Continuing Sage--Life After Deep Dark
Chapter 3
Coreen opened the door to the office to find Vicki asleep in the chair.
“Vicki, Vicki.” Coreen shook her to try and wake her up. She could smell the distinct aroma of the liquor that Vicki had consumed the night before. Finally, Vicki began to make some movement.
“Hey are you OK? Do you want me to get you some coffee?” Coreen said with a concerned look on her face.
“No, but a bottle of aspirin might help.” Vicki’s voice shook as she said the words, demonstrating that she felt as bad as she looked.
Coreen went a fetched some water, aspirin and a cool rag in an attempt to help her boss come back to life.
“Vicki I know that last night was problematic for you, to say the least, but drowning your sorrows in alcohol is not the answer. You need to stay focused so that we can deal with Astorath.”
“Gee, Thanks Coreen for that life shattering insight. Let’s just get down to business and put the discussion of my personal life on the back burner.”
“Any thoughts?” Vicki said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose and adjusted her glasses.
“We know that he needs you to complete his ritual and bring his minor demons into this realm. What we need to figure out is how he is going to do that? I thought that maybe I could do some research and see what has been written on demonic possession, as well as, possible binding rituals that we could use to send him back where he came from.”
Vicki was reaching for her coat and some files, as she turned to look at Coreen and said
“I agree, can you get on that.”
“Sure, but where are you going?”
“Well, first I am going to get a shower and then to see Mike.”
“Mike!!!!!”
“Yes, Mike. With Henry leaving, I am going to need some help and he is my only other option. Plus I want to make sure that he is alright.”
“Are you sure that he is going to want to see you”
“No, but what choice to I have.”
“Well Vicki, let’s see, you could wait and then go see Henry and tell him that you were stupid, beg for forgiveness and for him to stay and help you, not to mention, that you LOVE HIM.”
“Coreen, now who is talking crazy. Henry made his choice. We have to live with it. I don’t want him to go, but I very well can’t stop him.”
“Of course, you can, all it takes is 3 little words.”
“And what 3 words would that be?”
“I Choose You.”
“Coreen, it’s not that simple.”
“Oh yes it is, you are just too stubborn and scared to admit what you feel and what your heart truly wants.”
“I don’t want to discuss this any further. Henry is my business. You need to stay out of it!!!! Do you understand me? Do not bring this up again.”
“Alright Vicki, I’ll drop it, but eventually, you are going to have to deal with your feelings for him. You can’t run forever, living in denial.”
“Why not, it’s worked for me so far.”
Vicki was shuffling around, gathering up the rest of her things. It was obvious that she was frustrated by the conversation, and that she wanted to be anywhere but there discussing her "feelings" and the recent events.
With a huff, she turned to face Coreen, barking orders to call her once she knew something more.
Coreen raised her hand to her forehead as if to salute and said, “You’re the boss.”
With that Vicki walked out of the office, slamming the door as she exited, almost breaking the glass.
As she walked in the afternoon air, Vicki tried to push out everything that Coreen said. She was good at living in denial. She had done it for years. She went to her apartment and showered. After the events of last night, the last thing that she wanted was for Mike to see her in the drunken state that Coreen witnessed. It would have shown him weakness which she was not about to do. Once she had freshened up and changed, she began the walk towards Mike’s place. The closer that she came to reaching his house, the heavier her heart felt. Was she just running to him because he was safe, comfortable or did she really want to try and make it work with him? In her heart she already knew the answer, as much as she cared for Mike, he did not ignite her passion nor did he fill up her senses. Only one man had that power and he was gone.
Coreen opened the door to the office to find Vicki asleep in the chair.
“Vicki, Vicki.” Coreen shook her to try and wake her up. She could smell the distinct aroma of the liquor that Vicki had consumed the night before. Finally, Vicki began to make some movement.
“Hey are you OK? Do you want me to get you some coffee?” Coreen said with a concerned look on her face.
“No, but a bottle of aspirin might help.” Vicki’s voice shook as she said the words, demonstrating that she felt as bad as she looked.
Coreen went a fetched some water, aspirin and a cool rag in an attempt to help her boss come back to life.
“Vicki I know that last night was problematic for you, to say the least, but drowning your sorrows in alcohol is not the answer. You need to stay focused so that we can deal with Astorath.”
“Gee, Thanks Coreen for that life shattering insight. Let’s just get down to business and put the discussion of my personal life on the back burner.”
“Any thoughts?” Vicki said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose and adjusted her glasses.
“We know that he needs you to complete his ritual and bring his minor demons into this realm. What we need to figure out is how he is going to do that? I thought that maybe I could do some research and see what has been written on demonic possession, as well as, possible binding rituals that we could use to send him back where he came from.”
Vicki was reaching for her coat and some files, as she turned to look at Coreen and said
“I agree, can you get on that.”
“Sure, but where are you going?”
“Well, first I am going to get a shower and then to see Mike.”
“Mike!!!!!”
“Yes, Mike. With Henry leaving, I am going to need some help and he is my only other option. Plus I want to make sure that he is alright.”
“Are you sure that he is going to want to see you”
“No, but what choice to I have.”
“Well Vicki, let’s see, you could wait and then go see Henry and tell him that you were stupid, beg for forgiveness and for him to stay and help you, not to mention, that you LOVE HIM.”
“Coreen, now who is talking crazy. Henry made his choice. We have to live with it. I don’t want him to go, but I very well can’t stop him.”
“Of course, you can, all it takes is 3 little words.”
“And what 3 words would that be?”
“I Choose You.”
“Coreen, it’s not that simple.”
“Oh yes it is, you are just too stubborn and scared to admit what you feel and what your heart truly wants.”
“I don’t want to discuss this any further. Henry is my business. You need to stay out of it!!!! Do you understand me? Do not bring this up again.”
“Alright Vicki, I’ll drop it, but eventually, you are going to have to deal with your feelings for him. You can’t run forever, living in denial.”
“Why not, it’s worked for me so far.”
Vicki was shuffling around, gathering up the rest of her things. It was obvious that she was frustrated by the conversation, and that she wanted to be anywhere but there discussing her "feelings" and the recent events.
With a huff, she turned to face Coreen, barking orders to call her once she knew something more.
Coreen raised her hand to her forehead as if to salute and said, “You’re the boss.”
With that Vicki walked out of the office, slamming the door as she exited, almost breaking the glass.
As she walked in the afternoon air, Vicki tried to push out everything that Coreen said. She was good at living in denial. She had done it for years. She went to her apartment and showered. After the events of last night, the last thing that she wanted was for Mike to see her in the drunken state that Coreen witnessed. It would have shown him weakness which she was not about to do. Once she had freshened up and changed, she began the walk towards Mike’s place. The closer that she came to reaching his house, the heavier her heart felt. Was she just running to him because he was safe, comfortable or did she really want to try and make it work with him? In her heart she already knew the answer, as much as she cared for Mike, he did not ignite her passion nor did he fill up her senses. Only one man had that power and he was gone.