His Possession(6)

The entire situation was bizarre.

After a time he picked her up and moved upstairs with her. Violet held onto him and let him. In the short time she’d been in his company she’d come to realise arguing was useless.

He opened a door at the far end of the long corridor. She saw the large four poster bed, but he didn’t put her down. He went to one of the three doors along the opposite wall and placed her on her feet in the bathroom.

Cadeon went over to the large bath tub and began filling it with hot water. He tested the water and came back to her. Violet held her hands up to protect her clothes. She didn’t want him to see her naked.

“I’ll leave you to wash and rest. When you come out there’ll be a nightgown waiting for you.” He leaned down and brushed her lips with his and then left.

Violet waited long enough to make sure he’d left completely before unbuttoning her blouse and removing her skirt and underwear.

She walked to the bath tub and tested the water. It was perfect, and she got in. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to relax. Nothing was going to happen to her. She was safe. Being alone in the world had never been a problem to her. She had troubles like everyone else. For most part, her mother had tried to spare her the harshness of her life. Escaping had been Violet’s only option. Escaping and never getting close to anyone was the only way she could survive.

It would only be a matter of time before she had to leave. Cadeon was determined to get too close. She closed her eyes and saw her mother. The beautiful vision she’d been when entertaining one of her guests.

****

“Listen to me, Violet. You’re better than this. I never want you to feel as if you have to live this life. Do you understand me?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Violet was thirteen and developing her body. She knew what her mother did to pay the rent and put food in their bellies. The constant stream of men unnerved her all the time. Especially the man who stayed and took half of her mum’s money.

“If I’m not here one day, baby, you’ve got to promise me you’ll run. Run and never look back no matter how hard it is. The priest can help you.”

“You’re scaring me,” Violet said.

Her mother grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “You’re not a little girl anymore, pet. They’ll see you and begin to want you. You’ve got to keep yourself safe. Promise me that no matter what happens you’ll be safe. Promise me.”

Violet couldn’t stop the tears streaming down her face. Her mother made sure no man came near her. She did not even go to school, just to private lessons from the parish priest whenever he had a chance. She had no one but the love her mother could offer.

“I promise,” she said and held onto tightly to her parent. Like many times before, her mother locked her bedroom door. Violet stayed in her room. Her hands wrapped around her knees as the sounds of violence penetrated the walls. There was nothing she could do. Mother always locked her door. No matter what she heard she could never leave her room.

****

Violet opened her eyes and gasped as the stabbing pain in her heart was too much. Her mother might have been a whore, but Violet had loved her with all of her heart. Taking the soap from the side of the bath she lathered her body and washed herself. Her hair took the longest. Her usual floral shampoo was still at home. She settled on the lavender scented hair wash. When she was done and the fear of the past had abated a little she grabbed a towel and dried her body.

Would Cadeon be waiting on the other side?

Closing her eyes and taking a breath, she entered the room. He was nowhere to be seen. A nightgown lay on the bed, and she saw he’d switched the light shades on either side of the bed, casting a soft glow around the room. Not bothering to take in her surroundings she put the night gown over her head. It was s silk gown that opened to her cleavage and settled around her ankles, its colour a beautiful peach.

She found a brush in a drawer and began to untangle the mess of her mid-back length hair. Going to the salon to get it cut seemed like an unnecessary expense. Her hair grip was in the bathroom. She wore her hair down and climbed beneath the sheets. Tired and exhausted from the day as soon as her head hit the pillow, darkness consumed her.

****

Cadeon sat in his office and took another gulp of his strongest whisky. Having Violet in his house was supposed to make him feel easier. Instead his nerves were on end. Something didn’t add up about the woman in his house. Picking up the file he’d made on her, he glanced through the paperwork. There was nothing new he could find. She was an only child with no parents. Her mother had passed away some time ago. According to the file, nothing brilliant stood out about Violet Moore.