Chapter 59-Saving Ceula

******WARNING THE FIRST HALF OF THIS CHAPTER IS VIOLENT.**********

I had been living with David for about two months now although living wasn't exactly what I was doing any longer.  He had turned my entire existence into him.  I was forced to quit my job.  He cancelled my other phone and gave me one that had a lock so I couldn't call out, it also had a tracker in case I tried to leave the apartment.  That however wasn't likely to happen because he had changed the lock to a double keyed deadbolt and he had the only key.  I only prayed there wasn't a fire.  I had to be up two hours before he left for work in order to get dressed and fix his breakfast.  David picked out what I wore.  He only wanted to see me properly dressed with make up unless I was going to bed.  Most nights he wanted me to sleep nude for easier access.  When he came home from work I was to have dinner waiting for him.

He would often come home late at night drunk.  The first time he did this I had put the food away and was already in bed.  I only did that once, it hurt to walk or even breathe for three days after that incident.  There were so many nights when I thought about just putting myself out of misery but in the end I couldn't.

I was sitting watching TV when I heard the key in the lock.  I panicked, he was home early and I didn't have anything ready.  He was drunk and angry.

"David, I'm sorry I didn't know you would be early." I immediately started apologizing but it didn't matter he was out to hurt me. The first punch sent me stumbling back.  The second one knocked me to the ground. He was ranting about how I was trying to ruin his career, that I hadn't properly learned a lesson.  He kicked me as I curled into fetal position to protect myself as best I could.  He kept telling me how he couldn't believe I would go to his boss and spread such lies.  I was confused and tried to tell him I hadn't talked to anyone but he only hit me more.  He grabbed me by the hair and started dragging me towards the bedroom. 
"Do you think I'm a fool Amari?  Do you think you can get away with rejecting me then trying to ruin everything I have worked for?"

He forced me down on the bed and pushed up my skirt.  I begged and pleaded with him but he wasn't listening and my cries only made him angrier.  David pushed my face into the bed, I tried to push up to get air but even being drunk he was stronger than me. 
"You can't get away from me now can you Amari?"  As he brutalized me, he kept calling me by my mother's name.  This went on for hours until he finally passed out.  I slid off the bed and crawled over to my dresser, everything hurt.  Pulling on the first thing I could find I managed forced myself to stand up.  Pain shot through my body with each step but I managed to creep out of the room.  I got to the door before I realized I didn't have the key to the lock, but then as I looked I noticed in his rage to hurt me he hadn't locked it when he came in.  I slowly turned the knob and held my breath thinking he would appear behind me but he didn't.  I ran.
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I looked over at Marcus sleeping peacefully.  I couldn't sleep and hadn't been able to since my visit with Aric and Nina.  When they told me about how she looked the last time they saw her, I was devastated.  I was the cause of this.  I had brought that monster into her life and I would never be able to forgive myself knowing he had harmed her.  I hoped she might be able to forgive me one day for the pain I caused her.
Today David's supervisor finally agreed to a meeting with me.  I had been going down to the station everyday demanding they do something but I was always told that without a victim there was nothing that could be done.  I filed a missing persons report but even that took some convincing on their part.  I knew David had her somewhere.  Aric tried to get a read on her but since it wasn't something he had ever done, he couldn't find her.  Bynni had been in France with TK but was due back tomorrow.  I didn't want to worry her when I talked to her.  It would be better to fill her in once she got back home.
I got up and peeked in on the boys.  They were sleeping soundly and safely in their beds.  I headed towards the kitchen to make myself a cup of Chamomile tea.  As I approached the living room I heard crying, I slowly walked closer to the door and pressed my ear against it.  The crying was coming from outside, I opened the door to see Ceula huddled on my porch bloodied and in tears.

"Oh my God, Ceula!"  I yelled for Marcus.  He carried her into the house as I ran to get Carter hoping he was home.
"Amari what's wrong?"
"You have to come quick, she's been attacked."  he didn't ask any more questions.  He just grabbed his medical bag and came over to the house.  All the commotion had woken up Dax and Dunham, Marcus ushered them back to their rooms, we didn't want them seeing their sister like that.

Carter cleaned her up and checked her over.  The whole time she just kept saying she was sorry, like any of this was her fault.  Carter tried to convince her to go to the hospital but she kept refusing.  From what he could tell nothing was broken but she needed to have a proper exam, including one for sexual assault.  Finally I was able to convince her to go and Carter took us both.  Marcus called Aric to let him know what was going on.
I never let go of her hand, and I couldn't stop crying.  The nurses took pictures and did their exams.
"How far along are you?" the nurse asked when she was done
"I don't know what you mean."
"Ms. Vinson you're pregnant."
We both sat there in a stunned silence.
"I'll have a tech come in to give you an ultrasound."  She left the room and I gave Ceula a kiss on the forehead. 
"It'll be alright sweetie." 
Ceula had refused to let the doctors call the police, she lied saying she didn't know who her attacker was.  I wanted to object, to make her press charges, but I knew now wasn't the right time to push her.

When we arrived at the house Aric and Nina were there.  There was a cold rage burning in his eyes that I had never seen before when he saw his sister.  He could only see the bruises on her face, if he could see what I saw on her body he would have really been enraged.

They hugged her, then Ceula said she was tired and headed to the guest room to sleep.  After she was out of the room I told them everything she had told me.  I sobbed while I spoke, the knowledge of the pain, and humiliation she endured the last few months because of some guy that was obsessed with me weighed heavily on my heart.  They all tried to tell me it wasn't my fault but it didn't make it any better.  I should have just slept with him then none of this would have happened.  Aric got even more upset when he learned she was pregnant.  He was taking this hard.

"Mom I should have been able to do more.  What good is it to be a..." he stopped and looked over at Marcus before continuing "big brother if I couldn't do more to protect her."  I knew what he really meant.  He was feeling guilty that as a vampire he wasn't able to know this was happening and stop it.  He had always tried to be as human as possible, Mulo never pushed him to do more.  He still was remorseful over turning TK although it had worked out in the end.
"Honey we can't play the blame game.  We just have to be strong for her, she needs us more now than ever.  She has a tough road ahead of her.  Aric I want you to talk to your father.  Once she makes a decision about the baby, I want to send her to him after the wedding.  I want to be there for her recovery but it's more important for her to be as far away from him as possible."  I glanced over at Marcus but he sat there and didn't say a word when I mentioned Mulo. 
Once everyone had left, and the boys were off to school I sat and let it all sink in.

"Maybe we should think about postponing the wedding.  Just until we get her settled." Marcus said as he slid his arms around me.
"You wouldn't mind?"
"Of course not.  She needs our full attention right now."
"Ok, thank you."
"For what?"
"for being you."
I settled in closer to him.  The wedding was a month away.  A little late to postpone but it needed to be done.
"Mom." We both turned in response to her voice. "I can't let you put your plans on hold because of me."

"Oh honey, come here and sit.  Look Marcus and I both want to be here for you.  In fact everyone does.  Bynni will be over later."
"I ruin everything!" she burst into tears and my heart broke all over again.  "You can't put off your wedding.  Please mom don't do that.  I've cause you enough trouble."  It was Marcus that went over to console her.

"Ceula, your mom loves you and only wants to take care of you.  You aren't ruining anything, we are just adjusting plans.  Besides I won't let your mom off the hook that easily."  She smiled a little when he said that and I knew that as long as he was by my side, I was going to survive this nightmare and so would she.