"So this is the only courting ball you will get?" I look to her confounded.
"Yeah.." She nods dejectedly. "And I know I won't like any of the guys there.."
"How do you know that ?" I ask, yet feeling entirely sympathetic towards her.
She buries her face in her palms before admitting. "Because I already like someone.."
"Really?" I look to her in amazement. "Who?"
"Please don't tell anyone!" She entreats. "Only Bev and now you know.. Anyone else would end up spilling the beans to Vladimir..but I know I could trust you won't."
"I won't tell anyone, I pinky promise." I extend out my pinky finger for her. She touches her pinky to mine.
"He's in many of my classes in uni...he's just perfect for me!" Katie sighs halfheartedly. "His name is Tommy Grant, and he's so hot, smart and just all around awesome and he likes me back too."
I smile at her. "If you told your brother, would he consider Tommy as a suitor and allow him into the ball?"
"I can't do that, oh my God." Katie's shoulders slump in defeat. "In highschool, he nearly killed a guy for holding my hand when he found out coz he didn't approve of him..and all these guys at the ball will be ones who have passed his approval."
"So what will you do ?" I query, disheartened by her situation. "You can't be forced to marry someone when you already like someone else."
She buries her face in the crevice of her arms. "I don't know..I just don't know what to do..."
A knock ensues at the door, startling us.
Gradually Katie trudges to the door. "Who is it ?"
"Your loving brother." Seeps a detached, velvety reply.
I nearly gasp in fright as I leap to my feet. Katie throws me a worried glance.
Silently, I mouth the words . "What should I do ?"
For a couple of seconds we frantically scour the room of an area for me to hide. Katie quickly accesses her closet, and motions me to get in.
Without sparing another second, I dive in and she closes the door on me. I peek through the closet doors thin shutters at her. She returns to the room entrance door.
My heart flagellates harshly. I try to contain my breathing. It doesn't help when she opens the door. He enters in with his domineering presence.
He's dressed in a dark grey v-neck t-shirt and dark jeans, thumbs casually hooked in his front pockets. Hair in a tousled style.
His over-bearing presence makes the entire room seem diminutive. In such casual attire, he appears nothing less than ruggedly handsome.
With a bland expression, he surveys the room. I'm hoping he doesn't suspect my presence. Katie settles on her bed and looks to him expectantly.
He halts infront of her and austerely commences. "Your courting soirée is to be held next week."
"So early ..." Katie remarks with glumness.
He briefly stretches his sinewy toned arms. I notice a tattoo partially hidden under his sleeve. Then he leans against her bed post and folds his arms casually over his broad chest, giving her a thoughtful look.
She twiddles with her fingers nervously before he addresses in his deep resonating voice. "You've been melancholic all day...I'm doing what's best for you, little sister."
She continues twiddling her fingers, face growing ever pessimistic.
He proceeds in relaxed authoritative tone. "You're unaware of the amount of bad men out there..you're unaware of the evil intentions they harbor..."
"How do you know that?" Katie blurts before biting back down on her lip.
Then he replies in a most assured and definitive manner. "Considering I'm a grown man myself..in addition well traveled the world over..I know."
There is a vainglorious look on his face before it shifts grimly. "Very very evil men out there, my lovely little sister..you know not what I know.."
I suppress the urge to scoff at him, look who's talking!
Katie shakes her head in denial. "You can't say that for all men, you don't know all other men.."
He inclines his head at an angle and resumes gazing down at her collectively before speaking.
"For example..consider a bag of single type confections." He orates patiently. "And In that bag is a poisonous confection..or several for that matter disguised amongst the harmless...now would you risk tasting out of that bag full of confections?"
She contemplates over this for a couple of seconds and then shakes her head in decline. "No.."
He nods once solemnly. "Which is why you're not permitted to roam about and find yourself a partner on your own..and therefore it is my utmost duty to find you a suitable husband."
"But how would you know the men you've selected for me would have harmful ones amongst them ?" She queries a valid point.
"Believe me, they are well sifted through." He replies temperately.
"I'm a man, and men know other men best..since father isn't present over you, it is my duty as your older brother to sift through your suitors records and the like with a watchful hawk eye."
"I'm too young to get married!" She blurts, striving to scour for excuses. "And what if the guy you arrange me with, harms me?!"
"You're of marriageable age." Comes a stern response. "And I'll batter each of his bones into dust..if he so ever harms even your beautiful soul by abuse."
She looks exasperatedly at him. "Why can't you just give me freedom to do whatever I want ??!"
He raises a brow in dismay and warns. "Mind your tone, young lady.."
She huffs and rolls her eyes while defensively crossing her arms over her chest.
He continues gravely with underlined repulsion. "Freedom to do what more? Whore around like the vast majority of women in that despicable institution..masquerading as an education facility? Multiple men sampling you till you find the supposed right one only to end up divorced with children of multiple men? Or dying childless alone in old age with a house full of cats eating your decomposed face.."
"What?!" She squints her eyes up at him in vexation. "That's-that's not true! You generalized too much! Besides so what if women do whatever they want? No one has the right to tell them what to do! That's not fair !"
He narrows his gaze at her disapprovingly and she looks away, infuriated.
"I see these liberal left wing institutions have really done their damage on your innocent mind, I was a bloody fool enough to permit you to attend these Godless cesspools." He seethes, azure eyes burning with a calm rage.
"Rebelling against family and traditional Christian values, that is exactly what they are poisoning you with. A very grave mistake on my part for agreeing with Rachael. Just proves to show women and their normally nonexistent logic can cause quite the damage regardless of their age. You're absolutely not permitted to attend university next semester."
"You can't do this !" Katie stammers, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's my life, not yours! You can't take my freedom away!"
His lips press into a thin line of agitation before he replies. "I have given you enough freedom, to attend university, to wear a bikini, provided you driving lessons..but that freedom is backfiring on you, my dear and you're too naive to comprehend that. A woman's rightful place is in the home, rearing children while the men provide for them. I have provided for you everything to your hearts content, everything..tell me what have I not bought for you? The most expensive of items for such a priceless lovely sister as yourself..but yet you rebel against my authority..you know not what you're doing."
"This is not the 1800's!! It's 2016!" She cries. "We've progressed beyond such Stone Age customs!"
He shakes his head in disappointment at her, velvety tone overshadowed by masculine ire. "What you desire isn't progression but regression, it is not our culture. It is far from natural and natures design. Our Christian European forefathers dwelled with honour when it came to their women, I will not break that custom over some contemporary poisonous liberal trend that is doomed to failure. You are much too precious. You know not of your priceless value as a Nielsen woman. Honour your ancestors legacies."
"You're just so freaking backwards! I hate you!" She raises her voice.
Suddenly a loud smack sounds and I nearly gasp in outrage but clamp my hands over my mouth. Katie tumbles back against her pillows in shock. Vladimir has backhanded her severely.
He stares down at her with a collected calmness and addresses in a cool analytical way. "No woman of my household will display herself as a tramp. Behave as a God fearing Christian woman, Katherine. Behave as mother was, attend Church weekly. I will rehire a governess for you to teach you the etiquettes of a lady, and I expect you to learn the art of embroidery and sewing from Mrs.Agnelli. I've given you abundant freedom only to have it misused by you, tossed at my face in such an impertinent way."
Katie starts weeping and he proceeds in a steel edged voice. "What have you to say now, I'm waiting..Katherine. What have you to say for such discourteous behaviour towards your older brother?"
She continues sobbing while staring down at her hands clutching tightly to her pillows.
"I'm waiting.." Sapphire eyes scanning down over her like an x-Ray machine.
He hooks his thumbs in the front pocket of his jeans. I notice the sleeve of his arm shift a little higher in the movement , a tattoo of what appears to be a dragon briefly shows on his taut muscles.
"I-I'm s-sorry..." She stutters, still avoiding his penetrative gaze.
His rigid expression relaxes. He kneels a leg on her bed, reaching over and steadies his hands on her shoulders, before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You're precious to me Katherine.." He whispers affectionately while brushing a blonde tendril of her hair behind her ear. "You have no conception of how much you mean to me..I know what's most illustrious for you considering your gullibility...gullibility isn't a bad trait in itself. I mention not in a condescending manner. It is mostly a feminine trait and beautiful in a woman. It's our duty as men to protect and guard the women of our household."
He straightens and strides briskly towards the door. Pausing, he gives her a severe look, full of promise, and concludes. "You're part of my honour, I will defend my honour till death. Mark my words."
And he departs, leaving her to cry freely while I am sitting awkwardly still in the closet.
◆◆◆
I left Katie's room in complete bewilderment of what I witnessed.
I had emerged out of her closet a minute after the demon's departure. She had glanced at me with total embarrassment. I really had no idea what to say to her, how to comfort her besides providing her a hug.
But then she said it was okay, that he had the right to raise his hand on her since she depended upon him virtually for everything.
However I thought it was wrong, he had no right to do that. No one had the right to physically attack another unless in self defence.
He was a complete hypocrite, perhaps he should break his own bones for smacking her. What a cold dastard he is.
I saw her eyes spoke otherwise, I could tell that she wasn't happy to live in a cage even if it was an expensive gilded cage ..it was still after all a prison for her.
While I'm nearing the corner towards the corridor leading to my door, someone's takes ahold of me. My breath knocks out of me in utter consternation.
I'm abruptly shoved around the corner and my back slams against the wall harshly.
An abrasive hand clamps over my mouth, muffling my scream of horror.
My gaze is met with a familiar dark grey t-shirt stretching over a broad masculine chest.
Immediately, I look up in utter terror to find frigid blue eyes leering down at me with calculated precision.
Mortified, I fight to free myself from his hold. He's gripping both of my wrists tightly in one hand, while his jeans covered solid thighs press hard against my legs.
"You're terrible at hiding, Kashani.." He mocks contemptuously, cool minty breath swathing over me with a mixture of his aftershave and cologne. "Terrible at spying..."
My heartbeat quickens in utter shock.
How did he know???
As if reading my thoughts, he smirks deviantly. "You forgot your slippers near Katherine's bed.."
I resume staring at up at him in fear, with his hand still clamped against my mouth. He was inappropriately close. I was all too aware of his domineering frame pressing against me dangerously.
"But you know what?..Even if you hid with them.." He lowers his voice to an apparent seductive notch, licking his lips slowly and continues.
"I would have still heard your breathing...quite heavy breaths..like you are now...like the heaving of your breasts up and down..."
My eyes widen at such a crude comment. I strive again to struggle out of his hold.
Is he in the right state of mind ??!!
What is he doing !!!???
His solid thighs painfully dig into my skirt clad ones.
"You deserve to be punished for spying..Kashani.." He drawls in a honeyed tone overshadowed by a threat. "..amongst other..things...you've been such a bad little girl..."
Apprehension claws at my mind as he starts perilously lowering his face down, near my ears.
He whispers scathingly. "One must wonder..over how long..and how far..can a man's patience..limits be tested, Kashani..."
What the hell is he on about ???
"You had kissed back, little girl.." He growls bone chillingly.
My heart palpitates in trepidation of his reminder.
I try to inch my head away from him, but he presses his large cold hand down harder against my mouth; stilling me.
"..and you had kissed back for a reason..." His tone raspy and virile.
"I know..you felt it too..you felt it...the wrong of it...and how right it felt.."
No! Please stop !
Stop saying such things !
Something peculiar within me stirs aside from the apparent despair his diabolical presence afflicts me with. My stomach flutters in a jittery reaction. Goosebumps surface over my skin from the continuous fanning of his cool breath on my face.
"So let's try it again.." He whispers cold and menacingly. "Let's see if the wrong of it still feels right..shall we ?"
No!!!
Anew I try thrashing and struggling out of his over-bearing grip. My heart wildly thundering against my rib cage.
But he lets out a fervent deep groan. Settling his head at the crook of my hijab covered neck and takes a heavy inhale. His silky blonde hair brushing against my nose. The exhilarating scent of him makes me shiver.
"You keep struggling like that.." He speaks with a restrained rough voice. "Isn't helping...fūck..keep that up, Kashani ..and I'll drag you back to my room."
Drag me back to his room ??!!
My face flushes crimson as I realize my movements only cause a friction against his lower region.
Repleted shame percolates over me as I hold still. That unsual feeling was returning, that I so desperately tried to rid off, tried to forget from that kiss.
"Do you think of me ? Late at night ?" He nuzzles his nose at my hijab covered neck before asking slyly. "Do you get wet ?..I get so fūcking hard thinking of you getting wet for me.."
Deviant Fixation Page 41
