Dlbn: Back with another chapter!
Nbld: Warning. Hints of rape and a discussion of said events as based on the way rape law was back in the 1950's. Any and all resemblance to any persons, living or dead, or any events, is purely coincidental. Read at your own risk, or skip this chapter if you'd like.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Daughters of the Moon or anyone in it. That all belongs to Lynne Ewing. I make NO money off of this work of fiction.
Disclaimer 2: Yvonne's boss, friends, and family do belong to me. That is all.
000
Guys like them didn't fall for girls like her. Guys like them didn't even look at girls like her. She was sure of that, but she couldn't help but let her blue eyes linger over the trio of males sitting in booth three. Gliding over easily on roller skates, Yvonne gave a bright, cheery smile from her pink painted lips. Blonde hair was pinned up and out of the way, a few loose curls tumbling down her neck. She set down a brown serving tray.
"Three steaming orders of scrambled eggs and bacon with hot toast, two hot coffees-one with only milk and one with only sugar-and one black tea." She greeted them.
The two sitting together gave her an amused look. The blonde across from them smiled gently at her as if to apologize for his friends' behavior.
"Quite a memory." The brunette grins at her. "And yet wasting her life away as a waitress. How sad."
She smoothed out her pink poodle skirt and smiled gently. "It's not wasting your life if you enjoy it, darling." She informed, taking the tray. "I hope you enjoy your meals. Give me a holler if you need me." She skated off, ignoring the stares she felt on her backside.
"What creeps." Another waitress commented softly as Yvonne stopped at the counter with the empty tray.
"Amanda, be nice." Yvonne ordered. "They're customers!"
"Mr. Lancington doesn't even ogle us like that." She nodded softly towards their boss.
He was sitting at the far end of the counter, eyeing the girls over the top of his newspaper as he smoked. He was a large, balding man with dark brown eyes, and an attitude as repugnant as his scent.
"Yes, but they're customers. You have to be polite. What if they call you for help?"
"With the way they're looking at you, they won't even bat an eye in my direction, doll." Amanda huffed, taking an empty tray and skating to a recently vacated table to clean it.
Yvonne ignored her and helped a couple to the empty seventh booth. The rather rude trio laughed as the dyed blonde whistled crudely at her while she passed. She rolled her hazel eyes at them and apologized to the couple she was seating.
"I'm ever grateful for your attention, however, this is a family establishment." She gestured to a couple families with children and currently seething fathers, "I, and everyone else here, would appreciate it if you saved the rudeness for after hours."
"I'm so sorry, Miss." The one who whistled spoke, his words dripping with sarcasm. "I won't do it again, I assure you. Sorry to offend." He extended, rather loudly, the fake apologies to the families she had pointed out.
She rolled her eyes not buying it, but thanked him anyway and turned to leave. A hand grasped a little too roughly at her backside and she squeaked, turning back to face them angrily. The brunette was sheepishly waving at her as his friend sitting beside him laughed. She wanted to slap him, but she held back.
"Do you mind, sir?" She wondered.
"I'm not a 'sir', lady." He stated.
"Karyl, quit it. You too, Tymmie." The quiet blonde finally spoke.
"Hey, what did I do?" The dyed blonde wondered as the other sulked for being scolded.
"My apologies, Miss." The blonde stated.
"Sorry…" Karyl muttered.
Tymmie rolled his eyes. "Sorry, though I didn't do anything…"
"You whistled." Stanton stated. "Stop."
"But."
Stanton gave him a look. Tymmie slowly closed his mouth into a pout, doing as the blonde ordered.
"It's quite alright." She sighed. "Just tone it down, please." She skated away.
Amanda sighed, pulling Yvonne closer by the arm as she got to the counter.
"You've got guts, girl!" Amanda giggled. "I could never stand up to them like that…"
Yvonne shrugged one shoulder. "Sometimes you have to stand up for what's right, Amanda." She replied.
She couldn't help but toss a look back over her shoulder at the table, giving the trio a gentle glance. The blonde, quite obviously the boys' leader, gave her a small smile back. She couldn't forget him for the rest of the day.
000
Yvonne gently pushed the now unlocked front door of her home open. Her fiancé hadn't shown up to pick her up after work, so Amanda's father had dropped her off after picking Amanda up. Yvonne put down her pale pink purse and pranced through the house, skirt flailing around her. It didn't really surprise her that her fiancé hadn't shown up, as his work had been keeping him late rather recently. She wasn't too surprised. He was one of the most demanded lawyers in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She considered herself lucky that she had met the bachelor before anyone, including her much prettier elder sister, could sweep him off his feet. Her sister had found a good man, a doctor, a few years later and they were set to be wed three months after Yvonne and Kevin were. Yvonne paused at the top of the staircase as she heard noises coming from the bedroom. It sounded like Kevin was moaning. Was he injured? Or sick? Was that why he hadn't come to get her?
Yvonne quietly crept up to the door to their bedroom. She heard the bed moving a little as if he had shifted positions. The poor dear. Maybe he was sick. She went to the bathroom and retrieved a rag that she quickly wet with cold water and draped over her wrist to carry to the bedroom. She gently pressed the door open.
"Kevin, darling?" She wondered. "Are you alright? I heard some moaning. Are you sick? You didn't get me after…" She paused, halfway in the doorway and halfway in the room.
The sight before her made her drop the rag, and clench at her chest in shock, grabbing at the purple heart-shaped medallion he had bought her for their anniversary a month prior. Her other hand flew to her mouth to both cover her shock and prevent bile from spewing out. Kevin was in the room, but not laying down in pain as she had assumed. Instead he sat at the edge of the bed with his trousers around his ankles. Her elder sister knelt between his slightly spread knees, Anastasia, her lips poised gently around the head of her husband's most private area, that even Yvonne hadn't seen yet. Her baby blue poodle skirt was hiked up to show her pale pink panties and her shirt was pulled off the shoulder to show off her creamy skin and the lacy pink bra she wore under her shirt. Kevin's nimble fingers were twisted into her pale brown hair, holding her in place. His shirt was on, but it was unbuttoned and the cuffs to the sleeves were undone. His mouth was open slightly and a light sheen of sweat was trailing down his chest and well toned stomach.
Time seemed to freeze as the three of them exchanged worrisome, troubled glances. Anastasia was the first to move, quickly pulling her skirt down over her legs to hide her shame and fixed her shirt. She pulled back and glared as if Yvonne was the one at fault.
"Don't you know how to knock, 'Vone?" She wondered in a huff. "We were busy."
Kevin was a bit more ashamed at the predicament his fiancé had caught him in. he hastily buttoned his shirt and pulled his pants up to cover his shame as well, but the damage was done. Yvonne looked away as hot tears burned at her eyes.
"Kevin…" She muttered softly in distain. "Annie…how could you?!"
"Yvonne, allow me to explain…" Kevin began slowly.
"I don't want to hear it!" Yvonne glared. "I cannot believe what I'm seeing! 'Kept late at the office' my fanny! How long has this been going on? Does Alexander know?"
Anastasia's fiancé.
"Of course he doesn't know, you fool." Her sister sneered, standing and fixing her hair, which was tangled from Kevin's fingers being lost in it moments ago. "Why would I ever tell him? And what would tell him? That your fiancé has a better cock then he does?"
"Stasia!" Yvonne scolded.
Their parents, particularly her late mother, would be appalled at her sister's language.
"What? It's true! Alex doesn't even know what to do with a woman like me." She huffed.
"You're no lady! You're a harlot!" Yvonne cried.
Her sister ignored her. "All grabby with my breasts. He doesn't even wait until I finish." She ran a hand down her body, finally landing it on her hips. "But Kevin, oh, Kevin is a most wondrous lover. He always makes sure I finish first before he even thinks of completing. He's not gentle and slow like stupid old Alex. He does me rough and fast, and hard. Just like a woman should be screwed."
"Anastasia Tucker, that is enough!" Yvonne bellowed. She took three quick steps to Kevin, bypassing her sister. "You've been having…relations…with my sister behind my back? How long has this been going on?"
"Four months." He looked away, not really seeming to care about what he'd done. "It is not as big of a deal as you're making it, Yvonne."
"How is it not a big deal?!" She flailed her arms a little. "The two people I trust the most are messing around behind my back, and it's not as big a deal as I'm making it?" She screeched.
"Calm down." Anastasia ordered. "You're freaking out for no reason! Maybe if you put out instead of being such a conservative little prude, he wouldn't have had to go to me for some loving." She sneered. "Come on, Yvonne, show Kevin the goods, hm?" She reached for her sister's blouse button, only for the younger woman to shove her hand away.
"Don't touch me!" Yvonne ordered. "Who knows who else you've been doing this with!"
"I'm not a whore, Yvonne. It's only Kevin and Alex. And once you two are wed, we promised to stop. Kevin here even offered to give my Alex a few lessons."
"You're…you're disgusting! Corrupted!" Yvonne's heart stopped racing now as pure anger filled her. "How could you do this to me? How? We've been through so much together, Annie. We're all we had after mother died. Father was withdrawn and…"
"Father never gave us the attention we needed. Of course I'd turn to other men to give me the love and affection my dear old daddy didn't."
He was anything but dear, after their mother died, that was.
"Annie…" Yvonne couldn't help the light tears that trailed from her left eye.
Kevin reached to console her, but she slapped him away. "Don't you touch me either!" She slapped him across the face. "How dare you?"
"How dare I?" Kevin snarled. 'How dare you!" He slapped her back, grabbing her by the wrist when she stumbled and cried out. "How dare you raise a hand to me, young lady?" He snarled. "I think you better learn some manners." He shoved her onto the bed and wrapped his hands around her throat, pushing his knee between hers. She clawed at him to try and stop him.
Anastasia merely stood there, picking at blue painted fingernails. "Kevy, don't get so pissy." She stated, plopping down next to her sister as her fiance's hands loosened before letting her go.
Yvonne gasped for breath as she sat up, only to be pushed back and held down by her sister's hand on her shoulder.
"It looks like Alex isn't the only one that needs lessons." Anastasia grinned wickedly and slid a hand up under her sister's skirt, fingers dancing up her leg.
Yvonne recoiled in horror. "Annie, what are you saying…?"
Kevin smirked. "Lock the door."
000
Yvonne was sore, bloody, and bruised by the time she managed to stumble onto the plantation style front lawn of Amanda's home. A maid who was sweeping the porch noticed her quickly.
"Madam Amanda! Monsieur Blake!" She called, holding up her skirt as she rushed down the stairs to Yvonne's aid. "Miss Yvonne, are you alright, my dear?"
"No…" Yvonne huffed. "H…Help me…"
The front door to the home opened and Amanda's father stepped out, his daughter at his side. He wiped his mouth with a dinner napkin.
"What's the fuss out here Giselle?" He wondered.
"Oh my goodness! Yvonne!" Amanda leapt from the front porch and rushed to her friend's aid.
Her father settled his eyes on Yvonne almost immediately. "Great Scott…"
"Yvonne, darling, what happened?" Amanda fussed, helping her friend from her left as the maid assisted on the right. "Did you run into those creeps from the diner?"
"K-Kevin…" Yvonne muttered.
"Is Kevin alright?" Mr. Blake wondered, offering Yvonne a hand.
She gently took it, knowing that he would never hurt her. He was like a second father to her and her sister, ever since their father took to moonshine when her mother died.
"He…and Annie…"
"What's happened to Annie?" Amanda wondered.
They rushed her into the living room, where she sat on the couch. Amanda sat next to her, holding her hand gently.
"Alright, everyone, calm down." Mr. Blake stated. "Giselle, get me some bandages and cold rags, alright?"
"Right away, monsieur." Giselle curtseyed and rushed off.
"Darling, what on earth happened to you? Should I call the police? Are Anastasia and Kevin alright?"
"They…they did this…" Yvonne was seething as tears flowed. "My sister held me down while Kevin…he…"
"Oh dear lord!" Amanda cried, covering her mouth. "Oh, father…"
He pressed his lips into a fine line. "I'm calling the police." He stated. "Do not tell me know, Yvonne." He rushed off.
"Yvonne, darling…" Amanda ran her fingers gently through her friend's hair to console her. "What happened? Why would they…?"
"When I got home, I heard moaning." Yvonne took a sip from a cup of water another maid appeared with. "I thought he was sick, so I got a wet rag for his head and opened the door…and they were…she had…it…in her mouth…" Yvonne burst into tears. "Oh, Amanda, it was ghastly! The things coming out of my sister's mouth!" Yvonne wept. "Oh, you'd never believe! She's a harlot, and adulterer! Oh, poor Alex will be devastated…"
"Don't you worry about Alex, dear, worry about you!"
Her father returned with Giselle and what she had gathered for him.
"Amanda, could you please go and await the arrival of the police in the foyer?" He wondered.
"But father…" Amanda's eyes pleaded for him to let her stay.
He sighed. "Oh, alright. Miranda, would you be a dear?" He turned to the second maid.
"Of course, sir." She curtseyed before leaving.
"Now, there's only so much I can do here." Mr. Blake stated. "The police will have you examined, so I need to be careful. I can clean up these arms and that pretty little face of yours, alright?"
"I don't want to fuss…" Yvonne whispered. "I want this whole ugly mess to just…just go away…"
"Hush now." He ordered, gently cleaning a wound on her right temple. "I know the police technically can't do anything about it due to the laws, but we should at least have a record written, and…"
"Wait, father." Amanda stated. "Does this mean that Annie and Kevin won't be punished for what they did?"
"I'm sorry, darling, I know it's unfortunate and unfair, but that's the way things are. Yvonne and Kevin were betrothed."
"So this is alright?" Amanda stood angrily. "Father, they can't simply…"
"They can and they will. Hush your tongue, Amanda." He ordered.
"…Yes, father…"
Yvonne blushed madly as her friend's father cleaner the wounds he could without causing the police any troubles. Inside, she was both deeply upset and fuming mad. How could her sister and fiancé, the supposed love of her life, do this to her? First they were having an affair, then they worked together to have Kevin rape her, all because she got mad and slapped him? It wasn't fair! And now, Amanda's father was telling her that the police wouldn't do anything about it? This was absurd! They had to be punished.
She answered questions the police asked as quickly and as calmly as she could, given the circumstances. The officer promised to go and speak to both Kevin and Amanda, and said that if Yvonne did want to press charges, she could, but at the risk of being ostracized for it. She was willing to take the risk, but she wasn't exactly surprised when, before the officer offered her the option and the warning, Mr. Blake slipped a large bill into the man's hand.
000
The proceedings following her report of the incident went as anyone would have thought. The local doctor checked her out, gave her some medication, and sent her on her merry way back with Mr. Blake and Amanda. When Kevin showed up at their plantation to retrieve her, Yvonne was only slightly surprised that Mr. Blake hit him and sent him packing. It was known all over town that such a thing had happened and that it was Yvonne herself that had reported it. She was chastised by some of the other ladies in town. Anastasia hadn't gotten off completely free either. She retrieved more disdainful looks from the elder ladies in town. Alex hadn't taken to the news that his wife was having an affair and had helped her lover rape his own wife; her own sister. He broke off their engagement and tried to be a form of moral support for Yvonne, but she kept him at arm's distance; fearful that people would talk. As the days went on, all talk of the situation eventually simmered down before disappearing completely. Yvonne no longer got disdainful looks, but Anastasia wasn't all that lucky. She was an adulterer, as it were, and she had to suffer for it. She tried to be friendly with her younger sister, but Yvonne pushed her away. She was fearful that if she got close, her sister would pull the same trick again; lure her somewhere for Kevin to come and get his revenge. Anastasia moved into Yvonne and Kevin's former home with the man, and announced their engagement three months later. Only a few knew they were only hastily marrying because she had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Yvonne didn't know who she felt sorry for more. Herself or the baby in her sister's stomach.
"Do you have to go, Yvonne?" Amanda wondered.
She, her father, her fiancé Michael and Anastasia's ex Alex, stood at the train station with Yvonne. Unable to handle all the rumors circulating around town and her own sister's horrid actions, she had decided to move up north. A brown suitcase sat at her feet. She didn't want to leave her friends behind-they'd been very kind to her, taking her in and shielding her from Kevin-but she didn't see that she had much of a choice. The local locomotive was making a run up north, as far as Canada, but she planned on getting off when it stopped in New York or Pennsylvania.
"I wish I didn't, Amanda, but I have to." Yvonne stated. "I can't stay in this town anymore. Too many bad memories." She pushed a stray hair behind her ear. "I am truly thankful to you all, and I do hate to leave, but I fear that Tulsa no longer has a place for myself. Too many talk."
Alex smiled gently. "You will always have a home with us, my dear." He stated, kissing her knuckles. "Do stay out of trouble, would you kindly?"
"Yes sir." She curtseyed politely.
"Now what have I told you about calling me that, my little flower?" He chuckled.
"Pardon." She smiled gently.
"I hate to rush on, but I do have to get to the office." Alex stated gently. "Do call once you've arrived, safe and sound, alright?"
"Alright." She agreed.
He kissed her cheek and left. Michael bid his farewells as well and followed Alex off to the hospital, where they both worked. Mr. Blake bid his farewell and offered her good tidings before leaving his daughter alone with her friend. Amanda pulled Yvonne into a quick hug.
"Oh, I'm going to miss you!"
"I'm going to miss you as well." Yvonne stated, pulling away and holding Amanda's hands between her own. "I shall write you every day."
"Oh, you better!" Amanda pouted. "I won't stand for anything less, Miss Tucker."
They giggled.
"All aboard!" The train conductor shouted.
"There's my ride." Yvonne stated sadly.
"Goodbye, my darling. I hope you find what you're looking for up north."
"Thank you, my dear."
They shared a final hug before Yvonne hopped onto the train. She almost slipped, but a strong hand wrapped around her waist and steadied her.
"Careful." A voice that was slightly familiar greeted her.
She gently pushed blonde bangs from her eyes. "Thank you." She stated. "I'm in such a rush to leave that I wasn't being careful."
"Running to anywhere in particular?" He helped her walked down the rows of seats in the train until he found one with two empty seats. "Or…perhaps running from something?"
She blushed. "You don't know who I am?" She wondered. "Are you from out of town?"
"No, but I have been gone a few months." He stated. "I only stopped by to visit relatives. I'm heading back north."
"I'm heading north, too." She bit her lip gently. "I'm so sorry, but you seem so familiar…"
"Ah, perhaps you'd recognize me better if I was sitting in a diner, across from two flirtatious males. One that whistled in your direction and one that grabbed your backside?"
She blinked. "You're…you're that blonde from the diner!"
He smiled gently, his smile dazzling as it reached his almost translucent blue eyes.
"That would be me." He stated. "How have you been, Miss Yvonne?"
"I've been better…"
"Oh? I'm sorry to hear." He offered condolences. "May I inquire as to why…?"
She shrugged, slightly self conscious. "My…um…my fiancé and I…are no longer together."
"Ah, that's unfortunate." He stated. "He doesn't know what he's missing out on."
She blushed.
"Don't worry, I'm not like my friends, I assure you. And I do apologize for their inappropriate behavior that day. They're not quite accustomed to dealing with other people."
"It's quite alright. All in a day's work…my day got progressively worse, if it's any consolation."
"How could it be any consolation when a dear woman like yourself suffers?"
"My, you're a charmer." She giggled. "Oh, how terribly rude of me! You know my name, but I have yet to hear yours."
"Stanton." He offered simply.
"Yvonne Tucker…but you knew the first part already."
He smiled gently. "So, Miss Tucker, care to tell me what it is you're running from?"
"How did you know I was running from something?"
"I didn't."
"But…"
"You just told me, dear." He chuckled.
The conductor asked for their tickets, which they gave, before walking down to get the other passengers' tickets. She waited until he was far enough away to speak again.
"My ex-fiancé, I walked in on him and my sister being…intimate…"
"Oh my." He leaned back, biting his lip in annoyance. "Men like that give us all a bad name."
"I get the feeling that you're not exactly a good guy, either."
He smirked. "Now you're getting it." He stated. "But at least I don't hide behind a mask and masquerade as one of the good guys. I take it this isn't the end of your story, Miss Tucker."
"My sister assisted him in…assaulting…"
"Ah, you mean r…"
"Don't say it!" She pushed a finger to his lips, blushing bright red. She sat back. "But yes." She sighed. "That is what happened…I did a bad thing…"
"It wasn't your fault." He assured her.
"I ignored warnings of Mr. Blake and I went on with prosecuting it. Kevin got off with a slap on the wrist, and Annie…oh, Annie didn't even care about what she'd done. She tried to be my friend; even after moving into my home with him and getting pregnant, thus rushing into this stupid wedding of theirs." She paused. "And her ex-fiancé, Alex, the poor man was so shaken up. He hadn't expected something like this. He and I stayed close…" She paused again. "The rumors and the glares and the accusations died down after a while, but Tulsa is no longer a home for me. I can't stay here…so I'm heading north."
"And where do you plan on staying? With family?"
"No, the only family I have is…" She paused.
Were her abusive, alcoholic father and manipulating, betraying, two-faced sister really her family anymore?"
"I don't have any family. Mother died when I was a child." She stated. "Dad's abusive and drunk, and, well, you know about Annie…"
"A harlot." He rubbed his chin a bit. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's the nicest thing you could call her after the stunts she pulled."
"You're not going to the wedding, I assume."
"If I did, I'd only be hurt again. I swear, they've been planning on getting me alone with them again so they can repeat it as punishment for me prosecuting him…"
"Ah, it wouldn't surprise me, after what you've told me."
She nodded and looked away. "What about you? What's your story?"
"It's a long one, my dear, I assure you." He replied smoothly.
"I have the time."
He smiled gently. "Nothing much to say, really. It's just me, Karyl, and Tymmie, for as long as I could remember. We have a new friend up in the north now, Maury, but he's not all that social." He stated.
"What about your family?"
He bit his lip. "Mother died shortly after my birth. I have brothers, but none of them wanted anything to do with me. And father?" He huffed. "Even on his deathbed, he disowned me."
"Oh dear…I'm sorry, I shouldn't…"
"Don't apologize. I pried."
She sighed. "I suppose…so you live with these friends of yours?"
He nodded. "Ever since we were young." He stated. "We don't need much else."
"They're like your family. Like the Blakes were for me."
"Ah, no." He shook his head. "I wouldn't call them my family, and I'm sure the sentiment is shared. We can't stand one another most of the time."
"Family disagrees."
He chuckled. "It's more then that, Miss Tucker."
"Please call me Yvonne."
"As you wish, Yvonne." He smiled gently.
They stayed in silence for a while.
"I thought you were visit relatives…" She spoke gently.
"My aunt is ill, that's all." He stated. "I don't consider them family. They don't want anything to do with me unless they need money or someone's dying."
"I'm sorry…"
"It's fine. That's just how it has to be. A day in the life. Or as they say in Latin, in die illa a vita."
"You speak Latin?"
"Fluently." He nodded.
"That's rather rare. I'm pretty well versed in French, myself."
"Parlez-vous France?"
"Oui, monsieur!" She giggled. "A man of many languages."
He chuckled. "You have no idea."
As the train left the station, she pondered just what he meant…and why she had so easily opened up to this delinquent from Tulsa.
000
Stanton had been quite the gentleman on the trip over, much like her Kevin had once been, but he assured her that he was not a masquerader like Kevin had been. She was inclined to believe him, for reasons she didn't exactly know. he had ordered her food for her, escorted her to and from the restroom, and had watched over her as she slept a few hours into the trip. They had conversed and shared laughter the way over. She learned a few things about him, and gave him a few pieces of information about herself. They were almost at the Pennsylvania stop when he offered her a proposal.
"Stay with you?" She wondered, taken aback. "With four unmarried, unwed gentlemen? How crude…"
"It's only as crude as you think it, dear." He stated. "If anyone outside the home asks, you're my sister. No one will be any wiser." He smiled. "It's safer then having no idea of where you're going."
"I suppose that's true…but I don't exactly know you. And your friends are…"
"Pigs?"
"Well…"
He chuckled. "Believe me, they know."
She smiled gently. "I thank you kindly for the offer. I'll get a job and pay my fair share, I promise."
"So is that a yes, Miss Yvonne Tucker?"
Her smile grew. "Yes, Mr. Stanton…um….yes sir, it's a yes."
He chuckled.
"What's your last name, shall I ask?"
"I threw my last name away the day my father disowned me." He stated. "It's just Stanton now."
"Then…could I be just Yvonne now…?"
"You don't want to follow in my footsteps, Yvonne. I live in the darkness."
"I'm moving into your home with you and three other men with no idea of what I am doing or where I am, after having been raped by the former love of my life and my own elder sister and being forced to suffer through both humiliation and their scandalous behavior…and you think you walk in darkness? I'm drowning in it, Monsieur."
He considered her words, giving her a slightly wicked grin. "You've got bravado, ma'am." He stated. "I like that in a woman. So rare nowadays." He cleared his throat. "Oh, that came out hardly appropriate. My apologies."
"It's quite alright." She stated. "I'll take it as a compliment."
He smiled as the train pulled to a stop.
"Pittsburg, Pennsylvania!" The conductor shouted.
"Ah, this is our stop. Come, Yvonne." He took her by the hand and helped her out, assisting her with her bag as well.
She followed him out of the station and down the road, thinking of how crazy she was for doing this with a man she barely knew. She was almost certain that witchcraft was afoot here.
000
She had been living with Stanton and his otherwise creepy friends for two years. She'd grown accustomed to Tymmie and Karyl's ways of flirting, as well as Maury's cold aloofness. Stanton had changed slightly since she moved in; he was no longer an extreme gentleman, but rather a gentleman only at the right times and when necessary. The ruse that they were siblings worked in Pittsburg and no one thought it strange for longer then a few weeks. The apartment was quaint, other then being a filthy hovel most of the time due to the four men. She had pushed for them to get a television that had come on the market a year before, as it was slowly becoming the next big thing and she didn't want to miss out. She wasn't sure where Stanton got the money for it, as it was apparent that he and the others didn't work, and she knew he didn't take any of her money, but she wasn't going to ask. He often procured the things they wanted or needed rather easily for someone without funds. It was probably from inheritance from his aunt, who he informed her had died a month after he had visited. For a man whose aunt had died, he wasn't overly concerned with it and refused to attend the funeral just to 'sate his family', as he had put it. She hadn't pressed the matter. She kept up with her promise of writing to Amanda weekly, sending them all on a Friday via mail so she would get them in bulk within a couple weeks. Amanda was happy that she was safe and found what she wanted, but warned her to be careful. After all, she'd known Kevin and Annie for years and they'd ended up betraying her. She was sure that Stanton and his friends, who he kept in line as if they were afraid he'd end their lives at a moment's notice, wouldn't betray her, but she promised to be careful. She knew very little of Annie, but Amanda said she and Kevin and their baby, Colt, had moved to Kansas to escape Amanda's persecution from the housewives in Tulsa. It was a small victory, but a victory none the less.
She was flipping through a housewives magazine she had picked up at the local market a few days before, deciding that she and her friends needed to make their dilapidated apartment on the outskirts of town look more like an apartment and less like, well, the hole in the wall that it really was. Tymmie flopped down on the couch next to her.
"Reading again?" He wondered. "Not very fitting of someone who hangs around here."
She shrugged. "Talking doesn't suit someone who hangs around here. Being human doesn't suit someone who hangs around here." She replied. "Yet we are all human and all talk."
"I wouldn't be so sure on the human part, if I were you." Tymmie chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. By now, she was used to his strange sense of humor and terribly jokes that made no sense, but seemed to make Karyl crack up at a moment's notice. The two of them were almost inseparable, she had noticed.
"I'm surprised you've lasted this long, honestly." He told her. "Most of them don't."
"Most of them?"
"Most of the people, most of the girls that Stanton brings around." Tymmie looked her up and down. "
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" She was only slightly offended.
After all, being curt and crude was the specialty of both Tymmie and Karyl. She wondered what in the world drew Stanton to them in the first place. He was much more of a gentleman then they were.
"It means what it does." Tymmie gently took the magazine from her, setting it on the table. "And he hasn't tried anything? He tries to protect you. What makes you so special? After all the girls that have come through here, why are you the special one?"
"Maybe he's just a gentleman…"
He laughed loudly. "A gentleman? Stanton? Honey, your ex-fiancé is more of a gentleman then Stanton will ever be."
Although they'd kept the details of the incident short, Yvonne and Stanton had still told the others, letting them know that there were boundaries that they were not allowed to cross. She slapped him.
"Tymmie, that's enough." Stanton scolded from the doorway. "Do what you came in here to do and leave."
"To do…?" She was slightly scared.
He huffed. "Yes, your highness." Tymmie pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her. "This came in the mail."
She took the letter. "Thank you, Tymmie."
"Whatever." He huffed hair from his eyes and brushed past Stanton, jarring him lightly as he left.
Stanton grabbed him by the upper arm and they held one another's eyes for a few moments before the blonde let his friend go. Yvonne ignored them both and opened up the letter. It was from Amanda, as usual.
Dearest Yvonne,
I still can't believe it's been two years, and you're still with those hoodlums. I know they treat you well and you're fine, but oh, how I worry.
I write to you this time with marvelous news! After trying for the past year and a half, Michael and I are pregnant! Can you believe it? Oh, I hope it's a little girl that I can dress up in the cutest little dresses, with ribbons and bows, like a real southern belle! Michael wants a boy, of course, to carry on the family name. Don't all men want that?
I hope you are fairing well. The baby shower is in two months, on May 17th. I do hope you can find the time to come and visit! We all miss you. Michael, papa, and I. Oh, and of course Alex. I think you have a chance with him, if only you'd come home. But I know you're stuck to Stanton and won't leave his side, so I guess Alex will have to wait. He's single, you know. He says he'll only date again if it's you. Girls throw themselves at him, but he ignores them all. You're lucky, darling.
Father is ill. He'll recover; it's just the flu. He wishes you well and hopes you one day return to Tulsa.
Love and kisses,
Amanda, Michael, papa, and baby to be.
Yvonne felt tears welling in her eyes and rubbed them away. "Stanton, can I go to Tulsa…?"
"Why?" He didn't sound angered, just curious.
"Amanda, my best friend, she's pregnant, and the baby shower is in May. I'd be ever so delighted if I could go…"
He shrugged. "It's your money. Just promise you'll come back for me."
"I shall." She promised.
He crossed the room at sat next to her. "You know, I do enjoy having you here."
"I enjoy being here."
"I heard what Tymmie said. Ignore him, would you? I think he's drunk or something. He seems out of it."
She nodded. "It certainly would not surprise me."
He, Karyl, and Maury had gotten drunk as a skunk the second night she was there. Memories of her father dancing in her head, she stayed awake throughout the night and several days after. Stanton had tossed the males out around five in the morning, noting that Yvonne hadn't slept in a few days, but they had come back. There were often talks about a man named Ethan wanting something from them or giving them orders. She had never met Ethan, but she was certain she never wanted to. He seemed like he was…kind of a jerk. Even worse then Kevin had been. Kevin…the name still made her blood boil.
"Is he there?" Stanton wondered. "You know…him?"
"My ex?" Yvonne asked. "Like I told you, he and Annie moved to Kansas."
He nodded. "That's true…what would you do if you saw either of them?"
"I…I don't know…I'd run, I guess…"
"You wouldn't…want revenge…?"
"Revenge?" She wondered. "How could I…?" She thought back to Tymmie's words. "You're not suggesting that we…?"
"No, not that. I don't go for that eye for an eye nonsense." He stated. "But if you could strike back…would you?"
"I…" She paused. "I suppose I would…why…?"
"Let me go with you. I have a feeling someone may show up uninvited."
"How would they know?"
"Oh, they'll know. Men like him have a way of finding out things."
She shrugged. "You can come with me if you'd like, but I can guarantee they won't be there."
"Don't guarantee unless you know."
"Do you know?"
"No."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, then. And thank you for escorting me."
"You're welcome."
If she could have seen the smirk behind his smile, she may not have let him go with her at all.
000
She was both completely surprised and incredibly mortified to spot Kevin, Annie, and what must have been their child, at the diner she used to work at, when she returned to Tulsa. She entered the diner with Stanton at her side, ignoring her sister, her new brother in law, and their bastard son. A brunette waitress behind the counter was facing away from them, but heard them sit down and turned around.
"What can I get for you?" She wondered.
"Two peach cobbler. The best thing on the menu, of course." Yvonne answered.
"Yvonne?!" She wondered, leaping over to hug her. "You're here, you're really…oh? Who's this?"
"Stanton." He answered, charmed.
Yvonne could feel Kevin's eyes burning into their skin as they spoke, but she paid it no mind.
"He's security." Yvonne giggled. "Some people in Tulsa aren't as welcoming and friendly as the others."
"Ah, you're Stanton." Amanda nodded. "Pleasure to formally meet you, then."
"Vonne?" Annie's voice wondered. "Is that really you?" she got off her stool and launched onto her sister, hugging her.
Yvonne noticed a bump on her sister's belly and groaned. "Pregnant by the pig again, eh, Annie?"
Kevin chuckled. "Jealous?"
"As if."
"This is your potential niece or nephew you are talking about, 'Vonne. Don't tell me you're still sore."
"You were right about your sister." Stanton informed. "Not a shred of remorse."
"And you are?" Kevin wondered, getting off his stool.
"Stanton." The blonde replied with a tilt of his head. "And you must be the pig Yvonne referred to moments ago, hm?"
"Stanton…" Yvonne whispered.
"Excuse me?"
Stanton stood, crossing his arms over his chest. Yvonne had learned over the past two years that Stanton loved to be challenged to a fight. He seemed empowered by it somehow.
"Don't." Yvonne ordered her roommate. "Yes, he's an ass and deserves whatever you decide to do to him, but not in the diner. There are customers."
"No there aren't." Stanton informed.
His eyes seemed to flash dangerously as families got up and left, leaving money on the tables without waiting for checks or change. Yvonne blinked. Had Stanton done that? The blonde male smirked.
"You were saying, Yvonne?" He wondered.
Before anyone could say more, Kevin took a swing. Stanton stepped out of the way and Kevin sailed past, crashing into the counter. Mr. Lancington came out from the back.
"What in the blazes is going on out here?" He wondered, wielding a steak knife. "Ah, Yvonne, here to beg for your job back?"
"I'm just visiting, sir." Yvonne wanted to hurl.
"Where'd all my customers go?"
"They left." Stanton gave the man a look over his shoulder.
Mr. Lancington paled. "H-Hello, Stanton." He greeted.
"Payton." Stanton greeted with a nod. "I think it's best you go back in the kitchen and let me settle this."
He was cut off as Kevin's fist collided. Yvonne pulled Annie behind the counter with her and Amanda. Her sister grabbed Colt from his stroller and pulled him close.
"Kevin, Kevin, please!" She begged. "Don't do this…"
"Oh, so now you object." Yvonne huffed.
"I'm sorry, 'Vonne. It was a stupid mistake. I shouldn't have done what I did. You just…you hit him and made me so mad…"
"I should hit you, but I won't because I don't want Colt seeing." She looked to Stanton, who was already done nursing his jaw where Kevin had hit him.
"You really shouldn't have done that." Stanton chuckled. He took a couple steps closer. "You have a wife and a child, and another child on the way. I suggest you stop acting like a fool and back off."
"Make me." Kevin puffed his chest out.
Yvonne couldn't hear what Stanton said next, not with her ears anyway, but nevertheless knew what he was saying.
Using violence and weapons only makes me stronger, Kevin Hartman. The words seemed to whisper across her mind. I wouldn't do that if I were you. Apologize to Yvonne for what you did to her, and take your family, and leave. And be sure to leave Amanda here a nice 50% tip while you're at it for interrupting her shift.
"Yvonne…" Kevin stated slowly. "I'm…deeply sorry for what I did…It was wrong of me…I was selfish and foolish. Can you…ever forgive me…?"
"Uh…I guess…?"
"What are you saying, Kevin?" Amanda wondered, surprised at the man's actions.
"Come on, Annie, let's go. We shouldn't interrupt the flow of the diner."
"Kevin, you're not talking like you." Annie informed. "Are you okay?"
"I think Kevin is realizing I'm right. He should stop acting like a fool and be a man." Stanton stated, cocky as Yvonne knew him to be. "Aren't you, Kevin?"
"Yeah." Kevin nodded. "He's right. Come on, Annie. Bring Colt and let's go."
"O-Okay…" She agreed. "Maybe we'll see you around, 'Vonne. We're here all week."
"Yeah, maybe." Yvonne nodded.
The couple left with their son, as Annie yelled at Kevin for leaving such a big tip.
"Is that…is that a 50% tip?"
"Fifty percent tip?" Mr. Lancington wondered. "How'd you pull that off?"
"You two know one another?" Yvonne wondered.
"Yeah, army days." Stanton replied.
"You were in the army…?" Yvonne wondered.
He shrugged.
"How old are you?" Amanda wondered.
"How rude." Mr. Lancington chuckled. "Amanda, why don't you go take that tip there, take the day off and spend it with Yvonne, hm?"
"Uh…alright…" Amanda scooped up the tip and shoved it into her pocket. "Thank you, sir…"
He nodded and went back into the kitchen. Stanton nodded at him through the serving window.
"You ladies have some fun. I'm getting some food. Stay safe, and stay away from Kevin and Annie. I'm not sure how long he'll stay nice."
The girls shared a look and left the diner.
"Are you sure he's safe…?" Amanda wondered.
"I'm…I'm not sure what he is, Mandy." Yvonne paused. "But he's done a good job of keeping me safe, even from his friends being creeps. The apartment could be better, but as you can see, he can clearly handle himself quite well."
"I see, but…"
"Let's go to your place. I want to see Michael and Papa Blake."
000
Yvonne wasn't sure what to think three months later when she was walking down the streets of Pittsburg, coming home from her at a local Malt Shoppe, and was roughly shoved into an alleyway with a familiar voice telling her to be quiet and do what she was told. She definitely wasn't sure what to think, but was definitely afraid, when she realized it was Kevin.
"Kevin?" She wondered. "How…how did you find me? Where is Annie? And Colt…?"
"They're back home. I'm here on business." He ran a hand along her face. "I couldn't help but come over once I saw pretty little Yvonne walking down the streets."
She pushed him away."Don't touch me, Kevin!"
He chuckled at her. "I'll do whatever I want, doll." He slid a hand up towards her breast. "Where's your little security guard now, hm? He won't be able to save you in time."
"I don't need to be saved. Leave me alone!"
"Make me." He kissed her.
She kneed him between the legs, causing him to double over.
"Bitch." He cursed as she tried to run. He grabbed her and stopped her.
"Help!" She cried loudly. "Someone help me!" She kicked and punched him, but he didn't let go.
"I'd let her go if I were you." A voice interrupted.
"Tymmie?" Yvonne wondered.
The dyed-blonde, who recently got his nose pierced on one side, she'd noticed, stood at the end of the alleyway, arms folded over his chest.
"Definitely not who I was expecting…" Kevin stated, running his hand up Yvonne's hip.
"Tymmie, help me!" She struggled. "Its Kevin!"
"Kevin, hm." Tymmie smirked. "Yo, Karyl! Looks like Yvonne's little brother in law decided to pay her a visit!"
Karyl joined him at the alley entrance, drinking from an open long necked bottle of beer.
"Ah, hell." He set the bottle down on a cardboard box. "Stanton isn't gonna like this."
"Looks like it lasted three months." Stanton spoke, joining his friends with the much shyer Maury at his side. "Damn it, Kevin, don't you know how to behave?"
"You again. just who I was looking for." Kevin pulled out a knife, throwing Yvonne towards the males.
She stumbled, but Tymmie and Karyl caught her and led her out of the alley.
"You okay?" Maury wondered, offering her a bottle of coke.
"I will be…he's such a creep!"
"He seems it. And that's saying something coming from me." Karyl grabbed his beer and went to take a sip, but Yvonne stole it and guzzled about half of it.
"Ha, girl's a drinker. Who knew?" Tymmie laughed.
"So that's where all that missing beer went…" Karyl stated sadly, swirling his almost empty bottle.
"I'll handle this." Stanton stated, cracking his knuckles. "You four go on home."
"But he has a knife…" Yvonne commented.
The males laughed.
Stanton cracked a smirk. "That just makes me fight harder."
Yvonne closed her eyes as she and the others ignored Stanton's warnings and stayed where they were. She gritted her teeth and tried to pretend they were somewhere else. Pretend that her father wasn't there beating Annie while she hid in the storage closet. Pretend that Stanton wasn't beating the tar out of Kevin, who had just tried to rape her, in an alleyway in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; thousands of miles from Tulsa. The sounds coming out of the alley, of silver slicing skin, of skin slamming into skin flooded her ears as she covered them with both hands. Kevin's knife skid out of the alleyway and landed by her foot. The other males didn't seem to notice, too busy wrapped up in a conversation about what to get for dinner after. She reached down and gingerly took the knife in her fingers. She risked a glance into the alley and spotted the two men at the end. Stanton was pinned to the wall by Kevin, who was poised to hit him, but didn't appear to have any injuries. A slice in his left sleeve showed that he was cut, but no blood fell from the wound. He held a smirk on his face, as if he was enjoying this.
"The more you hit, the stronger I get." Stanton warned. "Just quit now while you're ahead."
Kevin chuckled. "You won't be saying that once I bash your face in, pretty boy."
Stanton cocked an eyebrow. "You think I'm pretty? How kid of you."
"You little…" Kevin hit him and Yvonne could hear his nose crack under the pressure of the hit.
Stanton didn't respond as Kevin's fist disconnected from his face. Yvonne closed her eyes, not wanting to see the bloody mess.
"What the…f…?" Kevin's voice stopped.
"Wanna try again?" Stanton chuckled.
"What in the hell…are…you…?"
Skin hit skin again and again as Kevin repeatedly punched. Stanton deflected a few blows with his arm, laughing it off.
"I thought I told you all to go home." Stanton said.
Yvonne opened one eye. Stanton was bloody, yes, but looked otherwise uninjured. Kevin looked at her over his shoulder.
"Your friend is history, and then you'll be next." He stated.
Stanton chuckled. "You're right. I am history." He stated.
"What the hell does that mean? You're giving up?"
"No…" Stanton smirked. "And neither is she…remember how I asked you about revenge, Yvonne? You have the means, you have the man…how would you like the revenge?"
"Re…revenge…?" She wondered.
"You have the means." He nodded to the knife. "Go ahead. Revenge."
"But…" She paused.
It would feel good to finally get back at this bastard for what he did to her. But hurting him? With a knife? She couldn't.
Do it, Yvonne. A voice spread through her mind. You know you want to. You can't resist. Revenge. Revenge…
"I…can't…"
"She could never hurt me." Kevin chuckled. "Good girls don't play with fire, do they, Yvonne? Or else they get burned."
Something within her snapped at that. Without thinking, she rushed forward and plunged the blade towards him. Kevin tried to block it by pushing her away. They wrestled with it for a few moments before she regained control of the tool.
"Say goodnight, bastard!" She cried, stabbing it into her side and twisting it, like she'd seen in so many gangster movies.
He cried out and tried to bat her away, but Stanton was on him before he could. The blonde held him against a wall by his throat and smirked.
"Doesn't feel so good, does it? Being restrained by someone much bigger then you, stronger then you." Stanton chuckled, leaning in close to the man's ear. "Now do you understand, Kevin? I could end you right here, right now." He looked to Yvonne with a little tilt of his head. "Finish the job, Yvonne." He coaxed. "Get the revenge you so rightfully deserve…"
"I…can't…Colt…and the baby…"
"Your sister will be better off without him. She'll find another. Perhaps she already has."
"You son of a…" Kevin tried to fight back but Stanton restrained him further.
"She cheated on Alex with you, did she not? What makes you so sure she won't do the same to you?" Stanton wondered. "I've seen it so many times before. Good little boys like you, and good little girls like her…falling for the ones that will play them over again. And the players?" He chuckled darkly. "Just get played." He smirked. "I may not be a gentleman. I'm one of the players, but at least I admit it. I don't get played, I play. And I always back out before I get hurt. That's the way it is." He gently gripped Yvonne's hand. "Just one more flick of the wrist, Yvonne, and you will have your revenge…you will rid the world of this scum…"
She paused. His fingers felt warm on hers. She blushed. Could she really do it? Kevin was a monster, scum…he deserved to be taken down…but could she do it…?
You know you want to. That same voice ghosted through her mind. Kill him. End him. Liberate the world.
Without another thought, she plunged the knife deeper into his side; ignoring the gurgling sounds blood made bubbling up his throat as he bled out.
000
Four years later, Yvonne draped herself across the couch the filled the living room of the almost too small apartment that she shared with Stanton and the others. Her eyes glowed yellow under the threat of the full moon looming outside. Afraid to show her dark side to the world, she hid indoors on such a night. The others laughed at her for it, but she felt it necessary until she could control and hide her dark side enough so she could trick people like she'd been tricked by Stanton and his crew.
Stanton was right. He was a player, and a dangerous one at that. But at least he was up front about it. She barely thought of Kevin, or Amanda and Michael and their daughter, or Annie and her children; the second was a girl. Her life in Tulsa was far behind her, and her life in Pittsburg was slowly fading into the background as she and her squat flittered across the country, chasing Goddesses by the generation. They were currently stationed in Montana. She hated Montana. It was cold and unpredictable; a fitting home for a waitress of a southern belle who murdered her rapist ex-fiancé in cold blood because a devilishly handsome blonde and a voice in her head told her to. Yvonne sighed, brushing her hand through straightened blonde hair and closed her eyes. She couldn't deny that it felt good slicing him with his own knife, seeing his body lying dead in the alleyway before Stanton and his subordinates wrapped her in shadow and whisked her away. It hadn't taken much to convince her to join the Atrox. She was a predator, and people like Kevin were just the right kind of prey.