Go to Hell (on hold)

SIX

This isn't very long but I feel bad about not updating for three months. 😬

Gabriel came to my room again to prepare me for dinner. With him came a long, olive dress that clung to my body and left little to the imagination. Not to mention its neckline plunged nearly to my naval. He did my hair up in braids and twists so that it formed a crown around my head, and he suck little pins adorned with onyx throughout braids. A matching necklace of gold and onyx dangled around my neck.

"Perfect," Gabriel chirped when he was done with me. But I didn't feel perfect. I felt like a child playing dress up, all awkward and strange. Gabriel smirked at me for a moment, before his gazed fixed on something over my shoulder.

"What the hell is that?" He screeched. "What the fucking hell is that?" He pushed me aside, sending me toppling on my bed, and strode over to my dresser, going straight for the vase of roses. He unfurled his palm and a flame burst to life in his hands. He picked up one rose-- carefully, as if it was diseased-- and held it over his fire until it incinerated.

"No! " I screamed, dashing for him before he could destroy another one of my roses. I yanked on his arm until the roses were out of reach. He glared at me so harshly, I wanted to scamper off and hide. But there was something behind his anger. Fear. He was afraid. But of what, I hadn't a clue.

"Please," I begged. "Please stop."

"Where did you get those?" He hissed. I opened my mouth to explain, but then remembered my promise to Owen.

"I found them on the ground. They had been clipped off the bush." I whispered, not wanting to provoke his wrath any further.

"You fucking stole from us? After all we have given you, you had the audacity to steal? I knew you would be nothing but trouble." I was shaking as he screamed at me, terrified that he would hit me. It's what my mother would have done, and I had only seen this level of rage from her.

"I'm so sorry." He clenched his jaw until his face contorted into a neutral expression. It was somehow so much worse than his angry one.

"Go to dinner. Tell them I'll be down in a little while."

"Yes, of course. Please forgive me, Gabriel."

"We'll see."

I practically sprinted out of my room and down to the dining room. All I could think about was how much stronger the boys were than my mother. How much more their hits would hurt.

I slowed my pace to a walk right before I entered the archway leading into the dining room. Everyone froze and turned their attention to me.

"What did he do to you?" Kota demanded, his expression furious. I took a step back, afraid that he too would see that I had done something wrong.

"Nothing. Gabriel will be a bit late for dinner."

"If he did nothing, then why are you crying?" Dr. Green asked. I touched a hand to my cheeks and sure enough they were covered in traitorous tears.

"I-I'm just emotionally overwhelmed is all. It's nothing." I could tell no one really believed me, but I didn't care. I just wanted dinner to be over. Victor pulled out a chair for me between him and Kota, and I scurried to my seat, keeping my eyes solely on the floor. Victor gently pushed in my chair behind me.

"Sang, why are you not wearing shoes?" He asked, his tone disapproving and concerned all at once.

"Gabriel thought the outfit would look better without them." It was a total lie, and a small part of me hated throwing Gabriel under the bus. But he did command me to leave my room before I could put any on. Thankfully, the boys seemed to accept this lie a bit more, mutter how that was something only he would do.