Bullied by my Step-brothers

Chapter 2

While the tears were pouring out of control, my face turned red from fear and Camilla's voice echoed in my head: "You almost killed my son because you wanted revenge, right?" I could feel my eyelids getting heavier by the second until they closed and I went numb. "You better be dead," I heard someone far away say as they passed out.

Adrianna had poured water all over me to wake me up. When I opened my eyes, I felt cold because I was soaked. "Get up, bag of bones, mother has asked for you," she said as she dropped the bucket.

When I came out, a small bag of clothes was waiting for me. Camilla glared at me and said, "Get your things and leave this house right away." "Please mother, where do you want me to go?"Feeling cold and total disdain, I said, "Don't call me that again; haven't I warned you?" Listen up, take your things, and get out of here right now!!"She said in a higher voice, which made me shiver." Adrianna was by her side as she brought my things outside in the middle of the night, and I could hear her telling me to leave. I had to crawl and cry because I couldn't move my legs. "Please mother, please I have nowhere to go, please," I begged as I sobbed uncontrollably.

I woke up in the corner being pulled by two men. I hadn't even noticed them there before. They had me thrown out with clothes that I wouldn't even call comfortable.

I was crying outside when I fell to the ground because my legs were hurting so much. I picked up my clothes and started walking, but I didn't know where I was going because I had only ever been to my house and my dad wasn't around much to show me relatives. I walked with sores on my feet and only a few clothes on.

I suddenly remembered what the flower vendor had said earlier about the beast being nearby. I finally felt like I could die without any problems, so I walked off to the woods near the road and stumbled in to make sure I became prey for whatever was there. I didn't want to live anymore; all I could do was hate my stepmother and her kids. I laid down there and hoped for the worst, but as my eyelid began to close, I knew it was time.

As I opened my eyes, the sunlight coming in through the open curtains made me cry. I could feel the warm, soft bed, but my body hurt all over. It wasn't home, and I felt relaxed but also like I didn't want to be here.

As he walked into the room, I heard a calm, deep voice ask for water. "I can sense that you are awake," the voice said. When I fully opened my eyes and looked at who was talking, the bed seemed to sink as he sat down next to me.

"Uh.. What is this place and who are you?"I said, still not fully awake, "This is my home, the Valerion house. My name is Dorian, Dorian Valerion." Suddenly, I opened my eyes wide and saw the huge figure sitting next to me. It was him, the dark duke of Elowen. I had heard a lot of good things about him and Adrianna had given me a good description of him. Everything about him was true, from his broad shoulders to his very handsome face to his dark hair to his calm, alluring voice. But one thing was wrong.

Sitting up on the bed with my back against the big bed, he told me to be careful because my back was making it hard to sit down.

I told them, "My name is Kathleen Kaelar, I'm homeless and should have been left for dead. I'm grateful that you saved me, and I'm sorry you had to pick me up and care for me."

As he stood up, he said, "It's really not a problem. You should get some rest because the condition you were in when I met you was quite shocking. I'll send some food in, and I'll let you rest."

Soon, a young woman came in with a tray of pancakes, a good breakfast I hadn't had in years. Another woman brought a change of clothes that looked very stylish and expensive; I could tell because the dress was fashion-forward and had a corset bearing.

I almost lost it, but I kept my cool and said, "I really can't wear this; it's too expensive." Then I ate the pancakes and said, "The maid of the house asked that you wear this; you were drenched in water yesterday; I'm surprised you haven't caught a cold yet. Please freshen up and wear this," she said with a smile, leaving me to change.

The dress was too tight, and the bath was too relaxing—the lavender scent lingered on my skin. I felt alive, but I also didn't like asking a man I barely knew for help. I opened the door to my room and peered out. I saw a big hallway. I tried to leave with the tray, but he stopped me.

Dorian looked down at me and said, "Give me the tray. You still need to rest." He then took the tray from my hands and gave it to a girl who seemed to move quickly to him. She took it quickly while he told me I could rest with his eyes.

I bowed my head a little to show thanks and said, "I think it's really enough, my lord. I have no reason to accept your favours or even be in your home."

He said with a serious look, "Okay, you'll get a chance to repay me."

"Please, when will I have the honour of repaying you? Oh, I'll be your maid, I'll work for free; just let me work! I can cook, clean, wash, I'm good at everything!" I exclaimed with joy. "My lord!" I added with politeness.

He only smiled at me, showing me a small part of his beautiful teeth. I think it was a smirk. "Who said you were a maid?"He asked rhetorically, "There's only one way to pay me."

"My lord, what should I do?""I asked, confused. "Marry me," he replied.

I kept hearing his words over and over as he spoke: getting married, and not to just anyone, to the dark duke. I wasn't ready for what he said, but I was already too weak to answer. My eyes slowly closed, and I could feel my body fall, but not to the ground. Someone was holding me, and I could tell it was a firm hand, but my body had its own mind.