The Great Sacrifice

Chapter Sixteen

"I am so proud of you" my dad said, as he drove me to the hotel. For some reason I was dregding going back to the lonely room. Sighing, I stared out the car, "Laklynn" my dad called. I turned an faced him, he sighed, "Where are you?" "Oh, I don't know". He was qutie, "I could take you home with me". For some reason thought of home did not image in my head as it always had, an image of Daphne and Damian on the floor playing board games did. Loud banging of pots and pans in a cluttered but organized kitchen, cross sweaty hands, and continuous laughter did.

I wrapped a hand over my shoulder and shook my head, "No". I would settle for the hotel and slip into the cool sheets alone as I had been for almost a week now. I had did just that laying in bed, I starred at the high ceiling and tried to sleep, but it avoided me like a phantom. The sharp knock on the door startled me and I sat up at once. Grabbing my rob to cover in me in my silk cotton night gown that went to my mid thigh, I went to the door and pulled it open not bothering to see who it was.
I wrapped a hand over my shoulder and shook my head, "No". I would settle for the hotel and slip into the cool sheets alone as I had been for almost a week now. I had did
just that laying in bed, I starred at the high ceiling and tried to sleep, but it avoided me like a phantom. The sharp knock on the door startled me and I sat up at once.
Grabbing my rob to cover in me in my silk cotton night gown that went to my midthigh, I went to the door and pulled it open not bothering to see who it was.
I should of been less anxious I realized,standing on the other side of the door was a
relaxed looking Damian, his eyes dark with lust and his mouth set in a hard line.
"Damian" I breathed his name. "I didn't know you'd be waiting for me" he said in a husky voice coming into the room uninvited. I followed inhaling his rich scent, the
door closing on its own. "I was not waiting for you"but my mind had been. He grinned wickedly going to the bar in the room and pouring himself a hard drink i watched as
he swallowed it and placed the cup down as if it didn't faze him. "Not going to ask why I'm here?" he asked. I folded my arms over my chest, "It's your room". He laughed dryly, "So it is. So it is" He repeated it under his breath and took another much longer drink from the glass.
I simply watched until he was done.
When he finally put the booze back, he sat in the lounge chair, "Come talk to me, Peach" his endearment for me, made my ears hum. I came and sat on the couch beside it curling up hiding my legs, wrapping the robe over covering me fully. He eyed me for
a while than spoke, "My mother plans to take Daphne back with her". I nodded, sadly.
Daphne would be heartbroken but she expected it I knew. "Not going to defend your sister in arms?" he asked. I laughed, "We do fight a simialr battle, but Daphne fight her
own fights". She did, I had watched her arm bar her father into letting her stay and I had no doubt that she could if she tuly tried could stay once again. "I can't rasied a daughter properly on my own" he said, tired. Looking up in his big eyes I smiled, they were dark, but missed the child like wonder he used to look at me with. "The world can't be full of perfect woman" I admitted. He raised an eyebrow, "What is that supposed to mean?" "It means not everyone is supposed to be prim and proper" I
clarified. He chuckled dryly, "I suppose that maybe true, but she is much to old to only have a man to turn to". "Says who? You truly underestimate what you mean to your daughter" I said. "Do I? I suppose you would know better than me" he was quiet for a while than he spoke softly. "She reminds me of her mother. Something I hate". "Is that
the real reason you want her gone?" i asked equally as soft. He broaded for a moment than nodded, "I suppose so. Not knowing if I can control her, it makes me uncomfortable". "Why must you control her, she is your child. 'Tratta un bambino
come se fosse già la persona che è in grado di diventare'". His eyes looked up to met mine and the room tensed, "I forgot you spoke. So beautifully, it's as if I can't find a single ugly thing about you". "My pride" I admitted. "Even than has it's appeal to be
beautiful" he mummbled. I looked away, "Lust has blinded you, Damian". "I suppose" his warm breath blew against my ear turrning my head I met his fierce eye and our
noses touched, I gasped. "You don't have to scared, Peach, I'll only do things I've already done you before". Grabbing my face he kissed me deeply, and I clung to him.
He lied, he did things me to a that inflicted twice the pleasure they did the first time and without the pain.
I woke to his big arms pulling my small frame to him. The sun was peaking into the currtains and I was lost for words, at the picture we must of painted. Snuggling into him, I sighed, but just then my alarm blared into the room. The big man stirred,
and tightened his grip on me. "Why do you rise with the sun" he muttered in his sleepy dusted voice. I bit my lip, and pulled away, "Everyone should try it, it's good for brain develpoment" I lied, Good sleeping was good for brain development, by time Damian had been done with me it did me more harm than good to be up this early, but I still had to get to practice.
"Stay wit-" his words were cut hort by his own phone ringing, getting out of the bed he went and retrieved it. I got out of bed and showered. He joined me kissing all over mywarm skin making the water feel like ice on my skin. Pushing me against the wall of
the shower he devoured me like I was breakfast.
After we got out we dressed slowly and destractly, "I have to get to the hospital", "I am off to the theater" I informed. He nodded looking me over, "Becarful". I smiled.
I was just finsihed with my set when a deliveary man came in carring two dozen red
roses, I was slightly surprised and looked over at the giggling girls and wondered who
these where for today, one of the girls had recently gotten a stakler and was recieving
flowers at her apartment none stop had he really become so bold I wondered? Mr.
Francesca seethed. "I swear no one respect the arts these day! Who are those for?!" he
shouted. The delivery guys paused and looked in the flowers, "Well, it's for a
um..Lakelynn Carrel" My head perked up and eyes widen. I looked at Mr. Francessca
who looked at me. Getting to my feet I took one from him, "Oh thank you" I pulled out
the card, and read it, 'Lakelynn' all the excitment had died, I knew these where not
from my dad and to have no one sign them made me uncomftable.
"Take them to the back and lets get back to woork" I did and we did, but I was nervous
now. I hid it well while I danced and changed, but I was hestitant to leave. I had just
exited the dressing room when, I heard a upbeat voice call my name turning I almost
missed a full speed ahead, Daphne, I laughed as she landed into me and hugged her
tightly. Damian followed close behind, golding a single red rose and my cheeks
colored. Of course it had been him, "Daddy and I am sorry for missing your big award"
she said as Damian handed over the flower. "Well of course" I smiled, taking the
flower, I didn't meet his eyes instead I took Daphne's hand and let her lead the way.
She talked for a bit and then praised me, for how gorgeous I looked in my dress and
recieving my award.
"You have to tell us next time so we can come" she said as we sat in the back seat. "Yes,
next time" I promised. "Where are we going?" I asked, Damian. "Dinner" he said. I
looked at my watch and sighed it was, already five and I hated to eat after six, doing so
quick math, by time the food was served it would be well into six by then.
We ordered and I requeste my food to comeout when it was done, the restraunt was
spectacular and we had been sitting on high chairs that made you feel close to the
glass ceiling tha must be cleared hourly so you could feel as if the snow would land on
you.
"How is school going?" I asked. "Good, no one is picking on me anymore" she
said pointedly. "WHo was picking on you?" Damian growled making both of us jump.
"Just stupid boys" Daphne sighed. I tried to wave him off, but Damian became like a
blood hound. "I will go to the school first thing in the morning and talk to the
principal" he snorted, "Zero bullying policy my ass". I strock her hair gently, "What areyou intrested in lately" I asked. "I'm fascinated by marine animals" she said excited.
"Really?" I asked, surprised. "Well, sort of. I'm really interested in the extinction of
them. Do you know that fifteen that we know of that has gone extinct forever to never
be reproduced! If we lose any more ice in the arctic there goes polar bears next. I want
to say it was climate change, but daddy said that is conspiracy thinking" she shrugged.
Just then my food was delivered and I thanked the waiter, "That's interesting" I said.
"Yes, well, Dad and Nana are going to the aquarium before I return to Italy '' she said
forcefully. I looked at Damian whose face hardened. "That's going to be exciting"
scooping up the lettuce and herbs with my fork. She only shrugged.
After dinner we went ice skatting and to no surprised Daphne was fantastic,
Damian stood on the side line and we just kept going to bother him. "Can I have a sip
of my hot choclate?"she asked. Damain pressed the cup close to her lips and made
sure not to spill on her, "You to?" he asked. I shook my head, "No thank you" I looked
at my watch, "How about one more loop around?" she nodded and we skated off, we
went around at least six more times, and then I helped her take off her skates. "Will
you come tomorrow?" "Oh, I don't know sounds more like a family outing" I sad. She
shook her head, "Your family to me". I looked up and met her soft wet eyes and sighed,
"I can see if I can get the day off this late". She smiled wildly up at her dad and as if he
had a care at all.
Mr. Francesca was hesitant, but gave in to my request. At noon we went to the
Aquarim, Greta, Damian's mother was a cold brash woman, who not in least seemed
faze by Daphne excitement. We tried to enjoy the day regardless, though Greta made it
hard, by making sligh comments in itailin not relaizing I knew exactly what she was
saying. Damian kept cutting his eyes at me, but I didn't let on that it was bothering
me. Daphne kept holding my hand the whole day not letting go even to touch the
slimmy fish, by the end I was completely grossed out.
"Did you have a good day?" I asked.
Daphne as we finally left at three we had gone threw at least 3 times before she
was ready go, reading every information card at least twice.
"Does the ballerina know art?" Greta asked her son loudly in Italian. "Oh, lets got to
the Museam that Lakelynn got her award at!" Daphne was defending me in a round
about way I knew and the grin on Damian's face let me know he was enjoying his
daughter straightening her grandma out respectfully."Whose to say this place will have one respectful artist" she mooped, but came
along. Her enjoyment for the art was obvious and she could not hide her own
exctiment at certain peices handing in the gallery. "Darling, Lakelynn is that you" it
was Paul Littleman one of the art directors here. "Paul" I said, as he leaned in kissing
my cheeek. He looked around wide eye'd at my onterouge, "I was told you no longer
was seeing, Mr. Abello. How those tabloid lie" he cchuckled, I laughed my best fake
laugh. "Yes, this is Damian's daughter, Daphne and his mother Greta" I introduced
polily. "Yes, hello" he gave a little wave. "What a nice surprise" he said. "Would you
guys like to see next season collection?" he asked. "Next season?" Greta spoke. "Oh
yes, we even have a few peices from Louie Secuel new line" Paul smiled. "Louie" Greta
repeated, like the lame was to special for her mortal lip. "Why don't you follow me,
Lakelynn you will have to tell me who did your dress for the party the other night. So
spectacular" we made small talk as he let us into the back. Greta got an eye full and
when she was done her tune was only slgihtly different. "I was hoping maybe, you
would like to do a photo shoot it's a daughter and me look. "I am hosting"Paul said. "My
own line" he added. Looking at Damian, he sighed, "I am afraind-" Greta cut in. "No
reason I can't stay an extra week". Daphne smiled hugging me, "I'm going to be a
model". Damian was the only one looking crossed about it.
"My mother always over steps" he mumbled as we road the elevator up to my room. He had left his mother and Daphne to get settled for the night, "As most mothers I assume can be". He gave a half hearted smile, "Not all". "I will never know" I
said as we arrived at my door. "Goodnight" I said. "Not going to invite me in?" he smiled wickly and I shook my head. "I think lying to Daphne isn't right. She has to go
back to Italy because we want different things". "We made a sacrifice for her" He said. "Did we? Or had we wanted to what was easiest" I asked. "What are you saying? Are you willing to give up your dream?" he asked. "Exactly" I smiled. "Good night Damian," I said.
Holding my breath, I closed my eyes and the hoisted me up into the air it was only my thrid run in the swing and I hated it. As the sailed me through the hair I tossed my arms out and heard someone say "Be Free".
I was dropped down corrected and did it again, and again, and again as though Mr. Francesca could not make up his mind. By time practice was over I had a splitting migraine. I was undoing my makeup when I heard the giggling of the girls. Usually I ignored the mind numbing gossip, but this time my ears zoomed into the conversation making me lean in. It was mummbled but I realized quickly why I was so interested, "Can you believe it, that home wrecker" "I always thought she was to stuck up to be a nice girl" "Laklynn Carrel is a fake" "She should just be honest" I looked at the mirror and in it was my own reflection baiting me. Do you really want to know and the answer was no. No, I didn't want to know. Their opinion meant nothing, the public opinion meant nothing because at the end I was only me. I didn't even know who that was, who was I? Am I my fears? Am I my dreams? Am I anyone's?
Taking my coat I zipped it up over my practice outfit and grabbed my bag. Before leaving, I felt tears sting my eyes and It hurt, but they didn't fall. I walked past them with my head up and went to push the sturdy door open and for a moment I wish life was a movie and there was my mom. Or Damien. No one was it was just the cold wind of the night calling me out.
I hauled a cab and went to the hotel. I crawled in bed and somehow the tears that held themselves in my eyes fell.