Chapter 97
"This is Bee. You can call her Little Bee or Queen Bee if you like. She's someone I hold in high regard, just like your sister Carrie."
"Sister Carrie?" Pennywise gave Bee a cautious look, sensing a familiar aura from her. If it weren't for the fact that Randy was around the same age as him, Pennywise might have assumed that Bee was Randy's secret daughter.
But compared to Carrie's overwhelming magical power, Pennywise felt that Bee was much weaker.
"A cute little bee," Pennywise said with a hint of menace. "I sure hope my colleague isn't fearless, or else I might get a little hungry."
Bee, unaffected by Pennywise's influence, showed no signs of weakness in response to his malice.
"Well, I hope your teeth are sharp enough."
Both of them showed a little hostility towards each other, but Randy didn't mind. Under his leadership, there was no room for factionalism.
"Alright, you're both on the same side now. From now on, you must work together against outsiders. You should be able to feel what you have in common."
He was referring to the seeds inside Pennywise and Bee, both carrying his energy.
"In the future, more people will join us, and eventually, most of the families in the town will carry the scent of these seeds. Especially you, Pennywise — make sure not to feast on your own stock."
As for the families without the seed's aura, they weren't followers, so if they died, it wouldn't matter. As long as mass panic didn't break out, it was acceptable.
"No problem," Pennywise agreed, pleased with the arrangement and looking forward to the future promises Randy had made. As a fear-based creature, the power of belief was a great boost to Pennywise, and the amount Randy offered was far superior to what he could gather on his own.
The best part? The supply was steady, and he wouldn't have to sleep for 27 years between meals.
"Alright, you can leave now. Stay out of trouble for the next few days."
Pennywise nodded and withdrew, but before leaving, he reminded Randy, "Some of the blooms in the underground nest have started to open."
Randy thought to himself that the first to bloom was probably the one made from Michelle's remains. The man only had the ability to summon spirits, so it was only a matter of time before he and his family's flowers bloomed.
"What flowers? Are there more like me?" Bee asked with a frown.
"No way. You're one of a kind," Randy reassured her.
Bee didn't know if he was being truthful, but she was happy to hear it.
Randy could tell she was in a good mood. He chuckled and said, "Just so you know, Bee, my Queen Bee."
Bee's expression turned serious when she heard her new title.
She was a person full of contradictions — she craved respect from everyone and wanted to be a true queen, yet at the same time, she wished for someone strong enough to conquer her, making her willingly submit. Even when submitting, she longed for respect, but if she received too much respect, she would feel disappointed.
Randy's cold and indifferent nature made her yearn to be dominated, while his empty words of praise made her feel elated.
They were a perfect match. Bee quickly sank into this dynamic and decided to follow this path, fully committed to the life ahead of her.
She was, after all, deeply twisted in her own way.
Randy could see Bee's thoughts and was slightly puzzled himself. It seemed that the town of Derry had a way of shaping people — even if they weren't special at first, they would eventually become exceptional.
Randy decided to adjust his approach toward Bee.
"You're different from Pennywise. He's not human."
Bee smiled even wider, feeling even more affirmed in her admiration for Randy's wisdom.
"He can only survive in the shadows, but you — you're someone I'm nurturing carefully. From now on, Derry is your home, and I'm the head of this household. You'll be the eldest sister of this family, and many of our new members will need your protection."
Bee nodded, beginning to compare herself to Pennywise. Even though she was human, she felt she was far more valued than that creature. At the very least, she could do things Pennywise couldn't.
"Don't worry, Randy. You can trust me completely."
"Good," Randy said with a nod, then added, "Come upstairs with me for a moment."
Without any hesitation, Bee eagerly followed him, even trying to walk side by side with him.
Once they reached the second floor, Randy's demeanor suddenly changed.
"Bee, I wasn't very satisfied with your performance just now. You didn't show the responsibility that someone in your position should have."
"I didn't show responsibility?" Bee was confused, feeling a bit wronged. She had tried hard enough for those useless teammates. How could she have lacked responsibility?
"Yes. Do you think those four fools are the only subordinates you have? Does Pennywise not count?"
Bee paused, realizing that her perspective had indeed been too narrow. Her first instinct when meeting other members of the group was to compete for favor — she had reduced herself to their level.
Randy's expression grew cold. "That's why I'm going to punish you. But I won't embarrass you in front of Max and the others. Now, kneel."
Bee hesitated, conflicted, but in the end, she obeyed and knelt down, even instinctively reaching for her belt.
Her submission increased.
This time, unlike the first when she was terrified into kneeling, Bee didn't feel much resistance. In fact, she was somewhat excited, wondering what kind of punishment Randy had in store for her.
Randy had already figured out her personality.
Just as he was about to take the next step, a door suddenly creaked open, and Emma's cold face peeked out.
"Is the killer bee collecting honey again?"
"Emma?" Bee stood up quickly, her emotions in turmoil, feeling utterly humiliated in front of her rival.
"It's not what you think! We were just… playing a game, just playing a game."
"A game? Disgusting." Emma slammed the door shut, her eyes filled with murderous intent as she glanced at Bee.
"Don't worry, I'll explain it to her," Randy said casually, unbothered by the situation, since Bee had already suffered the embarrassment.
He was more curious about Emma's condition. After all, he had used a trick to make sure she would sleep soundly — how had she woken up?
"Alright, but you'd better do it quickly. Oh, damn!"
"You go supervise the others. Make sure they finish their work quickly and leave."
After sending Bee downstairs, Randy headed to Emma's room. The locked door was no barrier to him.
Upon entering, he saw Emma standing darkly by the bed.
With a smile, Randy asked, "What are you thinking about? How to get your father to fire Bee?"
"No, I'm remembering my last nanny. That woman said she was going to be my new stepmother. But then…"
There was no need for her to finish the sentence. Randy could guess the outcome — she had probably died in some unfortunate accident.
So he approached her, repeating his usual soothing words.
"Emma, my little princess, you're different from Bee. She's a twisted woman…"
"She's your nanny now, but she'll always be your servant…"
"You must have the mindset of a true ruler…"
"You're the heir I have my eye on…"
"You've been acting too extreme…"