figure out what had happened, but I couldn’t find out anything. When you called me, I…” Chi’s face broke into a huge grin. “I almost fainted, I was so happy.”

Violet was torn. She really wanted to believe that Chi was being honest but something was nagging at her subconscious and her head was spinning from all the surprises. “I don’t know…” She said hesitantly. “I… I want to believe you…”

“But…?”

“But, I don’t know.”

“It’s tough to know that someone else holds your secret.” Chi said kindly. “You’re worried about whether I’ll expose you and put your family in danger. But I don’t want you to feel obligated to pretend to be my friend, so I’m going to remove the sword of Damocles from over your head and tell you something that might even the scales.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Up until a couple of years ago, I went by the name ‘Mirage.’ I was Buddy’s… um, Syndrome’s assistant on Nomanisan Island.”

“You’re the woman from the island?” She asked. Mirage nodded. “You gave us the launch codes for the rocket…!” Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an ‘o.’ “You tried to sleep with my dad…!”

“Well…”

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