From Dusk Until Dawn

Chapter 9: The Start

Ever since she was a child she had been prone to sickness. When she was seven, she had nearly died to pneumonia which caused her parents to become overly protective of her. So much so they almost never let her outside the house unless her brother, Kory, worked for hours to convince his parents that Rue would be safe with him. But it would take so long that by the time they gave in, it would be nearly an hour to sundown and that would be all the time Rue would be able to go outside for.

However, as she got older she started sneaking out. Sometimes her brother would help her. He worried about her but knew that she could take care of herself. That how she got her first job with the kind blacksmith in the village. That's also where she found his son, who she dated for a few months before they broke up. Eventually, after years and a few failed relationships later, she ended up meeting a girl who made frequent delivers to the blacksmith. They had only been dating for about a year and a half until they both decided to go their separate ways.

Rue grunted as she forced her window open. It was freezing outside so she didn't end up staying out for too long. It was unfortunate since she had been looking forward to one of her late night walks while her parents were asleep.

As she entered the her room, letting out a breathy sigh, her door swung wide open. Turning around, her stomach dropped when she saw her parents. Her father looked identical to Kory. Short, brown wavy hair. Dark skin with freckles along his nose. The only different between them were that her father's eyes were green while Kory's was hazel and his hair was curly, like their mother. Her mother's hair was a curly dark brown was tied in a low pony tail and her hazel eyes pierced Rue's green ones.

''What were you thinking?! Going out at night; do you know what time it is? How cold it is?'' her father shouted at her in a way she had never heard before.

''What if one of the Lycans attacked you! What if you have gotten trapped somehow and froze! By Mother Miranda, you're going to come down with a cold! Did you even begin to think-''

''Actually, mother, I did think! I was perfectly fine!'' Rue shouted at her mother.

''Don't fucking yell at your mother! She brought you into this world and you owe her respect!''

''Don't fucking cuss at me!''

Her father was going to start a yelling match but his wife placed a hand on his arm, silently telling him to calm down. The man groaned before crossing his arms and glaring at his daughter. Her mother looked to her and spoke in a calm tone that made her uncomfortable. ''Do you enjoy making us worry? All we want to do is protect you and what do you do? Sneak out and risk getting hurt or sick. Are you really that ungrateful for everything we've done for you?'' she said, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Her heart clenched when she saw her mother starting to cry. She knew what she was doing. Every time her mother did this, she didn't have the strength to keep fighting so she would give in. Worst of all, Kory wasn't here to help her. He was on a trip with his fiancé. But tonight, she wasn't going to back down. She was so sick of her mother using her tears against her.

''It's not that I'm ungrateful mother, I am. I truly am. But you can't just keep me inside this house constantly.'' she said.

''We're doing this to protect you.'' her father said. By Mother Miranda, she hated when they said that.

''I know, but have either of you thought that I don't need you to protect me anymore. By Mother Miranda, I'm twenty-five and I'm still living with you to because neither of you think I can take care of myself.'' she said.

''That's because you can't! You just can't!'' her mother said, tears flowing from her cheeks as she approached her daughter, grasping her hands. ''There are so many things out there that can hurt you! Don't you understand that?! You won't be able to make it on your own. You need us to protect you!''

Her blood boiled as she viciously ripped her hand away from her mother, shocking both of her parents. ''I'm so sick of this! Is that what you really think?! That I can't take care of myself? I can and I don't need you! Neither of you! I don't need you to protect-'' she voice was cut off by heavy impact on her cheek followed by a slapping sound. She blinked a few times as tears began to form in her eyes due to the stinging pain from her cheek.

''Don't. You. Dare raise you VOICE AT ME!'' her mother screeched, grabbing at her hair and nearly ripping some strands out. ''You ungrateful little bitch! I gave birth to you! Feed you, clothed you and done nothing but love you! And what do you do?! Sneaking out like some Village whore?! Is that what you are?!''

Before she could do anymore damage, Rue's father grabbed her mother, dragging her to the opposite side of the room and trying to calm her down. Rue just watched her parents and tried to cover her ears to drown out her mother's banshee like screams. It was the first time in her life she had been afraid of her mother.

Without thinking, she bolted out of the room and out the front door in the blistering cold. A blizzard had rolled into the Village and by the time she had stopped running, she couldn't even see her own footprints. Everything around her was cold and dark. She had started to regret running out of her home and into the freezing blizzard.

''Why hello my friend.'' a jolly voice call out to her. She looked up and saw The Duke, a jolly merchant who she had heard of but never met. ''Quite cold out isn't it? Hope in the back and warm yourself. There are blankets you can use.''

Usually, she'd question him but she was just too cold and too tired to question him. Slowly, she made her way to the back of his carriage and stepped inside, closing the doors behind her to keep out the wind. She sat down, looking around the rather small area with had fur pelts, raw meat, herb weapons and weapons parts hanging on the walls. Reaching down, she wrapped the blanket The Duke had told her about in order to warm herself.

''Now, what are you doing out in this blizzard? A lovely woman like you shouldn't be out in such freezing temperatures, especially with such thin clothing.'' the man said as the carriage started to move. ''You know, if you're going to run off on your own, you should think about getting a job to support yourself. Castle Dimitrescu is currently looking to hire.''

Rue looked up at the man, wondering how he knew that she ran away. She wanted to ask but held her tongue and just focused on warming herself. She thought about what he said and thought of all the stories she had heard about Castle Dimitrescu. Sighing to herself, she thought about working at the Castle. She'd be far from her over protective parents and prove to them that she can take care of herself.

Looking up at the merchant, she finally spoke. ''Please, kind sir, can you show me where Castle Dimitrescu is?''

''I had a feeling you might say that. I'll get you as close as I can.''

***

Rue looked up at Alcina, seeing an angry expression plastered onto her pale features. Rue didn't say anything and waited for her Lady to say something. Anything. Lady Dimitrescu seemed deep in thought before seemingly snapping out of it and taking a deep breath.

''So, that's how you came to work here.'' she took hold of Rue's and gave it a soft, comforting squeeze. ''My dear, your mother had no right to hit and scream at you.''

''Thank you, my lady.'' she said, gazing deeply into her honey coloured eyes.

The two gazed into each other's eyes. Rue wasn't even paying attention to anything around her. All she saw was Lady Dimitrescu staring back at her. No one in her life had ever looked at her the way Lady Dimitrescu did. She didn't know why, but she felt a little guilty thinking of her employer in the way she did. Her heart fluttered when she saw the Countess's eyes flutter down to her lips for a moment before looking away.

''I must be going. I have paperwork I need to finish.'' she said, standing to her full height. ''Have a goodnight, Rue.''

''Goodnight, Lady Dimitrescu.'' Rue said, hiding her disappointment as the Countess left the gallery.