Chapter Four: Betrayed and Hated

We laid on that blanket snuggling for hours but once I shivered Trent made me get dressed and pack up, because our clothes weren't exactly warmer then being naked. I left Trent at the entrance to the woods, he kissed me and told me that he was going to go speak with Ellsbeth and tell her the truth. I was just glad it wasn't me, also that I was going home. Although a shower would have been nice, but last thing I need is a Psycho movie scene, her breaking into the bathroom with a knife to stab me to death... I chuckled at that thought, Ivy made me watch it with her, and the shower scene freaked me out. So for months after wards her and Jenks tormented me whenever I showered. They couldn't understand why I had bought my shower door a pad lock... for the inside.

I got to my car okay, I hadn't heard explosions yet, so maybe he hadn't told her. Once I was safely on my way home, I relaxed. Trent was going to tell Ellsbeth that he didn't want to marry her, that he wanted me instead. Or maybe... he'd leave that part out... either way, tomorrow I no longer be a single woman. It felt good to know that for once, my life was on the right track. Wasn't sure how long it would last, but I was willing to ride it out until it ended. I just hope not badly...

I pulled up to the church and sighed happily, then winced at the mocking I knew Jenks was going to give me for finally sleeping with Trent. Maybe if I made a grabbing motion at him he will back off... then again then bottle of honey I bought him at the store might do the trick also. I was in such a good mood, I decided to buy some ingredients to make a big feast and celebrate. I even bought some wine and ice cream, it was going to be a great night.

I got out of the car and gathered up the bags of groceries as Jenks zoomed out, I waited for the mocking to begin, but he said nothing... just hovered. "Jenks? You okay? I bought you, your very own bottle of honey, but you only get it if you promise not to torment me about the news I have." I shrugged as his silence and went inside, maybe he was just to shocked at my smell to say anything.

"Ivy, I'm home. I bought some groceries, I figured we'd have some kind of party and celebrate! I've got some great new-" My voice died as I entered the kitchen to find Ellsbeth sitting at the center island, she was leafing through one of my demon texts. Shit... Was all I could think. Wait, why am I scared? This woman is pathetic! I've taken on demons and killed them... I can handle her! With new found confidence I strode into the kitchen, set my bags down and snatched my book away from Ellsbeth, I made her jump which gave me some satisfaction.

"Rachel, you're home... Ellsbeth here to see you in the... oh." She shrugged apologetically for not warning me ahead of time.

"Ellsbeth, nice to... see you again." I could barely spit the words out without gagging, she however was looking at a newspaper, which was odd, as it was pretty late, maybe it was a old issue? I shrugged and put away the groceries.

"I wish I could say the same Rachel." She threw the newspaper onto the counter in front of me, I glanced at it while I sipped some water. Once I read the headline, I wished I hadn't.

I gagged on my water and started to choke. Jenks flew over and landed on the paper to see why I was gagging. I made motion to cover it, but it was too late.

"Tinks Titties Rachel! You banged Trent!" He yelled and looked up at me, in a heartbeat Ivy was beside me and snorted, she wasn't buying it. Until she took a whiff of me, then she gasped.

"Rachel!" She snapped, I winced. So much for my party idea...

"What's this Ellsbeth? How'd you..." I couldn't finish, I wasn't sure if I meant how she knew we'd slept together or got it in the paper, once I read the date, I choked on my next drink of water, I should just put the bottle down before I died. Then again according to this newspaper date, dying now might be easier, then tomorrow of shame.

"How did I know about you banging my fiancee?!" She shrieked, we all covered our ears.

The only thing I could think of to say was to say, "He started it..." It was lame, but I couldn't help it.

"How did you get this into the newspaper?" I asked and shook it so hard Jenks had to take flight.

"I'm the fiancee of Trent Kalamack... I can do whatever I want!" She smiled and perched on the table with her arms folded across her chest.

"Yeah, well, I'm a demon who can turn you into a bug and squash you under my heel if I wanted to!" I yelled and the only reason I didn't advance on her was Ivy was holding my arm.

"You can't publish this, it's slander." Ivy said in a thick sultry voice.

"It's only slander if it's not true..." She smiled and winked at me.

"Ellsbeth, you can publish this all you want, but Trent doesn't want you... get over it." I smiled, but she had a bigger grin on her face, it made me sick to my stomach.

"Well, that my sweet little demon, is where you are wrong. Trent wants me, and will marry me. We set a date... two weeks from now. Lucy will be the flower girl..." She smiled to show her bright white teeth, not a stain on them.

"That's a lie..." I was sure of it, because Trent told me... I shook my head confused.

"Oh, I know what you think Trent told you, but he lied. He just used you as one last fling before our wedding. Which you are not invited too, also I don't want you near my daughter or my husband... ever again. Understand?" She was trying to sound intimidating, but once you spend a week in the ever after, nothing scares you. Not some tiny, prissy snobby, bitch elf, who couldn't hurt a fly, she was so pathetic.

"I'm not scared of you bitch, I've fought demons and won." I snarled, she just smiled.

"Not trying to scare you little demon. Just telling you the new rules for my home. No demons allowed, or vampires or pixies." She said as she gestured to Ivy and Jenks.

"Trent won't stand for this..." I said, but she just laughed.

"Oh Trent, sweet heart, come in here?" She smiled at my look of shock. Trent was here, how did I not smell him, apparently I wasn't the only one shocked.

"Yes, my dear?" Trent walked into my kitchen, over to Ellsbeth and kissed her. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.

"Tell Rachel that what I said was the rules now, she's banned." Ellsbeth ran a finger down the side of his face, all while her eyes were fixed on my shocked face, I immediately went neutral.

"Rachel, thank you for your help and friendship. But, that's all it ever was, I do not love now, nor have I ever. Like Ellsbeth said, it was my last wave goodbye to single life, you are nothing to me, and never were, or will be. Do not come to my home or I will set the hounds upon you. Jonathon would love another crack at you..." He smiled at me, with such cold, dead eyes, that I couldn't breathe. Where was Trent, my Trent, this creature was not Trent. I hadn't seen him look at me with such hatred and repulsion since we first met, back when I was under the IS Death Threat.

"Trent... what... are you okay?" I asked, I was still trying to breathe, I pushed past a shocked Ivy and made my way to him, I touched his arm, and he jumped back horrified. As if something revolting had touched him.

"Don't touch me, you filthy beast." He went to stand on the other side of Ellsbeth. "I am not your Trent, I never was." He smiled, playing with Ellsbeths hair.

"But... Trent... I... don't understand?" I said through my bouts of gasping. My chest was heaving, my heart was beating so fast I felt like it would explode, and the overwhelming crushing feeling, made it all hard to breathe.

"What's to understand? You are a foul beast, a demon. My kind hates you and always will. Oh, you are confused? Well, you stupid girl, I've done nothing but use you since the moment we met. The traditional did not work, so I figured if I was nice to you, sucked up... you'd grow to like me. I laughed so hard when I realized you were in love with me. So, I figured I'd milk it for all I could get, you are amazing in bed. Guess what they say about demons is true... I bet you feel really dirty now huh? Like a tramp, slut? Good, because you are and tomorrow everyone will know the truth." He smiled and gestured to the newspaper.

If I thought breathing before was hard, now I was hyperventilating, my eyes were so full of tears I couldn't see straight. I could hear Jenks behind me cursing and wanting to rip his eyeballs out, but I think Ivy was stopping him. But, he... said he loved me... he loved me, loved me more then anything in the world. We made love... he loved me. Oh my god! He used me, has being using me for years and I never even knew it! He was breaking me just like he was Jonathon... slowly and subtly, oh my god! I can't believe I fell for it... I loved him, I truly loved him! I put a hand to mouth and made a sound only a broken heart can make, I whimpered when they both laughed at me.

"Get out, right now before I rip both of your throats out! NOW!" I heard Ivy scream somewhere, but I couldn't focus, all I could see was Trent in my mind laughingat me, telling me he was using me this whole time and I fell for it.

How could I be so stupid... how could I... oh my god! My knees were shaking so bad, I didn't remember sitting down, or even if I did, but I found myself on the floor. Jenks kids floating around my head singing beautiful lullabies, obviously they were trying to soothe me. It wasn't working, the tears became to much to hold in and the excess overflowed. I was crying, I was hugging my knees and crying a heart wrenching sound, it hurt, it hurt so much, I couldn't stand the pain. This was nothing compared to the other hell I'd been through, I'd literally been to hell, but this was nothing compared to it. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, all I could do was cry, then I was in someones arms. They were holding me and rocking me as I cried, singing a low lullaby, I must have cried myself to sleep because I remembered no more... not like I wanted to anyways.