I heard shouts echoing through the halls; startling me from a deep sleep. Listening closely I could hear my momma and papa voices raised as they argued with each other.  What was going on? I’ve never heard them raise their voices or yell, let alone say a cross word to one another in my 15 years.

Crawling out of bed, I slipped into my fluffy pink robe and slippers. Padding my footsteps, I quietly cracked open my bedroom door; letting in just a touch of light from the chandelier hanging over the foyer. Glancing to make sure the  coast was clear, I silently followed the sound of my parents voices; stopping just at the top of the stairs I crouched down in the shadows, watching what was about to unfold. I could see right into papa’s office from where I hunkered down between the spindles of the grand staircase.

“Thomas how could you? How could you betray me like this?” I heard my momma accuse papa.

“Now, now Cynthia. Calm yourself. I have no idea what you are accusing me of?”

“You know damn well what you did you BASTARD! You, you fucked that whore.”

“Cynthia darling I have no idea what you are talking about. Come here and let’s talk rationally about this situation that you believe I’ve been involved in.” I could see papa motioning for momma to come to him.

“The situation you got yourself into is the whore is pregnant with your child” She screamed.

“Darling, calm down. Please. You’ll waken Vivian with those hysterics.”

“Oh, now you’re concerned about Vivian. You weren’t thinking about her when you fucked that whore.” She screamed.

I could see papa move out from behind his desk, closing the space between them. Gradually momma began to back away with each step he moved towards her; refusing to let him get any closer. Within moments both of them were right below me, unaware I was spying on their argument.

 “Thomas, stay away from me.! Don’t you dare come any closer!”

“Cynthia, we can talk this through. You know you have my heart. She meant nothing, just a fling.”

“A six year fling? Do you think I am bloody stupid? Thomas, we’re over. That means the house, the money, the cars, the power is all gone. Once we’re divorced you’ll be left with nothing.”

I watched as papa’s demeanor changed. He began to shake as the anger built in him. It took everything not to move from my perch in fear of being caught. When he began to speak once again, he sounded like a completely different man. The loving man that was once my papa was gone. There stood a cold hearted, callous being. Listening to him made my blood run cold. Biting my lip to keep quiet, I hunched there watching and waiting.  

“Really, you think you’ll get rid of me that easily. I think not my dear. I’ve earned every red cent throughout this sham of a marriage. Of course I found comfort in the arms of another woman; actually many women throughout the years. Each one of them I buried my cock into, enjoying hearing them cry out my name as I made them cum; unlike you my darling wife. Society has taught you to be nothing but a cold dead fish of a woman, especially between the sheets. You’ve been unable to get me hard since our wedding night, so if you think for one minute that I will grant you a divorce, you’ve lost your mind.”

Looking down upon them, I had never seen my momma look so broken. Her eyes were swollen, her once beautifully done make-up running down her face. I wanted to run to her. Protect her from his cruel words.

“Thomas it’s over. You know that lovely little pre-nup my father had you sign. It clearly states, if you cheat, you leave with nothing.” 

“Cynthia, don’t try me.”

“Don’t try me Thomas.”

“You BITCH! I’ll kill you before I’d let you leave me!

He began his decent on momma once again, but this time I saw the glimpse of light shine off the gun momma pulled out of her robe pocket.

“Thomas, stay away from me. I mean it.”

“What and you’ll shoot me darling?”

I noticed the gun shaking in momma’s hands, as papa charged towards her. He grabbed at it and twisted her wrists, as she struggled to get free. As if in slow motion, a flash of light and smoke surrounded both of them, as I sat in horror as my momma sank to the floor. Unable to move, I watched as a pool of blood formed through her silky nightgown, as my father stood over her, watching her life leave her body.

I began to scream……

“Wake up Violet. Please, just wake up.”

I opened my eyes to see Angel looking down upon me. Her beautiful face riddled with worry.

“Angel, I’m awake, stop shaking me.”

“You were crying in your sleep again. Are you ok?”

Wrapping my arms around Angel, I tried to stop shaking. I haven’t relived that nightmare in years. “No, I’m not ok. Angel, everything is rushing back to me. Everything I was trying to run from.”

After a few moments of silence Angel spoke. “So you’re ready to tell me everything now?”

I looked at her, knowing that it was time. Thanks to Damon, there was no way to get around it.

Afraid of my emotions over powering my words, I just blurted it out. “My father killed my mother.”

I watched as Angel’s eyes looked at me in shock. I didn’t wait for her speak I just kept rambling on; knowing that if I stopped I’d closed down.

“I saw the whole thing. My mother was beautiful, eloquent, and the bastard was cheating on her. Momma wanted a divorce, but my father refused. He began telling her how he liked to fuck these other woman and how my mother was a cold fish. Then he came at her. I don’t know why she had a gun, but she pulled it on him. The anger in my father was nothing than I had ever seen before. They struggled... The gun went off… He killed her. Even though the police said it was an accident, I knew it wasn’t. He caused her death. Since the day I saw the life leave my momma’s eyes, I knew I had to get away from him.”

Angel just held onto me. Stroking my hair letting me get it all out.

“When I realized she was dead, I couldn’t help myself; I started screaming. That was when he finally noticed me. Once we made eye contact, I took off running. I didn’t know what he would do. The gun was still in his hand. Unfortunately, I was too slow. He reached my door before I could get it fully shut and locked. I didn’t know that man I called papa any more. He was completely different. He showed no remorse or compassion. He locked me in my room, telling me that if I told anyone what I saw, he’d do the same to me.”

I thought that relieving would be breaking me up inside, but suddenly I felt no emotion at all. I was completely drained. .

“So you ran away because your father killed your mother and you were afraid he would do the same to you?”

“Yes and no. Once my mother was gone, he became a monster. Money and power was everything. He sought to control everyone, mainly me. I was no longer his daughter, but a pawn to be used to gain what he wanted. At first I as more afraid that he would kill me, then I realized I was to be sold off to the highest bidder. That was when I left… changing everything about who I use to be. After months of hiding in sleazy motels, afraid of my own shadow… I walked into the club and you know the rest from there. Vivian Hastings became Violet Morrow.”

Angel grabbed me and held me tight to her. “No wonder why you’ve held the past from me. I wouldn’t want relive that as well; but really, Vivian? What a snooty name.” she teased before kissing me.

Grabbing the pillow behind me, I bopped her with it. Pulling away laughing, I continued with the issue at hand.

“Unfortunately, Angel, that isn’t the only problem at hand. Damon actually used to work for my father. I just found out he’s been obsessed with me for years. He ass actually changed his looks and situation in life to try to win me or something like that. I don’t know.” Bringing my hands to my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. “Now that he has found me, how do I know that I’m safe? If he could find me that means my father could find me; if he’s looking.” 

That was the million dollar question. Was my father actually looking for me?

“Well what did Damon have to say about that?” Angel interrupted my thoughts.

“I’ve no clue. I didn’t ask him. I was too wrapped up in my fear of the situation.”

“Hmm… let’s see. You have three more nights with Damon. I think you’ll only need one more night to get the information you need.”

Looking at Angel I knew she was formulating a plan…