When Two Are One
Chapter 1
Vince McMahon stared down at his niece, raising one eyebrow slowly. Just HOW had he wound up with this worthless, sack of filth? Oh yes. He growled softly, watching as her eyes widened momentarily. "You are a waste of space." He said slowly, not moving from the doorway, just glaring at her. "You shouldn't even BE HERE. And by that, I do mean on this EARTH." He snarled.
Cold, dead midnight blue eyes stared back at him as July sat on her cot of straw, wearing a worn down black dress that looked like it came out of the dumpster. Her long black hair flowed down her back in waves, resting against the straw and her feet were bare. Her complexion was pale white, hardly being out in the sun these days. "Yes sir." She whispered, lowering her eyes from his angry brown ones, closing them. This was the treatment she'd received for over twenty years and July silently wondered when it would end, when she would finally be happy again.
Vince studied her disgustedly. "It's only fitting you live like a pig you know." He said scathingly. "Since that's what you are! You're lazy, you sit up here and do NOTHING and I CAN'T stand the sight of you!" He raged, looking like he was going to fly at her and hit her. He watched as her long black hair slid down over her face as she lowered her head slightly, eyes narrowing. "Just WHAT are you good for?"
She could not even cry anymore, that's how dead she was inside. Ever since her parents died when she was an infant, July had been treated like the lowest form on dirt by her uncle, who was also her godfather. He'd been forced to take her in after her parents suffered a horrific car accident on the way back from celebrating their ten year anniversary as a married couple. The car had exploded in flames on impact, burning them instantly. Due a drunk driver, July's world had been a nightmare since birth and no light had shone in the woman's life.
"Nothing sir." She whispered, not looking up at him, her hands resting in her lap, her shoulders slumped in pure defeat.
"Well then July, we'll have to find something that you ARE good at or something we can MAKE you good at." He spat disgustedly, folding his arms over his chest, shaking his head like she was the ultimate disappointment in his life, which she was. He started to say something then froze, his eyes taking on a decidedly vicious look. "Stand up." He ordered.
Shakily getting to her feet, July could not stop herself from noticing the devious look that came over her uncle's eyes, swallowing past the lump that formed in her throat. She was a twenty-one year old girl in a woman's body. Her figure was beautiful, the perfect curves, but the way she carried herself was of a meek child. She winced when he grabbed her chin, but didn't dare blink or close her eyes, knowing that would only make him angrier at her than he already was. Though she hadn't done a wrong to him, except breathe. Apparently that was all it took.
Vince quickly strode across the sloped attic floor, grabbing July by her arm and staring down at her. He held her at arm's length, his eyes slowly raking over her body, appraising her. "You are beautiful." He said flatly, looking disgusted again before turning her around. "Very beautiful. A little scrawny, but..." He stepped away a smirk on his face. "I think you'll do..."
Her blue eyes widened when he said that last part, trying hard to fight the urge to pull away from him, knowing that would be a fatal mistake. "D-Do sir?" She finally asked her voice meek and quiet, feeling sick to her stomach by the predatory look that came over his eyes. Fear was consuming her quickly; knowing whatever he had planned for her wasn't going to be good, gasping when he yanked her to press against his chest.
"Oh yes, July." Vince nodded, hissing her name; his eyes alight with a familiar fire, an idea brewing obviously in his demented little mind. "I think we've FINALLY found something even someone like YOU can do..." He began laughing softly as he walked away from her. "Yes indeed."
"W-What do you mean, sir?" July asked, beginning to tremble from head to toe, actually taking a step back when her uncle simply shot her a deadly glare.
Her head instantly lowered as she wrapped her arms around herself, sinking back down on her straw cot, silent tears running down her pale face. Whatever he had planned for her, July knew she was in trouble regardless. Hell, she'd been in trouble since she was born and sniffled softly at the mere wonder of what was to come.
Vince snorted, giving her one last appraising look before walking out of the attic. He halted, turned and poked his head back in the door. "I'm sending up a maid to help you bathe and dress, I expect you downstairs in ONE hour." He walked back out. He would take a few pictures of his beautiful niece, place a phone call and fax the pictures to sweeten the deal. Oh yes, July had finally found her niche.
"What are you doing now?" Linda demanded her husband as he walked downstairs from the attic, knowing he was tormenting their poor niece. For years, Linda had wondered why Vince hated July so much and she couldn't put her finger on it. The only thing she could really think of was that he was silently grieving for his brother's death. It hadn't been easy taking in another child, especially an infant, but Linda did it with all the love she could. Though she was not allowed to speak to July unless Vince wasn't around and even then the poor girl hardly spoke. "Vince, I asked you a question and I want an answer! What are you planning to do with July?"
"Put her to work." Vince said flatly, not in the mood for Linda's Girl Scout nature to come through. "Just go...do something and mind your own business, Linda." He ordered, pushing her away when she came near him. "NOW!" He watched as she shook her head before disappearing. "Interfering woman..." He snorted, heading into his studio.
What the hell was her husband planning? Linda sighed heavily and walked into her own study, closing the door, wishing there was something she could do to stop this from happening. Whatever it was, Linda knew it wasn't good, just by the demonic look that came over Vince's eyes. He was a cold man at mind and heart; she wondered briefly why she was still married to him.
Against her will, July was taken from the attic downstairs to a bathroom, undressed and bathed. She then sat in a chair while her hair was teased in loose black curls that hung down her back, hugging her waist. Her eyes were outlined in black eyeliner, bringing out the blue in them and her lips painted with clear gloss. The outfit she wore was a simple black tank dress that went two inches above the knee with two inch black knee high boots that zipped up the sides. July wrapped her arms around herself and kept her head lowered as the maid escorted her out of the bathroom and toward her uncle's studio.
Vince had wasted no time in calling over a photographer, busy discussing what he wanted with the man. "Don't make her look like a slut," He was saying, ignoring July when she walked in. "Sexy, but not a slut. He won't be interested in a whore. Something mysterious, I want him to take the hook." He finally looked at her, smirking. "And here's the bait."
July winced as her uncle forcefully dragged her over to stand in front of a camera, closing her eyes when he immediately made her change the outfit. Instead, she ended up wearing a long black skirt with a deep purple tank top that had a lace lining to it. When Vince was pleased with her outfit, the pictures were taken. She winced when Vince squeezed her arm to the point where she dropped to her knees when she refused to look in the camera, finally looking up with such sadness and despair in her eyes. The photographer looked uneasy and she honestly didn't blame him while he took picture after picture of her, making her feel dirtier than normal.
"If you don't flash a smile, July, you're going to regret it!" Vince hissed in her ear, digging his fingers into her arm, leaving deep bruises. "NOW!"
"I think what we have is fine-"
"I'll be the judge of that, you just snap the goddamn pictures and be quiet!"
She cried out softly, biting her bottom lip as the tears stung her eyes, the pain radiating in her arm. Her uncle wasn't exactly a small man and she could already feel the bruises forming. "Alright..." She whispered painfully, feeling him release her as she stumbled back, taking a deep breath. The barest hint of a smile formed on her glossy lips as July looked in the camera, but it didn't reach her eyes and that's all Vince was getting. He could kill her, but July wasn't smiling anymore than that as she rapidly blinked back the tears in her eyes.
Knowing that was probably the best this worthless bag of waste could do, Vince let it go. He nodded when the photographer asked if that was enough. "I expect those pictures IMMEDIATELY." He said, stressing the word. "You." He spun to glare at his niece. "You can go back to your- no...LINDA!" He bellowed waiting until his wife appeared. "Put July into a guest room and see that she gets a few new clothes...black and purple. I want her fed as well; let's get some roses in those cheeks. She's going to be very, VERY busy soon."
Linda blinked at her husband, crossing her arms in front of her chest, wondering what had gotten into him. "Come here, July." She softly said, holding her hand out, seeing how shaken their niece was. She seen the makeup, the hair, the outfit and raised a slow eyebrow at her husband who was shooing them out of his studio. Still, she did what she was told and had a maid usher July to one of the guest rooms along with a new black and purple wardrobe.
Through all of this, July could only obey and do what she was told, sitting on the bed while everyone else bustled around her. What had come over her uncle to give her remotely ANYTHING nice all of a sudden? "What is going on?" She whispered to herself, tears sliding down her cheeks.
Vince waited impatiently, finally getting the pictures and eagerly shifted through him. Forcing himself to pretend this bit of trash wasn't his blood and flesh, he examined them critically. The melancholy in her eyes, the obvious sadness not to mention how beautiful and gorgeous she was. Well, the man he had her in mind for would be HOOKED. Vince simply knew it. Brown eyes shining with both fear and excitement, he picked up the phone, ready to make that call now.
"Auntie, what's going on?" July quietly asked when Linda came into her room, her new room, which was a deep lavender and white. "Please, I'm so confused..." The heart break in her eyes, the sadness in her tone of voice, it was nearly too much for Linda to bear.
"I don't know, July. Your uncle is taking you on the road with him, that's all I know. I'm so sorry." She softly answered, staring back into her niece's terrified blue eyes, and simply walked out of the door.
July was trembling from head to toe now, completely petrified.
Vince had to wait some more after making that phone call. He'd faxed the pictures and only gotten a brief reply: bring her. He knew that wasn't a deal sealer, no doubt his 'fish' needed to see the bait in person. He swallowed hard, rubbing the top of his head with both hands. Hopefully with any luck, July would be out of his hair shortly. He went to oversee the packing of her clothes personally, deciding right then and there he was going to do whatever it took to make this happen.
"No..." July whimpered when her uncle literally dragged her toward the front door, wearing a pair of black dress pants with a long sleeved deep purple top, the colors she was forced to wear. She cried out softly when Vince buried his hand in her black hair, yanking her toward the door and shoved her out of it. July stumbled up as she backed down the stairs, tears in her eyes, wondering what was going on, seeing the full lit moon shining down on them. "Uncle, please..." She knew it was useless in begging, but she didn't want to leave and squeaked in fear when he shoved her into the waiting limo, beginning to tremble again.
"Vince, please reconsider..." Linda immediately backed up when her husband's vicious eyes stared hardening at her, causing her to swallow hard before going back inside the mansion.
"Auntie..."
"Auntie can't save you now GET IN THE CAR!" Vince all but roared, tossing her through the waiting open door and slid in after her. He nodded at the driver, ignoring the man's incredulous stare. "DRIVE!" He bellowed. They had a schedule to keep and knew if he was late...well, if they were late then it would be July who paid the price damn it, not him!
Curling up in a ball in the seat, July rested her head against the window while her body trembled violently. Tears poured down her cheeks as she stared up at the stars, the sobs tearing through her body, having a sinking feeling she'd never see her Aunt Linda again. She was the only one who showed an ounce of kindness toward her and July loved her for that reason. 'Mom. Dad.' She thought and closed her eyes tightly shut, her head lowered while the black hair hid her tears.
"Stop that blubbering." Vince said crossly, watching her with a sneer on his face. "You'll ruin how you look." That was the last thing he needed, showing her off with a tear stained face and swollen eyes. That would make a GREAT picture. "You make this deal go sour and you will REGRET it, July, do you understand me?"
"W-What deal?" She choked out, wincing and crying out when he grabbed her already sore arm, whimpering and looked away from him. She couldn't help crying her heart out; not knowing what was going on. The tighter his grip became, the more tears flowed down her cheeks as she tried getting away from him. "Y-You're hurting me..." She whispered out brokenly and had to take a few deep breaths before she began sobbing again. Why was he so cruel toward her? She'd been nothing shy of quiet all these years and never caused him problems. Why did he hate her with the fire of a thousand suns?
"I'm going to do more than hurt you if you don't stop that crying right now July." He said viciously, letting go and wiping his hand off on his pants like she had contaminated him or something. "And never you mind about what's going to happen. Suffice to say you'll FINALLY be earning your keep, not to mention out of my hair. For GOOD." He rubbed his hands together, already gloating. "If you don't screw up that is, and you had better not screw up."
That just made the woman cry harder as she shook her head back and forth, burying her hands in her hair, squeezing it between her fingers. He was sending her away? Where? July looked up when the airport came into view, swallowing hard. She'd never been on a plane before and the curiosity of it stopped her tears momentarily. The limo stopped in front of the airport and July stepped out, trembling slightly and was ushered through security toward the airport terminal. Within an hour, July was strapped in on an airplane that descended in the sky, heading for a destination unknown.
