Chapter 135 - God Complex

Bianca stares out at the ocean, watching the waves crash and smash against the rocks. 

It seems that the very Earth is mad. The tide is high, and the wind is strong - the universe is furious. Everything is a huge mess. 

The waters. The sky. The world. 

Her life. Theirs.

Yet here she is - undeniably calm. It was as if everything she had ever done had faded away for just an inkling of a second, and while the world screamed and unraveled beyond her lightly closed eyes, she stood completely numb to it all..

However, the sea still rages, and the cold still bites. 

The universe was still expanding, and the world was not stopping for her. Time was turning and coursing and twisting. Seconds would change to hours, and hours would morph into years. Over the course of everything, she became every creature she had ever been afraid of, and yet in the blankness of being afraid, she was no longer scared – 

Because Bianca became the embodiment of fear itself. 

She never had to justify herself. Never would she need to. That's because she had turned into the monster that she used to hide away from when she was little. It all began so simply, so quietly, and so suddenly that she never understood what actually happened until she was beyond the point of giving retribution for her sins – 

'And my sins were addictive. So utterly refreshing.' 

Even when it disgusts her, it somehow sates her.

To any child, the idea of taking a life would be completely unthinkable. It was something unheard of, and it wasn't something that a conventional person would dwell on. However, she became infatuated with the very imagery of being able to take control of someone else's life.

'To be able to be a true ventriloquist. To be a god.' 

It started out easily enough - being allowed to boss people around, being the one who decides who she likes and dislikes, being the one who monopolizes her adoptive parents' smiles and being the one who gets everything all the time. It thrills her that she can be so powerful – that heaven is still on her side even when she abuses that power.

Beneath her saintly facade lies a demon that wants to be a god.

For a long time, she's been using people like puppets – like how she fooled Wesley and Jeanette into thinking that she's a good girl, like how she used Lacey and Amanda to increase her fame and influence. Then, it occurred to her how easy it had been to manipulate people, especially when they're broken. She realized that she's in complete control, and she further proved it when she started taking down every single one who got in her way – either by giving them a miserable life or granting them death. 

Bianca was the one who had predetermined their downfalls. 

Bianca was the one who had orchestrated their demise. 

At any time, she could have easily stopped it. Yet that was the beauty of it. 

She was the master, and she did not have to stop for anyone.

'That's right. I won't stop. Why would I…?' she thought to herself until a harsh gust of wind passed by and threatened to knock her over.

'Everything had been just fine. Perfect even.'

Yet, out of nowhere, Winter came and ruined everything. 

She's one of the few things that she couldn't control - and she hates that. She's always a step ahead of her, and when she thinks she's got her for good, she'd pounce back in the most unexpected ways possible. 

'But how?'

It's as if Winter had known her firsthand and had become accustomed to her tricks. In this war of life, she's predetermining Bianca's demise, and that's something completely new to her. 

'She's somehow always out of my reach – my control.'

However, from her years of observing and scheming, she knows better than anyone that everyone always leaves a tiny loophole. It could've been smaller than a pinprick, but she's certain it existed because she had always found one, and she used those little specks to get her way.

'So, what was that whore's damn speck?'

Bianca had to make her next move. Fast.

She knows that Winter is hiding the fact that she has a lot of connections with powerful individuals, and she knows that she'll soon get back to her after prompting that whole abduction. Her puppet this time was really easy to control – just a tiny little promise of granting him support in the competition, and he quickly fell for it. Then again, he's always been a loose guy who's blinded by his insatiable lust.   

'Schwartz would've been capable enough to crush that slut - her spirits, dreams, pride, dignity. Yet that damn Lexington had to get in the way.'

Bianca has to go against Marcellus from now on, too. 

Fortunately, she still has an ace up her sleeves – she always has one. It'll definitely be risky, but it's something she'll give all she has. 

Nobody is allowed to manipulate her. Absolutely nobody.

Except for the voices.

Always the voices whispering. 

They were so clever. She wondered how she ever managed without them. They offered the best advice, though, at times, they could be a bit pushy with their ideas. Still, they were never wrong. They got her this far, after all.

They're quiet at the moment. She knows exactly what she needs to do.

And Bianca will do it.

---

Marcellus does think that his first official meeting with August doesn't have the brightest set-up.

However, the situation called the need for it. He has no choice but to meet him under these circumstances. But still, he didn't quite expect that he'd bring up that one thing that had given him enough reason to curse his age – and in a blunt manner at that.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must've been too frank by calling you that…" August apologized, though Marcellus could see that he didn't mean it at all.

"Well, basically, you're the guy I thought was my sister's sugar daddy. That's it. I don't know how else to describe you since I never met you before. Were you at her welcoming party? Because if you were and I didn't see you there, then maybe you really are-"

"Marcellus. It's Marcellus Lexington. Nice to meet you."

"Lexington? Oh, so that famous Lexington?"

"Yes, well, ummm… I apologize for not introducing myself to you before, though I must correct you about that whole… sugar daddy thingy. I think you're misunderstanding my relationship with Winter. To begin with, she's a very smart girl, and she's not the type who'll engage in that kind of thing."   

August was quiet, choosing to regard him contemplatively in silence. Marcellus tries to smile despite the amount of pressure he's making him feel at that moment - he's even starting to get a little sweaty even though he rarely ever breaks a sweat. 

First impressions are important, but it seems like he's already past that. Still, if he wants to live together with Winter and carry out his plans with her, he has to look decent and trustworthy enough. 

He needs to earn his favor.

"Right. Fair point. My sister is indeed very smart," August then blurted out, looking somewhat pleased.

It was then that Marcellus figured out a way to go around this first meeting.

There's no doubt about it - this guy really does have some sort of sister complex. He had noticed that long before, but back then, he thought that he was only being strict and overprotective. Now, though, seeing how proud he is after he complimented her, he realizes that he truly does adore her. 

Perhaps, if Marcellus continues to use this strategy of highlighting Winter's good points, August will understand that he appreciates her as much as he does if not more. 

---

Winter woke up in the middle of the night.

She was all alone in her hotel room when she did. Unable to stand the silence and a certain someone's absence, she decided to get up from her bed even though her exhaustion was protesting. She searched around the place, and right when she was about to head for the door, she realized that the living room was not actually empty as it first seemed.

Marcellus was lying on the couch the whole time – probably resting.

"Geez, I didn't think that you'd always been this type of sleeper. You don't even have a blanket on. At this rate, you might catch a cold," Winter murmured to herself, recalling how Marcellus also used to sleep like this in her past life.

Because of habits like this, he usually ends getting sick. It's not that bad most of the time, but it's still concerning, especially since he can easily avoid it if he learns to correct his ways of doing things.

"Winter?"

She jolted in surprise when he stirred awake all of the sudden.

He opened up his eyes before she could go and grab a blanket – and here she thought she'd let him rest for a little bit more. Both of them are extremely drained today, after all.

"Sorry. Did I wake you up? You can rest some more." 

Marcellus shook his head and smiled up to Winter.