8 Chapter 8

Wren's cheery outlook on her day was soon tarnished as her mother, looking like she was about to burst with rage, began stalking down the hall to her. Angela grabbed her hair roughly and began to drag her daughter down the hallway.

"Mother!" Wren cried out, her scalp burned as she was practically dragged through the house.

"You little bitch!" Angela yelled, practically seething as she marched down to the basement. Throwing the girl down. "You told your father you wanted to call off the wedding!" She yelled, bristling as she glared down at her, "how dare you make up such a story!"

Wren looked at her mother with wide eyes, "what are you talking about? Andrew nearly killed me yesterday!"

"Lies! Andrew told me that you begged for it last night" Angela growled lowly, snapping her fingers. Two of the maids jogged to the woman's side, frowning as they knew what was going to be asked of them. "You're lucky I was able to clean up this mess with your father! And you're lucky Andrew is still willing to have you" she growled.

"Mother that's not true, I refused his advances, and he nearly killed me," Wren said defensively. She knew this a battle she wouldn't win.

"Andrew wouldn't lie to me, so that means it is you," Angela snapped, "you know what to do. Are you going to make this easier for both of us?" She asked, tapping her foot impatiently. Wren shook slightly as she kneeled and turned her back to the woman, who was clearly out for blood.

The room was quiet for a moment; the first thing Wren heard was the crack of the whip; then, she felt the sting on her back. The end of the whip ripped wrens shirt and cut into her flesh. This had been Angela's favorite form of punishment for... well for anything she deemed worthy. Angela's idea of what deserved this punishment varied in her mood.

"Angela, you could do better" Andrew's smooth voice rang out among the cracks of the whip.

Angela snickered, "I'm sure I could; you are the one she wronged, though. Perhaps you would like the honors"

Wren could hear silence for a moment, she waited to feel the sting of the whip. When the tip did come down upon her back, Wren cried out. Seeing as Andrew was much stronger than the woman, the tip of the whip was able to dig deeper and sting worse. She could hear a snicker from Andrew then feel the pain of another crack.

Thirty lashed later, the two were done with her. Wren whimpered as she kneeled on the cold floor, her shirt and back in ribbons. The maid helped the young woman back to her room, laying her in her bed as they cleaned out the wound painfully. The injury would be healed in a few days, luckily.

After the maids left the room was silent. Wren sighed softly, her back ached. She laid on her stomach, listening to nothing as she tried to ignore her pain. A soft click of a door opening made her eyes fly open in fear. Terrified it would be Andrew, Wren attempted to make herself seem small. She felt so venerable.

"Wren...?" Wren was shaking slightly, but her body still when she heard the voice, recognizing it as Evan. His voice was shaky and said, "is that you?" He asked, worriedly.

Soon, Wren could see Evans form standing next to her. "Yes it's me.." she sighed softly, feeling pathetic.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" Evan said, frowning at her shredded back.

"I convinced my father to call off the engagement. Mother and Andrew didn't like that..." Wren sighed, shuttering slightly.

"How could they do this to you," Evan said, bristling slightly, "I'm going to kill them," he growled, Wren could feel his rage.

"Please don't, it will heal soon. I'm alright," Wren said, trying to reach out to him. Evan came and kneeled by her side.

"That's it, I'm taking you away from here," Evan said decidedly, gently holding her hand.

"They'll drag me back. There's no point," Wren sighed softly, she wished he could take her away.

"I can't leave you here and watch you get hurt," Evan protested; he hated this powerless feeling.

"There's nothing we could do Evan" Wren frowned, "my only way out will be my death," she said grimly.

"I'll just stay with you then," Evan said decidedly, "I'm going to protect you as much as possible," he said stubbornly.

"I don't want you to get hurt," Wren protested. She didn't know what to do in this situation. "Ok, you can stay if you wish," she had to admit, she didn't want to be alone at night.

Evan nodded and climbed into bed next to her. He held her hand and stayed through the night with her. He was careful of her back and tried to keep her comfortable.

Thankfully, no one bothered Wren the rest of the night, not even to bring her to dinner. By now, the household had probably heard about her punishment and assumed she'd be out of commission for the night. The pair stayed together, Wren relishing in the safety she felt with him there.