Welcome to my dark little corner of the universe!
DISCLAIMER:
like nearly everything I write, this story consists of many dark, fucked-up, non-consensual themes, violence of all kinds, imprisonment, kidnapping, and occasionally even a little bit of torture. If any of this or terrible grammar offends you, then stop now, because this story isn't for you.
"Son-of-a-bitch!" I cursed, tossing the casserole on top of the stove with a loud bang. I quickly ran my fingertips beneath cold water, hoping I didn't burn them too badly. The timer's shrill beeping hit the panic center of my brain and the last thing I wanted to do was burn the Shepherd's Pie; it was one of his favorites. I inspected my fingertips to find them a bit pink, but nothing I couldn't deal with.
"There is no need for such a foul mouth. You'll set a bad example for the children." Sam sat at the table, texting away on his flip phone. I was curious who he was talking to, but I did not bother to ask. It was not a wife's place to know her husband's business and since Sam's return, I had been very careful to avoid his bad side. Neither he nor Arioch had bothered to fill in the hole I had been left to die in, and until they did, I was not going to chance being thrown back in.
"My apologies, the oven mitts seem to have disappeared." I quickly dished our plates and sat down. I kept my hands folded in my lap, smoothing out the creases in my bubblegum pink dress as I waited for him to take his first bite. Some of the seams were uneven, but it had been my first time making one of the stupid dresses, so I gave myself a little slack. Perfection was not important he said, just that real effort was made. I watched in anticipation as he brought his fork to his mouth. Shepherd's Pie wasn't a very complicated recipe, but I was still nervous. I wanted him to like it, at the same time, I hated that I wanted his approval at all. When Sam first returned, he had not been very happy to see me. I was sure he was going to toss me right back into my grave when he grabbed me by the hair and began dragging me downstairs. Instead he had locked me in the basement which is where I had slept every night since. He barely touched me, let alone looked at me. He became indifferent, like the warmth and kindness had been sapped from his body and I had nobody to blame but myself.
I felt my shoulders relax when he nodded in approval. He had been spending a lot more time out in his garage, and while the vehicles he worked on came and went, there was always something that needed to be fixed. I never asked who they belonged to; I did not really want the answer. Sometimes the cars were brought to him, other times he had to take his truck out and fetch them. Those were the times he kept me completely bound, not even enough slack to itch my nose if I wanted. I spent most of those times napping.
"They're around here somewhere, I suggest you find and keep better track of them. I will not have you burning what belongs to me." He meant me, his property. I had ceased being a person to him anymore. Arioch said it was Sam's way of coping with my betrayal.
"You're right, husband, I will do better. I would like another set if that is okay. It wouldn't hurt to have some extras." Though I did not believe he deserved manners, I feared that cold dark hole in the ground even more.
"You
are
allowed to request things, just don't expect everything you request to be granted. I will have my mother teach you how to make them. Besides, I believe you still owe my sister a girl's night." Though Sam visited his mother and sister almost three nights a week, I had yet to see them since the conclave's visit. I had completely forgotten about girl's night.
She is not going to be happy with you.
She had warned me not to run, not to break her brother's heart. And I had already tried twice since then.
Maybe you will die permanently this time.
"That sounds wonderful." I replied with a forced smile. Though the image of her holding that blade still flashed in my mind.
"Great. We'll head over after dinner."
The sky had already darkened by the time we headed out. I wore the chain locked around my neck; the loose end held in his hand like a leash. True to his word, there had yet to be a moment where I wasn't secured to something. Even in the hours we spent together, he said it made him feel more at ease. When I brought up being trapped in a house fire, he extended the reach of the chain into the back yard, I could just reach the hounds cage and call him in for meals. The scars on the bottom of my foot were still tender, but it felt good to be walking after days of pacing the inside of the house. Though I did take advantage of the staircase when he was in the shop and could not hear my chain dragging behind me as I jogged up and down.
"There's something I should tell you before we get there." He stopped immediately and turned around.
"What now?!"
"The morning after...after we buried
them,
I woke to your sister holding a knife to my throat. She was angry I tried to leave; I am afraid she may be upset with me."
"Then I suppose you will have to earn her forgiveness. She is your little sister now too, you gotta find a way to get along. Teach her to respect you. If you cannot make her, then she will not do it. If she attacks you, you have permission to defend yourself. She is not a man, nor is she a First Wife; my only rule is that you don't kill or cripple the little brat."
"First Wife? What does that mean?" He smiled as we continued towards his mother's cabin.
"Just what it sounds like. As my first wife, you will oversee the other wives, the house, the children. I will rely on you to keep my house in order. It also means their poor behavior and actions will reflect on you as well. You notice Aunt Mary is usually the one shouting orders? She's Dale's First Wife. Creates good incentive to get along and work together."
Or resent me.
I was still nervous, just because I could not kill her, does not mean she would be following the same rules. I wiped my feet on the welcome rug before stepping inside.
"Big brother!" Eliza leapt into his arms and he wrapped her in a tight bear hug. She glared at me from over his shoulder, if looks could kill I would be dead where I stood.
'What is
she
doing here?"
"Keeping her pinky promise, I told you she would."
"What makes you think I want a girl's night anymore? Especially with a nasty little liar!" Sam released her and ruffled his hand through her hair.
"Because you are not exactly swimming in options, my dear sister. KitKat is not going anywhere, I told you that. And just like I told
her
, your sisters now. So, forgive her already and break out the nail polish." Eliza glared back at me and I returned with a small smile.
Please don't kill me.
"I-I could braid your hair if you'd like, though I'm not as good giving them to others as I am giving them to myself." I offered.
"No, I'm giving you a makeover first, if you sit still I
might
just let you give me one. You gonna take this thing off big brother? It's not long enough to reach my room." she pouted.
"Not a chance I'm leaving the two of you unsupervised. You can bring your stuff out here."
"It can't be
Girls Night
if
