The Selection: Third Generation

Ch. 24: The Snow Bride

Trigger Warning: The first section hints at sexual abuse. Please skip down to the second part of this chapter if you need to!

I wake up to Anne setting down a fresh cup of coffee on my nightstand and the sound of the wind still roaring outside. My curtains are drawn so that my room is still dark, Leah is running a bath for me, and Barbara is nowhere to be seen.

"Here is a glass of water and some Advil," Anne says, handing both to me. I sit up and do as she gestures, taking the Advil and downing the entire glass of water. Then she hands me my coffee. I sip it slowly and she goes about helping Leah run my bath, adding in lavender and rose petals. I sit in a dazed state, trembling slightly in my spot on my bed.

They get me through the motions of getting ready without saying a word. When they finish, however, Anne sits me down at the table by the windows, concern etched into every single feature on her face.

"What happened last night, Lady Arabella?" She asks me gently, reaching out her hand to place it on mine. I flinch but keep my hand there.

"I do not wish to talk about it." I say, looking away from her and out at the cloud of white roaring outside of my room.

"I did not ask what you wish, miss. With no disrespect... After what happened last night, you either tell me, or you will have to tell the guards. Whatever or whoever made you so upset has no business here." Every part of my body feels weird like I am being electrocuted. Dread fills me but I know she is right.

"Call the prince." I whisper.

"Very well," Anne says, a sad look on her face.

It only takes a few minutes before a very-worried Carlisle comes into my room. He rushes over and wraps me in a hug.

"Why did you not tell me how upset you were last night?" He asks, pulling away and staring into my eyes.

"I couldn't... You would have acted irrationally. You still might, but at least you might stop to think now." I say quietly. I am unsure of how he will react, honestly. Carlisle would never purposefully hurt anyone, but I would not put it past him to want to hurt Dayne.

"What is it, Arabella?" He asks, staring into my eyes as if he can pull it all out of me that way. Maybe he can because I tell him.

"It's-it's Dayne." I shut my eyes tight, willing the tears not to fall. It is to no avail.

"Dayne? The contest winner?" Carlisle's face and voice are full of confusion as he looks at me. He tilts his head like a lost little puppy.

"Yes. He hurt me. Not last night," I rush out the last part, trying to make sure he does not lose his temper right this second, although I know it is inevitable. I hold onto his wrists tightly, willing him not to move from his place kneeling in front of me.

"What do you mean, he hurt you?" Carlisle's voice is suddenly serious. There is a venomous look in his eyes that I have never seen before.

"When I was little, he was my babysitter." I have to pause to take a deep breath and try to stay calm. "I haven't talked about this since it happened, Carlisle." Another deep breath rattles out of me as I feel a panic attack coming on. "When my parents had their date nights, he would watch us. When my siblings were asleep for the night, he would sneak into my room-"

"No!" Carlisle yells, standing abruptly and pacing back and forth for a moment. "Are you going with this where I think you are going with this?" He asks me, staring into my eyes. My heart is racing, I am shaking, and I only want him to calm down at this moment. I wish this never happened. I wish I had been able to control myself and not feel such terror and panic last night.