Winged Angel

Chapter 2

“What’s wrong.” Mother spoke with a smile as she stepped into the kitchen. I didn’t make eye contact as I worked.

“Tell me you have not laid a hand on our daughter.” Father spoke angrily.

“I have not laid a hand on her.” Mother spoke a little taken back.

“What is this.” He pointed to my back. I looked at her then him and was a bit confused.

“I don’t know. I have been in the house all day.” Mother spoke holding back the anger that is boiling in her eyes. I wonder what father saw that made him call her.

“I think you know darn well.” He spoke right mad. I watched him step up to mother. I quickly moved so when he went to slap her I grabbed his hand.

“I’m sorry father. I hit my back on the fence after feed the cows the other day. I thought it would be okay to leave it uncovered today.” I spoke gently. Mother was right mad and I knew if I got out of a beating today it would be a miracle.

Father stormed off, mother following close. I raced to a mirror in the room and noticed there was blood on the shirt. Carefully lifting the end of my shirt up I saw the mark’s all over my back. The shirt I wore yesterday was thick so I knew the blood would not seep through. With a sigh I removed the thick shirt and carefully cleaned up the open wounds. There where only 4 or five open ones that I placed Band-Aid’s on before changing my shirt. This one was a black very thin shirt. I knew I would be in trouble if mom did hit me in this shirt but I had no other option.

I quickly got back to work and started working the dough for pizza. I had a few hours before brother was going to be home. I so couldn’t wait to see him. I put the garlic cheese sticks in the oven and finished rolling the pizza dough. There was going to be 2 large veg pizza. I got the wings out and started to prep them. I had three different sauces and 15 wings per each sauce. I got them soaking while I waited for the oven to be ready.

“You little wench.” Mother spoke as I got the pizza's prepped and ready for the oven. I was just about to pull the cheese sticks out of oven. I ignored her and did just that. I felt the whip before it even hit. I flinched in pain causing mother to grumble. The hit me 5 more times and I felt my flesh be torn into. She wasn’t using the usual whip. The one she usually uses never bit into skin.

I stood where I was gripping the counter as she whipped me another 6 times. I held in the pain, the screams and most of all the hate she kept hitting me with. I never knew what I did to deserve this, I mean it’s one thing to hit me with the whip that just left small mark’s but this one was really biting.

“I don’t want to be questioned like that ever again. I never lay a hand on you.” Mother screamed after 6 more cracks. She turned and left as I crippled to the floor. Tears began running down my cheeks like the blood dripping down my back. I hoisted myself up as best I could to turn the stove off and stumbled over to my little room.

“AHHH,” I screamed into my arm as I pulled off my shirt carefully. It was completely ruined. Looked like some two year old took scissors to it. I breathed for a moment just trying to dull the pain. I had to finish supper, there was just no option. I placed the mangled up t-shirt on my back before I grabbed another from the dirty bin. Carefully wrapped them to my body I used an old tensor bandage. Father got it for me when I had sprained my wrist a few years ago. With another black shirt from the laundry bin I threw it on and cleaned it up as best I could to look presentable.

“There you are.” Father called from the door way as I approached the oven once more. I smiled his way as I set the oven back up again.

“Your brother has just arrived. We are going to pick him up. Would you like to come?” Father asked.

“I have much to finish before he arrives.” I told him looking at the Pizza and wings that still needed to be cooked not to mention the lava cake.

“Alright, please be careful.” Father said walking in and kissing the top of my head. I smiled happily as I watched him leave. Mother right behind him but not before she could send a scowl my way. I just sighed deeply when the door shut. I knew things where not going to be easy.

I got back to work. I put the wings in the bottom portion of the convection oven leaving the top available for the pizza in which I had put in. I began to make my brownie cake mix as I watched the pizza cook. When it was almost ready I pulled it out and got the second one in. The first I put off to the side on the counter so I wouldn’t burn myself touching it.

Half hour or so and both pizzas where back in the oven. The wings sat in three different serving bowls with lids on to keep them warm. I had them on the table. Bread stick where also in the oven all just more keeping warm. I had plates on the table and glasses full of everyone’s favorite drinks.

I felt our old 4 door Sudan rolling down the drive way where I pulled out the bread sticks and pizza. Quickly cutting it I raced them to the dining room. Pizza on either side of the 4 seated table and breadsticks in the center. I had a nice bottle of wine out, cork free. I had a bottle stopper in so it made it easy to pour.

“Where home.” Mother called sweetly. I just smiled. Mother use to do this every time Alex came home. She really didn’t care I was here.

“Wow, I smell home made pizza.” His voice got slightly deeper then last I remembered but still brought tears to my eyes. My brother was finally home and I knew I was safe. Not that I was in danger but I still felt safe.

“Avery has been slaving in the kitchen all day preparing this.” Father exclaimed happily.

“Wow it spells so good.” A female voice spoke causing a grin to appear on my face. He brought a girl home. Oh I so hope supper turned out now. A potential future sister in law was here.

“Come leave your bags and let’s eat.” Mother spoke knocking on the wall. I knew she lead my brother and his new girl to the dinning room. I stepped out of the kitchen to see there bags and knew what had to be done. I grabbed them and walked them up to Alex’s room where I kept them at the foot of the bed. I walked back down to the kitchen where I put the cakes in. I cooked them for 20 minutes before I pulled them out. Putting them on the counter I cut small indents out of the middle of the cakes and filled them with chips. I then put to pieces together and placed them back in the oven for a few minutes. I started to melt caramel pieces on the stove to which would be drizzled ontop.

“Desert better be ready.” Mom called with a huff as she came walking in. I was plating the last one on the tray so she could take it. She did so with out questions. I sighed as I got to work cleaning up. The kitchen was spotless by the time mom hustled everyone into the living room. I began the dishes and putting things away. I nearly collapsed from pain and exhaustion by the time the last plate was put in the cupboard.

I sighed as I leaned against the cupboard and just breathed. I had no energy to get to my room so I crawled to my nock in the corner. I laid down on the makeshift bed and fell asleep.

Fear took me when I was woken by someone shuffling in the kitchen. I quickly rose despite my legs warning. I slowly stepped out to see a beautiful ginger head, tall well shaped young women. My mouth dropped before a smile etched my lips. My brother chose a beautiful lady.

“Can I help you?” I asked gently. She yelled as she jumped away from me. When she saw it was only me she took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Its alright, I’m looking for a glass of water if I could.” She asked sweetly. I nodded and grabbed her a glass before I poured her water.

“There you are.” I told her passing the glass of water over.

“Thank you.” She smiled as she took a big long swig. “Alex never mentioned a maid before.”

“He doesn’t know.” I told her with a frown. I was kind of glad he didn’t show her a picture of me. This was not how I wanted Alex to see me.

“I see. Then do you know where Avery is. Alex has been worried sick about her. She wasn’t in her room.” She asked gently.

“She has gone out.” I spoke not really sure what to say.

“Odd she had gone out when her brother just got home.” She frowned. “Sorry where are my manners. Jessica.”

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled as I shook her hand.

“No way.” Jessica spoke as she held my hand tighter. I looked at her confused. She put her cup down and started dragging me. Her hand sat on my back causing pain to rip through me. I wanted to stop, to turn back, but she wouldn’t let me. She kept pushing my back and I kept trying to get away from the pain.

It didn’t take long before I knew where she was leading me. I tried to turn but she held me down. I had to follow her and she was going to make sure of it. What was I going to say to him. I was dirty not to mention I was in a lot of pain due to the pressure she had on my back.

“Please.” I spoke not really sure what I wanted.

“Alex I found her in the kitchen.” Jessica said as we entered his bedroom.

“Jesus Avery where have you been.” Alex cried as he rose from the bench he had along the one wall. He strode over to me and wrapped me in his arms. I wanted to scream with pain but due to how happy I was to see him I was able to hold it in.

“I'm sorry.” I gently cried into his chest. I missed him so much. He didn’t let me go for a good 10 minutes. By then my back had enough and was more then glad he let go.

“I was anticipating you would be like a little puppy at the door waiting for me.” He chuckled as he led me to the bench. Jessica sat on the bed and watched us.

“I was cooking.” I told him not really lying. I would have loved to be at the door to great him but couldn’t. Mother would have never let it.

“Avery what’s wrong? Your not your old self. Father is even worried about you.” Alex said grabbing my hand and hold them tight. “He says moms hitting you but you won’t tell him.”

“Everyone keeps questioning me on this.” I spoke as the pain and tears began to fall. “She does not lay a hand on me.”

“Well what’s wrong?” He asked.

“Its best we don’t talk about it.” I told him looking away.

“No, that is not how this works.” Alex spoke mad. “What is wrong?”

“Everything is fine.” I told him. “How was your time away?”

“No Avery you don’t get to change the subject.” He spoke angrily.

“Calm down Alex.” Jessica warned. I think she knew something was wrong. The way he was getting angry was causing me to get more upset. I don’t know what I did to deserve all this anger.

“No, I leave for four years and my sister is like this. I left and she was happy and healthy. I now come back and she looks sick and unhappy.” Alex said upset. I had enough. I got up and raced down stairs. I didn’t stop at my little cubby I raced right outside to the barn. Up in the loft I laid down on a bed I had made out of the straw and just cried. He was right I was happy and healthy when he left and now. He didn’t need to come home to this. He didn’t need any of this.

I woke up to bright lights and knew it had to be morning. I couldn’t move nor did I want to. I just wanted to be alone. None of them would find me here. None of them knew of this area. This was my safe place.

I closed my eyes and imagined a time before Alex left. I was happy and healthy as we did the choirs together. We had our maid who cooked food for us so we could all eat at the table together. I cant believe in a week that was all taken from us. Fathers attention turned to work where he worked long hours, Mother fired the maid so we would have more money for her needs and I went from a normal child to a house maid. When Alex was here I was treated like a princess. They would make sure my needs where cared for even before there own.

The horses whined waking me once again. This time it was dark out again I didn’t care. I knew it had to be Alex or Father coming in to feed the horses and cattle. Things I was suppose to do but just couldn’t get up to do it.

“Where could she have gone.” Alex's voice cried from the door.

“Easy son we will find her. Don’t you worry.” Father spoke from under me. Worry etched his every word even though he tried to make it reassuring.

“She never runs away though.” Alex sighed. “I should have never left her. She has changed so much.”

“She has son but she would have changed if you went or not. Plus you knew how happy she was with your decision to go. She wanted to hear about your adventures and see all the sights you did.” Father chuckled.

“And all I did was drill her on her health.” Alex said kicking a bit of gravel under his foot. I began to cry once more before I knew sleep took me. I woke to darkness again and my back was killing me. The pain was so great in nauseated me. I was glad I hadn’t eaten anything or I probably would have thrown up. I closed my eyes and focused on sleep again. I did finally fall asleep but took time. I woke again to the sun. My stomach now hurt as much as my back. I knew I had to get some food or I would die of pain. I tried to rise but my hands wouldn’t lift me. I rolled over but as I hit my back I yelped.

“Avery.” Jessica cried. I just laid there crying from the pain. I wasn’t being quiet about it. “Alex.”

“Jessica,” I whispered as her hand fell on my shoulder.

“Hey, I’m here. Just relax.” She gently spoke as she rubbed my shoulder. “Avery can you stand.”

“No. Back.” I almost cried as her thumb ran over a mark. Jessica had me laying on my stomach and began to pull my shirt up.

“Alex,” Jessica cried harder as she pulled me back to my side. She jumped over so she was kneeling in front of me. She grabbed my hand and pulled the hair out of my face. “Avery your safe. I am here don’t worry.”

“Jessica.” Alex cried as he entered the barn.

“In the loft.” Jessica said looking up. I could here Alex racing up the stairs.

“Avery,” Alex cried as he dropped to his knees beside me.

“Alex.” I spoke tears running down my cheeks again.

“She is bad.” Jessica spoke lifting my shirt. Alex hissed before he leaned down and they both picked me up. My back was in the air and my arms dangled to the ground.

“To my room. There is no way she is going anywhere else in the house.” Alex spoke as they began to get me out of the loft and to the house. Father spotted us and came running over. He took over for Jessica who opened all the doors for us. Mother was confused as we walked by her as she was trying to ask.

“Take one more step up these stairs Maria and I swear you will be learning to fly.” Father growled as we climbed. They both raced to Alex's room where Jessica had the sheets drawn. They laid me on the bed carefully back up. “Stay with her I’ll go get the first aid kit.”

“Father.” Alex cried shaking as he grabbed my hand. Jessica was on the bed leaning over and removing me shirt.

“She will be okay.” Father spoke before he left the room the door shutting behind him. I could hear him yelling at mother before I passed out.