Forbidden

Chapter Four

***WARNING: Homophobic bigotry and physical abuse ahead***

He sat in one of the plush armchairs in the sitting room, frowning at the floor and waiting for his sentence to be passed down. Kyrah had been sent to her room with explicit instructions to stay there for the rest of the night. William hadn't joined the family for dinner, and even though his stomach now tried to convince him that it needed sustenance, the thought of eating made him ill.

Dinner had finished hours ago. William hadn't been 'summoned', but he figured it would be easier if he just presented himself anyway. The few times he heard his father's enraged shouting echoing down the corridors from his study had made William cringe, and he knew he was in for one hell of a fight.

Christopher finally appeared in front of his son some time later, with Alicia following meekly and situating herself in a chair, trying not to draw her husband's attention. "Who are you?" Christopher's voice was dangerously low and deceptively soft for the amount of fury it carried.

The question caught William so off-guard that he made the mistake of looking up at his father in confusion. "Sir?"

Christopher glared back, his expression set in a hard mask of disgust. "You are not the son I raised. I have no idea who this imposter, this deviant is, but this is not the William Hannigan that I know."

William's anger rose in his defense. "No, I'm not! In fact, you know nothing about me!"

"I damn well know that I did not raise you to be an abomination!"

"Abomination?! Just because I like boys?!"

Alicia cringed at the words. "What about Shana, William?"

"Shana? What about her?"

"I thought that perhaps, someday..."

"I'd what? Marry her?!" William scoffed loudly. "No, Mum. She's my friend. I love her, but as a friend. I won't be marrying Shana, someday or any day."

"Then we'll find you a girl that you will marry," Christopher said with absolute finality.

William gaped at him. "Excuse me?!"

"If you don't find a girl on your own with the right potential to marry into this family, then you will marry one of my choosing!"

"You can't do that!"

"I most certainly can."

"What part of 'I like boys' do you not understand?!"

Christopher waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing but a deranged phase. You will come to your senses."

"A PHASE?!" William shouted. "No, Father, it's not. I have no interest in girls. I'm not physically attracted to them. I want to kiss boys! I'm attracted to boys! I LIKE BOYS!"

Alicia winced like William had struck her and Christopher took a step toward him, looming menacingly. "I don't care what you actually feel, William. You will marry a girl and have a family. I will not allow you to disgrace the Hannigan name!"

"NO!" William bolted out of his chair and stared his father down. "You can't make me do anything!"

Christopher met his son's furious gaze head-on. "Like hell I can't, boy! I practically own this town! You have no idea what I can have done!"

"Christopher..." Alicia interrupted timidly.

"No, Alicia! It's time he learns his place!" Christopher jabbed a finger in William's face. "You're a Hannigan and, so help me, you will start acting like one!"