The warmth of her embrace seeped into Violet's skin, pushing back the icy dread that threatened to swallow her whole. But just then, her step-mother stopped, a smile creeping onto her lips that felt more like a threat than a comfort. Violet held her breath, wary of that smile. The room thickened with unease, each second stretching into eternity. Would her step-mother finally reveal her intentions? Would it be an explosion or a quiet devastation?
" Do you want to know something? " she said, her voice low yet sharp, like a blade slicing through the ice. Violet hesitated, swallowing hard as her curiosity won over her terror.
" Y-yes " she stammered, barely audible. Her step-mother leaned closer, her face softened into a haunting smile that sent a shiver down her spine. With deliberate care, she extended a hand, her fingers brushing against the air between them. The words that followed, spoken in a chillingly tender tone, seemed to pierce straight through Violet. " My dear, you and your brother will never have a place in my heart, for to me you are nothing. "
Violet felt a cold weight settle in her chest, a mixture of fear and anger swirling within her. She wanted to scream, to express the hurt that threatened to break free, but the words stuck in her throat like sharp glass. The room felt smaller, as if the very walls were closing in, suffocating her with the bitter reality of their situation. Her step-mother's words echoed in her mind, a cruel mantra that she couldn't shake off.
"Nothing," she thought, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over.
"Why?" she finally managed to ask, her voice steadier than she felt. "Why do you hate us so much?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and charged with desperation. Her step-mother's expression shifted, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features.
"Your existence is a burden," she replied dismissively, her tone icy. "You are reminders of a life I never wanted. It's best if you remember that."
The oppressive stillness of the room was shattered by the defeating echo of the bottle smashing against her head. Violet stumbled, her hand instinctively flying to the source of the searing pain. The sharp sting of a broken glass embedded in her scalp mixed with the warmth of blood trickling down her temple. Violet breath hitched as panic and shock seized her, every fiber of her being trembling under the weight of what had just happened. She struggled to steady herself, her vision swimming as she caught the faint outline of her stepmother, unsteady on her feet, a cruel smirk playing on her lips.
Violet's voice trembled as she choked out the single word that tore at her heart. " Why? "
Her question lingered in the air, desperate and filled with pain that went beyond the physical. Her only response was a drunken chuckle, low and mocking, as she staggered out of the room without a second glance. The sound of her retreating footsteps was drowned out by the pounding in Violet's ears. She collapsed onto the edge of her bed, clutching her head, the crimson streaks staining her fingers a stark contrast against her pale skin. Every beat of her heart sent another jolt of pain radiating through her skull. She sat frozen; her gaze locked on the door that had slammed shut moments ago. Time seemed to stretch into eternity as a wave of despair washed over her. Trapped in the suffocating silence of her room, she was left alone to wrestle with her agony, her helplessness, and the echoes of that sinister laugh–a haunting reminder of the monster that had inflicted this upon her.
Starfania scanned the slight cut on Violet's head. A lump formed in her throat. The sight of it was a quiet yet damning testament to the cruelty she had endured. Her finger brushed gently against the raised bump, and with every delicate touch, her anger simmered beneath the surface. This was no accident–it was the deliberate malice of her stepmother, a realization that left her heart aching and mind racing with anger and dread. Aeron's gaze followed Starfania, and the moment he saw the injury, his entire demeanor shifted. His fists clenched, and his jaw tightened as a fiery rage lit up his eyes. Really wanting to leave a mark on his stepmother, just like she did to his baby sister, Violet. Starfania inhaled deeply, trying to steady her breaths as she fought against the swell of emotions.