CHAPTER THIRTEEN:

/ Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all…/

Brush. Pat. Brush. Pat. Monotonous, automatic motions of utter and complete compliance. Purple locks shining with the effort.

Eyes of darkest green, shimmering beneath a smudge of black kohl, lining lashes that seemed to go on forever.

Cheeks with the tiny dust of a rosy blush.

Lips of light pink, parted now and moist with the breath of one that had been trained to be silent.

The face of utter perfection under the ever watchful eyes of darkest night.

“Get up already. You have been stuck in that chair forever. The guests are already beginning to arrive.”

Tightened lips and the curt reply. “Yes, mother.”

She stood up in only a slip of white lace, hands held out to her sides as the older woman slipped the heavy velvet red dress over her. She winced silently as she felt rough hands smoothen the cloth out. The off shoulder ball gown showed off her creamy shoulders and hid everything else. Much as the dress was distasteful to the young woman, she still could not deny that it did give her an air of mystery.

/ Look, but please do not touch. /

“I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight.”

“Yes, mother.”

Another inward wince as she felt her waist almost snap with the force of the older woman’s efforts at tying a bow.

“I will not tolerate your rudeness to our guests. Especially to Vicious. You do know that he will be getting a divorce from that woman soon. So, you are well advised to act in your own best interests.”

~ What about the baby? ~

Eyes filled with innocent joy. Soft, warm skin of a newborn babe.

She sighed.

“What is it?!” came the snap of irritation.

“Nothing, mother. I was just thinking.”

She suddenly found herself staring into angry dark depths, her heart thudding faster as her shoulders were squeezed beneath the pressure of strong hands.

~ She will break them. Just like she broke my arm when I wanted to be a cheerleader. ~

“Who were you thinking about?!”

“No…no one, mother. Please…you are hurting me…”

“You don’t know what hurt means yet!! Now, tell me who you were thinking about?!!!”

“Let me go, mother!! I wasn’t thinking of anyone!!”

“You were thinking of that writer, weren’t you?! Answer me!! You were thinking of him!!”

“NO!! I WASN’T!! NOW LET ME GO!!”

The sound of something breaking and the sharp gasp of surprise that came from the woman on the floor. Faye raised a hand to cover her mouth as the familiar rush of a memory long ago flashed through her mind.

/ I hate you, mother!! I hate you!! /

/ Well, I don’t exactly love you either, Faye!! I wish you were dead!! You have been nothing but trouble for me ever since the day you were born!! I should have killed you while I had the chance!! /

/ SLAP!! /

/ Tears of anguish…/

/ How can you say such horrid things, mother? How can you say that to me… /

/ You dare to hit me? You dare to hit me, you stupid slut!!! /

/ No, mother, please!! Don’t lock me in there!! It’s too dark!! Please mother!! Pleeeeeease!! /

The musty smell of the dark, damp room. It had choked her senses. Threatened to make her mad.

“I am so sorry…”

The older woman spat out in disdain and got to her feet. Her eyes now filled with a hate that Faye could barely stand to watch.

“Mother…”

“I might as well tell you the sordid truth, Faye. Do you want to know why I cannot stand you? Do you want to know why I despise you and your precious father?!”

~ Oh, mother, why? ~

“Because you aren’t mine, Faye!! Do you hear me?! You are not my child!!”

/ Take that baby away from me!!! /

“No…no…it can’t be…”

A smug look of satisfaction on a bitter face. “Oh, it is all right. I am barren, Faye. As barren a desert. The doctor said I would never be able to give birth and your father…your precious father couldn’t stand it. And do you know what he did, Faye? Do you want to know what precious daddy did?!”

“No…”

“He slept with her!! He slept with the woman who took care of you!! He fucked the goddamn house maid and look at what happened!!”

She closed her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, her head shaking in denial. “It’s a lie!! It’s a lie!! You are my mother!!”

Her hands were pulled roughly away from her face as she was forced to stare into the spiteful woman’s eyes.

“She was more beautiful, Faye. She was younger. She had breasts and thighs and every man wanted her. Every man, including your father. And so he slept with her and you were born and what was I to do, Faye? I had a reputation to protect!! How could I show my face to the world, saying that my precious husband had slept with a maid!! And so, I stayed. I put up the act. I would pretend you were mine, while little Miss. Perfect took care of you! I would continue being the Mistress of the Valentine Estates, while looking after a bastard!!”

KNOCK! KNOCK!

“Madame Valentine, the guests are here.”

“We will be right out.”

Waiting for the sounds of the footsteps to recede, the older woman straightened up and smoothed down her own gown, her demeanor now back to the cool, calm and collected poise of an aristocrat.

“Look at yourself. You have smudged your mascara. Clean up yourself and come downstairs in the next five minutes. Have I made myself clear?”

She could only nod mutely as she watched her ‘mother’ walk out of the room. She waited for the door to close before collapsing unto the bed and breaking down in harsh and uncontrollable sobs.

~ Why is this happening to me? Why??!! ~

~&~&~&~&~&~

He wasn’t a tuxedo man. The thought of being confined in a black suit with a tie always made him break out in a sweat, but with the help of his very good friend, aka Jet Black, Spike Spiegel found himself standing in front of the large grandeur stone steps that led towards the bright lights of the largest house he had ever seen, wearing the constricting outfit that, unbeknownst to him, gave him an air of danger and intrigue.

“May I show you in, sir?”

“Hai.” Came the automatic response, as he was ushered up the stairs by the servant. He was led towards the line where the guests were being made to show their invitations before being let in. He searched his pockets for a minute, before breathing a sigh of relief as the small piece of cardboard was felt. Whipping it out in a flourish, he smiled brightly at the bored looking butler.

“And you are?”

“Spike Spiegel, at your service.”

“Spike Spiegel of what?”

Spike blinked in confusion for a moment. “I am sorry…I don’t quite get you.”

“Do you have a title? Or are you a large company owner? Or…”

A small smirk as comprehension dawned. “Ah, yes. I am Spike Spiegel, the husband of Faye Valentine and the author of several books which I am sure you have not read.”

The butler looked a bit confused. “I am sorry, but did you say the husband of Lady Faye?”

“I do believe I…”

“Well, hello there, Spike! Fancy meeting you here, my friend. Smithers, this is my good friend, Spike. You can let him through. He is with my party tonight.”

“Of course, Mr. Vicious.”

~ Two can play that game, Vicious. ~

And with a smile that was nothing short of effervescent, Spike pinned eyes that spoke otherwise on the smirking visage before him. Placing a strong arm around the gray-haired man’s shoulder, Spike shrugged good-naturedly and reached for a passing flute of champagne.

“How about it, Vicious?” He crooned a bit too sweetly. “How about you show me your circle of rich…Why, how rude of you! You never introduced me to this lovely, dazzling vision of beauty at your side….”

Vicious spat out through clenched teeth. He was slowly beginning to regret his actions. “She is my wife.”

“Your wife?! Your wife?! My goodness! Forgive my outburst, my lady, but it is so hard to believe that you could be married to such a man…”

“Spike…”

“You really ought to have a more…”

“Excuse us, my darling.” Vicious interrupted calmly as he placed a firm grip on his tormentor’s arm and pulled him away from the crowd. “You listen to me, Spike. I will not tolerate you embarrassing me or yourself in front of such distinguished guests…”

“Vicious-sama, what a pleasure to meet you again.”

The two men spun around at the husky voice. “Ah, Madame Valentine. The pleasure is all mine. I do not believe that you have met…Mr. Spiegel…”

Spike could have sworn the temperature had dropped several degrees. This was, obviously, Faye’s mother and Faye’s mother did not like him. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out.

Nodding curtly, the older woman tightened her lips in disapproval, her eyes giving a quick rundown of the lanky, handsome man before her. “Mr. Spiegel.”

“Madame Valentine.” He responded just as coolly. “I just came to look for my wife. You wouldn’t happen to know where she is now, would you?”

“I am afraid that you have come to the wrong place, Mr. Spiegel.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Come Monday morning, you will be meeting with my daughter’s lawyers. The divorce papers should be legalized and ready by then.”

And not waiting to see Spike’s reaction, the woman slipped an arm around Vicious and smiled at him. “Try to enjoy yourself this evening, Mr. Spiegel. It is a shame that Faye has tired of you so…quickly.”

His hands tightened into fists within his pockets, his jaw working silently as he let the insult sink through. He suddenly felt out of place in this world filled with fake and artificial mirth. He longed for his apartment and the warmth of his woman. He longed for…

~ Faye??? ~

He blinked in disbelief as he watched the almost ethereal beauty work her way through the crowd of admiring people. His first irrational thought was on how ugly the dress was and secondly on how pale and drawn she looked. Sure, she smiled and talked to the guests, but she looked…lifeless.

~ What have they done to you, Faye?! ~

By some telepathic connection that only married couples could brag about, green eyes that could always sear through his soul, widened as they met his across the crowded room. Time stood still as heart rates climbed. The sudden joy of being within each other’s presence threatening to make them forget where they were and to jump into each other’s arms.

~ Spike??? ~

~ Faye… ~

He tried to make his feet move towards her, but she was soon surrounded by another group of people and Spike could only growl and watch helplessly in frustration.

~&~&~&~&~

Her mind whirled with names and faceless people. She tried to crane her neck to look for the person she had thought she saw.

~ It’s a dream. It has to be an apparition or something. Spike couldn’t possibly be here. Why would he be here?! Oh, please don’t let it be a dream!! ~

“Excuse me.” She said apologetically. “But I have to meet someone.”

And ignoring the glare of disdain she received from her ‘mother’, she pushed her way through the crowd to search for the elusive lanky figure.

“Oh, please, excuse me. Excuse me…ow!”

“Where do you think you are going?” came the sharp hiss of anger, as Faye felt her arm being pulled on roughly.

“I am going to look for my husband.” Faye replied with vehemence. “Now let me go…mother. Not unless you want me to tell the world that you are not really my mother and that Faye Valentine is actually a maid’s daughter. I don’t think you would like to see your reputation flush down the toilet now, would you?”

“Why, you little tramp!!”

“As much a tramp as my mother was? Hmm…Helena! Now, if you would excuse me…I have a man to look for.”

After several more minutes of fruitless searching around the rooms, she lifted up her billowing skirts and ran out of the house and towards the lawns. Several guests were already outside enjoying the cool night breeze, as she searched through them frantically.

Almost in tears now at the thought that it might all have been her imagination, she stopped in exhaustion and leaned her head against a wall.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid. I was wishing so hard for it to be him. Oh, Spike…I love you so much.”

“And I love you too, my green-eyed angel.”

She froze for several seconds, her heart refusing to register that voice that always made her feel weak. Afraid to turn around for fear it was just another trick of the mind, she croaked out softly.

“Spike? Is it really you?”

Strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist, as the familiar scent filled her senses. Warm lips pressed gently against her now arched neck, as she closed her eyes in silent bliss.

“Hai, Faye.” Came the husky reply filled with warmth and desire.

“It is me. And I have come to take you back home.”

She spun around in his arms to cup his face within her palms, her eyes drinking in the face that she had never thought she would see again. “Yes, Spike. I will come back home…”

He did not allow her to finish her sentence as he swooped down to claim her lips in a kiss that had them hanging on to each other for dear life. Hands trembled with barely suppressed excitement, as tongues danced in a rhythm as old as time. Finally releasing each other for air, they pressed their foreheads together, each with a lopsided grin of happiness on their faces.

“Let’s get out of here, Faye.”

“Right now?” she asked with a devilish glint in her eye.

A responding glint was in his brownish-red depths as he responded lazily. “No time like the present, ne?”

She nodded and grasped his hands within hers. Lifting up her skirts, she kicked off her shoes and wiggled her bare toes in the soft grass. Spike raised an eyebrow as she began to twirl around in happiness, a light chuckle escaping his lips as she continued with her antics. Leaping into his arms again, she placed a light kiss on his nose.

“Let’s go, Spike Spiegel. I have oh, so much to tell you!”

They were about to make their way towards the other exit where they wouldn’t be seen, when the cold voice stopped them.

“If you leave this place, Faye, do not expect me to welcome you back here ever again.”

Faye tightened her grip on her husband’s hands and spun around slowly to face the irate older woman.

“I don’t care anymore.” She replied calmly. “Don’t you get it, Helena? It’s over. Finished. I am no longer going to be bound to you by obligation or duty. My only duty is to my husband now! The man I love more than anything else in the world. And you cannot take that away from me. You hear me?! I am free from you now!! For the first time in my life, Helena, I can finally say that I have a home to go to, where I will be loved and protected. Something you never gave to me! Something Vicious will never be able to give to me!!”

“You foolish child. Too blinded by that folly emotion called love. I hope it spits back in your face!! I hope you suffer!!”

Spike growled but stopped as Faye squeezed his hand gently. “It’s okay, Helena. You have a right to be angry. What happened to you was wrong, but you shouldn’t let that weight live with you for the rest of your life. I have grown up now. I am no longer a little girl in your shadows…and I hope that someday you will find it in your heart to forgive my father, just as much as I am willing to forgive you. Goodbye, Helena.”

And turning back to face her man, she smiled softly and whispered.

“Let’s go home.”