Tales of Olsen

17

I was so nervous about my date that I almost threw up the entire time I was getting ready. Alex, in his anger, had punched a hole in the wall and Jordan had only sat and looked curiously at us.

“Are you sure?” she asked every now and then

“If I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t be doing this” I repeated for what seemed like the millionth time.

“I’m just checking to make sure,” she said, “you seem awfully jittery.”

“I am jittery!” I said aloud, “I’m about to go on a date with this man who wants to kill me.”

“Which is why you shouldn’t be doing it!” Alex chimed in from the living room.

I was getting ready and doing my best not to over, or under-dress. The restaurant was fifteen minutes away and I planned to drive to control my movements.

“And what happens if something happens?” Jordan asked

‘You think he has plans to attack me in the middle of a restaurant?” I asked

“What about the parking lot?” Alex asked, “or maybe the bathroom or God forbids he follows you home and clubs you over the head.”

I wanted to laugh but I knew that neither Alex nor Jordan would appreciate that. I knew the dangers of what I was doing, and I didn’t need a reminder.

“If you guys do your job that won’t happen,” I said aloud

“You mean run recon and make sure you don’t get kidnapped?” Jordan asked, “that’s all in a day’s work.”

I laughed at her sarcasm but that did nothing to stop the queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“If you guys are done,” I said walking into the living room, “I’m ready to go.”

Alex looked me over once and shook his head.

“You’re begging for it,” he said

“Woa!” Jordan shouted, “she’s not begging for anything.”

He looked over at her and then shook his head.

I was wearing a red, kimono style dress that hung mid-thigh, but I didn’t think it was that inappropriate.

“You wouldn’t understand.” He said walking over to me, “this is Keith’s color and the ceremonial color for Olsen weddings.”

“I know,” I replied

I had gone through the book and seen the beautiful crimson the woman wore on the day of her wedding.

“Oh, so she is technically asking for it.” Jordan replied, “Go change.”

I tried not to laugh at them both because they were acting as if there was something wrong with the plan we had crafted.

“You guys need to stop this,” I said, “I can do this.”

“It’s not about what you can do,” Alex said, “it’s about what he will do.”

“Which we established would not be happening because you guys will be out there watching my back.”

They looked at each other and then over at me with a reassuring shrug.

“I guess you better go,” Jordan said pushing my purse towards me.

She had gone out and bought me a pepper spray, but I didn’t think it would be much effect against a man who was immortal and had gleaming blue eyes.

“Are you guys ready?” I asked wondering if I had sprung this on them too suddenly.

“As ready as I’ll ever be for something like this,” Jordan replied

“I just want this to be over,” Alex replied

“It’s strange that you think so highly of me, yet you don’t trust me,” I said aloud to Alex

He turned and walked away.

“Just try not to get killed,” he said without turning to look at me again.

“You should go” Jordan encouraged, “or you’re going to be late.”

I looked at the time and decided it would go regardless of how terrified I felt. The ride to the restaurant was lonely and I was full of enough angst to make the whole universe unsteady. The restaurant was much more secluded than I originally thought but there were enough people sitting inside to make me feel comfortable.

“Beautiful,” Keith said coming up behind me as I approached the receptionist.

I hadn’t seen him before and so I turned to look at him. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well he cleaned up for the dinner.

“We should go to our table,” he said ignoring the receptionist who was staring up at him with adoration

As we walked to our table I did my best to avoid walking too close to him. I knew he wanted to touch me, but I didn’t want him to. There was just something about the way he made me feel that didn’t sit well with me. As we approached our table, I said relieved to see that our table was close to the front. Keith carefully removed my chair and waited until I was seated before coming to sit before me.

“So, you want to know more?” he asked, “more about our organization and the things we do. Well, it’s a following of people who believe in changing the world. We are the real deal.”

I wondered why he insisted on asking since he knew exactly what I wanted to know.

“You say it’s real,” I replied, “but I can’t understand why or how.”

“Well, it’s not of this reality,” he said, “it’s something intangible. Not all things in life can be seen or even felt, that doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“Is it like a club?” I asked remembering what I had asked Alex the first time I saw him.

“What do you really want from me Eloise?” he asked

My head popped up and I wondered what he was talking about.

“Why are you messing around with me?” he asked, “I know you know this isn’t a cult and I know you want more information on it.”

For a moment I wondered If he had somehow heard me but there was no trace of supervision in our room and I doubt he could monitor my thoughts as well as Alex.

“I know nothing,” I replied

“Then how were you able to diffuse tornadoes?” he asked, “I bet you didn’t think I was the one behind that.”

“I couldn’t tell,” I shyly, “I wasn’t sure what was happening, one minute it was there and one minute it was gone.”

I didn’t want to admit to anything and I wasn’t going to say I diffused it or that I hadn’t seen it. I had been there, and the tornado disappeared. Being passive was my best option.

“And what about your little friend?” he asked, “what was she doing?”

I knew Jordan didn’t need to be a part of this which meant I needed him to take his focus from her and return it to me.

“She was there,” I replied, “She doesn’t matter though does she, I’m the one who matters.”

Right then I let my hand sneak over towards his on the table.

“Am I not the princess?” I asked

I could tell he was unimpressed, but it was all I had.

“You don’t have to try to be so convincing,” Alex said invading my thought.

I had told him to stay away from my mind but obviously, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Do you know that there are great love stories written about us?” he asked, “we could rule all the universe if you would just let me take you as my own.”

I knew this wasn’t true, but I wouldn’t let him know that I had already figured out his plans for me.

“There’s more than one?” I asked

“I could show you,” he said, “I know it sounds weird, but I have a portal viewer that shows the future, the past, and the present.”

My mind immediately went to the orb Alex had shown us and I wanted to see Keith’s

“Is that all it does?” I asked,

“What else would you want it to do my precious?” he asked,

“Maybe read minds,” I replied

He laughed at my obvious joke and I could see he didn’t think much of me. My mother had always told me that the best way to disarm an enemy is to make them think you knew nothing and that they had all the power.

“Why don’t you let me take you somewhere more private?” he asked

I knew immediately that this was a bad idea but whoever was pulling his strings would be back there and I needed to figure out the greater motive behind this entire plan.

“Private?” I asked, “I could see you in your office,”

“That’s not private enough,” he replied, “I want to take you somewhere that no-one can interrupt.”

“Which was just slang for the place where I will take your life,” Alex whispered in the back of my mind.

I could picture his unimpressed face in my mind and I tried not to laugh.

“Maybe I should get home,” I said looking over my shoulder and wondering if Jordan had made it to the restaurant.

“What?” Keith asked, “can’t handle a little pressure princess?”

I turned to look back at him and then I began to wonder who would want to spend an eternity with his man.

“I just wanted to use the bathroom maybe,” I replied

I walked towards the bathroom at the back of the restaurant and inside I found Jordan waiting for me.

“You’re doing well,” she said

“Good because the hard parts about to come,” I responded, “because now I have to leave with him and only you have any idea what happened so follow me and don’t chicken out.”