Bound By The Beta

The Gates?

"I'm not trying to destroy anything," her mother said quickly. "I know you want to be different, and I'm not saying that's wrong."

Her mother's hand reached toward Carmilla's striking blue hair, then paused mid-air. Carmilla caught the flicker of conflicting emotions on her face but chose to stay silent.

Just yesterday, upon her return, that blue hair had been one of the first things her mother scolded her about and even struck her for. Dyeing one's hair was extremely rare, and when it happened, it was usually a deep black to enhance shine and beauty. Instead, Carmilla had let her friend Richard, one of the few men she trusted at the Academy, experiment on her hair. She had chosen the vivid blue herself. She wasn't a classic beauty, but the unnatural shade gave her a sharp, rebellious edge. It made her unforgettable. A quiet declaration of power she welcomed.

Her mother continued, gently gripping her arm. "It's amazing, truly… but you know how it is for women. If they don't marry in their prime, it becomes much harder later."

Carmilla froze. Then her body began to tremble with barely restrained rage. She abruptly pulled away from her mother, terrified she might actually strike the woman who had given birth to her. Disgust burned through her veins.

"No man born of a damn woman will ever dictate my worth! You hear me?!"

Carmilla shot to her feet and stormed out of the room she had once shared with Layla before her sister's marriage. Urgent footsteps followed close behind her.

She tried to contain the fire raging inside her, but she was an open fuse now. She would rather explode than let herself be reduced to something easy to control.

"I don't give a bloody damn if I never marry!" she shouted over her shoulder. "I'll make my own damn money, buy my own damn house, and live alone. Watch me!"

Her mother grabbed her arm. Carmilla pushed forward, shrugging her off without breaking stride. Her head was pounding with fury, thoughts barely coherent.

Then she heard it, the sound of her mother breaking into tears.

Carmilla froze mid-step. Guilt slammed into her first, followed quickly by concern. She turned around, heart twisting, and moved back toward her mother. She pulled the smaller woman into her arms.

"I'm sorry, Mom… I didn't mean to push you," she whispered, voice cracking.

As she held her, Carmilla finally noticed the deep wrinkles and heavy bags under her mother's eyes. Has she not been sleeping? Fresh tears slipped down her own cheeks.

Where is Dad when you need him?

She tightened her embrace around her mother's fragile frame.

"Your father is sick."

Her eyes widened. She pulled away sharply.

"You said he travelled for a business trip in those letters."

"I lied," her mother admitted, voice trembling. "I didn't want you and your brother worrying while you were at the Academy, especially with your exams."

"Percy doesn't know?" Carmilla's voice cracked. "Wait… why am I assuming the worst? Tell me it's just a cold, Mother. Please."

Her mother slowly shook her head, tears spilling freely now.

"He's at the hospital. We need to raise money. The Featheringtons are helping as much as they can, but it's not enough. Layla is about to give birth.. another mouth to feed. Percy hasn't graduated yet, so his Academy fees are still due. There's been no income since your father fell ill. Your own fees were paid through loans, and now they're overdue…"

Her mother crumpled to the floor.

"Your father is in so much pain. He's getting closer to death every day.. I see it every time I visit. He turns his back to me now because he doesn't want me to see how bad it is. He even shouted at me to let him die… said it would be better, that it would ease the financial pressure." Her voice broke. "But his hands were shaking, Carmilla. He's terrified. He's trying to be strong for me, but I know the truth. He wants to live. I want him to live too."

Carmilla's mother gripped her hands desperately. The raw despair in her eyes shattered something deep inside Carmilla.

She broke down.

Carmilla sank to the floor beside her, numb.

"But… there's hope," her mother said cautiously. "Our neighbor.. the Carpenters' second son from the Gates family... is interested in you."

Second son…?

Carmilla's body froze in pure fear and disgust. Bob Gates?!

The image of that sleazy, overweight man with his buried history of abuse flashed through her mind. She recoiled sharply from her mother.

Her mother closed her eyes in shame. The sting of betrayal twisted deep in Carmilla's chest. Her own mother was willing to sell her to save her father.

"The rumors are exaggerated," her mother insisted, reaching for her hand again, desperation thick in her voice. "It can't be that bad."

Carmilla yanked her hand away.

"That bad?!" she cried. "You remember Cassidy.. the one who was seen with a black eye, screaming that he r***d her?!"

"Cassidy is the town's w***e. You can't possibly believe her. Besides, you're a virgin. Men take care of women who preserve themselves."

Carmilla stared at her mother in disbelief. She's actually mad if she believes that.

"Mother… please."

"He recently won the lottery... a thousand gold coins!" her mother pressed on. "He's a rich man now. Didn't you see the new building? He promised to cover all the medical bills if he marries you. Your father would be saved, the debts cleared, and Percy could finish his studies and become a doctor in five years. He would take care of us."

"No. No. No."

A hard slap cracked across Carmilla's cheek.

"Your father gave you everything you wanted," her mother said, her voice turning cruel. "You went to the Academy. You graduated in Journalism. But that dream ends here. They will always choose the men first. Reality is cruel, Carmilla. I had dreams too. Your sister had dreams. We all did. But we made sacrifices, the same sacrifices you benefited from. Now it's your turn. Please… don't make this harder for us. At least meet him first before you decide."

Was this reality's twisted way of telling her time up?