The Dark Side of Eleanor Warwick

Eleanor’s clothes do not look good on her. Penny is taller and thinner. The garments both billow and ride up high. Their tastes are different too.

PHOENIX is splashed across the shirt. Penny has no idea what that refers to. She assumes it doesn’t refer to the city, to which she is confident Eleanor has never been. It actually refers to a French pop band.

She stares at herself in the mirror, her damp burgundy hair clings to her neck. Her reflection looks back at her with hollow eyes. Her heart is heavy, but no tears fall. She won’t allow it.

She can still hear the anguished cries of her submissives, and see Jeremy’s dead eyes staring at her. She lightly touches her face where Adrian Blackwell struck her. She feels a slight tremble in her hand.

The door to the guest room opens and closes. Seconds later, Henry appears in the mirror behind her. “My apologies for the clothes,” he says quietly.

“I don’t care about my appearance right now, Henry.”

“Yes, of course.” He feels foolish. “How are you feeling?”

She glares at his reflection.

“Physically, I mean.”

“I’m fine.”

“Good. You have Lisa to thank for that.”

Penny turns to face him. “Lisa?”

“Yes. Little brunette.”

“I know who she is. She made it out of the House?”

“She did. She’s right downstairs.”

“You brought her here?”

“Of course. Was I supposed to leave her there?”

Without answering, Penny turns and marches out of the room. Henry follows closely as she charges through the hallway and down the stairs. She turns into the study and freezes.

Lisa looks up from the table. She too is dressed in Eleanor’s clothes. They look just as ill-fitting on her. Her eyes widen as tears form.

She pushes away from the table and stands.

She steps closer but knows better than to run and hug her. “Mistress! I’m so glad you’re alright!”

Penny’s face softens at the sight of her. She’s tremendously relieved that at least one of her flock made it out alive. Her emotions come close to slipping through. Instead, her face suddenly turns hard.

She storms across the room and firmly seizes Lisa by the arm. Ignoring the frantic objections of her and Henry, Penny drags her former hostess out of the study. She throws the front door open and callously hurls Lisa into the cold.

Lisa stumbles on the stoop outside. She slips, dropping awkwardly to the concrete walkway. Tears streaking her face, Lisa looks up at Penny in shock. “Mistress? Why?”

Penny is unmoved. “Go. I don’t ever want to see you again. Stay away.”

“B-b-but Mistress!” She scrambles to her knees. “I can’t…I can’t make it without you!”

“You’ll figure it out. People do it every day. Now go. You’re of no use to me anymore.”

Lisa opens her mouth, but can’t think of anything to say. Picking herself up, she weeps quietly. “But...I saved you,” she whimpers.

Penny says nothing. Her emerald eyes hold no pity. Crying softly, Lisa staggers to her feet. She slowly makes her way down the path leading to the street. Once she reaches Riverside, she turns to look at her Mistress.

She sees the red door of House Warwick, and nothing more.

Her lip trembling and tears streaking her face, Lisa holds herself. She looks up and down the street. The avenue is dark and a thing of menace in her eyes. Weeping quietly, she walks into the cold night alone.

Penny rests against House Warwick’s front door with her eyes tightly closed. She takes a few calming breaths and runs her hands through her burgundy hair.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She slowly exhales before facing Henry’s glare. His face wears rare moral outrage. “Trust me, Henry,” she says.

“Trust you? Do you have any idea what that girl did for you? She literally walked through fire!”

“All the more reason,” she says calmly.

“What are you talking about?”

Penny comes off the door, aggressively stepping toward him. “I’m going to kill Adrian Blackwell.”

“I’m sorry?”

“The Blackwells did this. I can’t kill them all, but I will tear Adrian Blackwell apart.”

“You’ll die,” he says quietly.

She stares at him. “Yes.”

“See, that’s a bad thing.”

“I will take him down with me. And when his father seeks retribution, Lisa will be far away.”

Henry turns away, wiping his forehead. “You can’t be serious about this? Going after a Blackwell?”

“He destroyed my House. He murdered my people. I am going to kill him.”

“But…but you’ll die.”

“Yes. You mentioned that already.”

He turns back to her. “Well, it clearly didn’t sink in.”

“Henry. There is no dissuading me.”

“Do you even know where they are?”

“No, but someone does. I’ll call in every favor I’m owed. They will not hide from me in this city.”

“Wait.” He pulls out his phone. “Just wait a moment.” Stepping away from her, he brings the device to his ear.

“Eleanor won’t stop me either, Henry.”

He raises a finger to her, asking for another moment. Voicemail answers. “Goddamn it, girl. Where are you?”

“It’s all right, Henry.”

“It most certainly is not.”

She steps toward him and places a hand on his shoulder. “This is my choice. I’ve made it.” He begins to protest but she places a finger to his lips. She moves close and kisses his cheek. “Goodbye, Henry.”

As she turns away, Henry hangs his head. He has been in this spot before. A dear friend is walking away, determined to face the fearsome threat of House Blackwell alone. The last time he stood by and let it happen.

“Wait.”

“Enough. You can’t talk me out of it.”

“I don’t intend to.” He sighs heavily. “I’m going with you.”

Penny raises an eyebrow. “Suicide missions aren’t really your style.”

“Indeed they are not. Perhaps if we work together, we might survive.”

“If that thought makes you feel better.”

“It does, so let’s not poke holes in it.”

With a nod, Penny focuses. “I have a landing pad in my bedroom. I refuse to die dressed like this.”

With practiced gestures and a few words, they disappear in a blue flash.