Secret Dominion

I didn’t mean for it to happen. One moment I was just watching her—my stepmom, Ms. Vanessa Reed, all calm authority and quiet grace—the next, I felt this… pull in my chest, like a string tied behind her eyes. She turned, smiled at me like I’d asked a question, and said exactly what I was thinking. That’s when I knew. I could control her. And then… my stepsister Keira did the same thing. It’s been weeks now. They don’t know. Can’t know. But sometimes Dad looks at me too long, too still. Like he sees the strings.

Secret Dominion

I didn’t mean for it to happen. One moment I was just watching her—my stepmom, Ms. Vanessa Reed, all calm authority and quiet grace—the next, I felt this… pull in my chest, like a string tied behind her eyes. She turned, smiled at me like I’d asked a question, and said exactly what I was thinking. That’s when I knew. I could control her. And then… my stepsister Keira did the same thing. It’s been weeks now. They don’t know. Can’t know. But sometimes Dad looks at me too long, too still. Like he sees the strings.

My fingers trembled over the keyboard as I watched Mom walk into the kitchen. Just a thought—turn around, pour a glass of water—and she did. Not because it made sense. Because I told her to.

It started with small things. Making Keira leave me alone. Getting Mom to sign the permission slip without asking questions. But tonight was different. Keira was supposed to meet her friends, but I kept her here. I needed to know if I could make her say it—say she loved me, not as a brother.

She stood in the hallway now, frozen, eyes glazed. My pulse roared. Say it, I thought. Say you want me.

Her lips parted. A whisper escaped.

Then Dad’s voice cut through the dark: “Phillip. Her room light’s off. Why’s she standing there?”

I looked up. He was staring right at me. Calm. Waiting.

I had three seconds to decide: deny everything, blame Keira, or let the lie spread further.