by C. S Luis
"You're alright?" My lips doubtfully quivered. I suppose I expected to find him crawling or perhaps on his deathbed. No, not perhaps, definitely, just as I had pictured him in the hallway.
"I thought…" Had this been a bad mistake? Surely I had sensed him calling and in pain. Yet there he stood perfectly well, and as always, the very Q I had known from my last encounter. I feared that his calling had been a trick to get me to come to him. Had I mistaken my feelings, my dreams, and his pain?
"What do you want?" I angrily asked, staring at him from between the two men, afraid of his words. Afraid I had been tricked again or fallen for the same spell that had lured me to him in the first place. What power of his was this? Control? At the same time, I was trying to hide the fact that I was truly worried about him.
Wasn't it apparent to me, what he wanted when he stared right at me, his clever smile spreading over his plump mouth?
"Isn't it clear?" He cleverly answered, reading my own thoughts.
"What kind of trick is this? What are you up to?" I angrily redirected, unable to understand my urge for coming here.
"No trick…" Q smiled, which startled me. "It has always been your choice to be here." I feared he was right. It was something I couldn't deny. There was a connection, I didn't want to admit it. I was afraid to.
Q knowingly glared at me. He knew I was aware of it and I lowered my eyes, defeated.
"So, you do sense it? You see then, there are no tricks involved. You have come by your own desire," he proudly declared.
"I came…" I began, then stopped.
Q glided onto the top of a boulder and narrowed his purple eyes at me as if awaiting my words with anticipation.
"Don't come any closer." I held the crystal slightly up from my neck, ignoring my uneasiness. His magical laughter filled the realm; it seemed my words amused him.
"I see you now wear it." Q acknowledged.
"Of course I do, after what happened—after what you did-" I answered, unable to completely meet his eyes.
"Don't be afraid, I will not harm you. Although your crystal has the power to vanquish me, it cannot extinguish the connection between us. Nothing can keep us apart from each other, my pet." Q smiled. I nervously recalled dreams such as these, with the very words he spoke haunting me just the same.
The word pet resurfaced to mock me, he used it often, but I wasn't sure what it meant to him. Yet strangely enough, I was his pet and I knew it, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I found it soothing when he said it. I was embarrassed to admit it.
"I'm not afraid," I announced.
He dropped down from the boulder and stood but a few feet from me.
"Don't you see that you came because you wanted to?"
A smirk spread across his pale face. "Because you felt compelled to do so. Our bond is that strong-it’s eternal."
He looked like a ghost, a spirit of Christmas past. I didn't want to admit he was right. At least right about my feelings-this connection that had made me obligated to come to him.
"You must not fear me."
Trembling, I lowered the necklace to stop my hands from shaking so he wouldn’t see the obvious.
"I don't," I quickly answered. Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Cortez robotically took two steps beside me, watchful.
"Then remove the crystal and come close," Q demanded, extending a pale hand out to me.
"You know I can't do that."
He lowered his hand and a slight chuckle lifted from his lips. He cruelly ridiculed me when he didn't get what he wanted. It hurt that he was doing so now.
"You can't or you won't?" Q asked so innocently, I felt I had misjudged him when he said, “I merely want you close; that is all.”
His eyes were fixed on mine. I felt my face grow warm, and then my hands began trembling again. How easily he could make me weak in his presence. One moment I thought I was in total control and the next I couldn’t even look him in the eyes.
Mr. Cortez and Mr. Vasquez glanced over at me and I looked back at them, unsure of what to do next as Q's purple eyes pierced through our souls.
"We should leave." Mr. Cortez suggested. I think that was the first time I had agreed with him. "This is bad."
Q seemed uninterested in their words. His inviting eyes acknowledged me with an impatience that was both strangely alluring and frightful. Even now with the crystal, I felt I was falling under his swaying spell and I didn't care.
"Please trust me," Q offered seductively. The way his words came from his lips left me breathless, he lingered near, unable to come any closer.
"Trust you?" I bitterly snapped, awakened by the very words that now came from his lips. He glanced away, realizing he had chosen his words badly.
“Trust you? After what you did?” I scolded. “After you hurt my friends, after you frightened me and my family?”
I could see the anguish in his eyes and desperation eating away at him. His body seemed to dance along with it, as he edged closer, then back. It was an exercise that he kept repeating like a child ready to spring after the last piece of dessert. His breath was heavy, and he exhaled in frustration, narrowing his eyes at me like a hungry lion. At one point, he seemed to give in, lost in his own chaos and torture. I wanted him close because, deep down, I felt the same. The connection, his voice seemed to say and found its way into my mind. It was there and I could feel it.
"Let's make amends. I want you to forgive me for my irrational behavior," he said, looking directly at me.
"Forgive you?" I started to say, then stopped and looked into his beautiful eyes. God, I wanted to forgive him, at least the foolish part of me that had fallen hard for him wanted to. The other part knew better, the part that was afraid of me giving into his beauty resisted.
"Yes, I want you to trust me." In that moment, I recalled Mr. Slater's words.
"'You can't trust him. He's not human," Mr. Slater had once told me.
"He'll say anything to have power over things. He will take you away from your family and friends. His loneliness will consume you."'
Could Mr. Slater be right?
I didn't know what to say, I was excited and I wanted to give what we shared a chance. Mr. Vasquez put his hand on my shoulder. He was uncomfortable with the whole thing and I could feel it. The folds on his face said it all. But I had already made up my mind and he knew it.
"Wait a minute, you’re not trusting him, are you?" Mr. Cortez suddenly said, but when I ignored him, he simply rolled his eyes at me and walked away.
"But how can I? I don't know if…" I softly said to Q in regard to his words, feeling a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart.
"Just give me a chance to earn your trust-that's all I ask," Q answered. "Perhaps we can put this behind us and become friends again."
Had that been the only thing he wanted? Perhaps my selfish heart wanted more, and I gazed at him in desperation, trying to find the answer. When I did, a smile lit his face and made me blush and regret I had searched for it. He was delighted when he realized he could still make me uneasy.
"I have missed you so much, my pet," Q tenderly admitted. My mouth went dry as I swallowed the lump in my throat. There was an awkward pause between us, a silence, if it weren't for Mr. Cortez's loud whisper somewhere behind me uttering nonsense at Q's expense. He was either brave or very foolish.
"So have I..." I bashfully and slowly responded.
"Have you really?" Q quickly asked, an agony in his voice surfaced and his purplish eyes sparkled with color and delight. Now caught on the single hope that I cared just as much as he had admitted.
"Yes, yes of course," I answered, but strangely, after saying so I wanted to take back my words. I noticed his face light up but the nightmare of what he tried to do to me surfaced in my thoughts. The day when he tried to force me away with him.
"Then you give me another chance?"
I bravely glanced at him, waiting for the trickster I had known to show his true face. He didn't; leaping back on the boulder, he stoo
d facing us.
"No tricks." He seemed to read my mind, as his face went pale.
"No games." A breeze swirled through the palm trees. His feelings had disturbed the scenery surrounding us.
I took a deep breath.
"So, do we have a truce?" his head tilted slightly. He seemed so sincere and almost childish but mostly innocent. It was something that never described Q's appearance.
"Yes…" I softly whispered, looking away when I witnessed the grin on his face gleam in victory.
Like a child, he leaped from the stone onto the sand, landing with a thunderous blow, then rising slowly, his head bowed slightly, his eyes lowered, beaming over at me. Then the childish demeanor became the handsome gentleman I had known. A smile spread over his ghostly smooth face as his eyes flashed at me. I felt a warmth consume my cheeks. I swallowed with difficulty and stared, speechless, at him.
Almost immediately, my lip quivered to life, "But the moment you try anything—” I boldly stated, feeling the need to warn him.
His lips parted in a half smile as he lightly chuckled, "I want to earn your trust—I wouldn't dare."
Doubtful, I still hoped to hold him. I think he knew it. Which made me regret my thoughts, sensing the connection we shared betrayed me.
"We can't trust him. This is obviously a trap," Mr. Vasquez strongly voiced; frighteningly glaring back at Q.
Q remained surprisingly silent as he stood far from us. His eyes, piercing as before, were directed at me in an invitation. I could almost sense him beckoning me with his glance as he merely stood there watching us. Perhaps he knew I would calm Mr. Vasquez's nervous concerns, and for that reason, he was silent, only an observer, yet channeling my presence as he had in the past.
Mr. Cortez apparently didn't care and he made that very clear, as I noticed him rolling his eyes again.
I turned to Mr. Vasquez, gently aware of his concerns.
"It's alright, Mr. Vasquez." I took the crystal from around my neck and put it in his hand.
"Take the crystal and keep it close." Folding his fingers over the clear sparkling object.
"What?" he nervously gasped.
"It's the only way I will not hurt him," I reminded him.
"And that's supposed to be bad how?" Mr. Cortez's voice interrupted from nearby.
I ignored him, sensing Q's dislike for the man growing rapidly, yet he was impressively silent.
"Just keep it close to you, Mr. Vasquez."
Mr. Vasquez nodded, looking away as Q wandered a distance and now stood with his back to us, at the jungle’s entrance. I hurried forward, away from Mr. Vasquez, looking back at him when he tried to follow me. I motioned him to stay at a distance as I had instructed him.
Mr. Cortez mumbled a few words under his breath as I took a step forward towards Q. Q turned only when he felt me approach and I caught sight of the grin on his beautiful face as a gasp lifted from my plump mouth.
He towered over me and I resisted the temptation of wrapping my arms around him as we stared at one another for a brief moment. It felt like an eternity. The crystal was gone and nothing stood between us now, not even the fact that two men behind us were watching guard. Yet he didn't move. There was something else that held him back, perhaps vanity. For Q had always been a proud person and he made no effort to hide it now.
"So, here we are yet again. You and I," he said with a smile.
"This place is beautiful," I said, feeling uncomfortable standing in front of him.
"I am glad you like it. You would have loved it here, if only you had accepted my offer," he said, gazing at me. I was not surprised by his words.
"You gave me no choice, remember?" I was quick to answer.
"The choice had already been made for you—you belong here with me," he declared, reminding me of his power, revealing the person of that day.
I sensed resentment in the tone of his voice, as the spoken words poured from his mouth.
"Belong to you? I don't belong to—" I said but before I could finish, he darted forward until he was a few inches from me. His breath was so close I thought his lips would kiss my own. Did I ache for that kiss?
"We belong to each other, and nothing and no one can ever change that." His voice angrily declared once more, a frown folded on his once gentle brow. The selfish Q was alive again in there, somewhere, showing himself, proclaiming his power and declaring that he was in charge just as before.
Mr. Vasquez moved forward but one look from Q froze him in his tracks. Even Mr. Cortez panicked and just as he was about to open his mouth and spit out, "I told you so!" Q put a finger to his lips and instructed him to be silent.
I blinked up at Q nervously, my lips were trembling as I felt his breath nearing my face. His eyes drilled into my soul. I thought I would fall forward into his arms, a weak and powerless fool. I couldn't look away. He stared deep into my eyes and I couldn't move.
"My little Pet," he gently said, with that greedy little smile flashing on his face, it startled me.
"This is something you must accept…it is the way of things," he whispered to me as if I were a mere child.
Unable to break away, I felt lost in his eyes, just as I felt the spell eating at my will. Then just as it had attacked me, it was gone.
"Q..." I said, feeling like myself again.
Q walked away but stopped abruptly. "So, I must earn your trust?” He humored, with a curved lip. “In order to do that, I shall have to return with you, in the hopes that you will reconsider my offer or—my friendship."
He faced me.
‘Friendship,’ I thought gazing at him as he smiled back at me.
"If you would like me to," he softly added.
I trembled slightly as his eyes again found me. He was giving me the choice? Q, the being that had terrorized a whole high school and tried to kidnap me, was asking my permission?
I felt speechless; so many emotions running throughout my being, all at once. I almost blurted the first childish chatter that came into my head. Instead, I bit my lip.
"I would like that—that is, for you to return with us." I stupidly said as his handsome smile made me look away.
"WHAT!" Mr. Cortez' voice suddenly broke the mood. "I can't believe this!"
I angrily glared at him and he just turned away in disgust, uttering foolish nonsense to himself.
"Shall we?" Q extended his forearm to me.
I slowly took hold of his arm as he summoned the vortex and we entered into the light.
21
The Truce
When we came through the blue gates of the vortex, it was Michael I caught sight of first. He stood nearby, shielding his eyes from the blue light that washed over his face. He approached us and only stopped when his eyes caught sight of Q stepping out.
Michael stepped beside me and put a hand on my shoulder, directing his disgust and disapproval at Q.
"You!" Michael roared, I felt him lurch forward protectively as the others stood behind him and confronted the lonely entity who now stood to face us all once more.
I put my hand out to calm him, "it’s okay, Michael."
Not that his anger would have concerned Q, if he had tried to approach. Neither seemed intimidated by the other. I could understand Michael’s rage, after all, Q had tried to use him to get to me, and now here he was once more. Could we all just be friends, I wondered. If I could forgive him, would Michael be convinced too?
"Claudia, I don't feel comfortable with him here. I'm beginning to regret the whole idea." Seeing Q was beginning to make Michael uneasy, and realize that he had made a horrible choice.
"You have a lot of nerve coming back here," Michael scolded.
Quentin’s angelic face possessed an all-knowing gaze. His purple eyes flashed, they sparkled and danced like magic wonders that dazzled, making me feel spell-bound at times. He stared over at Michael but said nothing.
"He can't be trusted." Michael’s face was overcome by worry.
"He won't hurt us," I showed
Michael the crystal I had retrieved from Mr. Vasquez, reminding him that I was in control. Michael seemed relieved, although I could still sense the uneasiness in him.
Mr. Claypool came down the hall and stood like a monstrous statue beside me, along with Mr. Vasquez who had never left my side. They were afraid; I didn't doubt it, recalling their vow to protect me no matter what.
"It's alright, everyone, Q means no harm," I said hoping to convince them or perhaps myself that I hadn’t made a horrible mistake.
"Claudia, I don't trust him," Michael repeated his fears, glaring back at Q with a rage I had never seen before. Surprisingly silent, Q grimaced at the frightened men, unmoved and unconcerned by their wariness of him.
I turned around and faced Michael gently, aware of his concerns, reaching a gentle hand to cup his cheek. Hoping that my touch would ease his worries.
"Michael, he only wants a second chance. He just wants to make peace with us,” I said, putting the crystal in his hand.
Then Q suddenly took a few steps forward, Michael looked back, I spun around. Q put his hand up to calm us.
“I come in peace,” he offered. A line often spoken in alien movies. At first, I thought it was a joke, until he spoke again.
“I assure you I mean you no harm.” His words surprised me a little. I never thought he would say something like that but at the same time, I was happy he was assuring the others of his intentions here. That he had come to make peace as he had promised me.
Michael was just as surprised as me, looking on at the handsome, youthful Q, addressing him and the others. He didn’t say anything, I think he was speechless when he heard Q speak and direct his words to him.
“What do you want?” Michael asked. “What do you want with—here?” He instead said when I grabbed his arm.
“Peace between us—perhaps to offer you my friendship,” Q politely said.
“Why should we trust you after what you did here? What you did to us?” Michael stared in anger, “What you did to me,” he scornfully reminded him. “You tried to use me to get to Claudia. Don’t think I have forgotten about that.”
For a brief moment, Q’s lip curved slightly. I doubted anyone saw it. At least I hoped, but it soon vanished and he looked composed once more, standing before us.
