Chapter 2
Vivian had let go of Val's hand when they had finally gotten far enough away from the manor.
Opening her house door, Davy was the first thing the pair saw once in. "Why are you here?" The child asked with slight usual annoyance. "Because your mom loves my company- as well as Eli."
"You're a raccoon."
"Always a pleasure to see you, Vivian." The older mumbled sarcastically turning away slightly.
"Pleasure my fucking ass." The girl had taken off her shoe launching it at him before walking into the kitchen.
Val placed his bag on the couch before heading over to the kitchen bar and putting his sketchbook down.
There was silence.
"Why does it smell like cigarette smoke?" Davy questioned.
The loud slam of Vivian's bedroom door closing made both of the boys jump.
~
She stopped in front of her dresser pulling off her sweater and putting a wand on the desk.
Colton's wand.
There was silence as she stared at it before looking at her reflection- or the blood staining her undershirt.
Vivian examined the scratches and nail marks, surprised that none of the red bled through her sweater. Slowly reaching up behind her neck, she held her hair up feeling the fresh cigarette burn.
The wand was swiped and put into a drawer.
Rushing into her bathroom and closing the door, she placed her fists on the counter and looked closer at the tears stains on her face. The impatient and fearful expression she held for Val was gone and now morphed into something cold.
Her fists started to twitch, and she could now hear her own breathing from how quiet it was.
There was something wrong.
All she could do was stare at how bored she looked.
The sudden spree of fear she felt earlier wasn't even centered around her.
The brief moment of feeling concern for someone else was new and pissing her off.
Something was always coming for her and eating at her like entertainment for a cat. Brief new feelings were usually welcomed until boredom came and ate away at it. But this was something she hated.
She could sense an emotion she usually accepted verging.
And the thought of being touched- harmed again by that repulsive pig edged it on even more.
Vivian's fists shook tightly in her grasp. She knew she shouldn't throw a tantrum here, but the scent of smoke fueled her rage.
Turning on her shower and biting down on a rag, the shaking got worse till she hit her wrists against the marble counter's edge pushing her back. Her elbows collided with the wall, quickly turning and slamming one fist down and the other banging against the door.
Raising her knee and kicking the cabinet under the counter, her head was forced back and made a banging noise. Falling forward, her ribs and knees came back into contact with the cabinet.
Slamming and banging her head into the door and wrists against the wall and marble, the rag held back her screams and agonizing sobs. She took turns spinning and flailing with each hit only adding more pain.
With one final kick to the cabinet, she pushed herself full force with her spine falling into the wall and her head following after knocking all the air out of her.
Vivian collapsed unclenching her jaw and the rag fell out of her mouth.
The quick blow returned her back to her usual state, getting rid of her destructive aggression.
She refused to let out painful sobs or whimpers as she slowly got up and gently placed her hands back on the counter waiting for the shaking to stop.
Pulling her sleeves up, the child started unwrapping tan bandages around her wrists that covered more bruises and cig burns from past tantrums.
She needed to get rid of the putrid smell.
~
Standing in front of her dresser, Vivian slowly brushed out her hair ignoring the shuffling sound behind her.
Putting her hair into two low ponytails covering the burn, she tried morphing her expression into something more neutral.
Socially acceptable.
A small yawn was heard, and she finally turned around.
Ginger was obviously trying to sleep but the child didn't allow that. Going over and picking him up, he accepted her holding him as she opened her door and exited.
~
Val was sketching at the bar while Davy was looking for something to cook with in the kitchen. She sat next to the art kid, and he gave a short glance up at her and the cat as she gently whacked his paws against the countertop spacing out.
Ginger looked unamused and tired.
"Vivian, try this." Davy reached over the counter as she leaned over, taking a bite out of a roll. She chewed it for a moment before speaking, "Ios varty dry."
The other sighed before going back to failing at cooking while the child got up to put Ginger on the couch and then join him. Turning the faucet on, Vivian grabbed a sheet of rice paper, wetting it.
"Okay, how abou-" Davy turned to her only to have the paper thrown onto his forehead and over his eyes. He sighed hearing her giggle before taking off.
Taking the soggy paper off, he made eye contact with a surprised Val, "She's your problem now." He was done babysitting for the night.
"Oh, okay." There was a smart-ass tone behind his words as he suddenly charged after the child.
"NO-," Vivian screamed reaching out for her cat as Davy picked her up. She wiggled in his grasp, breaking free, and ducked down going for his leg.
"Oh no, you don't!"
"Val help!"
He did not.
~
"I hate both of you." The child mumbled face down onto the floor.
Davy leaned against her back while Valentin lay over her legs. Both were smirking proud to have taken down the demon.
"I wonder if she's ticklish?" The oldest asked.
"NO- NO! NO! I AM NOT! AND IF YOU TRY, I WILL KICK!" Vivian yelled, flailing her legs under Val's back. "Ginger! Help me!"
The cat looked up, jumping off the couch and walking over between the two boys standing still for a second. Both questioned what he was doing until he jumped onto the child's lower back curling up.
"You stupid cat! I take care of you, and this is what I get in return!" Her flailing got more aggressive as she pity cried.
"What. A. Betrayal." Valentin commented chuckling.
~
The pair finally let the screaming chimera up after a while.
Val sitting on one side of the couch continuing his drawing while Davy on the other eating. Vivian sat between the two leaning against the oldest with Ginger in her lap.
The cat quietly nipped at her thumb as she drifted further into sleep.