I woke up with her still in my arms. She was beautiful as she slept. She looked so peaceful. A knock on the door jerked her awake. Her calm, peaceful state shattered by the knock. I cursed under my breath as I opened the door. Mother stood there. A hand print around her neck, but her cruel smile was still there. The print had love etched into every detail. I did my best not to gag.
"Get that bag of bones out of your bed." She sneered, eyeing Rosa, who was just sitting up. "It's time for practice. I hope she practiced last night. Oh right, she did… And you hit her." Mother smiled maliciously.
"No! Stop! I'm sorry! Don't hurt him!" Rosa screamed as she chased us inside. Father led his men to the basement, while his men had tight grips on me. She reached for me before father slammed the basement door on her. Locking her out.
Father locked the door before he walked over to me. His men tied me to a chair. He tilted my chin up, and looked at me with the eyes of a caring father. "You're my son. I don't want to do this to you." His grip tightened. "Who am I kidding? You killed your brother, and obviously can't teach Rosa her vows. We promised that you would be the one to be punished if she got it wrong." Father laughed cruelly.
He walked over to his table and examined the tools. He picked up the whip, but put it down. He pulled out his lighter and held it up to his pocket knife. He walked over, spinning the knife. The blade was red hot.
"No, dad, I'm sorry. Please, she'll do better tomorrow. Just don't-"
He stabbed my hand to the arm of the chair. I screamed in pain. He grabbed my face again and dug his nails into my flesh. "No? Dad?" He twisted the knife. I screamed louder as pain shot up my arm. "It's yes sir, and father. I don't know who this 'dad' is. You were not raised in a barn."
He jerked the knife out of my hand and reheated it. I heard Rosa's screams for mercy on me. She was banging on the door. "Stop! Stop! He did nothing! Let him go! Take me instead!" She screamed.
"Bring her here, and tie her up. Force her to watch." Father told one of his minions. A short, plump man nodded and ran upstairs. He came back down with Rosa, who was in tears. The man forced her into a chair and tied her up.
"You have me… Now let him go." She cried.
Father laughed cruelly and wagged a finger in front of her face. "Not gonna happen. He needs to learn to take control. To force someone to do as they're told." He pressed the hot blade against my arm. I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying out in pain again. But Rosa, she screamed and thrashed around, despite her restraints.
"Stop! Stop that! You're hurting him!" She screamed. She rocked her chair, trying to get out.
Father reheated the blade and pressed it against my skin. Over, and over, and over again. Rosa sobbed harder, and harder, and harder.
I pinned her against the door, my hands were tight around her throat. "You messed everything up you little shit! You're the reason I'm hurt! Without you, I would have never been punished! You fucken idiot!" I slammed her against the door.
The door shook, but held. Her wide, tear filled eyes met mine as she struggled to breath. She clawed at my hands, but I never let go. She started turning red, to a light blue.
I threw her to the ground. "Get the fuck up. We have dinner to get to. Your family's coming over." I sneered as she gasped for breaths. Tears streamed down her face.
I walked over and glared down at her, my fists still clenched. She looked up at me in horror and hatred. Her breathing was still uneven and her tears continued to fall. I grab her wrist roughly and jerk her to her feet. "Lucian. Please. No more. This isn't you."
Isn't me? You don't know what's me. "Shut it, crazy woman."
The whole dinner was quiet. Rosa's brother sat still, never touching his food. Mother suddenly started talking. "I expect you all at the wedding tomorrow. The colors are black or gray. Child," Mother looked at Rosa's little sister. "You shall be the flower girl."
"You can't force her." Rosa's older brother, Adrian, said.
"Watch your mouth, boy." Father snapped.
"You piece of shit!" Something inside Adrian snapped, and he lunged for father, holding his knife. But father pulled out his gun and shot the boy.
Dead.
I stood at the altar as Rosa's father walked her down the aisle. The wedding dress hugged her like a glove, bragging about her curves.
One of my cousins muttered something suggestive, and it took all my control not to wrap my hands around his small, fragile neck.