Chapter 47

FORTY-SEVEN

Somehow,I managed to stop vomiting as my new husband calmly watched me.

He wrapped his arm around me, guiding me out of the room where his dead parents laid and where we had just sipped their blood instead of champagne on our wedding day.

I felt like I was walking through darkened tunnels until we reached a side of the house I had never seen. "This is our new bedroom, my love." We walked in and the heavy scent of peonies wrapped around me. It was sickening.

"Was this your parents' room?" I cringed as I walked inside, my wedding dress now stained with patches of vomit and blood.

"Yes, but it's ours now. We control everything. We are in charge of continuing their legacy." He began undressing and paused to turn on the T.V. Backing away, something that resembled a home video began. Squinting, I walked closer to the screen.

It was a significantly younger Ian and Daphne…

Daphne was wearing… I looked down at the dress clinging to me. It was their wedding night. Ian began undressing as Daphne peeled the dress off and walked to the bed. Flicking my eyes behind me, it was the exact same room and bed.

"What is this?" I asked Conrad, who was now under the blankets.

"Tradition," he replied. "It's a sense of good luck. Mother conceived me on their wedding night, so they must have done something right." He patted the spot next to him as I walked backward with my widened eyes on the screen.

He couldn't be serious. He was going to make us watch his parents consummate their marriage while… I couldn't handle any of this. Death had to be better. Brushing my fingers against the locket Bradley had gifted me, I contemplated opening it and swallowing the pill. I could put an end to the misery. But closing my eyes, I could see his hopeful smile. I could see the courage he had for us; I could feel the love we shared as he slid the sneakers on my feet and planned our escape. I was so close to finally being able to live for the first time in my entire life. I had to fight just a little longer.

If the plan with Bradley failed, I'd take the pill. I wouldn't live this way anymore. I couldn't help the caged girls; I couldn't make a difference on my own.

"Come to bed, my bride. Take your gown off." Conrad rubbed the empty space beside him.

I could do this; I had to do this. Taking a deep breath, I remembered another Ivory tradition. Peeling the blanket back, I saw the white towel waiting for me to lay on to ensure I'd bleed. To ensure I was pure and only Conrad's.

"I'm going to the powder room for a moment. I'm a bit nervous. First time…" I added awkwardly as Conrad nodded and pointed toward the bathroom.

Hurrying away, I looked around the bathroom, quietly opening drawers until my eye caught a pair of sharp tweezers.

Hitting my head against my palm, I shook.

"Demi, come on!" Conrad called out to me.

Taking a deep breath in and exhaling, my fingers trembled as I slowly pushed the tweezers in between my legs and inside of me. I clenched my teeth together, as I pinched tiny cuts inside.

Tugging the tweezers out, I rinsed them off and put them away as the pain seared inside me. Rushing back, I looked at Conrad and quickly climbed into bed, laying on the white towel.

He immediately crawled over my body. "I'm going to make love to you tonight." He leaned down and bit my bottom lip, tugging it and kissing my mouth aggressively. He didn't attempt to do anything else; he just shoved himself inside me and began thrusting. It felt like sandpaper as he groaned my name. Slamming my eyes shut, I tried to escape this moment and finally, I saw it.

I saw the ocean with the rocks and a boat… with Bradley waiting for me.

I'm going to be there, soon. I'll be in the place that my mind finally can escape to. Warmth filled inside me as Conrad yelled out and slammed his hand against the headboard.

Sliding out of me, he looked down at the towel.

"My virgin." He tugged the towel from under me and proudly lifted the red-stained material like it was his trophy.

I had already started taking the birth control that Bradley gave me but it might have not been long enough to work. But it had to work. Or at least, I had to cling to the hope that this wouldn't lead to pregnancy.

"Get me the whiskey. It should be sitting on your end table, babe." I looked over and saw the glass sitting there. Was it laced?

Reaching over, I handed it to Conrad, which he drank slowly, making obnoxious noises as he swallowed it down.

"Tomorrow, I expect you to participate and not just lay there like a damn blow-up doll, Demi," Conrad hissed at me before sighing and closing his eyes.

When I didn't move or answer him, he barked, "Say, yes sir!"

"Yes, sir." I wish I had put the damn poision pill inside his whiskey, but I needed it more than him if anything happened with Bradley's plan.

I watched as he fell asleep and waited at least thirty minutes in sheer fear that he'd wake. Pathetically, I considered taking the pill and just laying here until it killed me.

I was scared to leave. I was afraid that what was out there may not be better than what was in here.

Shaking my head, I slid out of bed, quickly wiped myself clean, and looked around. I spotted Conrad's keycard and grabbed it off the nightstand.

I didn't have anything to wear, but as I walked to Daphne's closet, I saw a suitcase with my name on the tag.

Sinking to the floor, I kept pacing my eyes between Conrad and the luggage. Pulling out bikinis, lace lingerie, and designer dresses, I realized it was packed for our honeymoon.

Grabbing a few pieces, I ran to the bathroom. Tugging the white, lace mini dress on, I slid a pair of reflective sunglasses on and a giant white hat. It didn't make sense since it was night now, but it's how I wanted to be when Bradley saw me. It's how I wanted to think of the next chapter of my life.

I didn't want to think of it as an escape; I wanted to think of it as the beginning I never had.Looking in the mirror, I grabbed the mouthwash and gargled as much as I could until the alcohol burned. A tube of the deep red lipstick was on the counter, and I didn't know why, but I rolled it up and coated my lips in the sticky, matte color. It was comforting in a demented way knowing I had the choice to wear it.

Sliding out of the bathroom, I took one last look at Conrad before swiping the keycard against the panel and watched the door open.

"Goodbye, husband."

Picking up my pace, I didn't go to the front door first, I went to the Ossis wing. Sliding the keycard against every panel of every door, they all slid open and I began to scream.

"Run!" I waited a moment, peeking into the rooms. The women all laid there with their short white gowns, bald heads, and desolate eyes.

"Get up! You're free, just run! I'll call for help!" I screamed.

Silence.

They didn't even flinch. Crying, I raced into Ian's office and called 9-1-1. It was the only choice I had.

"Hello? This is an emergency. Ian and Daphne Ivory have been kidnapping girls and keeping them in their house. Officer Tate is a part of the trafficking ring, so please don't send him. Please, help these girls!" I slammed the phone down after the operator spoke and took down more information. Racing to the front of the house, I slid the card and watched as the front doors opened. I blinked repeatedly, clutching the giant white hat on my head. I waited and suddenly, car lights flashed three times.

Terrified, I walked until I got to the passenger window. "Demi, I'm Kealey, a friend of Bradley's. Please, get inside. You're safe." A beautiful young woman with sandy-blonde hair and hazel eyes smiled at me. Climbing in the car, she began to drive. I turned over my shoulder and saw the Ivory estate grow smaller and smaller.

"Here's some water." Kealey handed me a bottle. "I like your hat and sunglasses," she added kindly.

"Thanks." I felt ridiculous, but I didn't take either off. I wanted to wear them. In some way I felt safe, hidden away under the hat and sunglasses. If no one could recognize me, then they couldn't hurt me.

"We'll be in Charleston in about three hours. You can put your seat back and rest. I promise, you're safe, Demi."

But no matter how sweet she sounded or how beautiful she was, I didn't believe her. I just didn't have a choice. I was shaking violently and looked out the window at the dark sky full of stars and a full moon.

It was over. It was finally over.