Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dark-Hunter characters.

After Aldrich had calmed down, the family tried to sit down at dinner again. The servants were lined along the walls, waiting to be called so that they could bring out the next servings of food. The air was still thick with tension but at least everyone was eating.

In an attempt to calm the atmosphere, Elizabeth started by saying, "Well, I think it's time for any apology."

"I feel that that's a great idea my dear." Aldrich said after wiping is mouth, delicately, with his napkin. He turned to face Mary. "Mary, I think it's time you apologize for your behavior earlier." In shock, the servants that lined the wall held their breaths. But, Elizabeth wasn't so silent she gasped in shock and outrage at what her husband had said.

"My lord, Aldrich!" she cried, incredulously. "You're the one who should apologize for your behavior! Mary didn't even say a thing, you behavior lately has been very unruly!"

Rather than being angry at his disobedient wife, all that Aldrich did was glare at Mary. "Haven't you already ruined and shamed this family!" His eyes blazed as he stared at Mary. "First you are a spawn that I'm forced to raise as an heir and then now you're even turning my own wife against me? Using your witchcraft to make me out to be the bad one, as my duty as a man of God I should just turn you into the Church! The way your eyes are, is proof alone, of your crimes!"

By now Elizabeth had paled so considerably that there was no more blood in her face. She was in so much turmoil that she fainted. Falling to the ground Mille barely caught her before she hit the floor. "Mistress! Mistress!" she cried, she glared at Mary. "Now look what you've done! Master, the Mistress had fainted, I'll have someone help me escort her to her room."

"Very well." He nodded and a servant, who was along the wall, quickly went over to Elizabeth and they both scurried off to go and care for their Mistress. Then, Aldrich got out of his chair and he walked over to where Mary was sitting, "Go to your room you insolent wretch!" He grabbed her hair, he violently pulled her hair, and flung her across the room, she landed in the doorway that led into the hall where her room was. "I'll deal with you later." He snarled. Then he got out of his chair and briskly walked out to go check on Elizabeth.

Mary just sat there on the floor in a broken heap, eyes trained on the floor. The remaining servants in the dining room didn't know what to do. They stood there frozen in fear and shock, afraid if they made the wrong move that they'd all pay dearly.

The youngest servant in the room, a kitchen boy who was slightly older than Mary, hesitantly approached her and asked, "Mistress, are you alright? I-If you're alright I can help you to your room…" Only then did Mary finally move. She slowly raised her head and she glared at the boy. The glare that she gave him held nothing but pure hatred and revulsion, but the worst of it was it held such deadly intent that even the strongest of people would've wet themselves.

Still glaring at them, Mary curled her lip and she let out a snarl that was purely animalistic and all of the remaining servants paled in terror. They silently fled the room, afraid for their very lives. When only the kitchen boy remained, all he did was flinch as if he'd been slapped and he dropped his hand in defeat. "Fine, Mistress….If that's how you feel then…You can go to your room by yourself." Then after that only did he leave the her alone in the room and he went back to the kitchen.

Broken, in more ways than one, Mary went back to her room to obediently wait for her father. After she entered the room she silently shut the door behind her and she leaned against it and heaved a sigh. How much more longer can I take of this? She thought, If father says that I'm a witch then maybe I should turn myself into the Church… Even though her father treated her so, she still loved him. Maybe it was through daughterly obedience that compelled her to feel love for her father or maybe it's because her mother loves him that Mary, too felt obligated to love him too.

Defeated with herself, Mary sank to the floor and she buried her face in her knees. Overwhelmed with sorrow she gave in and she started to cry, silent sobs wracked her whole body. After she could find no more tears to cry gave a shaky sigh and she slowly raised her head, still she met her own gaze in the full length mirror.

She watched her own eyes swirl in the waning light, as it grew darker she watched as they became more luminous in appearance. Disgusted by what she saw, she snarled at her own reflection, she grabbed the nearest object, and she threw it at the mirror. Then as it shattered on contact, Mary let out a laugh in satisfaction, for she no longer had to see the image of a wretch.

A wretch! That's what people always called her as they walked past, not that she was ever allowed outside of the house. But, that was the very thing that everyone called her, except for her mother that is. Furious with her behavior, Mary furiously wiped the tears from her face. If her mother had been there to witness her behavior, she would've gently consoled her on her problems and she would've also helped Mary to look at and sort through her emotions. If Aldrich had been the one to witness the behavior… Mary paled at the thought. If her father were to find out what she had just done he would personally punish her himself. The blood that remained in her face drained in the fear of what her father would do.

In the eyes of Elizabeth, Aldrich was a loving husband, as well as father. That was the image that he wanted to uphold, but only when they were together. But, behind closed doors, away from the eyes of all the servants and Elizabeth especially, Aldrich was nothing but an abusive parent. In his heart, he held such hatred for Mary that he beat her on a daily basis.

Mary wasn't sure what she had done to cause such hatred but she knew she didn't deserve that kind of treatment. She was also old enough to understand that if she ever told anyone they'd never believe her. Even if someone did believe her, Mary couldn't let that happen because it'd only damager her mother's fragile heart.

Then a soft rap sounded at the door, it was so soft that those that had ears like Mary's would be able to hear it. Plus, she only knew one person that knocked like that. "Come in!" she hissed. Only then did the door open.

Mary lifted her head to look at who entered her room. It was the servant boy, who worked in the kitchen. "What do you want!" she snarled. All that the boy did was flash his perfectly white teeth and he shook his head of dark brown hair.

"Mary," he laughed, "even after all of this time how many times do I have to tell you that I'm not afraid of you?" As if to try to prove him wrong Mary glared at him so fiercely that, you'd expect there to be burn marks on his face. Then, giving up, Mary sighed in feigned exasperation.

Only then, did Mary let her guard down and she laughed. She laughed so hard that it bordered on tears. Staring at her, the servant joined Mary in her laughter. He too, laughed so hard that tears gleamed in his lavender eyes.

Sorry that this chapter took so long. Please leave a review. If I'm ever this late in getting a chapter up then feel free to yell. I'd also be greatly appreciated because I have bad procrastination skills, I forget to do a lot of things, especially updating my fanfic stories.