For Keri, who reminds me exactly why I'm K/S.

Breaking the Broken

Nineteen

Judgment, Rage, Retribution and Thyme

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We can't be sure who the villains are, 'cause everyone's so pretty…

Sheryl Crow

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Family likeness has often a deep sadness in it. Nature, that great tragic dramatist, knits us together by bone and muscle, and divides us by the subtler web of our brains; blends yearning and repulsion; and ties us by our heart-strings to the beings that jar us at every movement.

George Eliot, Adam Bede

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She puffed steadily on her cigarette, smoke rings wafting lazily towards the ceiling where the rickety fan promptly destroyed them. It was a volatile scene, and each move made had to be calculated. There was no margin for error.

Jason Argyle's mind raced, the image of the tempting goddess perched casually on his bed burned into his irises even after he'd turned away. The Cheshire grin spreading across her pretty face, the predatory gleam in her eyes. She reminded him of a sphinx, cunning and cruel, who held all the answered but gave you them only in riddles. Cassidy Merteuil was most certainly up to something, but the grayish smog that distorted his eyesight was clouding his judgment, and he hadn't the foggiest idea what.

Patrick Bale smiled over at the pair from his position on his own bed. Jason stood confounded, one hand on his hip and the other running through his dark hair, while Cassidy sat cool as anything on the twin sized bed.

What she was proposing was absurd, to say the least. Cassidy, being the concerned friend that she was, wanted to make sure that their semester was less than sucky. She had been stewing for days, or so she said, trying to come up with something to amuse the boys when it suddenly came to her. They should play to their strengths.

"Well, the only thing you guys really have in common is that you're manipulative assholes, and the only thing you really like to do is have sex," she said affectionately, rumpling Patrick's hair in a sisterly fashion that didn't suit her in the least. Her pert nose wrinkled in disgust, "Preferably not with each other. Actually, I don't know that. Whatever you're into."

Both college boys had almost thrown up on the spot, and she grinned, highly amused. "Well, why don't you combine your skills and your favorite hobby?"

Her idea was interesting to say the least. There were only two girls on the entire campus that could rival her in infamy—Alison Lebray and Sheila Wright. Alison was a beautiful Hispanic girl, smart and classy, and she had just about everything a normal girl could want—including a rich fiancée. Alison and Dave had been friends since forever, and they had gotten together a few years ago much to the delight of their parents, who just so happen to be business partners. Sheila was equally desirable to the boys of Prestridge University, and just as off-limits. The gorgeous blonde had a long-term boyfriend in Michael Cattrall, and they were so gag-worthy that they'd even made their college decisions together.

Yet there was another thing that the two beautiful co-eds had in common: they had both been taken under the wing of the glamorous Cassidy Merteuil. So sweet, so kind, she was. Both had been from out of town and hadn't the faintest clue how to cope in California, and she had shown them the ropes.

Unfortunately for them, they had never caught on that Cassidy was not quite who she appeared to be. Patrick and Jason were just fully learning the lesson for themselves.

"So you're saying that we should seduce them?"

"I didn't say that…" she stated innocently, an evil smile curving her red lips.

"You implied it," Patrick chimed in, and Cassidy winked at him as Jason turned to look at his friend.

"What do you think?" he whispered. Cassidy rolled her eyes as they proceeded to converse like she wasn't in the room, as if their hushed tones could keep their words from reaching her ears. She had been born with super-sonic hearing, and they could've been whispering from down the hall and she would still hear them loud and clear. Further more, she didn't need to hear what they were saying. She knew exactly what they would do, and she knew it long before they did.

"Okay. We'll do it. I get Sheila," Jason stated, turning back around with the thrill of a challenge alighting his eyes.

"Fine by me," Patrick shrugged. "What do we get out of it?"

"Glory?" Cassidy suggested half-heartedly. Both stared at her. "What, that's not good enough for you? It would take you years otherwise to earn my respect! But I guess a little monetary prize isn't out of the question."

A beeper sounded in the room, cutting off the further inquisition from the boys. An amused little smile crawled across her lips as she looked back up at them.

"Speaking of, I have to go meet our girls now. I'll send them your love," she said in a mocking tone, dropping a curt kiss on the cheek for both boys and heading out.

"Actually, Cassidy, have you spoken to Kathryn lately?" Jason called curiously after her, appearing suspiciously like a spaniel. Its owner could use it, abuse it, and disregard it as if it were trash, but they would follow loyally nonetheless. It caused her a slight pang to know that this absurd devotion that had once been all hers was now directed at her lovely cousin. She slammed the door shut, but not before they caught a brief glimpse of the scowl distorting her features.

It had taken them far too long. While both had a sinking feeling as they made the deal, the suspicious notion of selling one's soul to the devil, they were too late. The ropes she had shown them all were not as they seemed. The ties she had used to weave them all together were far more similar to strings. And each Merteuil, different as they were, were natural-born puppeteers.

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"Kathryn Merteuil, are you in here?" her enraged voice rang through the room before they even heard the slamming of the door. Exchanging an alarmed look with his female, miniature version, Sebastian Valmont quickly scooped up Juliette, plopped a kiss on his beloved stepsister's cheek and left through the closest door. Kathryn Merteuil was on her own for this one.

"Kathryn, answer me goddamn it, are you in here?"

"In here, grandmere," she sighed, raising her voice just loudly enough to be heard through the four rooms that separated the bedroom from the living room. Swift and determined, the clacking of expensive heels sped rapidly through the massive suite until they ceased completely, and the bedroom door flew open, revealing a livid Isabelle Merteuil.

It was a difficult and delicate procedure, weighing the anger of a Merteuil woman. All of them had their little ticks, but not all were quite as obvious as the way Cassidy would stamp her foot. Isabelle's jaw would tighten slightly, her bright eyes would open as wide as they could go without appearing surprised, and she could curl her pinky fingers in ever so slightly. Glancing discreetly, she saw that both hands were tightly clenched, and Kathryn prepared herself for the worst.

"Sit down," the regal older woman barked, and her younger version dropped obediently onto the bed. As she hit the softness of the mattress, she was instantly whisked back in time to an age where her grandmother would be the one to scold her and praise her and mold her, because her mother just didn't give a damn. However, that had been a long time ago, and Kathryn no longer needed anyone to tell her what to do. Although times hadn't changed as much as she'd thought. Her mother still didn't give a damn.

Hanging her head in feigned shame, Kathryn figured that it would be best to get it over with and act repentant, so as they could avoid the whole song and dance that came along with her being scolded. However, her head shot up in surprise at her grandmother's next words.

"How many men have you had in that bed?"

"What?" Kathryn was flabbergasted. No incriminating blush crept across her porcelain skin, no sudden rush of fear or light sheen of sweat. She was certainly not embarrassed that her grandmother knew she was having sex, that was a given. But the blunt questioning from the woman who prided herself on subtlety was certainly unexpected.

"You heard me, Kathryn. How many men have you fucked on this bed?" her even gaze contained an incredulous look.

"A few," Kathryn skirted, the hint of a smile playing at her lips. Was this some sort of game? Apparently not, judging by the paleness that flashed across her grandmother's face as she dropped dramatically onto the fainting chair in the corner. Rising, half-concerned and half-intrigued, Kathryn made her way to her grandmother's side but was halted with a mere glare.

"Honestly Kathryn, its one thing to fool around behind the boy's back, but in his own bed?"

"Says the moral center of the universe," Kathryn scoffed, casting an astounded gaze at her grandmother.

"Don't take that attitude with me, Kathryn," Isabelle snapped. "I know what's best, and it's not in your best interest to give Sebastian another reason to walk out on you."

Kathryn's perfect pink mouth dropped open in surprise. "How did you know about that?"

"Cassidy may have mentioned something…" Isabelle said nonchalantly, picking imaginary lint off her designer suit.

"Well, that figures," Kathryn sneered. "She just can't mind her own business for five fucking minutes…"

"Kathryn! Honestly, what are you, eleven? You and Cassidy should be getting along by now. Or, you could at least better disguise your hatred."

"I don't hate her," the brunette said defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, at least that's something you're good at hiding," Isabelle sneered, disappointed with her favorite grandchild. Sighing wearily, she turned back to her. "What are you doing here, Kathryn?"

"Wow grandma, it's nice to see you again, too. Yes, I've been well. And how are you feeling on this fine day?" she mocked. "Is this what you came here for, grandmere? To yell at me? I believe you could've done that by phone."

"The phone gives you the option to hang up. Besides, I thought you should experience my rage and disappointment first hand," Isabelle admitted.

"Consider it experienced," Kathryn rolled her eyes.

"So what's really going on with you and this Jason fellow?"

"Nothing. We met at that club, we danced for a little, we fooled around some, and he slept over. The end," Kathryn insisted with wide eyes.

"The end?"

"The END," the brunette stated adamantly.

"You aren't being fair, Kathryn," Isabelle scolded, the disappointed tone back in her voice.

"To who?"

"Cassidy," Isabelle stated incredulously, as if that was the only answer there could possibly be.

"Why do you keep bringing her up? What does she have to do with any of this?" Kathryn asked, exasperated. However, there was something in her demeanor, a pigment of truth lying exposed within her that let on that she knew exactly what Cassidy had to do with all of this. And it was quite intentional.

"Jason is Cassidy's. He's not good enough for her, hell, he probably isn't even good for her, but he's her partner in crime or whatever you kids do lately. Jason is her Sebastian knockoff. She hasn't intruded on your territory, leave her be."

"Intruded on my territory? She hasn't intruded on my territory? Grandmere, she fucked Sebastian! All I did was fool around with Jason!"

Isabelle's eyes had widened at this tidbit. Still maintaining her composure, she retained her point. "Just let her be."

"Like hell!" Kathryn spat, and the look in her eyes now was not one of anger but of pure, unadulterated fury. Pacing the room like a caged animal, she stopped quite suddenly and spun on her heel, wobbling slightly but neither noticed. "I'm not five years old, anymore, grandmere. You can't put me over your knee and spank me when you don't agree with what I've done. You can't tell me what to do."

A thousand angry phrases sprung to the tip of Isabelle Merteuil's tongue, but she held it. For the first time, it seemed, she was staring into the face of the true Kathryn Merteuil. She was looking at the human, not the wax façade. She was looking into the face of anger and betrayal and infidelities and pain and suffering and vindictiveness and vindication. Surprisingly, the about-face did not make her feel any less for the girl who had been so neglected early in life only to come back later and steal the spotlight from those who had spited her. Instead, she felt an unusual sort of emotion, a mixture of pity and empathy and resignation.

"Well, I see I can't change your mind," Isabelle sighed, and she honestly wasn't sure if she wanted to anymore. She had always been a firm believer in holding the girls responsible for their actions, and what's done was done. "I just hope you remember when you're out for blood that she's of your own."

Kathryn turned to the window, looking reflectively out through the glass panes. As if she could forget.

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Sebastian sat in the dark movie theatre, Juliette happily chirping away besides him as she chomped down on popcorn, but his thoughts were far from the theatre.

She had royally mind-fucked him. That was the only logical explanation, the only conclusion he could come too. He had been wracking his brain trying to figure out exactly how Kathryn convinced him to stay in, but when he voiced this to Juliette, she didn't seem to care much.

"It doesn't matter how or why, just as long as you stay," she said with a 'duh' tone in her voice before turning away. He smiled faintly as he saw her turn in the corner of his eye. She was looking straight into the eyes of an awkward-looking teenaged boy, clearly in that state Sebastian managed to skip smoothly over.

"So, if you died right now, would they leave your braces on or take them off before they buried you?" she asked, peering curiously at the metal dental gear.

Chuckling slightly, at both her question and the boy's shocked expression, he gently detached her and whispered in her ear that you don't talk to strangers.

"Like there's anybody stranger than you," she scoffed, her eyes dancing as she elbowed him in the rib. Nevertheless, she'd mercifully heeded his advice, and the teenage boy looked immensely grateful.

Scanning the theatre in search of something more interesting than the children's movie currently playing, Sebastian's golden eyebrows raised in interest as he took in the sight. There, quite a few rows back but there was no mistaking her, was Belinda Van Ryan, one of the world's top supermodels… at a Disney movie. By herself. She didn't catch his eye right away, but it appeared that the golden girl besides him had, and she glared menacingly at the back of the child's head. If Juliette could feel the eyes boring into her, she gave no indication as she laughed shrilly at the movie. Finally grabbing her attention, Belinda smiled and winked at Sebastian before returning her interest the screen.

Now he sat at the outdoor café yet again, chewing thoughtfully on a breadstick. The child sat happily across from him, talking about the movie and laughing at the mere memories of what had happened but a half-hour ago, he couldn't shake the image of the supermodel's glare, intense with emotion. It gave him chills, and it took a lot to shake Sebastian Valmont.

He suddenly had the inexplicable urge to grab Juliette, run home to Kathryn, and lock them in the hotel suite where he could protect them all at once. Sebastian felt as if a giant rain cloud was hovering over them, and vaguely wondered if this would be the first time he and Kathryn would have to seek shelter from a brewing storm.

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Dun dun, na na! I do believe I updated yesterday, but I just felt compelled today. My friend informed me that I have a Sebastian-complex. I like to prove people wrong.

Leigh: why thank you! Lol, as a matter of fact, I do have a handful of one-shots. And since I'm a shameless self-promoter, I'm going to tell you them in order of how much I like them. Haha. Okay, ready? Fade to Black is a prequel to this story. Its Katie's favorite, which is good enough for me lol. Then I believe we have a tie between The Birds, Le Déchirement Final, and Innocence Stolen. The Birds is my newest one, it's a Kathryn POV. Le Déchirement Final is something all you K/Sers will get a kick out of. It's an Annette oriented fic, but you know what, she kills herself in the end, so I think I make up for it. Then Innocence Stolen is a Cecile's-thoughts fic (obviously OOC, as I pretended that Cecile had thoughts.) which I'm actually pretty proud of. Then there's Duplicity, my Sebastian fic. Life In A Glass House is a fic I wrote from Kathryn's mom's point of view. Lol yes, I'm getting a little out there lately. Barely Breathing is actually a songfic. And please don't ask if I recommend them. Obviously. I wrote them. Lol

Anonymous: Well, when you ask so nicely… lol. Sure, all is forgiven.

Maggie: Oh, how I missed our e-mails. Yes, I lied, because I suck. This is obviously not At the Heart of It All. But before the week is through, I promise!

Babeekim: I'm glad you like angst. You'll love what's coming.

y-x: You know, I sat here and thought to myself "What can I put here that's absolutely heartbreaking?" and The Sisterhood is the first thing I thought of lol. I actually meant to prop that in my last A/N, but most of my notes are just ranting anyway, so you know how I'd miss that. But no, Juliette wasn't inspired by Bailey, so the blonde thing was absolutely a coincidence. Julie's supposed to look like Sebastian haha. Lol well, I'm glad you're reviewing again. I thought you were mad at me haha. As for royalties… well, since I get paid in reviews, and we have most of the same reviewers, I think you're covered. Except for Maggie. We don't share her. She's mine from waay back in my One Tree Hill fanfic days. Hahah.

Katie: pout hell yes, you're way too busy.

Ocfan108- Lol an Einstein comparison? That's very flattering. But I actually do appreciate it when you tell me what you got out of each chapter lol. It lets me know what I need to drill into the next one haha. Yes, and notice that "what's-her-face" (and I presumed you were talking about Juliette's mom there, but I could be wrong) is Camilla, and she's blonde and Christian and Annette and… oops, did I say that? Isn't Sebastian's hero gene adorable? I think so.

Keri: Lol I'm glad that you like receiving the e-mails, because I was always worried I was irritating you haha. Yeah, the story had become a tad bit like the "Juliette show", and I wasn't offended by that at all lol. It was a conscious decision, because everybody needs to really adore her for what's to come. Sure, insert some diabolical laughter here. And I was very happy that you liked my K/S, seeing as I regard you as pretty much the master of it. (Hell no, Roger Kumble gets no claim to K/S). As is my Sebastian-complex, I realized that I was being influenced by y-x's insane K/Sness, and so I'm rebelling. K/S all the way.

Thanks for reading guys!

Xo Sam