Some few hours later, when Marianna arrived at the mansion and came into the room, Caesar, sitting on an armchair, his legs crossed and a cigar burning furiously between his fingers, was slightly startled when he saw her white face, trembling and crying. He easily sensed her rage and felt her pain and resentment. He watched her, his eyes cold and hard.
“What the hells up?” He hissed, a part of him concerned, the other, curious.
Marianna did not say anything. She walked slowly to the liquor cabinet, whimpering and sniffing. She lifted a bottle and came over to a chair facing him. She dropped into it heavily. She took off the liquor cap and took a long pull. She didn’t even use a glass. Caesar continued to watch her, his eyes cold and suspicious.
“Won’t you open your goddamn mouth?” He barked at her, watching her face closely. She must have done something stupid. For her to bring herself down to this...this pitiful, pathetic state, then she must have done something really stupid. Just be patient, she will open up. He told himself, she would. You just have to be patient. He stubbed out the cigar, relaxed comfortably into the chair, his eyes regarding her thoughtfully.
The only sound in the room was Marianna’s whimpering. Caesar continued to watch her with a blank expression on his face. After half an hour of insufferable waiting, Marianna looked at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with contempt.
“He dumped me!” That sonofabitch dumped me. After everything has been done?” She snarled. The harshness in her voice startled Caesar where he sat, but his face didn’t reveal anything.
“Who dumped you?” Caesar questioned, his voice gentle. There was no need to rush to her. She would open up sooner or later.
“That bastard!” She yelled, jerking her thumb into space. “That bastard had the guts to tell me it’s over after everything has been done for him?”
“You will really have to help me out here, Anna because I don’t know who or what the hell you are groveling about?”
Marianna laughed, it was a scornful one.
“Are you telling me you don’t know?” Her voice went shrill. “Are you telling me you are so concerned and occupied with your business that you don’t care to know anything about what goes on in your sister’s life?”
Caesar fired back at her.
“You can’t blame me for anything, Anna. You are secretive. You don’t tell me things. As your brother, I try to know things about you. But you are so goddamned secretive. What the hell am I supposed to do? Kick your mouth till you talk? Hell no!”
Marianna stared at him, a sullen expression on her face. He had her cornered. She knew he knew he was right about her being secretive. Maybe….just maybe if she hadn’t been so secretive, maybe she won’t be in this situation. She thought of how she had betrayed her brother and all the disgusting acts she had done to keep Victor to herself, and another wave of regrets hit her. She began to sob afresh.
Caesar eyed her. He was getting impatient. Something must be done. If he was to get anything from her, then he had to do something. Swiftly, he got to his feet and came over to where she was. He sat down beside her and began to stroke Marianna’s hair down to her backside then up again. He did this for some time until she stopped crying. Then he used his thumb to tilt up her face. Her swollen red eyes stared back at him. He bent down and brushed his lips against her.
“Anna darling, won’t you tell me what is wrong with you?” He said calmly.
Marianna sniffed and nodded her head. She cleared her throat. Then she gave him a blow by blow account of how she had met Victor, everything she knew about him and what went down between the two of them.
“So he’s a werewolf?” He asked in a calm voice after she was done talking.
“Yes, he is.” Marianna babbled, staring at him in disbelief. She had expected him to lash her out at her. This was quite unexpected of him.
“And he’s there right now, at our family’s cabin?” He continued in that same calm voice.
Marianna bobbled her head, her eyes alight with fear.
“From what you told me, this was the man that Selena had been staring at at our wedding?” When she nodded, he went on. “And you guys have been fucking for sometime now, you even brought him to our garage? She nodded again and he went on. “A werewolf at that?” This time, she didn’t nod, she only stared at him numbly, her lips quivering. Caesar was silent for a long time. “ “It’s okay!”
“It’s okay? You mean you are not going to punish me?” her eyes were wide with fear and confusion.
Caesar shrugged indifferently.
“No I won’t. You were just being childish, Anna. I totally understand why you had behaved that way. But thanks for telling all these things. I will know what I will do about Victor.”
They were both silent for some time. That moment was the most uncomfortable moment in Marianna’s life. She had a feeling something was coming. Something bad. She just doesn't know where.
Then suddenly, he turned to her.
“Are you hungry?” He asked.
She looked at him baffled and nervous.
“Hungry? You mean you want to eat?” She stuttered.
“Yes, I feel suddenly famished,” He got to his feet. “Hmmmm……I would like you to go into town for me. Get some food and wine. There’s a new restaurant in town called Spice and fry. I want you to go there.”
Marianna was terribly frightened now. She knew every name of all the restaurants in Fur Rivers. Both new ones and old ones. She had never heard of a spice and fry restaurant. She wanted to question him but she was too scared to do so, And so she rather asked nervously;
“What……what should I order?”
“I will text it to you before you get there. I wanna go shower now. I have a meeting by 9pm tonight.” And he bent down, kissed her softly on her forehead and left the room.
Marianna watched him go and shuddered. He’s going to fix me. she thought. He will definitely fix me. I wish I knew how. Few minutes later, when she had gotten ready, she got a text from Caesar about what he wanted her to get. Her body loaded with great fear, she left the house.