The Devil Himself

meeting the devil

I woke up the next day feeling like, well, absolute shit. My head was banging, my eyes were puffy and swollen, and it felt like I had run a marathon or had a collapsed lung. I decided I wasn't going to let this arrangement define my life. I was going to live like I wasn't going to be kidnapped in the next day or so.

I rolled out of bed and straight to the shower. The water was so hot it burned my skin, but I didn't care. There was no worse pain than the betrayal I felt towards my Papa. He completely used me to his advantage, and I can tell it hurt him. But what about me? What about the life I'll never get to experience. Aren't people supposed to be happy with getting married? All I felt was sorry for myself. Why didn't I tell Papa I wasn't going through with this? Did a part of me want to do this? I burned off every thought of that ever happening until the water was cold.

I turned off the water and dried off with a towel. I got dressed in a tank top with shorts. Easy and simple. There's no reason for a bra because I wont be leaving the house.

I went to the kitchen and Mama wasn't cooking. Which is odd. Mama is always up before everyone and normally food is made by the time I wake up, I'm a late riser. And by this time Michael and Monte are at work, I don't exactly know what they do, but it doesn't concern me. I was just about to look for her and that's when I heard yelling.

I followed her voice and it led to Papas office. This is not good. They never argued, and when they did, it was never this loud. Mama was just as upset, or maybe even more upset than I was. I didn't bother knocking and walked in, half the block could hear them anyways. When I walked in, a deafening silence took over the room.

No words were said between me and Mama. But from the look on her face, she seemed defeated? Why would Mama feel defeated? And then I realized. She was trying to talk Papa out of the arranged marriage. Though I knew her arguing with him wouldn't help, it felt nice to know at least one parent had my back. I looked at Papa with shame. I'm still not over what he did and I don't know when or if I'll ever be over it. He took away one of the only things I had control of. Love.

He looked down shamefully and I hooked my arm with Mamas and asked if she would like any tea. Obviously wanting to get away from Papa, she agreed. When we left the room, we both began to cry.

We cried for what seemed like hours when I heard SUVS coming up the gravel driveway, fast. That's when me and Mama started to panic. She called Papa and said Lorenzo and his team were here and that's when I decided to look out of the window.

There were 6 SUVS in the driveway. Men in black seemed to pile out of the cars. From what I could see, there were about 30 men. The scene before me looked like something out of a cliche movie. That's when I saw him. He was huge. He seemed to be about 6'2 with a muscular build. He looked like he was sculpted by greek Gods. He was wearing black trousers with a black turtle neck, still tattoos seemed to paint his body. I could see the head of a snake peeking out from the collar of his shirt. He must have felt eyes on him because he looked up and met my gaze. His piercing green eyes seemed to see right through me. He knew I was scared. He even smiled and waved. What a dick.

The men began to circle the house and he walked up the door and knocked. Papa was nervous but determined to stay calm opened the door with a stiff smile.

"Lorenzo." Papa said in a low voice.

Lorenzo shot him an arrogant smirk and greeted him. He went up to Mama to shake her hand but she wasn't having it. This was not going to be good. She was just as protective as Papa used to be about me.

"You think you can come into my home and act like this? Who raised you? I knew your father very well, and you are nothing like him. You have no compassion, and unlike him, you have nothing to live for. You are just a prissy little bitch with mommy and daddy issues because you chose this life. You chose to be unloveable, to be a monster. If you thought you could just waltz in here and take my baby with no consequences, you are wrong. No one messes with my famiglia and gets away with it." That's when I saw her reach into her back pocket and pull a gun out that I didn't even know she had. She held it up his face and I bit my lip and reached for her hand.

I watched as he clenched his jaw and fist, almost as if her words hurt him. I whispered in her ear, "Mama you are going to get us all killed. He is a trained killer. I love you Mama, but please, put the gun down, for me."

She slowly put the gun down and her gazed softened as she looked at me, tears threatening to fall. I gave her a hug and thanked her.

I then turned my gaze to him. He stood arrogantly and proceeded toward me with his hand outstretched waiting for me to shake it, but I never did. All I could muster was a shy but angry hello and I think he got the hint.

"Say your goodbyes, we need to leave soon." As he was walking away I panicked. Michael and Monte weren't home. "WAIT. My brother left for work this morning and haven't gotten home yet, I cannot leave until I get to say goodbye to them." I didn't even try to fight back my tears as they fell.

He then smiled that stupid smile and said. "Principessa, you don't need to, they're already here." That's when I saw them dressed in black, looking identical to every guy in the SUVs. Mama gasped and so did Papa. I stood there confused and hurt. They worked for this monster.

"Hi Ellie" They both said and looked at the ground ashamed. At this time, I didn't care. I ran and hugged them both. I love my brothers, and even though they work for this monster, it doesn't change them. They are still the sweetest boys who were always there for me when I cried, laughed, and even when I was anger at them. They were stiff at first but immediately returned the hug, both shedding tears like mine. Tears of sorry, I love you, and I'm going to miss you. Even though they worked for this sick bastard, I doubted that he would let me see them. I released from the hug and proceeded to hug my Mama and Papa goodbye. Hugging Mama was so much harder than I thought it would be. She was a wreck, just as I was. Her once happy face was full of regret. Regret for not knowing about the arrangement, and regret for not being able to stop it. I gave her a look of gratitude and turned to Papa. At this moment, I didn't care that he gave me up. I love my Papa, and I gave him a much needed hug.

I heard a clap from behind my and turned to look at the man who did it. Lorenzo.

"What a beautiful scene, I could cry." He said bored, sarcasm lacing his voice. I was seeing red at this point. "Why don't you go to the car and get the fuck away from me and my family. This is YOUR FAULT. You're the one taking me away from them. Allow me to say goodbye without feeling the need to vomit because of your repulsing attitude." He put his lips in a line and grabbed my arm hard. He began to yank me out of the door and I said one last "I love you" to my Mama and Papa before the door was slammed shut. Destroying me.