Chapter 17: Chapter Sixteen

Dalen gunned the engine and peeled rubber as he left the club, merging with traffic. Rory could hear sirens behind them and prayed a cop would stop Dalen, but they made it to the freeway entrance without a problem. Rory sat quietly as Dalen sped back to Breckridge, afraid of pricking his temper again.

He took a deep breath every now and then, as if trying to calm down, but was otherwise silent. When he exited the freeway, and they were back in Breckridge, he finally said, “You won't ever do anything like this again, Rory.” His tone brooked no argument.

He drove straight to his house and parked the Porsche in a six-bay garage. Dalen came around to the passenger side and pulled Rory out with him. Rory tried to keep up as he dragged her into the house and through several rooms. His dad was sitting in the den, reading a novel and sipping from a snifter. He looked up when they came barreling through. “What's going on, son?” he asked.

Dalen stopped. “Not much,” he replied, keeping a tight grip on Rory's hand. “This is Rory,” he introduced her to his father as if there was something normal about this situation. “Rory, this is my dad.”

“Well, it's about time you two worked things out,” Shuler announced, sounding very pleased. “It's good to meet you, Rory. I've heard good things about you.” He looked her up and down thoroughly. “I knew Dalen could do it.”

“Do what?” she asked shakily. It was like a bad dream. They appeared normal, but it was only a matter of time until Dalen or Shuler removed their mask to reveal hideous alien countenances.

“Tame you,” Shuler answered. “He's a ladies' man, just like his dear old dad.”

“I'll never be in your league, Dad,” Dalen jested. “Well, we'll see you later.”

Shuler nodded and returned to his novel, either ignoring or completely missing the outraged look on Rory's face. “Have a good night,” he wished them as they continued through the den and up the stairs. Dalen pulled her into a suite hidden behind swinging French doors.

Rory looked around, trying to pretend she was anywhere except Dalen's room. It was sumptuously decorated in navy and gray, with little touches of white for accent. A huge bed dominated the center of the room and another wall was completely engulfed by stereo equipment. Dalen put in a CD and soft romantic music filled the room. Rory hugged herself as he walked back toward her, praying for a timely rescue to save her from the dragon.

“Sit down,” he invited, pulling her with him to the bed. Rory plopped down and was relieved to find the mattress firm. She didn't want to be on another waterbed with Dalen.

“Rory.” He sighed. “Why do you keep fighting our feelings? Are you playing games with me? How does Carson figure into all this?”

Rory didn't know whether to be honest or to pander to his ego. She decided honesty was always the best policy. “I don't have any feelings for you,” she whispered, thinking except loathing and fear. “I love someone else,” she added, afraid to say Carson's name. Oh god, how was Carson?

Dalen shook his head. “So, you think you love Carson?” he inferred, sounding amused rather than angry. “He can't offer you anything, Rory. He has no money, no future, and if he continues to interfere,” Dalen leaned closer, and planted a kiss on her ear, “He’ll have no life.” He put an arm around her and pulled her closer. “You don't love Carson,” he contradicted. “You feel safe with him, and that's not the same. You have to feel a spark of something else, Rory. Love requires highs and lows, fear and security, joy and pain. I can offer you all of that, but you're frightened.”

Rory shook her head and stared into his mad, mad eyes. No, he wasn't really mad, she reminded himself. He just had more power than any one person had a right to, and he wasn't afraid to abuse it. “I don't want those things,” she told him. It seemed easier to say that than to tell him what love really was. “I don't want this.” She waved her hands around the luxurious room. “And I don't want you.”

Dalen was looking angry again. “You already have it all,” he corrected. “You have my heart, and I will have yours. Now here's a fact: You're going to stay with me. Would you like to hear why?” Rory nodded reluctantly. “Because if you don't, I'll kill your family, and I'll kill Carson. It will be easy, really. I'll have someone blow up their house while they sleep.” Dalen snapped his fingers. “There goes Dad, Mom, and little brother. Then I'll take care of Carson personally. I'll beat him to death with my bare hands, and I'll enjoy every minute.” The blue in his eyes sparkled a dark black shade.

Rory turned white. “You can't do these things, Dalen. You can't always have what you want.”

He laughed. “Maybe that will be true for something some day but not with you, my love. You belong to me, forever. You'll never lose me. You can run and you can hide, but I'll always find you.” If it hadn't been such a scary moment, Rory might have wondered if he'd memorized a script somewhere. “Oh and when I catch you, Rory, you'll never get away again. I'd rather have you dead then let you live without me.”

He was serious, and Rory trembled. “What do you want?”

Dalen gently laid her back on the bed. “Everything,” he replied and kissed her. “I want you by my side every day and in my bed every night.” He started unbuttoning Rory's shirt, and she squeezed her eyes shut, knowing no escape was available to her. “Give me that, and I'll give you everything you want,” he promised.

Rory nodded. “Fine,” she said in defeat. “I want you to leave my friends and family alone. I want you to promise me you'll never lay a hand on Carson again.”

Dalen slipped the shirt off. “You have my word,” he agreed. “As long as you keep your promise to me, I'll leave your family and friends alone. If I ever see you with Carson again, I'll kill him and I'm deadly serious.” As he spoke, Dalen removed her bra and touched her breasts, as if the conversation wasn't anything important.

Rory closed her eyes as Dalen removed her clothes. When she laid naked, he touched her everywhere, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. She was trembling when he drew away from her and took off his clothes. She laid passively in his arms when he returned to her. He kissed her, and she didn't fight him, but she couldn't respond either.

He whispered, “One day you'll come to enjoy this. You'll beg for me to make love to you. It's just scary since you've never done this before.”

Had he conveniently forgotten he'd raped her, stealing her virginity?

Dalen took possession of her body, and Rory's mind slipped away to her time with Carson. She pretended she was back in his arms as Dalen satisfied himself with her. “You have no idea how much I love being your first lover,” Dalen told her as sweat glistened on his brow. Rory felt tears slip down her cheeks when he added, “Your only lover,” but couldn't find the energy to wipe them away. When Dalen was finished, he went into the bathroom for a few minutes before returning.

“I'd like to take a bath,” Rory whispered. Dalen waved to the bathroom, and she stood up. She closed the door behind her, but there was no lock. Rory ran a tub of the hottest water she could stand and laid in it.

Dalen came in without knocking. “I found a shirt you can borrow,” he said. “Tomorrow, we'll move your things over here.”

Rory didn't answer and he left after staring at her for a minute. She stared up at the gold-flecked ceiling tile. An eternity of this stretched before her with no escape. She was effectively Dalen's prisoner, and there wasn't a thing she could do about it. The only immediate means of escape was suicide, and she didn't even consider that. She had too much to live for if she could get away from Dalen. Maybe at some point in the future, if she was still with him, it might be an option but right now, it wasn't. If she could make it through the next week, surely her parents could get her out of here. It might mean moving or hiring an army of bodyguards, but they would do something. Her mom wouldn't leave her. Just one more week as his prisoner.

Finally, Rory rose from the bath and dried off. She hadn't washed her hair, but some tendrils were damp, so she used Dalen's hairdryer. Then she slipped on the cotton pajama top he'd left for her. It was soft and well worn, with Dalen's scent clinging permanently to the material. It made her ill to wear it, but she wasn't going to sleep in that bed with him wearing nothing.

When Rory walked into the bedroom, Dalen was sprawled on his stomach across the bed, sleeping peacefully. Her gaze locked on the door, and she took a step in that direction but couldn't make herself go out in the hallway in Dalen's pajama top. She walked across the room and opened the other door. It was full of trophies, boxes, momentous, old posters, and photos but there was no bed. Rory closed the door and ran right into Dalen. “What are you looking for?” he asked.

“Somewhere to sleep,” she whispered. “You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you.”

“I'm awake now,” he pointed out, and she followed him back to the bed. She crawled in, hovering near the edge, but Dalen pulled her into his arms. He was soon asleep, but she couldn't get comfortable. Being held in his arms was strange enough, and Rory wasn't used to sleeping with other people. She'd only slept with Carson once for a nap.

Rory scooted over a little to get some room, and he followed her in his sleep. Every time she moved, he brought her back. Even in his sleep, he couldn't let go of her for long. Finally, she was so exhausted, and she fell into a dreamless abyss.

It was early the next morning when Dalen shook her awake. “Rory, I have to go for a while,” he told her. “Avriella will be here if you need anything. Don't go anywhere without me, okay?” he said tenderly, but she heard the threat underneath.

“Okay,” she agreed sleepily, wishing he would leave her alone so she could escape back into the land of dreams.

“It was wonderful waking up beside you,” he whispered. “I love you, Rory.” She didn't answer and he sighed. “And I need you to love me too,” he added as he rose, seeming unaware of what he revealed. Rory didn't hear him as she'd already fallen back asleep. He left her reluctantly, afraid that she would be gone when he returned.

Rory woke again later in the morning to find all her clothes hanging in the closet by Dalen's and all her under things put away in drawers. He'd left her a note telling her where she could find everything and signed it “Love, Dalen”. She balled it up and threw it. It sailed into a high arc and hit the floor three inches away.

She got out of the bed and threw off his shirt. Then she dressed in skinny jeans and a short-sleeved white knit shirt with a scooped neck. Rory's eyes fell on the phone, and she lifted the receiver. There was a dial tone, and she tapped out Korith's number. She answered on the second ring. “Korith, it's Rory,” she whispered. “I don't know how much time I have,” she cautioned. “I don't know where Dalen is.”

“Are you okay?” Korith asked shrilly. “We were so worried he'd hurt you. What happened last night?”

“He brought me back to his house,” Rory answered. “We struck a bargain. If I stay with him, he'll leave my friends and family alone. He promised not to hurt Carson anymore either. How is Carson?”

“The doctor wants him to stay in the hospital for a few days,” Korith explained. “He nearly died, Rory. The cops questioned Dalen this morning in L.A. His dad took him in with a high-priced attorney. As far as I know, they didn't file any charges against him.”

“Will Carson be okay?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Korith responded. “He's pretty banged up with some broken ribs, bruises, and cuts. He has a concussion, and they put a cast on his knee. I think the kneecap is fractured. His doctor told him he should be out by Friday or Saturday at the latest.”

“Can you give him a message?” Rory asked.

“Sure.”

“Tell him I love him, but he has to stay away from me. I can't see him right now. I'd love to come to the hospital and be with him, but it's too dangerous.” Rory took a deep breath. “Please tell him I want to be with him, but I have to think of the greater good right now. Can you remember all that?” Rory inquired.

“I'm writing it down,” Korith informed her, and Rory could hear the scratch of pen against paper. “Are you sure about this, Rory?”

Rory heard someone coming up the stairs. “I have to go, Korith. Someone's coming. Take care,” she added and hung up the phone. Rory hopped to her feet and ran to the dressing table. Her brush and other toiletries were lined up neatly, and she raked the brush through her hair as Dalen came in the room. He looked tired and a little rumpled. It was the first time he'd appeared even halfway human to her.

“Hi, baby,” he said, coming to her for a kiss. Rory stood in his embrace, still clutching the brush. “I missed you,” he confided. “Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Doesn't your dad mind me staying here?” Rory asked desperately, grasping at straws.

Dalen frowned. “Why should he? His girlfriend lives here too.”

“But you're only seventeen,” she responded.

“I'm eighteen,” he corrected. “Besides, my dad doesn't really care what I do. He knows I can take care of myself.”

That avenue of escape was closed to her, and she sagged with defeat. Dalen mistakenly thought she was hugging him, and his arms folded her closer to his hard body. “I wish lunch was going to be later,” he said with a sigh as he buried his head in her hair. “Oh well,” he loosened his hold. “Later.”

“Dalen, you aren't going to tell people I'm living with you, are you?” Rory asked frantically. “I don't want people to think I'm a slut.”

“No one will think you're a slut. Most of the girls will be green with envy.” Dalen led her downstairs to meet Avriella.

Avriella couldn't have been much older than Rory, and it made her sick to watch the other girl fawn all over Shuler. Within ten minutes, Avriella was offering to take her shopping and planning all sorts of “girl” activities. “I've always wanted a daughter,” she said wistfully, shooting Shuler a look. “Of course, Dalen's a wonderful boy. I wouldn't mind having him...for a son,” she added. Rory picked up a yucky vibe between Avriella and Dalen, as she remembered Dalen telling her he wouldn't sleep with Avriella anymore.

“Well, I've always wanted a younger sister,” Rory said blandly, and Dalen cracked a smile. Lunch was drawn out and filled with stilted conversation. Afterward, Rory went to a phone and started dialing.

“Who are you calling?” Dalen asked, sitting beside her on the couch.

“Mom,” Rory answered shortly. “My grandpa died yesterday. I was going to check on her.” She finished dialing her grandmother's number. She spent a few minutes talking to her grandmother, who still seemed pretty shaken up. Then Leigh came on, and they discussed the funeral.

“We'll be back Saturday instead,” Leigh filled her in. “The funeral won't be until Wednesday, and we can't get a flight out until Saturday morning.”

“Okay,” Rory said glumly. “Did you speak with Ms. Pryce?” Dalen frowned as he twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers.

“Yes, she knows you won't be back in school until next Monday.” Leigh sniffled. “She was fine with that.”

“I think I'll go back to school Tuesday instead, Mom,” Rory said. “I don't think it's a good idea for me to miss that many more classes. Plus, I still have three tests to make up.” No way was she going to stay in the mansion all those days alone, and she didn't want Dalen deciding to stay home and keep her company.

Rory could hear the frown in her voice. “Are you sure that's a good idea? I thought we decided you wouldn't...”

“I have to go, Mom,” Rory interrupted. “I'll see you Saturday.” Rory hung up quickly. She'd heard someone either pick up or put down the extension, and she didn't want them to hear anything they shouldn't.

Rory dialed her home number, and Ricky answered. “Hey, Ricky,” she said brightly.

“Where are you?” he demanded frantically. “When I woke up, you weren't here and all your clothes are gone.”

“I'm not going to be home for a while,” Rory answered vaguely. “Don't say anything to Mom or Dad if they call you. I'll talk to them on Saturday. They can find me at Dalen's.”

“What are you doing there?” he asked suspiciously.

“Hanging out,” she answered sarcastically. “Look, just do this for me okay, Ricky?”

“Are you in trouble?” Ricky forced himself to ask. “Do you want me to come over?”

“Lots of it,” she answered. “And no, I don't. I'll see you at school. Bye, Ricky,” she rang off. There was a look in Dalen's eye she didn't like as he led her upstairs. He pushed her on the bed, and she blocked out what was happening to her, concentrating on Carson and how much she loved him as Dalen used her body to satisfy his lust. She hoped he could accept what she'd been forced to do if she was ever able to return to him.