Clayton has petitioned for your hand in marriage, my father says, and I believe it would be a good match.
No, I want to scream, No!
But I’m held immobile as my father continues, I have given my consent. All we need now is yours.
I open my mouth. Try to say no. What comes out is yes.
Horror sweeps through me. Horror and hurt and a deep sense of denial. Clayton steps forward to kiss me, his lips consuming mine, cold and horrible. I shudder, shake, but cannot deny him. Cannot move. I stare at my father beseechingly, but all I see is anger. Anger and a deep need to get rid of the child he believes should have been the one taken.
Clayton releases me, steps away, and the two men shake hands. The agreement is finalized, the marriage to be formalized within the next week.
I sob but the sound never makes it past my lips… not then, not later. The spell lies within. No one sees it. Only Belle knows that something is wrong…
The images stop, only to jump forward to my wedding day. Or night, as it’s late. No white dress, no fanfare, and no bridal flowers. The ceremony is a simple one, performed at home with only my parents present. The spell still controls me. I speak as required and obediently sign all the documents. There’s no celebration. No congratulations. Nothing is said. I’m simply handed over to my new husband and led from the room.
Again there’s a time jump. I’m in Clayton’s house, in his bedroom, and he’s pawing at me, ripping my clothes from me, touching and kissing me, his hands cold and clammy, his breathing hot and heavy. I want to fight, want to run, but I can’t. I scream and I scream but there is no sound, no means to call for help.
But my rage—my fear—finds voice in another. Belle. She breaks into the room, her hands alive with power unlike anything I’ve ever seen before; it’s hers and mine and something else, something that looks like lightning and moonlight combined. He reacts, his magic spitting out almost instinctively. She knocks his attack away and casts a spell that freezes him, casts another that causes his erection to deflate, then pushes him off me. As he crashes from the bed to the floor, she grabs me, pulling me to my feet and helping me dress.
We run. Into a waiting car, into the arms of Belle’s mother…
The memories fade, and it’s only then I realize that I’m shaking and sobbing. Belle’s holding me fiercely, her tears wet against my cheek, her body trembling as badly as mine.
Jenna removed her hands from my thighs, but for several minutes, no one says anything. Eventually, I take a deep breath and gently pull away from Belle. “Well, that was every bit as bad as I thought it’d be.”
“I can see why you shored those memories up so tightly.” Ruby’s voice held no emotion, but her fury rolled across my skin. “I think there’s more than enough here to start an investigation. I don’t believe we need further testimony from Belle.”
“Are you sure?” she said, doubt evident. “I’d rather get it over with now and have a watertight case against these bastards.”
“We’ve already filmed your mother’s memories—”
“She did that?” I cut in. “Willingly?”
“Yes,” Ruby said. “Her memories corroborate some of what we’ve just seen.”
“And the ones that don’t?”
“Involve situations where you were not present.”
I hesitated, but couldn’t help asking, “How did she react when you told her the marriage was forced?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say—audits are confidential.”
“What about my father, then? Have you talked to him as yet?”
Jenna bent to pick up the revitalizing potion. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because we must speak to all witness and view all statements before approaching suspects. But I have no doubt it’ll happen once the board sees your memories.”
“And the chances of any prosecution being successful?” Belle asked.
Ruby hesitated. “If your father continues his attempts to make amends, it’ll count in his favor. I’m afraid many will view his behavior—in arranging a marriage, not in coercing via magic and drugs—as nothing out of the ordinary. Such arrangements have been happening for eons, after all.”
Meaning he’ll likely be handed some fines, then patted on the back and told not to do it again. Belle’s mental tone was angry.
You know what? I think I could live with that, as long as Clayton goes down hard.
Personally, I’d like to see both of them face the full weight of the law, but I guess one of them facing it is better than nothing.
It was certainly more than we’d ever hoped for.
Jenna finished her potion, then pushed the chair back and rose. “We’ll head back to Canberra in the morning. It’ll take a day or so for the full board to arrive, so don’t expect any immediate action.”
“Will you contact us once the board has made its decision?” I asked.
Ruby placed her teacup on the coffee table and began dismantling her tripod. “You’ll receive official notification of our acceptance—or indeed rejection, if that does happen to occur—of your case and then be kept updated on proceedings.”
I nodded. “Thank you both for doing this.”
The smile that touched Ruby’s lips had a slightly anticipatory edge. “Oh, trust me, it’s no hardship. Especially when it comes to Clayton Marlowe.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve a personal gripe against him?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I did, as that could lead to claims of bias from his lawyers.” Ruby swung her backpack over her shoulder. “But there are many on the board who have run afoul of the man in recent years. He’s not what he once was.”
I frowned. “He didn’t seem any less powerful when he was here the other night.”
“The weight of magical power alone does not give you standing or respect in Canberra,” Jenna commented. “Actions also
