Fire meets Rain

She paced around her chambers worriedly. It was morning, weren't they not coming for her today? Or she had already been forgetting inside her cold room. Although the air-conditioning was turned on and it was blasting her with full force, she didn't feel it.

She didn't feel anything at least, not anymore.

She had to think of something, anything to get out of the room and out of the mansion forever. She had to get away, away from her monsters.

She looked around the room the same way she had done for the past four years, looking for a loose end or a hidden trapdoor but to no avail. For years, she had been chained down inside this one room only going out occasionally. Her food was served to her inside her room. She couldn't go anywhere. She was trapped.

The heavy and huge beautifully designed mahogany door creaked open and a young girl wearing a maid's attire walked in quietly before shutting the door behind her. "Mrs. Willow, Mr. Daniels has requested your presence in the drawing room.

"Coming, " Willow responded blankly. The maid bowed lowly before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

It was a sign, a sign that the maid was waiting outside. The maids that attended to me were changed every day. The same maid was never seen two weeks in a row they were changed on a daily basis to avoid the sense of familiarity.

Sighing deeply, Willow straighten the black chiffon gown and moved to the door went she opened it as expected, the maid was there waiting with a set of keys in hand.

It had been four years and they still didn't trust her, she thought as she followed the maid through the set of corridors. They continue to lock her in her room. Four years since Willow Broachwood was forced to marry her old godfather, Mr. Aiden Richards by her father.

"Please my dear, do this for me. The company is going bankrupt I need you to do this for a few months, my dear, till am back on my feet." He had said.

Bearly eighteen just out of high school, Willow agreed to please her Father. Soon months turned to a year and two years later, Mr. Broachwood struck another deal and she was married again to her godfather's friend, Mr. Jacob Daniels.

Both men were old but she had no idea of how old they were.

"Madam we've arrived, " the maid announced.

Willow looked around her surroundings. She had been so lost in thought that they passed the loud cluttered kitchen, the comforting library and the rows of chambers.

"Err...thanks Miss..." She drawled, hopefully, the girl would say her name which will lead to a beautiful friendship that would be her ticket out of this hellhole. The girl opened her mouth to talk as if realizing Willow's motive she clamped her mouth shut, her eyes widen into saucers and scurried away.

So much for trying.

The trick never worked for anyone.

Knocking on the door in front of her. She heard a low baritone "come in."

Slowly she entered the room. The drawing room was huge it was filled with shelves of books and chairs and tables were scattered around the room in an orderly fashion but like everything and everyone else in this mansion it was old fashioned.

The maids behaved like it was a private castle with two Kings and no Queen of the Kings were old fashioned, the people had to follow.

Mr. Daniels was seated in a large armchair when she finally saw him. He had a keen resemblance with the room old, smelled old, clean and dull. Mr. Daniels had probably been handsome and muscular when he was younger but wrinkles and stress already covered him up. His once brown hair was now sprinkled with grey hairs.

Mr. Daniels was the most reasonable and easy to talk to out of both her husbands at times he allowed her to eat at the dining table and once had allowed her outside.

"You sent for me." She said making her presence known.

His frowning face creased into a smile. "Willow my dear, please do sit." He gestured for a chair facing him.

"Have you thought about what we all discussed a week ago, Willow dear?"

"Yes." She said. She didn't even need to think he was talking about her virginity, her womanhood. On both of her wedding days, she had sworn never to give them anything.

"The answer is No, Mr. Daniels, I cannot give you both what you have asked of me, " Willow said firmly.

Mr. Daniels stared at her for a while before lowering his gaze, " of course. Sure. Who am I to say anything about that? You can go to your room, Willow." He said in a dismissal tone.

Happy to comply, she nearly ran off the room only to see another different maid waiting for her.

Great, just great.

Fabulous, bold and beautiful, were the words that Willow could use to describe herself years ago, back when she still had everything. Most people called her the spoilt brat or Daddy's girl. She never cared about people trash talking about her. Without question, everything she ever wanted was handed to her on a silver platter.

Now there were many words she could use to describe herself in her current state as she stared at a full mirror: ugly, hopeful and sad. She thought about her parents, her mother who disappeared without a trace when Willow was thirteen. Her memory jogged back to the last conversation she had with her father, Dylan Broachwood.

"Honey, sweetie pie, have I ever asked you for anything...anything since you were born. Please do me this one favor." He cajoled. They both sat in the living room facing one and another, most pieces of furniture in the room noticeably missing, leaving the room without its complete glow. Her mother's favorite vase she had gotten from Paris from a close friend was missing as well.

She knew her dad was gambling and probably getting drunk too. He was missing his wife so much. Her Daddy was falling apart, she didn't like to see him this way. She wanted to help him out but he was asking too much of her.

"Dad, no. This is too much. I can't and won't do it, never, " Willow folded her arms to herself. There was no way she was going to marry her smelly old Godfather, Mr. Daniels.

He gave a tired sigh while rubbing his eyebrows, "I didn't tell you this Willow for you to refuse. Am getting bankrupt. Soon there won't be any money left anywhere. No more fancy trips to the mall. Since your mother left us things haven't been going well.

Her expression changed into concern. She had been so busy with shopping and school to notice the hard lines and eyebags under her father's eyes. Immediately, she frowned, her mother was behind everything, she thought and dislike for her mother grew, she didn't even want to talk about her.

"Willow dear, just a month and everything will be back to normal. Please, my dear, just for a month, I promise to come get you, " he begged.

Slowly, she nodded.

When the first month rolled into the second month, she was a little disappointed. All Mr. Daniels did was to play dress up and show her gloatingly as a trophy in front of his business partners. Although he didn't touch her it still made her feel very uncomfortable.

After wishful thinking and prayers, months later on a cold winter night, she saw her father again. Giddy with happiness and thankful for the opportunity to leave her worse nightmare, she ran to hug him, missing him so much.

To her shock, before she could reach him, he moved away. She was confused her father never acted that way towards her. And as if that wasn't enough, she was dragged into the drawing-room with a new marriage proposal made by Mr. Daniels.

"You would marry Richard, Willow. He is a friend, it has already been decided. That's why your father is here."

Motionless, she stared at Mr. Daniels for some time then turned to her father. Dylan looked serious but in his eyes read a very satisfactory glance. He barely paid attention to her. "But Daddy, I have been waiting for you. You said you would come back for me, " she said tears rolling down her cheeks.

Instead, a reply, both of them snickered. "Take you away? Why, my dear Willow, you're are not going anywhere. You're my wife and soon to be Bryan's too." He paused. "Even so your father can't take you anywhere."

Willow looked questioningly at him. "Except you want to be given as a trophy to the team of loan sharks Dylan owes, " Mr. Daniels alongside Dylan Broachwood stood up from their seats in the drawing-room and headed to the door. "Do know darling, that your wedding is arranged for in two days time, " He said, satisfied with himself.

Immediately the door closed behind them, Willow broke down. Instantly, she wanted to crawl into her 'safe place' where she always hid from the maids and Mr. Daniel's. It was the only place in the house that made her feel safe. Suddenly, she gave a bitter laugh, another husband? She was still having troubles believing her life had turned out like this and she was married to an oldie not to talk of another one?!

She wanted to hate her father, he had abandoned her. But she couldn't do it. He was bankrupt. Was he gambling and drinking again? 'This is all mum's fault. She broke our family apart, ' she thought angrily, hating her even more than she already did.

"Daddy will come soon he would soon take me away from here. Yes, he just needs more time I'll wait for him, " she said aloud, biting her nails furiously till they drew blood.

He will come.

He had to come.

Someone knocking on her door snapped her out of her reverie. She had been lost for a while.

"Come in." Willow felt something wet on her face she tasted it.

Tears.

She had been crying. The lock had already been opened someone was already entering the room when Willow turned away from the door and reach up a hand to wipe the tears. Apart from the maids, it could have been anyone else. The maids were also chatterboxes, every simple gesture she made, it was reported.

As usual, a new maid strolled in. "Mr. Jacob wants you in his room by evening. Please do not be late, " she looking at me skeptically then walked out of the room. This maid was much older that she didn't bother to bow when she left.

Willow made her way to bed. Unconscious of the state she was in, what does he want now, she grumbled. It had been two days since she saw Daniel in the drawing-room. It wasn't like he could do anything to help her in the current dilemma she was in.

She shut her eyes tightly. The memory of a bodyguard harassing her last night was still fresh in her mind. She had no idea how he got into her room. She remembered she was fast asleep when he entered, immediately, she jumped off her bed. The room was dark and she tried to leave through the door he came in through but, it was too late. He saw her and grabbed her started trying to kiss her and his slim, hairy hand all over her body.

She screamed, begging him to stop as he pushed her back to the bed. He got on top of her, she screamed louder, "shut up you bitch, " the gruff voice said as he landed a meaty fist on her right cheek. He continued to kiss her, the smell of alcohol was strong. He was drunk, his lips drifted down to her neck and bit her. She cried and begged for him to stop.

Suddenly, he stopped. He got up from her and left the room. She sniffed, gathering her blanket around her, to shield herself from everything. At least this time, he didn't get too physical. She felt disgusted with herself, each passing day in the mansion made her feel dirtier and there was nothing she could do about it.

Most nights she got nightmares visits. The thing about the visits was that they backed out and walked away like they were following commands after inflicting pains on her.

Just then it clinked. Discreetly, Willow looked around the room she thought earlier that there where cameras in her room but she wasn't sure her assumptions were correct but now, she didn't think so anymore. Willow gripped the blanket tighter as she gently curled into a ball and fell asleep.

She raised a hand to touch the cheek, she couldn't even cry the way she wanted to her cheek hurt a lot. The cheek was swollen and red. Slowly, she made her way back to bed careful laying on her left side. She needed a few hours without pain, troubles or hurt.

Her mind wandered to when a year ago, she was allowed to send a maid errands outside the house. She had told the maid to go to her house to meet her father but he wasn't home neighbors said he went off a business trip.

The same story came back six more times on six consecutive days and six different maids.

Her father was nowhere to be seen.

'Daddy, please be okay, ' she said sleepily as her eyelids drooped and she fell asleep.

She woke up with a start as the lock on her door clicked. She blinked a few times before rubbing the sleep away. Why was it so dark in her room? Had she been sleeping for a long time?

She tried to reach her lamp on her nightstand but instead, accidentally her hand hit something hard and soon the loud sound of glass breaking was heard. Her beautiful glass paperweight was smashed into pieces, she thought bitterly.

Suddenly, someone moved slowly into the room. For someplace this dark, the person knew their way around. The lights were turned on, giving the room a soft glow. The maid made her way to the windows and opened the curtains.

Truly she really been asleep for a long time, the sun was gone and the moon was hidden within the clouds. It was already night time.

Slowly, she closed her eyes and rub again when she opened them, the maid stand at the foot of the bed.

"Mrs. Willow, Mr. Jacobs ordered me to come and fetch you for your meeting with him today, " The maid said curtly.

"Sure, go, I'll be sure to meet him shortly, " Willow replied as she left the bed and headed to the bathroom. She was about to open the bathroom when the maid's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Afraid I cannot, Mrs. Mr. Jacob specifically asked me to bring you to him, " she said, voice getting higher at every word. Willow could tell the maid was pissed. Willow smirked, been tied down to a house with nothing to do was a bore except you had people to order around.

Willow turned to face the older woman. "I did I ever tell you I didn't know that. Don't repeat the same trash you idiots repeat all year. It's sickening. Wait outside for me, I'll come out when I am ready."

If looks could kill, Willow knew she would have been dead a long time ago. The woman stared angrily at her before leaving the room with her fingers digging deep into her palms.

Five minutes later, she came out of the bathroom refreshed. She pulled on her undies and an equal pair of baggy sweats. Not bothering to look prim and proper, Willow tied her hair into a ponytail.

Immediately she turned the doorknob, it opened instead and she walked out of the room, the maid quickly took her place behind her.

The maid knocked on Mr. Jacob's large mahogany door before ushering Willow in.

For a rich man, his room was very small and smelly, she thought as she walked in. Her room back at home was effortlessly bigger than his.

Mr. Jacob's room had a library, a king-sized bed in the middle, big closet and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

She couldn't help but scoff, "there is saying big things come in small packages. All he does is to pose around in front of his rich friends. He built a big mansion but inside is sooo scanty of pieces of furniture and cursed with full doze loneliness. Isn't that right, lady?"

The hardened stare behind her made Willow smile smugly, she turned around. The maid was red with anger. If she had the power the maid would have throttled her this very minute.

Willow didn't understand why the woman was getting so angry at her. She was forced to lived in the house too. Couldn't she be allowed to voice out her own opinion? Besides the house was great. Except...

The thought made Willow laugh, "oh! Now I have got it! You have got a crush. I mean he is old, you're old. He has that oldie smell I know you would love. Besides, he even lets you call him Jacob. But your love is so pathetic..." Willow laughed and Mr. Jacob walked into the room. The maid looked so close to passing out.

"That's enough now, Willow. You may leave now, Abigail." Flustered from head to toe, the maid, Abigail rush out immediately.

Silence loomed over the room as he led her to a room. They both sat at different sides of the room. Jacob sat in the single couch in the middle of the room whilst Willow sat at the extreme end of a large sofa.

Jacob raises an empty glass for a maid to fill up. Wendy was her name, Willow remembers hearing the name after the times she had been summoned. Wendy was Mr. Jacob's personal maid.

"I have heard a lot of complaints about you from the maids recently, Willow, " Mr. Jacob said after taking a large gulp of his drink. For weeks now, the maids had complained endlessly. She ordered them around apathetically, other times, she refused to eat and criticized the maids cooking, Jacob shuffled in his seat.

The fact Willow was arrogant and stubborn was many of the reasons he wanted her to be his. He liked her undying dedication she had to her father. Till date, she still waited for her coward of a father, Dylan Broachwood, and he wanted all that dedication for himself. He wanted her to be willing but she was too stubborn and strong-headed but that would all change after tonight, she would learn to be submissive, Jacob smiled smugly to himself.

Oh, it was today? She thought. Every month, she was summoned by Mr. Jacob and Mr. Richard. But Mr. Richard was nowhere in sight. That made her smile. She was going to leave this room earlier than expected.

"So? Maids are bounded to gossip what else do they have to do?" She said with a bored look on her face.

"You're absolutely correct, my dear. The maids have nothing else to do. Can I offer you something to drink?"

She winced. She couldn't help but feel irritated and sick when he called her any endearments.

"No thanks. Am alright, " Willow said although she hasn't had anything to eat yet.

"No, no, please. I insist. Whenever you come here you never take anything, " he urged.

"At least a soft drink, Wendy brings a bottle of cherry cola, " he called, cutting her short on her adamant refusal. And before she could blink, a bottle of cherry was in front of her.

"The maids are doing what they are ordered to do and that is to make you comfortable as you can be."

Rolling her eyes, she poured some in a glass and took a large gulp. Comfortable! If they wanted her comfortable, a way out of this air hole would be nice.

"Yeah. That's what you want them to think. I'll never be 'comfortable' here. So tell your fucking maids to stop clinging to me. If you want me comfortable, then let me out of this hellhole. I don't need babysitters. Am not so old you see, " she said lowly at first until her voice turned into a yell.

Immediately, she charged up and moved towards the door. Not getting very far, the room started to spin quickly. She felt so weak, Willow held on to a wall at a corner for support.

The room started to spin very fast that the form of support couldn't sustain her and she sank low into the hard and cold tiled floor. Willow felt light head, she felt weak and drowsy. Aware that everyone in the room was staring at her, she grips on to the coat rack next to her. She started feeling sweating and when trying to grip the rack for support, she fell again.

After several attempts trying to regain herself, a set of large muscled hands easily pulled her up, taking her with them. Willow had no idea where they were taking her she was losing her bearings really fast.

What's going on?

What's happening to me? Where the questions swimming through her head.

Now she could barely keep her eyes open, everything had turned blurry around her. As quickly as it happened, the hands released her. They dropped like a sack of potatoes on a flat yet soft surface. Willow smiled widely the surface was too soft to be a table or a door. It was either a sofa or a bed.

Slowly, she turned and spread her arms over her head to feel if it was a chair or bed. Soon she felt pillows. Happily, she scooted closer to the pillows once her aim was achieved, she buried her face in the pillows. Those men were so kind, although they weren't the best gentlemen, they still brought her to her room.

"Thank you. You may all leave." An eerily familiar voice said, rousing her from her half-conscious state.

Angrily, she sluggishly sat up on the bed. Her head was spinning and she could only see blurred images and hear light footsteps leaving with the door closing behind them.

Willow dropped back on the bed finally the disturbances where gone she could finally visit happy her mother in Happyland. The footsteps started again and she frowned few persons where still in the room.

"What are you people still doing here?" She yelled, pulling herself up into a sitting position. For a minute, she could swear she heard low chuckles from them and she was certain they were men.

Men!! What were they in her room for?

The mattress dipped and one of them climbed on the bed, caressing her cheeks.

Willow laughed. Had husbands had sent men to her again? She didn't understand what she was doing but she wasn't going to let them do anything to her again.

"Fuck off, you piece of trash, " she said, flinging her hand towards aimlessly his direction and hit him in the groin. He groaned and the sound sounded pleasing to her ears and she stuck her tongue out at him.

Suddenly, the other side of the bed dipped and a hand traced her neckline. Willow had spent all her life reading romantic novels and when the females get touched it feels electric and passion but right now, the fingers on her neck felt slimly and cold.

"You have been a bad girl, Willow, and after today that would change, " the voice said while pressing a kiss to her neck.

That voice! She knew that voice anywhere!! The voice that had read her stories and bought her presents for seventeen years.

A tear rolled down her cheek as the other man laughed. "We are going to have so much to do tonight, my dear Willow."

It then made sense, the cherry soda, she started feeling this way after taking the soda. Some fog in her mind cleared she was now seeing a little clearer.

And both men had smug smiles on their faces, it was all planned. She took one look around to realize it wasn't her bedroom but a strange one.

"Fuck you both, bastards, " she spat at Mr. Richards and Mr. Daniels, her husbands.

They both laughed before Mr. Daniels pressed his lips to hers forcefully. She shook her head multiple times to release her mouth from his when her lips started bleeding, he released her.

She started to struggle as Richards's hands reached under her sweatshirt to her breasts.

Realizing that they didn't just come to torture her, she began to kick and scream.

"Help!!! Please. I beg you please!!!" She screamed louder and louder. Becoming weaker at every scream.

Her foot connected with Richard's groin again. He grunted punching her hard in the face, stilling her movements, already so weak that she couldn't move.

"Is this better now, Willow dear. Now you are subdued. I love your mouth but its much better closed, " Daniel said, tearing open her sweatshirt and pants. Suddenly, hard metal connected with the floor.

"Please. I beg you. I'll-I'll do anything you asked" she pleaded weakly as the tears flowed freely.

No answer.

They touch her everywhere. Willow looked on helplessly as they laughed and continued to play with her body. With every single passing moment, curse words and bile rose in her belly. Willow struggled to keep herself alert while her body was limp. The spot on her cheek she had taken a blow had started to swell and it was itchy.

Her thoughts were cut short when she saw Mr. Daniels and Mr. Richards arguing amongst themselves.

"I'll take the lead, do not argue with me on this, Bryan. All of this was my plan in the first place. I have waited so long for this, " Jacob hissed.

"No, I refuse to be second, Daniels. She is my wife too."

The argument continued as they both soon began to raise voices at each other.

Willow looked around the dimly lighted room. She breathed heavily, their attention wasn't on her. She could escape from this horrible place.

Slowly and drowsily, she pushed herself up from her lying position to a sitting position before quietly slipping out of the bed. Finally, she was away from those horrible men, she sighed happily. Silently she wobbled over towards a door.

Suddenly, her hair was painfully pulled back and she landed on the bed.

"You naughty, naughty girl, trying to run? You get punished for it, " Mr. Richard's voice whispered into her ear. Irritated, she turned her face away, trying to push him away from her again he didn't budge.

"Am going to show you a good time, don't you forget it."

Willow gasped as she felt pain as he entered her.

Daddy, she cried.

The tears begin to pour down as fast as they both took turns ramming into her.

Daddy where are you?! Save me, please!!! Her insides screamed.

Gaining a little strength, she screamed and another hit on the face followed. She closed her eyes, she was now numb, she couldn't feel the pain anymore as tears continued to roll down.

The next thing she heard was Mr. Daniels telling his men to get her out his room.

And immediately she was lifted unto a hardback.

Slowly, she was carried out of the room, Willow weakly fluttered her eyes open as Mr. Richards came over and gave her a peck on the forehead.

"Do you know what both of you are? Monsters! I see both of you are monsters and that would never change. Trust me on this. I'll never forgive you two bastards." she slurred out boldly.

Mr. Daniels looked taking aback for a minute before grinning, "Finn, take her out seems like Miss Willow needs a little bit of fresh air."