The Mate He Needs

First Impressions

Ariel sobbed as her parents closed the door. She felt horrible, and her arm hurt. So did her cheek and her lip. She looked at the shattered lamp on the ground that she'd accidentally knocked over where her father had grabbed her. His strength was incredible and painful.

She rubbed her upper arm. She could hear talking in the hall but didn't know what was being said. She hurt inside where no one could see. They thought she was a whore. Why didn't they believe her? She tried so hard to please them, to get their love but never.

"I'm sorry." She said to no one and wiped at her face but the tears kept coming down. Maybe she just wasn't worthy of love. That had to be it. She was just a broken useless human being, worthless to those around her.

She grabbed the garbage can in her room and started to toss pieces of the broken lamp into it. The whole time tears threatened to choke her. She jumped when she heard a knock on her door. She got up quickly running to it to open it.

"Father I..." She was mistaken about who was standing there. A young man was standing there. He didn't look much older than her or her sister. "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else." She said lowering her head. "I think you have the wrong room."

"No, I have the right one." His voice was strong and sure. He sounded a lot older than he looked. She became rather nervous and took a couple steps back not looking at him. She wasn't sure who he was nor what he wanted.

"Do you know who I am?" He asked her and she shook her head.

"I'm Malachi Vento. I heard what just happened." She looked up then in surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry for the noise. I promise to be more quiet." She promised before she could stop herself. He wasn't what she thought he'd look like. He just looked at her, studying her.

"You don't seem much like your sister. At least not as headstrong nor driven. I see that your parents seem to think you a failure." He noted the look of her. He actually felt bad for her, she looked pathetic. Malachi kind of cringed on the inside, he could be an insensitive prick sometimes he realized.

"Oh." She said wringing her hands and looked at the broken lamp. "I can't really be compared to Natasha. Um I'm sorry about your lamp, I was just cleaning it up." She really keeping her gaze averted from him now. Oh what would her parents say if they knew she was talking with him?

"Just leave it. I'll have Darcy come and clean it up." He informed as she moved to reach down and continue cleaning.

"But I broke it. It's not right to make another clean up after me. I'm clumsy and that's what I'm here for anyways." She felt heat in her face. She was talking too much.

"Did you really break it, or because you were tossed into it?" Shouldn't she be angry and pissed that her parents would treat her this way? Not acting like it was all her fault and some meak creature? Malachi was not one to sugar coat things. He tended to just say what was on his mind. She didn't flinch from it though. She did seem to want to explain or placate.

"It's my fault I shouldn't have displeased them so." She clarified. She felt new tears coming up, he must really think her pathetic.

"Does your sister receive the same treatment as you?"

"Natasha? No, no! She's a good daughter, she's perfect." She didn't say it snidely, but there was a bit of envy there. "She's very proud to be picked. She won't make you unhappy." He raised an eyebrow at her. They did a number on her hadn't they?

"What is so wrong with you that you were not brought as a choice?" He asked her. Malachi really wasn't prepared for the sight of the girl before him. He'd thought that the girl in this room had to be exactly like her sister, just acting out more. Some pampered brat throwing a tantrum. That was not what stood before him.