Killer Love

Chapter 2 "The Arrival"

Later that evening at dinner time it was all as my father always expects, all the family members of the household at dinner. Emily barely spoke when she sat on the right side of the table all the way down so she wouldn’t be near father, next to her was Dante they were having a whispering fight; one the thought nobody could hear but we could at least figure out the were fighting. Gabriel brought his fiancée Adriane Grace, she was a beautiful petite girl, gorgeous pale skin, red headed and her lips were perfectly heart shaped. I wonder when will the wedding day be, although sometimes I feel Gabriel is marrying her for her money and she is marrying him for the very same reason, little those she knows that Gabriel is an “Intruder” like my sister Emily would say.  My father cleared his throat and mother stood up “I want you all to be on your best behavior tomorrow, like your father said earlier we need to keep our respectful image. I beg of you not to bother our guest Francis” mother said that with two particular reason Emily on the first hand and on the other one Rachel. Rachel, my cousin, has a really indecent habit as I would say to be seen in a compromising situation to put it delicately with every male guest that has pass through this house. I wouldn’t blame her though; she’s a beautiful red head, perky breast, nice clean cutis although is all worn off if you know what I mean. Rachel giggled “My dear, sweet uncles at what hour exactly will this young man arrived to our estate? Certainly you may have an hour by now so we can all be ready to receive him” she said in a playful, flirtatious tone.  My uncle scowled her for a minute, took a sip of his wine “He will be arriving early in the morning at nine sharp. You will all be receiving him with a respectful manner; I will not tolerate disrespect at my house. Do you hear me Rachel?” he said with a sharp tone, Rachel looked at him stunned, her dark brown eyes where nailed in to my father. She hits abruptly the table making all the table move pushed the chair to the floor with her back and screamed “I will not tolerate this uncle; you will not put me down like this.” She said as she fixed her hair off of her face and sat down calmly “Besides I was just asking politely to be friendly for the poor guy who will come to a house full of strangers” she gave a hypocritical smile and looked and continue eating. I could see my father was not pleased by Rachel’s action but he decide it to let it go. He then looked at Emily “Emily this goes for you as well and about your scene this morning I hope it won’t happen again because if so there will consequences” Emily looked up but not with a defiant look as Rachel but with a scared look, I didn’t understand why father meant by “consequences” but it has to be something bad because everybody at the table stiffened specially Emily. I tried to ease the tension “Father what will be your plans for tomorrow for the arrival of our cousin Francis” he smiled at me warmly but suddenly his expression changed “Coral what happened to your face… to your skin he looked at my neck, face and arms that where the only parts of my body exposed. “No...Nothing father just a little rash that’s all” I said nervously as I took a gulp of my water, my mother looked up at me with her dark eyes that got even darker by her seriousness. “Margaret” my father interrupted her scowling “Is something wrong?” he said with a curious face looking up at me and then at mother. “No darling, everything’s alright” she said warmly and then got back to her soup. The rest of the dinner remained quiet, the tension could be felt but nobody spoke.

Later that evening as we all retreated to our separate ways; I was in the stair way as I heard screams coming from Emily and Dante’s room. I took every step very gently for them not hear me, since this was an old house the floors would squeak with every step you take. “I will not tolerate this Dante, I can’t remain quite anymore about this… after all she’s” She didn’t finish her sentence, I hear nothing but silence as I stand in front of the door with my right ear pressed against the door. I hear someone coming so I decide it to head to my room, as I walk through the hallway I bumped in to Gabriel and Adriane they were both surprised to see me. I walked past them awkwardly “Psst” my cousin Gabriel looked at me and put his index finger on his mouth “shhhh” I looked at him bitterly and entered my room. I finally took that horrendous dress off and stood in front of the mirror. My thighs looked swollen, so did my stomach and breast. The mammary papilla was burst out because I was so swollen, I touched them gently and it burned. “Where is Agatha with that damn ointment” I whispered to myself as heard a light knocking. “Miss Coral is me, Agatha” I rushed to the door without noticing I was exposed, Agatha looked at me shocked and covered her mouth. I closed the door hastily, I was so embarrassed. I rushed to the mirror and starting rubbing the cold cream on my chest, stomach, thighs and arms. I left my face for last; I lay on the bed for a long time starring at the sealing. I thought about all that has happened today since 5:30 in the morning. How Emily cracked and started humiliating me for no reason, how she brought things from the past that she knows very well is a delicate subject. I sighed and closed my eyes and fell asleep. That night I had a dream that someone was covering my mouth and I could feel his heavy breathing all over my neck and chest. I felt a strong grasp on my upper thigh and tears came rolling; it was a repressed memory, a memory I did not wanted to repeat again. I woke up at seven in the morning sharp and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I headed to the bathroom and got the bath tub running with cold water, I looked at myself in the mirror and my body wasn’t that swollen anymore.  I walked to the bathroom and touched the cold water with my big toe it was really cold but I knew if I wanted to get rid of this horrible rash then I had to bathe in cold water.  I was standing in the tub preparing myself for the cold water to touch all my body; I sat quickly because if I think too much I won’t do it.  I shivered and let out a weird squeaky scream.  I could see the water getting dirty because of the ointment in my skin; I closed my eyes and laid there for a few minutes. I hear a light knock, since I was in the bathroom I asked who was at the door “Agatha miss” I said it was alright for her to come in but to remain near the door because I was taking a bath. “Yes?” I said as she stood in silence. “Miss I was worried about you “I straighten up in the tub “Because of what you saw? Agatha may I remind you not to tell anyone about this” I said with a calm tone. “Yes Miss, I know but I was afraid you where having another episode because of what happened three years ago” she said I could feel her voice tremble, never have I ever heard Agatha with a concern tone on her voice, especially when it comes to me. “Oh Agatha” I giggled “I’m 19 now don’t worry that’s on the past and I’m ok” she nodded and excused herself to do her duties. I got out of the tub as soon as she left, wrapped a towel around my torso and locked my bedroom door. I looked at my closed and had no other choice but to wear the gray dress my mother have given me again, it was the only available thing that would cover my skin. I took a deep breath and got dress and remembered that my father’s nephew will be arriving soon. What would he think of me with this dress? With this rash splattered all over my body? I ran to the mirror and took a look at myself; “Oh you’re pitiful Carol, you look like a giant bag of trash with this dress” I ran to my closet and got a cute peach sleeveless dress and my cute little spring coat. It covered most of my chest and arms. Then I got out my pantyhose that were my skin color so it would cover lightly my rash on the leg. Since the dress covered down to my knee the pantyhose job was to cover what was left of it. I got my white moccasins on and sat in front of the mirror to get a little of makeup on to cover a little bit of my face. When I was done I looked at my clock and it was 8:30 in the morning, I ran out of my room and went downstairs to see if they were already having breakfast.

For my surprise they were getting started, I grabbed a chair next to my father and I noticed neither was Rachel or Dante in the table. My father read my mind a looked up my sister Emily “Where is your husband? He knows the rule” Emily looked up at father with a scared face “I don’t know, when I woke up this morning he wasn’t next to me” she looked down at her plate and continued eating. “My father stiffened and stood up “Dante and Rachel!” he screamed and made my ears tremble. Rachel came running and right behind her came Dante “What’s with all the screaming” she said as she stood in front of the table. My father rose from his chair with a furious look “Where were you Rachel?” Rachel looked at him and calmly responds “I was getting dressed of course she said as she walked to her chair. “And you?” my father fixed his gaze towards Dante who was already seated next to Emily. He looked up still chewing the bite he took from his toast “I was to getting dressed” he said as he grabbed another bite. “Well that’s strange” my father said rubbing his chin with his hand “I asked Emily and she said when she woke up you were not in the bed” my father looked at Emily and then at Dante “Well” Dante said as he thought of an excuse, for me it was pretty obvious he was looking for one but father didn’t notice.”I was at the balcony of our room, you see, I got up early and couldn’t go back to sleep again so I decided to get an early start and took a bath got dress and read a little in the balcony and I guess I lost track of time” as Dante finished my dad sat on his chair calmly he didn’t answer I guess he wasn’t in the mood of an argument today.  Although Dante’s excuse didn’t make sense since he said he was getting dressed but then said he got an early start and got caught up reading. I find this rather strange but I didn’t intended to get in to an argument today since father was avoiding it to. I hardly even notice Gabriel was sitting at the table with his fiancée; they were both sitting rather stiff on their chairs. Gabriel ached with every movement he made. Adriane barely moved, she was hardly even eating just staring blankly at the plate.  What could have happened? The seemed so cheerful after their little alone time last night. I noticed Adriane had a bruised on her rosy cheek and on her hand, Gabriel had on his neck. I looked up at mother and she was starring at them with such fury, what did I miss?  We heard a knock on the door father rose quickly and walked towards the door with mother on his side, they both motion us to stand up and follow them.

We were all gathered on the little receiving room in front of the stair as Father opened the door. There he stood our father’s nephew Francis Millington… He walked inside and stunned me in a brief second. He beautiful pales skin, his silky brown hair and those stunning hazel eyes. Like they say in movies “You had me at hello” he walked greeted my father and mother with a hand shake and did the same with Rachel, Emily, Adriane, Gabriel and Dante  he then walked towards me with a warm smile. He extended his arm for a handshake and I extended my shaking arm which he gave a kiss to it. “Please to meet you” he said as he waited for me to say my name “Coral” I said nervously, “Coral” he repeated with a warm smile and he straightens up. My father cleared his throat and motioned him to the library, there he said something in private to my mother and she left the library and they were both left alone. Mother walked upstairs gently without saying a word. Then Rachel turned me facing her aggressively grabbing me by the shoulders “What was that all about?” she said with stinging eyes. “What are you talking about?” as I said this I saw Gabriel and Adriane open the door and step outside leaving it close as the left.  “You know what” Emily intervenes as she walked towards me. “You where all nervous when that boy came” she smiled evilly.  “Oh Coral when will you learn?” said Dante from behind. I was being attack by the member of my family and I didn’t quite understand why. Dante moved closer and grabbed me abruptly by the arm “You where acting like a little whore with that guy” he said with fury in his eyes. Emily stepped between us as our father came with Francis behind him. My father looked please as he walked side by side with Francis and laughing with him and I could see it wasn’t a polite laugh but a real laugh. As I smiled at my view of father’s happiness I felt someone near my ear.  “This isn’t over, YOU HEAR ME?” It was Dante you walked with Emily by his side outside to join Gabriel and Adrian and Rachel headed towards father and Francis. As always looking for something to bite. I felt something strange with Dante’s tone, why was he so concerned about the way I was treating Francis or my reaction? I sighed deeply “I have a feeling he will be a problem” I said to myself as I rubbed my forehead with my left hand.