My head pounded as if someone was hammering an ice pick between my brain. But I couldn't rest yet, what with most of the city map still bare. The song of needs, to finish this responsibility, was what pushed me to continue even with the headache. All to ensure the Watcher would be safe. All the other groups were dangerous, and there weren't any other choices, not really. So I just carefully breathed a few times, just a bit, just to relax that furrow on my eyebrows. Especially since I would be done with the East side soon. That was the most important part right now, since it would be Verata's territory...
Slowly, with familiarity I didn't realize I had, I moved my finger to the biggest market there, the Wolmart. I closed my eyes, letting darkness surround myself, before I let my tight hold on my own power loose. The web spread at once, a variety of future to be seen and cataloged beneath my senses. My breathing roughed up as I tried to understand all of them, with their mix of images, complete with scent and sound.
Clash of people in red, green and blue against the ones in yellow and black. Smoke filled the air, and fire burned through the building. Yellow and black people standing around the building, keeping peace. An unknown, ranting and raving while waving his gun against the cashier.
Flashes of the future drove itself into my head, and I groaned as the pain intensified even further. They were all muddling together, and I had to piece them the best I could. I knew I could delve deeper, to find out even more possibilities, and my power would love for me to do that option--but I knew better than that. It was better to spread myself more to look at more territories than focusing too much on one. These would be the likeliest possibilities anyway.
Verata protecting the building, as they got attacked by Trinity--but why? Spreading their territory? But there were other timelines, where the building was burnt down instead. If that was still caused by Trinity, then I had no idea why they put it on fire. Because that meant Wolmart would become useless, and the people there would likely be fired as it was being rebuilt... Which would make them resent the current gang there. I pinned that thought for a moment before delving elsewhere.
A bigger show of force by Verata was likely to ensure the Trinity wouldn't attack, and any fire was likely found before it spread everywhere. Although there was that gun-toting person... Was it related to the other timelines? I had to experience them all at the same time, and sometimes it felt like they just bled to one another.
Didn't matter. Still meant it was likely to have a major force placed there... I put the red pin to indicate the likely guard and response. I sighed, feeling the throb in my head as I looked at how little I have done so far. Merely three pins, and yet I wanted to put myself under the blanket already. Maybe add a cold compress against my eyes and forehead.
But I couldn't do that, there were still more places to check. Placing one of my hands against the edge of the table, I gripped it harder as I closed my eyes again, thinking about one of the big roads that lead to the East. My powers were always eager, unfurling itself at the forefront of my thoughts the moment I let it loose.
A few vehicles burning, as one of Trinity's leaders showed himself, fire blazing all around his body. Traffic jam, not a single member in sight, from Trinity or Verata.
Not a lot this time, and yet my power still drove that pike into my skull. Lovely. I groaned, placing the yellow - warning pin upon it. I wanted to rest, but there were still so many places to look at. The school, the work district, then I should check both the roads to the North and South. Still many more, and I really didn't want to. My head was throbbing, and even the shine from the lightbulb was enough to stab my eyes.
But time waited for no one, and as I settled down again, about to do my next attempt... I could hear a knock from the door. That hit my head like another punch, and I put myself down onto the beanbag that someone conveniently decided to place in this room. It was even close to the table! I gladly took advantage, resting my head there as I just blissfully closed my eyes. I did five bursts already, and yet I knew there were still so many pins more to go. More places to check and look at.
Another knock, which dragged out more winces out of me. "Come in." I finally said, knowing that if they were insistent enough to do it twice, it might be something important.
I didn't see who came in, but her voice was clear anyway. "Ah, Robin, you have done so, so well..." Liyane said, her words sending uncomfortable heat through the bottom of my stomach. "I could see you wish to do more, but I'll just let you feel as you were before first. See how that changes your mind." If I could open my eyes, I was sure that she was smirking. A show of her superiority, not counting the fact she was my leader--
There were no snaps of fingers, or anything that gave a sign something had changed. But the jagged pieces of feelings snapped up against one another, this time properly. I gasped as I jerked upwards, eyes staring against Liyane's dark eyes. "What have you done?" was the only thing I could have said, as I realized what I felt towards Verata--at how much I had shown towards Liyane, the Watcher's leader.
This time, looking at the map still gave me a headache, even as I felt the usual churn in my stomach at
how much
information I was giving. The red points told her how much those places were worth to Verata herself, for that was why she was willing to push for more protections. Nausea rose up as I gripped the beanbag painfully, wondering what the hell could I do to even fix this.
Liyane stepped into the room, closing and locking the door behind her. I could hear the click, but didn't spend a single thought on why she did so. I was just looking and staring at the map, at the betrayal I was sure Verata would feel when she knew about this. How much disappointment she would have when she looked at me--
"There, there, Robin. You are having too many thoughts in your brain right now." The touch was gentle, merely a rub, and yet it was enough to make me shudder. My eyes closed involuntarily as I shivered under her fingers. "There's no need to worry too much, my plan is going smoothly after all." Liyane continued to rub my head, and every time, it felt like there were jolts of pleasure flashing through my nerves. Running all the way from the scalp of my head, to the heat pooling in my stomach.
"I, I..." Even so, I still couldn't shake the feelings away. The yawning chasm of sadness, as Verata told me in no uncertain terms she would have to let me go. For betrayals were the most unacceptable thing I could have done to her. My stomach churned as I bit my lower lip, as I tried to stand up, to push Liyane away from me. The comfortableness of the beanbag was, in some ways, dragged up even more negative feelings from me too. I didn't deserve it, not at all. But Liyane forced me to stay still, to feel the plushness of an expensive chair. "L-let me go." I murmured, despite knowing she would never do it.
And she didn't. Liyane kept me down, her hands far stronger than I ever give her credit for. "It took me quite the investment to get you here, so no. Besides... there's nothing anyone can offer to let you go, not really." She said, words oozing condescending kindness, as she continued rubbing my head. Moving slowly downwards and sending even more fuzz and cottons through my thoughts. It felt good, even if I didn't want to ever say it out loud. Especially when the pleasure seemed to deaden the ache that was still giving me hell at the back of my mind.
But everything else still felt wrong, even though I knew my current emotions were right. This was my proper feelings, my loyalty towards Verata and desire to keep them safe and away from other groups. To not like any of the others--and yet, there was that friendship I had built with Liyane. The black feeling of betrayal choked my throat as I remembered the built relationship.
"I should get rid of that too, but it's alright, we can work things out slowly... and you'll keep working for me, for the Watchers." Liyane said, and her hand slipped down towards my chest. She didn't grasp my breasts, even if her fingers were playing against my nipple slowly, sending sparks down my stomach with the touches. "There's no need to think it's a betrayal--I'll ensure everyone will be under my banner eventually."
I wished to say I tried to escape the moment I heard that, to get away from Liyane. But I was weak, and I grasped onto the fog she formed in my mind. I didn't want to remember how I had betrayed Verata, because it didn't matter why. I knew it would just make her even more disappointed at me, and yet there were promises under Liyane's hold. And so I clung towards her, despite the fact she was the reason this all happened anyway.
