12. Ms. Fortuna

12

MS. FORTUNA

I sipped my pinot noir, the rich notes of the wine coating my tongue as I settled into my plush armchair. On the flatscreen before me, the latest exploits of the Kardashian family played out in its dramatic and scripted fashion. A smirk tugged at my lips. My reality was far more interesting.

The monster integration program was exceeding all expectations. My affinity for matching monsters and humans had proven quite...fortuitous. Heh. Their pairings were thriving, connections deepening by the day. The humans required more finesse, but I relished the challenge. Luck in love was my forte, after all.

My musings were interrupted by a jingle from my phone. I glanced at the screen. Oh, how delightful! One of my matches was experiencing a significant moment. I aimed the remote at the TV and pressed a button, anticipation swelling in my chest.

The screen split in two, each side displaying a different scene. How peculiar. Normally, significant moments warranted the full screen treatment, as my charges were often in the same place for such revelations. I leaned forward, curiosity piqued. What could fate have in store for them now?

On the left, Rissa swung her leg over a sleek black motorcycle, her short raven hair whipping in the wind. Not a helmet in sight. That girl had a flair for the dramatic and a stubborn streak to match. Her leather jacket hugged her athletic frame as she revved the engine, green eyes glinting with determination.

To the right, Luce slid into the driver's seat of his polished BMW, movements precise and deliberate. He exuded an air of command, even in solitude. Dark brows furrowed over deep-set eyes as he gripped the steering wheel, his sharp features set in concentration.

I smiled to myself, reaching for the wine bottle. As I poured another generous glass, the pieces began to fall into place. Rissa and Luce, both strong-willed and fiercely independent, yet inexplicably drawn to one another. It was only a matter of time before their paths converged once more.

I snapped my fingers, the sharp sound echoing through the room. Andrews appeared in the doorway, impeccable in his butler's uniform.

"Grapes. Now," I commanded, my tone brooking no argument.

He nodded. Andrews knew better than to question my whims, especially when matters of the heart were at play. As he retreated to the kitchen, I returned my attention to the screen, a frisson of excitement running through me.

The game was afoot, and I had a front-row seat to the unfolding drama. Rissa and Luce, each racing toward an unknown destination, propelled by a force they had yet to comprehend. I settled back into my chair, sipping my wine with a self-satisfied grin.

Oh, how I adored playing the puppeteer, guiding my charges toward their long-avoided destinies. The road ahead might be fraught with obstacles, but I had no doubt they would find their way to one another.

And if they required a little nudge along the way? Well, that's what I was here for, wasn't it? To orchestrate the perfect happily ever after, one wonderfully complicated match at a time.

Andrews returned, bearing a silver tray laden with a generous cluster of grapes. He paused, his gaze drawn to the split-screen display, where Rissa and Luce navigated the winding roads, unaware of the invisible threads pulling them together.

"Madam, if I may ask, what exactly is transpiring here?" Andrews inquired, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

I plucked a grape from the tray, savoring its burst of sweetness on my tongue before answering. "Destiny, my dear Andrews. Destiny is transpiring."

I gestured to the screen, my excitement building with each passing moment. "You see, these two, Rissa and Luce, are my latest charges. Both filled out the paperwork, but I hadn't had the chance to officially match them up yet. And now, look at them, unknowingly racing toward each other."

Andrews studied the screen, a hint of skepticism in his expression. "And you believe they're about to, as you say, rush into one another's arms?"

I laughed, the sound tinged with a touch of mischief. "Oh, Andrews, you underestimate the power of a well-crafted match. Trust me, when these two finally meet, it will be a moment for the ages. Completely, utterly in love."

I leaned forward, my fingers steepled beneath my chin as I watched the drama unfold. The anticipation was delicious, a palpable energy that filled the room.

"They may not know it yet, but they're hooked, Andrews. My perfect creation, my masterpiece in the making. And when they finally collide, well..."

I trailed off, letting the unspoken promise hang in the air. Andrews nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. He knew better than to question my methods, my uncanny ability to weave the threads of fate.

"Very well, Madam. I shall leave you to your observations," he said, setting the tray down beside me. "Should you require anything else, you need only call."

"Go ahead, sit down and watch," I said, gesturing to the empty space beside me on the sofa. "You'll love this part. They're going to meet up on the road."

Andrews hesitated for a moment, his sense of propriety warring with his curiosity. But the allure of the unfolding drama proved too strong to resist. He settled onto the edge of the sofa, his posture ramrod straight.

On the screen, Rissa's motorcycle ate up the miles, her silhouette a sleek blur against the backdrop of the city. In the opposite frame, Luce's BMW carved a path through the traffic, his focus unwavering.

"Any moment now," I murmured, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wine glass. "They're so close, Andrews. So very close."

The seconds ticked by, each one an eternity. And then, in a heartbeat, it happened. Rissa and Luce passed each other on the road, their vehicles a mere hairsbreadth apart. But instead of the explosive reunion I'd anticipated, they continued, oblivious that they'd just passed the person they were going after.

"What?" I sputtered, my wine sloshing dangerously close to the rim of the glass. "No, no, no. This can't be happening."

Andrews shot me a sidelong glance, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Madam? Is everything alright?"

I shook my head, my mind racing. How could they have missed each other? How could fate have played such a cruel trick?

"They were supposed to realize," I said, my words clipped with frustration. "They were supposed to feel that spark, that undeniable connection."

But even as I spoke, I knew the truth. Rissa and Luce, for all their potential, for all the careful maneuvering I'd done to bring them together, were still fallible. Still prone to the whims of chance and circumstance. Still utter and complete idiots.

I sank back against the sofa, my enthusiasm dampened by the unexpected turn of events. But even as disappointment coursed through me, I felt a flicker of something else. Something that felt suspiciously like...determination.

The screens flickered, the images shifting as Rissa and Luce sped through the city streets, each headed towards the other's home. I leaned forward, my gaze intent, my fingers tapping an impatient rhythm against my thigh.

"Come on, come on," I muttered under my breath, willing them to go faster, to reach their destinations before the moment was lost entirely.

But even as I watched, I knew it was a futile hope. They were too far apart, too focused on their own missions to see the truth that lay just beyond their grasp.

Still, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screens, couldn't help but hold my breath as Rissa's motorcycle wove through traffic, as Luce's sleek BMW navigated the winding roads.

And then, finally, they arrived.

On one screen, Rissa swung her leg over her bike, her movements fluid and graceful as she strode towards Luce's front door. On the other, Luce emerged from his car, his steps quick and purposeful as he made his way to Rissa's apartment building.

For a moment, I allowed myself to hope. To believe that perhaps, even now, fate might intervene. That Rissa and Luce might somehow sense each other's presence, might feel that inexplicable pull that drew them together.

But as the seconds ticked by, as they each reached for the buzzers that would summon their respective friends, I knew it was not to be.

"Damn it," I whispered, my fingers clenching into fists at my sides. "They were so close. So very, very close."

Andrews shot me a sympathetic glance, but I barely registered it. My mind was already racing ahead, already grappling with the question of what to do next.

The doorbells rang out in unison, a discordant chime that made me wince. On the left side of the screen, Rey swung open the door, his expression morphing from curiosity to shock as he took in the sight of Luce. On the right, Jeanette mirrored his reaction, her mouth falling open as she stared at Rissa.

"What the hell are you doing here?" they demanded, their words overlapping in a multi pitched echo.

I leaned forward, my heart pounding as Rissa and Luce began to speak. At first, their words were jumbled, out of sync, but as they continued, their voices seemed to merge, to become one.

"We were trapped together by the Council," they said, the words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "We escaped and both went straight back to our bodies. Now I need to find her (him). We've got to work together to stop the Council."

Rey and Jeanette, on either side of the screen, looked at Luce and Rissa respectively, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. But Rissa and Luce didn't seem to notice, too caught up in their desperate need to find each other.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at their determination, at the strength of the bond that had formed between them. It was a bond that transcended the boundaries of their separate lives, a bond that even the Council's machinations couldn't break.

But as much as I wanted to believe that Rissa and Luce could overcome any obstacle, I knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy. The Council was powerful, and they would stop at nothing to keep the two apart.

Without warning, Rey's fist slammed into Luce's jaw with a sickening crunch. On the other screen, Jeanette's knuckles drove into Rissa's throat, causing her to gag and stumble back.

Damn it! I gripped the stem of my wineglass tighter as I watched the scene unfold. This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Rey and Jeanette were supposed to be their friends, their allies. Not this!

Rissa and Luce both retreated, putting distance between themselves and their attackers. They raised their hands in a placating gesture, their words spilling out in near-perfect unison.

"I only want to help," Luce said, his tone calm despite the reddening mark on his jaw. "What happened to Rissa wasn't my fault."

"The Council wants both of us dead," Rissa rasped, massaging her bruised throat. "I'm not your enemy, twit."

I leaned forward in my seat, my heart pounding as I watched the tense standoff. Come on, I silently urged Rey and Jeanette. Listen to them. They're telling the truth.

But the anger and distrust in Rey and Jeanette's expressions didn't waver. They stood their ground, fists clenched at their sides, ready to strike again at the slightest provocation.

I bit my lip, a sinking feeling in my gut. The tense standoff seemed to stretch on for an eternity. But then, almost imperceptibly, something shifted.

Rey's shoulders slumped, just a fraction. He sighed heavily and pulled out his phone. "I'm getting her on the phone," he muttered, his tone still laced with suspicion but tinged now with a hint of resignation.

Luce's hand flew to his forehead, an exasperated gesture. "I should have just called her to begin with," he grumbled, shaking his head.

On Rissa's side of the split screen, I watched as she mirrored Luce's actions, pulling out her own phone. "Look, I'm just going to call him," she said, her words clipped and terse. "You can hear it on speaker."

But before she could dial, her phone lit up, Rey's name flashing on the screen. She answered immediately, her expression a mix of relief and trepidation.

The sound exploded from the TV speakers, a cacophony of overlapping voices and static feedback. Rey's voice, tinny and distorted, mingled with Rissa's, creating an almost unbearable noise.

I winced, my hands flying to my ears in a vain attempt to block out the overwhelming sound. It felt like my head was splitting open, the pain sharp and searing.

With a desperate lunge, I grabbed the remote and jabbed at the power button, plunging the room into sudden, blessed silence.

I sat back, my chest heaving, my head throbbing. That was not how I'd envisioned this moment playing out. But then again, when did anything ever go according to plan?

I glanced over at Andrews, who was staring at the darkened TV screen with a shell-shocked expression. "Well," I said, my tone wry. "That was certainly… unexpected."