Demon's Path

Chapter 3 Drunken Man

When I woke up, I was in a white room with black designs. The bedding was black and so were the soft pillows. I stayed laying down, though my back ached. I knew I wasn’t in my manor, because Father never allowed these colors inside. The door creaked open, and a servant opened the door.

“Ah, you’re awake, I shall alert my master. Is there anything you would like, Lady Zera?”

I hesitated, unable to speak. I managed to shake my head, he nodded and left me in the room alone again. I looked at my hand, there it was, the paper the cat had given me. “This is it...what is it?” I was about to open the paper, but Marquis Richardson walked in and I hid the paper before he could see.

“Hello. It's good to see you are awake. Andrew found you, but he had to leave. Your father left, something I couldn’t comprehend, if you’d like we could get him to come pick y-”

“No!” I yelled, jumping up, then looked down as I stumbled, trying to keep my balance. I saw how torn and revealing my dress had become. Hunter became alarmed at the sight and he looked away.

“I wanted you to wake so you could pick a dress to replace your... current... wardrobe,” he seemed to tense quite a bit and blushed slightly.

“Th-thank you...,” I said as I attempted to make my way to the sheets so they could act as a cover.

“I’ll send someone to help you with the dress and a new corset,” he said, then left.

I sighed, burying my face in the bed. “My god that was embarrassing!” I looked at my dress again, I will surely be scolded by Father for this, probably even beaten slightly more. “Was this how I was when I fell, or did the cat do this? Was it really a demon?”

I sat there lost in my thoughts, they drifted to the demon cat, to when I fell, and all that pain I felt. A maid came in, interrupting my thoughts.

“Lady Zera? Master sent me to come help you get clothed properly, I have brought some dresses you could choose from,” she had a smile on her face and she had so many dresses the stack reached her shoulders, it was more than Father had ever given me.

My eyes widened slightly, “Th-those are the dresses?” I asked, I was in complete shock.

“Yes, Lady Zera, is there a problem?” She frowned, tilting her head slightly.

“N-no, nothing at all, it’s just... that is... a lot of dresses...,” I managed to speak without freezing, and she laughed lightly.

“Not in the least, I’ve seen more dresses when the master’s mother was alive.” She seemed to be lost in the memory, but then she shook her head. “Now, let’s get you changed shall we?” She smiled brightly.

I nodded, she laid out all the dresses and I was surprised at how beautiful they all were. The dress I loved the most was long, midnight blue with black ribbons around the waist and the bottom of the dress, the sleeves were edged with white and passed my wrists a bit. It came with a choker that was blue with white frills and the maid smiled, her smile confused me a bit, was she putting on a show?

“I like this one,” I said, and she put the rest aside.

“This is a lovely one alright, I’m sure it’ll fit you perfectly!” She smiled and got me dressed, then escorted me to the lobby where the Marquis Richardson awaited.

His eyes seemed to widen a touch, while his butler stayed by his side looking at him.

“Lady Zera, you look lovely," he breathed, making me blush. The compliment made everything melt away.

“Thank you, Marquis," I curtsied and he held my arm.

“Please, just call me Hunter. I’ll have Vincent escort you home Lady Zera,” he smiled and kissed the back of my hand. I felt my cheeks get hot.

“Thank you Mar-Hunter...,” I shyly smiled and was escorted home. Once I entered I saw the worst thing possible.

My father was drunk. He looked at me, his eyes cold and cruel, making even hell seem more pleasant.

“You damned brat! When I saw you all torn up I thought I was finally free of you! Then they examined you and told me you only had cuts, scrapes, and a broken arm! I thought I would cry! I was going to be free! But you, you turned out to be alive!” He grabbed my throat, then Anthony and Jenaveve walked in and saw what was happening.

“Master! Stop she’s your daughter!” Jenaveve cried out as she ran to my aid.

“This witch isn’t my daughter! She’s a murderer! She murdered my wife the night she was born!” Father cried and I noticed his whip. He only used it on the horses, to spook them.

“N-no!” I choked, but it was too late, he threw me at the wall and took out his whip. He struck out at Jenaveve and Anthony, they each received three lashes. I was horrified by the scene before me. Anthony weakly helped up Jenaveve, who had passed out on the second whip, and Father turned to me. My eyes widened, he dragged me up the stairs, my back and broken arm hitting the stairs. I cried out in pain.

“F-Father please!” By that time I was sobbing, broken, possibly even disgraced by my father. I was afraid of what he would do to me, in his drunken state.

“Shut up, you whining brat!” He threw me onto his bed and I froze, my thoughts already going to the worst. “You killed your mother, how can a murderer like you resemble an angel like her?” He slapped me across the face, and I thought my jaw had cracked. Aviana sneaked into the room, she curled up around his leg and tried to travel higher. Father grabbed her with two hands dragged her outside, slamming the door shut. He grabbed the beautiful dress Hunter had given me and tore it off, along with my corset. I was horrified at my father’ actions, my heart was racing, all this was happening too fast I was terrified that my father had the mind to do this. I suppose I should have suspected this, after all he did beat me for everything.

“F-Father?” I silently cried, “Wh-what are you going to do to me?” Although I knew his intentions, I still asked. He slapped me and I stayed on the bed, my face buried in the covers, completely still. I was too afraid to move, too afraid of what was going to happen. I heard him reach for something and then I felt a stinging fire on my back, I cried out in pain. The night went on with the humility and the agony of my father’s actions, and I cried throughout the night.