Violet Betrays [Completed]

Chapter 6

The world was spinning with the information that I held. It was as if someone had touched my heart and gave me the memory of past lives, of war, of suffering that is endless.

Beatrice was standing at the sink, my father beside her. I kissed my father on the cheek and he smiles.

"Violet, may I have a word?" my father takes me by the forearm, gripping me tightly. Pain shoots up to my shoulder. Oh, God. He knows.

"When I got home from the office yesterday, I found a letter on the counter. It was completely open and the letter was folded out. Did you have anything to do with that?"

I swallow, trying to hide my panic. "No, I didn't. It may have been Beatrice, thinking it was a bill or something."

"I want you to know that that letter contained sensitive information that was only for my eyes. If you had anything to do with this, you would be prosecuted with the worst of criminals. Even if you are my daughter, you know the rules. I have no trouble with punishing rule breakers."

My father's eyes are so deep, so stern. The blue is like a sea, and I can't seem to escape the glance. I shake my head again. "No, father. It wasn't me."

"Okay. Let me have a discussion with Beatrice, and then I'll send her up to help–"

"No!" I reach out my hands, pressing them to my father's shoulders. He is startled by my shout, stumbling backwards. "I mean... I'm sorry, father," I steady him and then take a deep breath. "I need Beatrice right now."

"Excuse me? For what?"

I lean in close to him, putting my hand to the right of my lips "Lady things," I whisper.

My father takes a minute for my reasoning. He nods and mumbles something as he goes up the stairs and into the Platform to work.

I press my hand to Beatrice's shoulder. "I have to talk to you."

I lead her to my room, imagining in my head where the letter is. It's sitting on my dresser, ready to be sent. I drag Beatrice into my room and spot the letter just where I left it.

"Can you keep a secret?" I whisper.

I start at the beginning, telling her of times when she didn't live with us. I tell her about my apprenticing job and how I had to collect taxes from everyone. That's when I tell her about IJ. I describe IJ as a god, primarily. He has never done me any harm. In fact, I don't think he's capable of that kind of thing. I describe our relationship and how far we have gone physically. Beatrice blushes through that whole section.

Then I tell of the letter and the information I have found. I hand her the letter and explain where it needs to go and when. She nods, taking the letter from me.

"Just so you know, that wasn't just one secret. That was about ten separate secrets," Beatrice laughs as she seals the envelope with Area 1's official stationary.

The sound of her laugh makes me jump a little bit. She's laughing hysterically, and she's heaving and hawing over whatever just happened. She collects herself and even I'm giggling at her donkey's bray of a laugh. "So this is why you've been acting weird all these weeks!"

I nod. "I've fallen in love," I whisper.

"I'm aware of that, at least," Beatrice sighs. "I could sense it. Something was changing inside of you."

I can only nod in reply, because even if she knows everything, she knows so little.

The day after, Beatrice is ready before the sun is up. Today is a market day which means that everyone will be moving around in the Square. Beatrice will be able to slip through all of them without any issue.

Beatrice puts on her cape and leaves the house at around nine, waving back to me. There is a sick feeling in my stomach; I'm terrified of what they might due to IJ. I'm terrified of what the government will do if they find out about us.

That's when I realized the only one getting punished in that situation would be IJ. He would pay the ultimate price for loving me.

How can a girl like me have so much power?

After Beatrice leaves, I do random house things. I dust the cabinets and my bookshelves. I wash my petticoat and bodice (they were starting to smell like sweat). The world seems a little more surreal now that I am finally going to be able to hear from IJ.

The day gets even slower by noon, so I decide to paint. I go up to my room and take my paints off of their cool and high place. I grab a canvas and a couple of brushes. As I'm setting the canvas on my easel and my paints on my bureau, I decide to use my fingers instead of the brushes.

I dive deep into my memory. What is a vivid thing that I should paint? Something just as semi-real as how I feel now.

I know it.

My fingers dig into the black paint, and I'm reevaluating my decision to not use a brush. I change my mind again and take a thick brush, dipping it into the color. My dress is older, and there is already a few strokes of white paint upon the old rose color. My dress shimmies at my ankles and the hugging bodice sucks in my extra fat. None of the paint is getting on my sleeves because of the three-quarter cut which I'm grateful for.

The background of the painting is finished within forty-five minutes. I start working on the candlestick's holder next...

She bursts through the door, her breath heavy. I hear her footsteps on the stairs, and then my doorknobs is clicking.

Beatrice's hair is completely out of its wrap and she looks like she has just been hit by a car. My mouth hangs agape as she rushes over to me.

"IJ Carson?"

"What? What are you talking about?" I stand and go over to her as her hands start to shake. Beatrice presses her hands to my shoulders, but the only thing I can see is the letter in her bag. I can see the chicken scratch that is IJ's handwriting on the inside of my letter.

I wrap my arms around her waist and lead her to my bed. Beatrice either must be sick or exhausted, because she falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

I overstep my bounds and take the folded letter out of her basket. I unfold it and see the pattern of IJ's writing. It's almost as if he didn't want me to be able to read it. It's almost completely unintelligible and illegible.

Dear Violet,

I'm sorry that we are unable to see each other at the moment. I miss you terribly. Violet, I know you are concerned for my safety, but there is no reason for you to be. My mother has a plan if I am drafted. We were going to run away...

Thank you for allowing me to meet my aunt. I'll tell you when I see you.

Meet me at the Mulik House at 8.

I love you,

IJ

Life eases when I finish the letter. All of my worries are scattered to the wind.

I prepare to see IJ at the Mulik House.

8v||