Matthew Knox vs. Deanna Frost

[supremecw]

"The Raven" Matthew Knox vs. Deanna Frost
SCW United States Championship
Rise to Greatness XXI

2 RP Limit, no word limits
Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET Sunday, July 28, 2024

*Please note that Deanna Frost can use her roleplays for The Enigma in this match, and vice-versa. She must just clear denote this in case she wishes to only use them from one match or the other*

[MattKnox]

Gumshoe Goes To Washington

[SnowQueenSCW]

DISCLAIMER: The following is a work of fiction and not to be confused as complete or accurate representation of any beliefs, religions, etc. Please refer to research/articles by experts for that.

OOC: The following follows Selena’s first RTG roleplay and is to be counted for both of Deanna’s RTG matches.

The Witches of Alden

”The School of Frost: Part 2 - Warning”

Frost ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
July 22nd, 2024
12:49pm

Deanna sat quietly in the large lazy boy, quietly sipping her orange-pekoe tea, the dark green cup – the one she had bought while taking her Elsianna to see Wicked the Musical on Broadway a few weeks ago - feeling nice and warm in her small hands. The house was usually quiet, with barely the sounds of the various machines like the AC working. Casting her eyes over to the side of the family-room, she spied the large, white fluffball, Oberon, sleeping soundly in one of his many little sleep-pens, the dog not the least bit concerned what time of the day it was to do so.

The redhead almost envied that of him. He just does what he wants to do when he needs to do it. Hungry? Eat. Sleepy? Sleep. Need cuddles? Tackle the red-haired one! she smiled to herself at that one, recalling too many times the rather large Samoyed had made such a decision on her person. Had she not been a trained wrestler, made to powerlift women and even some men much heavier than her, she would have surely spent such moments knocked to the floor!

Once more stealing a quiet glance at the sleeping hound, Deanna allowed a quiet smile to grace her lips. She did, indeed, wish for such simplicity in her life. She had, honestly, thought her life could not get more complicated than it already was.

She had accepted her situation as best as she could. She had Enigma on the Saturday and Matthew Knox on the Sunday, a pair of matches that could, very well, see the end of her reign as the United States Champion this coming Rise to Greatness weekend.

With Knox, it was far simpler – boarder-line Oberon-level of simple. The veteran of wrestling had come to SCW last month and simply demanded to be given a title shot fresh out of the gate. The man didn’t care about Enigma or Jessica or all the drama that surrounded it. Hell, the redhead was pretty sure he was one of the few people in SCW that didn’t give a care about knowing about Deanna’s marital statis like Enigma seemed to be. On paper… it was… he was…

Another sigh came from Deanna. It was a standard, United States championship title defense with him. No different than the ones she had taken with the likes of Scott Reed, Adam Brock, and Polly Pignotti to name a few. And yet, the real challenge came from Knox, himself. He was an unknown. Sure, there had been some videos of his time in past federations, but not many that Deanna had stumbled across – perhaps due to her lack of ‘research skills’. Wikipedia and the ‘big-video sites’ like Youtube and Dailymotion could only get one so far, it seemed. Regardless, it was clear Knox had ‘moved up’ to the bigger company that was SCW, and while he boasted years of experience – sort of reminding Deanna of Josh Hudson’s tirade against Selena… the redhead quietly hopeful that it would lead to some humility finally coming to the Snow Queen – Knox had only had a handful of matches in SCW itself. Four if the royale was to be included. And yes, he had won the last three of those matches, but none had been at the level of a pay-per-view. How could they be after making his debut at Taking Hold of the Flame in the royale?

Maybe that’s why I’ve been getting some heat backstage… Deanna sighed, allowing the next ‘complicated’ part of the situation get her attention. There were a number of people backstage and an insurmountable amount within the fanbase that was the SCW Universe that were not happy with the redhead accepting Knox’s challenge at the main-show so briskly. A growing frustration that the man had ‘cut the line’ as it were, with only four matches landing him an opportunity to become not only the United States Champion, but the one that ‘ended the longest reign in recent SCW history’?

And on that… Deanna could kind of understand their frustration. There were a lot of people in SCW that, maybe, felt they deserved that chance on such a big stage. Scott Reed came to mind, as did Polly Pignotti and maybe some legends like Syren and Ravyn, or Bree or maybe a few more Hall of Famers! Without thinking, Deanna’s finger circled around the top of the cup as her thoughts continued. She had never meant to offend anyone with accepting Knox’s challenge, but… she sighed.

The truth was Knox had made some decent points, in line with past remarks from Hiro Tanaka and some of the commentary team. The United States Championship needed to be defended and, in truth, Deanna had taken on so much of the roster already. Was that why it had been so easy for Knox to barge in and take the front? Was it her fault because she had beaten so many of the potential contenders for her title over the past year? I mean… there was the triple threat match… the two chamber matches… Last woman standing match… all the single matches…

How had she never thought about it before? How had the number of defenses and number of victories never shored up in her mind? They just… hadn’t. It had always been ‘move on to the next one. Never stale and never settle’. That had been her way, the redhead refusing to rest on her laurels. Had… had SCW quietly run out of options and not realized it? Especially with Selena depleting the world title divisions and ranks so openly and stating so far more aggressively?

Had…. Had Deanna unknowingly been doing the same thing? Was that partially why she had jumped at the challenge and accepted it? Because, despite everything else, deep down she still wanted to be a good champion and have new challenges to face for the title she had loved championing for the past year?

Or was she just trying to get back to how things were? When there wasn’t any personal drama or stakes for a loved one’s very control of their own life? When it was just her… just… she felt a sniffle escape her and only then did she catch the droplet of water fall into the remains of her tea, causing a ripple within the colored hot-water. A second droplet came just a few millimeters from the other, dropping into the drink and Deanna blinked her eyes, realizing that she had cried a little from her thoughts, yet she did not stop or even slow them.

Were her tears not proof-positive? That she longed to go back to the days when she was just defending the title? Fighting through the ranks? When her friends and family weren’t put in danger? When she wasn’t so distracted by something so…so… so unreal?

Knox could laugh at it, but he had that luxury! He had the luxury of such a simple mentality that rivaled Oberon. Just show up, win, and get what you want! Simple! Enigma wasn’t targeting him or his loved ones! True, he had JC but to a level of this demented and terrifying? No! It was wrestling-related! That’s all it was.

Enigma was… Another sigh and, this time, Deanna used her free hand to swipe the tear off her cheek before it could fall into her tea. Enigma was much of an ‘unknown’ to Deanna as Knox was, but where Knox got it from simply ‘just arriving in SCW last month’, Enigma had it through his ‘powers’ and ‘mind-games’. For months, he had been in SCW and for months, no one had managed to unmask him or keep him down. Months of going through challengers and winning a Television title and no one had a clue as to how he did what he did, why he did what he did, or what he truly wanted!

Again, another unknown. Another opponent Deanna could only study to a certain degree. She was fighting a wall of unknown, when the past year had brought her out of the shadow of Selena and made her the focus of so many to scrutinize and study. Had that not been why Knox had gone after her and not Selena in the first place – citing the reason as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW’? Deanna would be flattered if she didn’t feel so… so… powerless against it all.

All she knew how to do was fight. She couldn’t conjure up dark clouds or followers like Enigma and she didn’t have the experience in the ring and on the microphone as Knox clearly had, the man playing mind games with her since the road to Rise to Greatness had begun – seeing his victory over her as a forgone conclusion.

She felt so… angrily, she swiped at her tears again… she felt at such a disadvantage. Because, truthfully, she didn’t know how she was going to get through this! She didn’t know how best to strategize against Knox and his striking and grapples. She didn’t even know what to expect from Enigma and his powers! She didn’t know a damn thing about either of her opponents that wanted to end her reign… or worse…

How can you… when you don’t even know yourself?

The thought came of its own and it easily knocked the breath out of her lungs for a second. Enigma was attacking her on a personal level – being the one to drag her impending divorce from the woman she still loved into the light, endangering Jessica, attacking her with such emotional mind games… as a person, a mother, and as a woman. Knox was attacking her professionally, targeting her as a wrestler with his jabs to her grit, will and ‘being a champion’.

Except she didn’t know which one to be. The woman and friend and protector of her loved ones or the woman that fought for something worthwhile in SCW – to be something inspirational or good for SCW, whatever it was?

How can I be both? she almost laughed to herself. The world had told her she couldn’t. Either mockingly or concerned, they had all made the same point. That she was being pushed in so many different directions that, if she didn’t let go and pick one direction, she would rip apart into pieces. Shreds of what was once a promising wrestler… How can I be both… when I can’t even have a name or a title for my promos?

She didn’t stop the sting of her own thoughts. It had been back in November when she had cast aside her ‘Queen’s Guard’ moniker and the title of her promos ‘The Guard Tower’ – embracing the very real fact that Selena Frost had, potentially, left SCW for good. And while that hadn’t been the case, Deanna had, at the time, simply wanted to further her own growth and evolve outside of her wife’s shadow and mere association with the Frost name. She had promised her fans – her ‘little gritters’ – that she would think of something when it naturally came. When an identity that was hers and hers alone – with NOTHING to do with Selena Frost – came to her.

Now… eight or nine months later… and she still didn’t know. She had simply let herself be ‘The SCW United States Champion’ Deanna Frost, letting her identity simply be tied to something else – a title she loved and truly believed in (just like she had Selena).

“But without it…” she whispered to herself. “Who am I?”

And that was the painful part. She didn’t know. She still didn’t know who she was. She didn’t know who Enigma was, she didn’t truly know who Knox was, and she didn’t know who she was.

They knew who they were! Enigma spouted it so often and Knox had built a career on being ‘The Raven’! Who was she in comparison to all of that? She had no superpowers like Enigma, nor did she have the experience that Knox had.

She was just… Deanna.

One last swipe of the eyes and Deanna gave up on finishing her tea, placing the hot beverage on a coaster on the long, wooden, coffee table in front of her, leaning back into her chair and rubbing her temple with her still warm fingertips. She stayed still and silent for a few minutes, letting her mind wander over such thoughts with her emotions, hoping they would solve themselves, or at least give some kind of solution to the problem.

She couldn’t give up on Jessica and freeing SCW from Enigma. The man had to be stopped. Nobody deserved to have their will taken from them like that! Nobody! Blood Grove had tried that with brainwashing and whatever and Selena had fought for all she was worth to free SCW from them, defeating Red Rayne and being instrumental in that group being removed from SCW for good. The Snow Queen had been able to help save SCW, risking her life and career… because it was the right thing to do. And Deanna felt the same way…

But she couldn’t give up on being a good champion either! In trying to further her evolution through this sport. She had made a promise to the SCW Universe and to Bree Lancaster when she had won the title off the now-current-Adrenaline champion. That she would do all she could to be worthy of the championship. It was the nerve Knox had worked when he had demanded the redhead just hand him the title and be done with it. She felt her jaw clench at that. The bastard thought that beating her, becoming SCW U.S. champion was going to be a piece of cake. That Deanna’s entire year as the champion was nothing more than some kind of joke. And what did that say about the title? About the division… about people like Polly that had raised their game to a new level and fought in chambers and last women standing matches with Deanna? About ‘The One’ Kristen Scott, who had used her coveted ‘Trios Shot’ just to try and get the title off of Deanna? About the newcomers/returnees like Cassie Wolfe and Scott Reed? Who desired to be a champion and worked so hard to have a chance at her title? And what about the fans? The people that had come around to simply ‘hating all Frosts’ to giving Deanna a chance to now… now… fully believing in her despite their hatred for Selena?

She… Deanna sighed… she couldn’t let any of them down or dishonor them either, which meant she couldn’t stop being the wrestler she wanted to be either. She couldn’t let go of either direction she was being pulled. All she could do was hold on tighter and try, with all she was, not to break…

The sudden barking of Oberon startled the redhead, causing her to jump a little out of her seat as the dog was suddenly up and bounding towards the large exit of the room, stopping at the door frame and jumping, the dog’s paws were immediately on the legs of the woman standing there, the good boy panting and clearly in need of some pets or some form of affection. Saying nothing, Deanna stood to her feet and watched the woman before her give a grateful smile before reaching down to scratch the fluff-ball’s ears. Obi hummed contently, even licking the hand when it moved towards his muzzle before, after several seconds, jumping back to all-fours and scampering around the room to find something else to do.

Seeing him go, Jessica Winters gave a slow sigh before turning her gaze back to Deanna. “Please tell me your clock upstairs is broken and I did not just sleep twelve hours.”

The redhead could not help the laugh that escaped her, small as it was. Moving over towards her, Deanna gently took her dear friend’s hands and pulled her into the family/sitting room, gently guiding her to sit on the chair opposite of her own.

“In all fairness.” She answered Jesscia’s query. “After the night you had, I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Yeah…” Jessica sighed sadly, with a bit of guilt as she looked back up to Deanna. “Sorry about that. Did…” she looked around the room. “Did the kids get upset?”

“Amiliah was scared.” Deanna shrugged. “She thought a banshee was hiding in the house. I…” Deanna sighed. “I asked Gerda to look after them for a few days. Least till we get through the weekend.”

“Yeah…” the SCW interviewer shook her head. “God knows what I’ll do if I see them… especially if they’re wearing shoelaces…”

“Jessica, stop!” ordered Deanna. “I didn’t send them away because of that.”
“Really?” Jessica tilted her head, unjudgmental but knowingly. “There wasn’t the slightest bit of worry in your mind that bringing me here to stay with you would cause that? After all I did?”

For a moment, Deanna didn’t answer right away, choosing instead to meet her friend’s gaze with her own. “None of that was you.” She stated firmly. “Now stay seated.” She ordered. “I’ll make you some tea. I hope Orange Pekoe is alright. I already had a pot made.”

“It’s fine…” Jessica settled on saying before becoming silent as Deanna moved into the kitchen that was part of the large room and taking the already hot kettle and pouring a cup into another teacup, this one black with snowflakes decorating it…

Carefully, she brought the cup over to Jessica and handed it to her before moving back to her chair and sitting down.

“Thanks…” Jessica whispered. “And thanks for last night and…” she gestured to herself, more specifically to the clothes she wore. Black track pants and a, Deanna almost laughed out-loud, a large black shirt with the words ‘Believe it!’ written on it, one of Selena’s older t-shirts.

“I figured you’d prefer comfy clothes right now… you’re more Selena’s size than me.” Deanna shrugged, admiring the taller figure sitting in the chair. “And as for last night… Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Jessica shook her head. “They’re just something I’ll have to get used to.”

“Dreams pass in time.” Deanna simply replied. It was the woman sitting before her that had added the newest layer of complication into her life that had been mentioned previously. It had been last Breakdown, during an interview with Destiny Page, when Jessica had ‘broke into’ Breakdown, searching for her. Not Selena – her. It was all so… still so unbelievable to the redhead. According to Jessica, she had finally awakened from the stupor Enigma had placed on her, and, despite being turned over to her parents, had travelled all the way to Detroit just to find Deanna.

She had looked so disheveled, scared, and confused… what else could Deanna do? She had been the ‘protector’ of Jessica ever since Enigma’s tricks and Selena’s… she shook her head… there was only one option she could do, regardless of how stupid it was and how easily it could have been a trap set by Enigma. She had promised to look after and protect Jessica – even if it was against her own wife. It was another promise she refused to break. Taking Jessica in to stay with her had been the simplest choice.

For the last few days, she had simply watched over her dear friend, letting her sleep when she needed to, letting her borrow Selena’s clothes, ensuring she ate proper food and was taking care of herself. She even let the woman do a bit of workout training in the gym. Not the rigorous regimen demanded of SCW wrestlers, but the kind to regain strength and good health.

And not once had Jessica brought up the elephant in the room, nor had Deanna spoken of it. The wrestler had no desire to force such a conversation out. Like at Breakdown, all she cared about was getting Jessica healthy and safe.

Still, even if the lack of that ‘talk’ had allowed more of the Jessica Deanna knew and loved to come out, there were still dark remnants of Enigma’s influence, specifically at night. Every night, Jessica would wake up screaming, coming out of a nightmare the likes of which, judging from Jessica’s cries, Deanna would not wish even on her greatest enemy. Every night, while Jessica stayed in the guest bedroom in the basement, Deanna would hear her, wake herself up and make her way downstairs to help the young woman settle down enough to fall back to sleep.

The routine was tiring but… at least it made Deanna feel like she was doing something right in helping Winters.

“What did my parents say?” she heard Jessica ask, the brunette staring at Deanna – dressed in green shorts and a blue t-shirt.

“They were fine with it.” Deanna answered simply. “You were right. They don’t have any clue at what’s going on and I…” she released a sigh. “I couldn’t really explain it to them.” She stole a glance towards Jessica. “Don’t really know how to.” She admitted. “So, I told them that you were staying with me and I’d be looking after you and making sure you were getting better. They seemed to accept the whole ‘it’s a work-related thing’ as a reason.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah…” Jessica nodded. “They’ve just been scared and confused, I think. None of this makes sense to them. Doesn’t even make sense to me.”

“Me either.” Deanna shook her head. “The fact that it’s been you has been even more terrifying for me.” She stopped as she saw Jessica’s eyes flit over to her. “This isn’t some movie or show, Jessica. This is real life here. And you…” she gave an innocent shrug. “You’re one of the bravest and strongest women I know. Not to mention your loyal and kind and good and-“

“Stop.” She heard Jessica’s voice break, the SCW interviewer sniffling a little at Deanna’s emotional confession. “I can’t believe that after…everything.”

“The point I am making…” Deanna assured. “Is that you’re not the kind of person to blindly be brainwashed like that. Not by anything that COULD be real like hypnosis or whatever. I mean, you were there for Blood Grove, New Eden, Katya buying off people and nothing! So… either this Enigma is incredibly talented to the point that its scary, or… he’s actually supernatural.” Deanna sighed. “And the fact that he could get to you… makes it all the more terrifying to me that it could be the latter.”

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Deanna’s assessment sink in and further unsettle them.

“Where…” Jessica’s voice rose up to break the silence, her eyes on her teacup, specifically on the snowflake-designs. “When I was under… I still heard a lot of things…” her eyes found Deanna’s. “Selena… you and her…”

Deanna breathed. “Yeah…” Deanna nodded. “It’s ending… her and I.”

The declaration seemed to emotionally gut-punch Jessica, the woman seeming to have the wind knocked out of her. “H…How…Or why?”

“Either question works, I guess.” Deanna shrugged. “And you saw what she’s become, Jessica. It’s a road…” Deanna sighed. “I was blind to it far longer than I should have been. It’s a road I can’t follow no matter how much I want her with me. What she’s choosing to do, who she’s becoming… and then with you…” Deanna stopped herself, not wanting to further upset Jessica. However, the intuitive woman was easily able to connect the dots.

“Did…” Jessica asked slowly. “Did she really mean to kill me?”

She sounded so broken, and why not? Jessica and Selena had been friends longer than Deanna had even known the Snow Queen. The SCW interviewer had been one of the first friends Selena had ever had when she first entered into SCW, the pair striking a bond that had survived ten long years. And when Deanna had joined the picture, Jessica had embraced the woman with open arms, treating her with the same love and fierce loyalty she had shown Selena.

Still, because of that love, the redhead refused to lie to her. “I…I had originally thought so.” She answered, seeing Jessica seize up a little. “But… now? No, I don’t.”

“You don’t?” came the surprised expression from Jessica.

“No…” Deanna sighed. “See… after all that happened? I visited Selena and she was a wreck from me signing the divorce paper.” She quickly waved her hand. “That’s not important. But our dog-“ she gestured to Oberon, who was now sleeping on the couch, having gone there to rest during the two women’s conversation. “He accidentally ingested a good amount of the drug Selena was going to use on you.”

“Oh no…” Jessica’s eyes flitted over to Oberon, who merely tilted his head at her.

“He was quite sick…” Deanna nodded, eyeing the dog as well. “But, as you can see, he’s fine. And for a dog to ingest a drug like that and be okay… it got me thinking…” she continued. “I went through Selena’s computer downstairs in her office and found a video made the same week as her last visit to you, one she had sent to Aaron Demetria-“

“Is she?”

“Yeah… still keeping him close at hand. Poor man can’t seem to get out. Selena thinks she’s doing what’s best for him and she doesn’t… she doesn’t see the truth, I think. So obsessed with ‘fixing everything’ and ‘undoing the past’ and ‘pushing SCW to the new standard’…. Even if it has to be her that’s the most hated person in SCW to do it.”

Again, there was a moment of silence, the pair lamenting over the fallen Snow Queen, albeit different emotional connections/reasons.

“But anyway,” Deanna spoke slowly. “I looked at the video and saw her making that syringe of NX. The one she was going to use on you.”
“NX?”
“The painkiller drug she was going to use? That one she and I were addicted to years ago?”
“Oh…” Jessica nodded in recollection, refacing the facts she had just spoken, as if to come to terms with it. “So… she really did plan to OD me…”

“I… I don’t think so.” Deanna tried. “In the video… even while talking to Aaron… she seemed so meticulous in getting the drug out of the pills. And her eyes were so focused on the syringe, like she was trying to get a specific amount.”

“So?” Jessica asked.

“Why care about that if she wanted to OD you? Why not just fill the whole syringe and be done with it? And for that matter, why use a drug that couldn’t even outright kill a dog? Why not use something more lethal?” Deanna reasoned. “I… I took a massive dose of NX once…” she explained. “And the chemical levels put me into a short-lived coma…”

“I-“ Jessica paused, her face scrunching up to recall. “I sort of remember that. You were out for several days.”

“Right. And bedridden for a bit longer.” Deanna nodded, which was why she had been so disgusted to see the vile painkiller again. “But I… you don’t know how much I took. It was a lot.”

“So…” Jessica reasoned. “You think that Selena only meant to put me in a short-term coma?”
Deanna nodded. “Or just incapacitate you more so… at least long enough to keep you from me and… I don’t know, maybe because I refused to back down from Enigma, she was giving me a way to focus on him and not have to worry about you? Like how he made you interfere with my match? Maybe… she was just trying to give me my best shot at beating him and freeing you. I just… I don’t know with her anymore… It’s not as black and white as it used to be…”

“Especially because you still love her.” Jessica observed knowingly, earning a long sigh from Deanna.
“I’m a real mess, aren’t I?” she could feel her tears stinging again as she looked away from her dear friend.
“Look who you’re talking to.” Jessica teased, a sliver of her wit breaking through. “For what it’s worth… I’m sorry.”

Deanna’s head shot up, her emerald eyes wide at the woman. “Why the hell are you sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong!”

“You’d be surprised how much time I had to think in-between the moments my mind was taking a vacay…” Jessica slowly spoke, simply holding her tea in her hands. “I’ve been an SCW interviewer for years and years, Deanna. It’s the job that I love… like you love being a wrestler.”

Instead of agreeing verbally, Deanna merely nodded her head, not wishing to break Jessica’s train of thought.

“So… I know how to connect the dots and I know how to read wrestlers. Call it ‘journalistic intuition’. I saw it with Selena… and I see it with you… even after everything…” she grinned to herself. “Old habits, you know?”

Taking a moment, the brunette exhaled a long breath, keeping her eyes on Deanna. “That’s why I’m sorry. For letting myself get taken over by Enigma. For getting involved. I feel…” she bit her lower lip. “Everything that’s happened? You and Selena – it was over me. Her trying to protect you from me.”

“You can’t-“

“Yes, I can.” Jessica interjected. “Because I see it even now! If it wasn’t for me, you would just beat the hell out of Enigma and that be that. I don’t even think Enigma would be in the equation! Pretty sure Raab would be dealing with him still. And you’d be focusing on Knox and the title. But because of me, you’re tied up in two nights and you’re…” she took a long hard look at Deanna. “I can see how lost you are. Without Selena now, because of all of this. You’re losing more matches because you’re not focused, because of me…”

Deanna opened her mouth to retort – to deny such implications, if only to spare her friend’s feelings. But no words came out. Because, despite the blame being twisted and incorrect, there was a kernel of truth to the whole affair. Ever since Enigma and all of this, she had lost her focus. Hiro saw it, CHBK saw it, Selena saw it, most of SCW was seeing it. Hell, even a walk-in like Knox had called her out on it.

“Jessica…” she tried, moving closer to sit on the couch near Oberon but much closer to Winters. Reaching out, her small hands took in Jessica’s. There was no nail-polish or anything. These hands were pale – not as pale as Selena’s – but clearly not seen the sun for some time or for very long. “I was on borrowed time anyway.” The redhead spoke softly, not surprised at Jessica’s confused expression. “Not… not like that, hun.” She tried to explain. “But, looking back… I guess I was, or always had been, protected these past few years.” Her eyes grew distant, looking at something only she could see. “Sure, I got my arm broken and constantly associated with Selena, threatened and attacked… but no one has gone after me on a personal level like this… like Enigma. Even Knox with his little barbs – that was what I used to deal with. People and stuff like that… Enigma changed all that.”

“He’s a monster.” She heard Jessica growled, allowing her attention to return to her guest and friend.

“But how different is he from Xander Valentine smashing a sledgehammer against Selena’s bus to scare me? Than Chris Cannon throwing me over the barricade from the audience and then into it to distract Selena? Than Vixen Cain trying to kidnap Selena and David by joyriding their bus?” Deanna sighed. “All this time… nothing like that happened to me. I could focus on being a wrestler because no one was bothering to try and get to me like that. No one saw the point…”

She bit her lower lip. “Now…there is a point.” She looked up at Jessica. “Because now I’m good enough to be beaten and have it mean something to a person’s career. Look at Knox’s reasoning. It’s…” she breathed. “It’s a far cry from being ‘Selena’s shadow’.” She laughed bitterly. “I was stupid to think some things would stay the same while I was trying so hard to change everything.” She gave Jessica’s hands an affectionate squeeze. “Knox was right… what I’m going through… who hasn’t gone through it themselves? Who hasn’t had someone making things personal through their private life? Everyone else has…” her eyes found Jessica’s again. “Except me. Until Enigma…”

She said nothing after that, merely letting her emotions run through her. For so long, she had been a pawn for those trying to get to Selena: Jenni Anderson, Regan Street, Vixen Cain, Xander Valentine, The Brand, Kimberly Williams with that kidnapping, and so many people had used her as a means to get to Selena. But nobody would dare try and use Selena – the woman that was arguably one of the biggest stars in SCW and now one of the most untouchable – to get to Deanna, not if it meant risking the ire of the Snow Queen. So… Deanna had been, in a roundabout way, protected. If no one saw her as anything but ‘Selena’s shadow’, then no one would care what she did.

But now? Being out of that shadow, like she said to Jessica? It meant her protection was gone. She was on her own…

The thought was both wonderful and terrifying at the same time. She had expected the moment of ‘freedom’ to be after some big match – maybe a big win that she did on her own. Or maybe after RTG… but no… it had already happened. Maybe it had happened earlier than she realized – she couldn’t pinpoint where or when or what had made it happen, but it had – she was just the last person to see it. And without Selena’s shadow – without even being a ‘Frost’, which was where she was headed…

“I don’t know who I am on my own.” She admitted aloud, hearing the shocked gasp come from Jessica at the heartfelt confession.

But just as she was sure Jessica was about to say something, the pair were interrupted by two sounds. The first was a loud, almost desperate knocking at the door, followed by barking as Oberon leapt off the couch and bolted towards the front door of the house. For a second, Deanna simple allowed the noise to go one, her emotional state a little too charged to really get up and process-

“MRS. FROST!” the voices, all saying that name at different times to make a wave of pleas travelled through the door and to her ears, followed by more pounding on the door. In a second, Deanna recognized the voices as young children, causing her to shoot up to her feet and rush to the door, where Oberon, on his hind legs, was scratching at it.

“Down, Obi!” Deanna ordered, pulling the Samoyed down and away from the wooden structure before using her free hand to unlock and open the door.

To her shock, however, she found eleven pairs of eyes staring wildly back at her – it was almost enough of a shock to make her yelp in surprise. Before her, in various gym shorts and t-shirts, stood all ten of Selena Frost’s students of the ‘Summer School Program’, including her son, David! Beside them, with a look of equal alarm was one of the teachers of the school and the program, Ms. Harris. It took only a second for Deanna to check the clock hanging on the wall and register what time it was to realize that this party being here… didn’t make sense!

“What is it?” she asked concerned, gazing at the eyes of everyone. “What’s happened?”

Immediately, every child seemed to want to answer at once, as a wave of noise, a jumbled mess of words, flew at Deanna, almost bowling her over with their volume and panicked tone. Quickly, and out of necessity, she raised her hand. “Please! Please!” she practically begged. “Not all at once!”

Understanding, the noise slowly died down, allowing Deanna to breathe a sigh of relief. “Now…” she turned her attention to Ms. Harris, then back over to the children. “Now… one person. Please tell me what’s going on and why aren’t you all at school.”

It was strange, but the children all seemed to have the same thought at once as – per the instruction of needing to choose one person to talk – all eyes flew to David Frost, the boy stepping forward without thinking twice.

“Mom…” his breath rushed out. “It’s mother!”

Emerald eyes went wide. “What do you mean? What’s happened to her?”

“She’s in jail!” David blurted out! “She’s been arrested for assault!”
_______________________________________________________________



So… where do we start?

And that’s actually a REALLY good question of me to ask right now, isn’t it?

Because, no big secret and what is starting to become the norm for me around here, Deanna Frost is pulled in different directions. On one side, we have The Enigma, the man, the entity, the supernatural power that I have been chasing for months. The man that I will face at the Rise to Greatness Pre-Show and defend the United States championship against. And on the other side, probably eating popcorn or whatever snack he found at the concession stand, we have Matthew Knox. The man that I will be facing the next night at Rise to Greatness and, should I still be the United States champion, I will ALSO be defending the title against him.

Ooooofaaa….

Talk about a lot to unpack there. Because you couldn’t get more opposite ends of the spectrum with these two. You’ve got Enigma with his dark powers, a man that has reached into the very core of my private life, pulled it out and displayed for all to see. A man that has used his dark powers to corrupt and hurt many people – people that I care deeply about. A man that has made this personal on a level that I have NEVER experienced before!

And then there is Knox. A man that is all about the wrestling and being the best. A man that has made this personal on a professional level with his smack-talk. A man that, unlike Enigma, has more experience than me and could very easily be a better wrestler than me. And unlike me, neither of them are dealing with a second match this weekend.

So, again, that question comes up: where do we start? The supernatural supervillain? Or the wrestling-behemoth? The personal-emotional drama or the professional one?

Where…do… we start?

It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for the past two weeks as everyone else is asking me. Everyone: my friends, my boss CHBK, my friend Hiro Tanaka, my little gritters, all of them are asking and telling me the same thing: that I have to decide. That I have to focus. That I need to stop trying to go in these different directions and pick a lane. Pick a spot! Pick a way out of this! A way to survive because if I keep getting pulled, like a piece of paper, I am going to be ripped to shreds.

And that’s a humbling thought. Because it’s not about ‘biting off more than you can chew’. I’ve done that before and I learned the hard way what that was like with Asher Hayes when I failed to capture the SCW world title during a second match of the night deal. It’s not like that this time around. This isn’t me fighting for another title, for another accolade, for another place, another step up in this business. No. This is me fighting for my place IN this business. Fighting for what I am and what I want to do. To say to the world ‘THIS is who I am! THIS is where I stand!’.

And for me, aside from the nerves and the stress, I have to appreciate the concern of my friends and peers. Because they are just speaking logic. It would be easier for me to look at this the ‘Knox way’. To focus solely on the United States Championship and deal with him. It would be much easier to focus solely on The Enigma and be the one person that can actually shatter that ‘untouchable’ fascade he has constructed amidst his smoke and mirrors!

If I looked out for myself and only myself? If I focused on one or the other, either shattering Enigma or being the rude awakening that Knox desperately needs, yes, I would be beyond confident. I would have no stress. I would have no worries. I would know EXACTLY what I would need to do for each scenario.

But it means someone else will suffer. Either Jessica and all she went through, like Ginny and Angelica, or the title that I have worked for so long to be worthy of. To, with a world title protected by contracts and ‘chosen officials’, to be a title devoid of that and simply being a title of pride and heart and grit – a workhorse title fitting of SCW. And to forsake that? I’d be failing all of you, all of the people that have stood by me – that have come with me on this year-long journey, giving me the chance to prove myself to all of you, all of you seeing past my last name for the woman I want so desperately to be.

And in that… I found my answer. My answer to the simple question “which way will Deanna go?” is equally simple.

The world – SCW Universe and Knox – want me to pick a direction. I say, “I won’t”. Not that I can’t! I simply WON’T!

Because that may be who Knox is. That may be who Enigma is. Each one ‘playing it safe’ in their own way! Knox running from JC and taking only one match. Enigma hiding with his smoke and his followers – getting other people to do his dirty work for him – these two may want to ‘play it safe’ to get what they want. I don’t. I never had ‘played it safe’ and I never will! What I do, good or bad, smart or stupid, is do the next right thing.

That’s who I am. That’s what I have always done. And there are two right things at play here. One: Enigma needs to get his and Jessica deserves to come back to SCW free of his influence and free of any fear from him. Enigma took that from her, he violated her safety, endangered her life, and I cannot stand idly by while a friend I love so much is treated that way!

The other right thing that needs to be done: the United States championship needs to be defended properly. Professionally. Needs to be contended by top stars as the prize and championship that it is. And that won’t happen when I face Enigma. I’m sorry, but a match like that? All that personal drama – the level it’s reached? Most would agree the United States championship, in THAT match, even to The Enigma, is an afterthought. So, the next right thing? Is to have a match where that title IS the reason. IS the focus! IS the center-attention and the desire of both combatants!

So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave me if I am staying in my place and refusing to forsake one so I can focus on the other? Will I be ripped apart? Maybe… it’s definitely a possibility. By this time Monday, I may be looking at myself in the mirror, without a title, without being a champion for the first time in over a year, and I may be frustrated and angry, maybe even regret my choice for this….

But that’s what it is: MY choice. I choose to continue to be pulled in two directions and I choose to hold on, pull back, and refuse to break or tear or shatter! And I choose to do the right thing.

Which means, Enigma, that you’ve made the biggest mistake of your short-term-SCW career. Because the only thing this whole thing has done – the only thing Knox has done with his actions – is make it clear that I have to get to him WITH the United States Championship still in my possession. I have to get to him and make our match for the title that I still hold.

Which means, on top of beating the hell out of you for the personal reasons, I now have more reasons to put you down for good. You asked me a question some weeks ago, Enigma, you asked me if I knew who I was. Without Selena’s shadow covering me, without Selena and the Frost fanbase (when it was around), without her ‘protection’… without her as my wife… did I know who I truly was?

And truly, Enigma? No. I don’t. I am close to knowing but I still don’t know. I don’t know fully who I can be on my own. It is a day I have dreamed of ever since I became a wrestler: the day where I am recognized not as ‘Selena Frost’s wife’ or ‘in the shadow of Selena Frost’ but my own woman and dammit, Sharper hit the nail right on the head – that day has finally come!

The day where someone like you, someone like Knox, sees me as a target. Where Knox acknowledges me as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW right now’. Where Adam Sharper, the brilliant and honest mind of SCW that he is, says so. Well… if that isn’t proof-positive that I am on my own, then I don’t know what is!

And while I don’t really know yet who I am on my own, Enigma, I know one thing about me. At my core, no matter who I will be, I am still someone that loves and cares deeply. For my children, for my friends, and, while I’ll probably get some jeers for this, for Selena.

I am a woman that loves this place, loves the people here, loves the hardworking folks that make this federation run, and every single SCW fan!

And right now? That’s good enough to make the choice I’ve made. That’s good enough to pull back on the forces trying to pull me apart! To pull so hard that I tear those forces apart. Which is what I will do to you, Enigma.

And let’s not kid ourselves, I know that’s a tall order. I saw the beating you took from the Fiery Nation. I saw you get right back up after that as if it never fazed you. So I know taking you down will be a tall order. Taking you down before you can disappear in a puff of smoke. Because I don’t have the strength of Konrad Raab. I don’t have the viciousness of ‘The One’ Kristen Scott. But there is a reason I have beaten them time and time again and there is a reason I am still here as the United States champion and it’s called ‘grit’!

It's taking everything you’ve thrown at me so far and keep coming back for more! It’s fighting not just for myself, but for Jessica! For Ginny! For Angelica! For every person you think is your ‘toy’, your ‘plaything’! This… this has become so much bigger than you vs. me, Enigma. This is you vs. SCW!

This is you against all of us that say ‘NO!’, you don’t get to control us! You don’t get to try and ruin our lives! You don’t get to do these things with no consequences! You don’t get to scare us anymore!

This is you learning that every action has a consequence, Enigma, a lesson that I will be giving to Knox the next night, I assure you! But on the night you’ve chosen? It will not be you taking everything from me. It will not be you corrupting my soul or taking my mind or breaking me – NO!

Rise to Greatness Pre-show? The show where I won this title last year… the reign does not stop. The reign continues into the main show. The only thing that will be stopped, Enigma, is your hold on Jessica Winters and your hold of terror on SCW! And at my freshest? At my most ready? I will not be consumed by your shadows and darkness. No, I will be the light – the fire – that burns through it. I will be the fire that burns so bright, even Matthew Knox will take notice and, perhaps for the first time in his whole career, will feel a sliver of doubt over what he’s demanded out of me – what awaits him the next night.

A fire, Enigma, that will burn through your smoke, your mirrors… your mask… until there is nothing left of you! Until there is nothing left of you to slither away! Nothing left to corrupt. Nothing left to run.

All of it, Enigma, will be taken out… in one massive burnout!

Checkmate, bitches!

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: The following follows Selena’s second RTG roleplay and is to be counted for both of Deanna’s RTG matches.

The Witches of Alden

”The School of Frost: Part 4 - Win”

PS 290 The Manhattan New School

Manhattan, New York

July 26th, 2024
The Day of Competition

1:54pm



Deanna sat there with baited breath, unable to really appreciate the warm, spring weather or the breeze blowing against her emerald green shirt and black jeans or blowing her braids of red hair back. She was too busy keeping her eye on her son, David, the boy running with all he had – the last runner of the summer-program students, ‘The Cheetahs’ as Selena had named them.



Just behind him, the redhead recognized her neighbour, Leslie’s, son, Willy. Of course Leslie would pick him to go last. she rolled her eyes at the woman’s antics. She still could not believe neither Selena or Evette were pressing charges on the woman for her behaviour! Instead, Selena had used the damning evidence of a recorded video to liberate herself and Ms. Harris of Leslie’s influence, which meant, win or lose, the children would be able to finish their studies in the program without any interference. And, according to Evette, they were all doing amazingly so far – making Deanna hopeful… or she would be if the very race she was watching wasn’t determining her future in terms of having a home to raise her children.



She tried to cheer David on as the boy sprinted forward, nearing the end of the race, but no words came out. She couldn’t make a sound, her nerves were shot.



I know exactly who’s going to win…

You wouldn’t believe me if I said I had a plan…



Selena’s words kept bouncing around in her head and she could feel her heart pounding harder and harder with each step the boys made in their relay race, the finish line drawing closer and closer! The two were now neck and neck and every parent and student/teammate were on their feet, except for Deanna, who could only clutch her hands together even more tightly.



Even when the two crossed the finish line, the redhead wasn’t sure who won.



“We won!” Leslie screamed almost instantly, rushing over to her son to hold up his hand. “You saw it! He crossed the finish line first!” she decreed, as if she could will her outcome to everyone. Some parents screamed denial of her assessment, as did some of Selena’s students. It wasn’t until the official who had been standing at the finish line came by and raised his hand, earning silence.



“From where I was standing.” He moved his hand over to where Leslie and Willy stood. “The Sanderson team crossed the finish line first.”



“YES!!!” Screamed Leslie, pumping her fists aggressively and multiple times. “I won! I won! I won!” She laughed and danced and hugged her son. Deanna, meanwhile, felt her heart sink down into her shoes. The relay win meant that Leslie’s team of students won the most events in the competition, which meant that they won the wager between Leslie and Selena, which meant…



Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of her son falling to his knees on the grass, the young boy barely able to hold back the overwhelming emotion that surged through him. Immediately, Deanna was up on her feet, making her way past the seats and parents to try and get to David. By the time she did, however, the boy was already surrounded by his fellow summer-school students, each one patting him on the back or hugging him or helping to his feet. As she drew closer, she heard words of kindness and support from them. Still, upon seeing his mother, David’s eyes grew a little wider as he let out a small sob.



“I blew it.” He half-cried in a whisper. “I did my best and I blew it.”



Slowly, Deanna reached out to gently take her son into her arms, the boy immediately rushing into them as soon as they were near him. “Hunny.” She whispered, petting the boy’s hair. “You didn’t blow anything. You all did so amazingly!”



“Heck yeah!” one the kids, Deanna was pretty sure his name was ‘Blazer’ or something. “You guys see how they were sweating back there?”



“And how close that race was!” Sophia added with a grin, standing beside Mara, who was holding her hand.



“You know what? I’ll beat we can beat them next time!” Mara added.

“Not bad for a couple of ‘cheaters’, right?” Sara added, nudging David with her shoulder, causing the boy to sniffle once more before wiping his eyes with his arm.



“See?” Deanna whispered, unable to stop the swell of pride she felt, not only for them, but for the woman that had given them such confidence in themselves. Why… she thought. Why couldn’t this Selena be in my life? she asked herself, but also to any of the gods listening. I could love that Selena so much! Be so proud of that Selena…



Lifting her head up, Deanna turned her attention towards the back of the playground, where she had last seen the Snow Queen dressed in the team shirt, hat as well as black leggings… when she saw the space, however, there was no Snow Queen. No sign of Selena anywhere.



As the team of students continued to support one another, some even going to wish the other team congratulations, which were returned (proving there was no bad blood between the children at least), Deanna scanned the entire playground for any sign of Selena. Platinum-blonde hair, sapphire eyes, SOMETHING.



But there was none. Not a trace. The students didn’t seem to notice as they all met up with their own parents, with David going to play with Sara on the playground now that the competition was over.



“Well…well…well!” came the shrill voice that made Deanna’s skin crawl, the woman turning around to see the leopard-skinned shirt-wearing with black tight pants Leslie Sanderson. The woman let out a smug laugh that sounded like a horrid trill-sound. “Looks like I won, Deanna.” She grinned, holding up two fingers in the sign of a- “V for Victory!”. She laughed again, further irritating Deanna. “And you know what that means, don’t you?”



“Not sure.” Deanna shrugged. “That for a team you kept calling ‘cheaters’ and ‘beneath’, you won by one single event.” She smiled tiredly. “I hope you realize that says more about them than it does about you and your kids.”



“A win is a win is a win is a win.” Leslie stated firmly, though it was clearly by her tone and expression that she had not wanted or expected the competition to be so close. “Anyway, where is the ‘Teacher of the Year’?” she mocked. “I have to ask her for the keys to your house-“ her eyes lit up. “Oh, Deanna, you really should visit when I’m done with it. I’m going to tear it all down and make a lovely little bed and breakfast nook!”



“You’re going to tear it down?” Deanna’s eyes went wide, the woman unable to hide her shock at the notion regarding her ‘Forever Home’.



“Well…I have to.” Leslie remarked. “Best way to sanitize it.”

“From what?” she asked. “And couldn’t you use disinfects or something?”

“Yeaaaaahhh…” Leslie shook her head. “It’s probably in the very foundation. I think it best to just demolish it and build something straight- I mean from scratch!”



It took only a second for Deanna to finally grasp Leslie’s far-off inference. “You’re disgusting, you know that?”



“What?” Leslie asked in mock-shock. “I think I am doing better controlling my language and such.”

“You just implied that ‘lesbianism’ was in the foundation of an inanimate house!”

“And you don’t think that’s much better?” Leslie asked, still in her mock tone. “I didn’t say ‘diseased’, or ’festering’, or ‘rotting away the foundation’… I call that progress!”



“And I think you’re sick!” Deanna quietly spat. “Forcing a family out of their home.”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Leslie defended. “I didn’t force anything. I made a wager, your wife took it. Not my fault she lost.”



She suddenly clapped her hands. “Now! Where is Selena? She owes me keys and a tour!”

“You want the house now?!”

“Of course!” Leslie smiled. “Better get started before the winter comes, you know?”

“But… we need time to move!” Deanna tried. “To find another place!”



“I understand… but the contractors are on tight schedules. I’ll tell you what!” Leslie offered. “I’m gonna keep the pool house ya got! You all can sleep there for a few weeks!”



The redhead was a mixture of emotions – wanting to follow Selena’s earlier actions and punch Leslie’s lights out or fall down to her knees and cry her eyes out (she wasn’t sure which one she wanted to do more).



“I…” she breathed. “I don’t know where she is.” She shrugged. “She must have left during the relay. I can’t find her.”



For a moment, the smile disappeared from Leslie’s face, replaced but a rather serious expression. “Does she think that she can welch on our bet?” she asked, glaring at Deanna.



“No idea.” Deanna stated. “But I doubt it.”



“Then you better call her!” the woman demanded. “Call her and tell her to bring me-“



Deanna heard her phone go off inside her pocket, the young woman instantly jumping a little before digging out the device. She recognized the number immediately, more so the smiling picture of Selena on the caller ID – the photo being of her and Deanna, the Snow Queen having her arms wrapped around Deanna’s waist from behind while she kissed Deanna’s cheek – Deanna wasn’t 100% sure when that photo had been taken, it had been a few years ago…



“That’s her.” She answered to Leslie before unlocking the phone to see the text message that was sent.



“Tell Leslie to come to Eyrie Tower.” She read aloud. “You too, please.”



“Really?” Leslie groaned. She wants me to drive into the city? Probably wants to get me alone so no one can see her beg for her house!” She let out another shrill laugh before marching away from the redhead. It took a moment for Deanna to realize she was gone.



“Evette!” she called out, relieved when she saw the English/Writing teacher turn her head and rush over to her. “Can you watch the kids and-“


“Have pizza ordered for them?” Evette asked, catching Deanna by surprise. With a smile, she held up her own phone, revealing the screen to Deanna. “She messaged me too.” She showed, allowing Deanna to read the message.



“Can you watch the kids? I’ve got pizzas on the way.” Followed by a reply of ‘Sure’ that Evette had sent.



“Thank you.” Was all Deanna could manage before she was rushing out of the playground and towards the parking lot. Within seconds, she was inside her Jeep Liberty and speeding down the roads towards New York City. The whole ride took no more than 15 minutes with traffic, luckily being quite manageable. As she pulled into the parking lot of ‘The Eyrie Tower’ and got out of her vehicle, she immediately saw Leslie, getting out of her vehicle.



“Were you trying to get here before me or something?” Deanna called out as she stood on the walkway as her neighbour marched towards her.



“I happen to have a lot on my schedule today.” Leslie stated simply, as bold of a lie as there could ever be one.

“Like what?” Deanna asked.

“Well… since you asked.” Leslie countered. “I was hoping to get some measurements on your bedroom to see what I can bring-“



“Never mind!” Deanna sniped, marching past the woman. “If you think I’m going to let Selena hand over our house like that, you’ve got another thought coming!”



“A bet is a-“



“I don’t care what bet you made! That house is 50% mine!” Deanna countered. “I’m not giving it up!”

“We’ll see about that!” Leslie called out as she marched after Deanna.



Together, the pair travelled into the lobby, ignoring the front desk as Deanna lead the way to the elevator. Using the key Selena had given her long ago, she activated the lift and demanded it take them up to the penthouse castle.

Alone in the elevator, Deanna stole a glance at Leslie, who was ‘humming and bup bup bupping’ to the elevator music.



“Why do you hate us so much?” she finally asked, earning Leslie’s attention. “Is it just because we’re gay or something?”



The woman didn’t answer, merely admiring her fingernails as they rode the elevator up. “Because you have to realize everything you’ve done… that’s not normal behaviour, Leslie.”



“Coming from you?” Leslie countered. “Just stay out of my way. You can beg and plead with Selena once I have the keys-“



The doors opened up with a DING! And Leslie immediately marched out. “Selena?!” she called out. “SELENA?!”



No answer was given, causing Leslie to begin walking through the house, Deanna following close behind. For a moment, she wondered about Jessica, hoping this wasn’t some distraction to lure her away from her dear friend. No… she refused to believe that. The Snow Queen had done wrong and… and she had to believe that Selena believed she could handle Enigma. And not just him, but Knox too!



“Selena?” she called out, hoping to find her before Leslie did. Maybe she could talk Selena out of this. It was just a stupid verbal wager. Nothing was written in contract. Nothing was signed or notarized. She would appeal to Selena’s sense of obligation to their children – they had already moved throughout their lives from Manhattan to Germany, then back to Manhattan. They didn’t need this! Even if they could afford any other house… it was THEIR house. The Frost family house.



It’s not my house… It never was…



Those words – they had broken something inside of Deanna. How could Selena have said that? After all the years they had spent in that house? The memories they had!



“HA HA!” cried out a voice from the kitchen, causing Deanna to about-face and rush down the hall to where it was coming from. There, she saw Leslie standing by the counter-island, waving an envelope with her name on it towards the redhead. “Lookie lookie!” she remarked. “For me!”



Without any hesitation, she opened the envelope and pulled out the contents. “Oh my!” she laughed, holding up a piece of paper and- “Look at that. A key!” she laughed, earning a rather confused expression on Deanna’s face.



“Umm… Leslie.” She asked, moving closer. “Are you sure that’s your envelope?”

“Yeppers! See the envelope! It has my name on it!” she showed the paper to Deanna. Sure enough, it had Leslie’s name on it.



“Well… okay, but… that’s not my house key.” Deanna remarked, pointing at the other item besides the paper. “That’s a card-key.”



Turning her head to look at it, Leslie’s expression changed to one of confusion. “What?” she asked, looking back at Deanna.



“Yeah…” Digging into her pockets, the redhead pulled out her own keys, holding them up and showing the silver key on the ring chain. “See? That’s my house key.”



“Well… maybe she’s changing the locks or… what does the paper say?” she asked, clearly not amused by this little ‘game’ that was, apparently, being played on her. Grabbing the paper on the counter, Leslie unfolded it, her eyes scanning it quickly.



“WHAT?!” she screamed out in disbelief. “That fucking-“



“What? What is it?” Deanna asked, moving around the counter, only to have Leslie glaring at her.



“Your wife is a liar! She says she can’t give me your house… because it’s not her house! What the hell does that mean?!”



“I don’t know!” Deanna asked in shock. “So what’s with the card key then?”



Gazing at the plastic, Leslie picked it up. “She says that she can give up her house like she promised, but she can’t give me what isn’t hers.” Leslie looked around. “So she’s giving me this gawdy monstrosity!”



“The castle?!” Deanna asked, her eyes wide. “Why would she do that?”



“I don’t know. I hate the city!” Leslie whined. “Where is she?! I demand what I am owed!”



“Leslie! I don’t know! I don’t know where she is. If you want to travel to St. Louis, I know where she’ll be this weekend. It’s about a 14 hour drive though.”



For a moment look at her, Deanna actually thought Leslie was contemplating the offer before the poofy-haired woman let out a yell of frustration before storming out of the hall and towards the elevator, leaving the card key on the counter. It was only when she looked at it that Deanna noticed the second envelope on the counter, this one with her name on it.



Slowly, her hands trembling, Deanna took the envelope and carefully opened it. As she did, she saw the metal key slip out and fall onto the counter in front of her. A key that was identical to the one Deanna had just showed Leslie.



Inside the envelope still, however, were three pieces of papers. Carefully, Deanna pulled the first one out, immediately recognizing her wife’s handwriting.



I told you I had a plan, didn’t I? she read. You’ll find everything you need to live your life in this envelope, Deanna. Everything that’s in order.



I know there’s more details to work out later, but at least you know where my heart is. It was never my intention to give Leslie the “Forever Home”. How could I wager what wasn’t mine?”



Do you remember when we got that house? I gave it to you as a surprise on your birthday. You were pregnant with David… I’ve only seen you glow like that a handful of other times. But the house was my gift to you…



Which is why I never put my name as the co-owner of it… I put yours in too.



Eyes wide, Deanna looked at the next paper, recognizing the contract as a ‘proof of ownership’, with her own name on it and the address of their ‘Forever Home’ – dated 2016. All this time… and she never told me… Deanna sniffed a little as she continued to read.



I had my name removed once Leslie had made her demands. I should have done it sooner. The house is yours now, Deanna, and rightfully so.



I’m… there seemed to be a bit of a stall with the writing and Deanna was certain she saw some of the ink ruined by tear marks. I’m sorry for everything. For SCW, for what I did, for David, for you. I can never expect you to believe me, but please understand, all I did came from a good place – the same place that loves you and our children and SCW.



She felt the tears sting her eyes but she kept reading.



Whatever happens this weekend… now you will always have a home and a family, even if I’m not there. And even though we’re not together – you’re still a Frost as long as you want to be.



I… another pause and seeming discoloring from tears. I love you so much, Deanna. More than I can say. And more than you may ever know.



I’m sorry for the path I put David on. I only wanted the best for him, and Elsianna and Amiliah. But maybe… maybe you were right. Maybe I’m the one that can’t do what you do. You are trying so hard to be both wrestler and friend against Enigma and Knox… maybe… maybe that’s what makes you you. Because I can’t.



I couldn’t be The Blue-Eyed Devil and your wife, it seems. We knew that long ago. But I still tried. I tried and I tried until I couldn’t try anymore. And I still couldn’t.



But I’m not you. I’m a Snow Queen. You? Heh… You’re a lioness. A red maned lioness protecting her cubs and family. One that can protect as well as hunt. Which is why I know… while this could be the end for me in SCW… it’s just the beginning for you. You will be so much more than I ever could be, even if we end up fighting each other.



No matter what, I will be proud of you and love you till the end.



Sincerely,

Selena Michelle Frost



Deanna felt the hot tears roll down her face as she looked at the key and paper on the table, almost missing the final one she had looked at yet. Rubbing her eyes with her hand, she slowly reached out to pull it towards her, unfolding it to read it. She recognized it immediately.



It was the divorce contract she had given Selena that night… the one Selena had lied about losing…



And there… at the bottom… were both of their signatures.

_________________________________________





I… I know exactly where to start.



Because I am going to take charge of this little promo for a change. I’m going to start with the question Enigma wants to know and Matthew Knox THINKS he knows.



“Who am I?”



Yeah, first promo, I was dealing with who I should focus on more. Now? I’m answering the more direct question. Who is Deanna Frost?



Because apparently, now that I don’t have the shadow of Selena, I have to find that out. According to Enigma, I can’t be anything without Selena and according to Knox, I am some maniac screaming in a garden.



Gentlemen… I would like to thank both of you.



Because you’re right, I wasn’t sure who I was. I was being pulled in two different directions expertly by both of you. I didn’t know if I could be Deanna the wrestler or Deanna the woman. The one that defended and became the reigning United States champion, or the woman that protected her own friends and family and those she believed in and the world she loved.



And yes… I lost focus. Everyone saw it! I lost matches because I couldn’t concentrate. Because I got distracted. I got attacked because I was too busy looking everywhere without seeing anything. I lost my way because I didn’t know what woman to be, let alone both.



But then… then you two came along and opened your big mouths. You, Enigma, saw me as only a small piece of your puzzle… meant to get the attention of Selena. Someone that is only meant to serve Selena and live in her shadow.



And you Knox? Well, you took me as someone that would pick ‘Mercy’ over ‘Murder’. Someone that would rather – like you demanded I do when we stood in the ring together – hand you the United States championship rather than fight you for it – because you’re SOOOO out of my league right?



You know what? I heard you both… I paid both of you attention for the challenges you are and the stakes that I have in both matches… I listened to you both and that’s why I am thanking you both.



Because I may not of known who I was… but you two sure as hell have even LESS of a clue!



You think I’m still just some link to Selena, Enigma? A piece of the puzzle that will lead you to bigger things? A stepping stone? That all of us are? Let me tell you what happens to puzzle pieces, pal. My kid almost choked on one once. Yeah, turns out one piece can do a hell of a lot of damage. Why don’t you open your eyes through the slits in your mask and see the reality beyond your little smokescreen.



Cause then maybe you would realize that I haven’t needed Selena for over a year! Not once in this entire season did I team up with her, run down to help her, or anything! And she gave me that same courtesy. She let me fight my own battles. She let me make my own mistakes and she let me grow and learn on my own.



I have spent a year, Enigma, forging my path to an identity that belongs to me and only me. I have carved my place as one of the longest reigning champions in the history of SCW. And you look at me and see just the ‘shadow’ that I escaped? Well, sir, you have just lost whatever mental edge you may have had over me. Because one thing I am no longer is ‘Selena’s shadow’, believe that!



And the other thing I am not, Matthew Knox, is someone that surrenders before the battle even begins! Do you honestly believe that it would be that easy for you? Or is that what you tell yourself in your little movies? At first, I thought you were telling me to hand the title over to you to ‘get to me’. To goad me out and get me to accept your challenge. But now? I see you and… and I heard you… and you’re telling me again to take the ‘shortcut’… take the ‘cyanide’ pill or whatever…



And I realized… that you needed me to take that shortcut, didn’t you, Knox? You were the one wanting me to just give you the title. Because you’ve come here demanding things from day one and, guess what, what you did out there? Doesn’t mean much in here. Here? EVERYONE earns their place! Every rookie, legend, hall of famer and champion.



You think I got this title just because I said ‘pretty please’ and it was given to me? Well, given your poor attention to ANY details regarding me, you may actually have thought that so allow me to enlighten you. I won this title by beating a former world champion, then retained by beating another former world champion, and then the first former world champion again. From there, I have put this belt on the line in two chamber matches, a last person standing match, and countless singles matches, all the while retaining and BRINGING the fight.



Not once did I shrug my shoulders and hand the belt over. Not once did I choose the less ‘painful’ path, Knox. Enigma says he’ll burn me? I WALKED through fire to be where I am, while Enigma hid in smoke, and you, Knox, sauntered around the ring eating popcorn!



So, if you want me to choose between ‘mercy’ and ‘murder’, Matthew, then, buddy, I choose murder! But it won’t be mine! I’m going to murder your damn ego! Because you’ve treated this place like it’s yours for the taking. You think you’ve got a right to this title, you don’t! You think you’re gonna breeze by me? You’re not!



You have not faced someone of my level before and you sure as hell have not seen me at my best! But at Rise to Greatness, Knox, I’m going to kill two things. I’m going to kill Enigma’s fascade and I’m going to kill your ego.



Because you’ve talked a big game about inevitability. The inevitable ending that will ‘serve SCW better’ with you being the United States champion. What are you going to do, Mr. Raven, when you wake up Monday morning and that title isn’t by your side? What are you going to do, Knox, when you look in the mirror and you don’t see a champion, but a man that was beaten but a supposedly ‘inferior’ woman. A woman that survived a demon with enough in her to STILL take you down?! What are you going to do, sir, when your little tirade through SCW comes to a screeching halt and, for all your ego and experience, you are shown the reason this place is called SUPREME Championship Wrestling?!



And what will you tell your Lady Nocturne, Enigma, when you are the one that is burned? When your ritual is not finished? When your ‘signs’ and ‘demonstrations’ turn out to be exposures of you! Of your lack of power! Of your mortality? What will you do with your little picture, Enigma, when this little piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit into it?!



I’ll tell you both what you will do.



You will recognize who I am! Because I am both! I am the woman who protects. I am the wrestler that hunts. I am the Frost that loves. I am the champion that defends!



My name is Deanna Frost… and I am the Red-Manned Lionness!



And in St. Louis this weekend! I will tear through shadows and smoke! I will rip through ego and entitlements! I will slay a fiend and pin a raven!



Because you both will learn your place here in SCW! My home! Where we earn our scars and we earn our victories! Every step! Every inch!



This weekend, Enigma, as you say, I will burn. Burn right through you… and all the way through you, Knox! And with my title, I will stand… and roar my name to the audiences!



Together, going through you two, my friends will be free. SCW will be free. And we will all know who I truly am!



Checkmate, bitches!



On Sun., Jul. 28, 2024, 9:40 p.m. Devon Arnel, <therisingphoenix02@gmail.com> wrote:
OOC: The following follows Selena’s second RTG roleplay and is to be counted for both of Deanna’s RTG matches.

The Witches of Alden

”The School of Frost: Part 4 - Win”

PS 290 The Manhattan New School

Manhattan, New York

July 26th, 2024
The Day of Competition

1:54pm



Deanna sat there with baited breath, unable to really appreciate the warm, spring weather or the breeze blowing against her emerald green shirt and black jeans or blowing her braids of red hair back. She was too busy keeping her eye on her son, David, the boy running with all he had – the last runner of the summer-program students, ‘The Cheetahs’ as Selena had named them.



Just behind him, the redhead recognized her neighbour, Leslie’s, son, Willy. Of course Leslie would pick him to go last. she rolled her eyes at the woman’s antics. She still could not believe neither Selena or Evette were pressing charges on the woman for her behaviour! Instead, Selena had used the damning evidence of a recorded video to liberate herself and Ms. Harris of Leslie’s influence, which meant, win or lose, the children would be able to finish their studies in the program without any interference. And, according to Evette, they were all doing amazingly so far – making Deanna hopeful… or she would be if the very race she was watching wasn’t determining her future in terms of having a home to raise her children.



She tried to cheer David on as the boy sprinted forward, nearing the end of the race, but no words came out. She couldn’t make a sound, her nerves were shot.



I know exactly who’s going to win…

You wouldn’t believe me if I said I had a plan…



Selena’s words kept bouncing around in her head and she could feel her heart pounding harder and harder with each step the boys made in their relay race, the finish line drawing closer and closer! The two were now neck and neck and every parent and student/teammate were on their feet, except for Deanna, who could only clutch her hands together even more tightly.



Even when the two crossed the finish line, the redhead wasn’t sure who won.



“We won!” Leslie screamed almost instantly, rushing over to her son to hold up his hand. “You saw it! He crossed the finish line first!” she decreed, as if she could will her outcome to everyone. Some parents screamed denial of her assessment, as did some of Selena’s students. It wasn’t until the official who had been standing at the finish line came by and raised his hand, earning silence.



“From where I was standing.” He moved his hand over to where Leslie and Willy stood. “The Sanderson team crossed the finish line first.”



“YES!!!” Screamed Leslie, pumping her fists aggressively and multiple times. “I won! I won! I won!” She laughed and danced and hugged her son. Deanna, meanwhile, felt her heart sink down into her shoes. The relay win meant that Leslie’s team of students won the most events in the competition, which meant that they won the wager between Leslie and Selena, which meant…



Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of her son falling to his knees on the grass, the young boy barely able to hold back the overwhelming emotion that surged through him. Immediately, Deanna was up on her feet, making her way past the seats and parents to try and get to David. By the time she did, however, the boy was already surrounded by his fellow summer-school students, each one patting him on the back or hugging him or helping to his feet. As she drew closer, she heard words of kindness and support from them. Still, upon seeing his mother, David’s eyes grew a little wider as he let out a small sob.



“I blew it.” He half-cried in a whisper. “I did my best and I blew it.”



Slowly, Deanna reached out to gently take her son into her arms, the boy immediately rushing into them as soon as they were near him. “Hunny.” She whispered, petting the boy’s hair. “You didn’t blow anything. You all did so amazingly!”



“Heck yeah!” one the kids, Deanna was pretty sure his name was ‘Blazer’ or something. “You guys see how they were sweating back there?”



“And how close that race was!” Sophia added with a grin, standing beside Mara, who was holding her hand.



“You know what? I’ll beat we can beat them next time!” Mara added.

“Not bad for a couple of ‘cheaters’, right?” Sara added, nudging David with her shoulder, causing the boy to sniffle once more before wiping his eyes with his arm.



“See?” Deanna whispered, unable to stop the swell of pride she felt, not only for them, but for the woman that had given them such confidence in themselves. Why… she thought. Why couldn’t this Selena be in my life? she asked herself, but also to any of the gods listening. I could love that Selena so much! Be so proud of that Selena…



Lifting her head up, Deanna turned her attention towards the back of the playground, where she had last seen the Snow Queen dressed in the team shirt, hat as well as black leggings… when she saw the space, however, there was no Snow Queen. No sign of Selena anywhere.



As the team of students continued to support one another, some even going to wish the other team congratulations, which were returned (proving there was no bad blood between the children at least), Deanna scanned the entire playground for any sign of Selena. Platinum-blonde hair, sapphire eyes, SOMETHING.



But there was none. Not a trace. The students didn’t seem to notice as they all met up with their own parents, with David going to play with Sara on the playground now that the competition was over.



“Well…well…well!” came the shrill voice that made Deanna’s skin crawl, the woman turning around to see the leopard-skinned shirt-wearing with black tight pants Leslie Sanderson. The woman let out a smug laugh that sounded like a horrid trill-sound. “Looks like I won, Deanna.” She grinned, holding up two fingers in the sign of a- “V for Victory!”. She laughed again, further irritating Deanna. “And you know what that means, don’t you?”



“Not sure.” Deanna shrugged. “That for a team you kept calling ‘cheaters’ and ‘beneath’, you won by one single event.” She smiled tiredly. “I hope you realize that says more about them than it does about you and your kids.”



“A win is a win is a win is a win.” Leslie stated firmly, though it was clearly by her tone and expression that she had not wanted or expected the competition to be so close. “Anyway, where is the ‘Teacher of the Year’?” she mocked. “I have to ask her for the keys to your house-“ her eyes lit up. “Oh, Deanna, you really should visit when I’m done with it. I’m going to tear it all down and make a lovely little bed and breakfast nook!”



“You’re going to tear it down?” Deanna’s eyes went wide, the woman unable to hide her shock at the notion regarding her ‘Forever Home’.



“Well…I have to.” Leslie remarked. “Best way to sanitize it.”

“From what?” she asked. “And couldn’t you use disinfects or something?”

“Yeaaaaahhh…” Leslie shook her head. “It’s probably in the very foundation. I think it best to just demolish it and build something straight- I mean from scratch!”



It took only a second for Deanna to finally grasp Leslie’s far-off inference. “You’re disgusting, you know that?”



“What?” Leslie asked in mock-shock. “I think I am doing better controlling my language and such.”

“You just implied that ‘lesbianism’ was in the foundation of an inanimate house!”

“And you don’t think that’s much better?” Leslie asked, still in her mock tone. “I didn’t say ‘diseased’, or ’festering’, or ‘rotting away the foundation’… I call that progress!”



“And I think you’re sick!” Deanna quietly spat. “Forcing a family out of their home.”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Leslie defended. “I didn’t force anything. I made a wager, your wife took it. Not my fault she lost.”



She suddenly clapped her hands. “Now! Where is Selena? She owes me keys and a tour!”

“You want the house now?!”

“Of course!” Leslie smiled. “Better get started before the winter comes, you know?”

“But… we need time to move!” Deanna tried. “To find another place!”



“I understand… but the contractors are on tight schedules. I’ll tell you what!” Leslie offered. “I’m gonna keep the pool house ya got! You all can sleep there for a few weeks!”



The redhead was a mixture of emotions – wanting to follow Selena’s earlier actions and punch Leslie’s lights out or fall down to her knees and cry her eyes out (she wasn’t sure which one she wanted to do more).



“I…” she breathed. “I don’t know where she is.” She shrugged. “She must have left during the relay. I can’t find her.”



For a moment, the smile disappeared from Leslie’s face, replaced but a rather serious expression. “Does she think that she can welch on our bet?” she asked, glaring at Deanna.



“No idea.” Deanna stated. “But I doubt it.”



“Then you better call her!” the woman demanded. “Call her and tell her to bring me-“



Deanna heard her phone go off inside her pocket, the young woman instantly jumping a little before digging out the device. She recognized the number immediately, more so the smiling picture of Selena on the caller ID – the photo being of her and Deanna, the Snow Queen having her arms wrapped around Deanna’s waist from behind while she kissed Deanna’s cheek – Deanna wasn’t 100% sure when that photo had been taken, it had been a few years ago…



“That’s her.” She answered to Leslie before unlocking the phone to see the text message that was sent.



“Tell Leslie to come to Eyrie Tower.” She read aloud. “You too, please.”



“Really?” Leslie groaned. She wants me to drive into the city? Probably wants to get me alone so no one can see her beg for her house!” She let out another shrill laugh before marching away from the redhead. It took a moment for Deanna to realize she was gone.



“Evette!” she called out, relieved when she saw the English/Writing teacher turn her head and rush over to her. “Can you watch the kids and-“


“Have pizza ordered for them?” Evette asked, catching Deanna by surprise. With a smile, she held up her own phone, revealing the screen to Deanna. “She messaged me too.” She showed, allowing Deanna to read the message.



“Can you watch the kids? I’ve got pizzas on the way.” Followed by a reply of ‘Sure’ that Evette had sent.



“Thank you.” Was all Deanna could manage before she was rushing out of the playground and towards the parking lot. Within seconds, she was inside her Jeep Liberty and speeding down the roads towards New York City. The whole ride took no more than 15 minutes with traffic, luckily being quite manageable. As she pulled into the parking lot of ‘The Eyrie Tower’ and got out of her vehicle, she immediately saw Leslie, getting out of her vehicle.



“Were you trying to get here before me or something?” Deanna called out as she stood on the walkway as her neighbour marched towards her.



“I happen to have a lot on my schedule today.” Leslie stated simply, as bold of a lie as there could ever be one.

“Like what?” Deanna asked.

“Well… since you asked.” Leslie countered. “I was hoping to get some measurements on your bedroom to see what I can bring-“



“Never mind!” Deanna sniped, marching past the woman. “If you think I’m going to let Selena hand over our house like that, you’ve got another thought coming!”



“A bet is a-“



“I don’t care what bet you made! That house is 50% mine!” Deanna countered. “I’m not giving it up!”

“We’ll see about that!” Leslie called out as she marched after Deanna.



Together, the pair travelled into the lobby, ignoring the front desk as Deanna lead the way to the elevator. Using the key Selena had given her long ago, she activated the lift and demanded it take them up to the penthouse castle.

Alone in the elevator, Deanna stole a glance at Leslie, who was ‘humming and bup bup bupping’ to the elevator music.



“Why do you hate us so much?” she finally asked, earning Leslie’s attention. “Is it just because we’re gay or something?”



The woman didn’t answer, merely admiring her fingernails as they rode the elevator up. “Because you have to realize everything you’ve done… that’s not normal behaviour, Leslie.”



“Coming from you?” Leslie countered. “Just stay out of my way. You can beg and plead with Selena once I have the keys-“



The doors opened up with a DING! And Leslie immediately marched out. “Selena?!” she called out. “SELENA?!”



No answer was given, causing Leslie to begin walking through the house, Deanna following close behind. For a moment, she wondered about Jessica, hoping this wasn’t some distraction to lure her away from her dear friend. No… she refused to believe that. The Snow Queen had done wrong and… and she had to believe that Selena believed she could handle Enigma. And not just him, but Knox too!



“Selena?” she called out, hoping to find her before Leslie did. Maybe she could talk Selena out of this. It was just a stupid verbal wager. Nothing was written in contract. Nothing was signed or notarized. She would appeal to Selena’s sense of obligation to their children – they had already moved throughout their lives from Manhattan to Germany, then back to Manhattan. They didn’t need this! Even if they could afford any other house… it was THEIR house. The Frost family house.



It’s not my house… It never was…



Those words – they had broken something inside of Deanna. How could Selena have said that? After all the years they had spent in that house? The memories they had!



“HA HA!” cried out a voice from the kitchen, causing Deanna to about-face and rush down the hall to where it was coming from. There, she saw Leslie standing by the counter-island, waving an envelope with her name on it towards the redhead. “Lookie lookie!” she remarked. “For me!”



Without any hesitation, she opened the envelope and pulled out the contents. “Oh my!” she laughed, holding up a piece of paper and- “Look at that. A key!” she laughed, earning a rather confused expression on Deanna’s face.



“Umm… Leslie.” She asked, moving closer. “Are you sure that’s your envelope?”

“Yeppers! See the envelope! It has my name on it!” she showed the paper to Deanna. Sure enough, it had Leslie’s name on it.



“Well… okay, but… that’s not my house key.” Deanna remarked, pointing at the other item besides the paper. “That’s a card-key.”



Turning her head to look at it, Leslie’s expression changed to one of confusion. “What?” she asked, looking back at Deanna.



“Yeah…” Digging into her pockets, the redhead pulled out her own keys, holding them up and showing the silver key on the ring chain. “See? That’s my house key.”



“Well… maybe she’s changing the locks or… what does the paper say?” she asked, clearly not amused by this little ‘game’ that was, apparently, being played on her. Grabbing the paper on the counter, Leslie unfolded it, her eyes scanning it quickly.



“WHAT?!” she screamed out in disbelief. “That fucking-“



“What? What is it?” Deanna asked, moving around the counter, only to have Leslie glaring at her.



“Your wife is a liar! She says she can’t give me your house… because it’s not her house! What the hell does that mean?!”



“I don’t know!” Deanna asked in shock. “So what’s with the card key then?”



Gazing at the plastic, Leslie picked it up. “She says that she can give up her house like she promised, but she can’t give me what isn’t hers.” Leslie looked around. “So she’s giving me this gawdy monstrosity!”



“The castle?!” Deanna asked, her eyes wide. “Why would she do that?”



“I don’t know. I hate the city!” Leslie whined. “Where is she?! I demand what I am owed!”



“Leslie! I don’t know! I don’t know where she is. If you want to travel to St. Louis, I know where she’ll be this weekend. It’s about a 14 hour drive though.”



For a moment look at her, Deanna actually thought Leslie was contemplating the offer before the poofy-haired woman let out a yell of frustration before storming out of the hall and towards the elevator, leaving the card key on the counter. It was only when she looked at it that Deanna noticed the second envelope on the counter, this one with her name on it.



Slowly, her hands trembling, Deanna took the envelope and carefully opened it. As she did, she saw the metal key slip out and fall onto the counter in front of her. A key that was identical to the one Deanna had just showed Leslie.



Inside the envelope still, however, were three pieces of papers. Carefully, Deanna pulled the first one out, immediately recognizing her wife’s handwriting.



I told you I had a plan, didn’t I? she read. You’ll find everything you need to live your life in this envelope, Deanna. Everything that’s in order.



I know there’s more details to work out later, but at least you know where my heart is. It was never my intention to give Leslie the “Forever Home”. How could I wager what wasn’t mine?”



Do you remember when we got that house? I gave it to you as a surprise on your birthday. You were pregnant with David… I’ve only seen you glow like that a handful of other times. But the house was my gift to you…



Which is why I never put my name as the co-owner of it… I put yours in too.



Eyes wide, Deanna looked at the next paper, recognizing the contract as a ‘proof of ownership’, with her own name on it and the address of their ‘Forever Home’ – dated 2016. All this time… and she never told me… Deanna sniffed a little as she continued to read.



I had my name removed once Leslie had made her demands. I should have done it sooner. The house is yours now, Deanna, and rightfully so.



I’m… there seemed to be a bit of a stall with the writing and Deanna was certain she saw some of the ink ruined by tear marks. I’m sorry for everything. For SCW, for what I did, for David, for you. I can never expect you to believe me, but please understand, all I did came from a good place – the same place that loves you and our children and SCW.



She felt the tears sting her eyes but she kept reading.



Whatever happens this weekend… now you will always have a home and a family, even if I’m not there. And even though we’re not together – you’re still a Frost as long as you want to be.



I… another pause and seeming discoloring from tears. I love you so much, Deanna. More than I can say. And more than you may ever know.



I’m sorry for the path I put David on. I only wanted the best for him, and Elsianna and Amiliah. But maybe… maybe you were right. Maybe I’m the one that can’t do what you do. You are trying so hard to be both wrestler and friend against Enigma and Knox… maybe… maybe that’s what makes you you. Because I can’t.



I couldn’t be The Blue-Eyed Devil and your wife, it seems. We knew that long ago. But I still tried. I tried and I tried until I couldn’t try anymore. And I still couldn’t.



But I’m not you. I’m a Snow Queen. You? Heh… You’re a lioness. A red maned lioness protecting her cubs and family. One that can protect as well as hunt. Which is why I know… while this could be the end for me in SCW… it’s just the beginning for you. You will be so much more than I ever could be, even if we end up fighting each other.



No matter what, I will be proud of you and love you till the end.



Sincerely,

Selena Michelle Frost



Deanna felt the hot tears roll down her face as she looked at the key and paper on the table, almost missing the final one she had looked at yet. Rubbing her eyes with her hand, she slowly reached out to pull it towards her, unfolding it to read it. She recognized it immediately.



It was the divorce contract she had given Selena that night… the one Selena had lied about losing…



And there… at the bottom… were both of their signatures.

_________________________________________





I… I know exactly where to start.



Because I am going to take charge of this little promo for a change. I’m going to start with the question Enigma wants to know and Matthew Knox THINKS he knows.



“Who am I?”



Yeah, first promo, I was dealing with who I should focus on more. Now? I’m answering the more direct question. Who is Deanna Frost?



Because apparently, now that I don’t have the shadow of Selena, I have to find that out. According to Enigma, I can’t be anything without Selena and according to Knox, I am some maniac screaming in a garden.



Gentlemen… I would like to thank both of you.



Because you’re right, I wasn’t sure who I was. I was being pulled in two different directions expertly by both of you. I didn’t know if I could be Deanna the wrestler or Deanna the woman. The one that defended and became the reigning United States champion, or the woman that protected her own friends and family and those she believed in and the world she loved.



And yes… I lost focus. Everyone saw it! I lost matches because I couldn’t concentrate. Because I got distracted. I got attacked because I was too busy looking everywhere without seeing anything. I lost my way because I didn’t know what woman to be, let alone both.



But then… then you two came along and opened your big mouths. You, Enigma, saw me as only a small piece of your puzzle… meant to get the attention of Selena. Someone that is only meant to serve Selena and live in her shadow.



And you Knox? Well, you took me as someone that would pick ‘Mercy’ over ‘Murder’. Someone that would rather – like you demanded I do when we stood in the ring together – hand you the United States championship rather than fight you for it – because you’re SOOOO out of my league right?



You know what? I heard you both… I paid both of you attention for the challenges you are and the stakes that I have in both matches… I listened to you both and that’s why I am thanking you both.



Because I may not of known who I was… but you two sure as hell have even LESS of a clue!



You think I’m still just some link to Selena, Enigma? A piece of the puzzle that will lead you to bigger things? A stepping stone? That all of us are? Let me tell you what happens to puzzle pieces, pal. My kid almost choked on one once. Yeah, turns out one piece can do a hell of a lot of damage. Why don’t you open your eyes through the slits in your mask and see the reality beyond your little smokescreen.



Cause then maybe you would realize that I haven’t needed Selena for over a year! Not once in this entire season did I team up with her, run down to help her, or anything! And she gave me that same courtesy. She let me fight my own battles. She let me make my own mistakes and she let me grow and learn on my own.



I have spent a year, Enigma, forging my path to an identity that belongs to me and only me. I have carved my place as one of the longest reigning champions in the history of SCW. And you look at me and see just the ‘shadow’ that I escaped? Well, sir, you have just lost whatever mental edge you may have had over me. Because one thing I am no longer is ‘Selena’s shadow’, believe that!



And the other thing I am not, Matthew Knox, is someone that surrenders before the battle even begins! Do you honestly believe that it would be that easy for you? Or is that what you tell yourself in your little movies? At first, I thought you were telling me to hand the title over to you to ‘get to me’. To goad me out and get me to accept your challenge. But now? I see you and… and I heard you… and you’re telling me again to take the ‘shortcut’… take the ‘cyanide’ pill or whatever…



And I realized… that you needed me to take that shortcut, didn’t you, Knox? You were the one wanting me to just give you the title. Because you’ve come here demanding things from day one and, guess what, what you did out there? Doesn’t mean much in here. Here? EVERYONE earns their place! Every rookie, legend, hall of famer and champion.



You think I got this title just because I said ‘pretty please’ and it was given to me? Well, given your poor attention to ANY details regarding me, you may actually have thought that so allow me to enlighten you. I won this title by beating a former world champion, then retained by beating another former world champion, and then the first former world champion again. From there, I have put this belt on the line in two chamber matches, a last person standing match, and countless singles matches, all the while retaining and BRINGING the fight.



Not once did I shrug my shoulders and hand the belt over. Not once did I choose the less ‘painful’ path, Knox. Enigma says he’ll burn me? I WALKED through fire to be where I am, while Enigma hid in smoke, and you, Knox, sauntered around the ring eating popcorn!



So, if you want me to choose between ‘mercy’ and ‘murder’, Matthew, then, buddy, I choose murder! But it won’t be mine! I’m going to murder your damn ego! Because you’ve treated this place like it’s yours for the taking. You think you’ve got a right to this title, you don’t! You think you’re gonna breeze by me? You’re not!



You have not faced someone of my level before and you sure as hell have not seen me at my best! But at Rise to Greatness, Knox, I’m going to kill two things. I’m going to kill Enigma’s fascade and I’m going to kill your ego.



Because you’ve talked a big game about inevitability. The inevitable ending that will ‘serve SCW better’ with you being the United States champion. What are you going to do, Mr. Raven, when you wake up Monday morning and that title isn’t by your side? What are you going to do, Knox, when you look in the mirror and you don’t see a champion, but a man that was beaten but a supposedly ‘inferior’ woman. A woman that survived a demon with enough in her to STILL take you down?! What are you going to do, sir, when your little tirade through SCW comes to a screeching halt and, for all your ego and experience, you are shown the reason this place is called SUPREME Championship Wrestling?!



And what will you tell your Lady Nocturne, Enigma, when you are the one that is burned? When your ritual is not finished? When your ‘signs’ and ‘demonstrations’ turn out to be exposures of you! Of your lack of power! Of your mortality? What will you do with your little picture, Enigma, when this little piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit into it?!



I’ll tell you both what you will do.



You will recognize who I am! Because I am both! I am the woman who protects. I am the wrestler that hunts. I am the Frost that loves. I am the champion that defends!



My name is Deanna Frost… and I am the Red-Manned Lioness!



And in St. Louis this weekend! I will tear through shadows and smoke! I will rip through ego and entitlements! I will slay a fiend and pin a raven!



Because you both will learn your place here in SCW! My home! Where we earn our scars and we earn our victories! Every step! Every inch!



This weekend, Enigma, as you say, I will burn. Burn right through you… and all the way through you, Knox! And with my title, I will stand… and roar my name to the audiences!



Together, going through you two, my friends will be free. SCW will be free. And we will all know who I truly am!



Checkmate, bitches!