The hot water did nothing to soothe my shoulder's pain. Something must be broken or torn judging by how excruciating it is. William is a fool if he thinks I'll marry him. I will fight tooth and nail, claw and scream. I don't care if he sends me to No Man's Land. I won't do it.
I stood from the tub and lugged myself out. I didn't bother to wash my hair. The flesh still tender from the force William used when he dragged me by my hair into the house. I bit through the pain and dried off quickly. I put on a clean dress and made myself a makeshift sling for my arm, my shoulder immediately relieved by my arm having something to sit in.
I sat on the edge of the bed and went over our plan.
First, I'll slip something in William's dinner to make him sleep. I've already packed the things I care most for; my brother's hat and pillow, my own pillow, and the two small sheets my brother and I were wrapped in when our mother dropped us off here.
I'll toss the case I packed of those things out of the window first, and then myself. But with my shoulder injured, I'll have to be careful of how I land. And then, I'll meet John by my tree. Where we will ride through the night until we make it to Sector Five. And there we will stay until the smoke clears at the Thomas family home.
I hurried down the stairs to go and prepare dinner. When I made it to the bottom of the staircase, William strolled back through the front door.
He tisked, "No dinner prep for you this evening, my bride to be." My heart dropped. The herbal concoction is a crucial part of our plan. Not being able to prepare dinner will make that part harder. "But I enjoy it," I said quietly, not wanting to anger him to the point of him hurting me again.
William reached to the decorative shelf beside him, grabbed a small vase, and hurled it at me. I covered my face with my arms and ducked out of the way just in time for the vase to miss me and hit the wall behind me. His face glowing red, and his veins protruding from his forehead and neck as he yelled, "YOU WILL SIT AT THE TABLE AND DINE WITH ME!" I quickly ran into the dining room and took a seat. He narrowed his eyes at me, and then glanced at Abigail's empty chair. It was the first time I had thought about her death since I heard. And then I realized, the children were not present either.
Immediately, dread filled my body. Surely he wouldn't… "Where are the boys?" I asked, leaving my seat and heading for Abigail's. William grinned, and leaned toward me, "Alive. What do you think I am? A monster?"
He leaned back, "They are my heirs, after all. I've sent everyone away for the next couple of nights."
Relieved, I scooted my chair closer to the table. I sent a silent prayer to the Gods that he would leave the dining room just once during dinner so that I may find the chance to drop this concoction into his meal. William ate while I watched, and schemed on what I could do to get him to leave his seat.
"Eat." he said, loud and suddenly. I flinched. "I want to," I whimpered, "it's just my shoulder. I'm in pain." William eyed me, looking between my face and my arm in the sling. The pain I felt was real, but I was exaggerating a bit in hopes that I could at least ask if he would get me something for pain. If he sent his sons away, no doubt he sent away the rest of the staff.
"Please," I whispered, "I'd get something for it myself but I don't think I'd be able to open the bottle."
He sighed, awfully loud. But he stood from his seat and left the dining room. I took my chance the moment he stepped through the threshold and dropped three drops of the concoction into his food and three into his glass of milk as well. Just in case.
He came back moments after I put the bottle back into my undergarment and slammed two pills next to my plate, causing me to jump a little at the sudden loud bump.
"There, now eat. We have a long night ahead of us." He grinned a sinister grin that sent a chill down my spine and bile rising in my throat. I sent another silent prayer to the Gods, and took a bite of food.
I had eaten half of my plate by the time I noticed William's eyes were beginning to look droopy. With every bite I took, the more and more sleepy William began to look. Thank the Gods, I thought. They must have heard my prayers. William stood from his seat and said, "I'll wait for you in my room. You will sleep there with me. Come when you've cleared your plate."
I nodded, and took another bite. When I heard his door close is when I released the breath I had been holding. The herbs were working. Our plan is working! I resisted the urge to jump and shout with joy. I finished my plate and crept up the creaky stairs. When I reached William's room, I cracked his door open.
William was snoring lightly asleep atop his covers. Another silent than you to the Gods as I tiptoed to the basement to make one last check that I packed all that I wanted to bring. I stopped at the coat rack by the front door and snagged Abigail's cloak. Just in case. And then I headed out of the front door.