She nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure." Her voice betrayed her. She was scared as hell. She reached in her bag and pulled out a silver key on a string. She sighed. "I never thought I'd have to use this again but here we are." She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Ryan followed, she really didn't have to do this, his house was just as safe. He looked around whatever he could see from the doorway.
The house was quiet. Too quiet. He's here. She chose not to say anything. The living room to their right had red walls with white furniture and a white rug. The kitchen in front, with the blue walls, of them was open. Marble countertops with dark wood cabinets and a stainless steel sink with a kitchen island in the middle. She glanced to her left. The same dark wood stairs with the white wood banister that led up to the rooms that caused her so much pain. She shuddered.
(The interior designer in me is kicking in majorly.)
Ryan took her hand, "So, umm, what now?"
(The interior designer in me is kicking in majorly.)
(Lol. Really? I didn't notice)
She swallowed hard. "Upstairs."
He nodded as he made his way up the stairs. The silence of the house buzzed in his ears, it made an uneasy feeling burdon his stomach. He ignored it, he had no reason to feel that way.
She kept glancing around, scared. He's here he's here I know he's here. She tried to shake it off. She couldn't worry him. Not now. She opened a ying-yang door and revealed a small bedroom that was split in half. One half was painted black and the other was painted white. Each side mirrored the other. Only one side had pictures and candles piled on the white dresser. This was her and Jasmine's room. The black side was hers. The entire room was coated in a fine layer of dust. She walked to the small dresser and wiped off a small section and sighed. "He could've at least dusted a little."
Ryan laughed, he shouldn't worry, he could protect Belle and himself, he was the beast. He coughed at the flying dust, "I agree,"
She smiled before opening the top drawer and pulling out three items. A book, a bottle of holy water, and a knife. She swallowed again. She'd done this a thousand times before and she'd do it a thousand more, why was she suddenly so nervous about it? Well you've never had another person in the room besides Jasmine! Yeah that would explain it. She opened the book and flipped to a certain page without even looking when suddenly, she froze. The stairs creaked. Oh shit. He's here. "I hear someone in my house. Oh my dear sweet little Belle! I know you're in here! Come out and there won't be too much of a punishment." Her father's voice called.
Ryan froze as his nerves somehow melted away with the confirmation of Belle's dad. He puffed himself protectively as he stared at the door.
She heard his footsteps getting closer. Flashbacks of all the punishments she had received for hiding or misbehaving ran through her head. She started shaking. She sank to the floor, her knees too weak to hold her in her terror. She was terrified.
Ryan considered hiding himself, would her punishment be worse because he was here? It didn't matter, he wouldn't let anything happen to her. He stood his ground but put a hand on Belle's shoulder.
"Is she in here?" A door opened. "No. Is she in here?" Another door. "No. Come on sweetie! Just tell me where you are and daddy will be there!" The voice sounded sweet but also malicious. She threw her head in her hands trying not to cry. His footsteps stopped in front of her door. She barely even breathed. The door creaked open and he stood there with a murderous smile. "There she is! Oh, and who are you? Another little vic-I mean friend of hers?" He looked at Ryan.
(Waddup)
Ryan decided his approach was going to start with kindness… It seemed like a level-headed idea. "Hi! I'm Ryan, and yeah I'm a… friend," He offered the man a hand to shake.
He took his hand and shook it. "Name's Henry. Belle's father. Now, I must ask, what has she told you? What are the stories she's told about home?" His smile and voice were soaked in sweetness but there were undertones of his real intentions.
"Not much, from what I've heard you seem like an okay guy," Ryan was smiling as kindly as he could.
He laughed. "Aw well I'm glad she's at least talking about me! You know she used to avoid it for the longest time. She would never talk about her home life. It's like she was scared of it! Not sure why." She barely looked up, still trembling.
"I used to do the same thing," Ryan chuckled, "Some kids have that phase were they avoid talking about it… Not sure why either," He made himself sound as oblivious as possible.
He smiled. "Now, I hate to sound rude but can I talk to my daughter? Privately?" He looked down at her and she froze again. She looked up at Ryan with pleading eyes. Don't leave me here! You know the truth! I can't be left alone with him!
Ryan was torn. He couldn't keep up this persona of oblivion for much longer, "I'm sorry, she asked me not to," The fuck are you doing?
He tilted his head with a confused look. The same thing Belle did. "Really? Why not?" He glanced at her again with a pissed off look. She shuddered and looked away.
"Well sir, I don't know but I chose to respect her wishes if you don't mind,"
"Please I insist-" "He said no." She stood, trying to force her nerves down. "Well look who finally showed up. I knew your defiance was still there." He grabbed her arm and started dragging her out. "We're just going to have to keep giving you this lesson on respect until you finally get it." His nails were digging into her skin and she grimaced in pain.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Ryan's voice didn't sound like Ryan anymore, it had the loud, vicious bite of Convel's growl. It was almost scary as it echoed through the house/
He paused. "Well well well. Looks like I found myself a werewolf. I knew something was off with you." He turned around, whipping Belle behind him and having her smack into the wall. She clutched her forehead, a dark bruise already starting to form.
Ryan looked at him angrily, "Do what you wish to me, but leave her alone," he looked at Belle and went against his instinct not to help her, he needed to stand his ground.
He released her and she fell to the floor, gritting her teeth in an attempt not to scream in pain. "Don't underestimate me, kid. You know who gave her the reason to get that eyepatch? Me. I don't care who I have to hurt or kill, no one gets in the way of my plans!"