chapter 21

Esmeralda POV.

“Jesus Christ!” I jumped.

“Well, it's nice to see you too. Welcome home,” Klaus mused with a smirk, taking a long drag from his cigarette before washing it down with a gulp of beer.

My eyes darted around the living room. It was littered with empty and unopened beer cans.

‘How drunk was he? Besides, Mulan had said he was leaving today. So why was he still here?’ I wondered

“You're home early,” he noted, his eyes darting behind me before returning to roam over my body in a way that made my skin crawl. “Where's Mulan? Is she not with you?”

“No,” I responded weakly, all my remaining energy draining away.

“Why?”

“I got sick.”

Not wanting to answer any more questions, I turned toward my bedroom. “Good night.”

I heard Klaus stand up, so I quickened my pace to get inside before he could reach me. But just as I went to shut the door, he jammed his foot into the frame, forcing his way inside uninvited.

“Not so fast,” he chuckled drunkenly, his eyes shining with unvarnished lust. “You're sick; it's not safe to be alone. I'm here, so why don't you let me take care of you?”

‘Like I asked you to?’ I snapped in my head.

“It's fine,” I said, sidestepping his unstable hands and trying to hide the disgust in my voice. “I can take care of myself. Can you leave now?”

“No, I insist. Let me.” He reached for me again, but I anticipated it and moved back. “Mulan will have my head if she finds out I didn't look after her friend.”

Fear crept up my spine. “It's fine,” I repeated firmly.

“No, it's no bother at all. I’d love to.” He staggered toward me. I backed up until my spine hit the cold bedroom wall.

“I said I'm okay!” I snapped. “Please leave now!”

“No, I want to make sure you're fine first,” he insisted, taking another swaying step toward me, his hand reaching for my waist.

Before I could stop myself, my hand shot out and landed a stinging slap across his cheek.

“I said I don't need your help! Are you deaf or dumb?!” I yelled, all my bottled-up rage pouring out at once.

I refused to be pushed around. Not by anyone.

His eyes darkened instantly, the lust vanishing, replaced by pure fury.

“How dare you!” he roared, grabbing my arm so hard it bruised. “You raised your filthy hand against me? I'll show you what happens to girls like you, who think they're worth more than their pussy!”

“Let go of me! Now!” I screamed, yanking my arm free with everything I had and shoving him backward.

I grabbed a heavy glass jar from the nightstand and held it up like a weapon. “I'll kill you before I let you touch me!” I shouted, my chest heaving.

Klaus burst into a harsh, mocking laugh. “You silly, pretty face,” he sneered, getting back to his feet. “You think that's going to stop me?”

“Try me!” I breathed out, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“You whore!” he lunged forward.

He seized the jar from my grip, and it shattered against the floor as we struggled.

“Bastard!” I spat out.

“I'll enjoy fucking the fight out of you, come here!” He grabbed my wrist.

I leaned in, biting down as hard as I could into his arm.

“Arghhhh! You dirty bitch!” he swore in pain, and raised his palm to strike me.

“What the hell is going on here?!”

We both whipped our heads toward the bedroom doorway. Mulan was standing there, holding a plastic bag full of pharmacy medicine.

“Mulan! This animal you call a friend bit me! I swear I didn't…” Klaus started.

“Shut up!” Mulan snarled, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him out into the hallway, leaving me alone in my wrecked room, shaking uncontrollably. “I'm so sorry, Esme!”

Moments later, the apartment filled with the muffled sounds of their furious shouting match, but I tuned it all out and curled into a tight ball on my bed.

“Why did you have to leave me in this cold, cruel world?” I whispered into the quiet room.

The tears I had been holding back for days finally burst through, streaming unrestrained down my cheeks. All the fight left my body, leaving behind only the crushing weight of my grief.

“This never would have happened if you were still here, Mom,” I sobbed into my pillow.

I thought back to the warm, happy moments before she got sick. We didn't have much, but I had lived with love instead of fear.

Mother… Why couldn't you take me with you?