Chapter 13
The car came to a screeching holt, jolting her awake, awake. She heard Angelo step out of the car and open the door next to her head, she cried out in pain as he dragged her from the car by her hair, pain searing in her ribs as she landed on the dirt floor, her scalp burning.
"Welcome home" Angelo sneered acidly as he picked her up harshly and carried her towards a large Victorianesque mansion. When they reached the door of the mansion a man who shared Angelo's features greeted him warmly.
"Ah I see you were successful in your mission my dear son. You have made your father very proud." He stated glaring down at her Angelo passed him still holding her in his arms. Angelo made his way up two flights of stairs and along a dimly lit corridor before he stopped outside a heavy wooden door. He fumbled with the doorknob a few seconds before stepping over the threshold and into the room.
Angelo threw her down onto the bed slamming the door behind him.
"This is your home now. You do as I say and do not speak unless told to do so. Do you understand?" he questioned, his black eyes glinting in the moonlight. Gemma stared at him, defiance written all over face, this seemed to anger Angelo even more. He walked over to the bed and punched her, her nose omitting a sickening crunch.
"I said do you understand?!" he bellowed. She nodded timidly unwilling to take another beating that night. He seemed to be appeased by her gesture, pulling her up the bed so that her head lay on its hard pillows. Angelo untied her hands only to retie them one by one over her head so that she was bound to the wrote iron frame. He untied her ankles leaving them free, taking off her sneakers and throwing them across the room.
"I'll be back" he notified her before marching out of the room, leaving her with only the light of the moon for company. As soon as she heard his footsteps fade down the hall she yanked her hands, rattling the bed frame but only serving to dig the ropes further into her wrists. She screamed in frustration and anger, trying to remember what Dwayne had told her, 'Don't lose hope'. Easy for you to say she thought to herself.
A substantial amount of time passed before Angelo entered the room once more. He crossed the room, standing at the foot of the bed. Much to her horror he started to unbuckle his belt and unbutton his jeans, he threw his belt to the side and started to climb on top of her, she screamed kicking at him with all her strength, she managed to land one kick to his jaw, knocking him off balance and onto the floor.
"You stupid bitch" he spat, venom clear in his voice. Before she knew what was happening he'd ripped off her trousers, leaving her legs bare. She watched dumbstruck as he picked up his belt, wrapping it around his knuckles leaving only a short length of leather and the heavy metal buckle. She realised what he was about to do, forgetting her thought about not begging, she opened her mouth and began to plead.
"Angelo please I'm sorry, don't hurt me like that." She whimpered but he just grinned maniacally, swinging to belt close to her thighs, the buckle reflecting in the silvery moon light. He raised the belt above his head, she closed her eyes bracing herself for the pain she knew was coming. The belt buckle slammed down hard against her thigh, she felt and heard the flesh rip as searing hot pain made her vision go blurry. She screamed as he whipped her repeatedly on one leg then the next, showing no mercy when she begged him to stop.
She must have passed out from the pain as he screamed at her to wake up, slapping her face, bringing her back to consciousness.
"Now you know what happens when you disobey me." He hissed making her whimper. "Good" he spat, throwing the belt back down onto the floor.
"Now keep your legs still like a good little girl" he patronized as he took off his jean and boxers and climbed between her legs. Even if she wanted to and she really wanted to she couldn't kick out at him, her legs felt too heavy and the pain was excruciating.
He ripped off her underwear leaving her lower half fully exposed. She cringed as he groaned, grazing his fingers around the top of her thighs and over her exposed crotch.
"Now I know your no virgin but I'm just warning you, this may hurt a little." He laughed positioning himself at her entrance. "Do not pass out." He warned her, like she could actually control it.
He waited a few moments before thrusting himself hard inside her, she gritted her teeth, internally screaming as she felt like her insides were being torn apart. Every thrust, every motion causing new levels of pain in her already tormented body. The pain seemed to have no end as he continued to violate her in the worst possible way, his breathing quickened, she hoped this meant it was almost over, he leaned forward his jaw hovering over her collar bone, without warning he bit down hard, razor sharp teeth biting into her soft flesh, right down to the bone, she screamed shrilly, whimpering and gasping as he released his grip and crawled off of her.
He yanked on his jeans, throwing a sheet over her lower half, the blood from her lashed thighs seeping through the thin white material. She couldn't control the tears that fell like a waterfall down her face, she didn't care if her pain brought him pleasure, she couldn't hold all her emotions inside, it was too much for her to bear, she could already feel the walls she had built in her mind beginning to crumble and fall.
"The maid Althea will come and clean you up." He told her, his voice void of any emotion before he walked out of the door, leaving her sobbing in the dark.
She didn't know how much time passed before she heard the door creak open, she scrunched her eyes closed, she didn't think she could take anymore pain right now. A warm hand touched her swollen face, she screamed, unwilling to open her eyes and see who had come to torture her now.
"Gemma, Gemma sweetheart, it's Althea, please don't be afraid I'm not going to hurt you." A tender voice whispered.
Gemma slowly opened her heavy lids, locking eyes with a pair of striking grey eyes. She didn't know what it was about this woman, but she felt a wave of calmness washing over her, allowing her to forget the pain that throbbed in her body, even if it was just for a moment. The women Althea was young, her silky brown hair tied back in a neat bun, she had smooth skin the colour of caramel, she reminded her somehow of Dwayne, which only made her think of David, sobs racking her body once more.
"Sshh child, ssh… don't cry." She soothed, stroking her hair back from her forehead. "I'm going to clean you up, I'm sorry if you feel any pain, I don't want you to suffer." She stated, walking over to a vanity table and retrieving a large silver bowl and a washcloth. Gemma could smell the TCP, her stomach heaved, she felt like she was going to vomit.
"This might sting a little, but I'll try to be as gentle as I can." Althea assured her as she dunked the wash cloth in the water, wringing out the excess, moving back the sheet that covered Gemma's modesty and began to cautiously dab at her bleeding wounds. Gemma hissed as the warm liquid made contact with her wounds,
"Why, why are you being so nice to me?" she asked Althea. "Angelo and his family hate me." She added.
Althea sighed quietly, continuing to dab at Gemma's wounds, "I'm not from their family." The woman replied.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Gemma asked confused.
"I used to be best friends with your mother, I knew your father and some of his clan. When Demetri, Angelo's father killed Max, your father, he took those present at the time as prisoners. He killed all of them apart from me." She answered honestly.
"Why did he keep you here? Why were you there when my father was killed? Why didn't you leave like my mother?" Gemma continued to question, the conversation taking her mind away from the agony she felt.
"I did leave with your mother, but I left before I had the chance to do something I felt was important." She answered.
"What was so important you risked your life?" Gemma asked intrigued.
"There was a boy, one of your father's clan, I loved him dearly, but I never told him for fear of rejection. Plus, I didn't really know how to tell a vampire that I loved him, a mere human like myself. He was so articulate and wise, I felt inferior to him, I didn't think I'd ever stand a chance of winning his heart. I managed to tell him before the attack, but before he could answer me Demetri and his clan arrived, everybody ran to defend your father, one of Demetri's soldiers found me and brought me here. Demetri made me immortal, a vampire, much to my protesting. He just uses me now as a maid, to tend to his prisoners or his needs, whichever he deems suitable at the time." she narrated sadly.
Gemma was rendered speechless whilst she took in all the information, the poor girl had suffered so much. Another victim of heartbreak due to Angelo and his family.
"Althea, can I ask, what was the name of the boy you loved?" she inquired.
"Love." She corrected, "I still love him dearly, his name was Dwayne."
Gemma gasped audibly, craning her neck to look down at Althea's face, "Dwayne as in the Lost Boy Dwayne?" she asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Althea replied raising her eyebrow.
"He's still alive." Gemma smiled, watching as Althea's eyes filled with tears. She nodded in understanding, before returning to tending Gemma's wounds.
"If I get out of here, I'll take you to him." Gemma promised, Althea nodded sadly, "Child, no one ever leaves this place alive."
Gemma's heart clinched in acknowledgement of her words but remembered the word's Dwayne had told her, she repeated them to Althea who looked at her confused,
"Never lose hope."
Althea finished cleaning her up, replacing the sheet with a clean one devoid of blood stains and promised she'd come back soon to see her. Gemma nodded resting her head back against the pillows, feeling her eyes become heavy she fell into a light restless sleep.
A loud bang jolted her awake, she opened her eyes, wincing when the sunlight blinded her momentarily. She looked in the direction of the noise, her pulse racing when she locked eyes with Angelo, keening when she caught sight of the knife he held in his hand glinting in the sun light. Her stomach did backflips, bile rising from her stomach, her nightmare was becoming a reality, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Good morning Gemma." Angelo grinned. "Sleep well?" he teased cocking his head to the side, his black eyes shining.
"W… What are you going to… to do… w…with that?" Gemma stuttered, nodding towards the knife he was brandishing.
"Oh this?" he said holding it up against the light, admiring its sharp blade. "I thought seen as you are mine now, it's best if I make sure everyone knows that. I want to… brand you if you will." He smirked, crossing the room and standing next to the bed.
"Y…You can't be serious?" she stuttered, struggling to keep her body was quivering in fear.
"Oh, I'm very serious, specially seen as that fucker David seems to think he's got some kind of claim on you. I'm going to make sure that mistake is not repeated." He explained like is was something normal.
"Angelo please, d…don't." she begged.
"What did I tell you about speaking when spoken to? Do we need a repeat of last night?" he asked pulling at his belt.
She shook her head fiercely, "Good." He stated, he flipped her over onto her stomach, her hands twisting uncomfortably in their rope prison. He pushed up her shirt to her shoulders, leaving her back bare. He clambered on top of her, so he was straddling her rear and grazed his finger across the flesh of her back. She felt his length harden as he caressed her bare skin, making her squirm underneath him. He punched her hard in the kidneys, "Fucking stay still" he hissed, pain paralysed her as she lay motionless underneath him, her sobs muffled by the pillow.
She gritted her teeth and screamed as he began to trace the knife over her flesh. Each movement and slice of her flesh sending white hot pain rocketing through her body. He sliced the knife across her skin, carving out a pattern, each scream making his groan and his length pulse against her rear.
"You sick bastard." She spat through her tears and screams.
"I'll show you what sick really is you my love." He breathed leaning close to her ear. She pleaded and apologised as he whipped the sheet out from between them, unbuckling his belt and jeans. He pulled her hips up unforgivingly, slamming himself inside her, causing her to cry out in pain. He continued to carve his brand into her flesh as he brutally raped her, growling as he came inside her. She whimpered as he climbed off of her, readjusting himself and walking out of the room without another word.
She wept relentlessly into the pillow, gasping for breath, pain consuming her completely. she cried until there were no tears left, her head pounding from exertion. She lay shivering, blood pooling around her on the sheets, she felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness, dizzy from blood loss. She must have passed out, as when she woke she felt someone humming a soothing melody and tending to her wounds.
"Althea?" she whispered hoarsely.
"Yes, I'm here sweetheart, I can't bear to see you like this much more." She replied, her voice thick with sadness.
"I don't know how much more I can take Althea, I just want to die, get it over with." She sobbed.
"No Gemma, don't say that, what did you tell me yesterday? Never lose hope. Don't talk like that, I've bandaged you up, do you think you can lay on your back?" she asked gently.
"I…I don't know." She replied.
"Let's give a try." She soothed, Althea gently pushed Gemma helping her to roll onto her back, Gemma sucked in air through her teeth as her wounds stung.
Althea fussed over her, gently washing her face with a cool damp cloth, "Here, I've brought you some painkillers and something to eat." Althea whispered, "I was ordered not to, but I can't leave you like this." She added.
Gemma half smiled as Althea placed two pills into her mouth, placing a glass of water to her lips and helping her to sip slowly. Althea fed her some warm sweet porridge, she reminded her of her mother which made her heart ache, she didn't even know if her mom was okay. When she'd finished the meal, Althea propped her up against the pillows and covered her with a heavy cotton blanket.
"Try to rest, it will be sundown soon. Don't lose hope." Althea whispered, kissing her forehead motherly. Gemma creased her eyebrows in confusion, what did she mean? She couldn't think straight, the painkillers already beginning to work their magic, she felt her body start to feel fuzzy, Althea's words spinning around her mind as she the sweet release of sleep overtook her.