06 nosedive into hell

Penelope's POV:

The moment my mother hangs up, my phone rings again. I pick it without glancing at the screen.

“Miss Verdant,” a husky feminine voice says.

A sigh of relief escapes my lips and I close my eyes. “Athena, thank goodness.”

Athena Blaine. My bodyguard of ten years. She's the only one that calls me Miss Verdant even though I've been Mrs Halstead for four years. For the past week she's been out of the country. I forgot she was returning today.

I hear wheels rolling on pavement, probably her suitcase. “You don't sound good, Miss Verdant. Where are you? Is everything okay?”

I force myself to stand. My head swirls and I feel sick. I swallow it down and nod, even though she can't see it. “I'll send you an address. Meet me there, please. I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up from the airport.”

“Don’t apologize, that's my job. I'll meet you soon,” she says and hangs up.

My mother's frantic scream rings on repeat in my head. I'm able to take a quick shower. Watching the water turn red and wash down the drain fills me with dread.

Charles hurt me. The man who had never raised his voice on me in six years hurt me.

It hurt. And it wasn't just the wound.

I get dressed hastily and try not to think of it too much. My limbs weigh a ton, and a sob is caught permanently in my throat.

Charles did this. He hurt Calypso. I just know he did.

I never thought he would go to these lengths just to stop her wedding. But then again I never thought he would cheat on with my sister.

“Oh god…”

I hate Calypso for what she did to me, I really do. But she's my sister. I don't want her to die. I don't want anything to happen to her.

Dragging myself out of the house, I'm able to get a taxi.

“A thousand dollars for the night, drive me where I want and don't ask any questions.”

“Yes ma'am.”

Arriving at the hospital, Athena is the first person I meet. She's waiting for me at the entrance, her suitcase leaning against her leg, her stance tense and her eyes focused right ahead.

When I first met her eleven years ago, I was scared shitless. She was the tallest woman I'd ever seen. She was 6”3, lean and toned, and carried herself with the grace of a ballet dancer. She had dark hair done in a bob, cold green eyes and an androgynous beauty that I found both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Her strength was no joke, one time she beat up a dozen men twice her size and didn't sustain even a scratch.

I call her my goddess. Even her name reflects that.

Now, she's basically the same. Tall, cold and terrifyingly beautiful. But her eyes soften when she sees me, and the corners of her lips tip up into what might be a smile. I've never seen her smile.

I'm happy to see her. I'm always happy to see her.

She meets me halfway, her eyes scanning over my face. There's a wrinkle in her blazer, and her eyes are a bit dull. A small detail, but one that reminds me this goddess is human after all.

“Miss Verdant, you look tired.”

“You look more tired.” I say, trying to joke.

It flies right over her head. “I'm fine. Is your health okay?”

“Calypso had an accident,” I say, inhaling as I spoke.

Her eyes harden. Without any more words, she takes my hand, suitcase in the other and leads me into the hospital. I want to tell her that I can walk fine, but I can't speak. I just want to make sure Calypso is okay and can attend her wedding tomorrow.

I find Calypso's room. My heart threatening to burst out of my mouth, I rush to it. Athena yells at me to slow down, but I'm too worried to be calm right now.

“Cal!” I scream as I slam the door open and rush into the room.

The sight before me makes my blood turn to powder.

Calypso is in a hospital gown alright. Sitting beside her is Charles. They turn and stare at me. Their lips are glossy and red, and it doesn't take much to guess what just happened. Calypso wipes her lips and smiles at me, while Charles doesn't even try to look embarrassed.

“How…”

“Can't you at least knock?” Charles asks, annoyance lacing his words.

Calypso giggles, covering her mouth. “Oops. I guess you've found out my big secret, Penny.”

“Miss Verdant!” Athena catches up with me. “What—” her words are abruptly cut off when she sees them.

I stand in the doorway, a dozen different emotions stirring in my heart. The most prominent of them being anger.

How dare they?! I ran all the way here, thinking my sister was seriously hurt. And I meet this?!

“Do you still want that ice cream?” Charles asks her. He walks over to the fridge and gets a tub of ice cream. Then he turns to me and flashes a smile. “Want some? It's tiramisu, I know you like it.”

“You piece of shit!” I scream and throw myself at him.

“Penelope!” A loud shout stops me before I can take a step further. I freeze, turning around to see my parents standing behind me.

“Mom, dad,”

“Watch your voice child. This is a hospital.” My mother hisses. Her blue eyes glare at me with visible disgust. Her thin gray hair is messy, it looks like she didn't even makeup before she came here.

She clicks her tongue and walks in, intentionally brushing her shoulder with mine. Her tone turns sickly sweet the moment she sees Calypso. “My darling! How are you doing? Does it still hurt?”

“No mommy I'm alright now. You didn't have to come,”

“Nonsense! How could I not? I brought pears. They're your favorite, remember?”

Calypso takes the basket of fruit, her eyes shiny. “Awww you didn't have to! Penny, want some pears?!”

I can't believe this is real.

When Charles slammed my head into the floor, did I die and wake up in hell?

My father walks past me, his dark eyes raking over me from top to bottom. The wrinkles around his mouth deepen as he frowns. Without a word, he walks over to Calypso's bedside. My heart feels paper thin. For five years, he hasn't spoken a single word to me. He smiles at Calypso and asks how she's doing. She smiles back.

My knees wobble and I fall back. Athena catches me, her arms holding me up, and her chest pressed into my back.

“Miss Verdant, you're still weak,”

I push at her arms and force myself to stand. Tears brim in my eyes and my throat feels very painfully narrow. “I-I'm fine…”

I'm not fine. Oh gods I'm light years from fine.

What's happening? Why aren't my parents saying anything?! Why are they all gathered around Calypso like her brains were blown out or something?!

Charles turns to me and sighs. “Oh for heavens sake, come inside and don't stand there like a reject.”

“A reject?” I gasp, disbelief in my voice. “That's….how…” Athena squeezes my shoulder. I pause and inhale deeply.

Both my parents glare at me.

“Your sister's fiancé pushed her down the stairs. Mr Halstead was the one who found her. Where on earth were you?! Your sister could have died! And what would you have said?!” my mother barks at me.