The Puppet Master

Chapter 8~ Daddy Issues-

"Mommy?" The little girl inquired, peaking up at her mother's face,

"Where's daddy?"

"He's a work sweetheart." The three years olds mother replied, a wide smile on her face.

Grace nodded slowly, a frown in the crease of her brow. Her wide blue eyes looking down at the ground sadly, "Promise this time?" She inquired.

"When have I ever lied to you darling?" Ella replied, stroking back the dark hair on her daughters head, brushing her fingers through it lovingly.

Grace frowned, but said nothing, opting to keep her mouth firmly closed.

The front door chose to swing open at that moment, boots shuffling across the ground. Ella looked up and smiled at the weary man in the doorway, who smiled back tiredly and ran his hand through his dark hair.

"See?" Ella grinned at her daughter, pointing to the man in the doorway, "Daddies home now."

Grace narrowed her wide eyes, looking at the man who was clearly not her father, "That's not my daddy!" She shrieked, jumping off her mother's lap and stomping her foot down angrily.

"Grace!" Her mother gasped, "Don't say that."

"Stop lying mommy!" Grace screamed, tears forming in her frustrated eyes, "That's not my daddy!"

"Grace." Her mother scolded sternly, "Do not talk about your father like that."

The little girl burst into tears on the spot, confusion obvious on her face, "B-but that's not d-daddy..." She whimpered.

Ella sighed, looking up at David worriedly, knowing that things weren't going the way that they had planned, he was silent for a moment, before he rubbed his temples and bent down in front of his new daughter.

"Princess..." He cooed, gently lifting her fragile chin up, forcing her to look up at him, "I know you're confused dear, but I am you daddy. I promise."

Grace looked at the man with wide blue eyes, he was no stranger to her, as he was always around and playing with her or mommy, but she knew that this was not the same man she called her father, and was frustrated and confused that they were telling her otherwise.

She didn't know what else to do, what else to say, they'd only deny the truth, they'd continue to lie. Grace wondered if maybe it was some joke and her real dad would pop out laughing, but it was clear to her that they wouldn't pull that kind of thing on her.

She looked away from the man and up at her mother, a sad desperate look on her face, "M-mommy?" She asked, almost asking for clarification.

Ella sighed and bent down next to the man, taking Grace's hand in her own and looking her in the eyes softly but sternly, "Grace, sweetheart, I think maybe you're not feeling well." She told her daughter, trying to brainwash the concept into her little mind, "This is your daddy."

I didn't talk to Harry for three days. After he had ripped my hopes and dreams and burned my most treasured possession in front of me, I had become completely distraught and he took me home. He didn't try to contact me and for that, I was grateful. I didn't want to talk to him right now. I was angry, beyond angry, I was furious.

He thought he could just control me like that; like I was his little puppet where he pulled the strings and I bent to his will. I wouldn't be a rug; I wouldn't be walked all over like that. I would not be treated the way that he treated me. I was a human being, I had rights.

Fortunately, I survived the rest of the school week without any sign of him and it was finally Friday. Now, I can't say that I didn't have the feeling that his absence would be short-lived. I knew he would be back and I didn't know exactly what to expect when he did. He was always so surprising and thrilling, his actions always confusing and transfixing me.

Sighing, I continued to check out more and more customers at the counter at the gas station. My shift seemed to be dragging by and I found myself zoning out easily. So when the door bagged open and the bells above the door clattered together wildly, it was safe to say that I jumped quite a bit.

My eyes snapped towards the door and I gasped, taking a step back from the counter as I stared at the man in front of me with wide eyes.

"Blake?" I asked, my eyes narrowing as a scowl came over my face, "What are you doing here?"

"Browsing," He replied, a smirk on his face.

My eyes widened as I couldn't suppress the gasp as his words registered in my mind, the very same explanation Harry had given me this time last week, "How did you...?"

"I know many things Grace." He told me, a smirk lacing his pink lips as he cut me off, subtly taking small steps towards the counter, gradually making his way closer to me. Inconspicuously, I made steps backwards, moving away as he moved closer.

"L-like what?" I couldn't help but ask, the question falling off my tongue without my permission.

Blake chuckled, his caramel eyes looking me up and down as he licked his lips, "Well for starters, I know exactly what Harry wants with you, I know exactly what will come of you, and I know all about your little daddy issues."

My mind was whirling with questions, desperately seeking an explanation, some sort of reasoning. The sure look in his eyes told me that he was telling the truth, his confidence too high to be lying in anyway. The way he spoke of Harry and of my future terrified me as his words didn't sound particularly reassuring or promising, especially knowing the things he had already done to me.

"W-what will come of me?" I asked my voice barely above a whisper.

Blake chuckled, walking around the counter to push me against the wall, his hands gripping my thighs, his face much to close for my liking, his torso leaning towards me, "Harry will destroy you." He promised me quietly, in a husky voice, and though he spoke softly, his voice scared me more than if he had yelled, "He'll break you down until you are nothing. He'll make you so that you bend to his every will without question. He'll ensure that he has complete and utter control over your every action."

I shivered as he spoke, my eyes squeezing shut as his lips loomed closer and closer to my ear.

"He'll hold you down to the bed and he'll rip off every piece of cloth on your body." He continued, his hand tugging lightly at the waistband of my jeans.

I suppressed a whimper, recalling those exact actions from the other night when Harry chained me to his bed and ripped my childhood up in front of my eyes and burned it.

"He'll force you to take off every piece of his own clothing, until you're both bare and exposed. He'll climb on top of you..." He left the word hanging, creating the suspense and anxiety, "and he will take the last thing you have."

I whimpered, a shudder running through my body, knowing that he spoke of my virginity. It truly was the last thing that really belonged to me, and soon, if what Blake said was true, it wouldn't even be mine anymore, it would be Harry's.

I opened my eyes for the first time, looking up at him desperately, "He wouldn't do that." I whispered, my voice barely audible, but somehow he heard it.

He chuckled, shaking his head, "Don't be so naïve Grace. I've seen it." He told me, his voice suddenly harsh and cold, "With my own eyes."

His words were spoken with such bitterness, such resentment, that I found myself wondering if Harry had hurt someone that Blake cared about. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Blake spoke the truth, no one was that good of an actor. His words were so pained, so raw, that it seemed impossible for him to not be affected by Harry's actions so directly.

I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know what I was to say, I couldn't offer my apologies as I wasn't sure exactly what I was apologizing for as well as the fact that Blake had gotten me into my own trouble with Harry and despite the despair in his eyes, It was his fault that I had gotten hurt, and I couldn't let myself feel pity for him.

I didn't have to say anything though, because moments after my lips had parted, an all too familiar voice cut me off, and my head snapped to the door at the husky growl.

"Get the hell away from her." Harry snarled fire in his eyes.

And in that moment, I knew, not only was Blake done for, but so was I.