I'm sorry I haven't updated for a while, here's finally the next chapter, it's mostly about "Lucy". Warning, there's some violence in this chapter.

Chapter 3

The scapegoat

Missouri, 1908

"Come on, Pearl!" Ruby taunted her little sister. "You can't catch me!"

Both girls were laughing as they ran across the field, enjoying the beautiful summer day. Ruby had always loved the sun; she would have liked to stay outside the whole day whenever the day was sunny. She was already 7-years-old, so she had to participate in many chores in the small farm where they lived, but today she could spend the whole day with her sister. Pearl was almost two years younger than Ruby, but she was her best friend.

"Come on!"

Ruby closed her eyes while running; she wanted to feel the sun and the wind on her face. Suddenly Pearl cried out in pain, Ruby stopped immediately and turned around. Her little sister was lying on the ground on her stomach, she had probably tripped.

"Pearl!"

Ruby kneeled next to her and turned her carefully on her back.

"Are you alright?"

Pearl's brown eyes were watering up and she let out a sob.

"My ankle hurts."

Ruby lifted the hem of Pearl's green dress and examined her ankles.

"Which ankle?"

She pointed at her right ankle, which was already swelling.

"Can you move it?"

Pearl tried and cried out in pain.

"It's alright," Ruby said as calmingly as she could. "Let's get you to mama."

Pearl was sobbing, but she nodded, very carefully Ruby helped her to sitting position. She didn't think that Pearl could walk, so she had to carry her home. Lifting her up was easier said than done, she was screaming, but finally Ruby managed to get her sister over her shoulder. Pearl wasn't much smaller than she was, but hearing her sobs gave Ruby strength, she had to get her sister home. She was panting while carrying her across the field; fortunately the farm wasn't very far.

"Mama!" she shouted when she approached the sleazy old house, her mother Mable came out from a henhouse which was next to an old barn.

"Pearl!" she cried out and ran to them. "What happened?"

"She fell down…" Ruby started, but her mother didn't pay any attention to her, gently she lifted Pearl into her arms.

"My sweet baby."

"Mama, it hurts," Pearl sobbed.

"I know, baby, mama's right here."

She carried Pearl into the house without saying a word to Ruby, insecurely she followed them. Carefully Mable placed Pearl on hers and their father's bed; she hummed calmingly while examining her younger daughter's ankle.

"Shh, shh, baby."

Ruby tried to approach the bed, but her mother pushed her away.

"Haven't you done enough damage," she stated coldly. "Get out."

"But mama…" Ruby started, trying to swallow her tears. "Is Pearl alright?"

"Does she look alright to you? You were supposed to watch her!"

Tears were forming in Ruby's eyes, she felt terrible for doing this to her sister. She was about to leave when her father Floyd marched in, he had been running errands in town and he was drunk and in a bad mood, as usually. He froze when he saw Pearl crying on the bed.

"What happened?" he asked menacingly.

Ruby saw the fear in her mother's eyes, it mirrored hers; they both knew how important Pearl was to Floyd.

"The girls were playing," Mable muttered. "Her ankle isn't broken, just sprained…"

Floyd's eyes narrowed; slowly he turned to look at Ruby.

"You," he growled and grabbed her blonde hair, making her whimper in pain.

"Papa, no!" Pearl shouted desperately when Floyd started to drag Ruby outside by her hair. Mable crossed her arms and looked away; Ruby knew that she wouldn't help her.

"Please, papa," Ruby pleaded desperately when Floyd dragged her towards the barn, she knew too well what would happen now.

"Shut your mouth!" Floyd shouted.

Ruby sobbed quietly when Floyd roughly pulled her dress off, grabbed the robe hanging from the ceiling and tied her hands above her head. She was trembling with fear before the first slash of a whip made her scream.

"Stupid…little…whore," Floyd hissed, stressing every word with a slash. "Just…like…your…mother."

The old wounds on Ruby's back hadn't healed yet, she felt like her skin would have been torn into shreds. She screamed and screamed, when Floyd finally stopped, she had no voice left. She couldn't have stand without the robe, the pain was so terrible that she felt that she was going to die. Suddenly Floyd cut the robe off, Ruby fell on the floor and wrapped her arms around her; her whole body was trembling.

"Whore," Floyd hissed and spit on her before marching out.

Ruby couldn't move, the weak sobs escaping her throat took all the strength she had left. She deserved this.

Ruby didn't want to open her eyes, if she would keep them closed, maybe she wouldn't have to face the reality. Right, sure. She gave up, sighed and took a moment to brace herself before opening her eyes. To her surprise, she wasn't lying on the filthy mattress in the basement; she was lying on a queen-size bed. All her senses sharpened immediately, where was she?

The room looked very nice, maybe even cozy, the walls and the large rug were olive, there was a beautiful dark wooden dresser with a big mirror, creamy curtains, two olive armchairs and a dark wooden coffee table between them. Cautiously she got into a sitting position; she was wearing a clean white nightgown.

The thought that someone had undressed her when she had been unconscious should have probably made her feel something, but it didn't. Had that sick bastard found some new way to torture her? Not that it mattered; he had already taken all that had meant anything to her. Pearl… Poor innocent Pearl who was dead because of her. No, she wouldn't think about her sister, she couldn't.

Hearing Pearl's screams, unable to do anything to help her, had break Ruby, she had no will to live anymore. She deserved all the suffering she would get. So thirsty… Ruby felt like she would be dying on thirst. Instinctively she touched the bite mark on her neck. Wait… She wasn't in Dominic's house; he had sold her to another vampire. She started to remember now, he had almost drained her. Too bad he hadn't finished her off.

Slowly she stood up and walked to the door, it was locked from outside. She turned to the window, there were bars in it. What was this other vampire going to do to her? She noticed a tray on the bedside table; there were fruits, sandwiches and a glass of water placed on it. She didn't touch the food, but she emptied the glass with a one long gulp. It didn't satisfy her thirst, but it was better than nothing. She sat down on the bed and stayed there motionless like a statue until the door opened and the British vampire entered the room.

"Hello, Lucy," he said smiling. "I'm glad to see you are awake."