Behind closed doors - 10/14/10
The water was ice cold as she splashed it against her face. She tried to rinse the sour taste from her mouth, and ignore the faint shaking in her hands. It was easy to forget that Vitalia was police trained, until she started in on the questions. It was so subtle at first, trying to explain Vitus' right to beat his ghouls.
She had not minded the beating. It was just physical pain, no worse than the pain and terror she had been given every week when her lover fed from her. There was none of the associated pleasure, but it was still no worse that what she had been given before. But Talia did not stop her questions there. The memories were still foggy with pain of how he had put the knife to her skin, drawn screams from her.
Her stomach had betrayed her, leaving her shaking in the marble bathroom before the rest came spilling out. Talia had brought all the memories to the service, memories she did not want to talk about, much less recall. The look in his eyes as he had claimed her body, his large hand at her throat as he pushed her down. The way he savored her tears, called her a whore. For that was all she was to him, neither pure nor a wife. Antonio's whore, in his eyes.
Though Antonio and Talia all tried to claim the beatings were not her fault, she knew better. He was elder, and she had spoken back to him. He had never hurt her for speaking her mind. Only when she showed disrespect. He had only hurt her to show her how to behave, how to gain his approval. She could not hate him for making her better for the family.
Only Teo understood her, understood the mix of despair and necessity for the family. She took a breath, realizing that she left Teo with Talia, left the shy girl with someone who pried out questions for a living. For a moment she paled, picturing Talia drawing out information she should not have about what was happening to Teo. For it was best if the family did not know what went on behind closed doors. With a last deep breath, she hurried out to her friend.
She had not minded the beating. It was just physical pain, no worse than the pain and terror she had been given every week when her lover fed from her. There was none of the associated pleasure, but it was still no worse that what she had been given before. But Talia did not stop her questions there. The memories were still foggy with pain of how he had put the knife to her skin, drawn screams from her.
Her stomach had betrayed her, leaving her shaking in the marble bathroom before the rest came spilling out. Talia had brought all the memories to the service, memories she did not want to talk about, much less recall. The look in his eyes as he had claimed her body, his large hand at her throat as he pushed her down. The way he savored her tears, called her a whore. For that was all she was to him, neither pure nor a wife. Antonio's whore, in his eyes.
Though Antonio and Talia all tried to claim the beatings were not her fault, she knew better. He was elder, and she had spoken back to him. He had never hurt her for speaking her mind. Only when she showed disrespect. He had only hurt her to show her how to behave, how to gain his approval. She could not hate him for making her better for the family.
Only Teo understood her, understood the mix of despair and necessity for the family. She took a breath, realizing that she left Teo with Talia, left the shy girl with someone who pried out questions for a living. For a moment she paled, picturing Talia drawing out information she should not have about what was happening to Teo. For it was best if the family did not know what went on behind closed doors. With a last deep breath, she hurried out to her friend.