The Dark Side of Eleanor Warwick

Madeline glances over her shoulder, into the backseat. Jessica sits silently. She wrings her hands in her lap, occasionally casting a nervous glance at her father. He sits next to her, idly rolling his cane between his fingers.

“Dad?” Alexander ignores her. “Dad, I don’t understand what’s happening.

“Your understanding is not a priority. Just do what I tell you.”

Jessica looks out the window. The chime of a cell phone makes Alexander check his pocket.

“See this is what I’m talking about,” Jessica says, pulling the device from her jeans. The screen is cracked, no doubt the result of a dumpster being dropped on her, but it still functions. “This isn’t mine. Someone named Towles keeps texting it. Who is Towles? And where did I get this phone?”

Alexander snatches it from her hand and casually tosses it out the window. “There. Problem solved.” Jessica scowls at her father until he looks her way and she shrinks in her seat and looks back out the window.

They pull up along the curb on Riverside Drive. Exiting the rental car, the trio stands before House Warwick. Madeline looks up at the building. “Rather nice, isn’t it? For an urban House, at least.”

Before she can get a response, she looks down at the red door at the entrance of the House. Suddenly, she feels weak in her knees. Sweat beads on her forehead. The short walkway from the street to the building’s stoop stretches out, moving the entrance farther away from her. The trees on the sides of the path curve over the walkway, their branches thin and wither as the bony fingers of a skeleton.

“D-d-dad?” Unable to take her eyes away, Madeline flails her arm about, helplessly grasping at the air. When she finally finds a hand to clasp, she suddenly feels fine. The strange hallucinations cease.

She looks down to see Jessica holding her hand. Alexander has her other one. Embarrassed, she collects herself. “Well, that was harrowing.”

“What was?” Jessica asks, confused.

Madeline looks at her father. She can’t tell what kind of effect, if any, he felt from House Warwick’s powerful defenses. He walks forward, ignoring Jessica’s whine as he tugs her along.

Wizards do not need to lock their doors. The wards usually do a great job of keeping uninvited people away. The Blackwells walk straight into the foyer.

Alexander releases Jessica’s hand and moves deeper into the House. Madeline hesitates. House Warwick was the most powerful House in the country once. It may have fallen on hard times, but there is no telling what is in that place.

She notes Jessica looking around, bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I...kind of feel like I’ve been here before.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve never even been in this city before.”

“Yeah,” she turns aggressively toward Madeline, “and that’s another thing! Why are we here and why don’t I remember coming?”

Madeline places a hand on her shoulder. “Calm down, Jessica. You need to trust us. Just do as Dad says and everything is going to be fine.”

Jessica looks at her father. “Sure,” she mumbles darkly, “he’s always got my best interests in mind.”

Alexander steps back over to them. “If anyone were home, I think we would know it by now. Just the same, I’m going to look around upstairs. You two make a pass of this floor.”

“Yes, sir. Come along, Jessica.”

Jessica looks away from Alexander’s sharp gaze as she lets Madeline lead her into the adjoining rooms. Alexander ascends the stairs to the second floor.

A few minutes later, the door of House Warwick slowly opens.

Marvin steps in and looks around. He clutches a gift in his hand. Running his free hand nervously through his hair, he takes a deep breath and climbs the stairs.

He looks down the hall. Slowly, he approaches one of the doors. Light peeks out from underneath. Fidgeting nervously, he knocks. “Jessie?”

No answer.

He knocks again. “Jessie, please.” Still no answer. “Come on,” he says. “You broke a $1300 guitar. I think that should buy me at least a chance to explain.” He rests his head on the door. “Jessie, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you heard...well, I’m not sure what you heard, but I assume it was nothing good.

“I know I shouldn’t have talked about you like that. I’ve never done it before, I swear. It’s just...it’s just I want to tell people about us. Whether you want to admit it or not, we’re...we’re a couple, you and me. And I keep biting my tongue, going along with everything, not wanting to make you angry.”

Marvin places his hand on the door frame and pushes off. “It shouldn’t be that way. I mean, I l...like you. A lot. I can’t help but wonder how you really feel about me. You say you don’t want to label it, you don’t care what anybody thinks, you’re not a trophy, well-,” he slaps his hand against the wood, “that’s bullshit!

“I’ve put up with a lot in this relationship, and that’s exactly what that is, and I’ve never asked for anything. I’ve had this idea in my head that I don’t deserve you. That I should just take whatever I get from you and be happy about it. Well, that’s not happening anymore. As things stand right now, you are my girlfriend. I insist on being able to refer to you as such and if you have a problem with that...well, then you aren’t going to have to worry about it because you won’t be anymore.”

Marvin stares at the door. He leans in and listens carefully. Straightening back up, he sighs. “And I’ve been talking to an empty room. Wonderful.”

He turns to leave and jumps back with a startled flinch. Alexander Blackwell leans against the opposite wall, casually twirling his cane.

“What the fuck? Who are you? H-how did you get in here?”

“Oh, I think we have something far more pressing to discuss, you and I.” Alexander comes off the wall and steps closer, causing Marvin to shrink. “Such as your intentions toward my daughter.”

Madeline looks over the portrait of Gerald Warwick. She finds him an unimpressive-looking man. House Warwick’s decision to honor the past is the opposite of how her own House does things. Her father only maintains the past when it serves to reinforce the present. He wants people to remember his father’s time as head of the House only so they remember how it ended.

She turns away from the painting to find Jessica staring at a chalkboard. Stepping over, she glances at the random scribbles. “Mean something to you?”

Jessica does not look away. She inhales the scent of chalk dust. Memories try to flare in her mind but remain shrouded in a haze. “I don’t know. I feel like- .”

Thudding sounds from the foyer draw their attention. The sisters rush out of the study. Marvin lies on the floor in a heap. Small amounts of blood ooze from wounds on his head. He looks up and sees Jessica.

“Jessie!”

Jessica recoils, slinking back behind her sister. He tries to scramble to his feet, but Madeline holds her hand out, palm flat. Marvin flops back down to the marble. “Jessie,” he groans. “Jessie, what the hell is going on?”

“Leave her alone,” Madeline commands protectively. “You don’t know her.”

“I- I do! Jessie, please! Tell them!”

Madeline steps forward and plants a firm kick to Marvin’s side. He moans and clutches his midsection. “I said, leave her alone!”

“Enough, Madeline,” says Alexander. “Stand up...I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

Marvin’s eyes don’t leave Jessica’s as he struggles to his feet. She stares back at him, uncertain.

“I asked you a question,” Alexander says in a tone suggesting he will not ask again.

“Towles. Marvin Towles.”

“Ah, the persistent Mr. Towles. Quite a show you put on upstairs.”

“What- what did you do to Jessie?” he says, looking at her.

“Jessie?” Alexander glowers. “I loathe abbreviated names. Pet names. I gave my children their names for a reason. People want them to be relatable, to bring them down to their level. It’s odious. What did people try and call you, Madeline?"

“Maddie,” she answers with derision.

“Maddie. How ridiculous.”

“Please,” Marvin pleads quietly, “what did you do to her?”

“Why?” Alexander points at Jessica and gestures for her to come over to him. She hesitantly complies. He places a firm hand on the back of her neck. “Don’t you like her this way?”

Marvin stammers, not sure how to answer. Jessica looks at her father. “Dad, please.” Her eyes water. “I don’t understand what’s happening. Who is he?”

Alexander smirks before looking at Marvin. “Well, tell her who you are.”

“Dad, I don’t think- .”

He cuts Madeline off with a hand raised.

“I...uh...I’m…”

“Stop stammering, you fool, and tell her. Just say what you said upstairs.”

“We’re dating,” Marvin finally says. “I’m your...your boyfriend...sort of.”

“Isn’t that nice, Jessica? You have a boyfriend.”

“I don’t know him!” she cries.

Alexander gives her a rough jostle. “You’re being very rude.” He looks back to Marvin. “She doesn’t remember. You were so much more passionate upstairs. A bit rambling perhaps, but passionate. Do better.”

Marvin’s eyes water. “Jessie,” he says softly. When she stares back, confused by him, Marvin looks at Alexander. “Please. Let her go, man. Bring her back.”

“We did bring her back. Back to the way she is supposed to be. Now tell her who you are.”

“I did!”

“Well, not very convincingly. She doesn’t know you. Perhaps you need motivation.”

Removing his hand from Jessica’s neck, Alexander holds his palm out. Light shimmers in his hand, as if reflecting off metal. Marvin blinks and there is suddenly a silver dagger in the wizard’s grasp. He hands the blade to his daughter.

“Jessica, kill him.” Everyone in the room stares at him. “Now.”

Jessica turns the dagger over in her hands. “I...I don’t want to kill him.”

“Why not? Who the hell is he?”

“Jessie! Don’t!” Marvin pleads.

“He’s no one.” Alexander begins to circle them. “You’ve said so yourself.”

“I am not no one!” Marvin steps closer but pulls up short when Jessica grips the handle of the weapon with both hands.

“You’d better make her remember, boy,” Alexander says from behind him.

“We- we met right here!” Marvin begins frantically, fumbling over his words. “I saw you on those steps,” he gestures behind him. “You- you were,” he chuckles nervously, “you were furious.”

“Kill him, Jessica,” Alexander whispers in her ear. “You know what happens when you disappoint me.”

She tightens her grip on the dagger.

“You were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, but I was terrified of you.” Marvin moves a little closer. “We listened to records. We ate shitty burgers in my car. I tried to save your life once.” He smiles. “It didn’t go so well. I held your hand when you were...when something bad was happening.”

Jessica shakes her head. “No. No. I don’t- I don’t know you.”

“Yes, you do!” Marvin raises his voice, desperation creeping in.

“He’s a liar, Jessica. Kill him.”

“Jessie, please!”

“Shut up!” Jessica shrieks, clutching her head.

“Kill him.”

“Jessie, I love you!” Marvin exclaims.

“Kill him now!” Alexander shouts in her ear.

Jessica screams in desperate fury, a dark rumble to her voice that evades her recognition. She lunges forward.

Marvin’s eyes widen. His mouth falls agape. They stare at one another. A tear runs down Marvin’s round cheek. Jessica looks down to find the dagger deep in his chest.

Gasping in horror, she stumbles back. Marvin stands rigid for a moment before falling onto his hands and knees. He looks up at her, blood coloring his teeth. With a pitiful wheeze, Marvin Towles drops to the floor.

Jessica looks down with wet, hollow eyes. Her father steps up beside her. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

She only stares back down at the body before Madeline takes her by the arm and pulls her gently away. “That’s all well and good, Dad,” Madeline says, disapproval clear in her voice, “but that doesn’t help us with Eleanor Warwick.”

“True enough.” Alexander goes out of his way to step over Marvin’s body and enter the study. “Roaming around the city looking for her would be foolish. Best to simply wait here for her to return home.” He takes a seat at the table and opens one of the books piled there.

Madeline looks at Jessica. Her eyes remain fixated on her victim. “Dad, perhaps you’d allow me to take Jessica elsewhere.”

Alexander looks at his daughter and then at the body. “Very well. Take her back to the loft. I will wait for Ms. Warwick.”

“Thank you.” Madeline takes her sister by the hand. “Come along, Jessica.”

As Madeline leads her out, Jessica looks back to the former Marvin Towles. She has no memory of him. Still, she can’t ignore a heaviness in her heart.