“It’s…” She was at a loss for words. Even her statue didn’t want to be a statue. Ophelia coughed again. “Sorry. It’s stunning.”
“I figured you’d come around,” said Mateo with a smirk. Ophelia was struggling with the smell and his allure. She pulled on her magic like a mental string inside her chest. She grounded herself and thought of her protector. She could do this. She needed to know.
“So why do you sculpt women?” she asked curiously.
“Why have men throughout history sculpted women?” he retorted. “Because they’re beautiful, of course.”
Ophelia looked around the room and noted many human-like figures covered in dust sheets.
“Can I see more of them? I assume that’s what’s under the sheets?” She smiled.
Mateo briefly narrowed his eyes and smoothly transitioned. “Why don’t you come see them all on Thursday? I’d rather spend more time with you.” Mateo stepped into her space and grabbed her hand.
“Oh no, I won’t be at the show on Thursday. I have a work function. But at least you can show off your work to me now.”
Ophelia boldly walked to a figure and pulled the sheet down, revealing a curvy woman with wild curls. She was mid-scream, clutching her breasts. It was shocking and disturbing. She did not want to be captured.
“Wow,” said Ophelia. She reached out to touch the woman’s shoulder, and she was suddenly hit with anguish, fear, desperation. So many feelings consumed her. She turned to Mateo. “How do you make them so lifelike?”
“Skill, I suppose,” said Mateo, inching closer to Ophelia again.
Ophelia hummed. “You must get to know your subjects very well.”
“Are you jealous, wild one?”
She smirked. “Maybe.” Ophelia boldly moved into his embrace, and he placed his hands on her hips. “I think I should be the only muse from now on,” she whispered in his ear. She kept the string on her magic taut. It was the only reason she was able to get this close to him without losing herself. Mateo pulled her hips flush to his and ground into her. She could feel how turned on he was.Gross. She snaked one hand from his chest down to his front, teasing him, as she placed the other on his shoulder.
“Tell me you want me,” she said through hooded eyes.
“You know I do, wild one.”
Ophelia hummed. She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. The smell he was emitting barely allowed her to breathe, but she was centered. She could feel her tiger’s presence, protecting her. Ophelia gripped Mateo’s shoulder with one hand and hooked a finger in his belt loop with the other. All those self-defense classes in New York were finally coming to use.
Without warning, she kneed him in the groin with all her force. He doubled over, wailing in agony. She quickly circled behind him and kicked the back of his knees in, forcing him further into his squat. In a flash, she had her right arm wrapped around the front of his neck, and her left behind him, squeezing tightly in a chokehold. She started counting to sixty. Mateo began scratching at her forearms in an attempt to get her off.Thirty.Thirty-one.Ophelia already had the advantage from the debilitating kick to his groin.Forty-six.The bastard’s body went limp in her arms as she lowered him to the ground. She could have stopped at forty-seven, but she counted all the way to sixty for good measure.
Ophelia left his body passed out on the floor and began ripping the sheets off each statue. They were all the same. Various women, nude, likely sculpted without their consent. She touched another statue and felt the same rush of anguish and fear. She knew he took their souls. She could feel them inside the statues. Ophelia reached into her purse and hit “call” on Jolie’s number. Thirty seconds later, Jolie sauntered in.
“He did it. Just like we thought,” said Ophelia and nodded to Mateo sprawled out on the floor.
“Pig,” Jolie said with a sniff.
“Do you mind waking him up?” asked Ophelia.
“My pleasure.” Jolie pulled a taser from her purse and aimed the gun right at his groin.
“Fucking hell, Jo,” said Ophelia as Jolie pulled the trigger. Mateo’s deafening cries lasted about five seconds till he curled up in the fetal position and began moaning.
“He’s a molester, rapist, soul-stealing sonovabitch. Don’t get all soft on me now.”
“Fair.” Ophelia shrugged, and Jolie held her ground with the taser pointed at Mateo in case he made any sudden movements.
Mateo groaned. “Fuck you.”
“Shut up,” Ophelia told him. “Tell us. How many women have you sculpted? How many women have you conned?” Mateo was still rocking on the ground. “It sure is pathetic that you haveto use your magic to get women to fuck you. Is that how this all started? Tell me.”
“What…what are you talking about?” he sputtered.
“Oh, you have no idea? Then it won’t matter if I just push one of these over, will it?” Ophelia leaned into a statue, gearing up for a shove.
