The Broken Songbird

CHAPTER FOUR

BETH'S POV

Two days had gone by and I still had no idea what was going to become of me. For some reason that was way worse than knowing. The worst part of it was that Sophia practically tortured me.

I knelt down in front of my parents door like I had been since that night. In hopes that they would help, that maybe this would soften their charcoal hearts.

The door was pushed open, forcing away my thoughts and l lifted my head up to find my mother staring at me with disgust. "You're still here? God, you disgust me." She spat before I could even sign a word.

"Get out of my sight, you're not going to ruin my morning," her leg met my waist, kicking me out of the way and I fell to the floor trying to catch my breath.

My eyes grew glossy with tears but I wiped them off before they slid down my face. Letting out a tired sigh, I picked up my cane heading downstairs when Sophia spotted me and smiled. An ugly, vicious smile just like her soul. Before I turned away she lifted her arm pouring her remaining hot coffee all over me.

“You’ll pay for ruining everything,” she hissed. “You think he’ll choose you? You that can't even string a sentence.”

I bit my lip to stop a scream that threatened to come out and kept walking. Later, as I entered Mrs Brenda’s room with her breakfast tray, I tried to blink back my tears, to smile like nothing was wrong but she saw it.

“Oh, baby,” she whispered, standing from her chair. “Beth… what’s wrong?”

My hands moved before I could stop them, my body trembling. "What do I do? I don’t want to stay with him. I don’t know what to do."

Before I could finish my sentence she caught my hand mid-signing and pulled me into a tight hug. "Don't cry. Please, I can't stand it when you cry." She whispered but I sobbed into her shoulder, too tired to hold anything in.

“Come stay with me,” she said, pulling away.

I blinked. What?

"I’m serious. You’ll be safe. You’re not property, Beth.” Mrs. Brenda said with a smile and my jaw almost dropped in shock.

But then I told her no. I signed it quickly, my hands shaking. "I can’t live with you. It’ll ruin everything. I’ll always owe you."

She gave me that soft, no-nonsense look. “Don’t start with that, Beth. I have savings. I’m not staying in this job because I need the money. I’m doing it for the quiet. I can get quiet anywhere.”

It was the first time anyone had offered me an out with no strings. My heart felt lighter than it ever had and without another sign I turned, running towards my room.

Pushing the basement door open, I grabbed the first bag my eyes landed on and started packing. I hadn’t even zipped the bag shut when the door burst open.

My mother walked in followed by Sophia .

“What the hell is this?” Her voice was like knives.

I didn’t stop packing.

“She’s leaving,” Sophia said, laughing. “She actually thinks she has somewhere to go.”

I turned and signed clearly. "I'm moving out." I relished seeing the blood wash out their faces.

“Where?” my mother demanded, her blue eyes glowing with scorn and hatred.

"Mrs. Brenda’s." I answered, waiting for a reaction but I got nothing and to be honest their silence was worse than all the yelling.

“Sophia, that’s the old librarian, right?” my mother asked and I could watch an evil plan hatching behind her eyes.

I stepped back, clutching my bag. “She’s the one with the lawyer son, isn’t she?” Her tone sharpened.

"Please… don’t ruin this," I signed, quickly. "Just let me go." But instead of a reply she only gave me a smile, a very unsettling one.

“If you leave, I won’t stop you. But don’t blame me when that lawyer loses his job… and everything else.” She spat and Sophia let out a chuckle as they exchanged glances.

She grabbed me by my shirt and dragged me out of the room, down the stairs not even batting an eye when I stumbled. “Go on then. Go be someone’s burden.”

She threw me to the floor and I sat up almost immediately grabbing my cane. “Wait here for your new master.” My mother said, her nostrils flaring and I watched her walk up the stairs.

Just then Mrs. Brenda walked out holding her bags, probably done for the day. “What’s happening? What did they do to you?" She asked, her voice shaking.

She stepped closer probably wanting to hug me but I stepped back almost immediately. I couldn't afford another hug there was no doubt I was going to break.

She stopped in her tracks and I just stood there, my back to the door, hands shaking, hoping the car would come soon.

Mrs. Brenda walked closer to me, her brown eyes filled with so much confusion it hurt. “Why are you crying, sweet girl? Huh?”

I couldn’t even look up, I tried to wipe the tears but they only flowed more. I just signed frantically, "No… no, Brenda. You can’t take my things. They’ll come after your son. They said if you help me, he’ll lose his job. I have to go."

My hands were shaking so much that I could barely finish the sentence. Mrs. Brenda's expression crumbled, with burning rage.

“They can’t do that,” she whispered harshly, standing. “They don’t have that kind of power. My son isn’t… I’ll go in there and tell them my…”

"No!" I grabbed her sleeve. "Please don’t. I can’t let them hurt you because of me. I love you too much for that."

My voice didn’t work, but she understood and her face softened instantly.

It looked like she wanted to argue but after a thought decided to drop it. Before I could deny another hug her hands were already wrapped around me.

“I’ll come back for you,” she said in my ear, voice trembling. “I promise, Beth. And I’ll make sure they pay. They won’t get away with this.”

I held onto her not wanting to let go but the sound of approaching footsteps brought me back and a voice called gently, “I’m here to pick up a Miss Elizabeth Darven.”

I turned slowly to find a middle aged man in a driver’s uniform standing at the gate, holding the car door open.

"He’s here," I signed to Miss Brenda, my shoulders slumping. With tears in my eyes I pulled away and walked towards the car not bothering to turn back.

The drive was long and I spent most of it trying to ignore the pitiful looks the driver gave me. Victor’s house was nothing like ours.

It stood tall, with sweeping balconies and pale stone walls, modern yet somehow still looked very Victorian.

The driver pulled into the roundabout and I stepped out in a hurry not wanting to irritate him. That was the last thing I needed right now. He drove off, and I turned to find a girl staring at me at the entrance. She looked to be in her midtwenties with dark long hair.

"You must be Elizabeth." She said with excitement but I caught her glancing at my cane every now and then. "Come with me. Mr. De Luca said to wait for him in his study "

Without another work she turned heading inside and I followed trying my best to keep up. The house was surprisingly modern inside with thousands of paintings and flowers. You'd think the owner actually had a heart.

"We're here," she said with a dramatic flair and I couldn't help but give her a small smile but that sank when I realized she was going to leave me here alone.

She closed the door behind her and I stood waiting. I had no idea how long I had been there but my legs ached and just as I turned to take a seat, my leg gave out. My eyes widened in shock and I held onto the first thing I saw which just had to be a large whiskey bottle.

It fell, broke into a bit, piercing my hand as the liquid spread across the table and on hundreds of papers. My blood ran cold and I felt a lump form in my throat. No! No...no!!!!

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse the door clicked open and I turned to meet Victor's intimidating gaze.