Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books
WARNING: This story will contain scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including rape and death.
Chapter 6
Sadness, Rage, and Pain
The following week dragged by. Orin Brandon was buried with as little pomp and circumstance as Vernon could force, without appearing like the unfeeling bastard that he was. The announcement came in the next day's newspaper, and he was buried the following day. The service was small, because no one had time to prepare. Everyone was still reeling from the hurricane. Still healing their own wounds and repairing their own lives. The wake was nearly nonexistent, but Savannah still played the part of the stoic widow, while Alison stayed, constantly, at her side.
As much as he tried to hide it, Vernon's joy, at his father's death, was noticed by those closest to the family. Words of condolence and sympathy were lavished on Savannah and Alison, but Vernon was usually avoided. This only made him angrier, and he took it out on anyone close to him. He was careful not to injure Alison, but the servants were fair game. Molly trembled constantly. All it took was a single word from Vernon, and she either dropped, or hugged tightly, whatever she was carrying, and would fall, immediately, into tears. Alexander had disappeared. Alison had heard that he had found work on Deer Island, and she wished him well. After that, Vernon warned that any more who left, would be hunted down and flogged. He couldn't legally do it, but he had friends who would, and could, help him.
One week to the day, after the death of Orin Brandon, everything changed for Alison. Rita had finally finished her move into the east wing of the house. Alison's furniture had been replaced with inferior furnishings from long unused parts of the house, and Savannah's beautiful set had been broken down into firewood. Savannah was forced to watch, as her family's furniture was reduced to a large pile of scrap wood. Her smile was made easier, knowing that Rita showed such regret at the demolition.
Alison, Savannah and Callie spent the majority of their time in Alison's parlor. Mary Alice was lavished with the affections of the three, and her life continued as peaceful as they could make it. Vernon left them alone, unless he needed them for a public display, or at dinner. He refused to allow them to miss a dinner with him. He seemed to enjoy his nightly torture sessions with them. On the day that Rita took over the seat of mistress of the house, Vernon made sure a special dinner was served. Callie was required to attend dinner that first night, as well.
Alison took her seat at Vernon's right, with Savannah next to her. Callie made sure that Mary Alice was fed well and dry, then she reported to the dinning room with the others. When everyone was seated, Vernon called for the first course to be served. The room fell silent, as they ate their soup. Silent, except for the sound of Rita slurping her soup.
"It's very good, isn't it?" She smiled at everyone as she continued to eat. She noticed the smiles plastered to the faces of her female dinner companions, and dropped all other attempts at conversation.
Vernon smiled at her, but even he was disturbed by her loud soup slurping. He chose this time to announce new schedules, especially for Callie.
"Callie, beginning tomorrow morning, you will feed my son, Virgil, before seeing to my wife's child. You will be sure to feed him before her, at each and every meal."
"But I will not have enough milk to supply two babies!" She exclaimed. "Mary Alice will suffer from such a change in her feeding schedule."
Vernon worked to control his temper. He wanted to keep a wet-nurse in the house. Allowing his temper to touch her might cause her to leave, and then where would he be?
"That child is a plump ball of overfed fat." He announced congenially. "She will fair just fine, until your milk increases to supply both of them fully. Until that time, she will simply have to live on my son's leavings."
And that was the end of any discussion. Vernon's word was law. Callie continued eating, her eyes brimming with tears. Alison cleared her throat quietly. When Callie looked up at her, she gave her chin a jerk upwards, and smiled at her friend. Callie fought back the tears, took a deep breath, and plastered the practiced smile back on her face.
"As you wish, Mister Vernon." She finally replied, and Alison nodded at her.
Alison would have to find a way to supplement Mary Alice's meals, to take the place of the milk that would be going to Vernon's illegitimate child. Savannah grabbed her hand, under the table, and gave her a small wink, unseen by either Vernon or Rita. She let things settle for a few minutes, then she addressed Vernon.
"Son," Savannah started. "Mary Alice is doing well, so we would like to take her for a walk along the Beach road, tomorrow-with your permission, of course." Savannah than continued to eat her main course, as Vernon considered his response.
"By "we" you mean who?" He asked.
"Callie, Alison, and myself. We have been in this house, except for required engagements, for over a week. Some fresh air will do us all good." Savannah smiled at him.
"Alison, you feel up to a walk along the shore?" He asked.
"A short walk, with rest stops. Yes, I think I can accomplish that." Alison smiled at him as well.
"Very well. The salty sea air may be just the thing. Have Molly pull out my old carriage for the child. The new one has been moved for Virgil's use." Vernon smiled to himself, as he called for the dessert course, that only he and Rita would be eating.
"Since you, again, refuse the sweet course, you my all be excused to your rooms." Vernon dismissed them, and they thanked him and silently left the room.
Once back in Alison's parlor, excitement flowed freely through all three of them.
"I never thought I'd see the day when a simple walk would make me so excited." Callie said through a massive smile that she couldn't seem to dim.
"A walk along the shore!" Savannah clasped her hands together and fell into a padded chair. She, too, had a grin that went from ear to ear. "We must get Molly to bring up the carriage as soon as possible. I'm sure it will need some cleaning, before we could dream of putting Mary Alice into it."
Alison looked down into the cradle that contained Mary Alice, and saw that she was awake, her bright eyes twinkling back at her.
"Well, my little love," she said while pulling her out of the cradle, "guess what you're going to do tomorrow?" Alison twirled around with Mary Alice held firmly in her outstretched hands, laughing as she went. "You're going for a walk along the sea shore." Alison finished by sitting in the rocking chair. "And we will have such fun," she held Mary Alice close and kissed her cheeks.
All three women were laughing and chatting, when Molly knocked on the door and wheeled in the the carriage.
"Oh my!" Savannah looked over the old baby carriage and crossed her arms, doubtfully.
"We have the night to clean it up and repair it." Callie refused to be stymied by anything, especially a dilapidated baby carriage.
"We'll take it to my parlor," Savannah offered. "Alison, you stay here with Mary Alice. When Molly finishes with her other duties, she can come and sit with her. Then you come join us."
"Yes, Miss Savannah. I would love to spend some time with the baby." Molly was grinning with excitement.
Alison felt a little left out, but she also loved the idea of spending more time with her baby girl.
"Alright," she relented.
"I should feed her before we leave," Callie offered.
"She just ate before dinner," Alison said, looking down at her daughter. "I think she'll be just fine." She suddenly looked back up at both Callie and Savannah. "But what are we going to do about Vernon's newest proclamation?"
"Not to worry," Savannah told her with a broad grin. "I still have my mother's old recipe, a replacement for mother's milk, and Vernon's old bottles. There's a small shop along the beach road, that sells the nipples and rings we will need. I was concerned that Vernon would try to do something to harm Mary Alice, so I had Molly pull out and clean the bottles, two days ago. I have some money hidden away, for emergencies. I consider this an emergency. I will do everything I can to protect my darling granddaughter."
Alison relaxed into the rocker. She could only beam at Savannah, with a ridiculous grin on her face.
"How did I get so lucky, as to have you as both my mother-in-law, and my friend." Alison said and settled in to spend some quality time with Mary Alice.
Savannah and Callie took the baby carriage out the door that Molly opened for them.
"I should be no more than an hour, Miss Alison," Molly told her, as she slipped out the door behind the others.
Alison was finally alone. She took Mary Alice into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. She opened the blanket she was wrapped in and watched as she squirmed and wiggled, stretching her arms and kicking her legs. Alison chuckled at her daughter's antics and held her fingers, so Mary Alice could see them and grab at them. Alison sighed when Mary Alice latched on to one of her fingers and hung on tightly. She tried with all her might, to bring the finger to her mouth. Alison gave in gently to her daughter's wishes, and her finger was pulled into her toothless mouth.
They played together quietly for several minutes, before Mary Alice suddenly screamed and began to thrash wildly on the bed. She still held tight to Alison's finger, and pulled on it almost desperately. Alison scooped her up and held her tight.
"What's wrong?" She asked the tiny squirming bundle.
Mary Alice continued to scream. Nothing Alison did could calm her daughter, then she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. Alison didn't have time to feel fear, only shock, as words hissed at her ear.
"So," his voice would have sounded almost gentle, if not for the hatred they conveyed, "you are well enough for a walk along the shore."
She only had time to raise her arms so Mary Alice was moved clear of her body, as she was shoved onto the bed, face first. Alison felt her skirt lifted over her legs, as Vernon held her in place by the neck.
"No. Please!" she tried to scream, but her voice was muffled by the mattress.
She felt his hands reach up and rip away her undergarments.
"Please!" Her tears ran into the bedding. "The doctor said I would..."
He leaned his full weight onto her back to hiss into her ear.
"The doctor can kiss my ass." He then laughed, his hot breath smelling like old wine. "If you are healed enough to walk, you are healed enough to grow me a son."
Mary Alice continued to wail, her tiny body just above Alison's head. Alison tried to reach back and grab Vernon's hands, but he was too strong for her. He held her easily with one hand. Then she heard him unbutton his trousers. He gave a loud groaning sigh and ground his groin into her bare thighs and behind.
"Please!" Alison cried. "Show some mercy, please."
"Shut up!" Vernon yelled at her.
He grabbed her by her hair and jerked her off the bed. He turned her to face him, holding her arms locked to her sides.
"You don't want me to hurt that little baby of yours, do you?" He spit the threat into her face, then grabbed her dress from her neck and ripped it down the front.
Alison stood before him, terrified for Mary Alice. She heard her wailing, and noticed how it had weakened. Vernon ignored the tears of both his wife and his daughter. He continued to rip Alison's dress from her. Then he ripped what was left of her undergarments from her, until she stood before him, naked.
He grabbed her breast and squeezed until she cried out in pain. His mouth crushed to hers until she was silent. He released her momentarily, to stand back and laugh at her.
"Now, I can finally do to you all the things I've dreamed of doing." And he closed in on her and shoved her back down onto the bed again, this time on her back.
He fell on her, pushing her legs apart, and sliding into her easily. He grabbed her hair with both his hands, as he rammed into her with all strength. His mouth tried to crush hers again, but she was able to turn her head enough that his mouth found her neck instead.
Vernon growled into her ear. "You will give me what I want." He pounded into her as his mouth moved to her breast. "You will always belong to me." He hissed as he bit into the flesh of her breast, circling her nipple. Alison screamed as this pain exceeded all the other pain he was creating.
"I know about my father's plan for a divorce," and he sucked at the nipple he had just bloodied with his bite. "But you are damaged merchandise now." He rose up off of her chest, as her finished in her. "Yeeesssss," he groaned and laughed. He looked down and watched the blood flow from her breast. He saw the blood on her thighs and on his groin and laughed louder.
"Well look at that," he grabbed her by her hair again. "I guess you weren't as healed as you thought you were." Vernon pulled her off the bed, by her hair again, and turned her around, so her back was to him. "That's alright." He shoved her back onto the bed, face down. "I know a way I can take you, that won't do any more of that kind of damage." He laughed loudly again. "Unfortunately, it won't give me a son either."
He grabbed her wrists, as she tried to push herself up off the bed, and held them over her head. She heard him use his free hand to prepare himself to enter her in a way that she prayed he would not. She screamed again as he kicked her legs apart and lowered himself onto her backside.
"Loosen up, wife," he said as he slapped her behind hard. "It'll hurt less." Then he laughed and forced his way into her. His teeth bit into her back and shoulders, as he growled his satisfaction at her pain.
Alison had never felt such pain in her life. She screamed until she was like Mary Alice, only capable of unintelligible sobs, meant to be cries of agony and despair. Vernon continued to move inside her. The pain, having moved her to the brink of unconsciousness, had left her no voice with which to scream. And without her screams and pleas, Vernon found that the joy was gone. He pumped into her a few more times, until he was spent, then withdrew. She heard him button himself up and move toward her door.
"I'll give you a little more time to heal, wife." His voice was calm and relaxed. "It seems you were not as healed as both you and I thought." Then he chuckled and left her suite.
Alison's eyes opened and she saw that her bedroom door was open, but she didn't care. She forced her bruised and bleeding body to move. She pulled herself onto the bed and pulled Mary Alice closer to her. She curled herself around her child, as if to protect her.
"Shhhh," she whispered to Mary Alice. "Everything will be alright," Her voice sobbed to her. "Shhhh. Hush now." Alison kissed her daughter's tears, and pulled her even closer to her naked body, as she curled into a tight ball around her.
#
Molly took longer to finish her duties, than she had thought. An hour and a half after she had left Alison's rooms, she was back. She entered the parlor but didn't see either Alison or Mary Alice. Molly noticed that Alison's bedroom door was open, and thought it strange. She knew that Miss Alison always closed her door. Molly stepped to the door, with the intention of closing it, when she heard Mary Alice cooing from the bedroom.
"Miss Alison?" Molly called to her. When no one answered, she stepped around the door.
It only took a moment for Molly to see and know what had happened. She placed her hand over her mouth, turned and ran from the room. She found Savannah and Callie putting the finishing touches on the carriage, when she burst through the door to Savannah's parlor.
"Molly!" Savannah was startled by her sudden appearance. "Where's Miss Alison."
No words would pass through Molly's mouth. Only a strangled cry, as she pointed in the direction of Alison's suite. Savannah jumped to her feet and she and Callie raced to Alison's rooms. They entered the parlor in a rush, but Savannah held Callie back, as she quietly approached Alison's bedroom door alone. With all her heart she hoped she was wrong, but her head knew what had happened. As she rounded the door, she heard Mary Alice cooing from the direction of the bed. Then she saw Alison. Savannah fell to her knees and a strangled cry escaped her lips. Alison was still curled tightly around Mary Alice, blood still flowing from several bites, and rips in and on her body.
Savannah took a moment to collect herself, then stood and began to give orders.
"Molly, have the old tub brought to this room immediately. And bring several buckets. Start bringing hot water to fill it. Callie, find something to use as bandages, a clean white sheet. Tear it into strips, and squares as washing clothes."
"Miss Savannah?" Callie was afraid to move.
Savannah turned to her and gave her a gentle push. Callie did as she was instructed, praying all the time that Alison would be alright. Savannah reached into the linen closet in the parlor, and pulled out a stack of towels. She began to lay them on the floor, around the area where she wanted the tub to be placed. In a short time, two men, who had not abandoned the house as of yet, arrived at the room carrying a large porcelain coated metal tub. Savannah instructed them to set the tub down in the middle of the parlor, on the towels. They looked at each other, puzzled, but did as instructed. Molly arrived shortly after them, with the first of the hot water. When Callie had finished tearing up a sheet, Savannah sent her to her own linen closet for more towels. When Savannah was satisfied with everything, and the water had cooled enough, she was ready to approach Alison.
"You must be calm," she told Callie and Molly. "No matter what you see. No matter how it makes you feel. You must be calm and quiet. You must not cry. You must remain strong and help me—help her." Savannah took a deep breath that sounded more like a sob, she looked at her two friends and nodded to each of them. They each nodded back, and they quietly entered Alison's room, together.
Callie gasped when she saw the bleeding bite marks on Alison's back. Then she saw the bleeding from farther down, and she nearly vomited on the spot. Savannah grabbed her arm and Callie came back to herself and nodded that she was alright to continue.
"Alison?" Savannah's voice was gentle and soft. "Alison,it's Savannah dear, can you hear me?" She reached out and touched her on the shoulder.
It was then that they heard her sobbing into the pillow under her head.
"Alison, you need to come with me." Savannah tried to nudge her around to look at her.
"Please, the doctor said," Alison whimpered. "Please. Don't hurt her," fresh tears rolled from her closed eyes. "Please, don't hurt my Mary Alice, please."
The silence, in the room, allowed Alison's whispered pleas to sound like screams, in the ears of those gathered. Callie caught her breath, when the meaning behind Alison's pleas became clear, but she stayed on task, and helped Savannah guide Alison out of the bed. With gentle encouragement, and careful maneuvering, Alison was cautiously moved to the tub of warm water. Molly held Mary Alice, but Alison would begin to scream whenever Molly tried to move too far from her.
After carefully bathing her, Savannah and Callie moved her into Callie's room, and bandaged her many wounds. Mary Alice's cradle was moved into the room, and placed on the floor next to the bed. Alison soon fell asleep, leaning over the bed, watching her daughter and gently rocking the cradle. While she slept, Savannah and Callie changed the bedding on Alison's bed, while Molly took care of the towels and had the tub emptied and removed. It was well after dark before both rooms had been straightened, and cleaned of all the blood from Alison's many injuries.
"She may wake during the night," Callie looked at Savannah, deeply concerned.
"In all likelihood, yes." Savannah told her.
"What if I am with Mary Alice?"
Savannah thought about it for a few minutes, then, right on cue, Mary Alice began to cry. Callie ran to her, in hopes that Alison would sleep through it. But that was not the case. As soon as Callie picked up the crying baby, Alison woke up screaming. Savannah comforted Alison, while Callie sat on the bed, next to Alison, and fed Mary Alice. The two women looked at each other, in defeat. When Mary Alice was full, Callie replaced her in the cradle. Alison resumed her position over the cradle, and fell back to sleep.
"Callie, would you mind sleeping in Molly's room, just for a couple of nights?" Savannah asked her. Callie nodded agreement. "I'll stay in Alison's room, for now. Although, I doubt she will ever sleep in that room again." Several minutes later, Molly returned from setting the towels and bedding to soak. "Molly, would you mind sleeping in my suite for a few nights?" Savannah asked her.
"Take any room you like." Savannah offered. "Just please, bring me my sleeping gown, robe and clothing for tomorrow, before you settle in for the night."
"Yes, Miss Savannah." Molly collected her things from her room, and left for Savannah's suite. She was back in a few minutes, with everything Savannah would need to spend the night in Alison's room. "Alright then," Savannah sighed. "Let's all get some sleep, while we can."
They dispersed and went to the rooms they had been assigned for the night. Savannah prepared herself to sleep, but doubted that she ever would. Not this night. She wondered if the others would. She hoped that Alison would.
I hope there aren't too many typos and errors. My husband usually beta's for me, but this is not a chapter he would be able to read. He has a gentle heart, and the contents of this chapter would be too difficult for him to read. One of the many reasons why I love him.
Anyway,
Please review. I want to know what you think.
Especially this chapter. It was difficult to write, so please tell me what you really think about it.