Video: Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson
Hey guys! I'm pleased to announce that edits for Breaking Eden are going well. Readers wanted longer chapters so this chapter went from a little over 1,700-ish words to a little over 3,200 and is packed full of new content. So give it a read and let me know down below in the comments what you honestly think. Good or bad, I'll take it if it'll help improve my story.
As always, please point out any mistakes you may find while reading. Fresh eyes see everything I miss. And don't forget to vote, comment, and share to help get Breaking Eden to #1! :0)
Chapter two update coming soon...
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Arriving in Style
On the night of September 7, 2007, the one that would later be dubbed as the worse night of Eden's life, started out like any ordinary night. She stood in front of her cramped closet, fresh from a shower, and tried to figure out what to wear.
She scanned the clothes mercilessly. One after the other, she pushed the hangers aside until her eyes settled on a black sweater that was sure to hug her every curve and leave her looking desirable. Without a second thought, Eden slipped it over her head, then yanked a pair of clean leggings from her hamper.
A large, black cat jumped onto her bed, purring in the silence room. It stared up at her with large wheat colored eyes before letting loose a mournful meow, as though the cat knew what was going to become of its master.
Eden reached for her cat, Mr. Darcy, and cuddled him to her chest.
"Are you hungry?" She cooed against the top of his head before kissing it. A deep purr rumbled from his throat. He nuzzled her cheek and let loose another mournful cry, "Let's go get you something to eat."
Mr. Darcy mewed his response and bit at some of her loose curls, "Hey now, none of that." She brushed her hair behind her shoulder, and he nipped at her palm, "What has gotten into you?"
He gazed up at Eden, crying out, before promptly head-butted her in the face. "Thanks for that."
They made their way down the short hallway to the tiny kitchen. The room consisted of nothing more than an old fridge, a sink, and an oven. Taking up the majority of the countertop space was a small microwave.
Oh, the joys of living in downtown Portland. Eden mused.
When Mr. Darcy noticed his food dish still had some remaining chunks of food he struggled to get out of Eden's grasp. He launched himself onto the countertop then down to the floor to devour the rest of it.
"Well fuck you too," Eden dragged a bag of dry food down from the on top of the fridge. She added two scoops to his bowl and stared down at the very fussy Mr. Darcy and added another large scoop. Eden didn't want him to go hungry while she was away overnight or she'd come home to an even grumpier cat.
His cries were loud, demanding for more food. He paced in front of Eden's feet, stopping now and then to rub his bulky side against her legs.
Eden rolled her eyes and added another two scoops, so there was more than enough to satisfy him until her late return the following afternoon and set the bowl down on his tray.
Mr. Darcy immediately attacked the food like it had been days, and not hours, since his last meal.
"I'm gonna put your furry ass on a diet if you keep eating like that." There was a low grumble of a hiss coming from him when her foot crept near his food. "I know no one gets between you and your food." She filled his other bowl with fresh water and set it down next to his food.
Mr. Darcy did a humorous double take when he thought he got another food dish. But to his dismay, he found only water, which he didn't bother to touch just yet.
There was a knock at the front door. Eden bit at her bottom lip and took a deep breath before calling out to the other end of her apartment, "Coming!"
Relax, you're only going to be gone overnight. Eden partially closed the bag of dry food and left it on the counter.
It was time to go.
Eden made a quick detour to her room to grab her duffle bag and costume bag off her bed.
There was another series of raps at the door, followed by the musical tone of her doorbell.
I said I was coming. Eden grumbled as she shouldered her bag.
Before shutting off her bedroom light, Eden took one final look around her bedroom, imagining what 40,000 dollars could buy her. Her lips curled up into a small grin at the thought of getting one of those expensive memory foam beds.
She adjusted the strap of her duffle bag, turned off the light and headed toward the front door. When she opened it, the person standing on her front porch took Eden aback.
The man turned around at the sound of the door opening.
"Eden Burrows?" He asked.
The giant before her wore a navy suit with a solid red tie. His face was emotionless and unreadable. His dark brown hair was slicked back, and he sported an equally thick beard that was flawlessly maintained.
Eden noticed her reflection frown in his aviator sunglass, "That would be me. How's the air up there?" Her joke received little to no reaction.
"I'm here on behalf of Mr. Payne, Ma'am." He reached for Eden.
She reflexively took a step back at his sudden movement and bumped into the front door.
"Your bags miss?" He pointed to the duffle bag hanging on her shoulder and costume hanger clutched in her hand.
"Sorry about the confusion." She shook her head at her foolishness and handed him her bags, "So you got a name?" she did her best to make small talk.
The man was strictly professional as he shouldered her duffle bag and held her costume up by the hanger at his side. Eden had to stop herself from giggling at how odd he looked. "The names Cliff, Ma'am."
He flashed her a quick grin before heading back down the few steps from her apartment to the concrete path below.
Eden watched him head up the pathway in stunned silence as he went to load her luggage in the back of a limo.
The back tinted window rolled down and Diamond stuck her head out, "Biiiiiiiitch, you won't believe the high-class shit they got back here. I've died and gone to white girl heaven!" Her echoed in the silence courtyard, but her excitement was contagious.
Eden had never been inside a limo before. This would be yet another first with Diamond and Declan Payne. She fumbled around in her purse for her keys and turned to lock the door behind her.
She flew down the steps with lightning speed and reached the limo just as Cliff opened the back door for her.
"They even got a TV back here! Can you believe that shit? A mother fuckin' TV!" Diamond gushed in awe.
"Thanks," Eden mumbled to Cliff as she climbed in.
"Just doing my job, Ma'am." He shut the door behind her.
"Damn, I'm lucky if I can get the car radio to work. And look at this." Without skipping a beat, Diamond rushed toward the other end of the limo and stretched out along the bench style seat and groaned, "Christ I can get used to this."
Eden settled back against the smooth leather seat and couldn't help but feel the same excitement coursing through her veins. Everything felt so luxurious and so over the top.
Diamond eyed Eden, "You know, you could totally have sex back here."
"You're unbelievable."
"Don't act like you haven't thought about it." Diamond propped herself up on an elbow and pointed towards the small cabinet set running along the other side. "Take a look in there."
Eden pulled open the mini fridge and found a chilled bottle of Cristal champagne. Sitting next to it was a clear box with four large chocolate covered strawberries.
The limo shook as Cliff's bulky frame got behind the steering wheel, "I've been asked to give you this." He held up an identical black envelope to the one they received for the invitation.
Diamond rushed forward to grab it.
Cliff silently retracted his arm and raised the blacked out window to give them a little privacy.
"You open it." Diamond thrust the envelope towards Eden then pulled the bottle of champagne out of the fridge and went about opening it.
"Fine."
Eden turned the envelope in her hands. A part of her knew what would be on the back. Sure enough, the same wax seal held down the four stiff corners of cardstock and in the middle was the same imprint of the fox's head.
She broke the seal and opened it. In the same elegant script read:
Enjoy the champagne and strawberries courtesy of Mr. Declan Payne.
Upon arrival, you will both be allowed one hour to prepare for your performances. Tardiness is heavily frowned upon.
Please note that payment will be provided once the contract obligations are fulfilled in full.
Failure to complete said contract will result in no monetary gain on behalf of the performer.
Diamond popped the cork, lifting the overflowing bottle to her lips to drink up the spewing foam. "Man, I can taste the money already." Diamond passed the bottle toward Eden, urging her to drink.
"Should we?"
"Girl, shut the hell up and drink." This time Diamond pressed the bottle into Eden's hand. "It'll loosen that stick that's wedged up your ass. Remember the looser you are the more money you'll make."
"I don't think I like that comparison all that much." Eden brought the bottle to her lips, "Bottoms up." she tilted it back and savored three large gulps before offering it back.
***One hour later***
Eden grabbed the bottle back from Diamond, "I think we're gonna need another one." She eyed the remainder of the liquid sloshing around at the bottom. "You sure you don't want the rest?"
Diamond waved her away silently and sprawled out next to her. "It's all yours."
Tilting the bottle up to her mouth, Eden took the last few gulps before it finally ran dry. "All gone." She mumbled more to herself before placing the bottle back into the ice bucket.
A part of her wished there was another one she could pop open. Her stomach twisted in a knot at the thought of seeing Declan again. The more she drank, the less she cared, but now that the bottle ran dry all she could do was care.
Diamond leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, "Ain't this the life?"
"It sure is." Eden leaned her head on Diamonds shoulder and laced her fingers with Diamond's, "Dee, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah?"
"You think Declan actually wants me there?"
"Girl-"
"No. I'm serious." Eden looked up into Diamond's face. "I don't want to humiliate myself in front of a room full of people. You'd tell me if something was up, right?"
Diamond sighed, this time out of frustration, "I don't know, and I honestly don't care. You shouldn't either. What you need to do is walk in there like your shit doesn't stink. Treat it like another night at Harvey's."
A soft giggle escaped from Eden's lips.
"Now I'm being serious." Diamond gathered herself up, "You walk in that bitch like you own those mother fuckers like you're their mother fuckin' Queen, and they need to bow down at your feet." A smile crept across her lips, "Then watch how fast they respect you."
"You're right."
"Damn right I am." Diamond pulled Eden into a hug, "And if that fails just remember that this is just another job. We're getting paid to smile and nod and make these men feel desired. You got this girl."
The limo slowed to a near stop. The girls stared motionless out of their window. Eden's eyes grew large with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. She hit the button to roll her window down.
"Holy shit." Eden marveled, open-mouthed, at their new surroundings. "Are you seeing this?" She whispered.
"Oh, I see it alright."
An intricately designed iron gate swung inward to grant them access to the property. Vines of ivy clung to the bars, making it seem like a wall of green had shifted to reveal a long gravel drive.
The limo crept forward. As they passed through the entrance, Eden met the cold stare of a stone-faced security guard. Her gaze dropped to the military-style rifle hanging from his shoulder and, immediately, a chill shot down her back. The guard raised a black walkie-talkie to his mouth and mumbled something into it as they passed.
Seconds later, the window raised without warning. Eden pressed the down button again, "What the-"
Eden glanced back at Diamond, thinking she pushed the switch as some sort of joke. But her friend shook her head no and pointed to the front of the limo.
She noticed the blackout window, which had blocked the driver from their view for the entire ride, was gliding down.
Eden met Cliff's unwavering glare in the rearview mirror, "What gives? Are we not allowed to roll the windows down?"
"Sorry, Ma'am." Cliff started as he eases the limo forward, "Boss's orders."
"What are we, prisoners?" Eden spoke softly so only Diamond could hear her. She tried to get a look out of the windshield before the blackout window crept back up but couldn't.
"Did you see the gun on that guy?" Diamond was in her own state of bewilderment. She pressed the down button for her window. When it didn't budge the slightest bit, she pushed Eden out of her way to get to the other switch.
"I already tried it," Eden said as Diamond continued the assault on the button. "Should we be worried?"
Diamond huffed out a lung full of air and settled back into her seat, "Probably not, but I still don't like it."
"Maybe Declan wants it to be a surprise?"
Diamond crawled to the front of the limo and pounded against the window divider.
"Stop that!" Eden hissed.
"I'm gettin' answers." Diamond pounded on the glass again, "I'm not stopping until you open up."
Cliff lowered the divider, "You rang?" he drew out in a monotone voice that reminded Eden of Lurch from The Adam's Family.
"Ima need you to roll down one of these windows," Diamond commanded.
Cliff was silent for a moment. "That isn't going to happen, Ma'am."
"And why the hell not?"
"It's simple really." The limo abruptly stopped. The sudden movement made the two girls pitch forward.
Diamond's shoulder hit the headrest of the driver's seat before she fell back on her ass. Eden, on the other hand, slid forward and landed hard on her knees.
"Boy-" Diamond struggled to claw herself back onto the seat.
The engine died. Cliff glanced back at them with a devilish grin. "You won't be needing the windows because we're here." Without another word, he threw open his door and existed the car.
The girls looked at each other in dazed silence as his shoes crunched over the gravel drive.
Moments later Cliff stopped and opened the door. Late summer heat rushed into the limo and with it came the heavy smell of pines and freshly cut grass. It was a smell Eden was very fond of.
Cliff took hold of Eden's hand to help from the limo.
"Welcome to The Manor." Cliff motioned behind them.
"Dee," Eden stared open-mouthed at the ivy-covered walls. "You gotta see this."
"I'm comin'. I'm comin'." Diamond stumbled out of the limo and knocked into Eden's back. It took her a moment to speak, and her words even made Cliff laugh. "White boy got himself a mother-fuckin' castle. I've really seen it all now."
The stonewalled structure stood three stories tall and resembled one of the many gothic style manors Eden read about in her favorite horror stories. An eerie feeling passed through her when the only sign of life came in the form of lighted windows.
Where were all the guests? Eden wondered.
She glanced behind her, expecting to see the iron gates and the guard with the military style gun but something is blocking the driveway.
A massive willow stood as the centerpiece on the driveway. She stared up at its slender branches and smiled at the way the leaves swayed elegantly in the breeze. It had been a long time since she'd seen anything this beautiful and she wanted to savor it just a little while longer.
"That willow's been here since the manors construction in the late 1800's." Cliff paused at Eden's side. "Marvelous isn't it?"
She smiled up at him, shielding her eyes from the late evening sun with her hand. "It's beautiful."
Cliff readjusted his suit jacket and brushed some imaginary lint from his shoulder, "Master Payne prides himself on having a pristine residence. If you like this, you should see the rose gardens."
"I thought this was a ball?" Diamond interrupted them.
"You two were the last to arrive." Cliff's demeanor shifted back to being strictly professional. He headed towards the trunk of the limo with Diamond and Eden following silently behind.
He handed them their bags, "I assume you may need to change." his eyes traveled down both of their outfits.
"So we're late?" Diamond took her costume bag.
"No Ma'am. You're the least bit late. These balls are an all-night affair." He handed Eden her costume bag before slamming the trunk closed, "Under no circumstances should you use the doorbell. The lion's head should suffice. You'll need to knock exactly three times, and someone will be with you shortly."
"Shall we throw salt over our shoulders and jump over a broomstick too? Maybe sacrifice a goat under the blood moon?" Eden tried to lighten the mood but failed.
"The manor is run by a series of codes." Cliff motioned them away from the limo, "Whatever you do. Don't knock four times."
"What happens after four knocks?" Eden allowed curiosity to get the better of her.
"Life is full of choices, Ms. Burrows." Cliff opened the driver's side door and paused before getting in, "And those choices come with a rewards or punishments. So choose wisely."
"Come on. He's just fuckin' with us." Diamond pulled Eden toward the steep stone steps that led up to the front door.
"What will it be, girls, three or four?"
Eden was the only one to look back. The side of Cliff's mouth lifted in a sly grin as he got back into the limo.
Why do I feel like I just made the biggest mistake of my life? Eden pushed her negative thoughts aside and remembered what Diamond told her. I got this. I am the best performer here.
The front doors were made of dark cherry wood and were held together by the same intricate iron designs. In the center of each door is a brass lion's head in mid-roar. Their teeth ended in sharp and glistened in the fading sunlight.
Eden reached for the one on the right, and when her fingers grazed its mouth, Cliff started the car and laid on the horn.
Both of the girls jumped at the loud noise.
Diamond didn't hesitate to grab hold of the lion's head and knocks three times. And just for the hell of it, she slams it down a fourth and final time.
Words: 3,201
Don't forget to check out my other stories!
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The Hilstead Experiment: Adrift - Ten strangers board a plane that crashes into the ocean, turning their promised paradise vacation into a deadly experiment of survival.
The Carriers - Tainted meat turns a small farming town into a parasitic zombie war zone only a vegetarian can handle.
In The Pines- Annabel Lee enters into the highest rated gameshow of the afterlife to win a second chance at life.
And if you're looking for writing advice check out my story Year of the Author.