The Shadows In Her Wake Ch 03

There are no erotic scenes in this chapter particularly. I am going to attempt to make up for the horribly, rushed disaster of a chapter that was chapter 2. Please let me know what you think! Thank you very much RomanticRealist for your never ending patience and for all of your helpful ideas!

Numbness had been inevitable the moment Tyler had laid eyes on her step brother again. It was like a drug, personally made for her and triggered to enter her blood the moment their eyes had locked.

It was this little drug that had saved Tyler from drowning in her own emotions so many times before and it was what would save her now. Everything had happened much too quickly for her to process in the moment and as she glared out the window, letting it settle on her only a few minutes away from the house and the land she had grown up on, she was not the least bit surprised at her step-brother. The fact that he had just raped her...seemed, in a twisted sort of way, what was to be expected from him.

Tyler knew that Mikhail had somehow always known as well, that no matter the beating, or the cursing, or the nit picking or anything else he could throw at her, she could push him from her mind and somehow keep him separate from what she considered to be her world.

But now...as his cum dripped down the inside of of her leg, she felt her eyes begin to burn.. Tyler refused to allow the scene to play back in her mind, as to do that, was to let Mikhail win. To dwell on it would weaken her, and one could not be weak around Mikhail.

Tyler allowed herself to be angry though. Her stomach churned, and her vision swam, but swallowing hard, she kept her mouth shut and said nothing. There had always been a small part of her that somehow knew that Mikhail would one day take her Virginity...Hell, he had taken everything else. To an outsider looking in, her reasoning would seem...fucked up to say the least, but she did not care...Outsiders were not welcomed in this fucked up little world that Mikhail had created for his family, nor would they ever possibly understand it.

"Your Virginity, this belongs to the man you will marry Tyler and to no one else. Giving this up is to give a half of your soul to the person you wish to spend your life with."

Tyler's mother had explained this to her in hushed words only days before she died.

Tyler felt a lead weight tie itself around her heart and drop into her stomach. Her fists curled until her knuckles were white, her finger nails dug into her palms as she internally raged, and shrieked and cried...and ran...but to his face, she knew she looked calm...

He had ripped that part of her soul from her, dragging it away kicking and screaming and probably tucked the bastard away into that pocket of his where he kept her mother's ring, but Tyler would never show him the pain it caused her...she was never going to let him win that way.

Her mother had also taught her never to hate...that hate was all consuming and would eventually find a way to kill you....Tyler hid her smile...at least, if that happened, she would have done it herself instead of giving Mikhail the satisfaction.

Tyler decided that hate would drive her...hate would help her to make it through all of this...

Hate would keep her numb...and hate would make her survive....just as it always had, except now there was a little more gasoline on the fire.

"Your sulking now." Mikhail's voice snaked into her thoughts, but Tyler kept her face carefully blank and void of emotion before she shook her head.

"No Sir, I am not. I am thinking about my brother, and my step-sister and wondering what you have done to them." Tyler's voice was barely above a whisper, but she was sure Mikhail heard just fine...she could almost hear that sneer before she saw it.

"You will be happy to know that Aaron and Nadia are very well, Tyler. They have been learning the...family business...well you have been on your little vacation. They are going to be just thrilled to see you." Mikhail's voice held a note of distraction as he spoke and typed away on his blackberry.

"Are you still using that as a scare tactic?" Tyler wanted to scream this at him, but instead, she kept her voice dangerously calm...but something in it managed to pull Mikhail's gaze slowly away from his phone and settle him back into pinning her down with his eyes.

"Scare tactics you say...do you think, Tyler...that if I really felt a scare tactic necessary to control my family, I could not come up with something far more creative then a business?" Mikhail's words were very quiet, but they held a very clear threat. Tyler said nothing as she stared at him, so he continued.

"If I did, for example, feel the need to use a scare tactic to motivate any of you to cooperate with my wishes...I may say something like, 'Tyler, you best cooperate, or I will have your precious brother Aaron severely beaten.' I would most likely follow that with, 'No one would be allowed to touch him...he would lie in a pool of his own blood well you and I watched...until he either found the courage to stand, and clean his mess up...or died...because of you." Mikhail set his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers as he watched Tyler's face closely.

She felt the blood draining from her face as he spoke these words, a reaction that she knew she could not hide from his predatory eyes.

"Or perhaps, tie him to a chair...shoot him in both of his knees...and then leave, with you chained to the wall...unable to help him as he screams in pain...this is all hypothetical of course...and completely unnecessary and avoidable. Aaron is my right hand man...to kill him would not be beneficial...so I suggest that you do nothing to make that happen." Mikhail made his way to the other side of the limo as he said this, and smiled slightly as the sound of the gates of the house being opened made Tyler flinch.

He leaned over her, speaking in a very low voice close to her ear, "I also suggest, little Tyler, that you cooperate with what I order you to do...Act like the lady of the house that you will be...and you and I will have no problems...Aaron will remain in good health and all will be well...Am I understood?"

Tyler squeezed her eyes shut, and heard the small, satisfied laugh from Mikhail. He had won this battle...but there was a war to be waged...and if he wanted to be a snake about it...she could do that as well.

The car finally came to a halt and when Tyler opened her eyes, memories began to flood back to her. The large, white Victorian mansion stood tall and strong in front of her. This Mansion that her Step-Father, the only father she had ever known, Vasily Petrova, had built for her mother when they had first been married.

The field's that surrounded the house were vast, covering acres and acres of land owned by the Petrova family. Apple trees were scattered here and there, never really having any semblance of order...exactly as her mother had liked it.

"Welcome home Tyler." Mikhail whispered, as the doors of the limo were opened. Mikhail slipped out the opposite side of the limo, and as he did, a hand appeared in the doorway on Tyler's side. If it were not for Tyler's shaking legs, she would have refused to take the hand, but she let slip her claim to sassisness for a few short seconds to take the strangers hand and step from the limo.

For a moment, Tyler could not place his face...for one split second, the stern expression of the man her small and frail older brother Aaron had turned into did not register in her mind. "This can't be him..." She thought, not even noticing when Mikhail came and set his hand on the man's shoulder.

Tyler stared up at this cold and dangerous looking person. His blond hair was neatly combed, his eyes...her mother's eyes and the color of bright emerald's set against snow white skin. An angry scar made it's way from the side of his right eye and down to the middle of his cheek. Aaron had never had such a scar...His jaw was strong and his facial expression held the look of a no nonsense 24 year old man who had seen far to many things for so young an age.

Tyler only barely registered Mikhail's voice as he said, "Your brother, Aaron." and gave the man a friendly slap on the shoulder.

She and Aaron stared at each other for what seemed like hours...although it must have only been a few seconds. He wore a black Armani suit with a black and red stripped tie and could not have looked any less like her brother as he did now. He looked more like Mikhail.

"Sister..." Aaron's smile did not reach his eyes as he bent at the waist and kissed her gently on the forehead.

Tyler allowed her gaze to shift to Mikhail and he held it there with his own eyes, but she did not miss the shadow of a satisfied smile that passed over it for a split second, and then it was gone.

"Where is Nadia?" Mikhail asked after a moment, keeping his hand on Aaron's shoulder and steering the man away and towards the mansion, leaving Tyler to trail behind.

Shell shock was the only thing it could really be called in Tyler's opinion. The Aaron she had left behind had been a 5'11, timid and unsure young man His face had always been perfect...angelic almost in it's innocence. He looked dangerous now. Well-built, confident, stern, and dangerous. There was no question in her mind as to who was responsible for such a change either. He had not even flinched when Mikhail had touched his shoulder.

"Aaron...Your instructors tell me that you do not have the slightest interest in your studies as of late. Would you care to explain why you think the education I had set down for you is meaningless?" Mikhail's voice was dangerously calm as he stared down at the instructor's report in his hands.

Aaron stood before his step-brother's desk with his hands laced behind his back and his head down. "It is not that I am not..." He began, but he was cut off by the sound of Mikhail's chair being pushed away from the heavy oak desk he had sat behind.

"Stand up straight Aaron and look straight ahead. Petrova men do not look at the floor when speaking! My BROTHER does not look at the floor when speaking to me." Mikhail's shouted in irritation.

Tyler flinched from her place behind the office door as she stared through the large key hole. She could see Aaron's hand were shaking...in fact, his whole body was shaking, which was probably only enraging their step brother even more.

Aaron straightened visibly,straightening his back, and lifting his chin to stare straight ahead. "Brother, it is not that I did not agree with your choice...The instructor wishes me to learn piano, and I have no desire to..." Again, cut off, but this time by a well placed and brutal backhand across the face that sent Aaron stumbling back into the wall.

Mikhail was on him again in a heart beat, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and dragging him back into his place before the oak desk. He did not pace around Aaron as though he were prey, as he always did to Tyler. Instead, he stood back in front of him with his fingers massaging his temples.

"I know...I know that this seems ridiculous to you now, but your mother allowed your education to lack. I cannot have this. Weakness in a Petrova man is weakness in the whole Petrova line. People will see it, and people will use it against you, and against our family. It is the principal of the thing that counts! Your intelligence will protect you Aaron, always. Everything is useful." Mikhail had lowered his voice somewhat, and as he set his hands on his brother's shoulder's he sighed.

"Your education is key. Music will lead to many, many things. I would like for you to be well-rounded. As are all the Petrova men..." Mikhail studied Aaron's face closely and gave a weak smile. "Who knows...someday it may be what helps introduce you to your future wife?" he added, and smiled when Aaron laughed nervously.

Tyler had walked away from that incident very confused. At the time, she had thought Mikhail a fool for even trying. As wonderful as Aaron had been in her eyes, she could never see him not being afraid of his own shadow.Aaron hated music as well and Aaron definitely hated the piano, why would he ever learn it? And Aaron always looked down when people spoke to him...apparently that had all changed.

She felt a warm hand on the small of her back, and it was almost comforting until she heard Mikhail murmur, "Would you like to remain out here enjoying the view? Or would you prefer to accompany me inside so I can show you to your room and you can clean up for Lunch?"

Tyler turned to face him slowly, irritated by the fact that he still kept his hand set on her back as she did so. She glared up at him.

"I suppose I would like to shower, considering I have your dried cum all the way down my leg." She saw his jaw tick a second before she watched his hand fly, enough time for her to reach up and grab it with both of her hands and hold it in midair.

Mikhail's eyes flared, and for a moment, Tyler felt her stomach twist with fear.

"Please, Mikhail...if you wish me to be lady of this house, it will not do much for your reputation if your staff watches you hit me...now will it?" She snapped at him with a bravery she did not actually feel.

The heat in his eyes cooled, replaced by another look entirely...darker, but somehow different...and it was gone in a flash, as though it had never been there. He smiled down at her, and put a slight pressure on her back to lead her inside without another word. Tyler felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her, but inside her head, she was dancing. She had won this battle with him.

The house was exactly as she had remembered it. Polished, expensive marble floors, a large grand stair case that lead to endless hallways. The grand piano sat in the middle of the great room on a long red carpet, and the scurrying of three servants arriving quickly to take Mikhail and Aaron's coats. The servants however, were all girls that looked to be in their early 20's...and each of them was staring daggers at Tyler.

As they walked away, Aaron snickered. "Looks like the new staff likes her." and then Aaron himself disappeared in the direction Tyler remembered as being Mikhail's office.

Mikhail's hand was once again on Tyler's back, leading her towards the staircase. "Now," He began, as he lead her up the stairs, "you have a wardrobe full of clothes for you in your new room. If you need any help dressing, there is a bell near your door for you to ring one of the servants. I expect you to dress like a lady always. These clothes I have personally picked out for you, so wear which ever ones you like. You have everything you need in your room...but if there does happen to be anything else that you would like, simply come to me and we will make arrangements for it." He continued talking as he lead her down a long hallway and up another set of stairs.

Everything looked exactly as it had always looked. Portraits of the Petrova men lined the hallway as they walked. There were never any pictures of her mother's relatives. Her mother had once told her that she had been adopted by an alcoholic man and an abusive mother...apparently the rest of her family had been much the same, so her mother had never had any desire to have a reminder of them in the house.

"And here is your room..." Tyler heard Mikhail say and stared at the heavy oak door he had stopped in front of. "This..this is your space. I will never come in here unless you ask me There is a door connecting our rooms in case you ever need me for anything." He watched her face carefully as he said this, but Tyler was careful again, to keep it void of all emotion.

After a moment, Mikhail looked down at his watch and looked back down at her before running his fingers through her hair and pulling her head back viciously. "We are not finished yet Tyler...you ran away from this house against my orders three years ago...you will spend tonight making that up to me, do you understand?"

Tyler winced, but managed, "Yes Sir." promptly forcing him to let go and be on his merry fucking way.

She waited for him to disappear around the corner before twisting the knob of the door and pushing it open.

Tyler swallowed hard, realizing for the first time exactly which room he had given to her.

This had been her mother's personal room and all seemed untouched, save for the obvious dusting and cleaning.

The room was very large, with the same cathedral type ceilings and large windows that all of the other rooms had, but her mother's had two french glass doors that opened onto the shared balcony between her room, and Mikhail's. There was the same oak dressing table that held a large mirror and an assortment of what looked to be Chanel cosmetics, hair brushes, and Chanel number 5 perfume held in the same beautiful crystal perfume bottles that her step-father had bought for her mother on many different trips around the world.

Tyler stepped farther into the room, running her hand over the oak table as she made her way to the impossibly large oak wardrobe and dropped her hands to the silver handle's. She opened it carefully, gazing at the brand new clothes in many different colors and styles. She did not try to count how many pairs of shoes sat neatly in racks lining the wardrobe.

Also in the wardrobe sat a tiny oak chest of drawers. Bending to open them, she discovered an assortment of panties and bra's, also of different styes and colors.

Her hands were shaking now...thus far, save for the new clothes filling the wardrobe and the new cosmetics on her dressing table, everything had been kept exactly the way her mother had left it.

Leaving the wardrobe, her eyes traveled to the bed. The blue, Egyptian satin sheets and duvet, the many pillows and the thin, gold, gauzy material that hung from the four poster had not been touched.

Tyler's eyes traveled to the bedside table and landed on the beautiful vase, and the dozen or so roses that were held there and as Mikhail had always been so very talented at causing, her mind filled with confusion..."Why?" She whispered, allowing her feet to take her towards the bathroom that she and Mikhail's room shared.

Tyler stepped in, and could not help but smile. This room had indeed been renovated to accommodate Mikhail's apparently more expensive tastes, she decided when she set eyes on the large jacuzzi tub.

The tub was surrounded with brand new and unlit candles and for a moment, Tyler felt something that could only be called jealousy. The image of him sitting in this tub with some other woman slipped into her mind...but she quickly put the thought away.

The toilet had it's own little room to itself, hidden to look a bit more like a closet than anything. There were two slim stain glass cabinets right beside each other next to the large porcelain sink, one holding things on it's shelves that were obviously Mikhail's. After shave, toothpaste and a toothbrush and a rather expensive looking razor, a jar of shaving cream, and another jar of what looked to be an exotic type of soap.

Her's held all different types of body washes and bath salts, face cleansers that she always used and did not want to think to hard about how Mikhail knew. Even the homemade lilac shampoo and conditioner she used was sitting on the shelf.

Biting hard into her bottom lip, she backed out of the bathroom, nearly knocking someone over in the process.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry Tyler! I thought you were taking a bath so I was going to give you a towel and..." The small girl had a very heavy Russian accent. She was beautiful, with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was short, but to Tyler, she looked like one of the beautiful girls people think of when they think of Russian woman.