VIOLET

I woke to find myself back on my bed. What? Wasn't I just in that second room?

Then it all hit me like a wave.

I had a nightmare. And my brothers saw it. The nightmare was one of the worst beatings I ever got; it almost felt so real. Dante probably thinks I'm so weird. I mean, who wouldn't? Mom and stepfather always told me I was weird, selfish, useless, and a brat.

I composed myself off the bed and groggily limped towards the bathroom, heading straight to the medicine cabinet. Grabbing a bottle of water and painkillers, I swallowed them in one gulp before deciding to take a shower and get fresh.

I stripped off my clothes and hopped into the bathtub, filling it with warm water and soap. Leaning against the tub, I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. I grabbed a purple loofah scrub, squirted some strawberry soap, and began to scrub my body harshly. Afterward, I stood up and took a final shower.

I got out, dried off my body, and took a seat at the counter. My eyes drifted to a bottle of lotion, and I applied it gently to my skin. With that done, I grabbed an oversized white shirt with long sleeves with the image of New York City printed on it. I put on grey sweats, brushed my brown hair, and tied it into a loose ponytail.

I applied concealer, foundation, and face cream to cover up my bruises. They were barely visible unless someone took a close look.

Finally, I sprayed some perfume and put on fluffy socks that I bought a month ago with the money I earned working at the bakery. They were still new and in the packaging, so I didn't have to worry.

I looked at the time and saw that it was 12:07 PM. It must be lunchtime by now. I crept up to my door and opened it, heading outside to the massive hallway. I decided to look around for a bit, but first, I headed back to the hidden room to pick up my phone, blanket, and books.

I placed my things back in my room, keeping only my phone in hand, and headed downstairs. The staircase was made of marble and wide. As I approached the living room, just as I was about to step onto the ground, I tripped and fell backward.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion. I let out a scream as I tumbled backward, my head hitting the rail of the staircase in the process. I closed my eyes, ready to fall, but I felt two large arms wrap around my injured torso, making me wince. I was spun around and met with the soft gaze of Xavier, who was now holding me in his arms.

"Oh my god, are you okay!?" he asked me. I nodded but hissed at the feel of something cold dripping against my shoulder. I saw that it was blood.

"VIOLET, YOU'RE BLEEDING!" Xavier yelled and ran down a hallway. My head felt dizzy, and everything seemed to be spinning around. Then I was placed on a counter, which seemed to be in a bathroom. He took out a First Aid box and wrapped a piece of cloth around my head.

My vision returned to normal, but my head was still pounding.

"What the freak happened here?" I heard loud footsteps approaching. Roman came inside with a worried yet stern expression and glared at Xavier.

"Chill, man, I did nothing! Vi fell down the stairs. Her head is bleeding," Xavier said, putting up his arms in surrender.

"Principessa, are you okay?" Roman asked me in the softest voice possible. I gave him a weak smile and put a thumbs up, telling him I was fine.

"You don't look okay. Your face looks pale. Come on, Xavier, carry her," Roman ordered. Xavier placed me back in his arms, and I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, my head buried in his chest.

We stopped at an automatic door and got inside, the cold air slapping my face, making me shiver.

"Amelie, I need you to treat her head," I heard Roman speak before I was placed on a white bed.

But the name Amelie sounded familiar?

I finally looked up and saw.

AMELIE!

Yes, the same Amelie from school. The same girl who saved me from Mindy and her minions. How did she come here? Is she my sister? Is she related?

"Violet, you seem zoned out. You good?" Amelie looked at me with a warm smile. I was still in shock, but her presence was comforting.

"Oh yes, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you this earlier. yes, I'm the same Amelie that you met in school. I was actually sent here by your brothers to look for you. Now let's treat your head, shall we?" Amelie explained. 

Amelie gently ruffled my hair, and she whispered, "Now, wipe off that confused face and let me treat that wound," She carefully examined the wound on my head, her fingers slightly pressing my head. "This might sting a little," she warned before applying antiseptic. I winced, but her calm demeanor helped me stay still.

As She bandaged my head, she continued to speak, "That Mindy girl is so filthy. How dare she say those things to you? Did she ever hurt you?" 

"Y-yes. s-s-she would grab my hair, slap my face a-and ruin my works." I whisper. 

"Good girl. Thanks for telling me." She says in almost a mocking tone, "She will get a taste of her own medicine."

"There, all done," Amelie said, stepping back to examine. "It's lunch now. Have a good meal, alright?" She tells me holding my hands in hers. I hesitantly nod.

"Good. Dante, she is all well," she called out to my brother who was staring at me. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and nodded, taking my hand as we exited the room.

We walked and turned through another hallway, and I saw that it led to a massive dining room. The room was grand, with high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers that cast a warm, orange glow. The walls were lined with paintings and curtains. The long dining table was set with fine China and sparkling silverware. The smell of cheesy pasta, salads, and simple dishes filled the air, but the rich aromas made my stomach churn. Several maids moved gracefully around the room, bringing out different dishes, each more appetizing than the last. The aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted vegetables, and various sauces mingled together, creating a mouthwatering symphony of scents that only made me feel more nauseous.

How could i even finish all of this?

All of my brothers are seated across one another, and there are two more empty chairs. I take a seat next to Dante and Elijah who gives me a small smile.

Everyone is staring at me, and it makes me feel uncomfortable.