Her body ached terribly despite the fact that most of her injuries had now sealed up, she had managed to drive herself home and was now struggling into the house. None of the servants were on duty to see her, that she was grateful for, she just hoped that Jeremy too would not see her in this state.
She sighed.
Jeremy.
He had been with Donna again, with that woman again! Her blood literally boiled as she heaved her body up the stairs, heading for her room, unable to get the image of Jeremy and Donna together out of her mind.
Donna had told her that she had and wanted nothing to do with her husband, but then she had gone behind her back to secretly meet with him. She seethed and grabbed the door knob, twisted and pushed the door silently inward then walked to the bathroom after shutting the door behind her.
She fixed the drain plug in the tub and turned on the water, took off her clothes and sat on the edge of the tub, examining her body for injuries, there were three huge gashes that ran across her stomach, although it was sealing up, because it was deep it was taking time.
She placed one hand into the tub to feel the temperature of the water, it was not too hot and it was just right for her. Her legs went into the tub first before she lowered the rest of her body into it, letting out a whimper as the water touched her injuries. She sighed and remained still for a while, feeling very very tired.
Jeremy walked into the house wearing a huge smile on his face, he was so happy that he did a little spin just before he got to the stairs. But just as he placed a hand on the railing, he noticed the blood stains on them and his smile faded quickly.
His first thought was his father, but Ebeneezer had been bedridden for years now, so it was either the servants-
“No, the would have made sure to clean up right away.” he said to himself out loud before continuing in his thoughts, because they knew they were in a house owned by vampires, and even the smallest drop of blood within the house would be detected.
He paused, that was true, he had not detected the smell of blood right away as he had stepped into the house, was that because he had been too excited? Or…?
He followed the bloody trail and it took him to Cheryl’s room, the door handle too was stained with blood.
Without knocking, he placed a hand on the knob and twisted, pushing the door inward but didn’t bother to shut it after he had walked into the room. The bathroom door was open and he could hear water splashing.
“You should have been home earlier.” Cheryl said as soon as he came within view, stopping by the bathroom’s entrance. She didn’t need to lift her head up to look at him, she knew his scent.
“You should know not to leave blood stains around the house.” he retorted.
She sat in a bath tub full of blood-stained water, her bloodied clothes laid in a heap beside the tub and she held a soft sponge on one hand, washing her body with it.
“You don’t sound surprised to see me like this.” she lifted her head to look at him now, his eye brows were furrowed but he wasn’t angry.
“Should I be?” he said and leaned on the door frame, crossed his arms over his chest and studied her.
“Don’t you care to know what had happened?”
He scoffed. “You obviously must have offended somebody and that had gotten you in trouble. You’re not new to trouble, Cheryl, you basically attract it.”
She stopped washing her body and held the sponge underwater, squeezing it constantly as she watched Jeremy, her eyes never wavering from his.
“So who did you offend this time?” he asked. She knew he was not exactly asking out of concern, he just wanted to know, and so did she.
“Why?” she asked with a sarcastic smirk. “Will you stand up for me and defend me?”
Jeremy chuckled and shook his head, then licked his lips and fixed his eyes on her, one eye brow raised. “I think you know what my answer to that will be.”
Cheryl smiled and looked away from him, of course she knew what his answer would be, she had only asked because she wanted to know his reaction. She sighed and continued washing her body, the injuries on her arms had now completely sealed, but she could still feel pain in her abdomen.
The man who had attacked her was not someone she knew, maybe he was someone she should know, but she didn’t know him, or maybe she just could not remember knowing him.
“I didn’t offend anyone, I… Maybe I was just in the right place…” she stopped and sniffed as she remembered that Jeremy had been with Donna, yes she had been at the right place but, “…at the wrong time.”
Her heart clenched just as tightly as she clenched the sponge in her hand, she felt jealously swarm in her head and in her heart, she wondered what it was the Jeremy saw in Donna that would make him to completely ignore her. If it was beauty, Cheryl had that in abundance, power, wealth and influence, she had it all, but still the man she loved chose another.
It pained her terribly and all she could imagine was Donna dying in a pool of her own blood and she holding the blood stained knife, with a menacing smile of victory on her face.
She just wanted this marriage to hold. She wanted Jeremy to see her and only her. She wanted him to love her and her only. She wanted him.
“Do you not feel sorry for me, Jeremy?” her voice quaked as tears fell from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. “Not even an ounce of pity from you?”
“I would if your predicament was not deserving.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Not deserving? You think I deserve this?” she asked, gesturing to the injuries still visible on her body. “You think what was done to me was right?”