*3 Years Later*
Izzy was prancing around her room, spinning the dress in her hands as she chuckled and giggled. Over the last couple of years, she was able to come back out during times like these when no one was around. Even the others were able to come out from time to time. They had slowly begun to learn how to share this mind; Makaila becoming the one to guide them to this shared understanding.
They had also been educated as well, Makaila of course showing remarkable ability to learn so very quickly. Even her father had found her learning interesting and impressive. But not as impressive as how well she was maintaining the personalities. Overall, he was generally keen to her now, even going as far as taking her to events and showcases with him.
She had become the daughter he wanted, and she played her part beautifully. Most days she didn't act up, and now even when she did she was only met with soft glares or looks of disapprovals. Everything she had planned had fallen into place. It had come at a small cost, but for the most part they had some freedom.
Izzy continued to giggle in that playful childlike tone until the door came open. She snapped her head around with a look of fear on it before her eyes quickly went dull and empty. She straightened her body and posture as she begun to stand more lady like and draped the dress over her arm gently. There stood one of the maids smiling shyly at her before biting her lower lip and eyeing up to her father who was now standing behind her. Makaila looked to him for a moment before nodding the maid away.
She stood there waiting in the silence as they both watched the maid leave before he finally spoke. "Your 15 now Elizabeth. I have decided that this Saturday we will have a debutante ball in your honor. It's time you found a suitor and someone to help elevate this family further." Makaila looked to him for a long moment without saying anything. Her face was calm and empty and held nothing to show what she truly thought of this. After a time though, she finally responded with a soft angelic tone. "Of course. I wouldn't expect nothing less. Is there anything directly needed of me today? I had plans to go for a walk, but I would like to head down to the seamstress instead and get a dress suited for that day if you don't mind?" He raised a brow at her calm tone to this before coming in and approaching her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek gently. "Yes please do. A purple would suit you better and bring out the violet in your eyes. Please make sure it fits.....all your curves as well." He passed a hand down her sides, following the hourglass shape of her body.
Over the last years, she had finally filled it out. Eating and resting and lack of torture had allowed her to become the beautiful woman that stood before him. Her body held her curves flawlessly and made not just her face the appealing feature anymore.
She gave a small empty smile to him as she nodded before turning to her screen to change. "Yes father, I'll make sure of it. Now if you'll excuse me....I shall be down momentarily." There came the soft grunt of him as he acknowledged what she said before turning and leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. She placed the dress over the top part of the changing screen before standing there and fuming. They had been promised to do this around 16. Why was he pushing so hard now??
She mumbled to the open air as the voices filled her mind while she dressed. None of them were happy about this and their anger and incisive bickering only added to the irritating reality that had finally come to their doorstep. She finally finished dressing, though stood there growling as her gaze looked up towards the ceiling. "Shut up! We knew this day would be coming. It's a little sooner than expected, but we knew it would be here someday. Now fall silent so I can think. The more of a chance I get, the better chance we will have to getting through this." There fell silence once more before she snapped out with a heated growl. "No killing! Keep yourself sedated Mak. No...it means to be still." She sighed before rolling her eyes. Waiting there, she listened to the voices slowly start to calm down. She closed her eyes as she breathed in a deep breath and calmed the last of her senses. As they opened again, the expression went dull and empty.
She finished up getting ready, pulling her long blonde hair back into a tight bun and placing earrings and a simple gold necklace on. Staring into the vanity, only the image of a beautiful young woman looked back to her. When she had first gained more of her form, this image had been strange to her; though now it was a mere reminder of what power she could and would hold over men.
She finished up and headed down to join her father for breakfast. Elegantly she slid down into the chair across from him and was swiftly greeted with a plate of food all her own. They sat there eating without saying a word to one another; both locked in their own thoughts. It wasn't until he finished that he said anything to her and it was but a simple goodbye followed by a kiss to her cheek as he hurried his way out to his work. She sighed as she finished up her own food, and lifted her self from the table.
She made her way back up to her room and grabbed a small purse that had been left to her care. It carried a small amount of loose money, enough to pay for certain expenses when she needed them; however never enough to do anything big with it. She placed a small shawl around her shoulders and checked herself over once more before heading back down stairs once more. She let the maids know she was setting out for the day and begun her trek out of her home and down the busy New York streets.
Like always the streets were bustling with people, cars and cart vendors of every kind. It was always noisy and it distracted her mind. It left her on guard as she travelled down the road on her own; a feeling of being vulnerable coming over her as the voices shouted at her only adding to noise that filled her mind. She didn't let that show though as she held herself regally and kept her calm composure.
She made her way down the street, keeping that calm and expressionless stance, finally turing to the left and landing herself on 8th street. It wasn't as busy here; allowing her to clear her mind a bit. She didn't like her mind being distracted, and neither did they. But here on this street gave her a moment to process the world around her as she eased to it. Her mind was finally able to process the eyes that roamed her slender and alluring form. She ignored them, accustomed to the men who looked to her and the woman who envied her. Most of them didn't matter to her and didn't give her warning to even pay them heed. However, there was a set of eyes on her that Mak could not ignore.
The angry voice screamed at her to pay attention. The eyes that were setting upon her were not ones that looked to her with a carnal need. These ones were threatening and dangerous and Mak knew it. Makaila kept her calm though, trying to ease her worry and warning as she lightly tossed her head across the street to find who it was that was eyeing her with such intent.
She found no one at first of any interest; that was until she spotted a man leaning against a building wall. His face was shrouded in shadow by the crimson rim of his panama hat; only his delicate and chapped lips that curled into a sinister grin visible to the eye. Her eyes trailed over his slender and lanky form, yet it was easy to tell that he held a fierce power behind it. The clothes he had chosen echoed that same power, but it wasn't as fancy as hers, giving sign of a lower class member. His black dress slacks hung loosely to his body and were faded and wrinkled. His shirt, though tucked in neatly to his slacks, was baggy and patched; the red color the only untouched marker of it. She would have passed him by, if not for the fact his face was turn towards her and following her as she went.
This had to be the eyes that were intent on harm; confirmed the moment her eyes landed to him and Mak growled in a heated rage that even Makaila struggled to reign in. She let her eyes fall over him as she pretended to not notice him and continued on her initial walk onward towards the seamstress. The feeling of being watched by him never left though, leaving her guarded and prepared to attack. Her hands curled in tight fists on her sides, forcing her to have to tuck them neatly behind her back and cling to them in a white knuckling grasp. All of the years of trying to keep the personalities in order was failing her now as she struggled and argued with the voices in her head. She continued on, coming close to another street she would be turning on; hoping that once she left this street she would be free of the prying eyes that harbored some dark intent towards her.
Makaila didn't notice how he had approached her though, having been drawn into her mind and the incisive arguing that had erupted there. It was sudden when she felt that steady creeping of his arm coming over her shoulder and pulling her into his side. She whipped her face around, staring up to the man she had just seen moments ago holding her close. She still couldn't see his face, the hat and angel still hiding his features and eyes from hers. Being next to him she could see how much smaller she was compared to him; standing at only 5'7", this man towered over her, well over 6'2". She looked to him with a stunned expression, plainly shocked she hadn't noticed him coming. Pulling from his grasp she growled at him and readied herself to strike. Mak was all to happy to oblige at this.
This man was not taking the hint though as he grabbed her quickly, unfazed by the growling and pulling her right back in as he grabbed around her waist. His alluring and oddly gentle voice filling the small air around them as he spoke before she could respond. "Ah see I was starting to get worried you might have changed there. But that growling tells me your on a leash and what I see is the product of that cage." He turned his face to her, giving a sly smile. "I much rather the person I met so long ago. You look stunning by the way. A beauty and a beast. How truly remarkable. I hope you haven't been caged for too long that the beast has disappeared." He leaned in slowly to her, whispering into her ear and changing to a more seductive tone. Even with it though, there held a dark and misleading edge to it. This man was like her, alluring and seductive, but under the surface hid an evil and malicious being that was ready to kill. This man him dangerous. "When your ready to be free of your leash and want to play, come and find me. I have a feeling we are destined to do great things you stunning animal." He pulled away swiftly, leaving a kiss on her cheek. It was only now that she got anything from him that let her know who he was.
As he lifted his hat and winked at her, she was finally able to see the blood red eyes of Cole Conteville. She had not seen this man in so many years and had nearly forgotten him until this moment. She went to reach for him, both rage and desire behind her as he slipped into a small crowd and vanished. Her eyes scanned over the sidewalk rapidly, as if half expecting him to be leaning onto a wall once again. He was no where to be found, as her mind raced. Years had passed by, but she could never forget it. That day he freed her from that place, that day he fought with her and wounded her, that day he promised her freedom she never took, and those crazed eyes that matched her own. She had used that day on so many occasions to keep her sane, reminding herself there was at least one person out there like herself.
It took over 15 minutes for her to finally collect her mind and set the voices to silent. Each of them had something to say about him, but right now was not the time. She had other priorities to handle. She straightened herself and stood with that regal form once more. Taking off down the sidewalk again, she let her mind race and wander away from her. Focused she knew she would get the dress she needed for that night and go through with this deal, but she couldn't help but ponder on his words as she did. What if?