About a week later, I was coming back from Lucas’ laboratory. I don’t know why, but I was just in a particularly good mood. I waltzed through the front door and closed it behind me. As I dusted myself off, I looked around the empty, strangely dark house. Was Aven laying down for a nap or something?

“Aven?” I called out with a laugh. “If you’re trying to paint again, I-”

“Well, well, well…” hissed a familiar voice. 

Out from the corner of the living room with those glowing green eyes and smug smile, her snake around her shoulders. What pissed me off the most was Aven. That fucking snake bitch had shoved her into one of Reginald’s suits.

“Beatrice, ma’am.” I said, clenching my teeth as I took off the coat and hat.

“That’s correct,” she smirked. “So, mind telling me where you were?”

“I was out running errands.”

“Mhm. Sure.” Beatrice turned her head to Aven. “Where was she, Adam?”

She wasn’t leaving this house alive. Calling Aven by Adam. Catching onto my daily earrings. Being so disrespectful as to come into our house doing this…

“I don’t know,” Aven mumbled.

“I don’t know, MA’AM,” Beatrice screamed in her face.

“I don’t know, ma’am,” she whimpered, shaking.

“Hm. I’m sure my brother knows of your errands, correct?” I kept my mouth shut. Mostly because if I opened it, I would likely follow it with an act of violence. It just made Beatrice put on that annoying as hell smirk again. “I’ll take that as a no? And would these errands happen to explain why you’re dressed like a man? I must say, it does suit you much better than a dress. Maybe you and Adam should crossdress together!”

I clenched my fists. She knew how much that got to me. Not only is she insulting Aven, but she knew how calling me a man pissed me off. She was always talking shit about how my body’s not womanly enough.

“You know what? I think you’re just jealous of us! At least I’ve got boobs and an ass! And Aven actually has some nice hips! Every man just sees you as a bitchy 2x4 front and back!”

“Do you want to tell my brother that when I let him know your secret?!” she howled. 

“Please… don’t tell him,” I sighed, defeated. I knew better than to challenge her, even if I wanted to rearrange her face. It was the one lesson I hated that my mama taught me.

“Oh, but why shouldn’t I?” she hissed with a tone of victory. “I knew you were up to no good the moment I met you! And I’ve been trying to convince my dearest brother to ditch you, but he won’t listen. So here’s my chance!”

“Please,” I growled through my teeth. Nevermind, I wanted to punch her again.

“Hm…” She rubbed her chin, probably thinking about what way to humiliate me. “How badly do you want me to stay quiet?”

“I’ll do anything.” Just saying it hurt.

“Beg.”

I reeled back, which only made her smile widen.

“I want to see you on your knees, begging at my feet,” she clarified. “And maybe then, just maybe, I’ll consider keeping your little secret.”

I should’ve just kicked out of the house right there and then. Or maybe broken her back over my knee. I should’ve done something to stand my ground and tell her I was the boss. I was the woman of the house. But shamefully, I found myself on my hands and knees.

“Please…” I mumbled. “Don’t tell…”

“What was that?” she smugly asked, leaning down. “I couldn’t hear you.”

“Please… Please don’t tell him…”

“Good girl,” she cackled. “Maybe you can be trained.”

Just then, Reginald walked through the slightly ajar door. Oh god no. Not now. He looked at Beatrice, then Aven, back to Beatrice, then down at me.

“Max?” he asked before looking back to his sister. “What are you doing?”

“Putting her in her place,” she victoriously smiled. Even when she’s certain to get in trouble she’s a bitch.

“Get off the floor, Max,” Reginald told me, and I happily obliged. As I took my place by his side, he looked at my clothes. “Why are you dressed like this?”

“I-” 

“I made her,” Beatrice interrupted. Oh that bitch… she’s saving this for some kind of blackmail. I just knew it. “I thought it suited her quite well since she’s got a man’s body just like Adam.” Ugh, she knew how much that insult got to me too-

“Adam?”

Reginald looked back at Aven, and his expression morphed into pure fury. I could even see Beatrice’s smug smile waver.

“So you’re telling me that you came into my home to put my wife and Aven into clothing YOU thought was suitable? AND made Max beg at your knees?? What the Hell, Beatrice!?”

“They deserve it,” she scowled.

“Get. Out,” he growled. “I will not have you coming here to torture my family. Out. Now.”

Beatrice didn’t bother arguing. Probably knew it wouldn’t get her anywhere. Instead she flashed me this sour glare that let me know she had more planned for me. But on her way out, she mouthed something at me when only I could’ve seen it.

You look better when you’re begging.

“Max, change Aven out of those clothes,” Reginald commanded, rubbing his temples. “Get her something more appropriate.”

“Alright,” I nodded. “And what will you do?”

“Write father about this,” he said, marching away.

As I went to help Aven change, I couldn’t help but feel at least a small victory from this. She would finally feel some fucking consequences.

*   *   *   *   *

So she felt zero fucking consequences. From what I could tell, nobody did anything about it! It was outrageous! It was stupid! It was… just like every other time they’ve let her get away with all her shit. Ugh. One day I was back over at Lucas’ lab, and we were in his office getting it on.

“I needed this de-stressor,” I heavily sighed.

“Something on your mind?” he asked.

“Other than you?” I asked, kissing him. “Nope, not right now.”

Then in the middle of all of it, something small and green slithered under the door, making all my hairs stand on end. I screamed and jumped back. It was a snake. Her snake, Fluffy! No, no No! I screamed and started throwing some papers at it, and the little serpent crawled across the floor and wrapped around my leg. I screamed and cried, falling to the floor to try and shake it off.

“STOP IT!” I cried, trying to pry the snake off, but nothing would work. It hurt so much. Right as my leg was turning a deep blue, the door flew open and who else but Beatrice walked in with this satisfied smile.

“My, my. Cheating? I would’ve never guessed you would do such a thing!” Beatrice said in a mocking voice. “How will I ever inform my dearest brother of this, sister-in-law?”

“Get it off!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “It- It hurts!”

“Fluffy, to me,” Beatrice said with a snap of her fingers, apparently satisfied with the amount of pain I was in. When Fluffy uncoiled, my leg hurt even worse for a minute before she slithered to that bitch’s shoulders. I felt my leg as it slowly returned to a purple color. The snake’s scale pattern had been imprinted into my skin.

“This is your sister-in-law?” Lucas mumbled. “I see why you get out of the house to avoid her all the time.”

“You’re no sister in law of mine!” I growled at her. Right as I was about to try and get up, Beatrice kicked me in the chin and sent me sprawling, then stopped me again by putting her foot to my neck. The heels on her shoes were less than an inch from stabbing into some important vein. Even the heels that woman wore were deadly.  

“I do have to agree.” Beatrice said as she looked back down at Max. “I would never consider you my sister in law. I don’t mingle with people of your skin color.”

“Go to hell,” I hissed.

“Oh, I was going to keep this a little secret between us sisters, but now I’m not so sure.” Beatrice lifted her heel and went to the doorway.

“Fuck you, you green-eyed snake bitch!” I howled.

“Max,” Lucas whispered. “Calm down.”

“Oh, I knew it was something like this, but this is just embarrassing. Even for a filthy animal like you, Maxine.” Beatrice stood in the doorway with a smug, victorious smirk. “I found out about that filthy little secret of yours, and it’s only my first day on the job!”

“First day on the job?!” I exclaimed, looking at Lucas.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

“Beatrice Hawthorne,” she grinned. “You remember our correspondence letters, don’t you, Mr. DuCarmont?”

“Oh god…” he groaned. “You’re not-”

“I will have a job here,” she interrupted. “Or I’ll go to the police and send you all to hell.”

“Lucas, please,” I begged him. “You can’t-”

“Fine, but you’ll pull your weight,” he growled. She apparently really didn’t like getting told that from the immense frown on her face.

“Max can do my work,” she scowled. “She’s got so much weight that a bit more shouldn’t be too hard on her.”

“Thanks.” It wasn’t Beatrice without just a bit of body shaming.

“And I expect a suitable pay,” Beatrice said pretentiously.

“You’re literally rich!” I shot at her. “You barely eat too, so what’re you spending it on?!”

“Mind your business, bitch,” she hissed, walking out of the room and slowly closing the door behind her. “I’m here to stay, so get used to me!”