“Mandy Brown,” Mandy responded.
“Enchanting.” Sean grinned and looked her over. “Yes, very lovely. And I take it you two are quite close.”
“We’ve been best friends since first grade,” Ashley replied with a hint of a blush.
“Have you now?” Sean increased his charm, stroking Ashley’s hair.
The touch must have startled her mind into a complete blur, for Ashley became flustered and upset. “Y-Yes . . .”
“But has she,” Sean said while he laid his hand on Mandy’s shoulder, “really been a good friend to you?”
Seth watched in pity. His father began to massage the tall, blonde’s neck, making her weak at the knees. She clearly had no clue Ashley was even there, her eyes wide with sorrow.
Ashley stared at Sean’s eyes, unable to look away from the serpent. He drew her deeper into his hypnotic gaze.
“W-We did e-everything t-together,” Ashley squeaked in a high pitch voice. “A-And since I-I’ve moved back—”
“Ah, I sense this young one has no confidence in herself. A pity, really. ” Ashley lowered her chin and let her shoulders sag, reminding Seth of the young girl back in middle school. Sean beamed and zeroed in on her vulnerability. “Life has clearly not shown you much in the way of kindness. After all, next to Mandy, you are nothing. She is far more beautiful.”
Tears began to slip from Ashley’s eyes, and she whispered, “Far more beautiful.”
Seth’s eyes wandered the girl’s figure, disagreeing with the statement, yet Seth’s hands were tied. He took another gulp of beer to drown his stirring emotions.
Sean sneered. He brushed back Mandy’s hair to expose her neck. “And I’m sure much more talented.”
Ashley’s neck began to disappear. “Yes, much more talented.”
“And smarter.”
Seth rolled his eyes. Everyone knew for a fact Mandy was hardly a genus even before Seth took her under power. It’s common knowledge. Though, that fact didn’t seem to matter in this case. Sean was pulling the strings of Ashley’s thoughts like a well-tuned harp; her mind lapping up his words and taking them to heart.
“Yes,” Ashley gasped in sorrow. “She is all that and more.”
“I bet everyone, even your parents, prefer her to you. I know for a fact Seth does.” Seth growled, wishing his father wouldn’t pull him into this game. “After all, Seth could never want someone like you. Not with Mandy in the picture. She, even now, draws his attention from you.”
Ashley turned to Seth. He remained still, pretending to only take interest in his beer bottle. She returned to Sean’s eyes.
Sean slowly shook his head. “Life is so unfair. It has blessed Mandy with everything while leaving you in her shadow.”
The tears turned into sobs. Ashley cradled her red streaked cheeks in her palms. Sean slid to her side, gently caressing her waist. The touch created another level of Connection with his victim.
“The world has never truly loved you, Ashley. Not your family. Not Seth. Not even your best friend. Why? Because you are weak.”
Ashley trembled, her mind completely broken under Sean’s spell. Sean took her in his arms like a loving father, a wicked smile on his lips. He kissed her head.
“You know what you have to do,” he told her. “There is no room in this world for someone like you. So, go on. Do it.”
Ashley nodded and slowly pushed herself away from Sean’s hold. The once smiling and happy girl Seth had brought home was nothing but a puddle. She turned two determined eyes on the rail.
“Go on,” Sean whispered in her ear. “End your misery.”
Ashley marched to the end of the deck and looked one last time at Seth. It crushed his heart when he looked into her eyes. There was nothing. The irises reflected no hope or willingness to live. The spell had done its work; her mind entirely under Sean’s control. Seth tried to sweep away his guilt in a large swig of beer while Ashley climbed up onto rail and jumped.
Mandy screamed, just waking up from Sean’s spell to register what happened. She rushed to the railing as the sickening sound of flesh hitting pavement drifted up from below. Seth peeked over his shoulder at Ashley’s broken body. It lay out at odd angles by the swimming pool.
“Oh my God, Ashley!” Mandy shrieked.
Sean glided to her side, his smile even more devilish than before. He gently grasped her chin and guided her toward him, his touch inebriating her. “Do not fear, my dear. Just relax.”
Mandy took an involuntary, calming breath. Her muscles released all their tension. A few tears fell over her cheeks while her eyes were pulled into Sean’s hypnotic gaze.
“Yes.” Sean examined her face. “You will serve our purposes quite nicely.” He pulled her closer to him, wrapping a hand around her waist. “Look deep into my eyes. Do not leave their focus.”