Behind Mansion Walls

2: A Lie Laid After Oblivion

Chapter Two: A Lie Laid After Oblivion

By morning, Hermione caked makeup on her painfully fresh bruises to cover her scars. She was a ghost in the flesh. Hiding in her skin, running from her lies and fears. She didn't want to keep lying but it wasn't like she had a choice. She was lucky she even made it out alive last night. She knocked softly on her daughter's closed door. From inside she heard her daughter murmuring to herself. 'It's just another day for another lie' that thought broke Hermione's heart. Veronica didn't deserve the life they'd been living. The constant living in fear, hiding their feelings to protect their souls from his cold soul. No amount of makeup would unscar the pain they've been through or toture either.

She gently pushed the door away, entering the room that carried a heavy lie. There she found Veronica, powdering her nose, cheek bones and any other visible black-blue hate mark left Hiram Lodge. Veronica was too busy focusing on hiding to notice that her bedroom door flew open. Tear stained cheeks she rocked from the other night planted a hourly reminder. And the thought it left her; she was indeed trapped under his bars and laws. Maybe she shouldn't of stood up to the devil himself. But she can't take his over-obeying laws any longer. She lived with lies to cover up the truth. What would they say when they see the bruising? She didn't have the energy to scream or weep anymore. Maybe that she was weak and brave-less.

At this point she was aware the fact that a lie laid after oblivion and still no crawling away, not yet. Maybe another day, another world or even a different time period. "Ready to go?" Her mother's weak voice broke through, lifting her attention from her mirror and over to her mother's icecapped tearful eyes.

She shrugged her shoulders lowly behind her makeup desk with the mirror reflection unveil her true pain. "Not... really... but I'm going anyway..." Then the small voice in her head wanted to say. No of course not. I have to face my friends and lie again. I haven't lied about the abuse since a week before Daddy's arrest in South Dakota, she thought.

Softly a hand squeezed her shoulder, "We'll get through this, Mjia." Hermione tried to encourage, nor did she believe what she just said. Again more lies to keep the reality hidden from themselves.

Xxxxxxx

Young Veronica Lodge looked up at the three-o'clock on the ancient looking school clock with despair. She faced the door as she entered her lied-filled mansion. And when she walked in, she met her father's oddly warm eyes. His eyes were usually cold and murderous never warm or almost life-like.

Then it dawned on her. They must have guests. Hiram stood in front with a sickly warm smile. Even his smile made her skin crawl and heart fall from her chest. "Welcome home, Mjia." Already Veronica felt the clock spinning against time. She shook the oddness off her body and forced a soft smile on her lips to appear. "A few of your friends of here. There waiting in the foyer." And there was the catch. She knew why her father was being awfully warm.

She cleared her throat quickly," Okay daddy. I'll be on the foyer." And then she was far from her as she possible could get. She didn't want to be in his cold eyes again. Though she knew once they leave. More lies and the bruising night hits a dawn.

Hermione flinched at her husband's fake smile. She knew as soon as they left, the abuse would
start again. It wasn't like it had stopped.
No Hiram just got burnt out and now has
more energy in his ice-brown eyes.

Veronica's friend gasp when she saw her cheek." Oh my god! Vee, what happened?" The Cooper woman gasped, eyes blown wide.

"Oh just fell down the stairs. I'm just clumsy that's all." She lies through her nearly chattering teeth.

Though the look in the raven boy's eyes gave her chills. Jughead observed Veronica's bruises and bites at his tongue. He wasn't fooled. He knew there was much more than she was telling them.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Eight days later it was almost impossible for Hermione to get out of bed. Last night her husband bashed his fist into her abdomen.  Smithers almost called an ambulance but she hushed him. "You can't." He only sighed knowing that he couldn't say anything as much as he wanted to.

Hermione strolled into Pop's for a morning cup. Her heels ached at her soles. Her feet were in tremendous amount of pain as she walked. Pop Tate glanced at her with a worried expression. She just shrugged it off as she asked him to pour her a cup of coffee. He was reluctant at first, sighing he walked to the back and returned with a pot.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Mrs. Lodge?" At first she wanted to tell them what was going on. But she knew it would make matters worse for both her and Veronica.

She bit her lip and suppressed a heavy sigh." Yes I'm okay, Pop." He only smiled but she could tell he didn't believe her one bit.

She sat at there tapping her nails against the cup, letting the make a clinging sound before she raised the beverage to her slightly quivering lips. She felt alone all the time. But while her husband was locked away. She was free and uplifted. She also wished that she still had that feeling.