What had started as finding a place to lay low for a couple of days, and perhaps shake the proprietor out of a few coins, was now turning into a mission of mercy. It had surprised Rose more than anything, she knew she was a selfish person who only looked out for herself. It was how she had survived her childhood. It was how she survived now.
Modesty, and even more Credence got to her. She saw her own desperation reflected back at her, and she wanted to help, even though she wasn't sure how. It was not like she had a better alternative for them, she was hardly scraping by herself. Still, anything had to be better than being beaten by Mary Lou every day, mentally for Modesty and in Credence's case also physically. In short, she wanted to them out of there.
There was one more sibling to the household, and Rose wondered more and more about her feelings, but she kept them guarded even more than the other two it seemed. So Rose tried to get Chastity to open up a little. If Credence had somehow managed to hold onto his humanity, despite having been put down, humiliated, and abused from birth, surely there had to be hope for Chastity. Either way, she needed to know her allies from her enemies in this household, if her plan had any chance of succeeding.
It was hard to talk to Chastity, she clung to Mary Lou far more than the other two. Modesty wanted a mother, but preferably not Mary Lou. She only sought her out when she had no alternative. Credence tried to avoid his mother as much as he could, which wasn't a surprise, seeing everything he did eventually lead to a beating. Mary Lou had punished him terribly for what she had called "telling lies to mr Graves", and Rose had felt horrible about that. She had wanted to take him in her arms and heal him… But it would have only resulted in another beating for him. Rose hated Mary Lou with every fiber of her being by now.
Chastity didn't, Rose knew that much. Everywhere Mary Lou was, Chastity would shadow her. Even at night. Where both Modesty and Credence had their own matras up in the eves, and Rose had her own little nook too, Chastity slept in the same bed as Mary Lou did. At first, Rose feared she had taken the girl's bed in a gesture of hospitality, but Chastity told her this wasn't the case and her siblings eagerly confirmed this.
"Chastity and Mother are joined at the hip. She worships the ground she walks on," Modesty sneered. Rose however didn't see the girl as the best judge of character, seeing she rather took her protective brother for granted, so she was determined to find out for herself if there was perhaps another layer to the seemingly shy young lady.
It wasn't easy, trying to pry Chastity from Mary Lou's side long enough for a conversation. When Rose finally did get her alone, usually when doing chores like cooking or laundry, something Mary Lou had no interest in, the girl seemed unable to talk about anything that did not involve day to day chores, religion, or the terrors that witchcraft brought down upon humanity. Each time Rose tried to engage her in a different manner, ask about how she felt about her adoptive siblings, Chastity would give a dismissive answer and change the topic to one she was comfortable with.
Finally Rose resorted to reading her mind, which took a lot of energy when done this way. Yes, it was a talent she possessed naturally, but she had never tried to do so of someone that was unwilling. Most people didn't hide their feelings, not really. True, they did not always speak their minds, but their thoughts were so much at the forefront that reading them was easy. Chastity however was a close fort. Either she had no thoughts at all, or she kept them hidden. It was a mystery, and if there was something Rose could not stand, it was that. So she pried away at the girl, but still she wasn't getting any wiser. All she was sure of, was that Chastity seemed to adore mother. Really adore. She was in fact… In love?
Was that the key? Rose could hardly believe it. But it all clicked. She knew women loved each other. It happened far more often than society thought.
Still, for anyone to love Mary Lou … She was so mean. This however didn't deter Chastity in the slightest. She saw it as strength, strength the girl herself did not possess, but greatly admired. Rose saw more, the things that went on in Mary Lou's bed. No wonder she was the favorite. Chastity truly worshipped Mary Lou. They got up to things that were considered sin in church as far as Rose knew, not that she cared much for that sort of condemnation. Love was love…
Though this was scary. Mostly because Chastity had been adopted as a teen, and Mary Lou was her guardian. There was no chance Chastity would turn against Mary Lou though. Rose would need to be extremely careful around Chastity, the girl was terribly jealous of any attention Mary Lou gave to someone other than herself.
The whole reading left Rose exhausted. She was ready for bed. The first autumn storm wasn't gonna let her sleep though, it was wreaking havoc on the roof. Roof tiles rattled. It wasn't long till it started thundering. And then the heavens opened. The church roof was far from weatherproof. It didn't take long until it started leaking, right above Rose's head.
She sighed. Already exhausted, this was the last thing she needed. Raising her hand, she concentrated. This was far from her speciality, but it had worked before. Another big gust of wind rattled the slates… Right into place. The leak immediately stopped. Now that was magic.
She wasn't the only one beneath the dodgy roof though. "Credence, my bed is soaked. Can I sleep with you," Modesty cried about fifteen minutes later.
"It's not any better here, Modesty," was his dulcet reply.
Rose immediately felt guilty. But if she fixed their slates as well, that could possibly betray her true nature. "Annemarie, come here. It's fine in this corner. You can sleep with me."
The girl didn't hesitate a second, and immediately crawled under the blankets with her. Credence however stayed put. Rain was pouring down though, and although she could not see him, she could feel Credence was cold and miserable as well, his blanket being soaked with rain.
"Credence, do you want to come here as well?" she asked gently. The idea that he was suffering just didn't sit right with her.
"No… It's not proper," he replied.
"Who cares about proper? At least you will be dry and you can get some sleep. Come on," she patted the bed, which seemed to convince him.
"I'm not lying in the middle," an already drowsy again Modesty commented stubbornly.
Rose saw Credence back off again. "It's fine. I'll take the middle. You can be in front, and Credence can be on the other side again the wall."
And so, for the first time in her life, Rose invited a man into her bed. Credence tucked in behind her. The bed, if you could call a mattress on the floor that really wasn't to big, nor were the blankets. In order for them all to fit, he really had no other choice than to take her in his arms. His actions however were completely chivalrous, and soon she was enveloped in his warm embrace, as she herself held Modesty in her arms. To her own surprise, it felt like absolute bliss. Credence arms brought safety, just like they had when he had tried to protect her from mr Graves, She could stay here forever for all she cared… Though perhaps not here in this home.
+.+.+
Guest: Well I certainly see happiness in Credence future... But I'm not going off canon
