* * *
It was the eve before my birthday, and I got dressedfor dinner with my dad, opting for a pair of black jeans and a loose shirt, my blonde hair looking suave after a fresh cut. He was waiting for me at the restaurant, looking so much healthier than when I last saw him. He got several glances from people entering, who recognized him from the TV. He smiled, used to the adulation by now. He was dressed in a pair of loose black pants and a light blue shirt with the top buttons open. I could see he’d been sunbathing since his skin had that lovely golden glow. In spite of it all, I smiled. He was still my dad after all.
“Looking great Caspian,” he beamed as he took me in a bear hug. The smartly dressed waiter took us to our pod, right at the edge of the bluff. The view as the sun set was breath-taking. The ocean was calm and glittered like a precious jewel. Dad spoiled me and we ordered a magnum of Cristal, lobster, oysters and chateaubriand. I came clean about selling the company and about how mom wanted to get her claws into it. Surprisingly, my dad wasn’t angry.
“I must admit, I’m a little sad that you won’t be following in my footsteps son. But my attitude has changed with everything that has happened. You must make your own life and do what makes you happy. I’ve made so many mistakes, but you weren’t one of them. Now I want to be happy for the time I have left. Sawyer will continue my legacy and I’m happy he is running the network, not your mother. She’s had enough of my wealth, and I’d be damned if I let that fruitcake she’s with benefit from my success.” We laughed as the waitertopped up our champagne glasses and I felt more than a little tipsy. Dad lit a cigar and ordered a brandy.
“So, are you looking forward to college?” he asked blowing a smoke ring.
“Yes,” I admitted, “I just want to get away and strike out on my own. I know I’ve done enough to get into Cornell.”
“I’m proud of you son. I know you were skeptical about Angel, but she makes me happy. Life is just simpler with her around.”
The ambient light from the lamps in the pod reflected my face in the glass. But it didn’t look like me. The eyes were burning and when I smiled, I swore my teeth appeared fang-like. I looked altogether evil. I turned away quickly and took a big gulp of my drink hearing the learned tune getting louder.
“Do you think you deserve to be happy after what you did to Savannah?” the weasel said.
“Damn it Caspian!” dad said, slamming his fist on the table making the glasses rattle, “I told you never to mention that name to me!”
“Caspian’s not here, it’s just me. Hahaha!” I couldn’t speak; the weasel was in control. He began to sing, and my dad looked fucking terrified and even though I was supposed to be getting revenge for Savannah, seeing my dad look like that made me feel bad.
Your child’s body is mine to host, it won’t be long tillslaughter. Savannah’s vengeance will come to pass; pop goes the weasel!!
“Stop! Stop it Caspian!” my dad pleaded as the weasel sang the song over and over. I fought to regain control of myself, but it was like I was locked in a room in my mind, with no way out, until the weasel allowed me to come out. But I didn’t give up, I kept trying and my poor body began to convulse. It fell to its knees and began to vomit, and I could feel myself slipping away, lost and afraid in the darkness.
* * *
I opened my eyes, and I was on the floor of the glass pod, my dad looking worriedly at me. I was me again. And I had a headache.
“Are you alright?” my dad asked as he gave me some water. I spluttered as I took a sip and glanced around, dazed.
“I think so. I don’t really know what happened,” I fibbed. I was getting mighty good at telling lies these days.
“Come on, let’s go back to my place. You can sleep in the guest room.” Dad paid the bill and had the waiter box up my birthday cake, since we had skipped dessert. I felt bewildered, as we waited for a cab. As I entered my dad’s beach house, I was shocked to see how clean it was. It looked like he had redecorated it all. He led me to the guest room, and I flopped onto the bed, fatigue and the effects of too much champagne taking over. Prettysoon, I was asleep, still fully clothed.
“Caspian! Caspian! It’s time!” I awoke to Bess prodding my shoulder.
“Bess?! How did you get here?!”
“You, or rather the weasel brought me.” I stumbled out of bed and peeked through the blinds and sure enough, there was my car parked outside. What the fuck. I must have gone to the restaurant, drove home and picked up Bess. It was still dark outside. I checked my Rolex. It was 2am. My black leather sports bag was next to the bed. I opened it and inside was the shotgun, a cordless orbital sander and some nails. Also poking out from under the bed was a cordless leaf blower.
My head began to throb, and my body twitched. Bess clapped her hands.
“That’s it! Let the weasel in! You don’t need the mask anymore. After all these years, it’s time to avenge Savannah!” Bess’ eyes were flashing, her teeth were bared in a sharp, horrific grin and her burned face looked monstrous in the glow of the bedside lamp. I felt apprehensive. My dad was despicable for what he did, but did I really want to kill him?
Caspian don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts! Let me in!!The weasel said angrily. Then a million voices were in my head, Savannah pleading to be avenged, Bess singing an indecipherable tune as well as the snarl of the weasel. Images flashed of blood and torture and Savannah’s beaten body. The painwas excruciating and try as I might, I couldn’t bear it anymore, so I relaxed and felt myself falling back into nothingness as I let the weasel take over. Bess began to pirouette like a ballerina, and I took a back seat, resigning myself to the fact that this was what I’d been waiting for my whole life. I stupidly thought that I could be free after this was all over, but if I was brutally honest with myself, I knew that I would be chained to the horror of what had happened and what would come to pass for the rest of my days.
The feral animal slithered into my meat husk like it had always belonged there and its vicious features transformed my face into one of absolute terror. He picked up the sander and walked silently into the lounge area, Bess skipping behind him, where he startled Angel, who was secretly cutting lines on the coffee table.
“Shit Caspian! You scared me!” she said, metal straw in hand looking sheepish.
“What happened to getting clean?” the weasel growled.
“I’m not as strong as your dad. I can’t just go cold turkey like him.” The weasel smiled, his grin maniacal.
“Well, let’s go onto the terrace and I’ll partake with you.” Relieved, Angel hoovered up the line she had cut, wetting her finger and cleaning the remnants off the glass and then followed the weasel outside.
“Do you see that doll?!” Angel said alarmed,as Bess curtseyed.
