"Here," he says and reaches for my keys. "Letme."
"I don't think so," I say. "This is where youleave."
"I don't think so," hesays.
"You're not coming into myapartment."
"I am. Let's go, Eve. I need to fix your palms and we need totalk."
I stand my ground. He's not coming in. "I can fix my own palms, thanks. You can send me an email and tell me whatever it is you think I need to know. I'm not letting you into my apartment because then you'll be able to enter any time youwant."
"Eve, we need to talk. Open the door. I'm comingin."
"You have no right to order mearound."
"I'm comingin."
"Why are you sodomineering?"
"Why are you so emotional?" he says and steps closer to me, touching my cheek. Instantly, I calm down from whatever brain chemicals he's making me release. "Don't get me wrong," he says softly. "I love that in you. It makes it so easy for me to read you without even having to touch you. Of course, I do so like to touch you." Hesmiles.
"If I'm emotional, it's because thismatters."
"I know," he says all full of sympathy, tilting his head in that characteristic way. "I don't trust people who control their emotions too well. You can't lie and I value that. You might as well just stop lying to me and then this will all be so much easier. Now, open the door. Invite mein."
"I don't want you to comein."
"I know you don't, Eve," he says softly. "All of this must be very upsetting to you. I didn't want this either. I tried to erase your memories so you could go on and just live your life without becoming involved in our world. But now that you are involved, you have to trustme."
"I can't just trust you," I say, frustrated. "Trust is built and based on evidence oftrustworthiness."
"You really have no choice. Either you let yourself trust me, surrender to it, or you fight me every step of the way. And believe me, this is a fight you will notwin."
"Surrender to it?" I say, barely able to keep my voice under control. "You mean surrender to you. I've never been one to just give over toanything."
"I can sense that," he says and sighs. "It will just make things more difficult and painful. So much easier for us both if you justcomply."
We stand there at animpasse.
"I'm not letting you inwillingly."
"So be it," he says and grabs my wrist. "I'm committed to my cause, Eve. Nothing – no paltry resistance on the part of a pretty Adept is going to sway me from it. I'll do whatever I have to – whatever it takes – even if I hate myself for it. Even if you hate me for it. Now open the door and let me in. I can't compel you but I can hurtyou."
I close my eyes as pain burns through me like a knife searing in my gut. I gasp at its intensity and bend over at the waist. It's so sharp it brings tears to my eyes. Then it's gone as quickly as itstarts.
"You…monster…"
"Yes, I am a monster," he says and shakes me, his expression dark. "Don't forget it." After a moment, his face softens. "Eve, I don't want to hurt you," he says, his voice quiet. "Quite the opposite. But you must know with complete certainty that I will do anything and everything to succeed, including hurting you if it's the only way to getcompliance."
I turn away from him, my face all hot from the pain, my eyes all teared-up for the umpteenth time this evening. I open the door and step inside but I don't invite himin.
He just stands there for a moment, waiting. Then he closes his eyes and I swear I can see himfuming.
"Don't make me force you. I'm very old and very powerful and very angry rightnow."
I give in. "Please, comein."
I hear his sigh of relief and then he steps over thethreshold.