Sofia's Curse

The Confrontation

Leeroy hears Sophia's hurried footsteps on the stairs. She didn't tell him she was leaving. She is so disobedient. Always sneaking out. Even when she doesn't have to.

He opens three layers of thick black curtains to look through the window. Sophia is walking towards her car. She is wearing her usual black. Black leather leggings, black booties, and a black shirt.

The sky is full of stars. The streets seem brighter than they are when lit by the Sun. Nights like these would always remind Leeroy of Sophia's childhood. She was such a stubborn child, so defiant. She used to think she was so special, and everything she would see, she would consider a sign from God. One day they were walking home from school and she insisted on holding his hand. Leeroy did not allow it. 

"You have to learn how to take care of yourself," he had said. 

"Why, daddy, when I have you to take care of me?"

Leeroy didn't laugh. He wore a strict face. "Because you never know what can happen. Tomorrow I might be gone, and you will be on your own."

"No, daddy, why would you leave?"

Leeroy never had much patience. "I'm not saying I will leave by my own will. I am saying that you have to be prepared for everything. For life."

Sophia's big eyes looked at him curiously. "Life? But life is good, daddy. The lady teacher in our school told us that good things happen to good people! And you're a good person, daddy! Don't worry, you won't be taken away from me."

Leeroy shook his head. "Your teacher doesn't make much sense."

"She does! She said that some people don't believe it. They don't have faith, no belief in God. But if you do believe, if you follow signs he sends you, you will be a much happier person!"

Leeroy stopped in the middle of the road to kneel in front of Sophie. "Listen, Sophia," he said, "You can only change how you look at things. If you make yourself believe, you will find a silver lining in every dark cloud, even if you don't see it – via assumptions. But the reality is, bad things happen, without a reason and you're not special. Nobody is. You're only one dot in a thick line made out of seven billion of them. And s**t just happens."

Sophia's eyes were wide, but she didn't say anything. Leeroy thought she realized his point. But when he straightened, she covered her mouth, not moving.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"You said the s-word," she whispered.

Leeroy had to laugh. Of all the things... He then realized she doesn't believe him. How can he prove it to her? He will prove it to her.

He turns and sees a g**g of people walking towards them. His eyes sparkle with excitement. "Look," he said.

Sophia furrowed her brows, her cute little face crinkling as she observed her father.

Leeroy reached out his hand and the guys were instantly brought closer, as if pulled by an unfathomable force.

"What the hell," they yelled, "What's going on?" They found themselves strained. Nothing was holding them in place, yet they could not move. Their faces were left pale, as if their souls were sucked out of their skinny bodies.

Leeroy paid no attention to them. He only observed Sophia. He was staring at every crinkle she would make, every flinch, or lip movement. He intensely gazed at her as if he was reading a book. That was the way he learned people's traits. He knew no better.

But Sophia was special. He had problems decoding her behavior. He never knew how to read the signs she was sending. Maybe it was because she was a child? Maybe she experienced different emotions from adults?

"What are you doing?" one of the guys screamed. High pitch. That means fear, Leeroy thought. Easy to read, he frowned still staring at Sophia's poker face.

It irritated him. He wanted to find out more. So, he decided to proceed with his plan. He grabbed one of the guys and installed him in front of Sophie.

Her eyes suddenly widened. It wasn't obvious if it was out of fear or curiosity. Or was it pity for the young man?

"Ask him," Leeroy commanded.

Sophia formed an "o" with her mouth, but no words came out.

"Sophia," Leeroy admonished. "I ordered something."

The guy looked petrified, but he did not speak either.

"Very well," Leeroy lost his patience. "I will ask him, Sophia." His eyes never left hers as he spoke. "Young man...Tell us, are you a good fellow?"

Sophia's eyes shifted from the boy to Leeroy. It was out of surprise. She wasn't expecting that question. Leeroy's lip curled as he answered "Yes! Yes, I am good! I swear I'm good! I never-"

Leeroy didn't even wait for him to finish his sentence, before he snapped his neck and a silent c***k cut through the air.

He hears a scream behind his back and he knows it's one of his friends, but he can't move his eyes from Sophie. What is that face?

"Did you hear that, Sophia?" he said, "He was a good fella."

Sophia stood still for a second, entertaining the thought, then nodded.

Let's move on, Leeroy thought.

And so he brought one by one in front of Sophia and asked them if they were good. Some hesitated after having seen what happened to their friend, but none of them denied it. Each and every one said yes. And he killed every single one after having heard a positive answer.

Collateral damage. That was how he called them. Sophia had to learn. She never mentioned God again, and the first thing she did when she came home was to take off her gold cross necklace. It ended up in a drawer that she never opens. He taught her a lesson. She always needed proof to trust him. She obviously inherited that from her mother's Russian genes. Trust, but verify. 

He shakes his head. What a tough thing it was to raise this girl...

But now she is all he ever wanted her to be. Apart from her secrecy. What is she doing behind his back?

#

Sophia knocks on the door of 37 Maple Street. She glances down her clothes and smirks. She is wearing converse shoes and blue Juicy Couture sweats. It was difficult to change Chanel into Converse. Emotionally, not physically. Sophia is an expert in small magic tricks. She considers herself an expert in dark magic, as well, although Leeroy disagrees. She would tease him that he feels threatened by her, if she wasn't scared of the consequences. He doesn't allow that kind of talk. It is disrespectful.

"Well, finally!" Vanessa snorts and pulls her inside. "Really?" she lifts her eyebrows staring at her shoes.

Sophia innocently lifts a shoulder, "Just trying to blend."

Vanessa lifts her chin and nods appreciatively, "Didn't know you owned a pair."

"Ah, you know. You wouldn't believe what you could find in old boxes."

Vanessa smirks, "They look brand new."

She flattens her lips. Why can't she just leave it? "They kind of are. I never wore them! Can you drop it now?"

"Okay, okay," she lifts her arms in defense. "Come see your present."

"I already know, Van. That's why I'm dressed this way," she gestures.

"Oh," she chuckles. "Don't tell Jake, though. I've already embarrassed myself enough for today."

"Who's Jake?"

"My boyfriend!" she exclaims, offended. "You never listen to me!"

"I'm just messing with you girl, I know," she laughs as they enter the living room.

The sight of them expecting her is overwhelming. She isn't sure what emotion floods her, but it is too much. She swallows hard and turns away to the two guys seated on the couch.

"Who's the unlucky one?" she teases, smirking at Vanessa.

"That would be me," Jakes points his index fingers at himself. "Jake. Nice to meet you," he reaches her hand out.

"Likewise," she says. "Sophia O'Connor."

"Hi... I'm Wade..." he mutters, bedazzled.

Sophia narrows her eyes and glances at Victoria, as if asking her if there was something going on between them.

Her blushed cheeks are her confirmation.

"Sophia, darling," she winks. "But you can call me Soph."

There. Little payback time, she thinks.

Victoria does her best not to roll her eyes. She doesn't care about Wade or Ian at this moment. She is looking at Sophia and all that's going to through her mind is the scene of her killing their mother.

Her breathing becomes shallow and she can't control herself. She stands up and speaks determinedly. "Sophia. Could we have a moment in private?"

She turns to face her, her eyebrows lifted in surprise. She squints, wondering if it's about the boy, but Victoria shakes her head in negation.

Oh, she thinks, must be about that old witch, then.

"Certainly," she says.

"Oh, no, no," Vanessa protests, "I want to hear the explanation for this, too."

Victoria has to remind herself she's not in her own house. She mustn't be rude. "It's not like we have one."

Sophia gazes lightly at her friend, "Van, darling, you know I don't have secrets before you," she winks, mouthing, "I'll tell you everything later," as she follows Victoria into the kitchen.

Soon, they are joined by Christopher.

She looks at them warily, unsure of what she feels. Is it yearning? Annoyance? And what do they feel? Curiosity? Hatred?

"You killed our mother!" Victoria blurts accusingly.

Hatred it is, Sophie thinks.

"Yes," she says, "I did."

Victoria's mouth drop. How can she admit it this bluntly? She expected negation and apologies...wait, did she?

"And yet you trust me enough to give me the exact address of your premises," she frowns, "why is that?"

Victoria feels to mad to speak to her. She'd like to rip her apart. But she knows she couldn't win. Sophia has powers. Victoria and Christopher don't.

"We know you saved us," Chris finally speaks, "From your father, or whoever he is."

Sophia smirks. "Whoever he is?"

The twins don't seem amused.

Sophia waves her hand, "Oh, what the hell, I'll admit it," she says, "Yes, I saved you from him."

"Why?" Chris shoots the question.

"And, more importantly, why did you kill our mother?"

Sophia rolls her eyes. "She's not your mother."

Victoria flushes out of anger. "She's the only mother we know! And you...you slaughtered her! How dare you?"

Sophia checks her nails, pretending to be bored. "What question, exactly, do you want me to answer? You'll only get one answer," her eyes gleam with excitement. "Which one will you choose?"

Christopher narrows his eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"This," he gestures angrily between them. "Playing with us! We want answers!"

Sophia lifts her chin. She runs her hand over her clothes, and it becomes a black leather cocktail dress. "So, that's the question you're going to choose?"

Victoria clenches her teeth and lurches forward. Chris goes to stop her, but even before he touches her, she is stopped by Sophia. An invisible force is keeping her in place. Victoria grunts angrily. "I will get you!"

"Very well. If that's the question you want to know the answer to... The answer is...because I can."

"Why does your father want us dead?" Chris storms.

"Sorry, Christopher. Your question is up. Now I've got one," she gazes at Victoria. "How was it?" she asks, "Pretending to be me with my boyfriend?"

Victoria snarls and fights against the invisible veil keeping her strained. "I hate you!"

Sophie lifts a shoulder, "I wouldn't expect anything less. I shall leave you as soon as we're even."

"Even?" Chris asks, frowning.

"Yes, Christopher, even. I've answered a question for you. Now I want my answer."

Christopher realizes why she only allowed them to have one. Because she only had one question for them.

Maybe if he persuades Victoria to answer, they could pose another one. "Vic," he eyes her, "tell her."

She creases her forehead. "What?"

"Tell her, c'mon," he urges.

Is he kidding me? she thinks, but answers, nonetheless. "It was awful! There. We're even."

"Liar," she whispers accusatory. "If you calm down, I'll lower the web, you know."

The web?

Victoria stills. She wants to punish her for what she has done, but she knows she's powerless. She will hate her from the distance. She has to think productively, as Christopher always does.

"Good," Sophie says, almost pleased, and lowers her hand, releasing Victoria. "Now we can chat," she grins. "Since I'm in such a good mood, I'll allow for another question."

Christopher shoots immediately. "Why does your father want us dead?"

Sophia glances at him, "I'm sorry, Christopher. You've already had yours. It's Victoria's turn to ask something," she looks at her, raising his chin.

Victoria breathes shallowly, unable to think of anything, but her hatred. "Why did you kill our mother?" she asks.

Sophia smiles, as if having expected the question. "Because she deserved it," she says.

Just as Victoria lurches towards her, she lifts one hand up, stopping her, and with the other she runs over her clothes, changing it back to converse and sweats. Ducking is below her. She still keeps Victoria in place as she opens the door. "Time's up," she says cheerfully. "It has been a pleasure. We should repeat this soon," she nods, "Next time with Leeroy. Say...tomorrow? Same time and place?"

She is gone before they can answer.

"I hate her!" Victoria snarls as the invisible web is gone, too.

Chris nods absentmindedly. They were wrong about her. She isn't that good, after all. She is toying with them, torturing them. And enjoying it.

But why does it feel that she has just warned them to move house?