A string of curses and explecatives flew from Jezebel’s mouth at the tone of Penelope’s voice. It was enough to cause the ears of an innocent to suddenly burst into flames. But it was foul language that Penelope had heard many times before and clearly not something that she was unused to. Once Jezebel was done with her rant, the red Amazon growled before she plopped down into her seat, her arms still crossed as she glared across the expanse of this dream world.

Penelope, seeing that Jezebel was in fact done, sighed as she continued to watch her. Another few minutes would pass before she would finally clear her throat and continue on.

Good she said, making sure that Jezebel was finally in check. It was odd; wherever this confidence was coming from felt good. She hoped it would last. As I was saying, we have a problem.

What problem? Jezebel grumbled in response.

The problem that you are causing. You can’t just hurt people whenever you feel like it, especially when it pulls ME in.

Psh! Just don’t want to get your hands dirty. Your parents would roll over in their graves if they saw you talking, no less making friends, with humans!

Stop! No more! Penelope said pleadingly. This needs to stop, Jezebel. It has to. I can’t let you ruin my life anymore.

Jezebel twitched, sneered, and eyed Penelope closely. Oh yeah? And what’ll you do to stop me? You said yourself we’re bound together. So what could you POSSIBLY do?

Take away the one thing you’ve been after this whole time, Penelope whispered fearfully. You’re freedom.

It was a gamble. Penelope knew it was. But the second that she saw the look on Jezebel’s face, she knew that she couldn’t go back. It was a big risk, especially since her plan involved things that she didn’t fully understand or even think would work, but Jezebel was not really the brightest of bulbs. Yeah, she was strong, passionate, but use enough big words and she gets frustrated enough to believe anything. Penelope knew that about her alter ego and knew well enough to play up things as best she could. Jezebel had to buy it. She just had to.

You’re bluffing! Jezebel said indignantly. You’re downright lying!

Nope, Penelope said without missing a beat. Hesitation would show through her gambit. She couldn’t afford to sound like she didn’t know what she was talking about. There’s medicine, Jezebel. Medicine that won’t make me mad or angry or scared anymore. If I take that, do you think you’ll ever come out again? You need me to be mad to come out, don’t you?

Penelope kept her expression stoic.

Jezebel was anything but. It looked as if she were going to rage all over the dreamscape again, but she didn’t This time there was no anger fueling her strength and passion, she was instead flooded to the brim with fear. Fear as her small mind raced to search her limited capacity for anything that at all sounded like what Penelope was talking about.

And she did. TV commercials advertised this kind of thing all the time. Medication to make one no care about the world anymore; that’ll devoid them of emotions. Would Penelope really do that to herself? Worst of all, would Jezebel even exist if Penelope was doped up like that?

Jezebel growled.

You wouldn’t! she cried angrily, but it was tinged with a whiff of desperation. You wouldn’t do that to yourself, Pen! You’d…you’d be a zombie!!!

Penelope was quiet for a moment, thinking to herself, as if contemplating everything that Jezebel had said. But in truth, she was just trying to pause for dramatic effect. She really didn’t know if such a drug would even be available to her. After all, what doctor in his right mind would give such medication to a minor? But, she supposed anything was possible. It was the idea of there being the smallest chance of it being true that aided her right now. And she would use it.

I’d rather live like that…than have to watch you take my world apart.

The look of absolute shock and terror on Jezebel’s face was priceless. Not that this situation was at all humorous, but it was exactly the picture that Penelope wanted. She wanted Jezebel to be scared, to be curious, to not know what was going to happen to her. The reality was that Jezebel was so wrapped up in herself that she never figured that Penelope would do something like this. Even if she did manage to break away and take over Penelope’s body, she wouldn’t have it forever. Eventually Penelope would get her hands on those medications, and eventually Jezebel would cease to exist all together.

Eventualities were the worst of fears to have. And Jezebel had them in spades.

Oh my god, she breathed as she looked away from Penelope. Standing up, she began to back away from her, terrified beyond all belief. Oh my god! I…I don’t want to die! I don’t wanna die!! I DON’T WANNA DIE!!!

Tears flooded out of those golden hued eyes as the red Amazon found herself staggering left and right, no idea of the direction she wanted to walk. All of it was too much for her to comprehend right now.

Penelope, though, remained quiet, simply watching the towering woman as anxiety completely wracked through her body. As the red one stopped and finally curled up into a ball on the ground, shivering and shaking, Penelope felt a pang of sympathy. She knew then that she would have to make the deal now or everything was lost.

Scooting out of her chair, Penelope stepped onto the ground and slowly made her way to the shivering woman. Stepping up to her, she paused for a second before she knelt down and causally began to run her fingers through her hair, humming a nameless tune that her mother once hummed to her. The gesture seemed soothing enough to cause Jezebel to look up, her eyes wide and terrified. For a fraction of a second, Penelope could have sworn that she could see through those fiery yellow orbs and spy the one thing she thought she’d never see…herself.

A soft smile filled Penelope’s lips as she leaned down and wrapped her arms around Jezebel’s neck. In doing so, she squeezed affectionately before she sighed and spoke up.

We’re connected, Jezzie, she said with a nod. Deep down we’re both a little bit of each other.

T-T-Then… Jezebel sniffled. W-W-W-Why do you wanna kill me?!

Shhhh, I don’t, Penelope whispered with a small smile. The revelation caught Jezebel off guard as she turned her attention fully onto the young girl now, tears still staining her cheeks. After a beat, Penelope stroked Jezebel’s hair and continued, What I want to do…is make a compromise.

It took a couple of minutes for Penelope to explain and re-explain everything but eventually it seemed as if Jezebel were catching on. The truth was that Penelope really didn’t want to live her life as a zombie, nor did she want to kill Jezebel. It was merely a length she were willing to go to if she had to in order to ensure some type of peace in her life. But, she had a different plan in mind and was hoping that Jezebel would take the deal.

She explained that in exchange for no longer coming out in front of other people, crowds, or on camera, pretty much any way that would implicate Penelope herself, Penelope would allow Jezebel to come out and play at certain times. During these times, she could do whatever she wanted, again, so long as none of it ever came back to her.

It was a simple enough deal. Namely, Penelope would trade in a bit of her morality in exchange for a chance to keep Jezebel on a short leash. It was the best and only way that she could even consider living a normal life. By setting aside specific days and times for Jezebel to come out, that could at least offer her some freedom to plan accordingly. And while that may not have been the best of all possible options, it was a chance, wasn’t it? The only thing that Penelope ever wanted out of life was a single chance to live a good one.

Hopefully, with Jezebel leashed, she would get that. So long as the red Amazon actually took the deal.

The silence between them was long, rough, and just slightly enough to make Penelope a bit anxious. She was banking a lot on Jezebel’s answer. Her chance to have a good life at her new school, to grow up even slightly normal, all of it was based on whatever answer Jezebel gave.

But she didn’t rush her. Instead, she was quiet and let the Amazon think.

Eventually, Jezebel did raise her head and looked Penelope square in the eye. After a beat…she nodded firmly.

Deal.

Yaaaaaawwwwwnnnn…

Penelope blinked as she felt herself stirring. Slowly she was awakening to the sounds of nature in the morning outside her window. The birds were singing, the trees were rustling, and the glow of the warm sun as it filtered in through her window and stroked her cheek was enough to cause her to stir with large smile. She felt so…refreshed. It was as if this were the first time that she had managed to sleep good in ages.

And she was thankful for it.

Another yawn fell from her lips as she sat up in bed, casually tossing aside her blankets. However she slept, she knew that she slept very restfully. It was almost as if an extreme weight were taken off her shoulders; like, she was given a second chance at life. Pretty good for someone so young.

Maneuvering herself out of bed, Penelope sighed happily as she stepped out onto the cool floor of her room, leaned back, and stretched out her arms as far as she could go. Another yawn and she smiled as the sensation of her muscles loosening up so easily. It felt so good and she was in SUCH a good mood! She absolutely couldn’t believe it.

And best of all…she remembered everything she dreamed. She hoped that it was not just a mere dream but that it had actually occurred. She willed it to be real.

But she would have to wait and see.

For now…she was very hungry.

“I think I want pancakes today,” she said to herself with a firm nod and smile. She would get Lily to make her pancakes today. Mmm good…