The Sacrifice

==========

The Ultimatum

Off Camera

==========

Purgatory is the scene; ok, not actually Purgatory, but just a home nicknamed Purgatory by a slightly eccentric and very dangerous red-head.  What can we expect from Purgatory?  The same thing that you can expect from any place named Purgatory: weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The black haired beauty known as Jessica Lasiewicz is dressed in a denim jacket over a white t-shirt, a black ankle length skirt, and black high heeled boots.  The young Lasiewicz has traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, the home of her mother, the famous (or infamous, depending upon your opinion of her) Angelica Jones.  Mother and daughter have been growing further and further apart in recent months and Jessica has come by at the request of Angelica in hopes that perhaps their relationship can be salvaged.  But while Angelica is hopefully, Jessica is doubtful, primarily due to the major wedge between them, the wedge that has created a cavernous depth of tension between mother and daughter…

…that wedge’s name is Silas Mason.

Jessica  Lasiewicz has watched for far too long what Silas Mason has done since his arrival in professional wrestling.  She watched what he did to Kelcey Wallace and Taylor Chase.  Her anger grew as she watched him mistreat Brittany Lohan, a longtime ally of Jessica’s family.  But the ultimate shocker, and slap in the face, was when Jessica’s mother and Jessica’s sister, Angelica and Marie respectively, both signed with Silas Mason.

Lasiewicz could understand why her sister Marie Annabelle Jones would sign.  She didn’t agree, but she can understand.  Marie is desperate to become IWC World Champion and thinks Silas Mason is her ticket to the title.  Marie, unlike Jessica, is willing to sell her soul to get what she wants.  It’s Angelica that really surprises the young Jessica.  Angelica Jones has always been a successful wrestler.  All of her career she has dominated the industry, she has dominated every company she has joined.  Why would she think that she needs someone like Silas Mason in order to get ahead?

No matter the reason, no matter the odds, and no matter what it might do to the family, Jessica had made it her goal to either convince Angelica and Marie to leave Silas World, or she would give them no choice by destroying Silas World herself.

Jessica braces herself as she presses the doorbell.  She expects that her mother set up this meeting as a last ditch effort to try and convince her to back away from this war, to try and get her to leave Silas Mason and Silas World alone.  The Morning Star, though, has a purpose and a plan.  She will not back away from her agenda and her goal of rescuing her family from Silas Mason’s clutches.

For now she waits, but she isn’t kept waiting long until the door opens.  Jessica expects to be greeted by Lindsey Carter, her mother’s wife, but instead she is greeted by a butler, a man in a black and white suit and white gloves.

“Ah, Ms. Lasiewicz, your mother was expecting you.”

Jessica blinks several times out of curiosity. “Um, yeah, but who are you?”

“My name is Schultz.  Ms. Jones’s butler.”

Jessica shakes her head. “No, no, no.  I know my mother and she doesn’t believe in butlers, maids, and servants.  So what’s your deal?  And where is Lindsey, for that matter?”

“Ah yes, well, those questions both have the same answer.”

“Huh?  What do you mean?”

Schultz chuckles. “It is not my place to discuss Ms. Jones’s business.  Ask her yourself.”

Jessica Lasiewicz does not like being brushed off this easily by this man calling himself Schultz, but she knows that she needs to talk to her mother and she needs to talk to her as soon as possible.  She cannot waste time arguing with this servant, trying to force information out of him.  Reluctantly, young Lasiewicz nods her head and steps inside.  Schultz shuts the door and then leads Jessica down the hall towards the main living room area.  Schultz opens the door to the main living area to allow Jessica access.  Upon stepping inside she finds her mother, wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt, her long red hair left to hang unrestrained to shoulder length.

“Ms. Jones, your daughter is here to see you.”

“Which one?” Angelica asks, not even bothering to sit up and look at her  visitor.

“Ms. Jessica Lasiewicz.”

The legendary matriarch of the Jones wrestling family immediately swings her legs around and lands them on the floor as she sits up, she turns her head to get a look at her daughter, Jessica Lasiewicz, standing there in the doorway.  A wide, loving grin forms across her face.

“Jessie!  I am so glad to see you!”

“Yeah…sure…”

Angelica turns and casts a look at Schultz. “You may go, Schultz.”

Schultz briefly bows. “Thank you, Ms. Jones.”

Jessica watches as Schultz turns and swiftly walks out of the living room area, shutting the door behind him.  As soon as he is gone, Jessica turns back around to face her mother.

“So what is that all about?”

“What?”  Angelica asks, confused. “What is what about?”

“Schultz.” Jessica remarks. “What is he all about?”

“He’s a butler.” Angelica remarks with a wink.

“I can see that.” Jessica responds, clearly not impressed by her mother’s witty remark. “Why is he here?  You are not a fan of having servants and that ilk.”

“Yeah, well, there’s a reason for that.” Angelica takes in a deep breath, sighs, and lets it out. Jones motions to the sofa, the seat right next to her, and waves for Jessica to come over. “Come on, Jess, sit down and we’ll talk.”

Jessica makes her way over to the plush comfy red sofa.  Angelica is sitting on the far right end of the sofa, so Jessica sits down next to her near the center of the sofa.  Mother and daughter are facing one another, eye to eye, and Jessica breaks the ice.

“So?  What’s the story?”

“Schultz is just temporary.” Angelica responds. “Temporary at least until Lindsey and I work out our differences.”

A look of surprise and shock washes across Jessica’s face.  Jessica knew that Angelica and Lindsey had been having problems recently.  Their difficulties began when Angelica found out that Lindsey was at least partially responsible for manipulating her into joining Silas World.  Angelica Jones was not happy when she learned that Samantha Hodgson, her old agent, had actually not done anything wrong and that Lindsey had lied about most of it in order to get Angelica to leave Hodgson and sign with Silas Mason.

“Lindsey?  Did you guys split up?”

Angelica chuckles lightly and shakes her head. “No, no, we aren’t splitting up.”

Jessica lets out a sigh of relief as Angelica bows her head, looking down sadly. “At least not yet…”

“I’m…” Jessica shakes her head “…I’m sorry, mom.”

Angelica forces a grin upon her face. “Don’t worry about me and Lindsey.  We’ll make it through.  In some way or some form.”

“In some form?” Jessica asks questioningly. “What do you mean by that?”

“I think you know what I mean.” Angelica responds. “Single, together, I can’t promise.  I just don’t know what will happen.”

Lasiewicz is about to respond when Schultz reenters the room carrying two glasses of wine.  He carries them over to the sofa.  Schultz hands one glass to Angelica and then he turns and hands one to Jessica.  Both women thank him and he makes a brief bow before making his exit.

“I know you and Marie liked her.” Angelica says with a sad grin. “That’s why I hope it works out for us.”

Jessica sighs, nodding her head. “You’re right, I did like her, that was until I found out about how she manipulated you into joining Silas World.”

“I know and that’s why she’s gone right now.” Angelica takes a sip of her wine. “Honesty is important to me, Jessica.  You know this.”

“I do know that, I know that better than anyone else, which makes me wonder…”

“Oh?”

“…you are so upset right now about Lindsey lying to you, manipulating you into dumping Samantha Hodgson and signing with Silas Mason.  You know what the next logical conclusion is, right?”

Angelica sets her wine glass down and shakes her head vehemently. “Don’t even say it, Jess.”

“If you realize now that it was a lie, it was all a lie, then why stay?  Why bother to stick around with Silas Mason if the relationship between you and him was built entirely upon a lie?”

“Why leave?” Angelica turns the question around, shrugging her shoulders. “You ask why I should stay, but why should I leave?  Silas hasn’t done anything to warrant me leaving.”

“But you never would have joined him in the first place had Lindsey not lied to you.” Jessica fires back pointedly.  “You know this, I know this, and anyone who knows the story between you and Lindsey also knows it as well.  Hell, anyone who knows that Lindsey manipulated you into dumping Hodgson and signing with Mason is laughing at you right now mom.”

Jessica points a slender, carefully manicured finger at Angelica. “You are the laughing stock of pro-wrestling right now because you were played for a fool.  At least Marie knew exactly what she was getting into and at least she wasn’t lied to in order to join.  I may not agree with her motives but at least she’s honest about it.  You look like a fool right now, mom.”

“A laughing stock?” Angelica stands up, full length.  Her eyes narrow and an anger enters her eyes.  “Am I a laughing stock?”

Jessica, not backing down, even from her own mother, also stands up. “Yes, you are a laughing stock right now.  You look like Silas Mason’s side kick.  The legendary Angelica Jones is nowhere to be seen.”

A tense moment passes as mother and daughter stare one another down.  Jessica braces herself for anything but then, just at the last moment, Angelica turns around, her back facing Jessica.  The legendary matriarch bows her head in shame.

“You’re right…”

Jessica wasn’t expecting that.  She wasn’t expecting her mother to give in so easily.  She cautiously approaches her famous mother and places an arm around her shoulder.

“It’s ok…”

“No, no it’s not…” Angelica turns around to face Jessica with tears rolling down her cheek “…it isn’t ok.  I fell victim to Lindsey’s lie.  I see it now.”

Jessica shakes her head. “It goes beyond that, mother.  Lindsey’s lie is just a symptom of the overall problem.   The fact is that her lie would not have worked, and Silas Mason nor Samantha Hodgson for that matter would have looked good at all had you believed in yourself.”

Jessica chuckles lightly. “Funny, isn’t it?  The thirteen time world champion, member of three pro-wrestling halls of fame, has a self-confidence issue.  She doesn’t think she can do it on her own.  She thinks she needs corrupt scum like Silas and Hodgson to assist her.”

Angelica shakes her head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” Jessica states firmly. “You said it yourself, many times, that you needed help.  You said it in confidence to me…to Marie…to Lindsey.  You may not want me to remember but I do remember.  And you know what else?  Global Championship Wrestling, another company you wrestle for, but does Silas actively participate in GCW activities?  Does he keep his dirty nose in your GCW business?”

“…no…”

“Right, in GCW you are all alone and from where I stand you do pretty damn well there.  In SCW you are aligned with Silas and yes, you have come close to reaching that brass ring but could not ever get it.  You failed in the Shot of Adrenaline Tournament.  You failed in Best of the Best.  Last year you were in Taking Hold of the Flame not to win it yourself but to help Kelcey Wallace win.”

Jessica slaps her mother across the face. “Who the hell was that?!  Because the Angelica Jones I KNOW, the woman who raised me, would NEVER enter Taking Hold of the Flame in order to help someone else win!”

Angelica again bows her head in shame. “Silas asked me to…”

“I know.  Silas wanted you to help her.  You had all the potential to possibly win Taking Hold of the Flame and go on to wrestle for the world title yourself but instead you squandered it just to do Silas Mason’s bidding.  What happened to you, mom?  What happened?”

Angelica, still rubbing her cheek from where her daughter slapped her, sighs. “Maybe I do have a self-confidence issue…maybe…but what do I do about it?  What can I do about it now?  I am too entrenched in Silas World to stop.”

“You know that’s a lie.” Jessica remarks. “Great men are forged in fire, it is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.  You can take the easy road and just stay with Silas or you can leave and fight the good fight.  I know what I’m going to do.”

Jessica turns and starts to walk away. “I am going to fight Silas World.  I am going to burn it to the ground or die trying.”

“You can’t do that!” Angelica shouts, calling out after her daughter. “You can’t win a war against him!”

Jessica stops and turns to face her mother one last time. “Then you have a choice to make.”

“What choice?”

“I am going to do this because it is the right thing to do.  You can either support me or support him.”

Angelica squeezes her eyes shut tight. “It’s unfair of you to make me choose like this…”

“I’m sorry, mother, but I am finished.  I am finished playing nice.  You wouldn’t listen, so now I am going to play rough.  You will choose.  Me or The World.  Your choice.”

Jessica turns and starts to walk away.

==========

The Sacrifice

On Camera

==========

“Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good…”

Jessica Lasiewicz walks into the scene wearing a black top, an ankle length black skirt, and black high heeled boots.  Her long lovely black hair flows down to where it touches her shoulders.  Her nails are painted black as well.  It is almost as if she is going for a more goth look to day but that would not be the case.  The young Morning Star is simply making a point.

“I tried doing things diplomatically, I tried doing things peacefully.” She points a finger at the camera. “I want you to understand that, mother.  I want you specifically to understand that I tried to do things diplomatically and now you leave me with no choice.  Today I serve notice on The World…upon Silas World.  Too long I have stayed my hand. No more.  You leave me no choice.  No more…”

Lasiewicz shuts her eyes and, in a look that almost echoes disappointment or regret at what she is about to do, just simply shakes her head.

“…no more.”

Jessica looks up with an intensity in her eyes that has not been seen in quite a while.  As she stares at the camera it is as if she is staring directly through the lenses and at Silas World itself.

“I will not air our dirty laundry for all the world to hear and see, but you know damn well what I told you, mother.  You know what I mean when I bring up the ultimatum.” A low chuckle escapes her lips. “Yes, the ultimatum.  I know you don’t like being given ultimatums, especially from your own daughter, but this one had to be done and you know what choice you have to make.”

“You also know what position you have put me in.  I did not want to give you an ultimatum but I have had to take drastic measures all because of your stubborn refusal to leave Silas World.  But an ultimatum issued to you is just the beginning…”

A smirk crosses her lips “…sacrifices must be made for the greater good.  The greater good, clearly, is seeing Silas Mason’s head on a pike.  I can’t get to him very easily because he surrounds himself with people, people who do his dirty work.”

“Compare it to a war, compare it to a combat situation within the military, it’s the same scenario.  You have officers and you have soldiers.  I’ve gone to war many times in this industry.  I have never come out unscathed.  Wars change you, even in this sport.”

“Thing about a war is that usually there’s someone who starts the war.  Someone lights the fire.  This war against Silas World is one war that I did start and I am willing to fight it as well, but that’s a rare exception.  Usually your officers sit on the sidelines and bark out orders at the soldiers.  The soldiers fight and die.  The officers get the credit.”

Jessica motions to herself. “Well I’m going to go through each and every one of Silas Mason’s soldiers until there is only Silas himself left. I am going to see if they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Silas Mason, because we all know Silas Mason is willing to sacrifice each and every one of his girls to make damn sure no one touches him.”

“Hell, I’d even be willing to bet most of the girls in Silas World know it to be true, maybe not my gullible sister Marie but she’s another story for another time.  But what about you, Harmony?”

Jessica laughs lightly. “Yes, my next opponent and the first person on my Silas World Hit List.  Do you know that Silas Mason doesn’t give a damn about you?  Do you know that he’d sacrifice you at my feet just to delay me, just to slow me down from getting to him?  He will throw you to the wolves if it means stopping me.”

Jessica points to herself. “And I am the Big Bad Wolf.”

“Me and you, Harmony, we’re ‘soldiers’ in the sense that we fight.  We fight day in and day out.  Sometimes we fight for championship gold, other times we fight for causes that are just a little bit bigger and more important than championship gold.   In this case I’m fighting to save the souls of my mother and sister.  What are you fighting for, Harmony?  Ask yourself that as we approach Breakdown.  Ask yourself, why are you fighting me?  Is it to save Silas Mason’s ass?  Does he even deserve your help?”

She shakes her head. “Deep down in your heart and soul you know the answer is no.  No, Silas Mason does not deserve your help.  You and me, we’re the soldiers, guilty as charges.  But him?  Silas is an officer.  We carry people out of the fire but he is the one who lights it.”

“So I want you to understand exactly what your buddy Silas has gotten you into.  I want you to know exactly what kind of sacrifice he’s asking of you at Breakdown, because when you face me one on one at Breakdown, I am going to hurt you.  No playing nice, no soft ball, no more ‘just going for the win’…I am going to try and hurt you.  I am going to hurt you and send a message straight to Silas Mason himself by sending you back to him on a stretcher.”

“At this time I would normally say something catchy like ‘come and place ya bets’ and then end it, but the fact of the matter is that saying that line to you would be absolutely pointless as you have no luck left.  You have no chances because I am Jessica Lasiewicz and I am your worst nightmare.”

She shuts her eyes  “…dobranoc.”