Scarlet

*You look though the peephole on the door to see who it is. For a moment you are disappointed to not see your landlord. After a long day of work you would want to play a little, but then you see that's her. Y*our heart sinks into your stomach when you see Scarlet looking right back at you.

" Open up dear." She says, smiling at you from the other side of the door. You exhale a deep sigh before undoing the locks, and and Scarlet enters the room happily. The events of yesterday play though your mind when you look at her. Before she starts up you decide to say what's on your mind.

"What happened with the rent payment ? " You say a little louder than you meant to.

"Excuse me?" Scarlet asks smiling, and you feel your whole should be swallowed by her presence.

" The ... landlord came by yesterday ... demanding his money ..."

"You're still here. Aren't you?" Scarlet says still smiling, and guessing that her plan worked.

" Did you fuck him? No, you're still to shy for that ... A little gobble gobble ... " She says with a laugh holding her hand like she's gripping an invisible penis and using her tongue to move her cheek. " You used your powers on him and polished his knob like a champ. " Scarlet continues knowingly, because your face says all.

"How did you know ? " You begin to ask in disbelief, falling more and more on Scarlet's "magic" power.

"Is she reading my mind ?" You think to yourself allowing your mind to begin to wonder how powerful she s.

"Relax. I'm not spying on you. I looked at your landlord's thoughts. You don't want any part of what's in there ... Or maybe you do ..." She says smiling and baiting you more before continuing. It's a basic trick, when you have advantage push it. From seductive words to mind reading, Scarlet's fake power grows before your eyes.

" The down payment has been taken care of ... with actual money this time. This little exercise was designed by me to see if you could use your powers. Like any skill these things require a bit of practice, and that landlord is an especially easy target for suggestion. Not everyone will be so easily to influence. When you get stronger enough that landlord could be convinced to pay you to live here but not now." Scarlet says laughing.

"Pay me ? This is some sort of game?"

*"A test ... If you had failed ... your progress will be stopped ... But I see that you passed ... and are wondering about my idea ...***You have talent, Kelly ... but so do others."* Scarlet said with a laugh, closing more her mental claw on your head. First she offered you power, second she made you use it, third she promised you more, forth she told you that you will lose all if you fail.*

" You ... rewrote my life, Scarlet." You responded. Scarlet seems to notice your discomfort and changes her tone.

" It's necessary, and part of the process. Your body, your mind, your life ... all needs to be reshaped, sweet Kelly. You are now clay on my hands. And you deserve a reward. " Scarlet reaches into her purse and pulls out a small box and hands it over to you. You take a look at it and see one of the latest cell phones.

"That's for you, my dear Kelly. My number is already programmed inside so you should be good to go as far as contacting me if you need anything."

" Can't we ... talk in our dreams ? You say almost making Scarlet laugh.

" You still need to grow stronger for that, Kelly. " She says using the opportunity.

" The ... thief that stole my cellphone ... Was also a test ? " You ask making Scarlet serious.

" What do you think, Kelly ? Let us not talk more about ... things that happen in your life. Learn to embrace all, because all has a reason. All has a hidden opportunity to reach higher ... If you dare."

This unexpected kindness from her is definitely different from her usual self. You're still upset about what you went though with the landlord, but you are dealing with a "supernatural" creature that sees things differently than humans do. You look over the box in your handmand can't wait to give it a try. Your parents always got you the cheap free phones that came with a lot of moral debt ... having the latest model is something you've always wanted.

"Wow, thanks!" You say smiling to Scarlet.

" If you need me or have any questions or issues feel free to call. But I'm always busy, so make sure it's really important. Don't forget, your rent is still due at the end of the month, and you're still responsible for it."

"Yes." You say as she exits the door, and you run to your work. You change your clothes in the back room and begin your shift. All goes fairly normal until you hear Veronica call over to you as you're trying to get some customers taken care of at the counter.

"Hey Kelly! The toilet in the mens room is overflowing. Take care of it! I'll handle your customers!" She says loudly with a smile on her face.

" I don't believe that that bitch will share the tips with me." You think and decide to try a simple approach.

" Veronica, I'm quite busy and in the middle of serving, can you do it ? " You reply back.

Veronica walks over with a look on her face that reminds you of a cat approaching a rat. All is working like you planed.

"Kelly, I told you I'd handle these customers. Handle the bathroom now or I'll tell Jamie that you're refusing to be a team player." She says threateningly.

"Bitch." You think to yourself preparing your move. You could just do it and eat the loss in tips, but Scarlet's visit gave you a new idea. You begin to focus, and use your "power" to get out of this. Seeing her on her hands and knees scrubbing shit does have a certain appeal.

*" Go take care of that bathroom and I'll cover your tables. You wouldn't want me to tell Jamie that you decided to delay service to our customers would you?" You say to Veronica with a suggestive tone. She looks dazed for a slight moment wondering how close you are from the boss. So she decided to step back on her call. "Fine! I want an extra cut of your tips. "*

"Sure!" You say trying hard to keep a poker face. You turn back to serving your customers, now with a hidden intention behind your smile. The tips begin to flow, because you are on a good mood, and the clients love the waitress that is flirting with them. Until you hear ...

" BLEEGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! " The sound came from the area near the restrooms. Followed by the sound of a slip and thud.

Then in a flash you see Jamie run out to see what happened. You ask the customers near you to remain seated and you look around the corner to see what happened. Jamie with a disgusted look on his face is leading a puke covered Veronica out the back emergency exit towards the parking lot. Not wanting to be nearby in case he asks you to take over, you go right back to serving your customers. For moment you wonder if the cause was you, because yu were wishing her bad things when you used your "magic". And it never occurred to you how unpleasant a male toilet can smell, and the normal effects it has.

A few minutes later you hear Eduardo protesting something in Spanish with Jamie. you use your common sense "telepathy" to figure that he's being asked to clean the men's room. A few minutes later Jamie approaches you.

" Kelly ... Veronica isn't feeling well and I sent her home. Would you mind taking over her tables? I know it's a lot to ask." He asks in a pleading manner.

" No problem Jamie. I'm always happy to help!" You say reassuringly.

"Thanks Kelly. I really appreciate it!" Jamie says looking at you, and you wonder how much he will appreciate some of your other services.

The rest of your shift goes by well, you make a decent bit of extra money, and because Veronica is not here ... You don't need to share with anyone. You go home to practice your guitar, and since the house is clean you decide to do some exercises in your living room for a couple hours. It feels good to work up a sweat, your mood increases, and on the back of your mind you feel that your "magic" is making your appearance better. And that's real. Not because this short exercise, but mostly because you are walking a lot lately.

Is time to go to bed.