This is just a little story I have been working on, and I chose Alex and Mitchie because they had the right looks for the characters in my story. I would like to note that none of the characters are mine, nor the original beauty and the beast story, but the new and improved story below is all mine. Enjoy! And don't be afraid to review!
Chapter 1
The smell of sausage and eggs filled the small kitchen as Alex cooked her younger brothers and sisters' breakfast before they headed off to school. The room was loud with four different conversations as the three boys and two girls filed in and sat at their respectable seats around the table. So she fed their hungry morning mouths and sent them all one by one on their way off to school for the day. She then began her daily chores. And considering there were seven people that lived in this one cramped Staten Island apartment, there was a consistent daily routine that had to be completed or things would be ten times more chaotic then they already were.
She threw a huge load of laundry in the washing machine, cleaned up the kitchen quickly, and then went to her room that she shared with her sisters, to get ready to go to the market. She stood in front of the mirror staring at her lean 5"2 frame hidden under a ragged old sweatshirt that she had tried making somewhat fashionable by cutting the neck hole further, and letting it drape over her shoulders. She ran a brush through her long dark hair, her eyes following the brush that skated down to her hips. She had such a finely toned body from the constant hustling of children and bustling of chores. She put on what little make-up her father could afford, though she didn't need much. Her green eyes were so beautiful and vivacious in and of themselves, even the slightest amount of make-up could be considered too much. All of a sudden she heard the front door crash open, and the quickened breathing of her father.
"Alexandra! Oh, my dear I'm so happy to see your face!" He called out as he rounded the corner into the bedroom in which Alex had been getting ready for the day. He gave her the biggest hug he ever had as if he were never going to see her again.
"Father! Are you okay? You are so flushed. Here sit down have a glass of water and tell me what has happened to you," she replied kindly, breaking away from his death grip, then continuing to get his glass of water. She settled him down on the bed, and he practically chugged the entire glass thirstily before he began his story.
"Well, as you know I went away for business for the past month," he began his story still just as wide-eyed and frightened as ever, "it took me a good while, but eventually I did find a job as a miller at the American Sugar Refining Company in Williamsburg Brooklyn. After working two weeks as a miller, I had become quite skilled at my job, and grew to produce more in a day than my fellow employees. And Mr. Mitchie Torres caught wind of my outstanding work efforts and sent his second in command, a fellah named William Dick, to come and see what all the talk about me had been. Little did I know then he was also sent to offer me a better and higher-paying job as the mill's clerk. I took him up on his offer, and became the clerk of mill. Aside from making more money to support you kids here at home, I also began to work very closely with Mr. Torres considering I was in charge of the bookkeeping and records of the company," the old man paused to take another sip from his cup, almost as if the story had ended.
"That's it father? That doesn't sound bad at all, why did you seem so terrified when you first got here?" Alex questioned, becoming more and more confused the more she thought all of what had just happened through.
"Well, one day, I'm finishing up some last minute filing when William Dick comes into the bookkeeping room and starts telling me how Mr. Torres was corrupt, cruel, and just using all of us low class workers to make himself wealthy. He told me that the millers were all getting together and creating a plan to overthrow Mr. Torres and take over the mill as their own. And he insisted that he be the new boss and that he would make higher wages, better hours, and working conditions. Then he said they couldn't overthrow Mr. Torres without access to certain information that would essentially ruin him, and that I was the only one with access to that information. I was the only one with the access to the information they needed. It was in a special file in a file room at Mr. Torres's estate off the coast. Mr. Torres only kept the most crucial records at his home with him at all times. But being the bookkeeper I needed access to all his files and records so he trusted me with a key to his home. I accepted Mr. Dick's proposal and went to Mr. Torres's mansion late one night to retrieve the file. But Mr. Torres caught me in my act, and I spilled my guts about Mr. Dick and the miller's plans to remove him from the business. Mr. Torres became enraged and being a very powerful man set up plans to have William Dick not only fired, but killed. He told me I would have to pay for my deceit and that he thought better of me, but that I had used his kindness and generosity as a weakness in order to gain for myself. That I had to suffer, and I too had to die. I begged him not to kill me that I had no idea of Mr. Dick's corruptness, but still he insisted that I must pay. I told him of you guys, my many children and how their mouths relied solely on me to feed them. And he took mercy on me," the old man stopped again for another long swig of water.
"Father that is horrible! What a horrible thing to have happen!" Alex cried out wrapping her father in a big hug once more, relieved that a beast such as Mitchie Torres decided to take mercy on her father's soul.
"He took mercy on killing me, but insisted that I still had to pay. He told me that if I sent someone willing to die for me, then he would spare my life and my job but only as a miller again," her father finished staring off into nothingness. There was a slight pause in which Alex sat staring at her lost and pitiful father, processing the entire story through her head. It wasn't too much longer after he had finished his last sentence before she spoke up, "father, I will go in your place. I am willing to die so that you will not and so you may work to support what is left of this family."
"Alexandra no! I will not let you go in my place! You are my daughter, and I love you too much to lose you like that!" He thundered, rising to his feet and spilling what was left in the glass all over the floor beneath him. He was offended she would even think of offering herself up like this.
"But father, we have no other choice. You are the only one that can work for this family right now, and are guaranteed a job in that mill. You have to put your pride away for a minute and fix the situation you got not only you but this family into. I am willing to go, Genny is old enough now to stay with the younger ones, take over my duties and chores, and assure everything runs smoothly here at home. Don't be so stubborn father, you know this is the only way," she calmly replied to his tirade. He paced wildly across the room mumbling under his breath and shaking his head in response to his utterings. He stopped for only a second to stare at his oldest daughter, and she saw the faintest tear drop from his eye before he turned around and stormed out of the room into his office, slamming every door behind him. She had never seen her father cry. She had always known him to be the rock and stronghold; he had no time to cry. She knew that he had gotten himself into a situation that overwhelmed him more so than he had ever been in his entire life.
So she began to pack her belongings into the few trunks and bags she owned. She didn't feel she needed his permission to make this judgment and she decided herself that she was going to Mitchie Torres's estate and before he killed her she would make sure she made him feel like the worst man alive for what he had done to her father and her family. No matter how stubborn her father was going to be, she knew in her heart that this would be the only way her brothers and sisters would survive in this world, and she would die any day to give them that opportunity.
After she finished packing she went to the kitchen to prepare the last family dinner they would ever have together. The table was loud and full of life as usual, with hands grabbing everywhere and four different irrelevant conversations thick through the air. Alex sat at one end of the table quiet and detached from the rampant family dinner, while her father sat at the opposite end of the table quiet, and unable to as much as eat the food in front of him. When dinner ended Alex and two of the older children helped clean up the kitchen, bath the younger children, and tuck everyone in for the night. She kissed every one of her brothers and sisters on goodnight and farewell on the forehead, letting them know she loved them with all her heart before she went off to the kitchen to prepare some more for her trip tomorrow. Her father entered into the kitchen behind her and immediately sat down at the table with his head in his hands.
"Alexandra, I don't want you to go tomorrow. I don't want you to have to take the fall for my sins. But I know you are going to do what you will against my wishes. You get that from your mother, God rest her soul. I guess I am just so sensitive about letting you go because I love you so much, hell I love all my children so much; they are the only thing I have left in this cold world. First losing my job, then our wonderful home; then losing your mother. I don't think I can handle losing one more thing in my life that means something to me. But you are right, this is the only way. If someone doesn't go for me then no one can provide for this family," he sobbed still holding his head in his hands at the table. A puddle formed beneath where his head hung from the honest tears he cried.
"Father I know this is not something you ever wanted for me or your family, but series of unfortunate events lead us to where we are now, and all we can do is accept what life has dealt, and make the decision that will be less detrimental to the entire family. I will die with honor knowing I have saved my brothers and sisters from their own deaths. And I intend to show that beast, Torres, what it means to really care about another human being!" she stated confidently as she packed the last of a small lunch for her journey. She walked over to where her father sat weeping and placed her hand gently on his back for support. But he would not let all of his pride go and lurched away from her touch, standing to his feet to better recompose himself. He wiped at his eyes and straightened his shabby old coat.
"I will assist you in the journey tomorrow to his estate. We leave right before sunrise, and we must move quickly to make the train in time. Now get some rest my daughter," he said solemnly. He then kissed her forehead and headed to his office again to work late into the night as he frequently did. Alex bathed herself, then she too went to bed for the night.
That morning came faster than she ever had anticipated. She got ready in haste and was ready to go not too long after. Her father came to her with what seemed like a dark cloud over him, and said nothing as he lead her out the door of the home she would never see again. She turned to get one last glimpse of the place she called home for so many years, reveling in her memories of growing up in that yard with her brothers and sisters. But she only had a few seconds for remembrances, for it was her time to go into the world and assure that the home she loved still managed to stand day in and day out.
When they arrived at the train station her father bought two tickets, and they had just made it for the first one out. They gathered Alex's belongings handing them to the loader that loaded them into the luggage cart, and then boarded the train. It wasn't more than an hour ride to Williamsburg, and Torres being the tycoon that he was had a train stop dedicated to his large estate off the coast. They sat in silence afraid to harbor any feelings that may intervene with their mission, but it did not last long for they knew this would be their last time together and neither one wanted it to be miserable.
"So, what does Mr. Torres look like? The way he is described he sounds like an extremely unattractive and calloused man," Alex asked her father who had until this point been staring out the window of the train searching for any other solution than giving up his daughter. He was so lost in thought he almost didn't hear the question as he shook himself back to reality.
"Well dear, I don't know. Not many people have had the pleasure of coming face to face with Mitchie Torres. He's always sending someone else to speak on his behalf, or represent him in a meeting. I am not one of the few people that has seen his face my dear," he responded.
"But when he caught you, and confronted you about your deceit, surely you saw him then," she interrogated confused by his response.
"He was only a shadow when he caught me in his files. His servants seized me and locked me in a room for hours before another one of his servants came to me to deliver the verdict. Other than Mitchie himself standing in the shadows of that room watching me steal the files, he is but a ghost to me as well. But he is so powerful, he doesn't need a face or voice to be as real as he is," her father explained staring out the window the entire time he spoke. She did not question him any further. She could see how worn down her father was by this whole experience, and she felt like it pained him to talk about anything related to Mitchie Torres. So the remainder of the train ride was just as quiet as when it had begun.
The train finally pulled up to the last station around lunchtime, and as Alex and her father stepped off, they immediately saw the largest house they had ever laid eyes on. Granted the mansion was not right next to the train station, there was a good walk out, and down the path assumed to be a massive driveway. But even in its slight distance, the building was still colossal as it sat in the late morning fog. They gathered Alex's belongings and headed down the manmade path towards the house. The closer they came to the front door, the larger the house seemed, and the more embarrassed Alex's father became having been a rather poor man all his life; it shamed him to know that he would never be able to bring this kind of wealth to his family, and would be lucky if any rich man even took one of his daughters.
They finally reached the massive front doors and slammed the gargoyle knockers into the finely crafted wood three times. The doors creaked open, and they both slowly entered the mansion with their heads hung low, as to contain their sudden curiosities. A man dressed as if he were consistently the groom at a wedding greeted them when they came upon the large spiral stairwell in the center of the home.
"Good afternoon, Mitchie is quite busy at the moment, and has insisted that you speak with Miss Caitlyn alternatively. Please follow me to the lobby, were you are welcome to wait until Miss Capri is ready to see you," The finely dressed man lectured before walking off in a different direction assuming they would too follow. Alex thought the man to be very peculiar especially in calling his master by his first name. This whole place was strange and unlike anywhere she had ever been before.
They were lead to an immaculate little room further in the house, to which they took seats in two of the four or five chairs already in their waiting for them. The butler said nothing further, bade them good day, and walked away briskly. Alex hadn't really soaked in the fact that she was being given up by her father to be killed in his place for a fault he had committed himself. Not until she sat in this small room, staring into the deep red walls, waiting to meet the person who would soon to be her captor. Her leg shook vigorously, as she sat there awaiting her fate with her father. Not even fifteen minutes after they had been placed in the room, a small, but pretty woman enters in and asks for Alex's father to follow her to her office.
Now Alex was left on her own in the small room of such an enormous house. She took in a deep breath, slightly hoping it wouldn't truly be her last, when all of a sudden a little blue ball rolled into the room, stopping directly at her feet. Not too far behind the ball was a young scruffy-headed little boy, chasing after his beloved toy. He didn't look older than four, and he didn't notice Alex's presence until he had successfully retrieved his ball and saw her feet. He suddenly became shy trying to hide behind his ball swinging himself from side to side with a huge grin on his face. Alex knelt down to the floor at his level.
"Hey they sweetie, is that your ball?" She asked him kindly. He nodded his head promptly, and then extended the ball out to give it to her. She took the ball in her hands accepting his kind gesture then continued to ask, "What's your name?"
"Valen Fwost," the boy answered struggling to correctly pronounce his 'r'.
"Oh Valen, that is such a handsome name. Where'd you get this pretty ball?" She further questioned enjoying that her last minutes would be spent with someone as adorable and innocent as
"Mitchie gived it me for my birfday," He replied slowly becoming more and more brave. She handed him the ball back and tousled his hair before he ran out of the room screaming at the top of his lungs.
Alex went back to her seat and continued waiting thinking about Valen, and hoping even further that surely a man with a son would not be able to kill someone or anyone's daughter. Surely such a man would know the value of fatherhood and would show more than fair mercy upon a poor family trying to survive in this world. As she thought these facts through, her nerves eased as well as her mind. She used these thoughts as a comforting tool in her last moments to help rationalize the death she was terrified to face. Just then, her father came around the corner ushered by the butler, sent to retrieve Alex.
"Now if you will both follow me, I will escort you to your room Miss, and you two can say your goodbyes," the butler said offering his hand to Alex to help her from her seat.
"My room? I don't understand," Alex queried confusedly.
"Yes my lady, your room. You did not intend on staying?" the butler retorted sounding sarcastic in his arrogant nature.
"No, it's not that. I just didn't think—under the circumstances—that I would even need a room. I figured I would have been dead by now."
"Well miss, I can assure you that is not the case; at least for tonight. I have been instructed by Mitchie to bring you to your room so you can prepare for dinner," He stated as they came upon a room big enough to be its own apartment.
Alex's breath was immediately taken away as she entered what was to be her room for the night. Her stomach became light and fluttery in divergence to the sick and heavy feeling from before when she saw all the wonderful amenities that made up the quaint little living space. She bounced from the vanity, spritzing perfumes in the air and looking through the make-up containers, to the bed, finally falling back to lay on it. She had never in her life seen so many wonderful things in one room that she would get to call her own. This was more of a resort vacation than a funeral march. She decided that her last day was indefinitely the best preparation for death a girl could ask for.
Her father cleared his throat reminding her that he was still there. He was not handling the situation well, so full of pride and shame of what he could not bring to his daughter. He almost just left without saying goodbye because he was not able to bear seeing his daughter so happy in paradise on her death bed. He felt even more shamed to know that he had to have her killed in order to give her such a magnificent lifestyle. But he could not just walk away from his baby girl; not without a proper goodbye. She stopped her celebrations and a deep solemnity fell upon the room, as a reminder of reality and the death thereof.
Her father could not speak in fear of becoming too choked up to say anything so he only gave her the biggest, tightest hug he had ever given anyone. She felt his heartbeat on her chest, and reveled silently in the feeling of her father's life against her doomed chest. The hug lasted for a good twenty minutes before her father forced himself to pull away and walk out of the room without looking back. He knew he wouldn't let any of this happen if he were to look back at his little girl's face, so he pressed on letting one solitary tear slip down his cheek. She was left alone in the room for a few hours before she would go to dinner.
She unpacked all of her things from her trunk, putting them in the drawers and shelves of the many dressers and closets in the room. What little she had seemed as if it were pointless to have brought it as she fumbled through all the beautiful dresses already inhabiting the space. The dresses felt as if they were made of only the finest materials; the wood of the furniture glistened in the sun as if it were the finest mahogany polished every day. She was not accustomed to these kinds of luxuries, and when she ventured into the bathroom she became even more taken aback than before. Gold trim on all the fixtures; spotless black tile floors; large golden mirrors across the walls; it was almost too much luxury for a poor young girl like her to handle all at once. The authentic ivory bathtub sitting so eloquently in the corner beckoned her to lavish herself in all the fine soaps and oils inside of its elaborate cathedra.
She filled the tub with steaming water, turning the entire bathroom into a sauna. She undressed herself leaving her clothes out in the main room, and then ventured to the bathtub letting her body slink down into the relaxing warm water. When she finished bathing, the smell of ripe pomegranates was strong in the air and her skin shined with a radiance it never had before. She wrapped herself in a towel and went back to the bedroom to find a beautiful deep green and beige dress sitting on the bed with a letter on top.
Dearest Miss Alex,
I would be delighted if you would join me for dinner this evening. I have prepared a lovely dress for you to wear to dinner should you accept this invitation. A lovely feast of Lobster Thermidor with vegetables and salad will be served at six o'clock sharp. Should you need any assistance, your housemaid, Harper, will be to your room shortly to assist you.
I hope for your acceptance of this invitation and to enjoy your company at dinner tonight. Thank you graciously for your time.
Sincerely,
Mitchie
She read the letter twice in disbelief. She questioned herself why the man who intended to kill her would be so kind and invite her to have dinner with him with such grace and courtesy. Either Mitchie Torres was the sickest man alive to treat his victims to dinner and sophisticated living before brutally murdering them, or he had another ploy in mind. Also she did not like being told what she was to wear to dinner, nor did she like to be told what to wear at all. But the dress was so very beautiful that when she tried it on and it fit the curves of her body so perfectly, not even her pride could force her to take it off. The dress draped down to her mid shins, which, for the time, was considered extremely promiscuous to show so much of her ankles and legs. The dress was also cut lower at the neckline to show a faint outline of her stunning c-cup breasts, which, also was almost too licentious for the society she lived in. Nonetheless she stood there at the mirror admiring how beautiful she looked in the garment. She was not one to fall into societal standards especially when it came to the way she dressed. She loved when people's eyes were glued to her, and she did not feel as if showing off her ankles and collar bone were all that morally corrupt. And apparently neither did Mitchie or he wouldn't have left her such an ensemble, so she did not further analyze the situation and left it at that to continue getting ready for the night. As she sat down at the vanity to do her make-up there was a subtle knock at the door.
"Come in!" She called out to whoever was at the door. A young woman entered the room, looking to be around Alex's age of twenty or so, and introduced herself as the housemaid.
"Hello Miss, my name is Harper. Would you like help with your make-up?" the house-maid squeaked in a reserved nature much in tune with the name she had been given.
"Oh yes please, I have never used more than eyeliner. Of course my family could never afford much more than that, so most of this is foreign to me, though I would very much like to try some of it out," Alex responded cheerily hoping to ease the girl's nerves as to have a friend she could talk to in her last days. Harper immediately shuffled over to the vanity and gently guided Alex down into the seat before it.
"Now Miss-" Harper began.
"Please, call me Alex. There is no need for this Miss business," Alex interrupted with a slight chuckle at the girl's civility.
"Okay Alex, I think we should start you out with a light peach shadow on the eyelids, and then lightly outline your eyes with deep green shadow. I think it will bring out your eyes magnificently and compliment your dress as well," Harper stated before she started applying the make-up to Alex's face. It didn't take long for Harper to fully finish her face and when she did Alex's hair was almost dry so she combed some upmarket hair oils through it and let the natural soft curl flow through.
Alex went to one of the large bathroom mirrors to view her presence in full. She quite liked what she saw as she gazed at the ravishing woman before her. Harper came up behind her and complimented her look as well with a slight blush. Alex complimented Harper on her make-up skills and thanked her graciously for her help. As beautiful as she now looked and as hard as it was to turn her eyes from the mirror, it was now time for her to go to dinner. So she thanked Harper again, grabbed her clutch and went to the door where a butler had been waiting to escort her to the dining room.
As was every other room in the house, the dining room too had been larger than any she had seen before. There were large expensive paintings across the walls, and a plate set out at every seat though she was sure that it would only be the two of them eating there tonight. She was lead to her seat at the far end of the table to which she sat, and the butler flipped the napkin out and across her lap before walking away. She sat there waiting for fifteen minutes before Valen was shepherded into the room and to a seat across the table from her.
"Well hello again Valen. It's very nice to see you again," She said and the boy just looked up at her and smiled.
At that time, a chef and his waiting staff burst through the doors with two carts full of utensils and food. A tray was set before Alex and uncovered to reveal a lovely garden salad rich with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. She paused wondering if it would be respectful to wait for Mitchie before she start digging in savagely; she had been quite hungry all day having not eaten. She continued to wait for almost thirty minutes watching Valen raze through his salad and continue to inhale his main course of lobster. She had seen Miss Caitlyn enter minutes ago to talk with the chef, and she was becoming more and more famished as she waited.
"Miss Caitlyn!" She called out when she saw Miss Caitlyn had finished her conversation with the chef. Miss Caitlyn acknowledged her call and sat down at the head of the table near her. Before Miss Caitlyn could say anything Alex began, "When is Mr. Torres going to be here? I would hate to begin eating such a lovely meal without the accompaniment of the one who invited me to eat it."
Miss Caitlyn cocked her head slightly looking out across the top of her glasses huffing a grunt that implied Alex's ignorance. "Mitchie," she corrected, "is extremely busy tonight and would like me to condole his sincerest apologies." Alex sat there bewildered letting herself get angrier with every word Miss Caitlyn said as she continued, "I was going to wait until after your dinner, but I was sent tonight to make a business proposal with you. Mitchie is in desperate need of a caretaker for young Valen here, and has graciously agreed to spare your life if you would dedicate your life to his upbringing. Now there are a few-"
"No," Alex rejoined as coolly as her enraged body would allow.
"Well what do you mean no?" Miss Caitlyn asked with a slight chuckle in her voice as if waiting for the punch line she already knew to a funny joke.
"I mean no. As sweet a boy as Valen is, I will not be his caretaker," Alex answered letting the appearance of her cool temperament slip slightly.
"Okay, how about I let you finish your dinner and think it over? Would that be more-"
"I don't think you understand me Miss Caitlyn! I have spent the last night and day preparing myself for imminent death on behalf of my father! I have been terrified for my life for the past twenty four hours telling myself that it is for the good of my family and I must see it through! I can handle the fancy room and amenities, like pampering a hero before they know they will die, but I will not tolerate putting myself through all of that grief and worry only to be told I will be a slave to someone instead because honestly Miss Caitlyn, and I think you could agree with me here, that I would rather die," Alex thundered, her voice echoing off every wall in the large dining room causing every mouth to shut and every eye to be on her. She now stood before Miss Caitlyn who seemed only faintly shaken by Alex's sudden outburst. Alex sustained, "Where is he? I want to talk to him in the flesh! No more lies of being busy, let him be a real man and speak to a lady face to face!"
She screamed this out as if it were a challenge for Mitchie to just magically appear right there in front of her. But Mitchie did not appear and the silence and stillness of the room only served to anger her further. She marched to the dining hall doors to search for Mitchie herself seeing as no one else would for her. But she was blocked by Miss Caitlyn who had rushed over behind her and stood between the door and her.
"No Miss Alex, I don't think you understand me! There are no lies, Mitchie is very busy this evening and would certainly be quite infuriated if a young lady such as yourself went storming through this house with intentions to interrupt such business. Now I strongly recommend that you just sit down, finish your meal, go back to your chambers, and think this trough till the morning lest you have a change of heart," Miss Caitlyn threatened as two burly butlers came up behind her ready for further instruction. Alex felt a slight defeat as she stared the three of them down crossly. There were many aspects of the situation in Miss Caitlyn's control, though Alex knew not all was lost.
"I'm not hungry," she said bitterly. Everyone just stood there in astonishment questioning if this girl really had the guts to play this kind of move. Alex did have the guts, "And I won't eat until Mitchie follows through on his invitation, shows his face, and eats dinner with me! If he wants to make a business deal to spare a girl's life, then he should do it like a man in person! Otherwise I will starve myself, and shall die anyways according to the original plan!"
After she was sure they had gotten her message she turned to the opposite end of the dining room from where she had entered earlier that evening, and stormed back towards her room with a butler rushing to keep up behind her the whole way there. She busted through the doors to her room, flung herself on the bed, and began to cry. She heard the gasping breaths of the butler as he finally caught up to her in the room. He bade her goodnight and shut the doors behind him on his way out. She cried a puddle into the bedspread beneath her face, and after countless minutes of sobbing she lifted her head for air and wiped the tears and snot from off her face. She had exhausted herself from how made she had been and how hard she had cried, so much so that she rolled over on her side and gently wept herself to a light nap.
She woke up about three hours later at about ten o'clock at night. She sat up and wiped her groggy eyes viciously in attempt to make sure she wasn't still dreaming and that everything that had happened up to this point had indeed actually happened. The room was still very much there much to her disappointment. She took in a deep breath and sighed it back out before she decided to get off the bed and change out of her dinner dress. When she got to the closet instead of finding a sufficient night gown to change into to go to bed, she found herself looking through the other dresses. She was now wired after a nice nap, and was feeling devious enough to wander around the mansion. She found a nice violet and light purple sundress she wanted to wear, and as soon as she was dressed and the smeared make-up from her crying earlier had been cleared, she sneaked out of her room and down the hall.
She saw many statues, works of art, and odd pieces of furniture as she wandered up and down all the different halls of the house. Amidst her wandering she heard a faint plea for help in the distance. She decided to follow the voice, and she persisted down more hallways and corridors till the noise got louder and louder. She came to large wooden door that she pressed her ear against and heard the clearest cry out she had heard yet. She creaked the door open to see who was screaming and maybe offer some help and when she peaked her head in the room she saw her father chained up to the wall crying.
"Oh my God father!" She screeched as she barged her way in and over to his defenseless, tired body chained to the farthest wall. She tugged and yanked at the chains trying to free him, becoming so frustrated that she could not. She cupped her hand to his face and began to cry when she saw his tear-stained face. "Father what have they done to you? What has that monster done?" She called out again wrapping him in a big hug. He did not have time to respond before the door slammed shut behind her, and the lights dimmed so much they were scarcely on. She looked to her now pale-white father as he gawked directly behind her with his fear-struck eyes.
"Look, I know it's you Mitchie, and you do not scare nor intimidate me like everyone else," she started petrified to turn around but forcing herself to anyways, "I don't know why—who are you?"
The person behind her was not who she expected. It was not a big, hulking, vicious man, but a slightly taller, soft, slender woman. She was quite beautiful even though she was dressed in a pair of men's trousers, a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up her forearms, and overalls. She had shorter dark brown hair that was straight as a board and came down to right before her earlobes. Her face was extremely feminine and more striking than any model Alex had ever seen, with grey eyes that stared into the depths of her soul.
"I am the owner of this house," the strange woman answered glaring at Alex as if she were a child that just broke a parent's orders.
"No, you can't be the owner of this house. A man named Mitchie Torres is the owner of…" she faded off her outward thinking, slowly connecting the dots in her head. She looked to the woman then to the floor, then back to the woman and back to the floor again.
"The owner of the house, yes I am, but a man, well I am afraid not," the woman said.
"Mitchie?" Alex questioned squinting at the woman as if she were a long lost friend she was only just beginning to recognize after many years.
"Enough of this, yes I am Mitchie. Now what are you doing out of your quarters this time of night in my house with my prisoners?" Mitchie demanded stepping closer to Alex. Alex was still slightly shell shocked and had to catch herself to pull it all back together.
"This is not your prisoner this is my father! I was alone and bored in my room so I wandered through the house and this is what I come to find. The whole purpose of me being here was so that he may be free and work to provide for the rest of his many children!" Alex managed to get out. There wasn't as much bite in her words because she was so stunned by this woman before her, the anger was still only numb within her, and it took numerous minutes for the anger to begin its boiling within her again.
"Your 'father' does not deserve life Miss. He sold me out, and then he sold you out just as easily! When he actually had the balls, pardon my language, to come back to my house and offer his beautiful daughter in his place it only enraged me further and made me realize he does not deserve to live. This is all he will continue to do. What kind of man offers his daughters life for his misdoings? Filthy bastard," Mitchie hissed, glaring at Alex's father with a sick hatred in her eyes. Alex finally came to her senses and let her anger free.
"For your information I volunteered to be here! He never wanted me to do it, but I insisted and would not listen to his pleads for me not to! I cannot work to provide for our family! None of the boys are old enough to work yet, and my father is all they have right now to put food in their mouths! I was and still am willing to die for that!" Alex shouted getting right up in Mitchie's face. She knew she could no longer be in Mitchie's presence or she would say things or do things she would indefinitely regret, so she turned to go and before she did she said, "He's not the greatest father in the world granted but he did the best he ever could. Your business is with me now, and I demand that you let him go by tomorrow morning or I will do so myself. He is no longer your property or your concern, I am. Goodnight Mitchie."
With that said, Alex walked out of the room and back to her room to retire for the night. Mitchie stood there watching the movement of her hips as she left the room, bewildered by the woman she had just met. She reached in her pocket for the key to Alex's father's shackles and knelt down beside him.
"What an altruistic daughter ah have there, Lou," Mitchie said sticking the key in Alex's father's chains, "now I'm going to release you, and when I do I want you off my property in less than twenty minutes and to never return or you will be recaptured and locked in a more remote area of my land do you understand me?"
Alex's father nodded his head wildly in agreement, and as soon as he was released from his chains he ran off into to hallways that lead straight out of the house as fast as he possibly could. Mitchie just sat where she was thinking about Alex, smiling at her musings. Alex had a fire inside her and Mitchie liked it. She wanted to get to know Alex better and at some level was glad that her father had screwed up so bad and landed poor Alex right in her lap. After this, it became quite late, so Mitchie stood up, dusted off her trousers and went to bed herself.
Alex awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon and eggs looming in the air. She sat up groggily and wiped her eyes to see Harper carrying the tray full of the rich breakfast of toast, eggs, bacon, and orange juice. Her stomach growled for she had not eaten in over twenty four hours. She was a stubborn girl though and decided she should stick to her guns about not eating, especially after the whole Mitchie nonsense from the night before.
"I don't know why you're bringing that in here Harper. I'm sure you've heard the news, and I know for a fact the cooks have. I am not eating until Mitchie pulls through on her dinner invitation and actually shows up," Alex spoke softly almost regretting her decision to stand strong.
"Look Alex, I know you have a point to prove and everything, but there's no use in starving yourself to prove it. I did hear about your demands, and that is why I snuck this apple from the kitchen. So you don't have to eat the breakfast, and I will take it back all in one piece, but please eat this apple. I will not tell a soul about it," Harper begged pulling the apple from her apron and handing it to Alex. Alex thought it through very quickly and decided she could trust Harper, after all she was starving. The apple disappeared in a matter of minutes even the core. She made sure to drink more than enough water to somewhat make-up for the abuse she was inflicting on her body by not eating.
Harper gave her a warm smile and sat with her at the open window talking about all sorts of things for the short while before she had to take the breakfast back to the kitchen. They talked as if they were old friends and got along quite well, both enjoying the other's company in such a large and lonely house. They only stopped talking for Harper to dispose of the stale breakfast, and when she returned they went right back to talking. Half the day had passed well into the afternoon before Caitlyn came knocking on Alex's door.
"Miss Alex, if you will, tidy yourself up, and follow me to master Valen's chambers," She entreated from her spot at the door, unable to bring herself to look Alex directly in the eyes. Alex knew that Miss Caitlyn knew the answer to her request but was sent to request it regardless. Her demeanor gave her away, how badly she obviously did not want to be there speaking to Alex.
"Now Miss Caitlyn, you know my dilemma. I wish I could help you out, but I will not watch Valen, or eat until Mitchie attends the dinner I was cordially invited to. You may tell her that came straight from the devil's mouth," Alex replied very softly, with lightness that no one in the house had yet seen of her. She winked at Miss Caitlyn as she finished speaking, and turned away to look out the window again. Miss Caitlyn only smiled warmly at the fact that Alex now knew Mitchie's little secret, then she backed away out of the room letting out an, "as you wish," before she disappeared.
The day passed quite slowly, as it would for anyone who was as hungry as Alex grew to be, but dinner time inevitably reared its ugly head and Miss Caitlyn was back once more to ask Alex if she would be attending.
"Will Miss Mitchie be there tonight Caitlyn?" Alex probed as she unpacked the last of her things into the room. Miss Caitlyn paused before answering, deliberating whether to tell the truth or not, and Alex sensed it with ease stating, "Miss Caitlyn, no lies okay. Just be honest with me is all I ask." She was more than sincere when she said this and it seemed to be just the thing to break Miss Caitlyn of her constant steadiness.
"Honestly…no Miss Alex, Mitchie declined dinner tonight and is genuinely busy with other business this evening. She requests that I plead you to eat that she might make dinner tomorrow evening," Miss Caitlyn specified. The sincerity in her voice struck Alex's heartstrings, but she was not going to budge from her decision, no matter what.
"That is very unfortunate Miss Caitlyn, and I do believe Mitchie is busy tonight. I guess I will just have to hold out until tomorrow evening," Alex responded with less confidence. She meant to give some hope to Miss Caitlyn and any other worker in the house that actually cared for her safety that everything would turn out for the best. But she was beginning to have doubts herself, and the relationships she was starting with these people in this house made her question her decision even further as if it were a childish game she had been playing to get her way.
Nonetheless she was still headfast in her decision and watched as Miss Caitlyn sadly left her to her room. She wasn't alone there for long before Harper came back with two apples this time that she had again stolen from the kitchen. Alex accepted them willingly and wolfed them down faster than they had been given. Alex was thankful at this point to have Harper there to assure her survival. She felt she had a good friend for the first time in her life. Of course raising five children by yourself really doesn't leave much room for socialization. She was just thankful for the experience, and that was good enough for her.
Harper stayed for an hour or two, and they talked as they had both grown fond of doing. After their talk Alex was feeling quite exhausted mostly from her lack of nutrition, but Harper bade her goodnight, and left her to herself to rest for the next day. Alex lay in bed fatigued, but found it quite difficult to actually fall asleep. Between the aches and pangs in her starving stomach, and the random thoughts of Mitchie, she felt less and less tired as she lay there still. She thought of Mitchie's eyes staring into hers; of the slight muscle in her forearms, and how her veins faintly popped out when those muscles flexed from movement; she thought of her body, though it had been masked by loose clothing, she imagined every curve and outline hidden underneath. There was no telling how long she had sat there and thought such things, but it was a significant while before she caught herself thinking about Mitchie at all. She shook her head and pressured herself to fall asleep, and not too much longer she got her wish as sleep indeed fell upon her.
She roused early the next morning to Harper lightly tapping on her door and removing the sheets from off her body. "Alex you must wake up and look out your window," she begged, shaking, tapping, poking and prodding the still drained girl in the bed. Alex had trouble pulling herself together enough to wake up as Harper continued to try and get her out of bed. She knew the hunger was finally getting to her, and she begged in the back of her mind that Mitchie come to her senses and just go to dinner so she could finally eat. When she finally did wake up and muster enough energy to roll herself out of bed, she was dragged over to the window by Harper's eager hands.
When she looked out of her window she saw a field of young freshly planted flowers. But not just any flowers, her two favorites purple Hyacinth and light pink Azaleas. It looked as if the beautiful purple and pink patterns stretched out for miles and just the sight of it completely took her breath away. Then on one side of the flowers she saw a figure on their hands and knees digging and planting more. She immediately rushed through her bedroom doors, down hallways and corridors, out the back door and to the side of the house where the field of flowers was still being planted. She ran until she got out to the figure she had seen in her window. It was Mitchie on her hands and knees, digging in the dirt, with her nice trousers rolled up and her feet bare aside from a little dirt. Alex had known as soon as she saw the figure who it was out there planting her garden. She stood there over Mitchie, eyes opened as wide as they could be, and her breathing heavy and sporadic. On one hand she was still angered by Mitchie, but on the other she was swept clear off the ground. She did not know what to do or say, only stood there watching Mitchie; Mitchie solemnly watching her back. Mitchie dropped her tools, stood up, and wiped the excess dirt from her slacks.
"Miss Alex, I know I look a right mess, but…would you care to join me for breakfast?" Mitchie asked extending her dirty hand as she spoke. Alex still could not speak, more lost for words than she ever had been before. Her mind told her no, but her body reacted differently and accepted Mitchie's outstretched hand, allowing herself to be lead to the back patio where a big breakfast like she had received the morning before was served.
She stared down at the bacon, eggs, toast, and orange juice before, then looked back up at Mitchie who gave her and approving look. Without a second thought she began to shovel anything and everything on her plate into her hungry mouth. She didn't even slow down to taste the food, just inhaled it as fast as she could. Mitchie had been pretty hungry herself and ate her food quite fast as well, but not the extent that Alex did. She was not disgusted by the almost savage behavior before her though, for she knew the poor girl had to be positively starving. She was mostly just thrilled she was eating again and hoped that Alex never did something like that again lest she harm herself. Alex ate two platefuls of breakfast before she slowed down enough to feel full. When she did finally feel satisfied, she dabbed a napkin to her chin, and again stared at Mitchie who was sipping on a cup of coffee and staring out at the field of flowers she had created.
"How did you know?" Alex asked, finally gathering her capacity to speak after another long silent pause.
"How did I know what?" Mitchie was confused by the question, but turned to look at Alex as she proceeded to sip on her coffee.
"Purple Hyacinth and pink Azaleas…they are my favorite," Alex droned.
"Well, my dear, my workers are just as much my friends as they are yours. If I have a question they will never hesitate to answer, nor keep anything a secret from me," Mitchie responded, a slight smile forming on her lips behind the coffee cup. Alex immediately knew that the only person in this house that she had mentioned it to was Harper, and figured Mitchie must have spoken with the girl at some point to figure Alex out. It agitated her that Mitchie had done so, but knowing that Mitchie had done her research and worked so hard this morning to create such a masterwork for her made it very difficult to stay frustrated.
"It was a kind gesture Mitchie, but I hope you don't think I fully forgive you just because you planted some flowers and ate breakfast with me," Alex dallied seeing Mitchie's face go red with embarrassment. Mitchie did not respond to Alex's declaration simply because she did not know how to, and rather than taking another risk of angering her further, she assumed silence was her best option.
Mitchie's silence and somberness made Alex feel she had hurt Mitchie's feelings by being so curt with her. After all this woman did at least try to do anything within her power to make-up for the last couple of days. Alex had to remind herself that Mitchie was her original captor and she was supposed to have been dead for days now, but instead Mitchie had opened her heart as well as her home to Alex; a gesture that in itself could not go unrecognized no matter how Mitchie acted.
"When I was a little girl, right as my mother was beginning to get sick and my father had to start working more to pay for all the medical expenses to try and keep her alive; he would come home late and routinely would come in the house kiss my forehead, and then give my mother one purple Hyacinth and one pink Azalea. He repeated this night after night until the day she died. He used to tell her 'one purple Hyacinth in apology for having to work so much and not be here with you, and one pink azalea to remind you to take care of yourself for me.' When she died we buried her in thousands of those flowers; they had become her favorite. I even took them to her grave every year by the bushel. To this day they remind me of her smile and how happy she would get every time he would walk into that house with them. Almost as if she never caught onto the routine and it was a surprise every day," Alex recalled after the lingering silence before. Her eyes watered up at the memories of her mother; the memories of life before her mother's death had ruined her father and their family's life. She used all the strength she had to hold back her tears in front of Mitchie, but Mitchie saw the struggle and leaned into Alex grabbing her hands up in her own.
"Hush now, if I would have known the history behind those flowers I would have never planted them. This is all my fault, please don't cry," Mitchie pleaded squeezing Alex's small hands tight. She was now sitting close enough to Alex that their knees were touching and their heads were close. Mitchie could smell the sweet pomegranate bath oils on Alex's skin, and that smell always drove her wild with passion. She felt her blood begin to boil within her as she remained so close to the ravishing beauty before her.
"No Mitchie, don't feel bad. I love the flowers very much so, and my memories tied to the flowers are good ones. It is why they are my favorite flowers. You did good by planting so many for me, it makes me feel as if my mother is here with me," Alex smiled through her tears. She took only one of her hands from Mitchie's to wipe the tears away for she quite liked the feel of Mitchie's warm hands secure around her own. It wasn't until she had finished weeping that she realized she was closer to Mitchie than she had been to anyone before. She could feel one of Mitchie's knees resting between her own knees, and was surprised at her resistance to move away. The sat there for a moment holding hands, staring into the other's eyes, both enjoying the touch of the other. When the cleaning staff came to clean the left over dishes and remnants Mitchie became uncomfortable, broke away from Alex's grasp, and cleared her throat.
"Miss Alex, Master Valen and I would greatly appreciate your accompaniment on the beach this afternoon, as well as your presence at dinner. We will be leaving here in approximately one hour, should you like to accompany us you may return to your chambers to get ready to do so. I truly hope you accept my dear," Mitchie stated standing to her feet and attempting to straighten her hopelessly messy shirt. Alex stifled a giggle at Mitchie's apprehension and sweetly accepted her offer. Mitchie smiled, knelt down to a knee before Alex, and kissed the knuckles of her hand in appreciation, then went off to her room to get ready for the beach.
Alex went back to her room as well to get ready, now feeling ten times better having finally eaten, as well as excited to spend time with Mitchie and Valen on the beach. She put on a light yellow sundress, some big shades, and light-weight sandals. She rushed out of her bedroom door after getting ready and down to the front porch where she found Mitchie and Valen already awaiting her arrival.
"Hey!" Valen called out rushing up to Alex to give her a hug as if he had missed her so.
"Hey buddy, you ready to go to the beach?" Alex asked him after their hug. He nodded his head with a huge smile across his lips.
Mitchie walked up, grabbed one of Valen's hands, leaving Alex to grab the other, and soon enough they started their short walk down the path that lead to Mitchie's private beach. Valen Laughed and swung himself between Mitchie and Alex's grasps on either one of his hands. The closer they got to the water, the more the small boys eyes lit up. When their feet finally touched sand they let go of his hands, and Valen raced straight towards the water. Alex called out to him to be careful, nervous that he would drown being so young, but Mitchie reassured her that Valen loved the water, but he was never brave enough to let it get past his ankles. Alex stopped panicking and walked side by side with Mitchie along the beach as Valen ran through the water alongside them.
"Look Alex, I know you are sore on this subject, but I would like you to watch Valen for me," Mitchie began, and when she saw Alex start to object she cut her off before she could, "please, let me explain. I'm not asking you as 'Mitchie the big business tycoon making a proposition in place of your life.' I am asking as one human being who works hard and long hours in desperate need of someone to watch Valen. You would be paid, very well, for your services, and wouldn't even be treated like 'the help.' I honestly don't treat any of my workers as if they are lower class or beneath me, they are just as much family as any, and most of them have worked with me for years because I've been so good to them."
"Mitchie it is a nice offer, and I believe that you would be good to me, but why me? Why not Harper or one of the workers you have had for years. Someone you know and trust. You barely know me, so how could you trust me enough to watch your kid?" Alex protested softly occasionally finding herself gazing longingly through her shades at Mitchie. Mitchie stepped closer to Alex as they walked; so close their arms brushed together occasionally sending chills down both spines.
"I've already tried everyone else, including Harper who watches him now. He doesn't open up or talk to anyone like he does you. I saw him the first day you came here and his ball had bounced into the room you were in. He has not talked to anybody aside from me in a very long time. He likes you a lot, and it was when I saw the way you two interacted with each other I got the idea. I wasn't thinking about death or repayment of debts or business. I was thinking of Valen," Mitchie relayed. Alex was touched by the sincerity in Mitchie's voice, and the compassion she showed for Valen. They walked in silence for a few minutes, aside from Valen still splashing in the water beside them. Then Mitchie spoke up again, "and by the way, Valen's not my son."
"Oh he's not? Wow, he looks just like you, I'm sorry I assumed," Alex instated. Mitchie smiled an arrogant grin and let out a slight chuckle at the girl's discomfiture.
"He's my little brother," Mitchie finished getting serious once again, "my father died in the war months before Valen was even born, and my mother became extremely depressed that she had lost him, along with post-partum depression after Valen was born. We like to joke around here and say that she had died of a broken heart mostly for Valen to understand for now, but the truth is she killed herself about three years ago. She couldn't handle my father's death or the world around her. Luckily for Valen and me, my father had time to educate me on the family business. He originally thought I was going to be an only child and he wanted to keep the business in the family. I think he died not knowing about Valen. Anyways, it's been me and Valen ever since. I think he looks to me as a mother type figure, but he still understands I'm only his sister," Mitchie confessed hanging her head down, having the slightest difficulty in reliving the painful memory.
"Oh Mitchie, I am so sorry. I know what it is like to lose a parent, but I'm afraid I do not know what it is like to lose both. I am luckier than I thought I suppose," Alex comforted. Mitchie liked that Alex didn't pretend to know how she felt or proceed to tell her what she should do. Alex had simply listened to the story and expressed her sorrow for Mitchie's loss. It was like a breath of fresh air for Mitchie, and it proved to be quite comforting. It was this moment she realized she was falling for this beautiful young woman beside her, and it scared her to death.
"He has been this way since her death, even though it seems he's too young to remember such an event. I like seeing him like this, happy and open," Mitchie said staring off at Valen still playing in the water beside them. Alex saw the most sincere look she had ever seen in anyone's eyes before in Mitchie's now. Alex stopped walking and grabbed Mitchie's slightly larger hands in her own.
"I would love to watch after Valen, don't worry about him he will be fine. Just let me know what time I need to be up in the morning and I will do it gladly," she stated, causing a huge smile to form across Mitchie's lips. Mitchie nodded her head in approval, dropped Alex's hands, and turned to offer her arm. Alex hooked her arm through Mitchie's, and allowed herself to be lead the rest of the way back from the beach. She had her hesitancies about walking with Mitchie in this manner, but it had felt so right to be touching her, and after all she was the master of the house, she couldn't get herself to break away. In fact, she could only draw closer to Mitchie, letting her side brush up against her and soon holding onto Mitchie's arm with both hands. She knew she had never felt like this with another person and she didn't intend on losing the feeling after it had taken her so long to find it. Alex knew at this point she liked Mitchie, perhaps a little more than she should, and with Mitchie's constant flirting, she didn't see any resistance on Mitchie's part either.
"Well, I shall see you tonight at dinner?" Mitchie quizzed as they approached the house again after their walk on the beach.
"Yes you shall, I wouldn't miss such an opportunity as to eat dinner with you Mitchie Torres," Alex responded feeling a little more flirty than usual as she drew closer to Mitchie for a goodbye hug. She could smell Mitchie's perfume on her neck, and it intoxicated her very being. She had to shake her head and grab a hold of herself as she pulled away from the hug just to keep from acting on any new strange feeling of attraction she now had.
"Good then! Master Valen will be retiring early this evening so it will be just me and you tonight. I am greatly looking forward to it! Same time as always," Mitchie called out to Alex as she stumbled backwards off to her office. Mitchie was so shaken up from the hug that she cursed her legs for not working properly beneath her when she fumbled around. Alex giggled at Mitchie's awkwardness, sensing that it had something to do with the hug. Then she too headed off to her own room to do a few chores for the day and then get ready for her dinner with Mitchie.
She bathed the sweat and sand away, then dressed herself in a dress that was a deep purple with light purple trim. It hugged all of her curves magnificently, and pushed her breasts up so much, they looked as if they were about to burst. She wore her long dark hair wavy down her back. She even applied make-up the same way Harper had done the other evening for dinner, and did almost a better job than her maid had done. She spritzed herself in one of the near-by perfumes before checking herself out in the mirror and then heading off to dinner, this time not being escorted by anyone. She had noticed the fact that she wasn't being escorted that evening but didn't think too much of it as she entered through the big dining room doors to find the lights dimmed low, and candles spread and lit along the large dining table. The lovely sound of a violin, cello, guitar, and bass floated throughout the air from the four men that created it in a corner on the far side of the room. Alex's eyes jumped from one thing to the next as everything her eyes touched continued to further take her breath away, until her eyes reached the head of the table where Mitchie was sitting. Alex couldn't breathe, move, or swallow when her eyes beheld the beauty grinning her way at the end of the table.