The Family Origin

Chapter Forty-One: JOSEPH POV

 When we came inside, Maisie was an emotional mess. Her screams and cries caused my aching temple to throb even more. I was proud of Miles for being stern with Maisie like I had told him to. We needed to try and control her before Briar died, or she would never recover from her daughter's death. Looking down at Briar, I could see her skin was growing clammy and her nostrils flared. She slept through all of Maisie's screaming, and I knew she would die soon. I wished we could save her, but we could do nothing. Medicine did not help Victoria, and it would not help Briar.

Miles pinned Maisie to the floor. She still tried to punch and kick him, but he easily overpowered her with his huge size. Her sobbing turned most of her pleas into an incoherent mess of noise. Maisie had not fought us since when I had first brought her to the house. She was so scared and did not understand that we were trying to help. We were stricter back then, and that fixed her attitude.

Miles pulled the knife out of his pocket and flipped out the blade. I prayed he would go through with what I told him to do. Despite all of his troubles, he usually listened to me.

"Maisie, you need to stop crying," he said.

She made a noise that I could not understand. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She shook her head violently as she tried to gasp for breath.

"I don't want to do this," he said as he looked down at Maisie. He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a moment, I thought he would not do it. "I'm not hurting you. This is a lesson you need to learn."

Miles kept his eyes closed when he spoke as if he were trying to convince himself.

"What?" Maisie shrieked. "Miles! Please!"

She jerked her arms in an attempt to free herself. She kicked her legs, but she was unable to get out of his hold. He opened his eyes, and there was no flicker of emotion across his face. He leaned down and pressed the knife against her arm. When she felt the blade touch her skin, her movements became more frantic and her screams grew louder. Briar remained asleep in my arms. She was so close to death.

"Maisie, stay still," Miles said. "I don't want to hurt you, but you need to learn."

He pushed the knife into her arm, and blood bubbled to the surface around the blade. Her face contorted in pain as he sliced her arm. It was bleeding, but it was not deep. She would probably not require any sutures. I told him to cut her three times, and that was what he did. She stopped begging and pleading after the second cut. She bit down on her lip to try and control herself, but she continued to sob.

Once Miles was done, he got off Maisie and stepped back. Maisie rolled onto her side and held her bleeding arm to her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, but she was no longer loudly screaming or crying. Miles wiped the bloody blade on the sleeve of his dark shirt before shoving his knife back into his pocket.

For a minute, he watched her cry. She quieted herself, so I could barely hear her sobs. This plan was already working. She just needed a reminder to control her emotions.

Miles lowered himself onto one knee next to Maisie. He reached forward and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Luckily, she did not flinch from his touch. She was not scared of him. She knew this was for her own good.

"You're covered in blood," he said.

A crimson mark was smeared across the front of Maisie's dress. Beads of blood were rolling down her pale skin. She pulled her arm back and cringed when she looked at the three slashes.

"You need to get clean," he said.

Maisie did not fight Miles as he helped her get off the floor. He slid his arms around her waist and held her close. She cradled her arm to her chest, adding to the mess on the front of her dress. Her head hung low, but when she looked up at me, I could see her face was red and splotchy from all of her crying. Miles pulled her toward the staircase, but she shook her head.

"Wait," she said. Her voice cracked. "I want Briar."

"No, not yet," Miles said. "You're covered in blood."

Maisie opened her mouth to argue, but she seemed not to be able to find her words. She looked down at her arm and bloody dress before nodding. Miles pulled her toward the stairs, and she followed.

No noises came from upstairs. Maisie learned her lesson not to be controlled by her emotions. Miles needed to be stricter and maintain these punishments.

I looked down at my sleeping granddaughter. She looked so peaceful, but I knew she did not have long. With Victoria, I clung to the hope she could be saved, but the doctor was right.

Sometimes, babies die.

–

Maisie behaved for the rest of the night. Not hearing her scream and cry calmed my sense of guilt, and I was able to sleep. When I woke, there was no whiskey to calm the throb in my temple. My muscles ached, and nausea sat at the bottom of my stomach. I forced myself to get out of bed and dragged my feet as I changed my clothes.

Maisie was already in the kitchen making breakfast when I came downstairs. She was no longer upset, but it seemed like she was not sleeping. Dark circles were under her eyes, which stood out even more because of her pale skin. Her arm was wrapped in a white bandage, and I could not see any blood shadowing through. Miles was careful enough not to hurt her when he sliced her arm. She refused to look at me and kept her gaze down as I sat at the table.

The stairs creaked as Miles came into the kitchen. He ran his fingers through his dark hair as he walked straight to Maisie, who was standing at the stove. Placing his hand on her hip, he leaned down and spoke to her softly. I could not understand what he was saying, but Maisie nodded. He kissed the top of her head before walking over to the table. He pulled out the chair and sat across from me, but my attention was focused on Maisie.

She was a completely different girl from last night. This was better for her. She was less distressed and no longer crying.

When Briar dies, her calmness will disappear. Miles and I had to remain strong and stern to handle her emotions. It was what she needed. It was for her benefit.