Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books

WARNING: This story will contains scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.

Chapter 10

Failures and Successes

Savannah's plan did not work quite the way she had hoped it would. The women of Biloxi did band together, and insist that their husbands pull their family business' from the untrustworthy Vernon Brandon, but the men of Biloxi found in him a kindred spirit. They flocked to him for help with their dealings with their mistresses, and other shady business affairs. Savannah had succeeded in obliterating his reputation, but he had been doing a very good job of that already. She had destroyed what was left of his family practice, but Vernon was a resilient snake, and he found a way to survive. There had only been a few days of discomfort, and ill tempered behavior, then it was back to business as usual.

It was several years before Savannah's vengeance was able to slip past Vernon's office doors, and find a way to ruin him completely. Eventually, she was able to befriend a low level secretary, and gain the information that she needed. By careful manipulation of the people that worked for Vernon, she was able to discover who some of his clients were, and just what their business dealings with him entailed. She found ways to inform on them, to their families, business partners, even competitors; and therefore, painting Vernon as an even more unsavory character. Even among cheaters and criminals, discretion is still a requirement. It took her over four long years to ruin him, but Savannah did finally succeed.

As his business began to fail, Vernon's behavior became erratic and antagonistic. Rita frequently sported bruises of varying sizes, and walked or held herself as if she were in great pain. Savannah did all she could to help Callie stay out of sight, as much as possible. She was no longer needed as a wet-nurse, but Savannah had made sure she was kept on as a governess for the children. Callie took all her meals in the parlor, with the girls, and only took them out when Vernon was at the office. Savannah also worked hard, to keep the girls safe from Vernon's wrath, but it was not easy for either her or Callie.

The hardest part of Callie's job, was keeping Mary Alice out of Vernon's line of sight. The girl had become a happy, and extremely active toddler. Chasing her down had become a full-time job. Molly, who also did everything she could to stay out of Vernon's line of fire, had been of tremendous help with Mary Alice. Usually, when Mary Alice escaped, she would take the back stairs down to the kitchen, looking for Molly. There, she would find treats of cake, pie, or sweets, and Molly would tickle her until she couldn't breathe, then carry her over her shoulder back up to their rooms. Cynthia was a much more sedate child. She seemed content to stay in the rooms and play, only to leave them, when going for an outing with Molly, Callie, or Savannah.

Molly had seen Mary Alice frequently stop, mid-play, for a matter of seconds, then return to her play as if nothing had happened. She had discovered Alison's secret, about her grandmother, and knew that Mary Alice had inherited the 'sight' from her. She also knew that Mary Alice was already, and had been, practically since her birth, seeing visions of some sort. Whenever she saw this happen, she would grab up Mary Alice, tickle her, and carry her down to the kitchen for a treat. Mary Alice quickly learned that a vision meant a treat from Molly, and was not something to be afraid of. As she grew, she began to search out Molly whenever she had a vision. Also, as she grew, they became more frequent in number.

Mary Alice learned to talk early. By the age of four, she was able to explain her visions, in detail, to Molly, who was the only one to believe her. Some of Mary Alice's visions seemed nonsensical; she would talk about houses being built, the boats in the big walls, and national forests. Things that made no sense to anyone. Others appeared to be no more than questions, asked at a time before an event; "What's a pwezadent?" she would ask, "Why is a teddy bear the pwezadent?" or "Where is Panama?" And some were clearly prophetic; "Poor Mrs. Terry," she declared in early October in 1904, and the following week telling Savannah that "Teddy" was going to be President. Molly was just glad that she was usually within earshot of Mary Alice, and was able to help cover for the sometimes confused, precocious child.

When Vernon's firm was in it's final death throes, in late 1905, it became a dangerous time for everyone in the house. Controlling Mary Alice had become almost impossible, as the visions became more violent. Savannah had begun to pay closer attention to her grandchild, and was becoming almost afraid of her. As Mary Alice's fifth Christmas approached, the tension in the house became almost unlivable. As difficult as the atmosphere was, Savannah was happy with the directions her manipulations had taken.

"It won't be long." Savannah smiled as Cynthia ran across the parlor floor to her. She grabbed up the laughing child, and held her up, over her head.

"Daddy's going to be angry." Mary Alice voiced from her corner of the room. She was trying to build a castle with the wooden blocks she had gathered around her.

"And just why do you think daddy is going to be angry?" Savannah studied the petite child.

Mary Alice looked up at Savannah with tears in her eyes. "Because the bad men want daddy to give them money...And Rita wants to buy me and Sissy Christmas dresses." Tears began to flow from her large dark brown eyes.

Savannah had sat into the rocking chair, while Mary Alice talked. She put Cynthia on the floor to run off and play with her dolls, as Mary Alice walked to her. She placed her head in her grandmother's lap, and let the tears fall. "I want a new dress." Mary Alice said through the tears. "But Daddy is going to be so angry." She looked up at Savannah, then. "He's going to hurt Rita." She whispered before she began to sob.

Savannah picked up Mary Alice, and held her until she stopped crying. She looked helplessly around the room, wondering what to make of her granddaughter. She was afraid to believe her. Yet, afraid not to. Too terrified of what people would say, her friends, neighbors. She held tight to Mary Alice, shushing her and telling her everything was going to be fine, but she didn't believe it herself. When Mary Alice had finally cried herself to sleep, Savannah took her to her room, and laid her in her bed, then placed Cynthia in the playpen with her dolls, and went in search of Callie. She found her in the kitchen, helping Molly gather lunch for her and Savannah.

"Molly, I'd like you to join us for lunch." Savannah told her. "Do you have other duties right now?"

"No, Miss Savannah." Molly added another plate to the trey, then carried it up to the parlor.

The three women sat around the small table and started to eat quietly. Molly and Callie watched Savannah, as worry and fear lined her face, waiting for her to explain to them what was causing her such concern. Savannah finally took a deep breath, and a sip of her tea, before she began.

"I don't know where to start," she confided. "It's Mary Alice," she said, as her eyes began to fill with tears. "There is something wrong with her." Callie leaned toward Savannah, and placed a hand on her arm, as she tried to ease her mind, and calm her tears. Molly looked at her lap, afraid to say anything.

"What do you mean?" Callie asked. "Is she ill?"

"No, it is nothing as simple as that...She knows things." Savannah started, drawing herself up in her chair. "Things a child her age should not know. Things no one knows...Not when she says them." She flopped her hands into her lap, and seemed to give up in frustration.

"She's just an intuitive child." Callie sounded like she was trying to convince herself, as well as Savannah. "We've always know that." Callie continued. "I think maybe she just listens well, and has a clever mind. She can put thing together better that other children her age. She's just a very intelligent child."

"You know it's more than that." Savannah looked at Callie, sure she knew exactly what she was talking about.

Callie pulled her hand away from Savannah, and sat back in her chair. "There is nothing wrong with her." She stated flatly, with her eyes closed.

"She told me that Vernon would be angry because some men wanted money from him, and that Rita wants to buy her and Cynthia Christmas dresses!" Savannah's voice was a loud, insistent whisper.

"We don't know that any of that is going to happen." Callie pleaded with Savannah. "Rita has said nothing to me about dresses, and I've seen her every day, when I go to tend to Virgil. It's just wishful thinking. As for men looking for Vernon for money? She could have overheard some conversation. The servants? Vernon himself? And we all know how angry he's been for the last few months." Callie took a deep breathe. "There is nothing wrong with Mary Alice!" She was nearly in tears as she finished.

"Molly." Savannah eyed the silent maid, wondering why she had not jumped to defend Mary Alice. "I thought Mary Alice was your favorite? Why are you so quiet?" She watched her for a moment longer, but Molly remained quiet, with her head down. "You know something. Molly, you must tell us."

"No." Molly said without looking up.

"Please!" Callie begged her friend. "Tell Savannah she's wrong."

"Tell me." Savannah whispered, afraid of the answer.

Molly raised her head, and looked Savannah in the eyes. "You will not like what I would say."

"Say it anyway," Savannah breathed, as she locked eyes with her.

"She has 'the sight'...like her great-grandmother had 'the sight'." Molly dropped her head back down, to look once again at her lap.

Savannah drew a deep hissing breath in between her locked teeth, while Callie seemed to fold in upon herself. "Then she is a witch." Savannah breathed quietly.

"No!" Callie yelled, standing up and knocking over her chair. "No, I will not believe this. She is a child." Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "A beautiful, intelligent, talented little girl." She looked at Savannah, pleading with her. "Please." She whispered. When neither Savannah nor Molly turned to acknowledge her, she turned and ran to her room.

"How long have you known?" Savannah appeared not to notice Callie's abrupt departure.

"I guessed...when she was only months old. The way she would cry just before the Mister would come to the rooms." Molly continued to look at her lap, at her hands, as her fingers twisted together before she would pull them apart, only to do it all over again. "Then when Miss Alison died, she..." Molly cleared her throat and looked up at Savannah, who candidly stared back. "I believe the connection she shared with her mother allowed her to see her spirit, as she left." Molly's voice was barely above a whisper, as she finished.

"Thank you, Molly." Savannah dropped her eyes from Molly's. "You may take the trey, and return to the kitchen."

"Yes, Miss Savannah." Molly gathered up the lunch remnants quietly, and returned to the kitchen.

After Molly left, Savannah sat alone in the parlor, rocking, and thinking. The dilemma that Mary Alice presented was tearing Savannah apart. She's a witch echoed through her mind, while the thought of Vernon finding out about Mary Alice, terrified her just as much. If Vernon were to find out, Savannah was looking at the very real possibility that he would quite literally kill the child. She could very easily see him flying into a violent rage, and beating the tiny child to death. The Brandon's did not hold with the 'slave arts', as they called them. But this was her grandchild. The dearest and most precious of all her treasures. Tears flowed freely, as Savannah considered the problem, and all it's ramifications and solutions.

When Cynthia began to cry, Callie came from her room to see to the toddler. She watched Savannah, still rocking in the chair, the tears long since dried. She saw her unfocused eyes, the tracks her tears had followed, and the way that Savannah seemed not to know that Callie was even in the room. She walked quietly around Savannah, and retrieved several of Cynthia's favorite toys, and retreated with her to the girls' bedroom. When Mary Alice woke, Callie kept her busy in her room, so as not to disturb Savannah.

"I have to use the bathroom, Aunt Callie," Mary Alice informed her.

Callie gathered up Cynthia, and took Mary Alice's hand and walked both girls to the bathroom down the hall.

"Grandmother is angry with me." Mary Alice told Callie.

"What would make you say something like that?" Callie asked, as she sat the short child on the commode.

"I just know." Mary Alice sighed deeply.

Callie considered Mary Alice's words, as she waited for the small girl to finish. Mary Alice had always looked like a living doll, to Callie. She was so small and delicately made, Callie was always concerned that she would easily break. Now, she saw a strength in that tiny frame. A strength that rivaled her mother's. Callie smiled down at Mary Alice, as she helped her clean herself up, and leave the bathroom.

"Your Grandmother may be a little confused right now, sweetheart, but give her a little time to work things out. She'll make the right decision."

Callie smiled down at Mary Alice, as they made their way back to the parlor. When they arrived back in their rooms, Savannah was no longer in the rocking chair. Mary Alice pulled free from Callie, and charged into her and Cynthia's room. Callie followed close behind her. She watched as Mary Alice ran to Savannah and grabbed her around her legs.

"Please don't be angry with me, Grandmother." Mary Alice cried, her face turned up to look at Savannah. "I'll be good, I promise."

Savannah looked down at the tear filled eyes of her granddaughter, and her heart melted. She placed an arm around the tiny girl's back, and turned to Callie.

"He can never know." Savannah whispered to Callie, then she looked down at Mary Alice again. "I'm not angry, Sweetheart. I love you very much. And you are a very good girl." Savannah reached down and picked up Mary Alice. She kissed her forehead, and cheeks and eyes, before tickling the squirming toddler into fits of laughter.

Callie and Savannah sat the girls on the floor to play and run through the rooms. Callie took a seat near the table, and picked up her sewing. She was making a new dress for each of the girls for Christmas. Savannah relaxed into the rocking chair, as she watched the girls play quietly, Cynthia with her dolls, and Mary Alice with remnant material Callie had given her. The four of them, each quietly involved in their own activities, spent the afternoon happy and content in each other's company.

The light rapping at the door, not long before dinner, startled both Savannah and Callie.

"Yes?" Savannah called out, not recognizing the knock as Molly's, or any of the other staff.

"Miss Savannah?" Rita's head pushed through the slowly opening door. She entered quickly but stayed close to the door. "I wanted to discuss Christmas with you, if you have a moment?"

"Of course." Savannah rose, curious as to what Rita could possibly want from her. The two women left the room, to talk in the hall.

"I've thought about this a lot, lately. Vernon is going to have to learn to accept the girls. They are his daughters, and they deserve to have as wonderful a Christmas as Virgil does." Rita paused, to watch Savannah. When she got a small nod from the older woman, she continued. "I'd love to buy the girls new dresses, for Christmas. They should be under the tree in the downstairs parlor, with all the other gifts." Rita looked at Savannah, nervously.

Savannah thought about it for a few moments, remembering what Mary Alice had said, before she answered. "It's a lovely gesture—but I'm not sure it's the right one." Savannah told her. "Not right now." She added, when she saw how crestfallen Rita suddenly appeared. "But the idea of the girls being part of Christmas is a lovely thought. Perhaps we could just work on that, for now."

Rita's face brightened, as a huge smile graced her face. "I'd still like to give the girls something for Christmas." Rita looked thoughtful. "I'll think about it, for a while longer. There's still time." She turned and almost danced down the hall to the staircase. As she neared the first step, she turned back to look as Savannah. "I'll work on Vernon, about allowing the girls to come down and join us for Christmas morning."

Savannah returned to the parlor to find Mary Alice locked in place. Savannah ran to her, and pulled her into her arms, just as the child began screaming.

"Nononono!" Mary Alice leaned back in Savannah's arms, as her head rolled from side to side. "No Daddy, no!" she screamed. Savannah ran with Mary Alice, to the children's room, and laid her on her bed. She knelt beside the small bed and tried to hold Mary Alice in place, as she rocked from side to side, still screaming. "RITA!" She screamed. "DADDY, NO!" And then she stopped, leaving only the sounds of her sobs to fill the room.

Savannah scooped her up and held her to her breast, as she cried for the tormented child. "My sweet child." Savannah cooed to her. "My dear sweet child." She looked at Callie, who stood in the doorway, eyes wide, terrified for Mary Alice.

"Baby," Savannah held Mary Alice out, so she could see her face. "Mary Alice, please. What's wrong, Sweetheart?" Mary Alice continued to sob, as she clutched Savannah's dress in her tiny hands. "Please Honey. Tell grandmother what's wrong." She pleaded with her.

"D...dad...daddy's ggg...going to kkkill Rita." Mary Alice stammered.

Sorry this chapter is a couple days late. I'm still having a few medical issues. Also getting ready for my husbands surgery soon, so the next chapter might be a bit late as well.

I'm really sorry about that.

But please review, and let me know how angry that makes you.

At least then I'll know you're reading.

Ain't reviews grand?