Chapter 3

Eliana's POV

The basement smelled rotten, mold and rust and something dead mixing together in the stale air.

Lawrence shoved me inside with one hand on my shoulder and I stumbled forward. My knees hit the concrete hard and pain shot up my legs.

"Stay here and think about what you've done." Lawrence said it with his voice completely flat and empty of any emotion.

"I didn't do anything!" I scrambled to my feet and reached for him. "Lawrence, please, you know me. You know I wouldn't—"

"I thought I did." He stepped back just out of reach. "But Vivian doesn't lie. She never has."

The door slammed shut and the lock clicked into place.

I pounded on the wood until my fists ached and my knuckles were raw. "Let me out! Please! Someone!"

No one came.

Hours passed, maybe more. I lost track of time in the dark.

A maid opened the door just long enough to shove a tray inside. One slice of bread with the edges green and fuzzy with mold. A cup of water that smelled sour and wrong.

I pulled my knees to my chest and pressed my forehead against them.

This is how it ends.

Five days in that basement.

On the morning of the sixth day Lawrence opened the door. He didn't say anything, just stepped aside and waited for me to understand.

I stumbled out with my legs shaking because I hadn't been able to stand up properly in days. The sunlight hurt my eyes and made them water.

"Go clean yourself up." He said it without looking at me, his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder. "And stay out of Vivian's way. If you cause any more trouble, the consequences will be worse than this."

I nodded because I would have agreed to anything just to stay out of that hole.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He walked away without responding.

I went straight to my new room in the west wing, which was smaller and darker. I showered and the hot water stung against my skin. Changed into clean clothes. Ate the sandwich the maid had left on my dresser and tried not to cry while I chewed.

For two days I was invisible. I stayed in my room and only came out when specifically called. I didn't speak unless spoken to. I kept my eyes down and made myself as small and quiet as possible.

Maybe if I'm quiet enough, small enough, they'll forget I'm here and I can just exist without causing problems.

On the third day I heard the crash.

The sound of something heavy tumbling down the stairs echoed through the entire house, followed immediately by Vivian's scream. High and piercing and full of pain.

I ran out of my room without thinking, my heart pounding in my chest.

Dennis was already at the bottom of the staircase kneeling beside Vivian. Martin and Philip came running from the study. Lawrence burst through the front door still wearing his coat from outside.

Vivian lay crumpled on the marble floor clutching her leg, and tears were streaming down her face in a way that looked almost pretty.

"What happened?" Martin dropped to his knees beside her.

"She pushed me!" Vivian gasped between sobs and pointed up the stairs. "She was right there and she pushed me!"

All four of them looked up.

At me.

I stood frozen at the top of the landing with my hand still on the railing from when I'd been running down to help.

"I didn't—" The words stuck in my throat. "I just heard the noise and I came to see what happened—"

"You were right there!" Philip's voice was pure venom.

"I was in my room! I heard her fall and I ran out to help—"

Dennis was already moving. He took the stairs three at a time with his face dark and twisted with rage.

"No, wait, please—" I backed away but there was nowhere to go. His hand closed around my wrist and squeezed so hard I felt something grind.

"You pushed her," he snarled while dragging me down the stairs.

"I've been hiding in my room for days!" I tried to pull free but my feet kept slipping on the steps. "I didn't touch her! I wouldn't—"

"Liar!"

Martin was waiting at the bottom and when I got close enough his hand cracked across my face.

My cheek exploded in hot sharp pain. I tasted blood in my mouth, copper and salt.

"You want to act like an animal?" Martin's voice was low and dangerous in a way I'd never heard before. "Fine. We'll treat you like one."

They dragged me outside and rain was starting to fall, cold and sharp against my skin. In the back corner of the yard sat this large dog kennel with metal bars and a concrete floor and a chain-link roof. Dennis unlocked it and the hinges screamed.

"No, please don't—" I twisted and kicked and fought as hard as I could but it wasn't enough.

Philip grabbed my other arm. Together they shoved me inside.

I hit the concrete hard and my shoulder screamed with pain. The door slammed shut behind me and the lock clicked into place.

"Learn some gratitude," Dennis said coldly. "When you're ready to apologize for what you did, we'll talk."

"I didn't do anything!" I pressed against the bars and rain soaked through my clothes within seconds. "Please! I didn't push her! I wasn't even near her!"

"Vivian's leg is broken." Philip spat the words at me. "And you're still lying to our faces."

Martin turned away without saying a word.

They walked back to the house together. The lights inside glowed warm and golden and inviting. I could see Vivian through the window with her head on Lawrence's shoulder and his arm around her waist, holding her close.

The rain came harder.

I curled up in the corner of the cage, shivering so hard my teeth chattered, and finally let myself cry.