Three months later
Three months have passed since Juliet had been caught in the grasp of Vincent. Three terrible months of abuse, three long months of toxic, one sided love, and three excruciating months of grief.
Juliet sat at the dining table, being scolded by Vincent for fighting him. She stared at the blood staining her knuckles before she looked up at Vincent's black eye and the scratches on his neck. But of course, that was nothing, but a pinch compared to the pain he influenced on her all the three months long.
"I've given you a place to stay! I've given you love!" He hollered at her.
"I had a place before this. And this will never be called love. Not today, not tomorrow, not a hundred years from now."
Vincent rounded the table and was at her side in just a few steps. Curse his long legs… She thought to herself. Vincent gripped her chin roughly, digging his nails into chin. "You shall not speak to me that way."
"Why not?"
He tightened his grip and dug his nails deeper into her flesh. "Because you will do as I say or else there will be a punishment."
She nodded slowly, fear racing through her. He'd punished her in multiple ways before. The worst way he'd punished her was just the night before. He had her tied to a chair and repeatedly pressed a hot knife flat against her skin. After the torture, Vincent had her lay on the couch while he applied some ice to her burns.
Vincent tightened his grip on her even more, pulling her back into reality. "Look at me when you're talking." He finally let go of her and stepped back. "Stand up."
She slowly pushed herself out of the chair. Fear rippled through her with enough force that her knees nearly gave way. Vincent grabbed her arm. Not to keep her on her feet, but to force her to move. He started to drag her over to a door under the stairs.
"Vincent, no… Please… Not again." She begged. Her stomach lurched as they moved closer to the closet. "No! Please."
Vincent ignored her and opened the door. The stench from the basement wafted up and flooded her senses. The smell of blood and mold made her stomach flip.
He threw her down the stairs. "Let's hope you learn your lesson before our guests arrive tonight." He smiled down at her sobbing form as he slammed the door shut and locked it.
She spent hours of screaming and clawing at the stone walls and locked door. She was rocking in the corner, pulling her hair when gun shots broke her silent state. She screamed and tried to move deeper into her corner.
The door opened and a dead man stood there.
Asher walked forward before breaking into a run and pulling her into his arms. He smoothed her hair to comfort her. "Honey, I'm here…" He said. His voice broke as he spoke. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so happy you're safe." He pulled back and picked her up slowly. He carried her through the living room, where Vincent laid on the floor. She tried to get a better view of the but Asher tightened his grip on her. "Don't worry about him. He can't hurt you anymore.
…
Despite her tiredness and aching, Juliet couldn't seem to sit still on the jet. Across from her, Asher was reading her manuscript. It seemed like a comfort to him. He was reading it for the tenth time, just on that day. Juliet couldn't help but notice the dried water stains on the pages. Then it struck her.
It wasn't water. It was his tears.
She stood up and walked over to him, even though her legs were shaking like a boat in a storm. She sat beside him and put her head on his shoulder.
"I can make you a copy." She muttered as she finally closed her eyes.
"Juliet… I found your diary. I-... I couldn't help but go through it. I'm so, so sorry about that night-"
She cut him off by pressing a quick, soft kiss to his forehead. Before he could respond, she pulled away and laid back, into her seat. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. Asher sat there, watching her, speechless. He put his fingers to the space on his forehead, where her lips had met his skin.
Her kiss wasn't just a comfort for him. It was everything. A way of telling him that she forgave him for the night at the galla. A reminder that she's safe and in his grasp once again. But it was also something he knew he wouldn't get to keep for long.
Asher wrapped his arms around Juliet's sleeping form and pulled her closer as he closed his eyes. He drew in a deep, shaky breath and held her tighter against his chest.
I'll tell her in the morning… He thought as he stroked her hair. He pressed a small kiss to the top of her head before he fell asleep as well.