Behind the Scenes (Prompt 2)
Gladys learned to watch everything from the background, after she came to realize that Vanessa Ives was Malcolm's illegitimate child. It was too hard for anybody not to notice when she had the same pale blue eyes, and her dark brown hair was darken into his black hair, which was fading into gray. But she couldn't find herself to hate the child, it wasn't her fault that her parents committed adultery and she was product of the affair. Gordon had noticed too, that Vanessa wasn't his child and begin slowly estranging their relationship. Not that Vanessa mind, as Gladys could see. Even though the girl knew nothing of her heritage, Vanessa always thought of Malcolm as her father. And the older woman could see why. No longer was she the attention that used to hold Malcolm, but the children and Claire became a secret family in public's eye. It was such a sight to see, when Malcolm came home. He would be greeted by Claire first, who had somehow knew he would be there. And they would share a kiss when they thought no one was watching (but Gladys saw everything, as she looked out the tallest window, with an emotionless face.) The kids would always run to them, and he'll give them gifts and tell stories.
The dinners of when he return, were always the strangest. It was as if Gordon and Gladys were strangers watching a display of a loving family. They had only each other as they were taken out of the lives of their family. But Gladys did little to comfort Gordon, while he had not seen it coming, she did. She knew the moment the Ives decided to come and visit them for the first time. Gladys knew the moment she laid eyes on Claire Ives, with her godly beauty and easy smiles. Claire opposed Gladys in every way, and that lured Malcolm towards her. Her foolish husband crazed a challenge and something different. And he had gotten that with that woman. Gladys saw no reason the call that harlot by name anymore. Though that wasn't all that Mrs. Murray saw in the shadows.
The relations of Vanessa and Mina.
They were only born days apart, and this somehow created a bond deeper than Gladys ever seen. Fast friends before either could walk or talk, and protective of each other as if a lion was protecting it's cub. But what disturbed Gladys the most of their relationship, was the fact that they were closer than friends. Closer than sisters. It was if they were destined to star-cross lovers that was designed to hurt each other. To cause pain to one's heart. Whenever Vanessa brought up the fact that she would grow up and marry Peter, Mina would become strangely quiet and shoot dagger glares at him. As if he stole something of hers, that was only meant to be hers. And the way that Mina would chat up boys, before Vanessa came by and end the whole conversation with dark look on her face.
So Gladys wasn't all surprised to see that Captain Branson was the reason why their relationship ended abruptly. The older woman suspect that adultery was a genetic thing, that was constantly being passed down from parent to child. And the very night that Vanessa and Branson was caught having sex, proven her point. Vanessa was damned by this behavior, because of her parents wicked ways and in return she lost her lover. Her soul mate. Mina was absolutely heartbroken, when it all came out. Gladys had listened very closely as Mina told her that she caught Captain Branson and Vanessa together. And her poor daughter sounded torment. Though Gladys thought herself cruel think a such things, but couldn't help it: Mina shouldn't had been so upset about it. Vanessa Ives and Mina Murray relationship ran deeper than blood. That disturbed Gladys Murray to the very bone.
The way they touched each other, and talk to one another as if they were lovers of sorts. And not of friends or sisters. A memory comes to mind as she watched their friendship crumble in front of her very eyes. Gladys remember walking down the halls of Murray Manor, when she heard a muffled moan. She had immediately thought of Malcolm and Claire having the nerve to have sex in the house, and went rushing to the noise. Mrs. Murray had enough of their affair, and for them to have to audacious to do such thing, made her blood boil. But when she turned the corner and found the noise, Gladys had discover yet another dark secret that laid in the house. Mina and Vanessa were sharing a kiss, that was so passionate and demanding that it caused her to blush. The daughters of Malcolm was engaged in an incest act. There was carcasses and whispers and Gladys had turned to leave, for she thought that she came across something private and sacred.
Gladys was surrounded with madness, but it was her madness. And there was nothing she could do, but watch behind the scenes.