Painted Angels- Oh hold.

Burning appetite

(Some smut and nudity below. You've been warned.)

Luke lit the stove and set the kettle down to brew some tea. It only took a few minutes to brew as the kettle whistled. He then grabbed one cup from the cabinet nearby the stove to pour the tea. He handled the cup to Connix who couldn't stop shaking and crying. They were sitting in the dining room. Luke observed the heavily bruised woman and wanted to call the police. Connix wasn't sure about it and convinced the professor not to in the end. The tea mixed with blood from her lower lip gave the drink a weird taste. The plan was working out so far as she saw her two preys very worried with all this charade. 

"Who could have done such a thing?" Luke asked worriedly with both arms crossed against his chest. 

Rey was numb, staring at the floor like an empty soul.

"You need to inform the police," Luke suggested noticing how quiet his daughter was. 

Oh, Rey. If you knew how much I'm enjoying to see you like this, Connix thought. Easy prey. "But I'm scared."

Luke rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Would you then tell us who did this to you?" 

"I..." Connix hesitated but thought it wasn't wise for Rey's stepfather to know at the moment. "I'm not sure if your father should know..." 

Luke heard what she whispered and choose to leave the two woman alone. "Hey, don't worry, I'll be in the kitchen. This old man has a couple of things to do. If you need us to call the cops don't think twice, young lady." 

"Thanks, Mr. Skywalker, "Connix said staging sadness in her tone of voice. These people are so easy to manipulate, she thought. 

Connix touched the bruise on her left cheek and cringed from pain. This made her start crying again, covering her face with both hands. Rey didn't know what to do. It felt awkward having to tend to this woman when neither of the two liked each other. However, she was taught by Luke to be compassionate. Rey even thought about calling Ben, ask if what she was accusing him of was true. It all looked like a terrible nightmare. 

"Are you positively sure Ben did this?" Rey finally asked, glancing at Connix doubtful. 

"Rey, he released his frustration on me! How could I be lying!" Connix confessed in between whimpers. 

Rey quickly rose from the chair and turned around facing the wall. It couldn't be, she thought. She couldn't imagine Ben being like that; never. He has been a kind, generous man. To be a woman beater was something Rey couldn't comprehend at all. Connix smirked knowing the plan was going great. 

Rey swallowed thickly and took a deep breath, "That's not what I said," she articulated turning around. "It's hard for me to see Ben doing things like that..."

Connix rose angrily from her chair. "You only know him for what? Two weeks? A month? You don't know Ben Solo like I do!" 

This hurt Rey a lot. Ben made her feel comfortable, special and even happy. Their date that same afternoon was one the happiest days of her life. The man, whether abusive or not, acted differently towards her and not like Connix described. They accorded to meet on Monday for the last time. The sessions were coming to an end and Ben would be exhibiting the painting. 

"Listen, he could do the same to you or any other woman out there. Ben is an unstable man who released his anger in women."

Rey's lower lip quivered and she tried to withhold her tears, "I.. I don't know what to think about anymore."