Adrienne
She still claims to have no memory of who she is or how she ended up stranded on our beach; what a cruel joke. At least her story does not change, I'll give her that. In my heart of hearts, I know that she is some type of spy and most of my women agree with me. Sadly, Liam invited her into our home to stay in a guest suite for an evening, yet one evening turned into two, two turned into three, and here we are thirty days later. She is quiet, keeps to herself, and looks nervous all the time. She is a strange one indeed. I do not have anything against her, but she is of a lineage of murders; her family killed my parents.
Sleep has not been my friend lately; therefore, I spend parts of most nights talking with Ava; mostly listening to her reminisce about her and Lennox's union, their life with Preston, and her career. Periodically, Ava mentions Ever in our conversations and I find myself drawn into hearing about her; something about her innocence is intriguing. most of my days are spent avoiding her.
Most of my days are spent avoiding her. She simply does not notice, occupied with all the attention the men give her. Due to the women of Waldemar's unacceptance of her, apart from Glacee and Ava, I am sure they feel obligated to offer her some kindness.
Sadly, the ladies joke about her behind her back, "accidentally" trip her when an opportunity arises, ignore her, and display other childish behaviors. Because I excuse their behavior they continue. Liam and I have gotten into several heated arguments over it.
Today is the start of our periodic weekend stay in our Men and Women's Houses; we gather to spend time with our family, respectively. We use it as an opportunity to hang out and get to know each other more. The Waldemar men do the same, I suppose, and play with all the manly "toys" in their house.
The women left for the Women's House over an hour ago. Wanting to surprise them with a picnic lunch, Ava and I are lagging. We walk toward the Women's House side by side with our overnight bags hanging off our shoulders while we pull the lunches into coolers.
This weekend will be different with our extended guests.
The suns creates a comfortable warmth while shining down on Plethora to show her wonder. The tropical leaves, grass, and flowers all seem to illuminate under the suns powerful presence. Wind gentle howls across Plethora moving all plant life It's path. The beautiful sounds tenderly kiss my ears creating an autonomous sensory meridian response.
"Hey, Ari."
"Hum?" I say while looking at a single leaf that floats about through the air as the wind gently directs it to it's designation.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Just enjoying the weather. Why?"
"Whatever you say."
"What does that— Wait, do you hear that?"
Banging and shouts come from the house. We quickly fly toward it dropping our bags and the lunch on the front porch.
We run into our front room and see Ever pinned up against the wall by Taylor. It appears as if they are in a brawl. Taylor unexpectedly and repeatedly punches Ever in the stomach and then punches her on the chin. Skye Ivee walks up to Ever pulls her by her beautiful hair and repeatedly punches her on the side of her face very quickly. Lennox spits on Ever and laughs. Others cheer them on.
Tessa yells for them to stop and attempts to jump in but she cannot because Samantha grabs onto her arms and pins them behind her back; possibly to keep her spouse from harm.
Springing into action without thinking, I quickly punch Taylor on the back of her head, and she falls to the floor. I harshly slap Skye Ivee across the face causing her to release Ever's hair. I pull Ever behind me, pin her against the wall, and stand in front of her, shielding her from the women. Her body shakes against the wall and mine. Her breathing was heavy, and I heard whimpers as tears were undoubtedly falling from her eyes. Great now I'm forced to be near her. It makes me feel uncomfortable causing a strange tingling sensation to creep throughout my body.
"Stop it! What the heck is wrong with you guys?"
"Nothing just paying that Chevalier tramp a well-due beating!"
"Shut up Taylor! She hasn't done anything to you! She hasn't done anything to anyone! All she's done is should all respect! Is this what she deserves?"
They all become quiet as Ava makes her way over to us, helping me shield Ever. Taylor stands up on her feet as Samantha lets go of Tessa. A look of guilt and shame settled on all their faces. It was then that I realized their behavior was only a reflection of my own. Darn it.
"Look, I owe everyone an apology. I am sorry I let this behavior continue and even laughed with you guys when you made fun of her, but it isn't fair to her. Liam wants her here we have to respect that."
I turn and face her and quickly notice blood running from her nose and the corner of her lips. Her eyes are swollen, and her hair is messy. Her cheek looks bruised. Her tear-stained cheeks fill with fresh new tears. A few buttons have been ripped from her now open shirt which displays a bruise on her chest.
Her proximity and enduring floral scent make me uncomfortable yet again and I quickly take a step back.
"I'm so sorry Ever; I've been unfair to you and allowed them to treat you horribly. I will not treat you unfairly anymore. Neither will they."
I use my shirt sleeve to tenderly wipe away the blood that steeps down her face.
"It's okay, I'm okay."
"I can see that you are not, come with me," I hold my hand out to her.
She places her soft dainty hand into mine causing that strange comforting tingling sensation to rise to my arm.
What is this?
I almost drop her hand but can't not in front of the women they will surely keep up their behavior if I do not lead by example and see this through.
I lead her into my bedroom while Ava follows us.
"Sit here on the bed."
My bed engulfs her frame. Her body looks healthy, but she is pretty small. She cannot be over 98 pounds.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise but I will remove your shirt, okay, to look at this bruise."
"HuHuh Ava and I simultaneously gasp.
She has more bruises than the bruise on her chest. Bruises are on her upper arms, chest, stomach, and back. Ava looks just as upset as I feel.
"Will you like for me to call Preston?"
"Yes, please tell him to seek away alone. Go into the restroom and wet a towel for me."
"Okay."
Ava quickly rushes into the restroom and I hear water coming from the faucet soon after.
"Preston is our healer. He can heal these bruises. Do you feel any inward pain?"
"I have a headache," Ever says while slowly lying down.
"No, no, no. Sit up until Preston gets here. I'll get you some head medication and you can rest in my room for a while."
She sits up and looks uncomfortable at my suggestion, but she also looks pleased that I offered.
"Why didn't you fight any of them back?"
"Um, I don't, I don't want to cause any trouble—"
She pauses, trying to steady her breathing while miserably failing at preventing fresh new tears from escaping her eyes.
"I'm a stranger here, I just don't want to do anything foolish and I want them to like me."
"Slightly wise but who will not defend their selves if they're being beaten by more than one Plethorian? So, you are a Plethorian pleaser? If you don't mind me saying so, you shouldn't settle to be treated like badly just to get plethorians to like you. Look at me; you shouldn't hold your head down."
She looks into my eyes causing my heart to skip a beat. Looking into her eyes my heart reveals a truth to me that cannot be denied, a truth that I have fought since the day she arrived. I cannot do anything except yield to her meek spirit and her inner beauty however, there is something about her that frustrates me; I desire to push her away as much as I need her. This does not make a bit of sense to me.
"Here's the towel Ari."
"Thanks."
Ever flinches while I gently press the cold towel against her cheek. Preston arrives with visitors; they quickly rush up our staircase and into my bedroom.
My angry stare toward Ava is followed by one of her own toward Preston. She quickly returns her gaze toward me.
"Sorry, I told him to come alone" Ava mouths.
Doesn't matter now, the damage is done. Drew and Liam stand in the doorway upset. Liam motions with his fingers for me to come near him. I obey, after covering Ever with a fleece blanket. I walk past the angry stare of Drew.
"Explain."
His speech is calm, steady, and slow but his facial expression is the complete opposite. It's creepy.
"Ava and I got here late and the ladies, well they just jumped on her."
"Inexcusable."
"I know, I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I won't let it, I promise."
"Ari—" he slightly raises his voice.
"Please, Liam."
He pauses. His face is full of anger and frustration while his magnificent gray eyes appear sad and on the brink of tears. He nods and leans against the wall; I lean against him watching Preston heal her being careful not to expose anything.
*****
Another warm sunny day, slightly odd this time of year but I will take it. Instead of being cooped up in an office, I take the day off to relax around the pool. I will get in as soon as my sea-millet digest. I use my armstation to adjust the shade adjustment on my sunglasses so that the blue shades in the sky appear pinker.
"Hey."
"Hey, you. Move over, you are standing in my view."
"You move over so that I can lay down."
Ava obeyed, and she lay next to me on my hammock.
"Why are you out here alone?"
"Just enjoying the sun."
"Yes, but it isn't that hot."
"It's warm enough."
"I guess. Is this your way of avoiding it?"
"I'm not avoiding anything. I'm just relaxing."
"Okay, I'll leave you alone but if you want to talk to anyone, I'm here for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing Ari, don't get offended."
"Don't get offended. You're behaving like a coward. I question your reason for extending out a listening ear and you're ready to leave."
"Whatever, all I'm trying to do is be your friend."
"No, you're being nosy. Taking that Psychologist degree too far."
"Why must you bring my degree into this? Psychology is always something I wanted to practice and when I saw an opportunity to take it up; I did. Who cares if I went to to take up classes you could have done the same."
"No, I had to stay here to take care of the women. The fact that you attended University doesn't make you any better than me."
"Of course not. I know that. You're a princess."
"By family selection, I'm not a true princess."
"Prince Nicholas is the only true royal left on Plethora through family lineage, you are as close as they come, what's wrong with you?"
"I have no purpose."
"Yes, you do. Are you looking for a deeper purpose?"
"I suppose."
"I suppose or maybe you could be avoiding how you feel about— never mind."
Heated with the direction of this conversation I sit up.
"Don't never mind me, how I feel about what?"
"I don't want to argue anymore. I'm going inside."
Ava quickly stands up causing the hammock to turn over flipping me on the ground. She does not even turn around to apologize or help me uI snatch my glasses off my face and throw them in her direction.
"Urgh!"
Tessa appears by the doorway looking at me before hesitantly making her way toward me. She offers me a hand and helps me up.
"Ari, are you okay?"
"I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay! Okay! Okay! I'm freaking okay!"
My voice no longer sounds like my own as it gets louder and louder. My fist reacts on their own and starts punching the air. With each punch m, my eyes glow more and more. Purple sparks come from my eyes and hit the base of a nearby tree immediately catching it on fire. Tessa grabs me from behind and pulls me to the back onto the ground. She rocks me from side to side as I now realize tears are falling from my eyes.
What is wrong with me?
"Shh, Ari. It's okay. It's okay."