Kendrick shook his jacket with a grimace. “I’ll make sure too!” she said winking.
He watched her sashay past him, then glance over her shoulder. “Tsk…children.”
“Be careful of clowns like that boy. They don’t have your best interest at heart,” Yvonne said with a cutesy smile as she walked away.
He had to agree with that assessment. As he climbed in his car, he glanced back at the unique beauty. Her words branded themselves in his psyche. The odd scent of something light mixed with metal and urine assaulted his senses. Whatever was on him needed washing off. The blinking of his cell phone with the name ‘Anarchy Elite’ on it and ‘Airport’ alerted him. It was a reminder to pick up TJ, who had flown in from St. Louis, from the airport. It also told him to meet with Reina Costa and Nydia Randal at the venue for the party. They were his firm’s event planners.
That boy Aaron had delayed his plans. Kendrick shook off his anger by rubbing the back of his tingling neck. That delicious pain was still there. One hand on his steering wheel, he dropped his other against his thigh and rubbed the bulge there. It made him think of Yvonne and the pain. Back to business, he had a bachelor party to kick start and specifics laid out by Jessica. She wanted to make sure that TJ had a constructive party. She, also needed reassurance that Kendrick could pull off the grandiose shindig.
A quick dial on his bluetooth and he was soon connected to Jessica. “TJ just landed, but I’m sure you know that.”
“Of course. I needed to know that my man had safely landed.” Jessica gave an airy chuckle.
He could hear the admiration in her tone.
“We don’t need any complications do we?” she asked.
Now he had to laugh. “I thought I was the control freak Jessica.
I’m on my way to pick him up after I change my attire and do a once over at the venue.”
“Good. Did you get him everything he requested? I hate to have him upset over something as frivolous as a lacking venue.”
The venue was an opulent two-story condo on the top of a high rise near Magnificent Mile. It had 360 clear panoramic views of downtown and the shoreline with an indoor elevator. Nothing about the venue would be lacking. He had made sure of that.
“Jess.” Damn, she could be overzealous in her devotion to his best friend.
“Oh, my God. I’m doing again.” Jessica gave an embarrassing laugh. “Just ignore me, and take care of him for me. All I want is for TJ to enjoy himself so that he can get all that mannish crap out of his system. He works so hard and he deserves this.”
“Then you might want to quit having me check in with you every hour of the day and trust in me. TJ is my boy,” Kendrick replied back in a mixture of seriousness and light humor. “I’ll always cater to his needs. Remember how you two met?”
A sardonic smile slowly spread across his face in memory.
Jessica’s light sigh then chuckle sounded in his ear. “You never stop reminding me. Dr. Meeks class.”
And the party. She always forgets to mention the party, he thought to himself. A gentle pressure in his skull made him speak up. “Yes and when he dragged you out of my party. Had he not—”
“Yes…yes…” Jessica quickly uttered. “The party.” She gave an uncomfortable laugh then cleared her throat. “He’s my hero. So, um, moving on. Can we just focus on you and TJ having a good time like you both always do? Just keep everything clean, and I’ll see you both soon. I must hang up now. I have my own fun to have.
Bye, Kenny!”
His gums were sore again.
“Goodbye, Jess. Enjoy yourself.” Kendrick definitely planned to deliver. Because if this went over well, he knew that it would be only a matter of time before the benefits flowed his way.
#
The devil was in the details. Red, black, and white. He wore a white pressed shirt, slacks and casual dress shoes. Kendrick walked around the two level condo, greeting his excited guests. Ruby lights gave the place a sultry allure. Dancers spun from silk drapes. The vast space overflowed with curves, lush backsides, and plump breasts. All the women were blond beauties with the occasional exotic mixtures in-between. It was TJ’s specific taste when not focusing on Jessica who was a vivacious sepia toned beauty.Seductive music played with a blend of raunchy hip-hop.
Kendrick observed naked women, dressed in skin tight attire or body paint, sway and beckon to him. Perfection. Just how he liked it when he partied. There was only one thing, the red head wasn’t here. She had called his number as he thought she might, and said that she would be coming with a few friends. But, he didn’t see her anywhere.
Disappointed, he continued his hosting. The bachelor party was on and the man of the hour appeared somewhat sick.
Good. His friend’s discomfort strangely made him smile.
Not only was his friend nauseous, but TJ appeared somewhat dizzy. A light sheen of sweat lined TJ’s neck. Smoke spilled from his lips. His friend held a bottle in one hand and a glass in the other dancing to the music. TJ always enjoyed being the center of attention. When TJ moved, he’d turn to steady himself and wipe a hand down his tawny face and beard. Every so often, he’d gag, then right himself with the help of a busty female.
So, his friend was sick.
But, there was pride and satisfaction on his best friend’s face, and the faces of a few of their frat brothers. All over the display of naked flesh around them. Kendrick took in the scene of the party then reached out to rap his knuckles against TJ’s.
“Kendrick Anderson always pulls through. You outdid yourself, my brotha,” TJ said with a salute of his champagne bottle.
It was a white frosted gold bottle of My’lce brand Cava Rose champagne. TJ poured its pale red liquid into Kendrick’s glass.
Ken inhaled the robust scent and took a drink. Odd wailing groans echoed in his ears as he drank. Glancing down, he swore the liquid had an unearthly quality to it. With a shake of his head, he gave a wry smile to his friend.
The drink hit him with a spark of fire that made him hard.
At the same time, a cold chill ran down Kendrick’s spine. His shoulders felt heavy. It began to feel overly hot to the point where he was having trouble breathing.
“Told you to count on me,” he said, returning his attention to TJ. “Planning parties and picking women is what I do.”
“Don’t I remember. Kenny, bro, I’m feeling high up in here with all this flesh before me,” he said sluggishly.
As TJ danced against a flawless ebon-toned beauty, Kendrick smirked. “I deeply appreciate cha.”
Both TJ and his dance partner laughed. The woman snaking against him wore nothing but a black fishnet dress with matching bra and thong. Her long hair was in micro-twisted braids that swayed against her plump ass. When Kendrick stepped back, he noticed another woman behind TJ. She wrapped her stiletto tipped fingers around TJ while she danced. The beauty was exotic and Afro-Latina. Dark golden skin was on display due to her cutaway see through dress.
Excellent. TJ was on another level and Kendrick figured that he’d want that fun to continue. Ken turned to leave; he had caught he glimpse of his redhead. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll be right back.”
Kendrick’s manhood came alive at that moment. He cut through the crowed stopping when his feet felt sticky. Ignoring it, he reached out, “Yvonne?”
All that beautiful red hair lifted as the alluring body it rested on turned his way. Red liquid covered her body. It flowed from her scalp and connected to the floor in a pool of blood at his feet. A growing hunger rose in his stomach. He wanted to rake his tongue over every drip and suck its essence from her nipples.
“Mr. Anderson? I was looking for you.” Yvonne ’s dark stained lips parted into a seductive grin. Her beauty greeted him.
Kendrick blinked. He had a job to do. This wasn’t the time.
“I was looking for you as well. I’m glad you’re here.” He circled her like a hawk then held out his hand. She was perfect. Spectacular. TJ would enjoy her. “Com
e with me. Let me introduce you to my friend.”
They walked through the crowd of dancing people. A pit in his stomach grew and pained him. The women, all of them, stared at him as if he disgusted them. They know your secret.
Kendrick ignored his intuition and barked out. “TJ, it’s about that time. Allow me to introduce the beautiful Yvonne.”
TJ stepped his way. The brotha rubbed his beard-lined jaw, while drinking in Yvonne’s frame.
“You into a little private party Yvonne?” Kendrick leaned in and whispered against Yvonne ’s ear, “Come with us to the second half of the party. You won’t be disappointed.”
“Really?” She turned towards him with an eager smile. Her hand laid against his chest then she gave a sultry laugh. “I look forward to the fun.”
An unsettling flash of light mixed with smoke drew Kendrick’s attention away. This was like old times. Like back in college. The flash of a woman’s body pressed against the red sheets of a bed played at his mind. Kendrick blinked it away only to lock in on the crowd before him. Faces of the various dancers in the room began to change before his eyes. His intuition whispered...you have a plan. Move on with the plan.
Sweat trickled down his temple. He saw long black nails coated in blood. He wanted that blood. Needed to feel those nails rake across his flesh. He had done so many foul things in his life and it all accumulated to this moment. He needed to stick to the plan. The women gestured to him. Yvonne beckoned to him and he watched her sultry features shift into a monstrosity. When she kissed his lips and pulled on his arm, his intuition whispered: succubus. He had a job to do and she was part of it. Glimpses of the males in the room, his old frat brothers, and it took him back. He remembered when he first introduced Jessica to her knight-in- shining armor TJ.
Kendrick had presented Jessica to TJ on a platter without her knowing. He picked her the first day he saw her in Dr. Meek’s class. She was a lovely thing back then. Just the right type for TJ’s law ambitions and Kendrick’s career aspirations. This was all for TJ.
He focused on his frat brother.
A mischievous smile played at the corners of his lips. TJ was moving through the crowd in an antsy manner. Whenever the hands of the people of the crowd touched him, he’d jump. Of course he would. They were demons and wanted to skin him alive for their pleasure. A piercing bellow sounded in the party, causing to stop. It was so loud that it shook TJ and had him turn towards Kendrick.
“Did you hear that man?” TJ asked in brief shaking panic, hidden in machismo.
Oh, he had heard it. Kendrick raised a brow. “Hear what?” “A screeching noise, man!”
“Ah! That had to be the DJ mixing something wrong. See? The music is back. It’s all good and back to normal.” Kendrick anxiously laughed. “Don’t trip. This all for you man.”
“I know, but that was crazy. I swear I heard that same noise back at my office.”
It was all coming back to him. To complete the contract he had with CU Reynolds and Co. he had to do this. It was all part of the plan. If TJ didn’t hear that screeching, then Kendrick had miscalculated.
Kendrick stopped near a large elegant hallway. He whispered in Yvonne’s ear to go on ahead. He turned to his friend with a dark and distant look. He hurriedly dropped his mask and gave him a reassuring smile.
“I’m sorry to hear that man. Might have been stress. You do work too hard and, you know we planned all this just to keep you relaxed, so don’t trip. You need this night. Here, drink up.”
TJ narrowed his eyes.
Kendrick knew that his friend was scrutinizing him. When TJ shook his head and took a swig from his bottle, Kendrick relaxed. The plan was in full motion.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m tripping. Let’s see this gift of yours,” TJsaid, winking.
“This is just like the old days, huh?” Ken asked thumbing his nose and throwing his arm around TJ shoulders. “Yvonne is the gift man. She’s yours…and there’s more.”
“Just how I like em’. I haven’t had red in a long time.” TJ laughed. “I appreciate it.”
“Good. Straight ahead then.” Both men headed down an elegant hallway where Yvonne disappeared. Kendrick knew that he was a dog. To move up in the world, a man had to do the most of one or the other. Be it good or bad. Kendrick had chosen bad.
Long ago, he had done something foul to get Jessica to fall for TJ. Now, that game was going on again, just to appease his best friend. But also, to abide by the rules of his firm.
In silence, Kendrick took his time going down the hallway. He watched how his boy’s body language changed with the dynamics of the room. To the clueless, the hallway would feel as if it were encapsulating them. Walls would close in and narrow the further down one went. Kendrick adjusted his collar. The awareness of what he had to do assaulted him. He knew that he was to bring TJ here and that was it. They approached a dark oak double door with strange carvings.
Painted handprints revealed various imprints of bodies and faces carved on the door’s surface. When Kendrick grabbed the handle, those bodies began to undulate in silent agony. Warm liquid oozed down the surface and dripped upon his hand, then feet.
Kendrick looked over his shoulder. TJ’s eyes were darting back and forth in fear and confusion, and Kendrick enjoyed every bit of it.
“Are you good, TJ?”
“Of course…I’m feeling a little off man, but it’ll be good once we get in this room. I know it.”
“Yes, you will,” Ken stated.
“AHHHH!” blasted around them again.
“Hey…hey…I think I had too much to drink man,” TJ said stumbling back.
“Me too, but that never stopped our fun,” Kendrick sneered. “Come on bro. Once we get our taste everything is going to be okay.”
TJ gave him a look as if he were crazy. Kendrick inwardly laughed. It was all part of the plan.
“Listen for a moment,” TJ motioned holding up his hand. “Didn’t you hear that?”
Kendrick played along. Music thumped like that of a heartbeat.
Both men listened intently.
“What was that?” Kendrick looked around ,startled.
The door behind him slowly opened and TJ backed up. “I don’t know man, and I don’t like it…”
Yvonne stood in front of them. She wore nothing but diamond jeweled waist beads that covered her bare mound.
“Gentleman? Is the party over?” she inquired softly.
Both men stared in awe then took her outstretched hands. “No.”
Kendrick stepped into the room. TJ followed. The slam of the door behind them caused him to come out of his trance. She was perfect.
White drapery flowed everywhere. The curtains revealed a small room with their frat memorabilia on the walls. Near a large window was a bed covered in red sheets. The effects of the champagne finally kicked in and TJ stood paralyzed.
Confused, Kendrick looked around.
“Wait…what is this?” TJ asked. “Kenny! What the fuck is this?
What made you do this?”
“I didn’t,” Kendrick said backing away.
Panic washed through him then faded into something else: his intuition. Kendrick rubbed his neck at the pain there. The plan was to throw this party and remind TJ of the good times. Not put their sins on display.
TJ stood in shock. He made sure to keep his back to the bed and Kendrick knew why. He couldn’t look at what they both had covered up. He couldn’t acknowledge what they did to Jessica.
When Jessica’s screams of protest resonated in the room, TJ gripped his skull.
Kendrick didn’t. Instead, he rushed to the door. He frantically tried to open it up. “Yvonne, what are you doing? I didn’t pay you for this.”
The door bit him. He remembered.
“You didn’t but your bosses did,” she explained with a smile. “Everything has a price, remember, Kendrick?”
She was right. The bite made him remember the board members telling him such and more. This
was part of the plan. “Jessica? Come out.”
“Wait? What?” TJ’s eyes bulged. “Jessica is here?”
Jessica appeared naked, covered in bruises and blood. Evidence of the attack she’d suffered at TJ’s hands.
“Stop!” TJ let out a rough scream.
“Remember how badly you wanted her, man?” Kendrick taunted. “You said Jessica fit your ambitions. All because her family was connected to the black bourgeois.”
Kendrick chuckled. He loved this. “You had to make her yours and be a hero. Remember?”
“I didn’t say that!” TJ yelled.
“You did.” Kendrick sinisterly smiled. “But, being the friend that I am, you knew that I’d put your plan in motion and deliver Jessica to you on a platter.”
TJ’s hands tightened into fists. “You drugged her and brought her to my room! I didn’t tell you to do none of that.”
He wasn’t lying. “True, but you clawed at her like an animal. I just watched. Then stopped you before you killed her. Shit. None of that extra shit was part of my plan.”
“Fuck this. Jess, he’s lying.” TJ turned but Jessica stopped him. “Don’t run, TJ. Accept your shit. I made you look like a hero when you ran back in the room. Hell, we even pinned it on one of our frat brothers. Remember? Jessica had been so drugged; she didn’t know shit—”
“Not until six hours ago, when I came into the family order.” Jessica reached towards TJ. Viciously, she snatched out TJ’s windpipe. “You used to make me feel insane over the PTSD. But now, that all changes.” Blood ran over her fingers. She licked each one sucking them clean. TJ clasped at his throat then fell to his knees.
Lovely, Kendrick thought with Yvonne’s mouth at his throat.
He closed then opened his eyes revealing pitiless darkness. Kendrick had fulfilled his obligation.
Yvonne let him go.
“Didn’t I tell you that I’d take care of you, man?” He said with a demonic grin. “Now you’re taking care of me. Jessica’s is a Reynolds, man. She’s the granddaughter to my boss.”
Sycorax's Daughters Page 14
