Post by Serenity Holmes on May 27, 2024 3:37:00 GMT
The power of the deal, the power of saying yes, the power of choosing the greater evil. I've been through this many times, and here I am repeating history. The devil seeks out who will do his bidding but holds onto the one with a black soul. Is that me?
CONTRACT.
She sat there.
The piece of paper highlights her name in bright, bold letters as a contractual extension with Imperium Wrestling Federation under the tutelage and managerial control of Roberto Verona. The chief executive officer of the largest wrestling promotion had her in his grasp, although she walked into his clutches like a lost little child searching for a way out. She must have been so stupid, but what if the lack of vulnerability had begun to compensate for a growing sense of belonging? She was never brought in through the performance center, the Fenix family, or any affiliation with another athlete. No, she came on her own and burned.
You're embarrassing.
Serenity turned around on her chair in front of her desk next to the wall in the bedroom of her condo in Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale. Her foot was tapping on the floor, and her hands, drenched in sweat, were rubbing against her black shorts. She held the pen after reading through the 30-page contract highlighting all the new bonuses, travel amenities, and the life of an actual superstar.
The cost? Her freedom.
You're embarrassing.
SHUT UP!
She stood up from her seat, pacing around and twiddling her thumbs after yelling out to the open space. In her bedroom, she sat on the edge of the bed, hunched forward and burying her face into her hands. How could she have landed in the same spot again? All her life, she has been at the mercy of another person who has swooped in at her most vulnerable to conceive her into their ulterior motives.
Hell, she just needed time.
That's all she needed.
The contract was there, and it fueled her anger. Serenity needed to take a shower in her condo. She left her bedroom, removed her clothes, and entered the bathroom to turn on the hot water pouring from above. The steam filled the air, fogging the mirrors, and she buried her head underneath the hot water, trying her best to keep a calm mind. However, the memories of her mother's abuse, the attack on the therapist, the multiple arrests that now have been erased from her record, and the dealings with Roberto made her want to punch the wall.
Serenity turned the meter off, letting the water finish before stepping out to wrap the white towel around her body. Her wet black hair drenched down to her shoulders, and she wiped the fog off the mirror, showing her face in the reflection. She leaned over the sink and stared deep into her eyes; Serenity wanted to find who she was looking at because, at this point, recognizing herself was a distant memory after making a deal with the devil.
You are so pathetic.
How many times are you going to do the same thing? Here you are at the mercy of another person because you can't seem to live an everyday life! All you had to do was sign the contract, wrestle, win a championship, get into a feud, have a few backstage brawls, and do what every person does in a wrestling promotion!
But no, you always have to take it too far. Tara offered you a home, and you spat in her face when all she ever wanted for you was to be a safe person. You took the Dochertys, the Fenix who offered you sanctuary, and threw it back in their faces.
On top of that, it took you over a year of being absent to come back and lose the Iron Maiden. You couldn't even beat Shea O'Hara, and now you're making deals with the devil. Is it worth it, Serenity?!
Her head was down in listening to the reflection speak to her. Hearing her words slice through her heart like butter wasn't easy, as was accepting everything she's done. Although she knew what she was doing, the pain was growing beyond her limitations. Her hands grasped the edge of the sink tightly, and she didn't speak a word. Instead, Serenity lifted her head with her eyes narrowing to present a horrifying smile to the reflection in her image, which was trying to smack some sense into her.
Do you think I don't see this? You haven't noticed, but I've been carrying this burden long. You don't sit and get the right to judge me because you were there, too! You were there through all the bullshit, and you didn't once say a thing. You know what? Mother was right.
You're embarrassing.
The reflection's jaw dropped, and Serenity smirked.
It would be best if you didn't labor me. I've gone through this on my own. I chose to go against Tara because I'm tired of older women thinking they know what's best for me. After all, the last woman I trusted to do that ended up giving me scars from a leather belt. I hate every woman on this roster, I hate every man in this company, and I damn sure don't need to be reminded of what I've been missing.
Power.
Yes, I have the power to become a champion in any company because IWF has been holding that from me. I've been close. I was this close to primary eventing Night of the Immortals, I was this close to becoming Iron Maiden, but I have to endure listening to you, who has held me back.
In other words, my pathetic reflection, the weaker Serenity, it's time you took a backseat and understood that I said yes not out of vulnerability but because I'm tired of being vulnerable all my fucking life!
The tightness on the edge of the sink's furniture cracked under the pressure of her hands. Serenity stepped back and stared intensely at her hands, shaking until she balled them into fists to look back at the mirror.
Nick Knight? What does he know? He beat Calaway, Charlotte, and Masao, who shouldn't even be in his triple threat. Roberto saw something in me because he believed in me. He doesn't believe in Nick Knight because although Nick is a fair champion, he is a predictable champion.
I mean, look at him. He tries his best to believe he is better than Verona. Still, he lives the same lifestyle as a C.E.O., pretending that he is above the world and doing his best to elevate the Invictus Championship when all he cares about is himself and the power the championship has. I don't care that he's happy with his multiple wives to ensure that his false masculinity can be seen in the world or that he has to brutalize himself in every match for the world to accept him.
You know? I understand why Roberto put me in this match. I understand why he wanted me to stay back when Allen Chaney was getting his ass kicked.
Justice.
True Justice.
The justice everyone wants to feel without waiting on someone else to tell you the case has gone cold. How many times has Nick Knight disrespected Roberto while doing the same thing he does? He's busy buying pathetic jewerly so that his wives wont' divorce him, he's walking around with the Invictus Championship, a championship I should have won when I faced my Uncle, Matthew Knox!
She slammed her fist on the sink, and the reflection jumped back.
Where's the justice in that? Instead, he's busy talking about the same thing. He wants to make the championship better, elevate it, and hold IWF to a higher standard, but the truth is, we've heard the same song and dance for far too long.
You know what I want?
Serenity held onto one of the brushes resting near the sink bin. It was covered in strands of her hair as she played with it a little before taking a few steps back.
I want to rip that championship from his grasp and dangle it across his face. He says there's no one to challenge him but I'm not going to challenge him, I'm going to castrate him. I'm going to rip his balls off and shove them down his mouth because, despite everything he's accomplished, it will not equal the accomplishment of being destroyed in the ring after poking the devil too long. I am done pretending that hurting people is wrong, I am done pretending that being nice is the right thing to do, it might have worked for Nick but let's see how he is when I take what he loves more than his family.
I will take that championship with payment from Masao Akiyama instead of him being unworthy to compete against me. So do me a favor and leave me the fuck alone!
Serenity threw the brush into the glass with all her strength, causing a part to shatter in the middle. The pieces fell onto the sink across from her, and she walked forward to grab a sharp piece before marching back to her bedroom to sit on the desk. Serenity flipped through the document to the last page, where her signature was required. Holding the glass shard up to her face, she saw her eyes in the reflection.
Masao Akiyama and Nick Knight.
Two men to be sacrificed for me to become immortal.
Let it be clear, Masao, that I hope you enjoyed your short time in the company. You've been enjoying the gifts of riding Nick Knight's co-tails, especially after escaping the championship match, thanks to Allen's stupidity playing a factor. We are all in the same boat, no matter what you both do. Nick hates Roberto, but Roberto gracefully gives Masao a second chance, and I make a deal that helps me in this spot.
What's the difference between all three?
I have the devil behind me because I accept. I've finally dropped my guard, had enough of losing everything, and embraced what is mine all along. You see, gentlemen, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but heaven shall fall when a woman is done.
You two are the bane of IWF. You pretend to speak about the future when the 22nd-century Girl has arrived, bringing the future with her.
Nick. You preached, scratched, clawed, and demanded someone to take your championship away, cursing at the man who signs your paychecks. Masao, you're lucky to be along for the ride when you are the equivalent of cannon fodder in a video game no one plays. You are merciful in saving a dog on the street that was left to die lucky enough to be fed scraps out of pity.
But I am not that scrap, I am the master at the table and both you bitches will bow at my feet!
Instead of using the pen, Serenity slowly sliced the palm of her hand, allowing blood to trickle. She dropped the bloodied shard down on the floor and rubbed her bloody thumb across the dotted line, signing the contract extension. Serenity chuckled until she laughed, feeling a newfound sense of freedom. However, she looked down at the shard again and then back to the contract before leaning back in the chair with her head up and eyes closed. She took a deep breath, and she nodded.
Night of the Immortals.
It's a perfect name, especially considering what is going to happen. Yes, Nick and Masao. I signed the deal in blood. I've found a new devil to align myself with, and I fully intend on dragging you both to hell so you both can burn. You know what? I enjoy being this. I enjoy being free.
After all, it's charity. I'm just an advocate.
Well howdy there pardner.