Keep it up as Carma

It's too late now to do much. You're both dressed and will off to the pre-wedding location shortly. Besides, this is the stuff that you are suppose to do when go on final assignment. At least you can get use to it without it really being your own doing. It's Carma.

"Don't worry your little head about any of this," you cheerfully chirp. Then you use the back of your hand on her chin to raise her head so her eyes meet yours now pulsating with Carma's most fake sincerity. "You need to just ignore anything that seems off today. It's just your imagination. It will all be perfect no matter what you think, so don't. Do whatever makes you happy."

"Oh, Carms. Thanks, you're the best." With that she turns bouncing out the door.

You hate that nickname since you were wee tykes. Soon, though, you won't have to put up with it any more. The thought pushes a sly smile on your lips as you float serenely after her. Everything feels so right that it hits you hard when you realize that you felt so in tuned with Carma that you had lost your own focus.

Never had that before. Must just be careful not to let her emotions and thoughts take me too far, you think as you glide down the hall.

The two of you and "mom" (Alexandra's shrew of birthright and the reason to their wasted fortune) ride the elevator to the main floor but leave by the back doors so as not to be seen. The resort purposely had the elevator installed to allow the bride to remain hidden. An elegant holding room is set aside where Alexandra and you will wait with the other bridesmaids until it's time. Mom stays for a few minutes regaling everyone with fabrications about her wedding where the elite of the elite came only to be outshone by her magnificent beauty (which must have been due to very heavy makeup, you think), but soon she leaves, nose in the air to the rest of you.

You while away the time holding Alexandra's sweaty hand and offering excessive comfort as do the rest of the bridal party. She's a neurotic wreck, and it's a good thing they allowed her a double dose of her medication today. However, each time she calms, you remind her not to worry about something else so she is almost twitching of all the possibilities of things to go wrong. By the time the ceremony is over, she'll be chugging champagne which will set her into the perfect mood so you can manipulate her without her remembering. When the Bloom slips from her neck, she won't even feel it.

She's such a lush. If Carma hadn't taken her to the hospital first week of college, she would have died of alcohol poisoning from just having consumed too much. Your thoughts turn angry knowing that if that happened you, er Carma, wouldn't have this problem now, but that was back when she was satisfied with your discards, not pulling the best from your loins. The image of Holden on top of her tenses your body.

"Thank you, Carma. I owe you so much for all this." Alexandra pats your arm and smiles happily at you misinterpreting why you just squeezed her hand.

"I'm here to make sure this all goes to plan, dear," you beam with a fake smile that she's never been able to recognize. Your debt will soon be paid, you smirk inside from Carma's emotions.

The plan simmers in your head knowing how plastered Alexandra will be by the end of the reception, and you've ensured there's a magnum of champagne in the bridal suite just for her. Will it be excessive alcohol consumption or some accident, slipping in the shower perhaps, or an overdose of medication combined, you don't care. It's all making you excited. No, aroused. The only thing that could be better is having the Scarlet Bloom here against your own body while Holden drives you to ecstasy.

Whoa. There it goes again. I wonder why this skin is affecting me so? you think trying to reign in the feeling that's pushing you into Carma's perspective so frequently.

Back to her memories of the Scarlet Bloom you find that Carma's only seen it once, long ago. It's been kept in the bank vault, too valuable to even take out for the fanciest occasion. Today though, it's a required right of all Vincent brides to wear it on their wedding day.

With no clock in the room, anxiety builds for you as well as Alexandra. Hers is the wedding, yours is the arrival of the Bloom. You've already got Alexandra to agree to let every bridesmaid try it on. If only you were the one to feel it on your chest during the ceremony. Ah, you'll have it soon enough. For once Alexandra has her accident, it will pass to her husband ... and to his second wife.

The idea of that coming true has you close your eyes and are so happy to be Carma. A deep breath escapes in a quiet sigh at these thoughts. It is actually calming, too calming you remind yourself, your own mind coming back to the forefront. It's as if Carma's skin is taking you over rather than you controlling it.

Suddenly, you wonder if this is a malfunction of the pen, or even a trap set for the test. It's almost too convenient how everything you did lead you to Carma, twice. What if Carma - the person - is a modified skin. You've heard rumors that while a skin, things can be done to it and then return the person without them knowing. What if it is a self-sealing skin that you can't escape?

Damn! I should have checked the opening to see if it was normal, you think starting to panic. That was barely mentioned in class, but you were too preoccupied with Nancy and Carma that you forgot.

You look around and wonder if you can get off somewhere and try it. There is a restroom just for this room, and one of the bridesmaids is on her way there. If you're stuck, maybe you don't want to go through with the plan. Or maybe you will be released if you make it back as Carma and still maintain secrecy. Or maybe you should switch, again, if you can.

A knock sounds at the door. That should be the delivery of the Scarlet Bloom. Carma's desire for it forces your eyes to lock onto the door. She wants to be near it so bad that your crotch is starting to moisten. Should you trust the organization, they must have tested the pen and wouldn't do something like this to you ... would they?

(Author: Wordsmitty)