Monster behind the Diamond Mask

Chapter 1 – Why Do I Stay?

I laid on the ground and shut my eyes. I pretended I was in a field with a forgiving breeze blowing over me. I even pretend I can smell the sweet aroma of the grass and the freshly blossomed flowers. Only problem was the werewolf screaming and pleading. It was giving me a headache. I tried to block her out, but nothing seems to work.

Slowly I sat upright and looked at her. "Will you please shut up?" I asked, rubbing my face.

"Please," she begged. "I've got pups.”

I sighed, feeling like all my energy went away. I looked her up and down. My friends haven't been kind to her. Her clothes were torn and shredded, laying down by her feet. Only thing on her body was her underwear. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises from the torturing. Her make-up was running down her face. She looked like she was in her early thirties. Or maybe mid-thirties. It was hard to tell with the way the make-up was smudged.

"Why don't you just tell them where the Alpha is?" I said as I laid back again. "I know it wouldn't save your life, but still.”

The werewolf kept quiet for a short time. "Why are you even here if not to torture me?”

I looked at the ceiling and thought about the question for a second.

"I might as well tell you," I said as I stood up. "Not like will walk you out of here." I made my way to the kettle and filled it with water. "My dad wants me to babysit you, because I refused to torture you. I have to make sure you don't escape. Not like you can escape. Ivan and Riana is outside this door and Simon and Cyrus is probably with them. "

I cupped my cheek and felt my heart break once again. The memory of what happened only a few minutes ago, maybe an hour ago, still pained me in way I didn't think was possible. The table vibrated slightly and I felt my heart sink. I clenched my fist and shut my eyes tightly. The quivering stop and I took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. As I let the gush of air leave my lungs, I opened my eyes and tried to remember what I had been doing only moments before. Oh, right. Coffee.

"So why do you stay?" the werewolf said, unaware of what just happened.

I shook my head as I look at the cup of coffee in my hands. I didn't answer her, because I didn't have an answer. Why did I stay? I was scared, I knew that much. I was scared of the man I called Dad. Yet, that wasn't what stops me every night from packing my bags.

The doors opened and Simon and Dad walked in. Simon walked towards me while Dad walked to the surgical instruments.

"You look tired, love," Simon said as he took my hands into his.

"I feel tired," I said as I looked into his eyes. Simon and I have been together for four years now. Dad told me I had to be with Simon, said I'd grow to love him. I look at Simon and I felt nothing. Not a spark or flame as I've read in the books. From him I felt nothing. Not even when we were having fanatical s*x. "All she does is scream and plead. My ears are ringing and I can't even pretend I'm elsewhere.”

Simon chuckled. "Poor you. Maybe I can get your Dad to let you out for a few minutes?”

"Yes, let her out for a few minutes," Dad grumbled, his order making it seem as if I was a dog, as he picked up a scalpel. "while I talk to this mongrel.”

The werewolf whimpered.

Simon led me out of the room and kept quiet. Riana and Ivan shut the door as soon as we are through.

Simon lead me down the hall and I followed, feeling to tired to fight against what he wanted. The small walk was a quiet one, almost like there was no purpose of life in the relationship. Almost as it there was nothing to be shared between us.

Once we rounded the corner, Simon pushed me against the wall and his mouth crushed onto mine. A moan escaped from his lips and he forced his tongue into my mouth. I allowed him just to put up an act. I didn't love this man, but Dad said I must.

I wrapped my arms around his neck to draw him nearer and another moan escaped from his lips. Simon drew back, breathing hard against my face. I didn’t like it one bit. His breath smelled and it made my skin crawl.

"I missed you, love," he said as he placed his hands on my hips. "Why must you defy your Dad?”

"I don't like torturing," I said as I looked at him. This was something we fought a lot over. Simon wanted me to torture and kill, but I didn't have the stomach to do so. Every time a dead body left the house I turned a blind eye. I didn't want to see.

"These aren't human, Sammy," Simon said as he took my face into his hands. "Those creatures are monster. You need to face it. No matter in which form or nature they take, they are monster.”

I flinched, then pulled my face from Simon's hands. "Everyone is a monster, Simon, including you and me. You just put on an illusion that you aren’t one, but like everyone else, you are blind.”

I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and then walked back to the room. I nodded my head at Ivan and Riana as they pulled open the door.

"Dad," I said as I entered the room. "I was wondering…" My words grew thick and was stuck in my throat. In front of me, the werewolf was as naked as they day that she was born. Her underwear was gone and so was her hair. There were knives in her arm and legs and a pool of blood at her feet. I felt nauseas and my stomach felt like it was flipped over.

Dad was covered in her blood and had a scalpel in his hands. As he moved to look at me, I saw where his latest cut attempt was. Right over her ovaries.

My mind started getting incoherent as I looked at the scene in front of me. I heard Dad say my name and grabbed me by my shoulders. He sounded many miles away, yet he stood right in front of me. Seconds later I heard a crashing sound behind me, which also sounded many miles behind me.

Dad let me go and without his support, I fell. My legs were too weak to keep me upright and now I was on the ground, my face in the little puddle of the wolf's blood.

Hot liquid rose in my throat and I threw up my breakfast from this morning.

Last thing I saw was a man with a wolf at his heels running to the werewolf and then everything turned black.

I woke up slowly, my head thumping. My mouth felt dry and my throat was sore. I sat up quickly and regretted it instantly as I felt more of the heated mixture fill my throat. The flashes of the aforementioned happening shot through me and I couldn't force the bile in my throat to go away, so I just allowed it to continue its course.

"You look in a terrible state," a female voice said and my head snapped into that direction. In the entranceway, stood a teenager girl. She had long (very, very long) black hair and shocking blue eyes. She was very striking, I had to admit. I noticed she had an accent and it sounded like her English was slightly rusty.

"Who are you," I asked as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "Where is Dad?”

"Annie," she said as came towards me, pulling a piece of fabric from her pocket. She sat on her heels and wiped my mouth. "My name is Annie D'ario. I wanted to know if you were awake yet. There you go. Your face is better now.”

"Thanks," I said as rubbed my head.

Annie smiled and stood up. "I'll be back in a little while." She walked to the door.

"Wait, what about Dad?" I called after her.

She kept on walking.

"Where is my dad?" I yelled. The vase on the nightstand flew through the air and hit the wall next to the door.

I gasped and looked down at my hands. Just then I noticed my right hand was in shackles. I looked at it a little confused.

Dad would never shackle me up. Not unless he knew. He can't know, I told myself. I worked hard to conceal it.

I looked around. This looked like a typical place my dad would choose when our hide out had been compromised. Simple and not too expensive at all. I looked into the corners of the room, expecting a camera, but there was nothing.

The room was even plain. There was a closet at the far end of the room and a nightstand beside my bed. There was even a desk in the room, placed just by the foot of my bed. Yet, the desk had no chair. Probably to save room, seeing as this room was small.

I could imagine sitting on that desk and use the window above it to illuminate the words of the book I'm reading. From here though I could also see I was tightly barred up.

I started to feel scared and curl into myself on my bed.

Some time passed and I found myself drifting in and out of sleep. Pictures of the wolf flashed into my mind. I saw the scalpel in Dad's hands and the cuts just over the ovaries by the wolf. When I drift off to sleep, I'd dream my dad walking to me, scalpel in his hand and was going to cut out my ovaries.

After some time, I felt somebody enter my room, but I felt too weak to look up to see who it is. Images kept flashing through my eyes. When the person stood near me, I felt the bed starting to rock. There was a clanking sound at several places.

I shut my eyes tightly. Well, if my dad didn't know, he would now. Everything quivered more violently.

"Please don't tell my Dad," I cried.

"I won't," the person said. "I promise.”

I looked up and saw the werewolf that my father had tortured in front of me. Her wounds have healed, but there were scars on her face and her eyes were still black and blue.

Then I felt a snap inside of me. Everything stopped shaking. The next part of what happened next seemed to happen in slow motion. The werewolf flew back against the wall. Every glass object burst or broke spontaneously.

One of the glass pieces flew past me and I felt a sting as it did.

And then I passed out, again and fell into the world of darkness as I had before.

As I woke up, I noticed I wasn't alone in my room. My eyes were still shut, but I could hear them whispering.

"…isn't human," a female voice said, I recognized as the werewolf that Dad has tortured.

"Then what is she, Catherine?" A male voice said.

"I don't know," the werewolf, Catherine, said. "A witch, maybe?”

"Surely the great Jeremiah Simmons would notice his child is a witch," another male said. "or his wife, as a matter of fact.”

"You don't need to believe me, Lucas," Catherine said, her voice sounding slightly irritated. "That girl isn't human. Not full human, anyway.”

"I think our guest is aware," said a female, and I realized it was Annie.

The room grew quiet and I felt my cheeks heating up. Slowly I sat upright and looked at the few people in the room.

Three men and two women and they were all looking at me like I was about to sprout a flower on my head.

I kept quiet. I was scared that if I said the wrong thing, it would end to be my final words.

"Oh, stop looking at her," said Annie and moved to stand between me and the other people. "And Michael, why did you snatch her anyway?”

A short man with a short beard rubbed his hair. "They kidnapped our Luna. Might as well kidnap and torture his princess.”

I recoiled and pulled the blanket up as some kind of a protection. My heart was racing badly, that's for sure. The idea of being tortured already gave me a discomfort. Then an image of the scalpel in my father's hands popped into my mind.

"We'll let the Alpha decide,” said Catherine. She walked past Annie and came to stand in front of me. "I heard you, you know.”

I looked at her blankly. What did she hear?

Just as she was about to talk, a man in a white coat entered the room.

"My, this room is jam-packed," the man said as he looked at the men and women. "Well, if I am going to look at the girl, I need everyone to clear out of here.”

There was a slight unwillingness in the air, but slowly everyone left the room. Including Catherine and Annie.

"That's better," he said as he rested the bag in his hand (which I didn't notice before) against the wall. "My name is Doctor Adrian Banks and you are?”

I kept quiet. I didn't know what to say. Moments ago the one werewolf, Michael, said he had kidnapped me to torture me, but in front of me was a doctor. Or maybe he wasn’t a doctor at all? Maybe he is the one to torture me?

The hair on the back of my neck and arms rose and a shiver went up my spine. A picture of a scalpel in this man's hands came to mind.

"I'm not going to hurt you, little one," Doctor Adrian Banks said as he stood with his arms folded. "I only want to examine your health.”

"I don't believe you," I said finally, my voice a little hoarse.

"Then I'll wait until you do," Doctor Adrian Banks said and pulled out a foldable chair that was hidden behind the closet. "And as we wait, I'll tell you a little of myself.”

I kept quiet and pulled the blanket higher. I looked at the man that was now seated only a few steps away from me. If I had to guess, Doctor Adrian Banks was in his mid-fifties. There was a little grey in his hair and his eyes looked like they have seen a lot.

"Let's start with the time when I was a little boy. I wasn't born in a pack. I was born in a forest and I was left there. The Alpha of this pack back then found me and took me in, gave me a family. I didn't know they had taken me in until I was ten…" Doctor Adrian Banks continued on with his story. He spoke of a lot of stuff and soon my eyes started to get heavy.

I had my eyes shut for only a few seconds and then they flashed open. When will the time when I stopped seeing that gory scene? The scene made my heart heavy. To tell the truth, I didn't believe my Dad was really going to do it. He couldn't really have. That is to cruel, even for my Dad.

He'd always come out of the room where one of our latest victims were held, clean. Not even a splatter of blood on his clothes. The room would be entirely clean of torture, except for the surgical instruments that laid about.

I guess I always thought it was just faked. Walking into that room showed me that it wasn't faked though. Now it was just a sick joke I want to forget.

What if my father had found out about me? Would he pierce my flesh and bones with knifes and surgical instruments? Would he look at me the way he looks at his victims? With hate and anger?

The answer was probably… yes, he would look at me like that. It wouldn't just be with hatred and anger. There will be betrayal.

Even though I was scared of my dad, he wasn't so bad. Before he dragged me into this game of his, he did treat me like a princess. Spoiled me silly with candies and took me shopping almost weekly.

I remember his smile. It looked good on him. It made his face light up and his eyes sparkle. The shine had gone away though. It's been a long time since I've seen him smile. I missed it.

Dad was a good man, blind as he was, just like all monster.

"…my daughter is about your age," Doctor Adrian Barks, drawing me back to what he was saying. "You're about seventeen, eighteen, nineteen? My daughter is eighteen. I'll send her over tomorrow to talk to you. You guys might end up being best friends…”

"My Dad isn't a bad person," I interrupted him, shocked at the words that came out of my mouth. I looked at him straight in the eyes. "He never hit me or raped me. Most of my friends at the school, they told me their father came home drunk. They start hitting their children, because they get mad and raped their daughters, because… well, I don't know why.

"I know what you guys are thinking. You're thinking he is a bad person. He isn't. He is my dad and he raised me on his own. He wouldn't hurt me. Do you think he'll hurt me?”

The doctor looked at me, his mouth slightly open. Clearly he didn't think I'd talk at all. Neither have I.

I think my speech was to reassure me. To soothe me that my Dad was a good man. To encourage me that my Dad wouldn't harm me in the slightest.

"I don't know," the doctor said as he shook his head. Probably to clear it.

"You know," I said, having the urge to talk. "I told Simon we all were monsters. We are just too blind to see it. My dad, I know he is a monster, but even monsters are good. Yet, the question still stands. Why if he is good, am I scared I'd be the next one under his blade? Why if he is good, am I scared to pack my bags just to visit a friend?”

I shook my head and then rubbed my tired eyes. Then the last question formed into my head. "If my dad was good, then why do I feel like if I told him what I was, he'll hate me and start to hit me or rape me? Or worse, not touch me at all.”

"And what are you, little one?" the doctor asked. I just noticed he was kneeled in front of me and his hand on my shoulder.

I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized my slip. I shook off the doctor's hand and moved into the corner of the bed. I shook my head at myself and mentally slapped myself.

"Fine, you don't need to tell me," the doctor said as he took a step back. "but at least tell me your name.”

I thought it over and saw that there was no harm in giving my name. They probably already knew it. "Samantha," I said slowly. It really was my name, but I was so use to being called Sammy, it felt odd giving my full name.

Just then Catherine came in, carrying a tray with food on for two people.

"Thought you guys might be hungry," she said. "especially you, Samantha. I heard you say your name as I entered. Hope you don't mind.”

I kept quiet. I felt slightly lost, like a small child in a swarming centre. Though there were only two other people than just me in this room, I felt crowded beyond believe. I was among stranger. Strangers that possibly want me tortured and dead.

Catherine placed the plate of food in front of me and then turned to the doctor. "Annie said when she finally woke up, she was throwing up. I think she might have a concussion. I not sure.”

"You are take an awful liking to the daughter of the man that just tortured you, Cathy," the doctor said as he accepted a plate of food. Though his voice seemed light, there was a tightness to them. Almost like scowling at her, without making it noticeable.

Right here, I thought and rolled my eyes.

"That's because the girl hasn't been treating me ill, Adrian." Now Catherine sounded peeved.

"From what I hear," the doctor said as he stood up, his voice audibly tight this time. "the girl threw you across the room.”

"And I don't think she meant it," Catherine's voice was sharp, and though the words weren't directed to me, made me flinch.

Doctor Banks groaned. "Cathy, I know you mean well, but I don't think the girl wants help. In the three hours that I've been here, she spoke only ten minutes ago. And when she did speak, it was out of total proportions of what I was talking about.”

Three hours? Really?

Catherine turned to me, but her words were directed to the doctor. "She was probably not listening to you, Adrian. And if she was talking about monsters, I understand. You weren't there to hear what she had to say to her lover. And though I heard only pieces of it, I understood what she was telling.”

"And what did she say?”

"That we are all monsters, even the humans. The only problem is that we are blind to see it.”

It wasn't Catherine to speak, but me, Samantha Simmons, the hostage of the werewolves. Why do I open my mouth at the strangest times?

Catherine seemed delighted that I've talked.

"Exactly," she gleamed at me. Then she turned to Doctor Banks. "Adrian, can't you see? This girl is far wiser then her father. I had noticed it when she told me she didn't want to torture me.”

"This proves nothing," the doctor said. "If I don't examine her soon, I'll be leaving. I already wasted precious time that I could have used to spend time with my family with.”

"I'm Luna, Adrian," Catherine said as she turned sharply towards the doctor. "If I say, you have to comply.”

"Not unless your judgement is clouded, which it undoubtedly is. You've only rested two days after your ordeal. Your wounds have just healed.”

"So now you are questioning my judgement?" Catherine said, while her voice was like ice.

The colour seemed to drain from the doctor's face. "I'll talk to the Alpha tonight about your progress. He might talk some sense into you.”

Catherine face turned deep red as she fisted her hands. She took a couple of breaths and spoke in a guarded tone. "Just examine her, Adrian.”

"I can't if she won't let me.”

I took a deep breath and sat up straight. "I'll let you examine," I said and saw the relief on Catherine's face.

I could see that most of the people were giving her a hard time since being kidnapped. There were dark circle around her eyes. I could see she needed a break, and I was willing to help, if only to prolong the time till they will torture me.

The doctor looked a little shocked. He mumbled something and I thought I heard word "unpredictable", but I wasn't sure.

Catherine went and set on the vacated chair, trying not to look noticeable.

The doctor went to his bag and took out a stethoscope. He walked towards me and pulled out a pen from his front pocket.

"Tell me, little Samantha," the doctor said as he shown a light from the pen into my eyes. "How does your head feel?”

"Better since I woke up here," I said. I noticed there was still a thumbing, but not as noticeable as it was. "Still hurts slightly, but if I don't focus on it, it's forgotten.”

"That's good," he said. "As I was talking, I noticed you were starting to doze off, and then you seem to snap out of it. Can you tell me about?”

I hesitated. I couldn't stop my eyes from going to Catherine's. Finally, when I broke away, I looked down. "Can't sleep without remembering," I whispered. "Just before I was kidnapped, I saw something I shouldn't have.”

I knew Doctor Banks eyes had gone to Catherine and came back to me. "So you're having nightmares?”

I nodded my head and looked at the doctor.

He sighed and then he set the stethoscope ready for use and then held it over my heart under my shirt. Oh, this doesn't feel awkward at all.

"Breathe," he said simply and I complied. He moved the piece a little. "Breathe.”

He then set away the stethoscope. "I think all she needs is a little sleep. I'll give her as sedative to help her sleep.”

I shook my head as fear filled me. "I don't want to you to come near me with a needle, Doctor.”

"Then you'll have to drink some pills," he said and went to his bag. He took out a few containers and read the labels. Once he found the two bottles he wanted, he placed the rest in his bag.

"This one is for the head," he said as he help out the bottle. It was a short cylinder bottle. "Drink it when your head starts to ache. And this one you've got to take just before you sleep. Got it?" The last bottle he held up was much larger than the previous one. "Take only one pill.”

"I think I'll take it now," I said as I took a pill from the second container.

Catherine gave me a glass of water and then left with the doctor. Before she was fully out the door, I called her name. Catherine turned slowly and looked at me.

"You asked me before 'why do I stay' and I told you that I didn't know," I said as I looked at her, my hands clasped on the cool glass in my hand. "I know now. I stayed, because then I didn't have to look over my shoulder or sleep with one eye open, scared that my dad might walk through the door and his face is a portrait of betrayal. I stayed, because then I’m not like you. I didn't fear for my life. I stayed, because then I'd be surrounded by people that care for me and not be seen as Jeremiah Simmons daughter.”

With my last words, I slipped the pill into my mouth and washed it down with water. I didn't know if Catherine was still in the room, but I laid on my side, my back to the door, and pulled the blanket up just up to my chin. I wanted some sleep.