Fatal Alliances: Chapter 35
I sat throughout the rest of the journey quietly, yet comfortably since the awkwardness between Vandermir and I had eased. He drove up a hill to a large endless estate that was blanketed with green lavish lawn. An enormous modern white house with hints of dark brown stood mightily in front of us. There was something oddly beautiful about it, like it had been there for quite a period of time. And it had looked like it was simply redone not too long ago. Entering the house, I felt a strong sense of coldness. It didn’t seem to be very cozy inside because of its too roomy and modernized ambiance. I had noticed as we walked through the house that there were few ornaments, such as artwork on the wall and tiny porcelain sculptures on some shelves. Adrian didn’t strike me as the decorating type of guy, and even in his apartment, there weren’t any pictures of his family hanging on the wall. Yet, this place was so different. There was a huge painting of a woman that hung on the wall of one of the rooms. She looked familiar, I saw this woman before. And then it hit me, oh god, was that his mother? Was this…?
“You lived here?” I asked with a short breath, stopping to look at the picture of his mother.
He didn’t stop, nor turn around, “Yes.” He replied in a cold voice.
I quickly followed him even though I wanted to stop and admire that painting. It was beautiful. I was a bit surprised that he brought me to where he lived. I’d probably never expect him to trust me with that sort of information since I knew he was always such a self-enclosed bastard to me. This place was unexplainably exquisite, but in a sad kind if way. I mean, how could one person live in such a large place alone? I’d feel paranoid with all the emptiness around me. Even though the house had looked like it had been refurnished, nothing seemed to be taken out of it. It didn’t make the house look old and unpleasant though, it made it look rich and elegant instead. As I followed him up the large staircase and through a never-ending hallway he finally stopped at a door.
“You’ll stay here.” He stated and opened the door to a large spacious room with the entire back wall replaced with a glass window, which gave a breath-taking view of the mountains, “I’ll be in this room,” He continued as he opened a door to the room next to mine, “But please, for God sake, don’t bother me.”
“What if I’m hungry?”
“The kitchen’s downstairs, I’m sure there are things you could help yourself with.” He ended, walked into the room, and shut the door.
So basically he just told me to fend for myself? What a gentleman.
Anyway, I wasn’t dependant on him or any man for that matter. I could take care of myself just fine without him. And I wasn’t even hungry, so whatever. Walking into the room and shutting the door, I unpacked my suitcase and took a shower. Gosh, I needed that. I always liked the feeling of being squeaky clean and have damp cold hair cascading down my shoulders. He didn’t expect me to just stay in the room the entire time, did he? That’s what he was doing, anyway. I came out of the room and walked along the hall where I saw a door left ajar. As I neared it, I was a bit taken back. It was a monster-sized room with the walls planted with shelf after shelf of books. At the top end of the room was an enormous desk, and far opposite that- at the other end was another desk. Although this was smaller, facing the huge one. How weird. Brushing my fingers along the shelf of books, I realized that they were all academic books; history, languages, geography, sciences, math, business, everything. As I continued, I noticed that the academic books had stopped until a certain point on the shelf and there was a large section of novels, a lot were classics and then another section started with sports, music, photography, etc. Damn, this bookshelf was intense. It was literally a public library in here.
There was another room door left ajar from this room. Pushing it open slightly, I saw that the room was an elegant music room. A tremendous piano sat in the middle surrounded by many other classical instruments such as the violin, cello, harp, etc. Looking out the vast French window, I noticed that the view from here had been even more amazing. A large estate of green pastures covered the entire area. About to turn around and head out, my eyes stumbled upon a paper stuck to the wall near the window.
Adrian James Vandermir Scheduled Activities: Tutors Needed.
*Polo Practise
*Swimming
*Archery
*Fencing
*Art
*Martial Art
What the heck was this? Did Adrian really do all this? Huh. I suddenly didn’t feel so comfortable being here, in this room. Quickly leaving, I went back into ‘my’ room. With my book in my hand, I couldn’t concentrate on reading anymore. Out of all the rooms, those rooms seemed to be the only rooms that were untouched and unfurnished. Did he leave it like that for a reason? No, stop thinking about it Julie, it isn’t any of your business. With a sigh, I realized that I should probably head downstairs and try to get something to eat even though I wasn’t hungry. No, I had to eat, I had to keep myself healthy again. And besides, it had already gotten dark outside. I hadn’t even realized where the time suddenly went. Upon reaching the kitchen, I noted that Adrian had already been there at the table with a box of pizza.
“I ordered pizza, sit.” He nonchalantly stated.
Taking a seat opposite him, I frowned, “Do you treat all your lady friends like dogs, Adrian?”
“Firstly, Miss Greene, we’re not friends. Secondly, you’re nowhere near what a lady should be like so just shut up and eat.”
“Gosh thanks, I love you too,” I replied sarcastically taking a bite of the pizza.
After finishing dinner, I helped him clear the table. All I could keep thinking about though was his life here. Did he really use to do all those activities? He was such a privileged kid. Maybe that was why he was so cocky and stuck up. He had everything. Big house, family, money, he was a spoilt child.
“Did you really do all those activities?” I blurted out curiously. God, I probably shouldn’t have asked that.
“Were you snooping, Miss Greene?” He raised an eyebrow.
Damn, now I regret asking that. Maybe I should really learn to just shut up.
“I uh-“
“Yes, I did.” He answered, “Don’t go in there again.”
“Wow, really?” I asked, ignoring his warning, “That’s amazing. Some people are just so fortunate.”
He looked at me in such an odd manner. It was intense, serious, and introspective. Like he wanted to say something but decided not to. Turning it into a frown, he walked away from me. Well, that was something. I settled my mind into forgetting about him and going to bed. He was just a strange man. Maybe it’s just an ‘Adrian’ thing. And he said it himself, we’re not friends, so I guess I shouldn’t bother myself about anything to do with him.
Taking a deep breath, I plunged myself on the cloudy bed. Gosh, this felt nice. Just to relax like this. Oddly, I wasn’t able to sleep. Maybe it’s because of that new medicine the doctor had prescribed for me to take. Nope, I’m never using that again. I felt thirsty, my throat felt like the Sahara Desert. Lifting myself up from the bed, I headed down to the kitchen for a glass of water.
The house had been pitch dark, and it didn’t help that I didn’t know where the light switches were. Guiding my way down the staircase, carefully holding onto the thick large oaky railing, I managed to clumsily get myself to the kitchen with the aid of my cell phone light.
Thankfully, the place was dimly lit by the moonlight that beamed through the large window. As I was about to take a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, I accidentally dropped my locket off when I was rubbing my neck. Damn. It hit the ground and went into another small room nearby, stopping at the end of a large rug. Kneeling on the rug, I felt as if I dropped on something really hollow. What? Slowly, I pulled the rug slightly off to find something really well… peculiar. A door. My locket suddenly fell into one of the creaks of the wooden door. Crap. Pulling away from the entire rug so I can see the door, I found it to be tremendously decrepit and alarming. Placing my hand on the handle, I held my breath as I opened it. I could have sworn I even got a splinter inside my hand. It was dark and dusty. Shining my phone’s light inside, I realized that it was a staircase going down to another room. The basement? I didn’t want to go in there. I wasn’t the type of person to be easily scared of basements, horror movies, not even Stephen King’s books. I actually quite enjoyed them, but this was different. This was real.
Something told me to run away, close the door, and pretend that I didn’t see anything- but my locket was right there. I saw it right at the end of the staircase. I could do this. With a gulp, I silently climbed down. Reaching the end of the staircase, I grabbed up my locket only to notice that there was a massive metal door about five feet in front of me. It was slightly opened.
God, don’t go in there Julie. It doesn’t look too pleasant.
Ignoring my own warning, curiosity took the best of me. I slowly yet carefully squeezed myself through the opening of the door, trying not to allow the door to make any sound, although it did make a short groan. The room I was now in wasn’t entirely dark, it was lit by a small dim light hanging by a chord above the middle of the ceiling. I didn’t like the ambiance of this place, the air was chilling and I felt claustrophobic inside here. Everything in this room was iron, cold, metallic, and bloodcurdling. Somehow it reminded me of the cell room I was locked up in when I got kidnapped, except this place was oddly more terrifying. I didn’t expect this house to even have a place like this. It contrasted with the modern and elegant layout of the entire house. There was a small iron chair at the corner and rusty chains on the floor. Broken pieces of glass were scattered on the rough concrete ground. There were hooks on the walls which were decorated with all types of leathered belts, chains, whips, handcuffs, and iron rods.
On the large shelf, there were these strange religious quotes and pictures of angels and peaceful green pastures. At the other end of the room, I noticed a small, uncomfortable-looking bed. Next to it was a table filled with black candles. I didn’t want to see any more of this place, it just looked so satanic. I wanted to get out but my fear was preventing me from doing so. Suddenly, I felt something run over my foot. It happened so quickly that I wasn’t even able to scream. My eyes suddenly shifted to another end of the room. There was something there, something large, wooden. A bed? No, it wasn’t a bed. My vision seemed blurred that moment, walking closer to it I felt myself go into a state of shock when I recognized what it was. A casket. Oh my God, Oh my God. It was a casket.
I wanted to scream but I couldn’t, my whole body tensed. I felt numb. Oh, God. My eyes got damp, I wanted to cry, but couldn’t. All I could bring my trembling body to do was back away. Back away until I hit a person’s rocklike body. I gave a panicked scream as the person spun me towards them.
“It’s me, Greene. Stop screaming.” Adrian’s voice cooled into my ear, “There’s nothing in there.”
Trying to hush myself, I found it difficult to stop panicking and trembling. My voice was broken as I was trying to explain myself, to say something, anything, but I couldn’t.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” He continued with a disapproving look on his face, still holding me to him.
“W-What is this place?” I asked in a tremble, daring myself to look around again.
“It doesn’t matter, just go back upstairs.”
“It-It doesn’t matter? It doesn’t matter!” I shouted shocked at his response, shrugging away from him, “It does matter, Adrian. Everything does!”
He looked away from my gaze at him.
“You think I can just go back up there and pretend this isn’t real? Pretend that you don’t have some sort of devilish torture chamber in your basement! God, I’m alone with a man who has a bloody coffin in his house and you expect me to be all dandy about this!” I cried, “It doesn’t work like that. I want answers from you.”
“I can’t tell you.” He said, his voice rough and sore.
“Then how could I trust you? All this time I’ve been wondering whether I should or not, and right when I decide to actually do that- then this happens.”
“I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me, Juliet. Everything I’ve done was for your own good.” He stated with grey eyes piercing so sharply they could slice through me.
“So you kissed me for my own good?” I scoffed.
“Is that what this is about?”
“No! It isn’t. God, you’re so difficult! If you don’t tell me about what this place is, then I will walk out of here right now. And that partnership crap, it could go to Hell. I don’t care again, I don’t give a damn if I get arrested. I honestly don’t. So screw the whole Rocillie business!”
“Are you threatening me?” He asked in a sharp and testy voice. His eyes seemed to be scorching grey flames, his jaw tightened, brows furrowed and a scowl marked his face.
Yeah, I totally pissed him off this time.
“Damn right I am.” I glared into his eyes, blinking not once.
Suddenly, he vigorously pulled me by the arm closer to him and seethed, “You ungrateful little wench. After all I did for you, after putting up with all your shit! You want to leave? Right now? You want to walk away from me after everything I did for you! Let’s get something straight, Miss Greene, I’m not a man that just drops their goals like that. I’ve never tolerated defiance in my life, and I’m not planning to. So I suggest you get rid of your impulsive headstrong ways.”
“You sadist,” I breathed angrily.
“Sadist? You want to know who’s a sadist, Juliet? My father!” He shouted aggressively spinning me around, causing me to gasp as he tightened his arms around my stomach. I felt his hot breath murderously on the back of my head, “He was the sadist! Do you know what he did? To me, to my mother! He used to lock me up in this hellhole if I didn’t do things perfectly, starve me, he used to hit me, Julie. I bled so much one day I couldn’t recognize myself, from metal chain to iron rod to glass- he used everything on me! And when I misplayed a note on the piano I got punished for that too! Even if it was one bloody note- he used to drag me down here, burn me on my fingers, and made me play the entire piece again until I got it right! And for my swimming classes, damn I must’ve been really fortunate! If it wasn’t perfect he-“
“-Adrian stop.” I pleaded unable to hear any more of this.
“Stop?” He laughed bitterly, “Stop. That’s what I said! I begged him to stop, Julie! Do you know how much I begged? My mother used to beg! My mother- What he did to my mother he-. Jesus, I can’t even tell you. He used to tie me up and make me watch him- what he did to her- on the bed. He used to- hurt her. I can’t- I can’t get her screams out of my head. The screaming. She used to cry so much. My father was a sick man, maybe that’s why she left. She left me. How could a mother even leave her child like that? She left me with that son-of-a-“
He stopped. His voice broke but never was there a sob, only bitter hatred and agony as he continued, “But I don’t blame her. She didn’t deserve it, she was a good woman, a wonderful mother. I loved her, I was glad she left. But he- after she left- things got worse. My life was bloody hell and you tell me I must’ve been fortunate! What kind of father threatens to kill his child and put him in a casket? He put that damned thing in here to scare me when I was a child. Do you want to know the best part? He actually thought he was doing the right thing. He always kept saying that he needed to take the evil out of me, said he failed with my mother. He believed we were the ones that needed help, needed God in our lives. He said he was just a messenger.”
He stopped and gave a pained chuckle, crushing his arm tighter around me.
“Adrian!” I gasped, “Adrian stop you’re hurting me!”
At that moment, he suddenly released me. l dared myself to look at him, his eyes weren’t damp or angry. Instead, there was misery, torment, and affliction.
“I killed him, Julie. I murdered my father.”
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