A/N: I am sorry for the long wait for this chapter. The format of this will be that we will be switching between Elijah and Grace every chapter or so. I'm also going to see about updating this quicker than I have been. Anyway, here is the second chapter and I hope you all enjoy it.
Warning: Due to the film's language and how close this fic will be following the movie at some points, the N-word will be used. I am simply using it for Canon. I do not in any way, shape, or form like the word, nor do I use it outside of this fic. I am willing to bump ratings if it bothers enough people, but for now I am putting this as fair warning.
Cooper's Gold
...
Chapter Two
She wanted to say that she was indifferent to it all.
That being raised from a young age on a plantation; no Candieland, would have left her believing that seeing the slaves being mistreated was normal. That was not the case for Grace, she felt a sense of guilt at seeing the scared expressions on some of the house slaves faces, or to see just how trapped they were. It just reminded her of how trapped she was, leading the life of a plantation owner's daughter, who was expected to smile politely and be...happy.
To be honest, she was surprised nobody questioned her relation to her father, Calvin Candie. There was no family resemblance between the two of them. Calvin had dark brown hair, his sister, the woman Grace was forced to call her aunt, had curly blonde hair. Then, there was grace, dark red hair and striking green eyes. Still, nobody questioned it and Calvin was all to happy to keep the facade that she was of his own blood, the idea alone making Grace's skin crawl slightly.
He was her adoptive father, something Grace was all to happy to remind him of during her early teenage years, but she started to just tell him what he wanted to hear after being at the receiving end of his anger. Pissing him off was something she didn't like doing anymore, not after the incident with the stairs and receiving a few slaps to the face, ones that left rather ugly bruises sometimes.
...She needed to leave.
"Are you even listenin' to me?"
The slightly sharp voice of her "aunt" Lara broke Grace's thought train, her eyes moving away from the front gates of Candieland and back towards her. Her and Lara sat at a table, an untouched cup of tea sitting in front of her while Lara held her's in her hands, a concerned look on her face.
"I apologize," Grace said quickly, folding her hands in her lap as she turned her gaze on Lara, "there is a lot on my mind."
"Well, Darlin', do share," Lara said, giving her a smile, "we are family here."
"Right..." Grace whispered to herself, reaching out to pick up her cup of tea, her fingers lingering on the handle of the cup for a few moments, clearing her throat as she continued, "I am just a little nervous about seeing Cal- I mean, Papa today."
"Oh, you're still stressin' about your little tiff? That was a week ago, Gracie, I am sure Calvin has forgotten all about it by now. If anythin', he will probably be thrilled to see you again."
"I guess so," Grace muttered, taking a few sips from the now cold tea.
The little "tiff" that she had with Calvin wasn't little by any means. Grace usually had a hold on her words, choosing to bite them back and bottle them in. Now that she thought about it, that was probably the issue. There was so much she wanted to say, yet stayed silent and kept building on them until she couldn't take it anymore.
A week before Calvin left for business, Grace had found out that he sold a slave that had been a personal helper to her for a very long time. The woman had been like a mother figure to her, someone she grew close with, and when she found out like she had been sold off like an object...she just snapped. Words flew, she even got close to striking Calvin, but he got to her first.
It was a few days before the bruise started to fade from her cheek in the slightest, which left her with more powder on her face than what she was used to, her cheek still tender to the touch.
It was the hardest slap she had ever received.
"If you didn't rile him so, he wouldn't need to punish you so much," Lara said, her blue eyes locked on her own. Grace felt some irritation at the remark, how she viewed her as being the one to always make Calvin angry, like she wanted to be slapped or threatened.
"You're right, Lara," Grace said, trying to keep up her indifferent tone that she usually used, but a biting tone managed to slip out, "I really should be more careful."
The southern belle in front of her just turned her head away thoughtfully towards the gates, Grace watching her with mild interest. She never really understood why Lara was always so...excited to see Calvin after he has been away. If anything, Grace looked forward to the times he was away, she took those times to gather herself again after a fallout.
She played with the handle on her tea cup thoughtfully, waiting for Lara to dismiss her yet again.
Grace had always hated tea.
It was a little past mid-day when Calvin returned back home, Grace standing dutifully beside Lara as he greeted the both of them with a happy and overly excited shout. It was the normal greeting they got when he returned, Calvin greeting Lara with a peck on the lips that made Grace a tad uncomfortable. She forced herself to give him a beaming smile when he approached her, one that made her cheek burn slightly, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Ah, a sight for tired eyes, as always," Calvin said with a grin, showing off his disgusting teeth, placing a hand on Lara's cheek and turned towards Grace, "I want to have a chat with you, Gracie."
"Of course, Papa," Grace said, glancing towards Lara as she smiled and left after saying a few words to Calvin. Grace tried not to tense when she felt Calvin's hand on her back, leading her towards his study.
"Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" he asked, glancing down at her as Grace shook her head.
"No, aside from more etiquette lessons from Aunt Lara," Grace said softly, stopping inside Calvin's study as he took a thoughtful drag from his cigarette. She watched as he blew the smoke out of his mouth, the smell of smoke making her want to crinkle her nose.
"Oh? What is she teachin' you now?"
Grace held her pinkie up, a small grin crossing her face, "tea party etiquette. We are supposed to have a small one every day, just me and her."
"You two could use some more bonding anyway," Calvin said, sitting down on one of the couches of his study, gesturing that she sit beside him, "Bless her, but I do believe that she needs some more company."
Grace only nodded wordlessly, sitting down beside him, though she tried to sit as far away as she could without it being too noticeable. To be honest, she could care less about Lara and had no interest in getting to know the woman better, but she forced herself to go in case Calvin decided that he would be offended if she didn't.
She jumped when she felt Calvin prod at her cheek with his free hand, his expression slightly serious as she rubbed the powder from his fingers, cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth. Grace narrowed her eyes slightly at the action, trying not to move farther away from him.
"That left quite the mark, didn't it?" Calvin asked, "still sore, from the looks of it. I do apologize for hittin' you so hard, though it makes you think twice about talkin' back to me, don't it?"
Grace watched as Calvin took a drag from the cigarette, her hands curling at her sides.
Choke on it and die already, she thought angrily, dragging her tongue across the bottom of her teeth, biting down on it in her restraint from saying the thought out loud.
"Yes, sir," she spat out after a few moments, looking away from him towards the bookcase for a few moments.
"I believe you have some anger issues," Calvin continued, glancing over at her, "something neither Lara or myself have taught you."
"Anger issues?" Grace asked slowly, running her hands across her knees slightly. She certainly was angry at the moment, after what he had said about the slap, but anger issues?
The only issues I have involve fuckin' Calvin J. Candie and his fuckin' plantation.
"You ever thought of takin' up Mandigo fightin'?" Calvin asked offhandedly, like what he had just suggested didn't involve watching grown men, slaves, forcing themselves to kill each other with their bare hands.
"N-No, I...I have never thought about doin' that," Grace said quickly, looking at him with wide eyes. Calvin let out a chuckle at her alarmed expression, raising his hands slightly.
"Now, I know what you are thinkin'," Calvin said, grin on his face, "the Mandigo business is a little messy, and I agree, it would be difficult seein' a woman takin' part in it, but you have no idea how satisfying it is to watch a fight. I believe it could help with your anger."
"I don't know if that would be the right thing for me, Papa," Grace said softly, completely shocked at what he was suggesting.
"Well, do think about it, Darlin'," Calvin said, "since you don't seem to be lookin' into gettin' married, it leaves me believing that when I pass on, you'll be the one runnin' the plantation and managing my Mandigo fighters. It would be wise you start takin' an interest in the family business."
"Of course," Grace said quickly, trying not to stutter, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Great," Calvin said, standing. Grace stood with him, itching to be out of the study and away from him, "now, it has been a long journey and I want to rest my tired eyes before supper."
"Of course, Papa," Grace said, giving him a smile that struggled to stay on her face.
"It's always great to see you, Gracie," Calvin said, placing a hand on her bruised cheek lightly, "we'll get you sorted out, don't you worry."
"...Thank you."
Grace watched as Calvin left the study, leaving her standing in the room by herself. Once he was gone, she let her facade fall and her mouth popped open slightly.
"Get me sorted out!?" she asked to nobody in particular, her hand moving up to her mouth, "he's the one who needs to be sorted out."
She paced back in forth, running over the things that had been said. If there was one thing she never wanted to be in control of, it was Candieland. Anger was no excuse to watch two people fight to the death for the entertainment of other people, it was a sick business and one that Grace wished Calvin would get out of. Her anger was never a problem, at least, it wasn't until recent years.
Still, no amount of death or fighting would give her any amount of relief. If anything, it would just add to the nightmares she has every now and then.
"There is no way Lara would approve of this..." she muttered to herself, "no proper lady would sit by and take enjoyment in such a brutal thing."
"Miss Grace?" a timid voice called out to her from the door, making Grace whip around and look at the speaker. One of the house slaves stood at the door, her hands folded in front of her as she looked at her. Grace noticed that a lot of the slaves seemed rather comfortable to look at her longer than Calvin or Lara, though the woman looked away after a few moments.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, Grace realizing that she must have seen her talking to herself.
"Oh, yes! Yes, everything is fine, Hilde, I'm sorry for keeping you from your work," Grace said quickly, giving her a small smile as she walked towards the door, Hilde looking up as she passed.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Grace said, nodding her head, "do let me know when dinner is ready."
"Yes, Miss Grace."
