Life For Rent!

Chapter three

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!!!!!************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** 

I raced up the stairs, my heart beating wildly in my ears. I could hear him growing closer, but I did not dare to look back.  

Hopefully, Vincent followed. He wouldn't let him kill me. 

What are you doing? asked a little voice in my head. 

Shut up! I answered it. Somewhere during my exchange with that...asshole, my fear had turned to anger. How dare he call me a gold-digger! How could he just write me off as untrustworthy so quickly? 

Hello! Are you listening to yourself? Answered that annoying voice again. 

Shut up! 

I reached the top of the stairs and sprinted across the balcony. I got to the hallway leading to what I felt was the eastern bedroom wing and darted left, circling a tea cart just in time to avoid stumbling. I sent the cart spinning after my pursuers. When Darrell plowed into it with a growl, and Vincent fell over him, I couldn't contain a smile of glee. 

There wasn't enough time to gloat, because he was on his feet in a minute, and the rage on his face had increased. I plummeted towards the end of the corridor. Which one? Which one? Vincent had painstakingly taught me the layout of the house. I tried hard to remember which of the bedrooms belonged to Mr Simpson. The room on the right...no left! Dammit! I hesitated, then veered to the right. 

''Stop right there! Don't you dare go in there!'' Shouted a voice behind me. 

I stuck my tongue out at him and swung open the door. To my dismay, I found a young woman around my age napping on a lounge. Her eyes opened dreamily, then sharpened. She immediately turned pale. 

''No! No! It can't be! I must be dreaming!'' She shierked. ''Cor..Cordelia?'' 

I couldn't begin to figure out who she was while trying to catch my breath. I looked behind me and gasped as I watched Darrell catch up to me. Quickly, I dashed in and shut the door. 

''Wher... Where is he?'' I asked panting. 

''I don't understand, where is who?'' She asked. 

''My-my father, where is he?'' 

''In his bedroom, where else would he be?'' 

''Alright, and his bedroom would be...where?'' 

''Next room by your right. What happened to you Cordelia? One second, you were standing right next to me, then the next you're gone...''. She paused at the banging on the door. 

''I would love to seat back and tell you all about it,'' I said ''But right now, I trying to avoid a mad man who's hot at my heels.'' 

''Scarlet! Scarlet are you in there? Answer me!'' called Darrell. 

She gave me a puzzled look and rose to her feet. ''What's going on? Why is Darrell chasing you?'' 

I shrugged. What should I do now? The minute he gets in, he might just rip me to sherds in anger. I began to really panic when she moved to door, and with another puzzled look at me, opened it. 

I ran to the back of the lounge to put some distance between me and uncertain death. He stormed in with anger and glowered at me. I returned his glare. 

''You! out! And prepare to spend the night in jail!'' 

''You can't kick me out of my own house! You can't!'' 

He gripped my arm. ''Oh yes I can! Just watch me.'' 

Even as I was being pulled from the room, I gave a last desperate look around. Next door to the left. If I made more loud noises, that means... 

''I demand to see my father!'' I cried loudly. 

Darrell immediately crushed me to him, his hand covering my mouth as he dragged me backward. Why wasn't Vincent doing something! He just stood there like a statue! This wasn't part of the plan! I clutched at Darrell's fingers, scratching him and kicking backward until he grunted and then swept me into his arms. 

I writhed in his arms. The bastard! How dare he treat me like this! 

''What the hell is going on here?'' said a voice at the door. A frail looking man with trousled white hair and mis-matched pajamas stared at us with a blank look. The buttoms of his PJ's were done wrong, the collars raised up at one shoulder. Was this the him? 

''Daddy?'' I ventured. 

His eyes narrowed. ''Angelina Jolie?'' 

''It's alright Ed, everything's under control here.'' Darrell said, releasing me. 

''Really? I didn't know it was ever ontop!'' he chuckled, then suddenly took on a serious expression. ''You look familar...'' he said to me. 

I shook away from Darrell, smoothing my dress and rubbing the horrible taste of him from my lips. ''Daddy, don't you recognise me?'' 

He wrinkled his brow in concentration, then suddenly his eyes lit up. ''I know you!'' 

I sighed in relief. ''Dad...'' 

''You're Hermione!'' 

Oh boy... Would this drama ever end today?