A/N: Hello everyone! Many thanks for the reviews, favs, follows, and those who simply stop in to read! I appreciate it all very much! Here's chapter 16, hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 16: Bitter
Astrid stared out the open front door of the farmhouse, watching the rain beat mercilessly on the ground. Thunder boomed in the distance, as if to emphasize the impending doom that surely awaited her. The darkness of night had fallen over the old farmhouse, with only bright flashes of lightning dotting the infinite blackness overhead.
Reiner's cattle bellowed nervously in the distance, with the same unease that Astrid had felt herself while traveling back to the old farmhouse. The whole time, even with her distracting emotions, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. During her journey back through the wilds of the forests, every now and again she could hear the faint footsteps of an unknown being lurking just out of sight. Now, as she stood silently, staring out into the stormy night, she felt sure of the fact that something was indeed out there.
Astrid stepped inside the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine off the table and popping the cork out. She began to chug the drink as fast as possible, in dire need of numbing the pain festering inside of her.
Suddenly, a water-drenched figure bolted through the doorway. The man grabbed her forcefully by the arm, causing her to drop the bottle to the floor.
"Astrid, have ya lost your mind?! What in the plane of Oblivion are you doin' back where that son of a bitch can get to ya?!" Delvin yelled, his face red with fury. "I've been lookin' everywhere for ya - the Flagon, the city, the woods. Why?! Why here?"
Astrid jerked her arm from Delvin's grasp, glaring at him. "I'll tell you why. Because you lied to me, Delvin." she spat, her voice chilling and her hair raising on end.
"What?! I don't know what your talkin' bout, Astrid! You're not makin' any sense! I told you I'd get ya in the guild and get you away from here! And that's what I was doin' until you took off like a mad woman!" Delvin retorted, glaring back.
"No! You told me you wouldn't let him hurt me, Delvin! Well, he did! Now I know you weren't aware of it, and that couldn't be helped. But then you found me like this, and you did nothing to him! Nothing!" Astrid fumed, picking her bottle off the floor to take another inebriating dose.
"Astrid, he wasn't here! I took you so you'd be safe! I didn't think ya'd be loony enough to come right back!" Delvin barked, throwing his hands up.
"You see..." Astrid began, feeling her whole body turn to ice. "That is where you are wrong, Mallory..."
Delvin said nothing to her cold formalities, only showing the feelings of shock and hurt on his features. He lowered his hands, sighing while listening to her with a worried look on his face.
"Your little den of thieves isn't safe, either. You know Mercer had one of your own killed, and yet you go on pretending nothing happened. Just like you knew how Reiner was long ago, and yet you did nothing...That's why I'm in this mess. You keep telling me everything will be fine. Well, guess what, Mallory? Nothing is fine. My question is, just when is your looking on the bright side going to get me killed? Hmmm? Will I die because you won't punish Reiner, or will I die because you turn a blind eye to murderers just so you can live in your happy little lie?" Astrid seethed, her voice low and unnervingly calm.
"Look, I know I waited too long, Astrid. I let you get hurt, and I regret it. Believe me, luv. Every time I see the marks that bastard made on ya, it cuts me to the quick. Ya gotta believe me, luv. You can be as bloody mad at me as you want, but don't do somethin' stupid just to prove a point. I don't want him comin' back here and doin' away with ya! Just come to your senses and come back with me, eh?" Delvin stepped closer in an attempt to make physical contact with her, only causing her to back away.
"See what I mean, Mallory? Running...You're always running. I was running too, and now I'm tired of these weak, pathetic plans. I want him gone, understand? If I am to be in this little "guild" of yours, Reiner can't exist. You see, when I planned to move away from him, it was going to be far away. Then you tell me I can be in your guild. Fine, I tried, until the son of a bitch nearly killed me! I can't stay in Riften, even in the Ratway with that maniac loose! He's a monster! He will eventually find me. I was stupid to believe that was ever the solution..." Astrid continued, losing herself amidst her fury.
"Just what are you sayin', luv? You want him dead? Is that it?" Delvin asked, his face twisted in severe worry.
"What do you think?" Astrid mocked, completely losing control of herself. For that moment, her tender feelings for Delvin seemed nearly invisible to her darkened heart. For that moment, she felt only hatred.
"Astrid, luv, I ain't no murderer. Sure I'm a criminal. I'm as slimy a' crook as they come, but I ain't one to take a man's life." Delvin's voice grew hushed, his eyes wide with fright.
"Then get out of here. I'll deal with Reiner myself." Astrid stated coldly, feeling nothing but numbness and emptiness fill the void inside of her.
"No! Don't do it, Astrid! I ain't gonna let you do somethin' you'll regret!" Delvin stepped up, Astrid seeing a stern look on his features.
Astrid smirked, "Who says I'll regret it?"
She watched as panic filled Delvin's features once more. "Look, luv, ya ain't in your right mind. He almost killed ya - that's bound to mess with your head a bit. Just, listen to me...okay? Come back with me, and I'll send someone to make him pay..." Delvin pleaded with her.
Astrid calmly walked over to the table, casually tapping her fingers against the old wood. "Ah, ah, ah, Mallory. I'm afraid that won't do. I won't have you lying to me again. If you punish him in any way, you'll have to do it here. I won't leave until I see something terrible happen to Reiner, understand?"
She looked on as Delvin sighed, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. He paced about, becoming as silent as death, until he finally turned back to her. "Fine, then. What if I called in a certain favor from the guild? Reiner is bad blood to my people. Perhaps, I can take everything away from him - punish him, as you say. They'll come in during the night. They'll threaten his life. You know, shake him up. Throw him around a bit! Rattle him! They'll raid his house - take all his valuables, his coin, his skooma, every damned thing he has! They won't kill him, though. It's bad for business and bad for the guild, luv. I know it ain't exactly what ya want, but he'll have nothin', understand? The bastard will probably off himself when we're done with him!" Delvin persuaded. "How 'bout it, Astrid? Will ya just come with me? I'll do it, I swear..."
Astrid seated herself, drumming her fingers continuously and noting how Delvin seemed to squirm under her hesitance. For some reason, she began to enjoy seeing him uncomfortable. It felt refreshing to gain the upper-hand. And maybe, just maybe, he had a point. Maybe she could deal a punishment worse than death to Reiner. Greed controlled him, and with nothing to his name, he'd be nothing. She had to admit, she'd like to see him suffer. Of course, she had to actually see it in person, or she knew she wouldn't feel satisfied.
"Under one condition..." Astrid finally spoke, as Delvin's ears perked up hopefully. "I'm staying here. I want to see it happen. Besides, if you lie to me this time, I'll know it..."
"But Astri-"
The sudden sound of hoof beats in the distance cut their conversation short. Astrid approached the doorway, seeing Reiner's carriage jostling along the trail, the stormy wind ripping at it.
"Well, there's your chance, Mallory..." Astrid said coldly, looking at his apalled face. She could see the fear in his eyes, and for once, she didn't feel any remorse for her behavior. He may have been a kind man, but kind men were like her mother, who would kindly feed her to the wolves. It wasn't really personal, anymore. She just needed to survive, and that meant by any means necessary.
Delvin sighed, appearing truly defeated. "Alright, Astrid. I'll send my people your way. Just don't let them see ya when it happens, luv. Mercer won't let you in the guild if he gets word that Reiner's your uncle. That's just the way it is, luv. Just hide somewhere - be inconspicuous."
"Very well, then. I expect to see them soon..." Astrid warned.
"Aye, as soon as I can manage, luv..." Delvin sighed. "I guess I'd better get outta here, seein' as your not comin' with me, eh?"
"Guess so..." Astrid spoke, her voice as freezing as the rain outside. She watched as Delvin slowly backed away from her before disappearing into the night, undetected by her approaching uncle.
Still standing her ground in the doorway, Astrid watched as Reiner jumped down from his carriage, the lightning clashing against his ominous features. This time Astrid didn't feel fearful. She simply felt pure, uninhibited hatred for the man who had tormented her ceaselessly.
She noticed how he walked toward the house, not seeming inebriated, for he wasn't staggering about like he was known to do. She simply stared at him, crossing her arms over her chest as she propped herself against the doorway.
Reiner stepped up, his face twisted in what seemed to be an attempt to hold back his anger. A little too late for that, Astrid thought.
Astrid smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Back so soon, uncle?"
"Let me in, girl." he spoke, ice in his voice. Astrid stepped to the side, as the demented man stomped his way in, grabbing a bottle of skooma out of the pantry.
Reiner seated himself at the table, gesturing to her. "Sit, Astrid. I need to tell you some...things..."
"Why?" Astrid's brow furrowed. Wasn't it a little late for lectures now?
"We need to make sure these little mishaps don't happen again," Reiner growled, drinking his illegal drink of choice.
Astrid silently walked to the table, seating herself. "What?" she spat, not amused with him. As a matter of fact, she felt the urge to provoke Reiner, but she quieted it for Delvin's sake. Maybe his little plan would work and she wouldn't have to do something drastic. Maybe.
"Where were you, uncle?" Astrid inquired, not fully resisting the impulse to gain control of the conversation.
"Why do you wanna know?" Reiner barked, already irritated as usual.
"Because you beat me in a drunken stupor and left for days on end, that's why. I could've died, you know..." Astrid spoke bluntly.
"If I wanted you dead, girl, you'd be dead. That's why I left. I lost my temper, niece. I had to stop myself, so I left your sorry arse alone. I was in Riften, if it makes any difference to you!" Reiner growled, with Astrid noting that it would indeed be likely that she'd run into Reiner sooner or later, and he'd discover the other part of her life - the part she'd been hiding from him.
Astrid's eyes briefly glanced over his face, noting that he had a jagged, deep scratch down the right side of it. "Who gave you that scratch, uncle?" Astrid asked, casually placing her chin on her fist.
"Certainly not you, young Astrid. All you could do was whimper and cry when I took to disciplining you! It was a night walker, niece. She tried to take my gold before I paid her, and she tried to fight back. She didn't win, if that's what you're wondering. Dumb bitch. She had it comin'. " Reiner tightened his fingers around the bottle, taking a large gulp.
"Discipline...? That is what you call discipline?" Astrid raised an eyebrow, truly fascinated by how twisted he was.
"Yes, damn it! And it wouldn't have happened if you weren't hiding coin from me like a lyin' little hagraven! If I catch you crossing me again, I'll make sure you won't do it again. Now, I'm supposed to keep watch over you. Nona entrusted you to me, and so that means you are mine, Astrid. You got that? That means you do what I say, when I say it. And you won't question things or get ideas to run away. Got that?" Reiner leaned in, his alcoholic breath filling in her nostrils. He also smelled of sweat and something else that Astrid chose not to think about.
"Why can't I leave, Reiner? Why do you want me here?" Astrid blurted out, feeling the prickle of anger crawl up her skin.
"Because, you are mine. I gave you a roof over your blasted head, and you'll repay me. It's simple niece. Don't question it." Reiner spat, growing increasingly agitated with Astrid's questioning.
"And pray tell, uncle, how will I ever repay you?" Astrid scoffed, sitting back in her seat and folding her arms.
"However I wish for you to, young Astrid. Just do as I say, and we won't have no more problems." he stated. Just what did he want? Why was he so abusive? So possessive? Just what was his problem? Maybe she'd prod around and find out...
Astrid narrowed her eyes. "So...Why don't you have a wife by now? You're certainly old enough, uncle. I'm sure if you'd wed a good woman, you'd be taken care of. You wouldn't need me around. And you certainly wouldn't have to fight with your ladies in waiting anymore..."
She watched, feeling both uneasy and exhilerated as his eye seemed to twitch. It was as if she'd somehow hit a nerve deep within him. "I ain't had no need for a wife. Useless..."
"Haven't you ever loved a woman, uncle?" Astrid provoked, against her better judgment. She somehow couldn't hold back anymore. She wanted to torment him - needed to, even at her own risk.
"No...They ain't no better than cattle. Only good for three things, they are: working, cooking, and pleasin' a man..." he growled, chugging the rest of his drink and throwing the bottle to the floor.
"What about Nona?" Astrid smirked deviously, raising a brow.
"WHAT ABOUT HER?!" he fumed, slamming a balled fist on the table.
"You loved her, didn't you? Or was she just like cattle? Tell me, dear uncle, which one of those things was she good for?" Astrid glared, her voice deathly calm. She just had to test him. She was just so full of questions, and so completely unconcerned about the risks. She just had this feeling about him. She wanted - needed to know what kind of monster he truly was.
Unexpectedly, he fell silent, staring down at the table. His mind seemed to drift to a black abyss, haunted by his own horde of demons. Astrid knew he was a terrible, twisted, and evil monster. If Delvin didn't make him pay, she certainly would.
Astrid stood, yawning and behaving as casually and apathetically as possible. "Well, uncle, if you don't mind...I'm going to bed now."
As she looked over her shoulder one last time, Reiner simply glared, his eyes piercing her, sharp like daggers.
"Goodnight, uncle..." she smirked deviously.
