Cycle of Vengeance

Numbness

Numbness:

Mark found Alicia swimming completely naked outside. The sun had just risen and the first rays of morning gave the entire pool an orange glow. Mark was accustomed enough to the sight by now to not even bother averting his gaze. Alicia stopped after one final lap and looked up.

"What's on your mind? Other than the obvious of course." she said with a smirk. When she emerged from the pool, she wrapped herself in a large white towel and sauntered towards Mark. Her black hair was dripping wet and matted smoothly on her left shoulder.

"There's a message from Major Mason. There's a bit of a problem," he replied nervously.

"Well get on with it."

"They were moving in to arrest Hales but then he... he brought out your brother and his wife as hostages and now they're at a standstill." Alicia's calm demeanor vanished as she stiffened.

"How? I watched them get on a plane leaving the country. I watched them... I watched them." Seeing Alicia's stolid demeanor dissipate into unrestrained panic made Mark want to rush up and hug her. He resisted when her eyes met his. Nervous eyes met fierce, frantic green ones. Alicia pulled off her towel and threw it at Mark. "Get the car ready. I'm going there myself."

"You want me to go with you?"

"No. You stay here. It's dangerous enough out there." She shambled up the stairs towards the mansion.

"Uh, you should probably put something on!" Mark ran after her.

"My property's quite large. I don't have neighbors within three miles of here." Water was still dripping down Alicia's hair and body as she stepped into the house. Mark, still clutching the towel, ran in on her heels and held it out to her.

"You should still at least dry yourself off." Noticing the growing puddle on the marble floor beneath her, Alicia snatched the towel and patted herself dry. She let the towel fall onto one of the many sofas in the room.

"You won't be of much use in a hostage situation. Let me defuse this and I promise everything will be fine."

"I used to a police officer, I can handle myself."

"I know you could. But you won't help me in this particular situation. This entire battle is well out of your league so do us both a favor and stay out of this." Each word came out shakier and shakier until Alicia herself was quivering. Whether with rage or anxiety, or perhaps both, Mark didn't want to say.

"I'll help you get your brother out safe."

"You can help by making sure my house is well guarded and cared for, now leave me be!" Alicia was trudging towards another flight of stairs that would lead to her room. Mark followed her until she walked into her large closet, fumbling for something to wear.

"You know you didn't bring me all the way back here just to be your actual butler."

"No, I brought you here as leverage!" Alicia turned around and, for a second, looked almost as shocked at the outburst as Mark felt.

"What?" The shaking subsided and Alicia's body slumped down. She slipped into a nondescript pair of dark pants and shirt. They fit her well enough but were just loose enough for Alicia to slip many knives and a few guns underneath. The weapons fit snugly and were near invisible to any outside observer.

"I never meant for you to be much of an active player at all," she admitted. Her voice was quiet and calm again. "I only bothered holding you because I knew you held sentimental value to Joe. He was the pawn I needed to play, and that meant tying up every single loose end that might have caused him to deviate from my will. You were just one of those ends. That's all. So no, I don't feel any special deference for you nor do I hold you at any exceptionally high value." She straightened her posture and was once again the stoic woman Mark had accustomed himself to serving. "With his role finished, I have no further need of you. I've already made the preparations for your re-assimilation into society. I understand you might have doubts about assuming your old identity again. We'll talk about what you want when I come back." Alicia turned to leave but Mark grabbed her arm to stop her.