tw: brief mentions of sexual assault

The day of the Spring Festival hastily approached. One more sleep, and it would be upon us. Today, I helped the women in the village prepare the flowers. Each building, each window, had a plant pot of some kind holding multiple colour bursts of flowers. I rather enjoyed planting the flowers, filling the pots with compost and hanging them from their designated hooks. The richer had more, the poorer had less, as usual.

Planting a pretty set of tulips, I hung them from Darius' front gate. His house was grand, two stories high, with white walls and green gardens. A large tree loomed over the front passage, shrouding the living room in its shadows. To think... that this house would be mine in eight weeks-time when I married him.

A shudder ran across my back just before a firm hand clamped down on my shoulder. I flinched automatically, dropping my gaze as a large male shadow cast over me. By the cigar smell lingering in his clothes, and the stench of whiskey on his breath, I knew it was Darius.

"Go take these flowers to your mother." He grunted, eyeing my recent display. "I don't like them."

"Okay." I breathed, turning away from him.

I felt his eyes on my back as I walked down the gentle slope to my mother's house. I hadn't visited in a while, not since winter disappeared. It was the end of April now, half the way through Spring.

My nerves grew as I came to my mother's house. The one storey, small cabin style building was still the same dark wood as it was two years ago. Wedged between other cabins of equal size and smell, there was no gate or lush grasses to lead you to the entrance. It was placed right along the main road, a narrow alley on either side to allow access to the rear patch of grass we called a garden.

I saw the curtains shift as I approached the front door, knowing that I was being watched. I swallowed harshly before lifting the basket to hang in its rightful place. Stepping back to admire my handiwork, I appreciated the blooming pink petals before me. They were pretty and delicate, in contrast to the dark wood of the house behind it.

The door creaked open, and I cast my gaze to the looming figure behind it. My mother's eyes raked along my body, but I stayed still, clasping my hands in front of me as I stared back at her. She may be my birth mother, but I had long since accepted her lack of care. I wasn't sure how Arabella still dealt with her, but I had not seen her in a long time either. She tended to stick to herself.

"What a pleasant surprise, if it's only the angel in my most wondrous dreams." She chimed sarcastically.

"Mother, I was just leaving."

She scoffed, stepping closer to get into my personal space. "I haven't seen you in two months, Ailia. We live in the same town. You cannot avoid me forever."

Gritting my teeth, I faked a smile as deadly as hers. "I don't know what you are talking about. I would do no such thing as to avoid such a kind, caring woman as you."

Her mouth parted with shock and before I could react, her arm swung so fast into my cheek that I stumbled and lost my posture. With eyes full of hatred, I raised my head to glare right back at the woman who had birthed me. We were equal in height, and she would not have that prideful power over me.

"That all you got?" I jeered. "I've taken worse."

She visibly recoiled, her eye twitching with annoyance. "You need someone to beat some obedience to you, dear. Why not start in the home?"

"Don't you worry, Darius has your job covered." I spat.

She barked a laugh, crossing her arms to look dismissive. "You are disowning me now, dear?"

"Like mother, like daughter." I fluttered my eyelashes, despite the fiery warmth of my cheek. "Now, if you shall excuse me, I have more flowers to pot for the needy."

She shrieked, her eyes widening with horror. Just before I turned to leave, my sister appeared from around the back of the house. She faltered in her steps, her eyes travelling over my cheek and down to the light bruising from Darius on my jaw.

"Arabella," I nodded before turning and walking away.

"You little bitch!" My mother screeched before storming back into the house.

I smirked to myself, picturing the tantrum she was going to have inside. Arabella didn't care for much, so I knew she would not take it out on her. She was a golden child, with a good education and friendship group. Pretty brown hair and brown eyes like my mother. I was the only redhead in the village, my bright hair standing out amongst the greying world.

As I reached the potting area in the plaza, a strange sensation passed over my back. I shivered, my hairs standing on end as the urge to turn around called to me. I snuck a look through the falling tendrils of my hair to see what had caused such a reaction, my eyes drawn to the metre wide path down to the forest beyond.

Nothing was there but vibrant hedgerows and the dark brown wood of the ten-foot-high fence that ran the perimeter around our village. It was strange though, as the feeling kept coming back throughout the day. Only once I was settled inside Darius' house did the weird feeling go away.

I shivered, walking to the bathroom to wash my hands from the dirt. I scrubbed them until they were red, raw and stinging from the nail brush. Only then did I dry them on a towel. Sighing, I knew I would have to go back out there. It had only just turned three o'clock, and the preparations were not finished yet.

Straightening my dress, I rose my eyes to study my face. Darius always called me pretty, and in this pretty yellow dress, I felt it. It was feminine, to my knees, with thin straps and ample fabric along the chest. I felt secure in this dress; it was my favourite. Yellow always brightened my day, and I liked the way it bounced off my hair.

Although the ugly red mark of my mother's handiwork, paired with Darius' bruise on my jaw, didn't make me look so 'pretty'. I frowned, pulling out the makeup to cover what I could. We only had simple and limited make-up products in our village, meaning I had to be scarce with what I used. I had etiquette lessons every Sunday, courtesy of Darius' mother. She taught me how to eat in public, how to dress and wear make-up. It was innocent enough to me; they didn't want a slumped shouldered, messy young girl sat presenting their family when they stepped down.

The thought of ruling beside Darius made my shoulders shiver in disgust. I wasn't even in my twenties, and yet I was stuck with him until he deemed me useless.

Shaking my head, I left the bathroom, keeping my gaze on the floor as I walked down the hallway to the front door. I was surprised when I bumped into a figure, but they caught me by the waist. My head darted up in surprise when I saw Ash was the one to steady me. He was Darius' best friend.

"Ailia, where are you going in such a hurry?" He wondered, scanning my face.

My heart fluttered in my chest, and I shyly smiled at him. "I was just going to finish up with the ladies outside."

His head glanced behind his shoulder when the door opened. I stepped away from him in surprise, not wanting Darius to see me too close to his friend. He was easily jealous.

"Ah, you found her, Ash." Darius chuckled. "Just the beautiful woman I want to see."

"I am?" I wondered.

He laughed, nodding. He stepped closer to me, taking Ash's place as his hands wrapped around my waist to sit on my lower back. I swallowed when he gave me his dazzling smile. I always thought Darius had a perfect smile, but over the years of being with him, I noticed that even his teeth were crooked. The front two teeth slightly too angled where they joined each other.

"Yes, sweetheart." He kissed me softly. "I have a surprise for you, my fiancé."

I blushed at his amused tone, even more so when Ash chuckled behind him. I wondered what surprise he had in store. He was being overly touchy and kind, a rare opportunity when it came from Darius. Perhaps he was just as excited about the spring festival as I was?

"What is it? Something for tomorrow?"

"Oh, of course, come on, we will show you."

I grinned, taking his hand as he led me up the stairs, the white walls bouncing with the beaming sunlight through the large windows. He remained calm as he led me down the hall to the bottom, and I felt my grin falter when he pushed open his bedroom door. Pushing me inside gently, I scanned his room for anything that felt out of place.

Other than his bedroom window being open, and the sounds of music being played on the streets, everything seemed normal.

"What is it you wanted to show me?" I wondered.

I turned around to face him but felt my breath hitch at the sudden dark sneer he gave me. He chuckled, turning to Ash, who closed the door behind him and locked it. I swallowed, taking a few steps backwards in precaution.

"Oh, did I mis-speak?" Darius hummed. "I meant; you should show me something."

"D-Darius..." I breathed, a shaky laugh escaping me. "What's going on?"

"Get on the bed," He demanded.

I shook my head, eyes wide as I looked to Ash to plead for forgiveness for whatever wrong I have done to get such a reaction.

"Ailia, do not test me. You want to see the festival; you get on that bed and do not speak to me."

I felt my hands shaking, but slowly made my way to sit on the edge of the bed. I had to listen.

"In the middle," He taunted. "Keep that dress on for now."

"B-But it's my fav-

His burning glare halted my words, and I flinched when he was suddenly before me. A harsh smack to my face jolted me backwards. My hand raised to cup my left cheek, the same spot my mother caught me earlier.

Darius was quick to pick me up and throw me more in the centre of the bed, his disgusting hands worming their way under my skirt. He hummed, fingers exploring my skin as his mouth came down to suck on my neck. I shivered, my hands holding onto his upper arms as he secured himself above me.

"Darius..." I whined. "I don't want this."

"Shut up," He scoffed in my ear, pulling away to stare down at me. "Of course you do."

His head turned to look at his friend, who still stood in the doorway, waiting.

"Ash here has told me how much you have taken to him," He jeered. "He would like to reciprocate those feelings."

"W-what?" I stammered, confused.

He forcefully pushed my hands above my head, his body pinning me down by my hips. I struggled in his grip, fear lacing my heart as Ash moved forwards. With both of them looming over me, I knew they outnumbered me. They were way stronger and larger than me.

Their hands left dirty trails along my skin, and I closed my eyes in disgust as my body gave into their rough demands. My dress was torn, the stitching around the straps pulling until they gave way to my nudity. I still felt the roughness of the fabric along my shoulders, a red friction burn left in its wake. I had been bitten, sucked and touched until my body was sore from their bruises, sensitive with their pleasures.

As I lay in the bed, used and exploited, I recalled how much Darius praised me. He said I was a good girl, that I was doing so well and being so kind to his friend. I was a good girl, right? To listen and let my fiancé do this? To keep me safe?

I had drunk his words in, securing myself to the acceptance that what I was doing was right. But... if something like that was so right, I hate to think what wrong would be.

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