A/N: Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter, trying to keep my updates a little more consistent again. Now that I've gotten past the hard part, I think I'm finally ready to finish this project off with a bang, hahaha :D This story is very close to completion, we only have a couple more left after this chapter, so stick around for the ultimate final!

I've noticed a great spike in views and alerts lately, and I know exactly who to thank for that; the lovely juliajm15, who's become such a close and dedicated friend and supporter of mine over the past six months, and I can never thank her enough. She's done her best to bring my story to her followers' attention, and as a result of that I gained a lot of new followers myself. It is greatly appreciated, and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to read my story, as well as Jul, who put in the effort to make fanart of it and promote it on my behalf. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, everyone, it means so much that my little baby is receiving at least a small bit of recognition!

That being said, I would still like to remind everyone that if you're just a little bit invested in my story, I would love to hear some feedback from you! Please leave a review if you find the time for it, let me know what you think. I also still have a poll on my profile page where you can vote for your favourite of my original characters, and although it's been up for a good while, I've still only received three votes so far. Please take a little bit of time to leave me some feedback on how I'm doing and what you think of the characters, it would be an immense help! Thank you all so much for reading, and stay tuned for the last chapters that are going to finish this story off!

WARNING: Violence, abuse and language

This was the end.

They had been walking for almost an hour now. The sky had become dark; the Blean seemed thick and malicious in the scarce light provided by the few lanterns the men had brought along. The only sounds were those of the nature coming from deep within the woods around them, their footsteps against the thick forest ground and Serena's occasional quiet sobs. Though whenever it got too loud, Murphy sure made it known by telling her to shut her mouth.

Daniel nearly stumbled over his feet trying to keep up the pace Mr. Thórsson's henchmen had set for him. That's what he assumed they were anyway, for none of them wore neat or posh-looking clothes, so they couldn't be Mr. Thórsson's aristocratic friends; it also seemed highly unlikely that he would send his friends out to fetch his daughter and her lover. The headache and nausea had returned tenfold from before. He felt as ill as when he had just returned from the school after the fire incident. He was about ready to throw up, and his tense nerves didn't help the matter. He felt warm liquid running down his back from the wounds Serena had tore open earlier, causing his already ruined shirt to stick uncomfortably to his skin. He didn't speak up though, for he didn't expect the men to feel sorry for him. If they had noticed the wine bottle in the tree house, they probably just thought him to be drunk.

He guessed he had always known this moment would come, even all the way back when he had first agreed to play with her that fateful day on the meadow. He knew that it was bold of him to continue seeing her. It was bold of him to educate her and show her the warmth she had been neglected of at home, and most of all it had been bold of him to hold and kiss her the way he had. But he chose to take the risk, and no matter how much of a beating he was going to take for it he had no regrets whatsoever.

But still, it was the reason why they had even been caught that went beyond his comprehension and patience. His blood boiled at the thought of the bastard. He couldn't believe it. After all he had done, after all the mental and physical abuse he had taken from that rat just to keep him happy, he had told on him anyway, and he didn't even have the damn guts to stick around and watch as Daniel got punished severely because of him. He left as soon as the men had caught them, not uttering a single word. He didn't have to. The look in his eyes said more than enough. Yes, Daniel had always known that this moment would come, and he could accept that it was his own fault. But he couldn't accept that it was also Henry's.

Finally the woods seemed to be thinning out. It didn't come as a relief though. Daniel's feet involuntarily began to drag against the ground in a subconscious attempt to put off the inevitable.

"YOU JUST KEEP WALKING, YOU SCUMBAG!"

He received a hard push to his back. The impact made his wounds sting, but he bit back a cry of pain. "Don't treat him like that," Serena whimpered behind him.

Murphy turned around to face her. She visibly cringed beneath his furious glare. "You think this is bad? You probably should have thought of that before you ran off to fool around with lower class rats, Miss da Silva! Just wait until your father gets his hands on him, then there'll be hell to pay, I assure you!"

Serena's eyes widened in horror. "No!" she exclaimed, grabbing on to the large man's arm, "Please, this is not necessary! I promise I will never see him again, just let him go and I'll come home with you and talk to my parents!"

Daniel's heart sunk all the way down to his stomach at those words. "Serena!" he cried softly, sending her a look of utter despair. How could she accept not ever seeing him again?

Serena didn't get to respond, for then another one of the men gave Daniel a blow to his stomach so he cracked and fell to his knees, gasping for air. Serena made a high sound and jumped on the spot. The man barked right into Daniel's face, "DON'T YOU SPEAK HER DAMN NAME!"

"Stop it!"

Serena tried to run past the men and reach him, but Murphy quickly had her arm in a steel grip. "Do you think you have any say whatsoever in the matter of what's going to happen to your little toy? You're in big trouble, little miss!"

"He's not a toy, he's my friend!" she protested, her voice strained in an obvious attempt to keep it from trembling.

The large man merely scoffed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Do you take me for a fool? I don't know what this boy has made you believe, but whatever you were doing in that house is not activity common among friends! Perhaps you are the toy, Miss da Silva!"

All the colour in Serena's face drained. "He didn't make me believe anything!" she said with a high voice, but her voice grew weaker as she added, "Our... Our feelings are mutual!"

The whole group of men burst into a laughter that rang through the treetops of the Blean. "Dear me, you poor naïve girl," Murphy said, amusement in his rough voice, "If you really think he cares for you, you are delusional!"

Daniel looked up from his position on the ground. He saw how Serena struggled to hold back her tears, and it was at once both agonising and humiliating witnessing some stupid brute trying to convince her that his love for her wasn't real – and nearly succeed. But no matter how much he wanted to prove them wrong and make them eat their words again, he simply couldn't. He still had trouble getting air into his lungs and his ribs hurt; he could barely breathe, let alone speak. He just wished Serena would look at him and see the truth in his eyes, but she didn't; she stared into thin air, misery painting her beautiful face grey. She didn't argue any more.

Another one of the men grabbed onto the back of Daniel's shirt and hauled him up onto his feet. "Get up and walk! We're almost there."

And sure enough they soon stepped out of the Blean's thick mass and the tall oak trees came into sight. Daniel fisted his hands. He was arriving at his trial.

The group of men lead them up to the front door. Murphy hammered his large fist against the door, and not long after a butler opened and allowed them inside. Serena's breathing picked up. Daniel knew that she was scared senseless. He wanted to comfort her and tell her not to worry, but right at this moment that proved difficult. In all honesty, he wasn't afraid of what was going to happen to him; the only thing he feared was that he might never get to see Serena again.

Stepping inside, Daniel had to constrain himself not to gape in awe. The house was much larger than Henrietta's, and the interior was certainly much more expensive. He had never been in a place this luxurious and beautifully decorated, but he didn't get much time to admire the furnishings. He was brought promptly through the large main hall and into a fireplace lounge; one the size of the kitchen, living room and front hall back home at the Wilkinson estate put together.

Daniel was thrown onto the soft carpeted floor. At least Murphy and his men finally had let go of him. He quickly lifted himself off the ground and buttoned his shirt completely – which the idiots hadn't given him a chance to do earlier – so that he could look a little bit more respectable. Then he looked up at the people before him.

In front of the fireplace sat Serena's family and their friends in extravagant couches and lush armchairs. Hilmar and Magdalena, Katharina, Regina and Jemma, a few other aristocrats, Regina's suitor Nathaniel Sawyer, and Serena's governess. They all looked down at him, the fire from the furnace reflecting in their eyes. It was clear what they saw when they looked at him; an insect that needed to be exterminated.

But then Daniel saw one other person, the only one in the room that managed to make him uneasy – his father. He stood in the shadows of the fireplace, his tall, broad form leaning against the wall and arms crossed. The look on his face was unmistakable; he clearly had had enough of all the trouble, his son was causing.

Hilmar stood up from his armchair, his arms folded behind his back. He was a handsome middle-aged man, tall, rank and majestic, his skin white as snow and his red slicked back hair saturated by the orange light of the fire. He wore an exquisite dark green robe that looked quite comfortable, with a purple tie to match. The light from the fireplace lit his face up from below, making him appear even more intimidating. He was the kind of man who anyone would find very charming and amiable, but whom one definitely didn't want to cross.

"So you are the boy I've been told about," the industrialist said, walking closer to Daniel with slow, considered steps. Daniel kept his gaze low. The man's voice was deep and calm, almost soothing. "The dirty little rascal that tried to seduce and defile my youngest daughter."

"Father, please don't- !" Serena said, but one single look from her mother made her shut her mouth as quickly as she had opened it.

Daniel continued to avoid Hilmar's gaze and instead discreetly eyed Serena's sisters. They were gorgeous young women, each one of them; it was obvious that they were the daughters of Magdalena da Silva. Katharina and Regina looked full of regret and shame, but Jemma on the other hand studied him curiously. She looked around at all the tense adults in the room with the same round doe eyes that Serena possessed.

Hilmar stopped right in front of him. "Stand up, son." Daniel hesitated, but then got up on his feet. He was almost as tall as the man before him. The wealthy Icelander turned to Murphy and his men. "So, where did you find them? Was the pauper boy right about the house? And what did this bastard do to Serena?"

"Yes, the blond was right, sir," Murphy grumbled, scratching his thick black beard, "The house was located a long distance from here, far up in the Blean. We found the pervert assaulting your daughter, holding her down to the ground whilst he forced his filthy tongue down her throat and his dirty hands on her chest!" He looked like he wanted to spit Daniel right in the face.

Serena's cheeks flushed hot with anger and embarrassment. "He didn't assault me!"

"Serena!" Magdalena hissed at her youngest, "You either keep your mouth shut or go to your room at once!"

She pressed her lips together, her brown eyes glossy in the light from the fire. Regina reached out for her. "Come here, Sera," she spoke softly. Serena accepted the offer and went to sit beside her older sister; the blonde put her arms around the girl, sending Daniel a reproachful glance.

Hilmar nodded at Murphy. "Give that boy a farthing as a reward," he said, "If it hadn't been for him, I might never have found out about this."

Daniel gritted his teeth and fisted his hands tighter. He would never forgive Henry this. Never.

The industrialist turned to look at an older woman so overly dressed up in an attempt to look fashionable she merely ended up looking ridiculous instead. "And you, Miss Farrell, you might want to stop gossiping so much with my wife and start keeping an eye on my daughter instead. If you want to keep your job, that is." If Miss Farrell blushed, no one would be able to see for the amount of pink rouge on her wrinkly cheeks. Serena's mother pursed her lips.

Hilmar turned his attention to the young man in front of him. He walked closer to him, "Now, tell me, boy. What kind of corrupt thoughts ran through your mind as you put your hands on my pure and innocent daughter, huh? What made you think you had the right to even as much as glance at her?"

Daniel saw Serena close her eyes and hide her face in the nook of Regina's neck; she was unable to witness the scene. He bit his lip, rubbing his fingers against each other. He really wanted the thundering in his temples to stop.

"Well?"

Hilmar's voice raised a bit in volume. Daniel sighed and finally gathered the courage to look up and meet the plutocrat's hazy blue eyes. He moistened his lips and swallowed a lump in his throat. "All I could think of," he spoke, "was how much I adore her."

Nothing but the crackling of the fire could be heard in the room. Serena's sisters stared at the young man with their mouths agape, unable to believe his nerves. Magdalena averted her gaze to her folded hands on her lap, her mouth a tight line. It seemed like everyone in the room gasped silently. Serena opened her eyes, the fire reflecting in her brown wide orbs.

Hilmar nodded slowly. He appeared to be deep in thought. For a moment Daniel thought that the rich man might actually accept his excuse. But then he slapped Daniel with so much force, the boy ended up on the floor. Everyone jumped in surprise.

"HOW DARE YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Serena's father roared. His tone had completely changed. "YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN COME NEAR MY LITTLE GIRL! I WARN YOU, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SHOOT YOU WITH MY FAVOURITE RIFLE IF I EVER SEE YOUR DISGUSTING FACE AGAIN!ARE WE CLEAR?"

Serena started crying, and Regina pulled her into her arms and made her look away. Katharina covered her mouth with her hand, stopping midst in fidgeting with her long dark curls. "Hilmar!" Magdalena shouted and stood up, "Not in front of the girls!"

Hilmar breathed heavily, staring at Daniel with wide mad eyes. Tall and threatening, the red mane gave him the appearance of a lion ready to attack its prey – and he did look very ready to kill Daniel on the spot to protect his beloved cub.

Daniel wiped the blood running down from the corner of his mouth and looked up at the industrialist before him again, defiance in his light green eyes. He wasn't afraid of getting shot.

Finally John stepped forward. The artisan walked over to his son and grabbed him by the arm, hauling him up onto his feet. Daniel struggled not to wince at the harsh grip. "I am terribly sorry about my son's behaviour, Mr. Thórsson. I swear, if I had known, I would have put an end to it immediately. I promise you that I will make sure he never goes near your family again, and he will be punished."

Not even his own father was going to defend him, but that was to be expected. Daniel fisted his hands so hard his knuckles turned white, gritting his teeth together; of course John would have put an end to it if he had known, but he didn't because he had neglected his children the whole time! The anger was fuming within Daniel. He was being undermined right in front of Serena and her family. It was so humiliating, it hurt.

"I certainly hope so!" Hilmar barked at John, "Tell me, don't you even keep an eye on your own children? That boy of yours should be locked up!"

Darkness. Fire. Glowing eyes.

Daniel's eyes widened as images suddenly flashed before his eyes. The blood in his veins turned to ice. Serena saw the expression on his face.

John swallowed hard, not finding the irony of the industrialist's words very amusing at all. It was the first time the man had ever restrained himself. "I agree, sir."

Suddenly Serena broke free of Regina's arms and jerked up. Everyone in the room jumped in their seats. "No!" she cried and pointed at John, "Don't you hurt him! He is your son! How can you do this? Leave him alone, you- !"

"Serena, be quiet!" Katharina said and grabbed her sister's arm. She forced her to sit down on the couch between her and Regina again, but Serena struggled.

"NO! I know what that man does to him! It's not right!"

Magdalena stood up from her seat. "You, young lady, go to your room at once!"

But Serena didn't listen. The tears streamed down her face as she started screaming hysterically. Nathaniel Sawyer's eyes were wide. The whole scene disturbed him.

Hilmar turned to Daniel, looking like he wanted to wring his neck. "You have ruined my daughter, you dirty piece of trash!" he roared over Serena's distressed cries.

Daniel stared back and forth between the family members with wide eyes, shocked and overwhelmed by the sudden chaos apparently caused by him. His arm throbbed as John tightened his grip. The man leaned very close to his son's ear, hissing, "What have you told that girl?"

He swallowed. "Nothing." John obviously didn't believe him. His nails dug into Daniel's skin, and by this point Daniel was nearly certain that the bloodstream to his arm had been blocked.

Serena's mother ordered Miss Farrell to follow Serena to her room. He could hear her crying and begging for her parents to not let John take him resound through the hall as she was brought away. It was cruel. He wanted to tell her that he would be fine.

"Take your son home!" Hilmar shouted, lashing out with his hand in anger, "I don't want to look at him any more!"

John bowed his head, murmuring, "I will, Mr. Thórsson. I apologise on the behalf of my son." He turned around and marched out of the fireplace lounge, dragging Daniel along with him. The rest of the family was left speechless.

Hazel lay in her bed, looking out the window at the courtyard. It was late in the evening, and the moon was full; the air cool, but not chilly.

She heard it when the strangers had come knocking on their door. She sneaked out of her room and crouched by the railing, looking down to the main hall. Charles went to fetch her parents. The men told her father what had happened. He was furious.

Hazel knew that her brother was in big trouble. He hadn't been careful enough, he had been too consumed in his own world. She should be sleeping now, but she couldn't. She followed the two figures in the courtyard with her eyes. The large man didn't drag his son inside the house, but instead went directly for the stables. There he wouldn't have to be careful about making a mess.

Hazel closed her eyes, making a silent prayer. Then she took her bottle of magic and drowned her worries. She lay down in her bed and flew away.

Daniel let out a small groan as he landed on his ribs on the dirty concrete floor. "What the hell were you thinking, boy?" John bellowed, kicking his son in the side.

The young man winced, but his father fortunately didn't hit his sore left side. He barely got up on his feet and turned around to look at John. "Father, I'm not some pervert! I love her!" he said.

John's eyes widened, but he didn't look like he was happy with that explanation. Before Daniel could say any more, he was met with a large fist to the side of his face; he fell back on the floor, rubbing his jaw. "That is the most stupid thing, I've ever heard!" the artisan said, grabbing onto his son again. He dragged him up on his feet and took a lead hanging over one of the stall gates. "Couldn't you just have stuck to one of your own? Why must it be the daughter of the wealthiest man in Kent? Why must you always cause so much trouble?"

Daniel was still a bit disoriented from taking the hard blow when his father started ripping his ruined shirt off. He didn't even struggle. He knew it was happening whether he liked it or not, and he had learned to accept it. "But I love her…"

John tied his son's hands together in a secure knot, then proceeded to secure the clasp of the lead to a nearby hook on the wall. He didn't care about the dried scabs all over the boy's back. "Love!" he spat, loosening his belt, "Boys your age don't know love! You think with one thing only, and it's definitely not the head on your neck, neither your heart!"

The belt sliced through the air. The horses in the stalls neighed in shock as the mistreated boy let out an agonised scream. The crusts reopened, and he felt the warm blood stream down his back once more, each and every wound burning like hot embers against his sore muscles.

John breathed heavily. "First the fire at the school," he growled, then aggressively lashed out with the belt again. Daniel stubbornly swallowed his yells. Sweat ran down his shoulder blades, mixing with the blood. He wanted to cover his back, but his hands were tied firmly.

"Then," John spoke, "you decide to stay away from your own damned birthday dinner! Again!"

The belt slashed his back in a split second, cutting through the delicate flesh and leaving a new wound. The young man leaned against the wall, his knees buckling. He feared that these scars would never heal.

The artisan drew his belt back, wiping the blood off it with his sturdy hand. The boy's back was completely smeared in red, making it impossible to see which part of the skin that wasn't damaged. John gritted his teeth, blowing out hot air through his nostrils. "And now," he thundered, "you've got the bloody nerves to put your hands on a lady of the high society? You're a humiliation!"

With the third slash, Daniel's knees finally gave up. He fell onto the ground, moaning in pain. His back nearly felt numb by now, but only nearly.

"Couldn't you have done like your old man?" John roared, "Marry a decent girl of your own class, one like your mother!"

He couldn't keep quiet any longer. "But I am doing like you, Father," he mumbled through strained breaths.

Suddenly it became oddly quiet, though the tension still lingered in the air. John fisted his large hands. His voice trembled slightly when he said, "What?"

Daniel breathed out heavily and bit his lip. No, he wasn't going to stop now. "Chasing women of the upper classes; that's what we Wilkinsons do, isn't it?" he spoke, lowering his head. He locked his gaze on his tied hands. "Or is that only after they've been widowed, so we can grab their deceased husband's money?"

The silence persisted for just a moment. Daniel looked over his shoulder at his father. The man's eyes were mad; he nearly frothed with fury. "You SWINE!" he roared, "WHO ARE YOU, DEVIL CHILD? YOU ARE NOT MY SON!"

He forced Daniel onto the floor, locking his hand around the boy's throat. Daniel stared up at John, unable to think straight as the oxygen drained from his brain. He couldn't breathe. His chest rose up and down in an increasingly rapid pace as his lungs struggled to catch some air. "TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TO HER!" John thundered. Tears welled up in his eyes. "HOW MUCH DID YOU RUIN HER? DID YOU FORCE YOUR FILTHY TONGUE INTO HER INNOCENT MOUTH? DID YOU SNEAK YOUR DIRTY HANDS UP UNDER HER PRISTINE SKIRT?"

Daniel tried to grasp around his father's wrists, but the lead wasn't long enough.

"DID YOU STICK YOUR DISGUSTING COCK INSIDE HER, SON? DID YOU KNOCK HER GOOD? DID YOU ABUSE ALL THE THINGS I TAUGHT YOU WHEN I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HOPE FOR YOU?"

John's face blurred away. Daniel's struggling hands grew weaker as he became dizzy. He barely registered any of the huge man's words any more. His vision was red, blue and yellow, then it began to fade. He felt like his chest was going to explode.

Suddenly the father realised what he was doing. His eyes widened. He let go of his son's throat, quickly scrambling away from the young man who immediately started coughing and gasping for air.

John stared at him with anxious eyes. Daniel didn't know if he was scared of him or himself, but he didn't care at this moment. He crawled on to his knees, the violent coughs soon bringing bloody vomit up with them.

"You're a demon," John whispered.

Daniel was barely done throwing up before he was grabbed by his hair and pulled onto his feet. He was too weak to resist, the only sound escaping him a soft groan. John untied the lead, then dragged him down the stable hallway. "The rich man was right! You should be locked up!"

Daniel's eyes widened. He suddenly realised where his father was taking him, and somehow he managed to gather the strength to resist. "NO!"

"YES!" John roared, easily waving off Daniel's attempts to fight back. He finally reached the end of the hallway, grabbing a bunch of keys hanging on a hook on the wall, then opening the door right next to it; the door to the basement.

"FATHER, PLEASE!" Daniel exclaimed, his voice raising several pitches. Tears formed in his eyes as he frantically tried to wrestle out of the strong man's grip like a lamb about to be fed to a hungry wolf.

But John was merciless. He shoved his son down the stairs into the darkness, then slammed the door behind him and locked it. "YOU CAN SPEND THE NIGHT IN THERE! THERE'S NO WAY I WILL ALLOW YOU IN THE HOUSE UNTILL THAT DEMON THAT HAS POSSESSED YOU IS GONE!" John yelled through the door, "GOODNIGHT!"

The sound of John's quick footsteps through the stable diminished, and then only a few of the horses' snorts could be heard. Daniel couldn't see anything. His whole body was aching, but he didn't have the slightest chance of tending to his wounds. He was sweating, but his skin felt cold and clammy. Only his forehead was burning hot.

Images flashed before his eyes.

Fire licking the floor, breaking down the walls, devouring everything.

Was he going to die? He couldn't smell the smoke. His pulse raced. More memories formed in the darkness.

Shadow claws reaching, evil eyes watching him. Monsters everywhere, laughing. Amused by his fear.

And then they appeared.

Daniel backed away, not knowing where he was crawling to. He shivered so violently he stumbled. He couldn't even feel the tears streaming down his face. The figures stepped out of the darkness, and they looked more horrifying than ever. They weren't only shadows, they were disfigured, ugly and menacing, and they all laughed at him.

He couldn't endure this any more. The darkness was going to take him. The shadows were going to consume him. If he didn't get out now, he would never escape.

It was silent. The sky outside was completely black and clear, moonlight shining in through the windows and lighting up the stable. Every now and then, a horse snorted and shifted in its stall.

Pride stuck his head outside the box, sending glances down the hallway. Dried blood smeared the dusty concrete floor. It had been hours since the chaos in the stables. It had been hours since the loud noises from the basement had stopped.

But suddenly it started again. The horses neighed and stamped on the floor, surprised by the sudden bang. Pride snorted, scratching his hoof against the stall gate. The other horses stuck their heads out of their boxes to see what was going on. With every crash, the door grew weaker.

The hinges broke, letting the ratty door free. A young man fell on top of it, quickly scrambling away from the dark basement. He had no shirt on, and his whole body was covered in bruises and cuts. Pride neighed, calling for the boy's attention.

He didn't react at first. He grasped on to his head, pulling at his hair. His form shuddered violently. The other horses relaxed again as nothing more happened. The stable was calm.

After a longer while, the young man slowly got up on his feet. Pride called again, and he finally looked at the horse. He made his way to the colt's stall, his legs weak. He opened the stall gate, letting himself inside and settling down in the soft hay. Pride nudged his shoulder, offering some comfort. His rider fondled his soft muzzle. He looked horrible. His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles underneath; he clearly hadn't gotten any sleep.

No matter how hard he struggled to keep composed, Daniel eventually broke down; he had escaped once again, but he had been so close. A drop of sweat trickled down his forehead, strands of brown hair sticking to his skin. He squeezed his eyes close, fisting his shaking hands. Too much had happened. It was more than he could handle. He just wanted to run away and never return again.

Maybe he should.

The young horse breathed out through its nostrils, letting out warm air on Daniel's shoulder. Daniel looked at Pride, biting his lip as the guilt washed over him in a sensitive moment. The horse could have been the greatest race champion, but had been stuck with him, left to a dull fate as a pet for a silly foolish boy. He remembered the day Mr. Philips had come to deliver Pride; the sadness in the elderly farmer's eyes as he said goodbye to his greatest hope of fulfilling his dream, all because his bloody witch of a stepmother offered a price too high to turn down and wanted to prove a point. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.

He looked down at the hay around him, not really focusing his gaze on anything. He swallowed a lump, his cheeks dry with salt tears. He was tired. He shouldn't have to take all of this. His father's corporal punishments that nearly bordered on torture. The man had called him a demon. His own father had almost killed him.

He reached a hand in his trouser pocket, pulling out the small locket that he had dug out of the hiding spot in the small house earlier that evening. He clicked it open, looking at the painting inside. The engraving beside it stood crystal clear; Always be together.

He was not going to put up with it any more. Daniel fisted his hands, a determined look coming over his face. No more. He was over it.

Early in the morning, Miss Turner came out to the stables. She brought the keys to the basement with her, her brows furrowed deep in worry. Immediately as she entered the building, she noticed the broken door to the basement. She frowned and went down the hallway, her eyes searching.

The boy lay sound asleep in the hay. Pride looked up at the kind housekeeper, flipping his ears forward. He only looked for a moment, though, afterwards focusing his attention on his rider again, gently nudging the young man's bare, damaged back. The man didn't move an inch, his chest rising and falling in steady, calm breaths.

Miss Turner smiled. She opened the stall gate and went inside, gently shook the poor boy awake and brought him back inside the house to have his wounds tended to.

After getting patched up by Miss Turner and taking a bath, Daniel locked himself up in his room. He slept throughout most of the day, unwilling to eat anything or see anyone. Miss Turner and Charles occasionally knocked on his door to see how he was doing, but there was never any news.

When it became evening, he couldn't sleep any more. He simply lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had tried to distract himself by reading, but nothing did it help. He was miserable.

But he had a plan.

The servants had given up on trying to get any response out of him by now, so they left him alone in his room. John forbid Daniel from attending the dinner table; he said he didn't want to look at him, and Daniel felt quite the same way about his father. When everyone was busy downstairs eating, he climbed out of the window.

The sky was coloured orange and violet by the late evening sun. Daniel breathed in the fresh cool air, letting it soothe all the wounds on his bruised body. The walk did him good. Seeing the tall oak trees in the distance, he became a bit more aware. He didn't want to be seen; if he got caught this time, surely the industrialist would have his head.

Daniel sneaked around the tall trees, hiding behind them. He moved in the shadows of the bushes and shrubs, making his way behind the house to peek into the garden. It was completely empty, save for the gardener. He frowned, biting his lip. Hopefully, she was home. He went further around the house and looked in through one of the windows. It looked like a living space. Two of the sisters sat in there, one of them playing the piano forte. The looks on their faces were somewhat melancholic.

Daniel continued around the building, looking inside all the many windows. Servants were going at it in the kitchen, cleaning up after the dinner. Mr. Thórsson and his wife still sat in the dining room with all of their friends, chatting and laughing. Daniel took care not to be seen through the window.

At last he found her. In the library, she was sitting alone on the comfortable cushion seat in the bay window, surrounded by stacks of books. He was impressed; he never knew that she read so much in her own time. The large glass double doors stood open, letting in fresh, cool summer air. She drew on her sketchpad, deeply immersed in her art.

Daniel smiled. She looked beautiful with that concentrated look on her face; that slight frown between her groomed curved eyebrows, and the way she pursed her lush pink lips. She was wearing a new choker today; it seemed indeed that she had grown quite fond of them, and he couldn't help but smile as he wondered how many she owned. He sneaked up to the window, gently knocking on the glass.

Serena looked up. Seeing Daniel outside, her slanting brown eyes widened in horror. She shook her head and gestured for him to leave, but Daniel was not going to give in without a fight. He nodded stubbornly, motioning for her to come outside to him. In the end she got up from her seat and walked out to him through the glass double doors. She grabbed his wrist and dragged him with her behind one of the tall, broad oak trees. "What are you doing here? Are you completely mad? My father will kill you!" she whispered frantically, doing large gesticulations with her arms.

Daniel completely ignored her comments. He pressed her up against the tree and caressed her face. "I don't care," he said, brushing stray strands of dark hair away from her face, "Nothing is going to keep me away from you."

He leaned down and closer to her. Serena fixed her gaze on his lips, biting her own. She fisted her small hand against his chest, a deep frown furrowing her brows. Just before he pressed his lips against hers, she put up her delicate fingers in front of his mouth. "Daniel, I don't want you to get hurt…"

Daniel snorted, standing up straight. "Do you think it matters to me?" he said, lashing out with his hands, "I could care less about all the others! I am tired, Serena! Exhausted!" He grabbed her shoulders, the corners of his lips tugging in a desperate smile. "Let's run away together. Just you and me. No one will ever find us."

Serena's eyes widened. "Daniel!"

"We can be happy without anyone interfering! And we could take Hazel with us!" Daniel continued, taking her hands in his. He brought them close to his chest, pressing her hands against his beating heart. "Then I'll marry you, Serena! I'll marry you right away, and we will never return to this wretched place!"

She stared at him, stared into his beautiful, hopeful light green eyes. She couldn't stop trembling. She felt a pricking sensation in her eyes and had to blink. She was going to speak, but then she saw something in the window from the common room. A silhouette stood in the window frame. The figure shook its head. Serena's breath caught in her throat.

"Serena?"

She looked at the boy before her again. He stood there, looking at her with those brilliant eyes and the slight furrow in his forehead, the slightly agape mouth. He looked so lost and so expectant, and it broke her heart to know that his efforts were futile.

Serena averted her gaze to her feet, "Daniel… I am betrothed."

He didn't respond. Slowly he let go of her hands.

"I… I am betrothed to a man with a good fortune. He is an excellent party for a lady of my standing. I have to… I will be marrying him when I am old enough." She fell silent.

For a while, none of them said anything. The wind howled gently, blowing through the treetop over them, playfully tangling their hair and making the leaves rattle as they clashed against each other. Everything was calm. The figure in the window had disappeared.

Serena trembled, struggling to keep her emotions at bay. "I… I think it's best if we don't see each other any more." She clenched her teeth together and swallowed hard.

Daniel looked at her, but he didn't really look at her. It was as if he saw right through her, staring at a ghost. And that was all she had become.

He turned around and walked away. Right then, Serena finally broke into tears.

She threw herself on the soft bed. The spacious chamber was almost empty now; all of the girl's clothes and belongings lay scattered around on the bed, the desks, and even the floor, waiting to be organised and put into trunks.

Serena was in great pain. She couldn't imagine how she was supposed to ever feel better again. The tears fell, but she struggled to keep her cries down; she had too often been told how unseemly it was for a lady to bawl out loud. One should contain one's feelings. Oh, how she now wanted to throw all those damn rules out the window more than ever before.

While she lay on the bed, her face buried in the silky velvet pillows, the door gently opened. Serena's sobs subsided a bit, but she didn't look up. The door clicked close again, and soon the girl felt a warm hand caress her back. "Mi preciosa… You know that it was for the best. He would never have been able to provide properly for you."

Serena didn't respond. She wiped her face, but the pillow was already soaked.

Magdalena gently brushed her fingers through her daughter's dark hair, "You need to finish packing. We're going back to London, and we won't return again."

The broken-hearted girl merely nodded, swallowing a sob. The beautiful Chilean woman stood up from the bed and walked out of the room, leaving her daughter to cry out.

Daniel watched as the fancy carriages with the four horses each strolled away on the Great Dover Road, headed north to London.

There was a small month left of the summer vacation. The meadow was as beautiful as usual, peaceful and serene. The River Stour trickled down in a steady stream by his feet. He buried his hands in his pockets, kicking a pebble on the ground. The pebble plunged into the water, making a small audible splash.

He struggled hard not to scream out in anger. It felt like he had had the whole world at his fingertips, and he had been ready to grab it and indulge himself in all the pleasures of it – but then it had suddenly collided, leaving him with only a faint taste of what could have been.

The carriages were nearly out of sight now. He felt something in his pocket. Locking his fingers around it, he realised that it was the locket.

Daniel picked it out of his pocket. He ran his thumb over the heart-shaped medallion, the smooth surface, only interrupted by the small jewels curving along the right side. He moistened his lips and clicked it open, glancing at the perfect portrait inside it.

She smiled at him. It was a gentle but genuine smile, and the eyes were full of life and soul. Either the painter was very talented, else she was just incredibly beautiful. Daniel already knew the answer.

He fisted his hand around the small heart, groaning in anger as he drew his arm back, getting ready to throw the locket as far down the river he could manage. He swung his arm forward, but then the angry expression on his face suddenly changed into a look of anguish. He stopped, his arm midway through the air. He just couldn't do it.

Daniel fell to his knees on the green grass, bending forward and clutching the small locket close to his chest. It felt like his whole being was aching, the pain stemming from his very core. It was too much. He couldn't take it. He couldn't accept it.

Blinking the threatening tears back, he put the locket away again in the small pocket in his waistcoat. It wasn't meant to end like this. This had happened for one reason, and one reason only. He growled in fury, getting up on his feet again. With quick and determined steps, he headed for the small village.

It was all his fault.

At least she was at peace at last.

That was what the gravedigger had told him in a vague attempt to comfort him. It didn't sound like he meant it, though, and Henry knew as well that his mother wasn't resting. She still had an agonised expression on her face as she was thrown into the hole in the ground, the dirt being thrown onto her putrid body. She didn't even have a coffin; people getting buried in the pauper grave couldn't afford one.

Henry sat alone on the bench in front of the fountain on the village plaza, staring at nothing. He still had some leftovers of the money he had used to acquire the opium, and with them he had bought himself a bottle of beer to drink away his sorrows.

It was a disgustingly lovely day. The sun shined brightly, and the birds chirped and ate away at the small breadcrumbs the children and old people of the village had left for them. Every now and then a few of the villagers walked past him across the square, none of them offering their sympathies. No one had ever liked crazy, bitter Miss Bedloe who had gotten pregnant outside of marriage and disowned by her family.

He swallowed another slurp of the beer, the refreshing, bubbling liquid cooling his throat. It was just what he needed. He didn't know where to go from here. Everything just seemed chaotic and out of control. How was he supposed to move on and be by himself? He had only ever had his mum.

Henry's fingers tightened around the bottle. He shifted his gaze from the ground to look over the plaza, and then his eyes widened. A figure was coming his way, closing in in quick, short steps. He stood up, wanting to leave. He couldn't deal with this, not right now – but if he thought he could be let off that easily, he was very wrong.

"HENRY!" Daniel roared, grabbing Henry's shirt, "How could you? We had a deal!"

The young man shoved the blond violently. Henry was so shocked that he fell to the ground, the gravel cutting his bare forearms. A few of the people nearby stopped what they were doing and stared at the two boys. "Did you think I wasn't going to react? Did you think I was just going to stand by and let you ruin my life? Again?" Daniel said, kicking Henry's side in his anger.

Henry's body was too sturdy for him to actually take any damage from the kick. He squirmed, but quickly got back up on his feet. Oddly enough he couldn't fight back; he just stared at Daniel in pure shock. It was as if he had lost the spirit.

Daniel grabbed the collar of Henry's shirt, barking right into his face, "I'm through with you! You're nothing but a vile bully, only wanting to make others' lives miserable because of your own selfish bitterness! I'm not going to allow it any more!"

He punched Henry right in the face. Henry could taste the metallic liquid before it ran down his chin, but still he didn't fight back. He merely grasped around the younger man's slender wrists in a weak attempt to make him let go. A small crowd gathered around them, following the fight with great interest. They whispered in between each other.

"Did you think that you had it hard?" Daniel said, once again serving Henry a punch, "You weren't the only one with an ill family member! My sister is dying as well! The only difference is that she was born with her illness, while your crazy mum chose to rot away and leave you behind herself!"

Another punch to the gut. Henry struggled to catch his breath. Only his mother had ever hurt him like this.

"Do you remember bullying my poor sister, laughing at her for being weak? Do you, Bedloe?"

Henry tried to break free, but Daniel merely shoved him onto the ground and jumped on top of him to keep him down, once again punching him in the face. Henry's head was spinning; he had never expected this amount of strength from Daniel, the small, gentle boy whom he had tormented for years.

"You have ruined the only good thing in my life, all because of your damn mother! Tell me, did she even deserve it? Was she worth any of your efforts? She only managed to bring you and everyone around you to despair! You are nothing but a big fat hypocrite, you son of a bitch!"

And suddenly Daniel crossed a line that brought Henry's spirit back. He couldn't stay passive any more. Finally he felt the anger boil deep within him, but not because he thought that Daniel was wrong – rather because he knew that he was right.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

Henry overpowered Daniel, forcing him onto the ground instead, but Daniel didn't back down. He didn't get the look of fear in his eyes that Henry was used to and expected. Instead he merely roared and shoved Henry back, so that they both ended up getting back up on their feet again. Henry was taken aback by his strength; he would have never imagined that Daniel of all people would be able to challenge him.

The aforementioned attacked Henry again. This time, Henry fought back, hitting Daniel in his left side. Everyone gasped as Daniel let out an excruciating cry and fell to his knees. Henry stared at him; he didn't even put that much force into the hit. Was he already injured?

Finally someone decided to interfere; Daniel ignored the pain and was about to jump at Henry again when two middle-aged men suddenly grabbed his arms and pulled him back. "I think that's quite enough, you two!" one of the men said, struggling to keep the aggressive young man at bay.

Daniel ignored them. Hot tears welled up in his eyes as he kept thundering at Henry. "ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? DID YOU GET WHAT YOU WANTED, HENRY? AM I FINALLY MISERABLE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE?"

Henry breathed heavily, his swamp green eyes wide with shock. The brunet kept screaming at him and struggling to break free of the men's grip, while the other villagers whispered among themselves.

"Dear God, this generation's youth is completely deranged..."

"Well, I've never! What a behaviour!"

"People need to educate their children! This is just reckless! What irresponsible parents!"

Daniel didn't seem to hear any of the comments. He only had his burning, green eyes on Henry.

His roaring, as well as all the other voices, drowned out. Henry just stared at him. He had never felt this disturbed his whole life, and it was his own doing. It was his fault that the perfect and good Daniel had been driven to this violent rage attack. He had broken him – and himself as well – and now he saw that it never had served any purpose. He had achieved nothing; his mother was dead.

He watched as the men forced Daniel to leave the village. He caressed the black eye he had acquired from the fight, wincing a little bit by the touch.

It was time to stop. He was just as tired of himself as Daniel was.

Daniel slammed the door to his room shut and threw himself on his bed, roaring into the pillow. He bit back the tears and pulled at his hair, not knowing what to do with himself. Why was life so unfair to him? Why did he have to be pushed around like this? It was too much! The world might as well have been shrouded in darkness now, for he had lost the love of his life.

As he lay there, just wishing the whole world would disappear and wanting most of all to be left alone, the door opened. Daniel looked up, only to groan and bury his head in the pillow again. She was the very last person, he wanted to see. "Go away, Henrietta."

Henrietta ignored his request, closing the door behind her. She slowly took a few steps closer to his bed, her hands folded in front of her. "Daniel, surely you didn't actually expect things to turn out any other way?"

Daniel aggressively sat up, pointing at her in a fit of anger, "Watch your mouth! I still know about Mr. Evans! What should keep me from telling my father about your disgusting secret now?"

"Let me remind you that Hazel is only barely alive," Henrietta said, her voice as stern and cold as her eyes, "and the fact that she even is is only due to my money."

He seethed with fury. Never had he felt this much hatred for anyone before. How dared she use Hazel against him? How dared she barge into his room and bother him with her stupid comments about how idiotic he was to believe that he actually had a chance with Serena? Who did she even think she was? She was an Ice Queen!

A small smile tugged at Henrietta's thin lips, as she nonchalantly continued, "Besides, you wouldn't want to ruin your father's happiness, now would you? You should know how that feels."

How he genuinely hated that woman. She managed to trigger each and every red button within him. "My father couldn't possibly be happy with a hag like you!" he spat, his words dripping acid.

Henrietta didn't look offended. In fact, she didn't look like the words affected her at all. At least not the way, Daniel would have liked them to. She merely let out an arrogant chuckle, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture and shaking her head as if Daniel was being incredibly silly. "Daniel," she said, "money is happiness. And your father is much happier with me than he ever was with your poor mother." She turned around and went to the door, grabbing the door handle. Before opening the door, she added, "Just like Miss da Silva will be much happier with her fiancé than she could ever be with you."

With those last words, she walked out the door, leaving Daniel to his misery.