Unladylike

I hate my family. I loathe them. I might as well be Dr Jackle and Mr Hyde because of them, only I’m Lady Meridith and Miss slut-bag. “Mary, are you done yet?” My only true-blue friend, Em shouted from outside the bathroom cubicle I’m currently using as a changing room. It’s not often I have to do this, show my obligations before heading to The scene, the club we like to head up to live vicariously.

Em and I or M and M as those who know us like to call us are actually Emelia Isles and Meridith Charles, two girls who grew up in wealth, neglect, drama and misery. Our families like to believe they live in a time like the centuries that came before us. Now, we’re both in our mid-twenties and free. We just have to see to obligations every once in a while.

“Shut it. It isn’t exactly easy getting in and out of this crap.” I groaned, just managing to escape the air-thieving corset that’s been suffocating me all day. I’ve come in the club through the back, wearing the full posh, snobby, rich girl attire. A old-fashioned, modest dress that didn’t expose any of those “important” places as my gran would say. I’ve got elegant makeup on, knickers that put my thongs to shame in the uncomfortable department. I’ve even had to put on a brunette wig.

I came out of the bathroom cubicle happy to see the usual me in the mirror. Gone was the spoilt rich princess, hello is the girl who looks like she went through hell growing up, which she did, just not the hell you’d assume. I dyed my hair bright pink the second I moved out, I’ve got tattoos on my collar bone, hips front and back and my ankle. I’ve even got piercings in places that would make a vicar blush.

“Feeling better?” Em laughed at me taking a sigh of relief, feeling more at home in a short, v-cut sequin dress. When out of my night gear, I’m all jeans and printed tops, spending my unlimited funds on stupid things to make me feel more human. I felt numb growing up with my family, now I feel like a phony. I just want to feel normal.

“Yeah. Just wait, it’ll be you they’re trying to marry off soon.” I sighed, grabbing my bag to throw in the back like I’ve done a few times before. “See, that’s where you’re wrong; my brother’s about this close to burning the place down. I see that happening before any wedding bells.” Em laughed loudly, though beneath that laugh, I could tell there’s a worry. Em and Al’s parents are just awful people. They’re racist, xenophobic and abusive in every possible way. They’re just too wealthy to be convicted in anyway. If it would have looked good, they never would have let Al and Em venture out on their own.

“Can my parents be next?” I asked, in attempts to ease the tension with light humour. Honestly, it wouldn’t be a surprise if someone did off my parents, just for many other reasons. Unconditional love is a right bitch, because it pains me to think that, and I know it pains Em too.

“Well, lets just focus on our lives rather than theirs.” Em smiled warmly at me, taking my hands to guide me to the dance floor that might as well be a mosh pit. I enjoy being in this type of crowd, dancing provocatively and getting looks from men and women alike. I love having sex, no matter the gender. I just need to find the opportunities to be more adventurous during those activities.

“Hey, Mary. Is it just me, or is security over the top tonight?” Em shouted to me over the crowd. Em is more observant than most, it came from looking out for any indication for abuse coming her way. It’s why I trusted her enough to take her seriously and look around. Sure, they have security here, but there’s a limit. Yet, here tonight, there’s at least a dozen of suited bozos in the club. There’s one at each exit and more searching for something or someone in the crowd.

“I’d say lets get out of here, but I don’t see that being an option.” I shouted near Em’s ear. She nodded with a concerned expression. I watched Em look around the room. Her greyish-blue eyes widened, and she flung her head back to look at me, her short purple and black hair whipping her in the face. “They have guns.” She mouthed. Shit. I hurried to bring my phone from my bag and called for emergency service. I pressed the button to aware them that I can’t talk, just as shots fired to the ceiling.

Music was replaced by screams of sheer panic and terror. The crowd scattered in fear towards the exits but there was no use. Everyone here is trapped. “Shut it, and everyone get down to the ground!” A large man in the middle of the dancefloor belted his voice, holding his gun high in the air. “Bags and phones in the middle of the floor.” I listened to the man, unable to take my eyes from him. He seems so familiar to me. I just can’t place him.

The guy is tall and broad, he’s got bouncy brown hair that looks silky. There are scars on his arms that he’s tried to mask with sleave length tattoos that incorporates them. Yep. There is seriously something wrong with me; I find the guy so unbelievably sexy.

“Really, Mary? Him? What is wrong with you?” Em hissed at me quietly since it’s still relatively noisy with the bad men getting everyone how they want them. “So, so many things.” I replied, wondering why the hell I’m not scared; I’m excited.

“Right. This can be quick and easy. All we want is the daughters of Cedrick Isles and Geoffry Charles.” The stranger announced. I swallowed and pursed my lips. I’m damn disturbed with having dirty scenarios play in my head, so much so, it’s almost tempting to come forward.

“We saw them come here through the back, and they have not left. Anyone who knows where they are can just leave. If we find out anyone is purposely withholding information from us, will die.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why he wants us, “wants them” as I’d phrase it if I did. I’m not stupid though, despite what my parents believe.

“No one? No one knows?” The hot bad man asked the crowd mockingly. He chuckled and nodding to a guy to his left, a shorter guy, one I definitely recognise, as does Em who cursed by me. The guy and Em had sex in pool house a few months back at her house. He was coming to do some renovations, Bob, as we nicknamed him due to the cartoon character. Bob pulled a man to his feet and dragged him to the centre of the floor. Bob shoved him to his knees and held the gun to his hostage’s head.

“If no one comes forward with information in ten seconds, he’s dead. One. Two.”

“Wait. Wait. All I know is the two girls come in and change to the extent they’re unrecognisable. We were paid a lot of money so they could go unnoticed.” The manager shouted, jumping to his feet. One of the goons immediately grabbed him. Gunner, as I’ve decided to name the leader slowly closed the distance between him and the dear manager who looks close to pissing his pants.

“Well, money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, is it?” Gunner snarled so close to the manager spit hit his face. Suddenly a gun fired, and screams pained my eardrums, as the poor manager dropped to the floor in a pool of his blood, dead. Gunner had given him a shot to the head.

My eyes went straight back to Gunner, so dangerous and sexy. I had to bite my lip as I checked him out. “You have serious problems, woman.” Em hissed over at me, stupidly since Gunner was just by us. Her words seemed to make him stop. He paid no attention to his friends who were dealing with the police. His dark, brown eyes stayed on us. “You two, up.”

Em and I slowly gathered to our feet, staying in our spots as Gunner circled us, observed us. “Davy, come here.” Gunner called for who we’ve been calling Bob. He pushed him towards Em, whispering something to him before he pulled me to the right side of the room whilst Davy took Em to the left. Another bozo replaced Gunner in the middle.

“Why aren’t you scared?” Gunner asked me, pinning me to the wall. His gaze is hard, dangerous, hot. “Why are you so desperate to find Meridith and Emelia?” I asked breathlessly. I really need my head testing for wanting this guy to show me just how dangerous he can be.

There was a long silence between us as Gunner took me in. I decided to do the same, my eyes moved to his scarred arms and back up to see a burn scar just below his ear. My green eyes widened, and before I could think his name slipped from my lips. “Albie.”

Albie’s the son of a chef who used to work for us when I was a kid. Albie’s mum died under suspicious circumstances in our manor and his dad’s silence was bought. Albie was abused in my house. Em and I helped him escape and run away to somewhere safe. So, why was he here for Em and me now when we helped him?

Albie’s eyebrow raised before his eyes widened all together. It’s no wonder I wasn’t scared of him. Albie’s scars came from whenever he covered for me doing something wrong. He always denied it, but I knew better. He got hurt because he was protecting me. The last time I saw him; he was eleven and I was ten. We’ve both grown up and changed a lot since then.

“Mary?” I bit my lip and nodded. His head turned to Em before back at me. I nodded. He rubbed his eyes. “Shit. Right, lets go. Davy, get the girl and follow.” Albie got a tight grip on my arm and dragged me around his escape route with Davy following with Em. “What the hell is going on?” I snapped at Albie. I’m still no way near scared, but I need to know what’s going on. “I’ll explain later, Mary. Just shut up. We need to focus.”

“Have you ever known me to shut up, Albie? Talk.”

“Albie? As in Albie, Albie who we helped escape?” We heard Em gasp behind us. I had to stop and look hearing her unsteady voice. Davy has her over his shoulder. I would have laughed if Albie wasn’t suddenly doing the same thing to me, so we’d move quicker. With us being carried like we were nothing we were in the back of a van in no time and speeding off.

“Can you tell us what’s going on now?” Em asked, eying me since I had just fallen on top of Albie in the haste of driving off with some stranger behind the wheel. I am not complaining. “We’re part of an organisation that sees to those who get away with crimes because of their wealth. They’re planning on seeing to both of your families, all of them, including you.” My stomach dropped. “So, you’re planning on killing us?” I asked, still neglecting to fear for my life. I must be insane.

“No. We’re part of a sub-group who believe that the descendants shouldn’t be punished if they haven’t done anything wrong.” Albie explained, lifting me up and putting a fair amount of space between us. I sighed. “So now what?”

“You guys go into hiding and change your identities.” Albie explained before going into detail on exactly what’s going on. I wasn’t surprised to hear that Al is now a part of the organisation. It just proved how right Em was about her big brother before.

Once everything was explained everything went silent. The organisation has friends in the police, so they won’t get caught. The manager was just collateral and punished for being bought. Now, Em and I have to deal with knowing that our families are about to die, we have to deal with the feelings we don’t quite know how to process, or at least I don’t. I am truly heartbroken by the idea of losing my family no matter how much I hate them, I can’t help it, but I don’t disagree with what’s to come.

“We’re assigned to you girls, so don’t worry, you’ll be safe.” Davy spoke after what felt like a long time. I looked to Albie who nodded. I know he would have loved to kill my family, so for him to come and protect us like he always used to seem to overshadow any pain I was feeling. Em and I grew up with no protection other than each other when it came to our families after Albie left, having him back somehow makes me safe, even if the source of why I’ve been scared of over the years will soon be gone.

Albie and Davy went on to explain what’s to come of us, where we’ll be going and who we’ll all be. As it turns out with each rescue like ours two from the sub-group have to also “disappear” to make sure we’re all safe. So, Albie, or Owen as he’s going to be and Davy, or Sam as he’s going to be, are going to be stuck in our lives for good.

Today is the day that every Isles and Charles of mine and Em’s bloodlines die, us included will die. As of tomorrow, sisters Isabel and Poppy Blanch will be born. New day, new start, new life, with two men to keep us safe. Who knows what’s going to happen next?