Prologue
Listrea
☆☆☆
12 years ago ( January 2014)
Snuggled up against my cuddly toy, which I never part with for even a second
Hearing my father's footsteps coming closer and closer to my room, I hug my cuddly toy tighter and tighter, hoping to lose myself in this embrace so as to escape the events that are about to unfold. Indeed, if my father decides to honour you with his presence, it doesn't bode well.
I can hear the door opening and closing violently, but I don't dare face my father's dark irises, which glare at me as if I were dead under his furious gaze.
__listrea, my darling, look at me
Tears ensue just after he says those words, even though she should be consoling a child of my age. It worries me even more because when my father sounds like that it's never a good omen, I've lived long enough to know that.
I raise my head but can't stop the tears that betray the lack of confidence I'm trying to muster, and seeing my face, my father's face darkens more than it did at first.
__What did I say? Remind me of rule 19 of our house rules.
In the Devson family we abide by a set of rules dictated by our ancestors, of which there are a total of 100, and anyone unfortunate enough to be born into the Devson family must learn them better than their own name.
With my little voice I begin to say word for word the 19th rule
__crying is for the weak and if I'm weak then I should learn not to be weak any more.
In his eyes I see a gleam that sends a chill down my spine, the beating of my heart renders me almost deaf, I wait for what's coming next, hoping that it will pass as quickly as the speed of sound.
__And what are we going to do about the serious mistake you made after the one that necessitated my coming here? Should I overlook two mistakes at once?
I know perfectly well that these are rhetorical questions, and I watch him without moving an inch, praying inwardly that this comedy will come to an end, and the next minute, as if my wish had come true, his phone rings in his pocket, and I find myself hoping that it's his work that's calling him, at least that way he won't dwell on my fate.
Before he picks up he looks at me with a look full of promise that says *thank God for sparing you for the first time because believe me next time it won't be so easy *
After he's out of my sight I release all the air I'd held in until then and yes by the way I've also released the pressure I had on scottie. Allowing myself the pleasure of releasing the tears I'd been holding back since the start of the day. Tears aren't allowed here, not in Davson Manor, but at this moment, knowing that I'm not safe from the gaze of my father who watches me 24 hours a day from behind his screen, he's the master, nothing in his manor escapes him, Each room is equipped with a camera that only he thinks he knows where it's hidden, except that when I was 6 years old I discovered where he was spying on me without my knowledge. No one escaped these rituals, not even my mother, his own wife, except that this cruel man had the decency to spare the toilets.
I continued to pour out my sadness on the black sheets of my bed knowing full well that I was going to be punished sooner or later, punishment was not what was missing from my life, it was so present that it oppressed me not knowing if it was for it that I was living. At just 10 years old I've lived through horrors that no one can imagine. Forced to live in spite of everything, waiting for the moment when I'll escape the clutches of the Devson family, maybe that's the price I have to pay for being so rich, everything has a price, that was the first rule I was taught when I was only 4 years old. Maybe that's the price I have to pay for living in a mansion with 5 toilets, each more modern than the last, 13 bedrooms, a cinema room and so on, for only 4 people if you leave out the servants who also have their own bedrooms and toilets. true luxury in the truest sense of the word.
Lost in my thoughts, suddenly I feel a presence to my left, I raise my head and fall on the blue irises of my brother who is only 8 years old, we are two years apart and he is the only person in this family for whom I would take a shot if the situation required it.
__Elis, did Dad hurt you?
I smile in spite of myself at his face, which would melt anything with a heart.
__No, he hasn't done anything to me.
I take him in my arms, reassuring myself.
__So why are you crying?
__You know, my beautiful Johnnie, tears aren't always synonymous with sadness, there are also tears of joy.
He remains neutral in front of my little quote, he doesn't seem convinced by my lie, even I wouldn't believe me.
__I may be 8 years old but I know very well that these tears are far from being tears of joy, no one here smiles without it reaching the contours of our eyes.
I think I've underestimated him, trying to protect him from everything I've experienced here and everything we've suffered in this cursed manor for ages.
It's sad to say that there's nowhere to go, no way out, forced to live under the shadow of our father.
__It's far from being tears of joy, but at least you're here.
I smile weakly, not having the strength to stretch my lips any further than that; over the years I've forgotten how to put on a real smile, or even a sincere smile.
__Don't leave me alone lis...
Ohh if only he knew that I'm fighting for him to get us both out of here, out of this nameless hell, I'm the one who has to protect him but sometimes I have the impression that it's he who's protecting me with his visits after I've been tortured in the basement, the fact that sometimes when I'm forced not to eat for two days he sneaks the rest of his food and gives it to me and what have I done for him during that time? NOTHING...apart from feeling sorry for myself.
Here I am, crying harder, holding him in my arms at this moment, he seems braver than me, I'm proud that he's holding out, that he's still got hope despite everything that's going on inside this house.
__We'll get through this. I said to comfort myself.
__Yes, big sister, together we'll get through this.
I smile at her reply, full of promise and hope, which is growing in her little heart, while I don't believe in miracles or lucky days, but if I have to hold out for my little brother Johnnie, I'll do it, because against all odds, I can't wait to see what my life would be like without my sire and dam, living without being exposed to punishments, each worse than the last, just for a yes or a no, or for a small misplaced gesture.
Would I be happy once I got out of this hell with my brother by my side?
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
__lis?!
__yes, my little johnnie.
__Can I sleep with you tonight?
He looks at me with his big ocean eyes that could make even the devil himself succumb who am I to refuse such a beautiful request? PERSON .
__Of course you can, when the mood takes you come to my bed, all right, my little darling.
* I say with a smile*
__ from now on I won't be shy, and stop calling me sweetheart, I hate it. he takes offence.
I know perfectly well that he hates it when I call him that, but it amuses me more than any other joke in the world.
__Stubborn bastard.
he exclaims in a voice that sounds like the grumpy voice in Care Bears. He's got such a deep voice for his age, I'm sure he'll turn a lot of women's heads when he becomes a man.
__It's the one who says it is.
I say, sticking out my tongue.
Our laughter gets tangled up and we sink into Morpheus's arm after 20 minutes of telling each other rotten jokes whose origins only we know.
