Chet Williamson - Reign

What if, like all the characters ever created, he was, himself, a lie?

Scene 5

That evening, Terri Deems stormed into the family room, where her mother was sitting pretending to watch the huge television screen. "He's yours again, mother. I give him back to you."

"What?" Ann said weakly, in no mood to argue. Her day alone had been agony, and she had decided that the wisest thing would have been for her to go to work. There, at least, there would have been other things to occupy her thoughts.

"Your handsome, aging lover. You can have him back. I rescind all previous claims. He may have had my body, but he no longer has my heart, if he ever did."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. "Why do you keep playing this game?"

"Because it's no game – it's true – and you damn well ought to know what kind of person you've gotten yourself involved with. He denied all knowledge of what he and I did last night, pretended it never happened. I mean, the man is an absolute shit. I've learned my lesson, I hope you've learned yours." She sat down on the couch next to Ann and grabbed her by the shoulders. "It's the truth, mother. I swear to God, he screwed me last night. And boy, did he ever screw me today…"

Terri flopped back on the couch, looked at the ceiling, and closed her eyes. "I don't hate you, mother," she said in a quieter voice. "If I hated you, I wouldn't give a damn. I'd let you go on your merry way to hell." She sighed and stood up. "Just don't let what you think is love blind you to the ugly truth. Besides, he's not a very generous lay, is he? Or was your experience less sordid than mine?… Not talking? Okay then. Do what you want – maybe you can screw him to death too!" She ran out of the room without looking back.

Ann sat there for a moment, her eyes on the pastel images of the screen across the room, her mind filled to bursting. Screwed him to death? Eddie? Is that what she really believed, that her mother had killed her father? Is that what had come from that nightmare evening when Terri had burst into the bedroom in answer to Ann's screams?

It was a sick and ugly and horrid thought, and Ann realized that her daughter, in spite of the outward signs of maturity, was, in ways that mattered, really little more than a child. At that moment she wanted nothing more than to hold her little girl.

But she could not bring herself to go to her. She was too afraid, afraid of Terri's harsh words, afraid of even more rejection. "You coward," she whispered to herself. "Oh God, you coward…”

She had to prove to herself that she was brave, at least in some way. So she picked up the remote, turned off the set, and lifted the telephone handset. Dennis answered on the fourth ring.

"Dennis, it's Ann."

"Ann, how are you? I wanted to call you, but I've been tied up with Mack Redcay all day."

"I'm fine, Dennis." Far better, she thought, to get her own duplicity out of the way. "I didn't want to come in today, that's all." There was silence on the other end of the line, and she wondered, now what? Do I see if he'll run with the ball, or should I just tell him?

He took the burden from her. "Did Terri tell you about anything. .. something that happened last night?"

"Yes. She did."

"What exactly?"

"She told me that you had seduced her."

Ann heard him give a long sigh. "Honest to God, I don't know what she means. She implied the same thing to me today. Ann, I never even saw her last night." She didn't speak. "Ann, listen to me – I've waited for you for so many years, do you think I'd destroy it all by seducing your daughter? Even if I wanted to, which I don't. You know there'd be no way to keep it a secret. I would never be that stupid." He paused for a moment, then spoke more quietly, tenderly. "And I would never do that to you. Believe me. Please."

"I do," she said, and it was the truth. "I do believe you, Dennis. But Terri…" She was near tears. "What shall I do about Terri?"

"I don't know, Ann. I really don't. What if we both sat down and talked to her? Got everything out in the open, told her about the way we feel toward each other, what our plans were."

"No, Dennis, no. You don't know Terri. She's not ready to hear that. And I don't think she's ready to deny what she said." It was an excuse. The simple truth was that Ann was not up to another scene with Terri, not yet, particularly not with Dennis present. "Let's just give it some time."

"All right then. Whatever you think best. As long as you know the truth. And the truth is that I love you, and would never do anything to hurt you. Or Terri."

"I know that."

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'll be there." There seemed nothing more to say. "Goodnight, Dennis.”

“Goodnight."

(DENNIS hangs up the phone and sits quietly for a moment. He sighs deeply, stands, and turns to see THE EMPEROR, dressed exactly as DENNIS is, standing stage left by the entrance to the hallway.)

THE EMPEROR

I'm afraid I've caused quite a little contretemps.

DENNIS

Jesus… you're here.

THE EMPEROR

And where should I be, if not near my creator? I owe you a slight apology. I'm afraid that I embarrassed you with the ladies.

DENNIS

Last night… with Terri. It was you.

THE EMPEROR

It was. Her loveliness quite overcame my better judgment.

DENNIS

But how could you… (He pauses, uncertain how to put it.)

THE EMPEROR

Seduce her, being intangible? I seduced her with words alone, my dear friend. No matter how desirous I might have been to possess her sweet young body… (He places his hand into the wall.)… it would have been quite impossible to do so. Much to my regret, I might add. So I was only able to make love to her with my tongue.

DENNIS

You can't… you mustn't do that. They think it's me.

THE EMPEROR

My apologies. But can you not understand? Is seducing this lovely creature not exactly what you would have done some years ago? You have always had an eye for beauty, no matter how cleverly disguised behind a mask of acrimony. And am I not, after all, my creator's child?

DENNIS

I… I told my friend about you – Sid.

THE EMPEROR

It is good to have a friend, a confidant, someone to whom you can entrust the secrets of your heart. You would be a lesser man without Sid, would you not? A weaker one.

DENNIS

Yes… I guess I would.

THE EMPEROR

One little knows how much one depends on others until they are gone. We draw strength from those we love, and from those who love us. That, I suppose, is one reason that I sought to establish a bond with Terri, to have someone true, someone loyal.

DENNIS

I can do that. I… created you. So I can be a friend to you. You don't have to… to go to anyone else.

THE EMPEROR

Ah, but one subject is scarcely enough for an emperor…

He was gone in an instant. There were no words of farewell this time. Instead he simply was no longer there. Only his words echoed in the air. One subject is scarcely enough for an emperor.

What did he mean? Dennis wondered. The implications were more frightening now than ever. What had he said to Terri? What had he done – or tried to do? And was it not, the creature had asked him, what he himself would have done some years before?

It was. Dennis had to be honest with himself. If a young and attractive girl like Terri had aroused him, and there was no Ann to complicate matters, he might have done exactly as the Emperor had – gone to her at night and seduced her.

But that had been years ago. He had not felt any urge to perpetrate such seductions for a long time. It seemed as though those particular emotions were simply not a part of him any more. But they were certainly, he realized an instant later, part of the Emperor.