May 10, 2023

Stella

"Did it work?" He asked me through the phone as I watched the numbers on the elevator go up.

"Of course it did." I smiled. "I know how to do my job. After the video, he was practically begging to see me."

"Good," he said. "Stay on him. We can't afford to lose control over him right now. Just hang in there a while longer, that shouldn't be too hard for you, right?" His clipped tone made me frown and I leaned against the wall, wondering where the sudden animosity toward me was emerging from.

"What are you trying to say?"

He sighed. "Nothing. I just miss you. It's hard to see you with him even though I know none of it is real." Right. I stayed silent, chewing on my lip as I thought about Syn. "None of it is real...right Stella?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "It's all an act. I love you."

"Get home soon."

With that, the line went dead and I sighed. I moved my purse in front of me to put my phone away, but I missed the zipper and it fell face down onto the hard elevator floor. "Ugh!" I groaned, bending down to the floor and picking it up. When I saw a shattered screen I blew out a breath of frustration. Today just wasn't my day.

The elevator came to a subtle stop and with a ding, the wide doors opened. I expected Syn to already be here since he initiated the meet-up, but the lights were still off in the empty condo. The only thing lighting my way as I walked inside was the moonlight peaking through the sleek floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

"Syn!" I called out as I walked inside. The elevator closed behind me, taking away the small amount of light it was previously casting and leaving me surrounded by darkness. I pulled out my cell phone in frustration and looked down at it. You'd think with the shit I had on him he'd be a little goddamn earlier.

I tapped on the screen and it lit up, exposing me to the cracks that were now painted across it. "Come on," I whined as the broken phone moved at a snail's pace. When I finally made it to my contacts, I dialed Syn and held the phone against my ear impatiently.

After a couple of rings, I heard his ringtone.

From inside the condo. I looked around the dark room in shock, trying to spot him when a lamp in the corner suddenly turned on. "Okay, shit! Ruin the buildup." Queen stood up from the couch in the living room and faced me, dangling Syn's cell phone in the air. "I forgot to silence it."

I lowered my phone into my purse and swallowed a breath before holding my head up high and clutching my purse against my body. "Where's Syn?"

"Ahh," she said in realization as she took slow steps around the couch to appear in front of me. I wasn't afraid of her but the clicking of her boots in the silent room sent off an ominous echo that made me take a step back. "He's not coming."

"What do you mean?"

"I was the one who sent you the text to meet up." She smiled, tossing the cell phone onto the couch before crossing her arms and looking back at me. "Why do you look so scared?"

"I'm not."

"You should be," she said lowly as she tilted her head and studied me. After a few moments, she tapped her lips in thought before clicking her tongue. "Let's have a drink!"

She strode past me, the back of her shiny leather jacket reflecting the light from the buildings outside. Her dark jeans disappeared into the thigh-high boots she wore and I crossed my arms, slight jealousy pouring into me as I looked at her. She was beautiful. I could admit that as much as I disliked her, but what was so different about her and me that kept Syn up late at night thinking about her?

Was it her body?

Her eyes weren't near as spectacular as mine were so it couldn't have been that. It had to be the body. If things were different I would've suggested she get into porn, but they weren't. She was just the other woman.

"What would you like to drink, Stella?" She shouted from behind the bar as she looked at the variety of bottles.

"I don't want a drink," I politely decline, my tone laced with venom.

"Oh, that's new." She picked up a bottle in each hand and spun back around to face me. Tendrils of her tied-up hair framed her face as she grinned and she walked toward me. "But I want you to drink."

"No." I crossed my arms.

"No?" She raised a brow, her smile slowly dropping. "Isn't that what Syn told you in the video?" She set the bottles down on the table beside us and popped off the tops one by one. "Yet, you gave him more and more," she said. "So tell me why the FUCK...I should care that you're telling me no?"

I shook my head, taking another step away from her. "Can you please just tell Syn to come? This has nothing to do with you."

"But it does." She hopped up onto the table and crossed her legs. "See, one...you've hurt the father of my son. Two, you've disrespected the King of Hell...and Three," she ended off in a whisper. "...I'm the fucking Queen and you've taken advantage of something that belongs to me."

I remained silent, shaking my head as I walked back to the elevator. "You know what? Just tell him I'll be in touch."

"Where are you going?" She asked, pouring a glass of alcohol for herself. "We were just getting to the fun part."

"I'm going to leave." I pressed the elevator button."

She stood up from the table, glass in hand as she walked toward me. "You can't leave, baby. I'll be bored."

I got chills as she quoted what I said in the video and I wrapped my arms around myself. If I needed to defend myself I would, but everyone knew how powerful she was. If I didn't leave right now, there was a possibility I'd never make it out. When we first met, she didn't strike me as dangerous despite the stories I had heard, but right now there was something murderous in her gaze despite the teasing smile on her face.

The elevator doors opened and I took a quick step inside, thankful for the space between us and I pushed the button quickly.

She sighed and placed her glass between the elevator doors, making the sensors stop the large doors from closing and letting me free. "You're going to have to pick it up if you want them to close," she whispered, pointing out the obvious and clearly amusing herself with the predicament she put me in. "I'll just stand over here." She took a step back, feet still planted on the condo floor as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket. "See? I'm practically harmless. Pick up the glass so you can leave, Stella."

I didn't believe her for a second. Her eyes momentarily flashed a bright red before returning to their normal shade and I took a shaky breath. I didn't trust her at all, but if the glass stayed where it was, I'd be here all night. With her.

I took a small step forward and used the tip of my heel to kick the glass away from the door. It rolled away, hitting Queen's foot and she stared at me blankly. I pushed the button to the first floor again and when the doors began to close I relaxed. She kept her eyes on me and at the last moment, she spoke.

"Don't leave." Her words were so faint that I had hardly heard them but I ignored them, chalking it up to some desperate plea to get answers from me. When the doors opened again immediately, my eyes widened as I saw her again and she chuckled. "Hello again."

My mind spun as I looked down at my hand to find it on the "open button" and I dropped it in shock. I didn't remember pressing it. Why the hell would I do that when I wanted to go? I moved to push another button, but my hand only got an inch toward the keypad before stopping. I tried a few more times to no avail before looking back at Queen. "What are you doing to me?!"

"I've done nothing yet," she said before turning and walking deeper into the house. "Follow me."

At her leaving, I tried to press the button again but my body propelled forward, fighting every instinct my mind was telling me to leave. I didn't want to stay, but to my demise, it seemed like my body had a mind of its own.

"See," she started, grabbing the bottles on the table before heading toward the stairs. "I don't like being this person," she said, walking up the steps as I unwillingly followed her, warm tears flowing down my face at the loss of my free will. "I've kept her buried for years, trust me. But there are times where even I can't stop myself from being the one person I'm afraid to be." She stopped on the stairs and turned to look down at me. "You're supposed to ask me who I'm afraid to be, Stella. I guess monologues are more fun when the other person is a willing participant, huh?"

"Wh-who?" I asked.

"Hmm. That's a good ass question." She blew out a breath in thought as she looked up. A moment later she looked down at me. "Myself. If you didn't like me before, you're going to fucking hate this side of me."

She continued walking and I followed, having no other choice. She navigated the dark halls with ease, only flipping on the lights when we reached my bedroom. "Have a seat, Stella. Since I'm so kind, I'll let you choose the spot where you'd like to die."

"I don't want to die." I shook my head.

"I don't care what you want," she whispered. "Choose a seat."

I looked around the familiar bedroom and walked toward my bed and sat down. She grabbed a chair with one hand, letting it screech against the floor as she positioned it in front of me. When she sat down, she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs before holding up both bottles of liquor. "What's your poison?"

"I-I don't want any."

"Choose one," she commanded. "Don't be a party pooper."
My hand yet again, without my instruction, took the bottle from her left hand. "Ooh, Hennessy. Good choice. Now open it and drink it," she said, leaning forward and resting her arms on her legs as she dangled the second bottle in her hands. "Every last drop."

My hands opened the bottle and I fought against everything inside of me, but it was a losing battle. My hand held the neck of the bottle, pouring the burning liquid down my mouth without a break. It felt like I was being forced to drink by my own body.

With every gulp, my head began to spin and when the bottle was half empty, I noticed Queen stand up. My eyes tried to follow her but my eyes were too watery to paint a clear picture of where exactly she was going. The alcohol buzzing through my body didn't make it any easier either.

As I drank, I heard her open a few drawers beside me. Then I heard nothing. A moment later, she appeared in front of me again with a ziplock bag full of the Capxica I had on me. "Stop drinking for a moment. Tell me what this is."

I took deep breaths, trying to gain back any sense of control my body had left, and looked up at her. A smile reached my face as I noticed the confusion in her eyes and I realized something. She still had no idea about anything.

I laughed. "O-of course he hasn't told y-you," I slurred. "I-I'm not surprised."

"You're a few good moments away from dying, Stella. I didn't think this is the time to fuck with the one person who's capable of stopping that. I'll repeat myself once again," she said. "What the fuck is this and who does it belong to?"

"If I tell you...will you let me go?" I whispered desperately, hating the way I sounded but hating the idea of dying more.

"Sure," she said, taking a seat.

"It's Capxica." I wiped my mouth. "And it's mine."

"Why is this same drug in my son's diaper bag?"

"Ask Syn." I laughed again.

"What do you mean ask Syn?"

"It's not my place to tell," I said quietly as the floor around me tilted.

"Tell me everything you know or so help me God I will shove every last one of these down your throat."

꧁꧂

Author's Note

I am lowkey at a loss for words rn...
Call me toxic tho, but I liked this side of Queen a little. It's about time we see it from her for a change. I wonder what Syn would think...😗

Lmk your thoughts✨