Chereads / Black Dahlia / Chapter 3 - One

Chapter 3 - One

I rose from sleep, standing to my feet slowly I am trembling and drenched, something that hadn't stopped for the past seven years. I take the bottled water from the nightstand taking great gulps.

I step out of the room, I just want to clear my head of the images that keep hunting me in my dreams. In the lounge, I see livy who immediately smiles when she sees me.

'Honey another nightmare?' She gives me a consoling look.

'Yes, it keeps getting worse.' I reply settling down beside her.

'Tell me about it' She says taking my right hand and squeezing.

I am not shocked, I have outgrown that stage. I don't understand why she keeps asking about my dreams when she knows she would get the same reply. 'I keep seeing him, he begged me to open that door, he cried and asked me to save him but I let him burn, I ran for my own sake.'

'No honey you were going to, you stopped because you were thinking about Quinn, Malory, Crystabel, you were thinking about your family.' she sniffs and touches my face 'You knew there was too much at risk.'

'Too much at risk?' I yell frantically. 'He was my brother, I could have saved him, we could have fought together.'

'Fought together? we would have all died, you didn't want that.'

I know she is right, I know we would have all died. You would think one would heal after a long time. I ache every day, I never have a dreamless night because I am hunted by memories of that night. I will myself to forget it all, to heal and move on but every day I convince myself that I am making progress I close my eyes and I see myself in my Father's study room.

Ever since that incident seven years ago, I have never cried I cut myself once but the tears never came. I sit back curling myself and livy immediately hugs me. 'God the last good sleep I had was years ago, I remember I was so happy Sarah delivered a baby girl and I slept dreaming of happy things before John woke me up.

'Do not blame yourself, blame me.' she is whimpering, I shift to look at her.

How can I blame this woman, how can I blame a woman that nursed me and helped me heal? After we escaped, we didn't go to the station to report the crime, we had been so petrified and had straightway made arrangements to leave the state. I spent two years of my life in the hospital, well, under the special care of Doctor Ben livy once upon a time lover. He had taken a look at me, talked to me, and didn't give up even when I didn't respond.

I had put them in pain because they had to live their own lives to favor mine. After two years, I finally spoke, I still remember the smiles on their faces. Crystabel, we decided to name her that, was already 2 going to three in few months when I came home. How can I blame a woman who has done nothing but love me?

I stop my patter the minute Malory my younger sister encroach. She is exactly like my Mother with big blue eyes and long brown hair. She is fair in complexion and doesn't act her age, you would expect every 18 year old to be a little bit unwise well not in Malory's case my sister had to grow up fast all thanks to me who refused to speak for two years.

'Wow, I can't miss this little party. She raises her eyebrow, something my mother used to do when scolding us. She waves her hand in the air like a magic wand. 'Eva you have a big day tomorrow, you should be resting your bones.'

Trust Malory to keep tabs on everybody's life, she is always fussing that I work too hard and never rest. She looks at me scowling. 'I am really upset nobody told me Travis Scott has dimples.'

'Jesus'. It is all I manage to say while laughing. I have an appointment with Mr. Scott and I am honestly clueless, well I know nothing about him.

'Malory' I say with my hands towards the heavens in prayer. 'You are 18, you shouldn't be engrossed in men'. I muse picking up my bottled water and taking a sip.

'Sis buckle up, I do have a love life. Well, I looked him up on the net that man is so hot.'

'He doesn't have dimples' Livy says surprising me 'He just smiles real good.'

Okay, I really cannot believe these two plus this is not the kind of conversation I want to be having few hours before a professional meeting. I am surprised this woman still happens to shock me trust her to run a background check on anyone that meets her girls.

'It is dimple'. Malory says frowning.

'You are obsessed with dimples.' I say laughing. She is like our mother, she once told me her love story. it was love at first sight for her cause my father had dint which she liked. Well her joy knew no bound when John was born with it too. Livy too tired to start any bickering with Malory stands up. She kisses our faces before finally resigning to her room.

'You should go to bed, I will be up early to dress you'.

'Me?'. I ask confused 'Do I need to be dressed'.

'Well, my fashion sense is way better than yours and you can't wear those horrible things you call dresses to meet Travis Scott remember he is handsome.' she says the last part with a shriek.

I sigh 'No.'

'Eva, you are meeting that fine man, he has his face on different magazines plus he is sinfully handsome, rich and single

'Of course, I know all this' Well I didn't, and how the hell does she. I am sure she turned the net sideways digging up everything on the poor man.

'I love you okay, let me dress you up in the morning'.

I know it is arduous to win a brawl with Malory, plus I am too tired to start one now. 'I love you more

'Ugh that is my line, and you know I love you more.

'I said it first, so I do love you more.'

'You wanna argue. She replies hugging me.

'No no, sleep tight' I retort standing.

***

'I think the purple fits you more.' I roll my eyes sitting exhausted, Malory had come into my room this morning and had hauled me to my closet, and for almost an hour, I have been given different clothes to try on.

'I have tried the purple, you said I looked like a Christmas tree, I am pretty sure they aren't purple.

'Well, don't blame me can't remember when I last saw one.

I sniff shamefacedly, after that incident, I couldn't bear the thought of Christmas. As always, my family has been tolerant, following my demands without remonstrance

'I try Malory, I wish I could do it, at least for Crystabel.'

Malory immediately bear hugs me. 'I know honey, I know how much you do for us all, you built a company on your own to ensure we never have any financial problems.' she shoves my shoulder playfully. 'Well, except in the relationship aspect you know.'

I laugh, a full belly own cause I don't think Malory would ever stop surprising me with the things she says. 'Oh please shut up.'

She stands up, back to playing fashion designer. 'wear this'.

I inhale, gathering the cloth. 'What about the one I have on.'

'No, this color makes you look like a yoke, you look like a normal worker, not the boss'.

'Okay make up your mind, I need to leave already.'

She pouts 'Don't be like that Eva, you are meeting Travis Scott ...'

'Okay,' I interrupt her before she begins her love session. I sit down defeated watching my sister mess my once upon a time perfect room. She laughs at my green undies and widens her eyes when she sees my Barbie gown. After what feels like forever, she stands holding a red suit.

'Wear this, then we change your makeup.' she begins to clap her hands, dancing, and singing.

Malory has great fashion sense, the suit trouser is a perfect fit and it hugs all my curve. I am not slim like Malory I am a size 8 my hair is longer and straighter than when I was younger, my eyes are brown like my father's, I have a small mouth like my Mother's. I am tall, unlike my Mother, I have only one piercing on each ear. My father would describe me as a beautiful woman with the face of an angel.

Malory hands me a silver necklace without the earrings.

'I think the earrings would be good.'

'No, let them guess about you in one.'

Puzzled I sigh. 'Why would anyone.'

'Eva'. she replies sighing. 'It gives you this sexy bossy look'.

An hour later, after changing my makeup thanks to Malory who insisted it looked so wrong, I smile at myself in the mirror.

'I look so beautiful.'

She let me flush over myself without interruption. She turns towards the door and smiles.

Crystabel immediately bounces on me and I would have landed on my ass if Malory hadn't steadied me.

'My sweet bunny.' I plaster kisses all over her face making her scream in delight. 'You didn't dry your hair?'

'Mama will you take me to school.' she gives me her sweetest face, the one that always keeps me on my toes.

'Honey you have Mr. Benson for that.' I say referring to the driver.

'Mama, other kids come with their mother or father.' she looks teary now.

'You know I have to work.'She is sobbing immediately, wrapping her small hands around my neck.

'Take me! Gloria asks of mama a lot, she is laughing'.

I have had so much stress in just a few hours and I most definitely don't have the strength to deal with Crystabel tantrums.

'Gloria laughs a lot, she isn't right now I say correcting her. I glance at my watch and I almost squeal. Crystabel is not an arduous child, If she is like this today, then she must need me. I am sure she is hurt that I have never taken her to school. I look at Malory hoping to get some help only to see her shrug her shoulders. I immediately try another technique.

'Take me, take me, mama.' Her voice is louder now, Malory rescues me by transferring Crystabel to her lap.

'Please honey let Malory take you' I say standing to find my car keys.

'Sorry Eva I have exams today I have less than an hour to prepare.'

And I have a meeting in less than two hours I almost fire back. I take Crystabel back to my lap. Resigned I kiss her head. 'Let Mrs. Thelma dress you up.' I say referring to her nanny of three years now.

'Dress me, Mama, I want you to dress me up.' she is on my bed instantly.

I look at Malory with teary eyes. 'I am going to be late'.

'Ugh,' she replies 'Be a boss today.

.