This story is copyrighted 2017 by Kaereni, may not be excerpted, reprinted, reproduced, or reposted in any form without the express written consent of the author. Visitors may read or temporarily download pages but are not permitted to modify or re-distribute them.
The story may contain sexual activities and situations that are to be read only by readers above the legal age of consent. All characters are above the age 18. The story is not to be read in locations where such stories are illegal. If you are not of legal age, or live in the wrong place, please do not read.
Author's note: A special thanks goes to Ed for his work on editing my stories. Any mistakes you find are not his fault; they are mine for not making all of the changes he recommends.
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Jane returned to the front yard and sat down on the grass. Ten minutes later, she had just about decided to go get Sherry herself when the woman came over and knelt near her. Jane looked at her for a long moment and said, "You know Rachel, of all here, it is you I feel closest too. You and I are alike. At least we were and because of that I see myself in you."
Sherry looked up surprised. She thought that if anyone it was Karen or Baby Girl that Jane was close to. "I don't understand how do you see yourself in me?"
"Since I can guess my little sister blabbed I can tell you in greater detail." Jane said. "Most of my life I was told I would amount to nothing. I was a failure as a male and they damn sure didn't want me. I was put in a boarding school so my parents didn't have to deal with a bastard son. When mother divorced dad, I was tossed into an apartment and told to deal with it. I wasn't welcome in her house with her and my little sister. Think about it, my own flesh and blood mother, I was in eighth grade for god's sake."
"Oh my god, that's terrible," Sherry said with wide eyes.
"Only my mother's death caused me to step up to the plate so to speak. Tiffany was a mess. Her father, the banker didn't want anything to do with her but couldn't just toss her out. At least he had those morals." Jane looked down at her hands, "Family takes care of family, I made that choice when mom died. I had to be the big brother and protector that Tiff needed. So I forced myself to grow up and get past the feelings of worthlessness."
"I didn't have a little sister, my parents are still alive and I am still stuck with feeling worthless no matter what I do," Sherry said looking at Jane.
"Correct as far as it goes sister. But there is more," Jane replied. "Let's break it down, that always works for me. You failed Karen because well that's what you do, you fail. Right?"
"Yes, I knew the minute Eva turned away without whipping her something was up. But I couldn't speak up. I was afraid to."
"Not afraid of Joyce. You were afraid of the other's reactions and more importantly Karen's reaction." Jane countered.
"Yes," Sherry replied. "I have been thinking about it all evening. Why did I stay silent? Because I am worthless and no one would listen." She looked at her hands, "God I hate my life, but love it here." She looked at Jane with tears rolling down her cheeks, "Help me. Fix me, guide me sister because I can't live like this."
"I will sister. I promise you will see the world differently by the time we finish. But before I go poof you are well, let me try to walk you to the conclusion." Jane paused and said, "You think you are worthless. But I can prove otherwise and then we can address the self-confidence issues. Ok?"
"Okay," Sherry sniffed and wiped away at her tears.
"If you were worthless, would you have been able to become an accountant? Would you have had the ability to open your own place? A woman in a small southern town opening an accounting firm. Girlfriend, you are not worthless. That's one of the bravest things I have seen someone do around here for a long time.' She paused, "Then there is Karen. A little bird told me you waited for her and her alone. Keeping yourself pure even knowing she may not come back. Would a worthless person do either of those things? I say no."
"Okay so worthless is not the right word. But I still kept quiet when I should have spoken up." Sherry said softly.
"Okay so why didn't you speak? Because you thought the others would scorn you or worse laugh at your fear. But if Karen was there, would you have jumped up and tried to stop Joyce? Would you have if you knew where it was leading?"
"Yes, that much I decided tonight. I couldn't let Karen get hurt and if I had known the extent of the betrayal I would have acted."
"Good girl," Jane smiled. "You have done most of the work already. Sherry, you love Karen as much or more than any here. I love her with all my heart and am sitting out here talking to each of you only because I know it will make her happy. You are the same. You will pay any cost, your life if needed to please her." Jane paused again and thought for a second. "Family takes care of family, remember? It takes care of every member of the family, not just the head or one part of it. When you joined this merry band, you joined with all of them." She looked away, "Sister, if you saw a trap just as Little Bit was about to step on it, would you throw yourself on top of it and die so that she could live?"
Up until the question Sherry was seeing what Jane was getting at. But the question made her realize the commitment she made by kneeling beside her sisters under Karen. Finally, after a minute or so she said, "I don't know. I would like to say yes, but the truth of the matter is I really don't know."
"That is what you must resolve Sherry. The commitment you made to Karen, you also made to everyone else. Once you do, all your problems will go away because you know you have your family at your back and you are there for them." She paused and then said aloud and mentally, "Mother please join us. I need you." She smiled, "I'm still working out this communicating thing."
"How may I help you Jane?" a different voice said.
Looking up she saw a woman wearing vines and such as clothing. "You're not the mother I was looking for. But you will do if you don't mind me asking a question or two."
"I would not have come if I wasn't willing to listen and advise if I can daughter." A stump formed and the woman sat down. "Now how can I help you?"
"Karen and Lilith are your daughters, right? So that makes us your granddaughters using the family analogy." Jane said. "Agree?"
"Yes, that is how I see you," The Great Mother replied with a smile.
"Would you die so that we may live one more day?" Jane asked. "For example, you see the sniper down the hill waiting for a chance to take one of us out. As fast as you are, I know you could be in front of either of us before he finishes pulling the trigger. My question is, are you willing to die for your family? Are you willing to take the bullet aimed at Sherry's head?"
The Great Mother looked at Sherry and then returned her attention to Jane, "Yes. If that is how the change of power is to happen. I would do anything to save my family, even recalling and putting Eve in isolation to save the rest of you." She said simply. "Your unspoken question is why? Why did I allow all this shit, to use your term, to happen? Because each of you are like spokes on a wheel. Karen is the hub but without you, she will not be able to function. Each of you, my granddaughters bring something to help make her whole and sane."
Jane nodded, "I expected something along those lines when I first started down this path with you."
"You have another question but you already know the answer," the Great Mother said simply. She bent forward and touched Sherry's forehead, "Love your sisters as deeply as you love your Mistress and the rest will work out." Sitting back up, she smiled at Jane and faded along with her stump.
"I understand now," Sherry said with glazed eyes. She blinked a few times and they cleared, "I must go in and beg their forgiveness for not returning their love fully."
"Okay sister, be at peace," Jane said softly. "When you speak with Doll you can tell her I am ready." She sifted so she was sitting cross-legged and closed her eyes to calm her mind. She heard the crunch of gravel, then the swish of someone walking on grass and them kneeling before her. Not opening her eyes, she said, "I wondered why I was chosen for this task? I'm not all that special, there are better fighters, women who have been women all their lives, and even many more who are much wiser than I could ever be. So I asked myself why me? Any ideas Doll?"
"If there are people who are wiser than you, I haven't met them Jane. I think you are selling yourself short." Doll replied softly.
"No, I don't think that's it. I think it's because I am like you except I didn't have a dominate twin who ruled me from the day I was born." Jane opened her eyes, "You have the same powers she had but never used them because she had you under her thumb. Me I learned the hard way the cost of my ability. I remember, I was in like fifth grade and one of the older boys was picking on me. Life in a military school was not kind to a runt." She paused and looked down at her hands as she continued, "I don't remember why he hated me so much but I was degraded and beat up by him nearly every day. Finally, I lost it and told him to go fuck himself." Jane looked at Doll, "You know what happened don't you."
"He followed your command," Doll said softly.
"The last I saw him he was in the back of a police car fucking himself with a night stick. I never saw him again." Jane said softly. "What mistake did you make to learn never to use them?"
"I told my sister that I was sick and tired of being the one in charge all the time. It was time for her to take control." Doll said looking down. "She took my words to heart and dominated me and all those around me from then on."
"I know why you didn't stand up to her in the so called play room. You couldn't. There is no fault in you there. How do you feel knowing Karen killed her and I killed Eve?"
