"In the shadows of her past, Ivory's life is a dark and twisted labyrinth. But her greatest reason for living is her daughter-the spark that keeps her from succumbing to the darkness that has consumed her.
When she's forced to team up with Salvador...
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Chapter|5|
"Why are you sitting in the dark?" Ivory's curiosity was evident
He rests the cigar in the ash tray, looking up at the beautiful. The baggy shirt and messy hair could never take away from the perfection that is her. He longed to see her have a smile without convection. Unaware of specific details, he would find himself composed at the abuse she was forced to suffer. How could someone try to break a diamond? Something so perfect and rare. He pulled himself out of his thoughts, releasing her slight shifts in her stance, which signified her discomfort.
"There's enough light, I'm guessing you couldn't sleep." He stated this as he peered at Ivory, awaiting an answer.
She nodded her head and got ready to exit the kitchen before she was stopped. Castillio had thought of an idea to take her on a drive to calm her mind. Maybe the cool night breeze would do the trick in ushering her to sleep.
"How about I take you on a ride?" he offered, rising from his seat.
She stood, contemplating for a moment, before agreeing and heading upstairs to change. She put on a hoody and jeans before walking back downstairs to meet Castillio.
The smell of the night and the chill pierced her skin as he drove her through the city. The vibrant lights distracted her and, for a moment, kept her mind at ease. Ivory found herself wondering why Castillio cared so much. She hadn't experienced such treatment from a man. He was truly a gentleman, though parts of her mind stood reserved from him as trust issues caused her to not fully believe his intentions.
The drive went on for a while before he brought her to the beach. The sounds of the waves crashing were a perfect contrast to the confusion within her mind. The rubbing of the sand against her toes and, yet again, the allure of the lights consumed her train of thought. It was truly beautiful, and the faint view of the overpowered stars shone, nonetheless. The city lights beamed so beautifully but took away the stars ability to beam as beautifully.
Castillio watched as the innocent soul walked, mesmerized by the sights she saw. Ivory had not been able to enjoy or have the luxury of looking at nature's beauty. She found herself contemplating going into the water. The waves looked fairly normal, but there was still danger as there was slight darkness. She settled for letting the water embrace her feet, and for a second, she smiled. She felt a slight feeling of happiness, but soon after it followed with the bitterness of wishing that she could have had her daughter to show and experience this with.
She pulled herself out of her happy state and turned to alert Castillio of her readiness to return to his home. With a slight disappointment at her sudden change in mood, he drove them back home in silence.
When they returned to the mansion, she told him a quick thank you before rushing upstairs to continue her constant cycle of tearing herself down. Eventually she was able to dose off and rest for the days that were ahead of them.
Castillio sat in his office, waiting for Ivory to get ready and join him to discuss business. When she finally arrived, he laid out the contract for their marriage in front of her, and as soon as she signed it, it would be official. She would be Ivory Castillio. Salvador watched as she sat hesitantly but picked up the pen, eventually signing her initials. The next order of business was to begin the plans for Ivory's justice. He had understood her desire to be in control of his capture and her desire to be reunited with her daughter, and as such, he had organized his team.
It would not take Salvador long to give her what she wanted; it was the aftermath he would have to deal with. He would never admit it out loud, but he married her to protect her from her death, as if they had heard she killed him, she would have been hunted mercilessly. They sat in the office, listening to the breakdown of the mission.
Ivory sat, feeling a feeling she could not explain. It was almost like relief, but at the same time, she knew she would never be the same. She just wanted her daughter in her arms and her abuser's death as another set of blood on her arms. She sat, reminiscing again about how different life would have been. She wanted to be a teacher. She loved kids and always knew she wanted to have a big family. It never crossed her mind that she would have a child in such a violent environment, but she guessed that was just her luck.
Since they were in such proximity to her gaining her revenge, what would life be like after this end? Could she go back to pursuing her dreams and maybe experiencing the fun and uniqueness of life? She thought of buying a home for her and her daughter with the money she saved up. A nice home with a beautiful garden so she could plant her roses. She pondered as she touched the necklace around her neck.
Her mind spoke so many words and asked so many questions. She could find herself becoming overwhelmed, and Salvador could sense this. Rising from her seat, she excused herself and went to the beautiful balcony. She needed a moment to breathe away from the guilt and wonders of tomorrow. She often wished there was a way to shut her mind off and just live. She would, however, return to the state of the world surrounding her. Last night, for a moment, it wasn't about anything but the beauty of lights, waves, stars, sand, and the night breeze. Nature and its rawness forced her to just be Ivory instead of Ivory the mother or Ivory the victim. These parts of her were very important to carry out the goals she had for life, but she sometimes wished that she could just be herself without all the extra circumstances.
Salvador met her on the balcony, watching her before walking closer to see if she was okay.
"What is it that you long for, Ivory, beyond the need for vengeance and the expectations of others?" Salvador questioned interested in her reply.
She felt seen and cared for in the moment. The problem, though, was that she could not bring herself to answer.
