Cruel Beauty

Darkness

The Baroness wakes early, she has a minor headache nothing she hasn't dealt with before, a little hair of the dog is sure to cure what ails her. Turning she sees you are lying beside her and smiles softly she sits up a little, and you roll onto your back drawing him on top of you. Victoria jumps in shock seeing you both kiss passionately. Wilhelm looks up at her with a triumphant smile. 'You didn't really think you'd be free of me? You'll never be free of me Victoria.' You arch your back moaning as he kisses down your chest. 'You can't trust anyone, you are too broken and of course, I claim full credit for that. You can't even trust her, after all it was me who brought her here, you know she is just playing you, all she has her eye on is the money. Smart girl, it is a shame you were my wife and not her.' Victoria is horrified and scrambles to the corner of the bed holding her blankets against her chest. 'N-no, this isn't real, you are dead.' she hyperventilates her lower lip quivering in terror. 'Of course, it's real,' you turn on your side to look at her with a manic grin.

'The Baroness is old news. She doesn't know about fashion. She's not really kept her figure either. It's sad really she tries to stay current' You speak but your voice doesn't sound like your own, Victoria feels tears roll down her face. The Baron kisses you passionately. 'Oh, the poor thing is crying.' you both laugh at her. Cameras flash as she stands on the red carpet smoke swirls around her she can't see anyone her heart is pounding. The hair on the back of her neck stands up as she feels the presence behind her and Cruella's diamante red lips whisper against the shell of her ear. 'I know what you did. I'm going to take everything from you, your status, your business, your confidence, and your lover.' Victoria gasps and sits bolt upright in bed her heart hammering in her chest. Looking around it isn't morning yet, she sees you lying beside her. You wriggle in your sleep and she peaks over just to make sure he truly isn't with you. Her hands shake uncontrollably as she gets out of bed.

The next morning you wake up and she has already gone, last night was enough of being weak it was time to take action. You groan wondering what fresh hell awaits you today then get washed and dressed then head to House of Baroness. When you enter the air is thick with tension you see multiple groups of staff members huddled around newspapers. You see Victoria storm across the floor causing several people to hide their papers. 'Ah, yn.' she is dressed in black and your eyes fill with concern at how small her waist has gotten. It's never been so visible, she rips a newspaper off of Janna from fabrics. Her lips twitch and she sneers at the article showing her in another humiliating pose. The writing is even more damaging but thankfully she refuses to read it. 'Come along.' she barks at you and you follow with the rest of her entourage heading up to her office. '"CrUeLla." Cruella.' she mutters the name like it's poison in her mouth. 'What sort of a name is that anyway?' You go to answer but realise it wasn't actually a question. 'Okay. A proper competitor. We'll just have to destroy her as we have so many before.' You nod running to keep up with her. 'Of course Baroness.'

'Find her. And, Roger, find out everything about her.' she snaps to the perspiring layer who is also struggling to keep up, and he stops walking. 'Um, I'm really more of a lawyer than a detective, I...' Victoria spins on her heel and shoots him a look that sends a shiver down your spine. 'Yes, I'll do that.' The lawyer-turned-detective wisely agrees before getting out of there as quickly as possible. 'Looking very...dark today, is goth back in?' you tease her when you are alone. Victoria shoots you the same look she had given Roger. You hold your hands up. 'Just trying to lighten the mood.' You can tell she is on form today and regret joking. 'Do you think our relationship gives you some sort of free pass to mock me?' she drums her fingers. 'Victoria, look, I,' 'Baroness.' she interjects and your brow creases with confusion. 'Huh?' Victoria rolls her eyes. 'We are at work you ought to refer to me as Baroness or your ladyship I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea.' You blink feeling the sting of the insult. 'What exactly might you be implying?' Victoria's nostrils flare. 'Just, do your job, and send Estella up to me.' she instructs and you feel rage boiling in your blood, you walk out slamming the door behind you.

Victoria stops pretending to do paperwork when you leave and slumps in her chair revealing a pent-up sigh, her lips twitch like she will cry. She presents the traditional stiff upper lip and shakes it off getting back to work. Okay, you hate her but at least she has shown you that she is still the boss and you the employee. You are in a foul mood when you storm downstairs the newspapers have been snuck back out. You grab a chair dragging it across the floor getting everyone's attention as you climb on top. 'If I see so much as another page of that trashy Tattletale newspaper I will ball it up and ram it down the throat of the culprit. Am I being clear?!' The staff freezes then one by one place their papers in the metal garbage can at the end of the table when everyone has complied you jump down. John watches you the entire time taking in the scene, you go over to the garbage can knotting the bag of newspapers inside. 'You aren't in good spirits.' he notes. You force the bag into his arms. 'Make yourself useful, get rid of it.' you storm out. Victoria's mood remains sour the rest of the day so her employees collectively try to avoid her.

This Cruella woman has her on edge so much so she is having nightmares about the monster who was her personal tormentor for years. So much for it being a one-time thing, what the hell did this girl want from her? Why had she made it her life's goal to follow her around and steal her limelight? 'Baroness.' John stirs her from her thoughts. 'Ah, John. What is it?' she sits up. 'It was just to remind you that you have that award ceremony to attend tonight.' Victoria groans she had forgotten that. 'Thank you, John.' He inclines his head and leaves her to it. The Baroness wears a black cold shoulder dress with a beautiful fine finished cut, and a single pearl fascinator adorns her head. She sighs when she looks over at the wall, your room is just behind that wall...should she apologise, you didn't do anything wrong. But then she remembers all the lessons you taught her, apologising would be weak. So instead she goes down to the car the driver opens the door and she gets in with a sigh. 'Feeling any calmer?' 'OH!' she screams in shock hearing you speak she hadn't noticed you in the car. You are taken aback by the reaction and also jump. 'Yn!' she places a hand on her chest to settle herself. 'What the hell are you doing?! You almost gave me a heart attack!'

You look confused. 'Well, where the hell else would I be?' you demand. 'I didn't think you would still wish to accompany me.' The Baroness begins to calm down. 'Why? Because you are a first-class bitch? If that was a deal breaker I'd have been gone long ago. I'm not going to just let you - ugh never mind.' Victoria shoots you a glare and you drive off for 20 minutes in silence. The car draws to a halt you sigh staring out the window as the valets approach, they duck down and you frown. You sit up trying to lean over and see what is going on. 'What is happening?' Victoria tries her door handle a few times but it doesn't work. 'Excuse me?!' she hammers her knuckles on the glass. 'Open the door you imbeciles!' she frowns as the press snap pictures. You try the door again, the car lurches and you feel something climbing on top of it. You see a whizz of red material and then blackness. Victoria's voice catches in her throat.

They enter the basement, there are shelves upon shelves of fine wine. 'What are we doing here?' he sets her down and kisses her romantically again gently pinning her against a wrack. Click. She feels the cold metal on her wrist and looks down seeing the handcuff. 'Dear? What are you doing?' he strokes her jawline. 'I'm willing to wait for you Victoria.' he kisses her forehead, and her eyes dart around. 'One day, two, a week. I won't rush you and until you are ready to perform your wifely duties in the marriage bed you may sleep here.' he turns heading upstairs. 'Wilhelm?' she gives a false chuckle. 'Wilhelm? Is it a joke? Are you joking?' she rattles the handcuff. 'Wilhelm this is isnt funny, I-' she lets out a scream. 'Wilhelm! There are rats down here! Wilhelm please!' she sobs but there is no reply the lights go out, and the Baroness never finds out how long she stayed down there.

Victoria screams bloody murder. 'Get me out of here! Please! Please!' she screams bursting into tears. 'No please!' she rattles the door again feeling claustrophobic. 'Victoria! Victoria!' You take her in your arms rocking her pressing your lips to her forehead. 'I'm here, I'm here, it's okay sweetheart you aren't alone.' The Baroness grips you for dear life it can only have been a few moments but to her, it feels like a lifetime. You inhale the scent of her perfume keeping a firm hold of her. When the darkness lifts you keep her protected from the flashing cameras and hammer on the car. 'Drive!' You roar. 'But...the Baroness hasn't vacated the vehicle yet.' you hear the driver's muffled voice through the partition. 'Get your foot down! Now!' you hammer the car again and he skids off. Victoria is pale her face buried into your chest as you rub her back soothing her.