Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, the property of the irrespective 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 contains scenes of domestic violence, child abuse, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.
Chapter 11
Revelations and Decisions
Molly brought a treat up from the kitchens, for Mary Alice and Cynthia. The girls ate their tarts, while Molly, Callie, and Savannah discussed Mary Alice's latest vision. All three women were concerned, but for different reasons. Molly feared for Mary Alice. Now that her secret was known, she was afraid that she could no longer protect the petite child. Callie was concerned for Rita. She felt that neither of the other two women cared what happened to Vernon's current wife, and she wanted to warn her of Vernon's wrath. Savannah was terrified that Vernon would find out about Mary Alice, and do something drastic to the child, before she was able to send him into bankruptcy, and chase him from the house. They were deep in discussions when there came a quiet rap at the door.
"Miss Savannah?" Came a small, female, voice through the closed door.
"Yes Nell." Savannah answered.
"The Mister calls you to dinner." Nell called quietly. " And he asked about Molly."
"Thank you Nell. We'll be right down." Savannah nodded to Molly, who ran out the door and down to the kitchens, by way of the back stairs. "Keep a close eye on Mary Alice." Savannah warned Callie. "Don't let her out of your sight." Callie nodded as Savannah rose, straightened her dress, and proceeded to dinner.
"You are late, Mother." Vernon hissed at Savannah, as she took her seat at the table.
"My apologies, Son. A small problem with the girls. But it's all fine now. How was your day?" Savannah had begun asking Vernon about his day, as a way of judging his mood, and the condition of her manipulations.
"You don't care about my day." Vernon hissed at her. "You want to know if I still have a business." Vernon's face was turning a bright red. He stuffed another bite of food into his mouth, and leaned over his plate. "No one cares about my day." He mumbled to himself.
"I care." Rita spoke quietly.
"Shut up." Vernon hissed at her.
"Vernon, please," Rita tried to plead with her husband. "I want to hear about your day. I want to help you..."
"I. SAID. SHUT. UP." Vernon began to rise, as he spoke.
"VERNON." Savannah spoke sharply, trying to draw his attention away from Rita. "Please, can we.."
"No Mother, we can't." Vernon was on his feet, leaning toward Savannah.
As Savannah stood to face Vernon head on, she heard the screams of Mary Alice, as she crawled backwards down the staircase. The blood curdling screeches coming from the small child, drew everyone's attention to the doorway and the staircase just beyond. Savannah ran to the dinning room door, to head off Mary Alice before she could reach the room, and Vernon. As Mary Alice ran into the room, Savannah reached for her, but missed the tiny cannonball as she dodged and ran to her target. Savannah watched in horror, as Mary Alice attacked Vernon's leg. She clawed and bit at him, screaming with all her might.
"You leave my Grandmother alone." She yelled at him. "You leave Rita alone." She wailed through heartrending sobs. "I hope those bad men kill you. I hope they kill you tonight." As the tears flowed down her face, her nose began to run as heavily as the tears.
Wet, runny snot and tears transferred to Vernon's pants, his temper lost all semblance of control. Vernon reached down and swatted his daughter away, as if she were a fly. Mary Alice flew into the buffet table, hitting her back against the delicately carved wood. The impact knocked the wind from her lungs, but in a flash she was on her feet, and attacking Vernon again. No matter how hard Savannah tried to catch her, Mary Alice evaded her hands, and resumed her attack on her father.
"I hope Mr. Redding and Mr. Gill have you killed." She screamed, her miniature fists slamming uselessly into his legs, and knees.
Vernon reached down and grabbed Mary Alice by the arm. Shaking her loose from his leg, he grabbed her other arm and pressed her tiny body between his large hands. Vernon raised her to eye level, as Mary Alice screamed in pain.
"Where did you hear those names." He spat at her. Mary Alice went silent, her mouth open, as her eyes rolled back in her head.
"Let her go!" Savannah demanded of him, as she tried to reach for her granddaughter.
Vernon turned, with Mary Alice, away from Savannah, and rammed his shoulder into his mother's chest. He glared at Savannah, as she was knocked back several feet, and nearly lost her footing completely.
"I'm talking to my daughter." Vernon grinned at her. "So shut up, and sit down." Then he turned back to Mary Alice.
"Nononono." Mary Alice repeated as her head rolled from side to side, her neck appearing not to have the strength to hold it up any more. Her eyes rolled forward to see her father, and she screamed before blacking out in his hands.
Vernon shook her, trying to make her aware of him. Trying to force a response from her. When she refused to regain consciousness, he let her drop to the floor. Savannah ran to the crumpled body on the floor, and gathered her to her chest.
"The child is obviously insane." Vernon pronounced calmly. "She shall be committed in the morning. Gather her things, and have her ready before breakfast."
"No." Savannah pulled Mary Alice from the floor, and backed away from Vernon. "She's not insane. She's a frightened child."
Vernon turned to Savannah, his rage only slightly under control. "She is MY daughter. She has attacked her father. She has just exhibited some sort of fit." He stepped closer to Savannah as he talked, spitting the words at her, until Savannah's back was against the wall, and his face was mere inches from hers. "And she knows names that have NEVER been mentioned in this house." His voice was almost a whisper, before he backed up one step. "The child is insane, and shall be committed." Vernon smiled, as he turned away from Savannah. He returned to his chair, and his dinner.
Savannah carried the unconscious child out of the room, and up to their suite. She was still in shock, as she entered the parlor. Callie was in the children's room, just finishing changing Cynthia, when Savannah entered with Mary Alice. She laid the child on her bed, kneeling next to her on the floor. Savannah brushed Mary Alice's hair out of her face with her hand, curling it around the small head as she repeatedly ran her hand from Mary Alice's forehead to the back of her head. She cooed to her, as tears flowed down her face.
Callie looked from Savannah to Mary Alice and back, fear creating a knot in the pit of her stomach. "What happened?" She whispered.
The only sounds in the room were Savannah's ragged sobs, and Callie's fearful gasp, as she realized that she had turned her back on Mary Alice, to care for Cynthia. The knot in her stomach grew larger. Whatever had happened, was because she had not kept her eyes on Mary Alice, and she had escaped the rooms. Callie waited for Savannah to verify what she already knew. She couldn't stop the groan of pain, when Savannah finally spoke.
"He knows." Savannah choked on the words, as she began to sob.
Callie could only stand and watch, as Savannah cried over the silent body of the tiny, doll-like child. Cynthia's squirming finally brought Callie out of her immobility.
"What can we do?" Callie asked, as she started to panic. "There must be something we can do? Some place we can take her? Someone who can help?" She struggled to retain the contents of her stomach, which was threatening to empty itself, as her body continued to react to the rising fear she felt. A level of fear that rivaled the day her husband and son were killed.
Savannah shook her head, as she rested it on the edge of the bed.
"There is nothing to be done. If we were to seek help, she would be publicly branded a witch. Not only would her life be ruined, but Cynthia's as well. We have no choice. Vernon will have her committed in the morning." The sobs that wracked Savannah's body, prevented her from speaking another word.
"Grandmother?" Mary Alice's voice was weak and raspy, as she slowly regained consciousness. "Don't be sad, Grandmother." Mary Alice reached a hand to her Grandmother's face. "Please don't cry." She rolled over and hugged Savannah's head, and gave her a small kiss on the top of it. "See Grandmother?" Mary Alice smiled. "All better." Savannah gathered Mary Alice to her chest, again, and began to cry earnestly.
Molly had been disposing of household waste, at the burn pile far out in the back yard, when the confrontation had occurred. She was completely unprepared for the scene that greeted her, when she arrived with dinner for Callie and the girls. Callie was still standing near the door holding Cynthia, as the baby squirmed to be set free. Savannah on the floor, leaning over the small bed, gripping Mary Alice in her arms, and sobbing uncontrollably. And Mary Alice, stroking Savannah's hair, with her cheek resting on her head, trying to soothe her grandmother with her hands and her whispered words.
With trembling hands, Molly placed the tray on the table in the parlor, then went to Callie and pulled Cynthia from her arms. She placed the fidgety toddler in the playpen, then returned to Callie, in hopes of gaining understanding as to what had happened. The fear in Callie's eyes was enough to warn Molly that something was very wrong. As Molly watched the scene in front of her, understanding dawned on her. Her greatest fears had been realized. She knew that they would no longer be able to protect Mary Alice, and the pain of that knowledge brought her to her knees.
"Please," Molly whispered, "do not send her away." Even as she said it, Molly knew it was hopeless.
"There is nothing we can do." Callie told Molly. "I let her escape these rooms, and I can't take that back. It's my fault he knows." Silent tears flowed down Callie's face, as guilt settled into her heart. "Whatever happens to her, from this day forward, is my doing."
"No." Savannah's voice was muffled by the bedding, as she spoke before lifting her head from Mary Alice's grasp. She gave the concerned child a sad smile, then stood to face the others. "No, it's not your fault." Savannah tried to reassure Callie. "We tried to do the impossible." She gazed down at her loving grandchild, as Mary Alice sat up on the edge of the bed, and reached for her hand. "Mary Alice has a window to a world that is out of our view. She can no more ignore the warnings she receives, than you or I could ignore the cries of a child in pain. It will always be in her to fight the inevitability of the things she sees. She has her mother's strength and determination. She will need every bit of that strength, to survive what is most likely to come."
Savannah reached for Callie, and drew her into her arms, as Mary Alice released Savannah's hand to cling to her dress. "I do not hold you responsible for this, dear child." Savannah rubbed Callie's back, as the younger woman cried into her shoulder. "Mary Alice loves us as fiercely as we love her. Her desire to protect us is just as strong as ours to protect her. All we can do is keep watch on her as best we can. Try to visit her as often as possible, and to free her, as soon as Vernon is out of the way."
Callie raised her head from Savannah's shoulder, and looked down to see Molly kneeling on the floor next to her. Both she and Savannah reached down, and pulled Molly into a strong hug.
"We will keep watch." Molly promised.
Mary Alice held tight to the legs of the small group. She rested her head against Savannah's leg as she held to Callie and Molly. She closed her eyes and a tear squeezed out of the corner of one eye.
"I'm afraid of the dark," she whispered so softly, no one could possibly hear her.
#
When Vernon said that he would have Mary Alice committed before breakfast, Savannah did not realize the depth of his commitment to this end. If she had, she would not have fallen asleep in her own bed. If she had known, she would not have allowed Mary Alice to sleep in her own bed. If she had considered for one moment, the profoundness of his desire to rid himself of one tiny bundle of fists, feet and teeth, she would have latched on to Mary Alice with all her tenacity and strength. But she had thought that Vernon would have waited for her to wake. She thought that she would be allowed to accompany Mary Alice to the sanitarium, to see that she was properly, and safely situated in her new surroundings. She would have thought...but she didn't.
Before dawn, Vernon crept silently into the suite housing his mother and his daughters. He glided across the parlor, and pulled the quilt off the back of the rocking chair. He carried it to the room that contained the slumbering forms of Mary Alice and her sister, and skulked to the bed of his oldest daughter. Vernon wrapped the quilt around the sleeping child, and pulled her gently from the bed. He rolled her body close to his, as he slithered from the rooms, closing all the doors behind him, without a sound. A carriage was waiting for him, when he reached the front door. Vernon placed Mary Alice into the extended arms of the man in the carriage.
"She will be admitted under the name, Mary Alice Brandon-to start." The man's voice was a deep baritone, raspy and dry. "She will be transferred, as needed, for the first six months-to ensure her safety." Mary Alice disappeared into the dark carriage, and several papers and a fountain pen were extended toward Vernon. "Sign here." Vernon took the pen and signed where the man's long thin finger pointed on the papers. "This will explain the visiting procedures." He extended a single sheet of paper to Vernon. Vernon took the sheet, wadded it up in his hand, and stuffed it into his pocket. "Do you wish to be contacted concerning treatment plans?"
"No." Vernon was ready to be done with this man, and this business. "A trust has been drawn up, for payment for—services rendered." Vernon told the man. "It will be finalized as soon as the courts open this morning." He looked over his shoulder, checking for movement inside the house. "Do whatever treatments you feel are necessary to her condition. I have no desire to be informed of her prognosis or her progress." Vernon stepped back from the door of the carriage. "I believe that should conclude our business."
"As you wish, Mr. Brandon. But are you sure this is the way you want this situation handled? There may be other options open to you." The voice was sincere in it's attempt to convince Vernon to change his mind.
"No. This is the way I want this handled. Discretion Doctor. That is what you are known for. That is why you were called. That is what I expect from you." Vernon reached for the carriage door, and closed it against any further attempts to alter the arrangements he had made with this man, and his hospital.
Vernon turned his back on the carriage, and returned to his house. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, as the carriage pulled away from the Brandon house. It had not even entered the street, before Vernon had the front door closed behind him. A smile slowly spread across his face, as he leaned his back against the door. He began to chuckle as he reached the staircase, to return to his rooms to prepare for the day.
"One down," he hissed, as he climbed the stairs.
By the time Vernon had returned to his own parlor, he was laughing loudly. Rita woke from a restless sleep, roused by his laughter.
"What has jolted your funny bone?" Rita asked, surprised by Vernon's joviality.
Vernon just shook his head and continued to laugh, as he began to gather his clothing for the day.
"Vernon?" Rita sat up in the bed, and watched her husband as he appeared to dance around the room. "Vernon, please. I'd like to talk to you, about the girls. About Mary Alice."
Vernon stopped instantly. He turned to look at Rita, all signs of his unusual giddiness gone. Rita leaned back against the headboard of the bed, an unconscious attempt to move as far from him as possible.
"You can't have meant to send the child away. Not with Christmas so close." Rita started, her voice becoming softer, as she spoke. "I thought that maybe this year, the girls might join us on Christmas morning." She finished by flashing a timid smile at Vernon's increasingly angry face.
"NO!" he bellowed at her. "They might not." He spat, as he approached her. "They are no longer a they." He began to laugh at his turn of phrase. "They are a she. And she may NOT join us Christmas morning." Vernon turned his back on Rita, and continued to dress.
#
Savannah woke early. The sun was just over the horizon, as she reached for her robe. She chose her clothes, and proceeded to the bathroom, to prepare for the day. When she was dressed and ready to face Vernon, and his plan to commit Mary Alice, she returned to her suite to wake Callie and the girls. When Savannah walked into the parlor, Callie was dressing Cynthia in a warm jumper and heavy leggings. Callie turned to give Savannah a sad smile, and a sorrowful 'good morning'.
"Where's Mary Alice?" Callie asked, as she tried to look around Savannah's skirts .
"Isn't she still in bed?"
"I thought she had gone with you."
Both women turned to look around the room. Neither moved, but their eyes searched the entire suite, even through the open doors of the other rooms. They both listened carefully for any sound that might indicate where Mary Alice was playing. But they heard nothing but the happy, hungry sounds of Cynthia standing on the dressing table, in front of Callie. As they finished their search, their eyes rose to each other. Tears welled in both their eyes. Callie slowly shook her head, as Savannah mouthed a single 'No' as realization struck them both.
Savannah turned and ran down to the dinning room. Her breathing was labored as she stopped to pull herself together, before she ended up storming into the room, and ruining her chances of finding out where Vernon had sent Mary Alice. Vernon was seated in his usual seat, smiling and eating cheerfully. Rita looked up from her breakfast, and saw Savannah moving toward the room. She was a bit bewildered to see Savannah coming down for breakfast. She had expected her and Callie to stay upstairs with Mary Alice, until Vernon took the child to the sanitarium. She saw the look of determination and fear on Savannah's face, and wondered why. She watched as Savannah stepped into the room, and stop, staring hard at Vernon, and wondered what could possibly have happened.
"Vernon?" Savannah had to force her voice to sound calm.
"Yes, Mother?" Vernon smiled but didn't take his eyes off his food.
"Where is Mary Alice?" Her voice carried only a slight tremble.
"I told you I would have her committed before breakfast." He stuffed a forkful of food into his mouth.
Savannah took a deep breathe, to try to calm herself. "I understand that, Vernon. I'm only asking for the location, dear." Savannah felt as if she were going to vomit. Trying to be civil to Vernon was making her physically ill.
"That is not for you to worry about, dear Mother." Vernon began to chuckle.
"Please, Vernon. Please tell me the name of the hospital."
Vernon turned to face Savannah, a smug grin plaster across his face. "No, Mother. I will not. And if you persist in this line of questioning, I may have cause to question your sanity as well. After all, you did suffer a witch to live under my roof. Think of poor...what's the other one's name?"
"Cynthia." Savannah forced out between clenched teeth.
"Oh yes. Think of poor Cynthia. What kind of life would she have with not only her sister in a sanitarium, but her grandmother as well." Vernon turned back to his plate. "Now sit down and keep quiet. This is the first breakfast I've enjoyed in quite some time."
Savannah took her seat and began to push her food around on her plate. She thought about all the manipulations and strategies she had used to try to force Vernon into bankruptcy. All the years she had wasted, trying to kill his career and his business. None of it was enough. It wasn't coming fast enough. It wasn't coming close to doing the damage that she wanted—not wanted, needed to do to him. But Savannah had options. She had friends that even Vernon would be shocked to know about. She smiled to herself, as she looked down at her plate. Yes, she had options. And she was done playing with Vernon.
Vernon is such a bastard. I'll bet he doesn't leave reviews.
Don't be a Vernon.
Please review!