Her Betrothed Prince CHAPTER 3 by Jennifer Brunner (good books for 7th graders .TXT) 📕

Chapter 3
Symphony’s P.O.V.
***
You” He said again as I reached the landing. He didn’t say it accusingly, just shocked, and with an odd s0mile on his face.
I was puzzled. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?” My brows knitted together and it hurt my face.
He closed his eyes and laughed to himself. He was the one in the kitchen. Why was he coming in from outside? “This is embarrassing.” He shook his head. “My name is Landon Taylor. I am so, so very sorry.” He held out his hand.
My dad walked out then, his face screwed together. “Stupid bitch.” He muttered to himself. He looked up. “Landon! Um, my apologies, Son.” His eyes traveled down his extended arm towards me. He cleared his throat. “I see you have met your fiancé.”
My eyes got big. “Him?” I asked, shocked. “Are you freaking kidding right now?!” Not that I object. He was fine.
“Hey.” Landon said, hurt. He drew back his hand.
“No, no. Don’t get me wrong—you’re cute—you’re just not what I expected.” He smiled. I felt faint. “Um, I-I need water.”
***
I felt as if I would faint.
I gulped down the last of my third glass of water, sighing deeply.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up. “Mom.” I smiled. “What are you doing here? Did you know about…?”
One side of her mouth slipped up. “I knew parts of it.”
“Like what parts did you know? I mean you had to have asked Mick some questions.” Landon, his parents and Mick went for a walk but they would be back any second. “Did you see him? Isn’t he cute?”
She smiled more full on, “Er, no, I didn’t see him.” She sat down beside me, laying her head in her arms on the table like she would just fall asleep.
“Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“Can I ask you some questions? It’s about you and Mick.”
My mom shook her head. “I don’t think so. Let’s not discuss him. Please.”
“Okay, then answer this—why did you leave me with him. You know what he does. You know he wants me to die under his hand.”
“Symphony I had to…”
“No you didn’t! That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t care enough. You want me to die, too!” My eyes were opaque. I couldn’t see at all.
I flung myself out of the chair, making it fall with a loud clatter.
“Symphony…” She sighed. She sounded different. Her voice was deeper. This was wrong. All of it was wrong.
She’s gone… Not supposed to be here....
“Symphony?” Someone shook my shoulder.
I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt blind, and I felt a sting in them.
I couldn’t even breathe. I tried to gasp for air. I choked. “She-she left me.” I said finding my voice. Soon after my eyes fluttered open and I was in an unfamiliar place.
Where was I? My thoughts lingered when not one movement was made. No one spoke and I started to panic, I bolted upright but a hand pushed me back down.
“What are you talking about?” Landon asked, three other voices asking the same questions in different ways.
“My mom. Dad?” I asked, not caring that he had hurt me so many times. All I needed was comfort and he was always there when I seeked it out. Well—when I was eight.
I was my dad’s world. I was daddy’s girl.
It actually got to the point where Kry—
“Symphony?” My father asked. My real father—not a fake one pretending. “What about your mom? What happened?”
I couldn’t speak. This wasn’t like him. He was a cruel man. Hatred always flowed threw his veins.
When my voice couldn’t find its way out, Landon whispered, “I think she should stay with me. I can have full on protection for her. Symphony?”
I looked at him still not sure of my voice.
“Would you like that? To stay with me?” I nodded slowly.
What the hell? I thought to myself. I don’t know this guy, why should I move in with him?
I sighed to myself. There wasn’t anything that I should feel bad about. We would move in together sooner or later
It’s better than staying in that hell hole with the devil….
Clearing my voice, I whispered, “Can I be alone for a second?”
Landon nodded and Mick looked as if he would cry. I laughed silently after both of them left the room.
My mother had left us when my brother had died. She said that she would come back. After 8 years I don’t think that was going to happen.
I remember the day that she left as if it were yesterday and I wish that I could erase the memory, for it was the day that made my life a nightmare.
***

She wouldn’t look at me. Her left eye was swollen and split open down her eyebrow. She let her head fall down to her hands in defeat.
“Mama?” I asked.
My mom didn’t reply, she simply just rubbed her face, stood, walked over to the door, and put her brown Sherlock Holms coat on. She opened the door and stepped out the door. I started to follow but she turned to me, knelt down on one knee, and put her hand on my shoulder. “No Symphony. I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to stay with your pa—for just a little longer ‘till I come back.” She promised, and even thought I could hear sadness in her Tennessee accent, it still rung like a golden bell on a Christmas morning, like it always had.
“But Daddy—” I started but she interrupted me in a haste.
She looked over her shoulder as a yellow cab pulled up. Then she turned back to me, “Your pa is mad at me, not you. He will calm down in a few. I’m sure he will calm down in a few.”
“What about me? What if Daddy hurts me, too?” I asked, tears rolling down my face.
“He won’t. He loves you.”
“I thought that he loves you too.” I said, puzzled.
She shook her head. “No, he used too, but not no more.”
“But I don’t have Krystian to look over me while Daddy’s away on work trips.”
“Oh darlin’!” She swooped me into her arms and hugged me. “I gatta go. I love ya and Mamma will be back, ya hear?” I nodded and she got off her knee, picked up her brown trunk and left. I started crying
Daddy found me that way.
That’s the first time he ever beat me. The raping came a week later when he figured out that she wasn’t coming back.
***
The next night I woke up it was still dark out.
I sat up feeling woozy. “Uugh.” I groaned. My head was pounding so I flipped over and tried baring my face in a pillow, that’s when I noticed I wasn’t alone. I jumped out of the bed, taking a sheet with me.
The figure sat up. In the salute I saw someone rub their eyes and then reach over to the night stand and flicked on a lamp.
I sighted in relief. “I-it’s just you.”
Landon sat there looking at me with his eyebrows knit together in confusion.
Right. He didn’t know.
“Symphony what is wrong? Is it because you are uncomfortable with me being in the same bed.” He smiled. “You know we’ll have to do it sooner or later.”
I choked as I tried to catch my breath.
His eyes got huge and he put his hands up in defene. “Oh! No, no, no. That is not what I—well, you know—not yet anyway.”
This guy was cute but strange.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered, still getting the last of my coughing out. “I had a nightmare. That’s all. Sorry for waking you.” I sat down on the edge of the bed. “And it’s your room, your bed. You should sleep in it. If anyone were to go somewhere it should be me.”
“Er, I assure you that you are just fine.” He contimplated what he was going to say next. “Do you want to tell me about your dream?”
I shook my head and layed back down. “No. I can’t remember it.” I closed my eyes. “will you turn off the light, please?”
He sighted deeply. “Yep.”
I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night

Publication Date: 08-13-2010

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