I dragged myself up those fifteen steps, thinking of the entrance to my room at the end of the hallway and the warm, comfortable bed waiting for me inside. As I lifted each foot, it seemingly weighed a thousand pounds. My eyes were half closed but no matter, this was my home. I knew my way in the darkness of night.
Finally I reached my bedroom door and opened it. The light from the street lamp down the road cast an eerie glow across my bed. I stopped dead in my tracks, for I couldn't believe my eyes. There she was, sitting on my bed, with that wild taunting smile of hers consuming that exquisitely porcelain face. She motioned to me to come in and patted the spot on the bed beside where she sat.
Incredulously, I slowly approached. I shook my head not comprehending what I saw or rather...why.
"What are you doing here, Callisto?"
"Well it is bedtime isn't it, my pet?"
"Yes it is. But it's my bedtime, my bed. I didn't plan on sharing it with
anybody, especially you."
"Silly girl! I am you remember?"
She still wore that infuriating grin.
"Um...hmmm...oh yeah, so you are."
"Well then, that makes this my bed too does it not?"
"Uh...when you put it that way...yeah I suppose it does..."
"You know, its been a long time since we had a little....chat....with each
other."
She reached out and touched my chin with her long slender fingers. I pushed her hand away.
"Well that's because whenever we chat people think I'm talking to
myself."
"But you are dear."
I winced. She was right.
"You know, you still haven't told me what you want, Callisto."
"I want...equal time."
"Equal time?"
"Yes, RP....you've been the one who has been...out...lately. I haven't
had any fun."
Her eyes were downcast, her lips puckered into a pitiful pout.
"Well...well...that's because...I've been busy."
"Oh yes, you have, you clever girl. First you wrote that story with
Quoth and all I could do was read it over your shoulder and watch you
gleefully reply to everybody who wrote to you. That went on for weeks!
Same old torture every day...every day..."
"So? That's what I do. I'm a writer remember?"
"And so you are. Its what you do best my darling and believe me, I
certainly don't want the job."
"So what's your beef then, Callisto?"
"You've branched out my dear. You're not just a writer anymore."
"Huh?"
Well you know after you finished that story, then there was
this...troll...business. Very nasty. Well that's where I draw the line RP!
Now you're treading on my territory!"
A look of puzzlement crossed my face.
"Your territory? But I am you."
"Don't try to confuse the issue. I know how good you are with words
my sweet."
"I'm not trying to confuse anything, I'm simply stating a fact."
"Oh yes and you do it so well. I'll just bet you're thinking....I got her
now...hehe.. You know darling, you're more like me than you're willing
to admit. I've seen that maniacal look on your face when you go in for
the kill."
"The look on my face? That look is yours Callisto, all yours. You make
me do that."
"Don't try to pass the blame off onto me, RP."
"Well ok, I have to admit, it does get the old adrenalin pumping."
"But its not you, darling."
"Yes I know it isn't me, but somebody has to do it."
"Uh..RP? That's where I come in luvie."
"You?"
"Yes, of course! That's what I...do. Remember? I'm an expert at it. Just
ask Xena."
"She doesn't come to the forum Callisto. I mean yeah there have been
a few that claim to be her but they're not the real McCoy."
"Oh. How disappointing."
Once again she looked down at the bed sadly tracing imaginary circles on the blanket. I don't know why but I felt sorry for her. It must be hell not to be able to enjoy whatever it is that she...enjoys...anymore.
"All right all right you can fight the trolls. There! Ya happy now?"
"Oh goody! Thanks RP. I'll dress up just like you. That way they won't
ever know its me and not you doing it."
"But I'm a redhead."
"Your point being?"
"You're a blonde. We look nothing alike."
"Well nobody will be able to tell the difference, they can't actually see us
you know!"
"Ahhhh right you are. Okay, its settled then. You start tomorrow."
She gave me a quick hug and then just as fast she released me. She raised her hand and began to fiddle with the back of her hair.
"Um...don't tell anyone I did that. I don't want to ruin my reputation you
know."
"Don't worry Callisto, your secret is safe with me."
I winked.
"So what do we do tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, the battle begins again. Are you sure you're up to it?"
She rolled her eyes. She was mocking me.
"What do you think?"
"Okay then. How are your telephone skills?"
"Telephone skills."
She spoke the words slowly, matter of factly.
"Uh
huh...okay...um...thats a strange way to fight a battle if you ask me."
"Well Callisto, this is the 90's and we shoot from the the hip with our cell
phones nowadays. So if you wanna walk the walk, you gotta talk the
talk."
She tossed her head in annoyance sending that long blonde beautiful mane swishing to the back of her shoulders.
"Sure. I can do that. Yeah...okay. I'll take care of it. Nothing to it!"
She winked.
"Don't you worry about a thing! Um...how do you work it
anyway?"
"I'll show you tomorrow. I'm beat Callisto. I gotta get some sleep."
"Of course. We'll sleep now because....tomorrow is another day!"
She threw her hand up into the air gazing blissfully at the ceiling. I rolled my eyes. She always was the dramatic one of the two of us.
"Good night Callisto."
"Good night RP."
We pulled the covers up under our chins and turned away from each other, back to back, she on the right and I on the left and for the first time in ages, I finally, peacefully, fell asleep.
RedPrincess {{~_~}}
(wondering why Merc, eb and the others always get to talk to Xena,
Gab & Joxer and she only gets to talk to herself...)
