Chapter Eight: Fright Night
Hey peoples! GET READY FOR THIS ONE!
Enjoy!
Cutie Bunny: I'm so glad you love Helen!
YourEnchantingDesire: POWER TO HELEN!
Guest: Thanks so much for your continued support! Here is your story! Sorry this chapter was originally going to have your idea, but once I got typing, this happened.
PrincessDiya: Glad to hear from you mi amour!
This is a suspenseful chapter! But! I will be writing more than fourteen chapters, and this will be a five story saga. Also, Aro's perspective will be a separate treat in the future.
If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance - George Bernard Shaw.
"I cannot believe dis, Richard!" Her mother shouted while Helen began typing her lab write-up for Biology. "You 'ave known me since we were nineteen! I got pregnant because of you, 'ad our three dratted children! I am your wife!"
Helen rolled her eyes at her mother's stupidity. 'Yeah, I was clearly wrong about you.'
"Oh, shut up Kathleen!" She jumped. Helen never heard her father shout like that. "You are a bitch and you know it! I have watched you try to worm your way back into our lives! Did you even ask your daughter about her assault?"
"She is fine, nothing even 'appened." Helen snorted at that.
"Get out Kathleen."
"If I walk out zat door, you will never see me again." Helen got perked up by that.
"Liar, you said that exact same thing ten years ago!"
"I do not need dis!" Kathleen screeched. "Adieu Richard Hendricks!"
"Don't let the door hit you where the good lord spilt you." Helen snickered at that, even though it probably wasn't a joke. At the sound of a slamming door, Helen sighed in relief. Kathleen Danton was gone for good.
Helen closed the lid on her MacBook and shimmied into her moccasin slippers. She snatched the lilac bathrobe from her bedframe and covered her green camisole and black yoga pants. The golden charm bracelet that Aro had given her had never left her wrist.
Aro.
She'd hadn't been able to forget about him at all. Last night was, no matter how much of a cliché, magical. The way he waltzed with her, made her feel comfortable. It was hypnotic. Helen hadn't even slept at all, she was worried that she would wake up and it would've all been a dream.
She yawned as she walked down the stairs. "Morning Daddy!" She suddenly realized how weird it felt to call Richard that. Hmm.
"Hey kiddo, happy after-birthday." He grumbled.
"Is there any coffee left?"
"Knock yourself out, I made enough for a dozen cups." He sighed. "Carole and I were going to spend the night together."
"Eww." She winced. "Have the two of you?"
"Drink your coffee." He warned. Helen shrugged and pulled out the cream and four sugars. She liked her coffee with no bitterness. Helen skipped over to her Dad and sat down next to him. Her mood suddenly turned wary when she saw a half-empty bottle of whiskey next to his cup.
"My father was a heavy drinker from the time I was born, until I was six. He stopped at the request of my Aunt Petra, after he failed the bar exam for the second time. Wesley remembers it the most, but we all knew that he was pissed off about Kathleen. He never got a DUI or anything, but his temper...I still remember where the bruises were."
"What?" Richard snapped from behind the newspaper when he saw Helen look at the bottle.
"Nothing." She bit her lip, "I didn't know you liked whiskey, I would've pegged you as a schnapps kind of guy."
"You want some? I think we both could use a drink after dealing with that bitch." Richard sighed.
"Dad, I put like four sugars in this thing." She bit her lip again. This wasn't like her Dad, he'd already told her when she was twelve that if he ever caught her with a beer he'd be the one to prosecute her.
"Whatever, how'd you sleep?"
"I didn't, I was too excited." She giggled. "Last night was fun."
"How, your bitchy mama wasin the room?" Helen couldn't believe she heard her father slur his words. How much had he already had at nine in the morning?!
"C'mon Dad, I mean, she didn't ruin the whole party." Helen said anxiously. "Besides, she apologized to me last night. Hey, can I go shopping with Maya Rickons today?"
"Where are the girls?" He drawled.
"Syd is visiting her grandmother's nursing home and Aggie is doing Bio homework."
"All day?"
"The Drs. Becker don't take science lightly." Helen shook her head.
"Whose this Mary Rick?" He gurgled back.
"Maya Rickons." She corrected. "She's in my year, remember she was at the party?"
"Suppose so. But you have to get a ride there and back, I am way too tired to drive."
'Yeah, tired.'
"Hey, so what's the deal with you and Aaron?" He cocked his head.
"Aaron? Who is Aaron?" She scrunched up her round face in confusion. "Wait, do you mean Aro?"
"Yeah! Him! Is there something I should be concerned with regarding him? I did not like the way he was lovin' on you!" Richard slammed his fist on the table and slurred. "Not one bit!"
"There's nothing going on Dad, he's just my friend." She assured.
"Don't you go and start sleeping around with him or anybody else." He barked with another slur.
"Dad!" Helen said flustered.
"I don't need any preggos in my house. You already know the shitty ballad of Richard Hendricks and Bitchleen Danton. Tell Aaron to keep his hands off of you. You are mine and I won't let anyone else have you. Got it?"
"Yeah," she said nervously. "I'll give Aaron the message." Helen rose and began to walk towards the stairs. "Good girl! Eat your vegetables, drink milk, and make good choices!"
Helen showered and changed into a black camisole with a red flannel vest, faded jeans, and cognac ankle boots, she braided her hair with a silver ribbon to create an edgy look. Maya had texted her and agreed to meet her in ten minutes.
Before she could finish gathering her things, Wesley's bedroom door creaked open and she heard a bell-like giggle.
"...and you can call me anytime you want." Wes purred.
"I'll be sure to." HEIDI? Her brother...and Heidi?!
"You are an amazing woman," he sighed. Helen felt nauseous.
"And you are practically sinful!" Heidi squealed with a seductive tone. "Your advances are...appetizing." Helen made a gagging sound. "Call me if you want a ride on the darker side of things." She heard a kissing sound and saw the entrancing woman walk towards her door.
"Hello Helen." She felt her spirits lighten as Heidi drew her in. "I trust you slept well?"
"Not really." She shrugged.
"Good." Helen narrowed her eyes at her cheery smile. "Tell me, does your brother hold qualms to other women?"
"If I knew what that meant I might be able to tell you." She assured with cheek.
Heidi rolled her eyes. "Is he single?"
"I think you could answer that for yourself." She snorted.
"My, aren't we feisty this morning? Are you always this grumpy or is it because Richard Hendricks reeks of booze?" Heidi for a split second reminded her of Allie.
"How could you possibly-
"Well, I have to dash. Aro does so hate for me to be late, especially when I'm bringing him breakfast." She giggled. "Cute vest."
Helen actually smiled at Heidi's compliment. "I liked it better when it was a table cloth." Helen soon flipped back over to mad."Ciao, bella!"
Helen stormed over to Wesley's door and knocked two times. "Yeah?" He lazily answered.
"You slept with Heidi?" She demanded.
"Yeah." He smiled brightly.
"You just met her last night!"
"Yeah." He smiled brighter.
"What did she just say, 'oh Wesley, please bring me the pleasures of the flesh! And I talk in a fancy accent and flip my hair and model for Victoria's Secret'."
"Yeah." He smiled as bright as he could.
"Stop saying that!" Helen groaned.
"Yeah." He sighed and shut the door in her face.
"You are pathetic!" She insulted.
"Yeah..."
Helen and Maya walked around town for a while. The ginger haired girl found the mousey haired girl's life, very interesting. Maya Katarina Rickons had been born in Spain on a U.S. Army Base. Her father was a Lieutenant Colonel and her mother was a fashion designer. Like Helen's parents, they were divorced. She had lived in China, India, England, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Italy, Germany, Israel, Fiji, Iceland, and Wisconsin. However, in all of the changes she had one constant, ballet.
"It must be so cool to visit all of those places, you could be studying at the Royal Ballet Academy!" Helen said in awe.
"Not really, I live at the barracks when I'm with my Dad, and when I'm with my Mom it's at some five-star hotel. I never really get to settle down and make any friends. For a while, my best friend was ballet."
"I know how you feel." Helen shrugged. "But to live in all those places, to explore! You must speak like fifteen languages!"
"Seems like it." Maya giggled.
"Will you be able to stay at the Academy?"
"Yeah, actually. I don't know how, but my Dad got special permission not to be transferred until I graduate." Maya sighed in relief. "I might actually get to stay in St. Louis the longest."
"How often do you see your Mom?"
"Depends." She shrugged. "Her schedule is her life. She once flew to Sweden just to get some special fabric."
"What's your place you've lived in?"
"That's easy, Italy. Milan is the rage during fashion week! That, and the clothes we make there are so elegant!"
"Do you make them special for anybody?" Helen said in amazement.
"Yes, they're this old and really rich family that lives in Tuscany. Venice or Volt...something with a V. They wear a lot of blacks and greys, drives my mother nuts."
"They're probably just some macabre freaks. I would become famous before we met one of them."
After a long days work of Maya showing Helen all of the exotic shops, in which she bought dangly chandelier earrings, and a pair of Chinese slippers, they walked around towards the kiosk shops in the back alleys.
They saw several hipster like stands, but stuck out the most was an edgy looking piercing area. This greasy looking man was selling body jewelry on sale.
"Want something done, darlings?" He winked.
"I'll take a cartilage ring." Maya said with intrigue. "You?"
"Wait." Helen stopped her. "Don't you care if we're eighteen?"
"Are you a cop?" He asked.
"No."
"Then no." he assured.
"C'mon!" Maya beamed. "It's on me! Think of it as a second birthday present!"
"Well, I wouldn't mind trying a nose ring." She confessed. "But, a really tiny stud."
"Yay!" Maya squealed. "I'll go first. Hey can you get us some smoothies? If this is anything like the other two, it'll take a while."
"Okay." Helen replied. "The other two?"
Maya exposed her tan skin and showed her equally tan left ear that had three diamond earrings. "My parents don't even know what I do with their credit cards." She handed the vendor a platinum card. "Make sure they're real diamonds for me and my new best friend, what my parents might actually pay attention to is retail bill."
Helen felt an uneasy churn in her gut. Maya seemed a little too rebellious. Sure, she did things to get attention sometimes, but Helen wouldn't charge up Richard's credit card like that.
"Hurry up on those smoothies!" Maya sang.
Helen stopped at Jamba The Hut and picked up two Vader Veggie Boosters with a hint of berries. On her way out, she looked over and saw her Dad's old partner Det. Geraldine Eames getting out of a car.
"Gerry!" She called out to her and dashed over to the grayish-haired woman.
"Helen, you cutie pie! It's been forever!" She smiled. "You look so much like your mother."
Helen gulped. "Thank you."
"What're you doing here?" Gerry asked.
"Bringing smoothies to a friend. How about you?"
"Making an arrest." Gerry sighed, Helen soon saw that they were both walking in the same direction. "You go on to your friend, sweetie."
"She's this way." Helen replied.
"Well, try not to pay too much attention to what I do." Gerry sighed. Suddenly, they both began walking towards the some piercing kiosk that Maya and the man were at.
Maya tried to run as soon as she saw Gerry's badge and yelped as the man missed her ear. Gerry cut across a fruit booth and chased after her. Helen was frozen in shock at what she saw, Maya soon ran to her.
"Helen, tell her I didn't steal them!"
"What did you do?" Helen whispered. Maya screamed in anger and slugged her in the left eye, however Helen blocked it and punched her in the gut. Gerry caught up with her and strongly grabbed her wrists, she began to cuff them.
"Maya Katarina Rickons-Birelli, you are under arrest for identity theft. You have the right to remain silent..." Helen was frozen during the Miranda warning. "...court of law. You have the right to an attorney." Helen blindly followed Gerry and Maya to the car.
"Do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?"
"Burn in hell, bitch!" Maya spat and she turned to Helen. "You know I'm innocent! You're my friend!" Gerry shoved her in the back seat of the car.
"Helen, did you see her use a platinum card, Visa, or Master Card?" Gerry asked.
"Yes." Helen sighed.
"I'm going need to take your statement."
"Considering that she was my ride, you'll have to."
"What was she buying?" Gerry asked.
"She was getting us...piercings." Helen confessed. "Are you going to arrest me?"
"Did you use a Fake I.D.?"
"No, I don't have one! And he didn't even ask us for I.D."
"Nothing I can charge you with then." Gerry assured.
"Not even being an accessory?"
"Do you have a desire to go to jail?" Gerry teased.
"No!" Helen said quickly.
"You're a good kid, besides you didn't know they were stolen." Gerry said calmly. "But your father is going to tear you a new one, regardless."
"Who did Maya steal from?"
"Can't tell you, but if you stick around you may meet the complainer."
"Maya was my ride home, I'm gonna have to." Helen snorted.
"Sorry kid." Gerry smiled and glanced towards the entrance. "Ah! Mr. Aguzzo! Right on time!"
"I was told to arrive for line-up." Helen turned and saw her benefactor standing there in a proud satin jacket. "Aro?"
"Sweet one!" He sang as he saw her there. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Miss Hendricks was an eye witness to the crime." Gerry explained, "don't pester her for a number! We'll be ready in a few minutes, sir."
"Wait, you got your credit cards stolen?" Helen said in shock.
"I was strolling through the park one late evening, I took out my wallet to buy a rose from a shop, next thing I knew some little urchin ran and grabbed the thing right out of my hands." He scoffed. "The whole affair makes me ill!"
"I didn't know they were yours, or that they were stolen!" Helen assured. "My friend was taking me shopping."
"Darling, if you are to call a thief a friend, I do not imagine you are keeping good company!" He chortled in amusement. Helen flushed at that, he was making fun of her.
"Says the person whose so-called family sleeps with a guy she just met." Helen retorted. "I'm going home."
"Helen wait." Aro's grip on her shoulder was surprisingly strong. "I am sorry, that was uncalled for."
"No, I shouldn't be so sensitive." She admitted. "I'm just having a bad day. My Dad is..."
"Mr. Aguzzo! It's time!" Gerry called out.
Aro identified Maya as quick as a whip. Her father arrived and made her admit the story.
"I was in the park and saw some really rich guy with his wallet out, seemed like some easy money." Maya replied.
"Why were you there?"
"I was..." her father cast a glare at her. "Hooking up with a boy."
"Very classy." Gerry retorted.
"What is she looking at?" Colonel Rickons chimed in.
"Identity theft, robbery, assault, disorderly conduct." Gerry said nonchalantly.
"Who did I assault?" Maya sneered.
"Mr. Aguzzo claims that you kicked him."
"I probably stepped on his foot!" Maya yelled.
"Shut up!" Her father spat in his army yell.
"She's looking at five to thirty at least, depending on if the court will try you as a minor." Gerry warned.
"I am a minor." Maya rolled her eyes.
"You're sixteen." Gerry reminded. "Is her mother in contact?"
"She hopped on a flight to Prague this morning, she said she'll be here as soon as possible."
"Alright, well she waived Miranda." Gerry explained. "I'd recommend a good lawyer."
Aro grabbed Helen's hand as they watched the chaos unfold in interrogation. "Don't ever do anything like that." He ordered softly, "Mia Stella."
It was dark by the time they finished up, Aro offered Helen a ride home. She expected his limousine, but dropped her jaw at the sight of his sleek, black Ferrari with crimson leather seats.
"Come along dear, young ladies shan't never wait it the dark." Aro held the passenger door open for her. Helen dazed over to the seat and buckled her seatbelt. He seemed to dash to the front seat and shut the door. Helen felt an uneasy twitch when the doors locked.
Aro turned the ignition and began to drive his car.
"Aren't you going to wear your seatbelt?" Helen asked when she broke the silence. Aro seemed to look at her funny, as though she made a joke, but he obliged.
"So what were you telling me before we were so rudely interrupted?" Helen remembered that she was about to tell him something that wasn't his business.
"Nothing."
"It was not nothing."
"Yes it was."
"Come now dear, you were all in a tizzy about it." Aro almost seemed frustrated at Helen not being so open.
"It's no big deal, just forget it." She shrugged. He soon slowed down and pulled towards the side of the road.
"Alright, what is going on with you? You've been quiet all afternoon." He stared her down.
"Nothing is going on." she assured.
"Are you being coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me?"
"No! And yes."
"Well, I will not move this vehicle until you tell me." He said calmly.
"That's not fair!" Helen groaned.
"Life is not fair, sweet girl." Aro replied.
"You can't keep me here against my will."
"Get out and walk, you can leave any time you wish." Aro unlocked the car doors. "I will not drive you."
"Maybe I will walk!" Helen angrily opened the door. She immediately regretted storming out of the warm car. It was very cold for late October, and she had brought no jacket. Helen kept walking towards the empty road in the woods, and heard the howl of a coyote from nearby.
She screamed and turned on her heel, dashing back towards the Ferrari where Aro was sitting with a satisfied grin.
"You are horrible!" She pouted as he laughed in victory.
"Not horrible, just very happy to win."
"Will you just start the freaking car?!"
"Tell me and I will."
Helen groaned in frustration, and she remembered an underhand trick of her own. "Then I will sing until you move this car."
"Why that sounds lovely!" Aro replied happily. "I am sure you have a beautiful voice."
"I will make you eat those words." Helen assured. She pulled out her iTouch and turned on Christina Aguilera's Tough Lover. Helen knew how horrible her voice was, she was as tone deaf as a walrus with a shard of glass lodged in its throat. She belted out the high notes in a screechy fashion, watching Aro's face stare in horror and shock. Her low rasp made it sound like Christina was covering a dying moose.
Soon, Aro burst into laughter and covered her mouth. "Stop, stop. You've made your point." He snickered. "Please don't ever do that again. Stick to ballet, my darling."
"Will you move this car?"
"No." Before she could belt out another chorus, Aro grabbed her iTouch and threw it out his window, and an eighteen-wheeler suddenly drove by, destroying its remains.
"I just downloaded five new songs on that thing!" Helen groaned.
"Just tell me." He sighed.
Helen shrugged. "It's about my Dad. He's drinking again."
Aro's face seemed to flash with a reminiscent fear of his own, perhaps a memory. "He has drank before?"
"When Kathleen left the first time." Helen explained. "I still remember where..." she bit her lip.
"He hit you." Aro finished for her.
"He doesn't remember."
Aro ignited the car again and resumed driving on the road, he placed his right hand on her left, intertwining their fingers. "It'll be alright, sweetheart. You always have me." Helen beamed and studied the outside. The trees were disappearing and being replaced with road signs, airport signs.
This was miles away from St. Louis, in the opposite direction. Where was he taking her!? She retracted her hand from his and felt adrenaline rush and her heart rate spike.
"W-Where are we going?"
"Taking a shortcut." He mused.
"Like hell. Aro, take me home."
"I am, Helen."
"Don't lie!" She panicked.
"I've come to a decision that benefits the two of us, care to hear?" Aro didn't seem to care what she said. "I decided to take you with me earlier. This way you get away from that shithole you call a home, and I get my daughter ahead of schedule. Doesn't it sound wonderful?"
"Please don't do this!" She sobbed. Tears streaking down her face.
"Don't cry, my love. You'll be in a happier place soon, with me."
"The hell do you want from me!?" She shrieked.
"To be mine, as my daughter." He said it with such obsession and desire
"Why!?" Helen began to hyperventilate.
"It is a long story indeed." He sighed dramatically.
"Please let me go!" She screamed.
"How can I?" He cooed and wiped her tears away. "You are everything to me. I love you, don't you love me?"
The question struck Helen right in the heart, she'd only known him barely two months and he had been the most kind, caring, and loving man she had ever met.
"...Yes...I think so. But if you do this, I will hate you forever!"
"I am sure I could persuade you otherwise."
"If you love something, set it free!" She pleaded.
"...or cripple it and rip it away from everything else so it will never leave you." He smiled dangerously.
"Aro, please!" Helen felt her life flash before her eyes when they crossed the toll road. "Where are you taking me?"
"You're a beautiful girl, Helen, try and add some intelligence to it. Think."
Where would he take her?! Some lawless country or a private home..!
"...Italy."
"There she is! Pretty and smart!" He sang with what Helen now felt was maniacal. Who was he!? What was he?! She didn't even know him at all.
Helen Hendricks was going to die before he took her.
She gulped. "Where are you taking me in Italy?"
"Home, to Volterra precisely. Oh you'll absolutely adore it there! So historic and rich in culture! You can study freely without having to worry about school or deadlines. We can take walks during cloudy days and I can show you the gardens and the town. You have your own view of Tuscany in the castle! And more clothes than you'll ever know what to do with!" He chuckled. "Not to mention all of the ballets and opera I can escort you to in Milan. Oh how silly of me, I have forgotten her! You'll have a mother Helen, a real mother! Not that repugnant cow Mme. Danton."
"What?" She croaked out.
"My wife, child. Sulpicia. She already loves you almost as much as I do. You shall love her too, and you'll be happy and never want to leave us! It's so exciting!" There was a childlike giddiness inside Aro.
"Fate sapere al mondo quanto ti amo." He breathed to her.
Helen couldn't breathe. She felt her lungs start to strain.
"Aro, pull over! Please!" He simply thought she was trying to escape.
"Please Dad! I can't breathe! Daddy please!" Aro did not need to hear anything else and granted her request. Helen needed to remember to use the trick if she needed to.
"Are you alright?" He purred.
"I just need to catch my...breath." She panted.
"Forgive me, I forget you are human." He said softly.
'WHAT?! OH HELL NO! NOW MY LIFE IS SOME CASSANDRA CLARE NOVEL?!'
Helen noticed a nearby security booth. "Aro?"
"Yes?"
"I want you to know how much I love you." She lied and smiled with fake sincerity
"Tell me." The thought seemed to awaken a possessive hunger.
"Aro."
"Yes, my princess?" His eyes held greed.
"...Fuck you." Helen dashed out of the car as fast as she could and towards the booth. Her adrenaline seemed to make her run faster. Two men were waiting in the booth and shocked when they saw Helen.
"Help me! That man is trying to kidnap me!" Helen screamed.
"What man?" Helen turned and saw that he was gone.
"Frank, we need to call the police." Helen looked down where they glanced and saw a barbwire stuck in her left boot's ankle, blood already pooling.
Hours and hours passed. Helen was finally safe in her bed, Richard was relieved she was home. Wesley did not leave his sister's side, and Henry was at a sleepover thank god.
The wire had hit an artery, but her leg was fine and bandaged and there was no infection. However, she was not allowed to dance for at least four days.
Police were stationed around her house, and only a ghost could get past the cameras. Helen talked to her besties and they wanted her to know that it wasn't her fault that Aro turned out to be a psychopathic wackjob.
Helen heard a creak in her stained glass window and limped over to see a piece of paper stuck in the opening. She yanked it out and felt her heart stop when she saw the V on the stationary, same as the box.
Do not think this over.
You are mine, now and forever. I shall make you pay for your comment, little girl. It doesn't mean I don't love you, but you must learn respect and boundaries. You will come with me of your own consent. I am so terribly sorry about your foot, I do hope you recover soon for I so love to see you dance, I did not mean any harm to befall you. However, keep an eye out for your brother and friends, or I may have them end up as I did Arthur Desmond or a certain someone. I am so looking foreword to our fun little game.
Sweet dreams, my princess.
Love,
Aro
Helen heard a scream downstairs. She limped as fast she could and saw Carole near the back door. Helen and her family appeared around Carole and they saw it.
There in the grass, was a lifeless and bloody Geraldine Eames.
Helen crumpled the note in her fist. Game on.
"Everyone back up!" A a brown haired and husky voiced woman walked over to them and tugged at Helen. "I've been ordered to keep this one nested like a little bird."
Before anyone could object, Helen was dragged back up to her room. The woman flicked on the light and smirked at her, her silver eyes were not human. Just as Aro's red ones were not.
"Alright little duckling, I have a little proposition for you. My name is Dr. Ruby White, and I know the exact circumstances of your...situation. Forgive my attitude, but I can be a total witch when I'm cranky."
BUM BUM BUM! Introducing Ruby White! Initially she was going to appear much, much later, however this fit. Please review and lemme know!