Chapter 2: The Sting
I shake my head frantically again but she goes on, talking to me this time " you know your sister is allergic peanuts but you added it to her toasts, My daughter had to deal with itching and swelling for hours all because of you".
"Is this true?" Dad's eyes bore into my soul
"Ye. . Yes" I manage to say through sobs, I did add a little bit of peanut to the butter but I didn't think my sister will eat it
Mum's sarcastic laugh echoes through the room "You want to kill your sister so you can marry her husband and live her life, you fat wicked pig"
Mum has never been kind with her words when it came to me but I felt my heart shatter into pieces from her accusing me of murder and the look of disappointment on Dad's face ignites my shattered heart. I try to explain but I'm pulled by a pair of strong arms, it's Stephen. He frowns at the red imprint on my face before calling for someone to escort me to the Colbert's mansion.
"Sally is no longer a Green but a Colbert, I will not have anyone call her names or lay a finger on her. She might've done something wrong but she's not yours to punish" I hear him say as I walk out the room. I don't miss the look on Renae's face, I might just live with this guilt forever
The first thing I see when I walk into the Colbert mansion is a trail of fresh blood. Jason, Stephen's man that escorted me back calls for someone to clean up the mess. Triggered by the sight of blood I gag and pound helplessly at my chest.
"Are you okay ma'am?"
I shake my head frantically, unable to say anything or take my eyes away from the blood on the floor. I've never seen this much blood in my life and the sight of it made be utterly scared. Did they kill someone in here?. Cleaners troop in and get to work immediately. A woman that looks like she's in her late 50s walk in and Jason introduces her to me as Sarah, the caretaker of the mansion. She greets me with a smile and without a word takes my hand to lead me to my room. I don't protest, I eagerly follow her, wanting to get away from the scene as soon as possible.
"I'm sorry you had to see that my child" she says offering comfort by patting my back
I lean into the little act of comfort cause I so desperately needed it after such a chaotic day. I was still in denial, how could I let this happen?. My conscience tugs at me endlessly cause Renae was practically raised to be the perfect wife for Stephen and here I was in her place, my sister never liked me and now I knew she'd stop at nothing to destroy me.
"I'll help you out of the dress" Sarah's voice breaks through my haze. We're already in a room, one that I think belongs to Stephen because of the simple grey and white designs it featured. I let out a sigh of defeat while Sarah works me out of my dress. She leads me to the bathroom and scrubs me clean but the guilt still clings to me like a cloak. When she's done she helps me get into a night dress and tucks me into bed.
"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call me" She say before leaving.
The door opens and Stephen walks in his eyes blood red from rage, I try as much as I can to sink further into the bed.
"The innocent ones are the most cunning witches" He says pinning me with his body against the bed
" You wanted to marry me so bad that you poisoned your own sister? " His voice comes out in strained whispers. I'm unable to utter a word but shake my head in disagreement. I want to explain but my voice is trapped as he looks right into my soul.
He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him "your innocence is just a disguise. How many more tricks do you have up your sleeves"
I flinch at the accusation "I. . . I do. . . It's not what yo . . . you think" I stutter
His eyes glares daggers
He let's out a sadistic laugh. I've met Stephen at countless formal occasions before and I've seen him command people but I've never seen him so angry or unreserved before so I'm shaken to the core. He let's go my chin that's already aching from his firm grip and He straightens. I dare not meet his eyes
"You don't know what you've done to yourself Sally, you'll regret replacing your sister at that altar"
The words echo in my ears like a bell
"You'll regret replacing your sister at the altar"
The room starts closing in on my and my mum rushes into the room to stab me, I jolt awake, my breath a frantic mess. I must've fallen asleep
"Are you okay?"
I sit straight immediately startled by the sudden presence and question.
I turn to meet Stephen's worried gaze " You're sweating so much" He lifts his hand and I flinch instinctively
"Why did you flinch" He frowns
"I'm so. . .sorry"
His frown deepens but he drops the topic and just heads to the bathroom. I let out a sigh of relief before laying back down and dragging the cover up to my chin. After what seemed like forever, Stephen steps out in a simple gray rope. He looks like a normal man with his wet black hair plastering to his face. My hands itch to help him dry his hair like a loving wife but I'm too scared to move from my spot.
"Sleep well" He says before leaving me in the room alone.
I can't tell what going on in his mind, I don’t know what's happening next but I know I'm tired and need sleep, the yawn that follows is my cue to settle into the warmth of the soft massive bed and let myself sleep. Tomorrow, my life as Mrs Colbert starts and I'll need all the strength in the world for the torture that awaited.