Sacrifice (Book 2)

Chapter 14 - Mariposa

From under the bed, Mariposa could hear every word Lizzie and Ethan said. When Lizzie began to tell the story of her life, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. What would they think of her? How could she face them again?

Today, for the first time ever she had spoken to Ethan. Years ago, when Olivia was first placed in her charge, before she even became Madison, Mariposa noticed him. He was hard to miss. Tall, broad-shouldered, and well-muscled, he was an imposing force of nature. His short dark hair, clean-cut appearance, and air of confidence gave him a look of authority. She had studied him from afar long enough to recognize his mood by subtle changes in his walk. Ethan was handsome, but it was his intense gray eyes that captivated her and drew her in. They fascinated and frightened her both at the same time.

She tried to block out the conversation in the kitchen as Lizzie explained how she poisoned the Queen for years with diseased blood. Madison's weakened condition laid on her shoulders. When their Sire accepted the Queen's demands, Mariposa should have known there was a reason for it. She was remiss in her duty to safeguard the Queen by making predictable collections at the closest bank. It was easy for Erdo to fill the freezers with tainted blood. She should have sampled the plasma before giving it to the Queen, question the source, checked the records, or observed the draws to guarantee their quality. There were so many things she might have done but overlooked.

Swallowing over the lump in her throat, she tilted her head back and closed her eyes when Ethan ask Lizzie about her face. Ashamed and embarrassed, she didn't want to hear the conversation. Ethan would look at her with disgust now.

While at the castle, Madison had often talked about her family. She spoke with pride and admiration about her children. From the stories, Mariposa felt as if she knew each of them too. There was honor and intellect in Madison's son--a rarity in Mariposa's world. He was a man of moral fiber on a crusade for justice. She dreamed of the vampire Madison called her son-the man who rescued women in distress. In her fantasies, she imagined one day he would come and save her too. She had found her Prince Charming and fallen in love.

Ethan asked her many times what happened, but she just couldn't answer him. It hurt too much to relive the experience. Now Lizzie was describing everything in detail. Ethan would blame her for infecting the Queen and hate her for it. He might even believe she deserved what Erdo had done. This evening when Ethan offered her the bagged blood, her guilt rose to the surface. Her only experience with it had been a catastrophe. She froze in fear. Then he had tried to force her to take it, even when she let him know she didn't want it. That cup represented her failure to protect the Queen. It was her biggest regret.

Her fairytale image of Ethan was shattered. He locked her in a room without a proper resting place, where sunlight could pass through the weave of the curtains. When he pulled her out from under the bed, she was sure he was about to do something awful because she had disturbed him with her crying.

When he spoke to her, he was intimidating and it frightened her. He asked questions and expected answers. Everything she did was wrong and displeased him. She knew punishment was sure to come. Madison had talked about the man who was kind and loving but hid his heart behind a tough exterior. Was Ethan that man?

With her finger, she traced the flat board under the mattress, directly above her head. He had placed the blankets over the bed to help her. She didn't expect that. And, he did ask if she needed anything. Of course, he was just carrying out his mother's wishes. He was doing his job, like he told her. She was just another victim. She must look pathetic with her hair sticking out and her face a mess. If only he had seen her before with her long, dark hair and unmarked skin. Maybe he could have felt something for her then.

Lizzie was telling him about the Man now. Horrible words like butcher, rape, torture, and beatings poured from her mouth. Mariposa had been too weak to stop him in those days. Tears flowed from her eyes and stained her cheeks. She covered her ears. She couldn't listen without feeling as if she was back in that closet. She didn't want Ethan to know about him. With her hands over her ears, she rocked her head back and forth. "No, no, no," she whispered until darkness claimed her.