A Lurid Eternity

Chapter 3

A week had soon passed since the wedding. Each morning, just as the sun rose, Aleiya would be left alone in Sullivan's room to sleep alone as he left to do his work. Whatever that was. Aleiya had no idea what he did, or what was so important that he spent most of his time working behind a large steel door with a keypad.

She never asked what he did of course, not that she could. Whatever words she managed to utter would either die before it left her throat or be jumbled into nonsensical gibberish that no one would be able to understand. However, that was her own burden to bear and she didn't see the point in letting her husband know.

She didn't want his ridicule.

He seemed to be unbothered by her silence, perhaps preferring it. He didn't talk to her often, but when he did it was to demand some simple edicts. There was never a question and never did a polite tone pass through his snarled lips when he would see it would be directed at her. It was never anything difficult, she noticed, it was always trivial needs mixed with lackluster praise. A thank you forced through his teeth out of habit as if all the manners he ever possessed were earned by fire and branding than courtesy taught by a firm but gentle hand.

Aleiya could not help but wonder what he thought of her. What sort of curses did he have running through his head for her? How long was he planning on keeping her alive? How would he get rid of her once he had all that he needed? What could she do to keep surviving?

She didn't really have any leverage. She had nothing to give him. Everything that she had gained through her inheritance now belonged to him. That's how that works right?

She felt her face flush red as she reminded herself of another way to please her husband. It was technically an option, but she didn't like the idea of being so intimate with anyone, let alone one as unapproachable as Sullivan Drake. Aleiya was already uncomfortable in her own skin dressed from head to toe, but to be naked in front of another person. Her stomach twisted into knots at the very possible idea. If Sullivan ever decided to change his mind about "coddling a little brat", there wasn't anything Aleiya could do to stop him.

She felt comfort knowing, however, that an entire week had passed and they had not slept in the same bed once. She just found it curious that she had never seen him sleep at all. She had first thought that he was resting then waking whilst she was still adrift in her dreams. It didn't help that she was a terribly heavy sleeper, but after staying up all morning once, she saw that he had never come to bed. She wondered why that was, but far be it from Aleiya to complain.

She lied under those thick and heavy covers, awake for what felt like hours now, trying to find the energy to get out of bed. It was difficult to do most nights. There wasn't much for her to do within these walls of metal and concrete. She could read, or knit, or listen to the radio, but there wasn't much else.

Aleiya soon heard the quiet opening of a door then the pitter patter of feet on the floor before the long and chunky curtains on the windows were drawn back. An overly cheery Elith sang out. "Rise and shine, sire!"

Aleiya pulled the covers over her head to hide from her progeny, not quite in the mood to be up and about just yet. There really was no point. She didn't want Elith to try and find things for her to do either, such as practice her violin or take a walk. Then Elith, in one fell swoop, ripped the blankets from Aleiya, flinging them through the air as if they were tissues in the breeze. Aleiya's progeny beckoned her out of bed, and forced her to start her night as Elith did every night.

Elith seemed to bounce around the room, her blonde almost pinkish hair flowing behind her like a small cape as she opened the wardrobe and rifled through Aleiya's many clothes. "What would you like to wear today, sire? It's a lovely night out, the stars twinkling like diamonds in the sky, it is quite a marvel to see, really. I figured we could have a lovely time together in the garden, what do you say?" Elith smiled warmly, but her exuberance left no room for Aleiya to object.