It was evening by the time Malorie awoke. Thirty minutes past the hour of seven. Malorie groaned and opened her eyes, looking around the room for Valerie as the spot beside her was empty.
"You're awake?" Malorie heard from behind her and turned to see Valerie coming out from the adjoining bathroom—a door in between the two beds—clad in her violet coloured bathrobe and with a small face towel of the same colour.
"Yes. How long did I sleep for?" Malorie asked, sitting up from the bed.
"Not too long. Five hours, perhaps. Mama said sleeping is good for the baby." Valarie responded with a small smile. "You should shower, we'll have dinner soon?"
Malorie nodded and stood up, "What if he tries to hit me again?"
"He won't." Valerie caressed her sister's hair and moved past her to her wardrobe, opening the doors to reveal elegant dresses, most of them in that same violet colour. She picked out a knee-length dress, dropping it on the bed the same time she heard the bathroom door closed. She moved to her vanity table and did her night routine, after she was finished, she donned on her dress pairing it up with sandals while she sat down, awaiting her sister.
A few minutes later, the girls climbed down the stairs on the way to the dining room. Malorie was dressed in all rose. She was the pink to her sister's purple.
The girls reached the dining room and the guardsmen opened up the door for them their parents were already seated at the head and end. Valerie followed her sister to the left side of the dining table and sat with her—two sits away from their father.
"That's not your sitting, Valerie." Ethan said, looking down at the newspaper that obstructed his face from them while the maids set the table.
"I want to stay here. Just for today, please." Valerie pleaded.
Ethan shut the newspaper and kept it at the side, looking straight into Valerie's eyes. "Why? Scared I'll hit your sister again?"
Malorie's hand squeezed Valerie's under the table. Valerie didn't answer but the look in her eyes was enough to tell Ethan his presumptions were right.
"You still have that look in your eyes. The same look your mother had. A possessed woman."
"Our mother was never possessed."Valerie said coldly and Malorie squeezed her hand tighter.
"No?" Ethan tilted his head with a humourless smile, "You are supposed to be in cell, Valerie. I'm being too kind to you."
Then don't. I didn't ask for your kindness... Valerie wanted to say, but she knew the repercussions. "I didn't ask Marvel to do what he did to me." She said instead, looking up defiantly into her father's eyes. "I didn't ask Marvel to try and sexually assault me!"
Bang!!
The whole utensils atop the table clattered as Ethan had pounded his heavy hands on them. "Shut your fucking mouth you slut of a damned child! You act like your late mother in every single fucking way." He seethed. He was livid, fisting his hands while the veins on his neck bulged.
Valerie stood her ground, staring at him. She wanted to say more, to defend her late mother's dignity but she chose to remain silent instead.
"Now, you apologize for speaking to your father in that manner. Got it?" His eyes bore into hers and she fought the urge to gulp. She was strong, but not very strong.
"Forgive me, father, for it will not repeat itself." She bowed her head and turned to look back at her plate. Dinner was already set.
Ethan sat back on his chair as dinner commenced. He cleared his throat and said; "Malorie darling," Malorie involuntarily clenched Valerie's hand at the call of her name. "Since you wouldn't tell me who your love is. We are going for plan B."
Malorie paused eating and looked up at her father, she slowly left Valerie's hand and dropped her hands clenching the tablecloth. "W... What's plan B?" Somewhere, she knew what her father would say.
"You are getting rid of that bastard child." Ethan looked up at her with a smile.
"No." Malorie choked out.
"No? You didn't just tell me no, Mal." He chuckled.
"I can't... I can't get rid of my baby." Malorie said, shaking her head while her body trembled.
"You can't, huh? Okay." He continued eating.
The three women looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he would actually leave it at that. "Come to my room after dinner, Cynthia."
The sisters' eyes snapped to their mother who calmly nodded. Fearing what would soon happen.
Dinner ended with much tension enough to slice a parchment paper. Cynthia as ordered had changed into her elegant night robe and made her way to the duke's chamber. Before she reached, she stopped by the girls' room and opened the door. They were both on Valerie's bed, discussing. She knew because of the colour difference.
"Are you going to see father?" Malorie asked, climbing down the bed and walking to their mother.
"Yes love." She answered with a smile, though Malorie could tell she was sad. Cynthia looked down at Malorie's stomach. "Do you know how much along you are?"
Malorie shook her head, knowing her mother was speaking about her pregnancy. "I only found out last week." She responded.
"Alright. We'll visit one of my friends, she's a physician good with pregnancy. She's a witch too." Cynthia shrugged and Malorie chuckled.
Cynthia's eyes went to Valerie who watched them with a small smile. "Goodnight, sweeties." She kissed Malorie's forehead and waved to Valerie.
"Goodnight, mama." They both said in sync and Cynthia left them for the duke's chamber.