5 comments/ 22488 views/ 27 favorites The Captured Butterfly By: Silentslave This is a NonConsent story that might have some erotic violent sex. If this is not something you like than please don't bother reading it. Thank you. * Chapter 1 A Fresh Start As Ellie drove towards her old home in Bronsville, her mind kept flipping over the events from the past few months. "I think I must have been cursed from birth. It's like a constant black cloud has followed me all my life; everyone that I care about or come in contact with becomes infected. Maybe leaving the city to get a brand new start might be a good thing. Leaving the past is certainly not a bad thing specially after what I've been threw; my relationship with Paul was destructive for both of us specially, for him. Marinda was right, he had too many problems but that doesn't take away the feeling of guilt I have, part of me will always feel responsible. When he tried to kill us both driving off that bridge it almost destroyed me." Tears started cascading down her cheeks into her lap her mind remembering her best friends words at Paul's funeral. "Paul did this to himself, almost putting you in that casket too, none of this is your fault, he was unstable, way before you came along. Ellie you really must stop taking the blame for everyone else," she said very sternly. "Marinda was right, thank god I had her to lean on, she is the only small blessing I have in my life she really pulled me out of it. Ya right just in time to have my life sucked down another hole. I got laid off from the magazine, I mean sure I might have wanted to be a freelance writer but still it paid the bills. Now I have to deal with aunt June's passing, leaving the house and everything for me to deal with. Well at least there is a bit of money for the up keep of the house; I don't know much or for how long but maybe enough to get me on my feet again? It might be a good quiet place to start writing; we'll have to see how it goes. I don't know if moving back here will be a good idea or not though? What's that old saying you can't go home!" She drove past the welcome sign that read Welcome to Bronsville. With her aunt gone she would find herself orphaned, she had no family left now. "The house is going to seem strange without her. Well, if it doesn't turn out I can always sell the house and move back to the city." Then she laughed, "Marinda sure would like that wouldn't she. She'd force me to move into her pent house with her. Good times every night she'd say, what a girl." She laughed and shook her head. She looked around the as she drove into the centre of town. "Doesn't look like it changed much, but then it will always look the same to me." She shook her head again and smiled as she drove right threw town, out to the other side, and then down Branstan Road. She drove down the dirt road thinking to herself, "Well maybe this will finally give me a chance to straighten out my life, take control again. Ya, like I ever had control in the first place," she thought cynically. She smiled then shook her head as she spotted the green tiled roof coming into view. "Well here I go." She said as she pulled into a long driveway. It was a huge two-story house with white-siding and blue trim. There were blue window boxes in front holding tulips that were almost in bloom. It had a white porch, which circled the whole front of the house and a wooden porch swing, which she remembered spending a lot of her childhood reading books on. Except for 6 and half years of her life this had been where she called home growing up. She would come to live with her aunt June and uncle Jack, after her parents died in a car crash and because they where her only living relatives so they gladly took her in. Ellie didn't mind coming to live at the old Stanton homestead and had soon looked to her aunt like a mother, always receiving lots of love. She stepped out onto the driveway letting her eyes take in the sights and sounds of her childhood. She took a deep breath as the smell of her aunt's garden enveloped around her head. When her uncle died a year after she came to live with them her aunt poured all the love she could into Ellie and her garden. She had the greenest thumb of anyone she had ever known and won the blue ribbon for her garden every year. Ellie opened her trunk to retrieve her luggage then walked up the path to the steps that lead to the front door. It was six p.m., which meant the door would be locked. Mitch her aunt's housekeeper would be gone for the day. She pulled the key from her pocket and opened the door. As she took a step towards the door she suddenly got the feeling she was being watched causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. She looked around but saw no one so she shook it off then proceeded to enter the house. She stepped into a lightly lit hallway with a faded red carpet down its length. "It has my aunts smell," she said sadly with a smile. She put her suitcases down in front of the stairs then looked to her right at the front sitting room. A flash of memory passed across her mind, she was seven years old and it had been her first birthday after she lost her parents. She had gotten a china tea set and was playing tea party with her aunt, something her aunt did with her quite often. She could remember her aunt's big happy smile, as she would pass Ellie some real cookies to have with the pretend tea. "I wish I had come back to visit more often but I got so wrapped up with my editor, work and... Paul. What a waste, I missed so much time with her and now it's too late. Now I sit here at twenty-one and still I have no direction," she shook her head. Sadly she turned her eyes straight down the hall towards the kitchen. She walked straight ahead until she invaded the brightly green painted kitchen then, the smell of cinnamon and apples still in the air. She walked over to the counter, picked up a note that was left there. Dear Miss. Stanton: Welcome home! I left a casserole in the oven for you and made a couple of pies for the luncheon that I organized for after the funeral. Please don't worry about anything I took care of everything. I will be there tomorrow morning at 6 pm to do my normal chores and make your breakfast. Please sleep well knowing everything is organized for you. Until tomorrow then good-night Yours truly Mitch "Wow, I hope I can afford to keeper her." As she took a sniff in the oven she smiled then turned her focused around to the rest of the kitchen. Aside from the long counter there was a wooden butchers block and a pantry to one side. To the right of the hall was a heavy oak table and chairs and behind that was a set of glass doors to a large solarium. She walked straight towards it, pulling the doors wide open, it was lit with dull light cause the sun was going down but she didn't care, it was still her favourite room of the house. "This is going to make a perfect place for my study, my computer will fit right over there." She walked over to the patio doors then looked into the tinted glass at the garden. Her aunt's garden was a precious gift, and it had been one of Ellie's favourite places in the whole world. She spent her childhood growing up in that garden after she lost her parents. She took one more look then walked back to the kitchen; turned the oven off, grabbed the oven mitts, then took out the casserole to place it on the top of the stove. She plugged the kettle in for a tea then found the honey. She made herself a tea then dished out some of the pasta onto a plate. "That smells great," she said as she turned towards the table and sat down." By the time she was finished having something to eat, the sky was getting grey so she placed her dishes in the sink and headed down the hall to grab her suitcases. "I think I'll bring my things upstairs, unpack, maybe take a bath, then lay in bed with a good book." Later as she lay reading a book she had snagged from the bookshelf in the downstairs hall she glanced at the clock on the side table. "11 well maybe I should go to sleep, it had been a long drive after all." She placed the book down on the side table falling quickly into a deep sleep. She was standing in her aunt's garden when she heard a voice calling her name. "Ellie come to me, you belong to me." She saw a man standing near her aunt's garden bench, a tall, dark man with black eyes, which had a hint of a red flame in the centre of them. Ellie was getting closer to him, part of her wanted to run the other way but her feet just kept bringing her closer. "Time for you to face your destiny, you will be mine Ellie." He smiled showing her all his sharp teeth and reached out for her. "No Stop!" She screamed as she popped up on her bed, wide a wake. She sat on the bed, "holy crap, what a dream," her body shivered, she looked at the clock and it was two in the morning. She shook her head, "haven't had bad dreams like that for a long time," she laid down again soon falling back into a deep sleep. The smell of muffins and bread assaulted her nostrils as her eyes slowly open. She looked over to her right sure enough the sun was drifting into the room. She placed her feet down on the cool wooden floor, and then walked over to the closet where she hung up her clothes the night before, grabbing her clothes for the day she headed towards the bathroom. She washed her pail skin brushed her teeth and placed her long black hair into a braid that went the length of her back ending below her hips. It was a tiresome job but for some reason that she didn't understand she could never quite have the heart to it cut. She threw the nightgown on the bed, opened her door, slipped out, and down the stairs. She walked towards the kitchen where all the good smells were coming from. "Hello Mitch, it's good to finally meet you." She held out her hand towards the woman standing at the counter. "Good morning Miss Stanton did you sleep well?" Mitch said as she shook her hand. "Here sit down I made you some breakfast. Would you like tea?" She placed a plate of pancakes and syrup on the table. "Yes tea would be nice Mitch, thanks," she said as she sat at the table. "Do you take milk in your tea?" "No just a little honey thanks." Mitch brought her tea over, "let me know if you need help with anything. The lawyer told me my wages are paid for the year with the house accounts so no problems there. I work from Monday to Thursday while Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are my days off. That's when I'm in Frankton. I look after my mother on those days to give my sister a break. She had a stroke and is bedridden, but I'll be here at 6 every morning other wise." "Oh Mitch I'm so glad cause I'm a writer when I get heavily into my writing the world kind of drops off till I'm done and I'll really need someone to take care of the place. Besides I might starve if I cook my own meals, cooking isn't my thing really but I sure like to eat," She laughed. "Oh Miss Stanton you're funny. So how was your trip in yesterday, the weather, the traffic?" she said as she placed her hands back into the sink. "Actually nether one was all that bad, got here about six. Oh thanks for doing that pasta for me it really hit the spot." "That's good and I'm glad you enjoyed it, I figured you'd need something by then. Well if you need me I'll be upstairs making your bed and doing the dusting," laying the tea towel on the rack she headed for the hall. Ellie spent the day going threw all the papers in her aunt's desk. She had kept every letter, card, or bill that ever came out of her post box. "They must have been important to her," she thought, "cause she had them separated into piles and bound with elastic bands then wrapped in plastic like they where gold. Ellie suddenly felt guilty. "I really should have insisted on making more trips home but she kept making excuses that it was never a good time. I don't understand she missed me, this proves it, but it was like she didn't want me to come home. She never said she was feeling run down when I talked to her last and said nothing in her letters. If it wasn't for her lawyer I might not have even known she died, nothing to do about it now." She wiped the tears from her cheeks then gently placed the stacks into the boxes. "I'll put the letters and cards into storage until I can face to get rid of them, I just don't have the heart right now." It kept her busy all day into the evening with only a quick lunch break in between. "I left your supper on the stove so if there's nothing else I'll be off. I'll be here early then we can go to the church together. That's if you like?" "Oh yes thank-you Mitch, you're great." She said looking up from another box. "Well you have a good night then Miss Stanton." "Good night Mitch and please call me Ellie all my friends do." Mitch smiled and nodded then headed out the door. After she marked and taped the boxes she brought them all up to the storage in the attic. She went downstairs ate her dinner rinsed off her dishes then decided to sit on the porch swing with a book for a while. She sat reading till it started to get to dark to see the pages. She placed the book into her lap and just sat there breathing the beautiful smells of spring, thinking how her aunt would of loved this time of year. The time of growth she would always say. Then she got that feeling again like she was being watched causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. She abruptly stood up to look around, "I'm being silly, and its time to go in anyway, tomorrow is going to be a long hard day." She took one more look around as she went into the house again. After reading for a while making her eyes tired she fell into another deep sleep. She was back in the garden again walking towards a stranger who she didn't know or did she? Part of her wanted to run away screaming but her body wanted to get closer to him. She felt like he was a magnet drawing her closer to him every second finally to stand in front of him. He was angry she could feel it; her body was frozen like she was locked in place. He moved around her stoking her hair. "Ah Ellie I'm so glad you're finally home where you belong. You will never leave me again do you understand me." He pulled her hair back exposing her neck looking down into her eyes, "you are mine and I will have you." Then he lowered his lips to her neck causing a sharp pain to her throat. "Ah... Oh god," she pulled herself right up in her bed, "these dreams are horrible, where are they coming from?" The fear and sweat poured from her forehead. She went to the bathroom to wash her face with a cool cloth then slowly made her way back to bed drifting into a more fitful sleep. Chapter 2 Aunt Junes Funeral She pulled herself up from the bed, walked over to the window then let her green eyes looked out into the dull grey sky. "Over cast for the funeral, I wonder if it was her request, it would be just like her." The angel's are crying as Aunt June use to say, so plants and little girls can grow, now she's one of those angels." She smiled at the clouds and turned towards her closet. She grabbed the only black dress she owned, dug in the drawer for her underwear and hose and headed towards the bathroom. She soaked her pale skin long under the hot shower till her skin was almost red she then soaped up her jet-black hair. This was going to be a very long day; she knew she would feel wiped out by the end of it. But she couldn't put it off any longer, her aunt's friends where waiting, more importantly aunt June was waiting and after all she was the guest of honour today. She got dressed, brushed her teeth and then tied up her hair into one long braid. She grabbed a wad of Kleenex to stick in her purse then headed down stairs to the kitchen. "Good morning Miss Stan... ah Ellie" Mitch was putting a plate of eggs and toast on the table for her. "Your tea is there and should be perfectly steeped right now." "Good morning Mitch," Ellie smiled. "Not the best weather though is it?" "Well your aunt wouldn't look at it that way, she would have said it's good for growing." Ellie smiled then began to eat her breakfast while Mitch finished making the sandwiches for the luncheon. When they where done, they both headed for the front door grabbing their coats and purses. While Ellie locked the door Mitch turned to her, "Why don't we take my car, we can leave yours here. Seems silly to take two cars." "Yes ok but after the lunch, when everyone goes you can take the rest of the day off. It will give me some time alone, just me and my memories." She smiled but her eyes where red and glassy. "Ellie are you sure, staying wouldn't be a problem?" "No I'll be fine." They both walked towards the car and got in. She stood just inside the door of the church to receive every ones blessings, hugs, and tears for her aunt. The blessings were by some friends and strangers she knew by passed memories of childhood and if it weren't for Mitch beside her, whispering who they were, she would have drawn up a blank to remember them all. Ellie had come home but at what price? She was an orphan, alone in the world now because this was the day she would bury her only relative. She felt more than just grief, she felt a sadness that only total loneliness could bring and she wiped away a tear as she felt her heart drop into her stomach. Suddenly she felt Mitch stiffen beside her. "Miss. Stanton, may I introduce myself? The name is Renald Branstan, so sorry to hear of your aunt's passing. She was a good neighbour and kept a beautiful garden. She sure had a talent for growing beautiful things didn't she?" A pale-faced man with dark sunglasses said in a smooth, dark voice. "If there is anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to call me." His hair was long and tied at the back and he had a shockingly sensual mouth with teeth that sparkled when he smiled capturing your gaze. He wore a long dark coat with a crest of a lion circled in gold then blue. His long cool fingers held her small hand as he spoke to her, "I live in the estate next door and if I'm not available just ask my servants. They would be more than pleased to help you." On his left hand she noticed a large black ring with the same crest on it. He smiled again then turned to walk away so he could take his seat in the church. Ellie leaned toward Mitch. "Ah Mitch, who was that? I don't remember him from my childhood. I thought no one lived at the Branstan estate, sure didn't know he knew my aunt either. She didn't mention him in any of her letter's to me. Mitch? What's the matter?" "Miss Ellie, please try to stay far away from him, "she whispered. "But Mitch why?" "Just take my word for it he's just...dangerous. Come on we should take our seats now the service is about to begin." Before Ellie could utter one single word Mitch grabbed her elbow and pulled her towards the front of the church. "We are here today to honour our aunt, our neighbour, our sister, Jane Stanton and the life she shared with us all. Preceded by her husband Jack Stanton she leaves behind a niece, Ellie Stanton we ask the lord to bless her and us all, in our time of grieving and... Ellie suddenly felt like she was being watched while the preacher's words started to fade from her hearing; she thought she heard someone whisper her name and it wasn't from the priest in front of her ether, it was coming from the crowd. She quickly gazed around the room behind her. "The church is full of people that knew my aunt." She thought. Looking back towards the front, her attention was averted when her eyes spied him. He was on the opposite side, the third row from the front and he was smiling at her. He had been watching her and now was just smiling. She brought her gaze to the front again but he was still watching her, she could feel it on the back of her neck. "How did he know my aunt and why is he staring at me? Doesn't he realize it was making me nervous and uncomfortable? I'll try to ignore him." She thought to herself. She could still feel his eyes on the back of her neck; it was making her rather irritated. "How rude," she thought as she tried to focus on the preacher's words. She glanced back quickly only to see that he was still watching her with a huge gin on his face. It was really bothering her now and made her so embarrassed the blood went to her cheeks turning them all red. Then to her horror he seemed to make a silent laugh then looked front. Finally to Ellie's delight, the service came to an end and she found herself at the door receiving hugs of sympathy and good wishes from all her aunt's good friends. The thought of the irritating stranger left her mind as she smiled and hugged and invited them over to the house for a luncheon. Suddenly his cool hands grasped one of her hands and kissed it very gently. "Sorry again for your loss Ellie, good bye for now my dear." Then with a ginning smile walked out of the church. The Captured Butterfly Ellie just stared at him as he left, "Mitch why would he do that, why? Did you know he was starring at me in church during the whole service?" Mitch just shook her head, "we better get to the cemetery Ellie, come on." She grabbed her hand and pulled her down the steps to the car. Mitch knew something about him and she was going to get her to talk about it before she left today. They all gathered around the casket that was ready to descend into its final resting place. The priest read the passages from the bible then took some sand and made a sign of the cross on top of her casket. Then Ellie threw a rose onto the casket followed by everyone else. She waited till everyone one was gone. She wanted to say good-bye and wanted it to be in privet. "Ellie I'll wait for you at the car ok." "Thanks Mitch I won't be long." Ellie bowed her head and said a prayer for her aunt then lifted her head to say good-bye but there he was, right across from her. "Death is such a final thing don't you think Miss Stanton? It's like this rose before I picked it from the garden. It was alive growing, once I cut it down, its lifeline no longer gave it substance so it dies. All creatures need substance Miss Stanton." He slowly brought the rose to his lips, kissed it and threw it onto the casket. He bowed to her, then smiling he turned away. "Don't let those beautiful green eyes of yours tear for to long, see you later Miss Stanton." Then with a quick backwards look with the corner of his eye he walked away. Before she could think to ask him to wait to find out what he meant by that, he was gone. "Now that was creepy." She looked down at her aunt's casket, "Bye auntie, I'll miss you." She wiped away the tears as she walked to Mitch's car. With shaky hands she climbed into the car and Mitch drove them back to the house. "Mitch what do you know about that man? He was staring at me through the whole service, kissed my hand going out of the church, and just now he waited till everyone else was gone just so he could catch me alone while I had my privet moment with my aunt and he said some pretty strange things. I think I've even had bad dreams about him. He's creeping me out so if you know anything about him please tell me." She pulled into the driveway then turned off the car. "Your aunt said she didn't want you back here. She had tried to have every thing sold so a letter and the money could be sent to you, you were not to be notified till way after her death. For some reason her wish was over road." She put up her hand to stop the questions she saw on Ellie's lips. "I don't know where the letter is or why but she didn't want you coming back here...I have a feeling it had to do with Mr. Branstan. In the past year or so he often came to talk to her, always upsetting her and talking to her like she was one of his servants in fact about a week ago he came over at ten to five, he was really angry about something. I didn't hear all of it but I heard enough, he was saying something about you not being prepared to take your rightful place, she hadn't done the job he ordered her to do and it would cost her. He said she did it all for nothing anyway, it was time for you to come home and he had already taken all the steps to make that happen. He went to leave but told her she better get her things in order as she had little time left then added she should have known better than to try to cross him, a week to the day she died. You never heard anything from me. Mr. Renald Branstan is the owner of the Branstan estate who, I think owns most of this town. He is very rich, very powerful, and..." she whispered, "very dangerous. For your own safety please stay away from him. If I where you I'd sell and run away as far as I could go and never look back. Ellie are you sure you wouldn't like me to stay this afternoon?" "Are you saying he killed my aunt?" "No, and I'll deny it if you say that I did but she was under a lot of stress this past year, it wouldn't have taken much to stop her heart. Please think hard about staying on here. I know she wanted you to at a safe distance." "Well I don't know about him being so dangerous Mitch but he is a bit strange which is something I really need to avoid, I think it's a good idea to stay clear of him though. And you don't worry about me ok I'll be fine. When everyone is gone just clean up the kitchen a bit and then go home and I'll see you tomorrow." She patted her on the shoulder then went in to the house. Everyone was crammed into the little front room of her aunt's house. She flitted from group to group making sure not to miss thanking any of them for their kindness. She wasn't really hungry so while her guests ate she found a quiet spot near the patio doors to look out while silently tears fell down her cheek. As she looked at her aunt's garden a hand with a black ring came to rest on the glass wall two inches from her face. "I see the tears are still flowing." He touched the tear on her cheek. Really annoyed now she whipped around to tell him to please leave her alone but when she turned he was so close it shocked her. His lips where close to hers, he looked down at her with his mesmerizing black eyes, "Welcome home Ellie." She wanted to walk, no run away but she couldn't move, frozen on the spot. Her brain flipped to her dreams and he smiled like he knew what she was thinking. Suddenly she was pulled from his gaze. "Come on Miss Ellie your guests are leaving," she heard a growl as she was pulled towards front door. She was drained, once all the good-byes where said she shut the door, went into the front sitting room then flopped into her aunt's big armchair. She pushed her shoes off then laid her head back against the backrest. "Miss Ellie, I've cleaned up the kitchen, there are leftovers on the counter for you ok? There's enough there to nibble for your supper. Is there anything else I can do before I leave?" "No thank-you Mitch, bless your heart. You've been such a help today, I wouldn't have been able to get threw this day without you. I really appreciate all you've done have a good afternoon now see you tomorrow. Oh I would like to thank you for, ah...the rescue earlier." "Glad I could help anyway you try to have a good afternoon too." She threw her coat on and locked the door on the way out. Ellie heard her get in her car, start it up and drive away. She just lay stretched out, eyes drooping with her body limp. She was in the garden, the smells of every single flower overpowering her sense of smell so she couldn't breath suddenly there he was, standing there not saying a word. Just looking at her smiling but somehow she knew he wished her to come to him. She obeyed without a thought, her legs were moving towards him, unable to resist his black eyes with the red flame. She was moving closer but she couldn't stop as if all her will had been taken away. " No stop this its madness, Stop, I won't go. Please leave me alone. No stop!" she screamed as her body slipped to the floor. Her eyes flew open. " Now that guy is the guy in my dream for sure and it's freaking me out. How much am I suppose to take; my job, Paul...now this, it's enough to send me over the edge. I think with everything that has happened to me lately it's causing me to have these dreams. I'll grab myself a tea that should relax me a bit. I need to clean out the up stairs closets so I'll do that, maybe it'll clear my mind." She pulled herself up, threw her shoes at the front door and headed for the stairs. She spent the rest of the day going threw the closets and packing all her aunt's clothes. When she was finished she started emptying drawers until she came to the last drawer, which was pictures of her growing up. "I don't even remember her taking all these pictures." She put them all in a box and took it downstairs to the kitchen. She made a plate up for herself and then spent the rest of the evening with the box of memories. She was in the garden sitting on the bench, "You can not escape your destiny and your destiny is with me. You were born for me Ellie and you will come to me. Your blood filled heart will betray your mind and body. Your aversions only make me angry but will not change your fate. It will only cause it to be a slower more painful process for you." Then he ran his fingernail ripping it across her throat. She heard her skin rip and burn. She popped up in bed again this time the tears where running down her eyes as she quickly popped out of bed to run to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror at her neck, "I must be cracking up, it was a stupid dream as if would be bleeding but it felt so damn real. I can't take these dreams anymore, every time I close my eyes." She climbed back into her bed and just lay there till morning. Chapter 3 Connection with Old Friends The next morning was spent going threw the rest of the rooms, if she was going to live here in this house it would have to fit her needs. She had her computer and other things coming the fallowing Monday, which she needed to make room for. She packed up some clothes and other things of her aunts and put them in the car then she went to have some lunch. "Mitch I'm going into town after lunch to take some of my aunts things to the church, maybe they can find someone that is in need of it," She said. She sat at the table and began to eat the sandwich Mitch had made for her. "I have some research I need to do too so I'm going to hit the library also. I'll be gone for the rest of the day I'll grab something in town. When you're done just lock up and I'll see you Monday morning." She finished her lunch then went upstairs to wash and brush her teeth. She came down the stairs grabbed her coat and purse then pulled open the front door. "Ok Mitch, my car is loaded and ready to go, you enjoy your visit with your mother ok, see you on Monday." "Miss Ellie are you ok you look so tired, you sure you don't need me this weekend after all I can stay if you need me?" "Mitch I'll be fine go spend some time with your mother. That time is precious because once they're gone, well there gone, you're only left with regrets. I'll go to bed early tonight and get some sleep don't worry I'll be fine." She said with glassy eyes. "See you Monday." She slipped out the door and headed for the car. She drove up to the church, got out and headed up the church steps, quietly entering the heavy wooden doors. She saw an old woman placing flowers on the altar. "Excuse me can you help me, I have a lot of clothes and thing to give away to the needy where do you keep it?" "Oh hi there, your Junes niece. Beautiful service wasn't it? Giving to the needy, sure there's a door on the side of the building. Here's the key just lock it back up and bring it back to me, I'll be puttering around here somewhere." She smiled then dropped the key into her hand. Ellie unloaded the stuff from the car, then unlocked the door placing the stuff on the counter then brought the key back to the old woman. "Thank-you." " No Thank-you, god appreciates any help you can give." She smiled and then went back to her work. Ellie drove out of the church parking lot heading for the library. She parked the car walked up the steps then quickly walked into the library. Her eyes swept over the large room, which was almost the same except for a new room off to the side. It had a row of computers and lots of new books. "Wow that's new?" "Yes it is." A quiet voice behind her said. She quickly swung around, "Penny Cooper, is that really you?" The woman smiled, she gave Ellie a hug with one arm while she balanced a stack of books with the other. "I figured you'd show up here sooner or later. I got your forms all filled out, just have to sign and I'll give you your card. "You're the librarian here now, what happened to Mrs. Brooks? "Retied two years ago, but she still comes here every morning and helps put books away, volunteering her time. Gives her something to do you know? So I see you were noticing our new computer room? "Impressive, getting caught up with the times are you?" "The room, computers, and books are all thanks to Mr. Branstan. It's called the Branstan reading room. Isn't that something?" "Ya something!" she said sarcastically. "Is there any where in this town that hasn't been touched with the hands of Mr. Branstan?" She let out a low giggle, "not really, he's great isn't he? Well I should get back to work, you get what you need then just come up and I'll sign you out." "I think I'll go on the computers then there are some books I need to get." "Ok just help yourself." She moved towards one of the computers and logged on, instantly punching in the subject she was interested in, Death. Well it isn't the subject she would of picked to write about but then she had to write on the subject requested after all she still needed to make some money and one of the magazines was excepting freelance stuff from her so she could start branching out on her own, she still had to eat. A whole list of books came up so she wrote them down. She was going to turn off the computer when a thought came to her, "humm I wonder." She punched in 'Branstan Estate' then waited eagerly while the information came up. " Original Family's and their Estates, Founders of Bronsville, and Bronsville's Beginings." She wrote them down on her paper and then turned off the computer. Swirling about the library she found all the books on her list then took the large stack to the table and started to leaf threw them. Out of a stack of twelve books, she kept six, three for her story and three for her very over active curiosity. She put the other books back and then grabbed the stack of books as she headed to the front desk. "I got your card all ready so just go ahead sign these papers and I'll put your books threw." The girl smiled while she past her the paper and pen. "Well here is your card and books. Hey call me sometime, we'll have lunch ok, I moved my family into my mother's house after she passed away. You remember where I use to live?" "I didn't know you're mother passed away I'm sorry to hear that." "Well I guess her heart was always to large for her body and after my father died, it was to broken to keep going," she forced a small smile. "I'm sorry I had to work yesterday and missed you're aunt's funeral." "That's ok I got your card and flowers thanks. Hey lunch would be nice Pen I remember where you live. Well I best get starting on my reading." She gave a slight smirk as if to say help. "I feel for you, see you later Ellie." "Ya, Bye Pen." Ellie started towards the doors; walking down the stairs she heard another voice. "Ellie, Ellie Lynn Stanton?" Ellie didn't need to look past her books to know who came with the voice, it belonged to her best buddy she ever had when she was in grade school. Their relationship was never love except love you would have for a brother. Growing up David knew her better than anyone else. When she left Bronsville she missed two things the most, her aunt June and David. "David Penno, wow I'd give you a big hug but you did catch me coming from the library." She said with a laugh. "Hey I was really sad to hear about your aunt, I feel horrible that I missed her funeral but I just got back from a seminar in TO. Hey how you holding up?" he took some of her books so he could see her. "Doing good, but the place sure misses her, specially her garden. Hay thanks for the donation to the flowered parks in her name, she would have liked that." "Well I just couldn't see myself sending her cut flowers to her, you know?" "Ya I know, she would have loved that it went to growing more flowers." She blinked away the tears that where trying to escape, "hey enough sad thoughts eh, how are Janet and the girls?" "Oh ya I guess you haven't heard yet, eh? Janet and I have split. She moved back to BC and well you know the girls went with her. I get them for 6 months she gets them for 6."He made a slight smile and jerked his head a little. "It's not so bad." "Oh David I'm so sorry." "Hey don't be, the last 2 years have been spent on the battle grounds from hell, believe me it's the best thing for all of us." "Ya well it's still sad." "So I hear your making it permanent. Missed me too much right? City wasn't as grand as you thought or what?" "Ah ya I needed peace and quiet cause I want to start writing on my own you know? But well.... needed...a fresh start." "Ok who was it?" "Who was who?" " Who broke your heart? El you might be able to fool some people but not the D ok. Talk to me cause no matter how old we get I still have the biggest ears around to listen." He ginned pushing his eyebrows way up towards his hairline. She looked away because he was the one person that could read her like no one else. She had put Paul behind her and wished to leave him there. This was one road she didn't wish to go down even with David. David sensed that the conversation had gotten to a hard spot, "Hey El I was just heading to Bruno's for super, it would be great to have company for a change. Come on join me, please?" "Oh I don't know David, got a lot of reading ahead of me you know. I was just going to grab something and head home." He pulled her chin up with his finger so he could see her face. "El we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to ok? But... remember I'm here if you change your mind. We're just going to have supper, keep each other company that's all. If there are domains you want to stay away from than fine...ok? Come on El." He looked at her with puppy dog eyes. "I missed talking with my best friend have a heart." "Alright, but we both pay for our own." "Wouldn't have it any other way. "Well hello Mr. Branstan." Ellie froze then slowly turned around as he came down the library steps. "Hello David, did that property come up for sale that I asked you about last week?" "Not yet but I heard they're thinking about it." "Good man, let me know when it does." "Oh how rude of me, Mr. Branstan this is Ellie Stanton, just moved back from the big city.' "Miss Stanton nice to see you again." He tipped his head. "Oh you've met?" "Yes once to many times I should like to say." She announce with a snort. "David looked puzzled at her, "What's wrong?" "Nothing, look David we should go I have a lot of reading ahead of me and I don't want to drive home to late." "Right ok, hey Mr. Branstan you want to join us for dinner? "No...I mean I'm sure he has more pressing business to take care of." She grimaced. Mr. Branstan smiled at her. "Thank you David for the invitation but Miss Stanton is correct, perhaps another time." He tilted his head slightly nodding towards them. "David, Miss Stanton, have a pleasant dinner. I'll be seeing you around. " He gave Ellie a large smile and walked away. David just looked at her, "What was that about?" "Nothing the man annoys me, can we go to dinner the thought of all this reading is making me hungry. David laughed, "Here give me those, before your arm drops off. God El you'll have to lock yourself up for a year with all this." "Research, for a magazine, it's allowing me to send in freelance work. Helps feed the starving writer." She pulled a large grin across her face. As they got to her car she unlocked it, took the books from David and threw them onto the passenger seat. "Ok meet you over there." He turned around and headed towards a green Jeep. She got in and drove over to the restaurant. They got out of their cars, headed into the restaurant but without thinking they both headed to the third table. They looked at the table then at each other then laughed. "Great table," he said with a grin. They laughed again and sat down. "Hello may I help you? Oh Ellie, hi it's Paula, Paula Dipple or now it's Paula Tomson remember me? Hey I was sad to here about your aunt. So are you coming back to live here now? Hey that would be great we could have lunch some time catch up on old times. Hey hi David you have a good trip?" The girl took out a pad and paper. "What would you two like?" The Captured Butterfly "Hi Paula, the trip went great. I'll start with a coffee, what about you El?" "Tea with a bit of honey please." They looked at the menu for a minute and then at each other, at the same time, with grins on their faces said, "Super T Burger with the works." They both started to laugh. With a strange look on her face she wrote it down then walked away to get their drinks. "Remember me? Have lunch sometime? Wow you would think she had been your best friend not me?" "Ya she just loved me so much, excuse me but what good times was she referring to?" Ellie said with a sly grin. "You and her had more Verbal Duels than I have ever seen anyone else in my life. She really hated you. She wasted her whole childhood trying to take you down." "Ya but you know what David, I didn't do anything to her. Her scams always back fired in her face, I didn't have to do a thing" Paula came back with their drinks. "Your burgers won't take long.' Then went to the next table. They made a silent laugh together then grabbed their drinks. "So what was Mr. Branstan talking about, a piece of property?" "I'm a real-estate broker now." She looked up at him with a big smile on her face. "Good! Good for you David. I thought you looked happier, now I know why. What happened to your dad's shop?" "I sold it and invested it into the real-estate business." Paula came with their burgers. Stopping all conversation for a while. They both dug into their burgers right away. "Man those burgers are in a class all by themselves. I sure missed those." She smiled at David. They looked at each other again and laughed. After Paula freshened their drinks they sat back and talked some more. "So how is the real-estate business in this small town?" she sipped her tea "Actually for the size of this town, pretty good. Thanks to Mr. Branstan." "What do you mean?" "Well he's my best customer. He's bought a lot of property around here, building and expanding. He's done a lot for this town. This is a secret but I can trust you. He's buying property for a children's play ground." "Is there... anywhere in this town that he hasn't bought?" David laughed, "ya your property. You know you would think he would try to buy that back from you but he's not even interested. "What do you mean buy it back?" "Well history of this town tells us your property once belonged with his. It used to be part of the Branstan Estate. I don't have all the details but somehow it became the Stantons. "What!" She said stunned, "are you serous?" "El, are you ok? You look a bit pale." She blinked her eyes. "I'm always pale, I'm fine, this week has wiped me out a little that's all, I think I'd better head home." "Hey maybe I should drive you home, I can always bring you to pick up your car tomorrow, I'm a bit worried now." She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling, "don't be ridiculous David I'll be fine." He looked at her face, which was trying to conceal her emotions, "Ok now I really am worried." "You are not driving me home, you are still a worry wart." "Ok, but here," he retrieved one of his cards from the inside of his coat then passed it to her. "If you don't phone me, an hour after you leave to tell me your home safe and sound I'm coming after you, got it?" She took the card, "alright, fine happy?" "No but since you're being stubborn and not letting me take you home myself it will have to do." She rolled her eyes again while he called Paula over for the checks. After they paid they headed out the door to their cars. "Well you need to talk or just need a dinner partner I'm available. Real-estate broker, friend, dinner date David Penno is at your service. Phone me when you get home." She gave him a big hug. "You're a big worry wart but I love you and really missed your ass." She grinned and walked towards her car. "Call!" "Ya ya!" she climbed into her car, started it up, and waved as she was pulling away. As she drove down the dirt road she noticed a black Porsche fallowing her, she knew it wasn't David cause he had a Jeep and no one else lived down here except for her and Mr Branstan. "Maybe its just coincidence after all he did have business in town to take care of. I'm starting to get paranoid but that's weird that my property was part of his estate and yet he doesn't want to buy it. I sure got some reading ahead of me tonight." She pulled into her driveway and got out of her car grabbing her books. She glanced up at the road looking out as he past but he stopped in front of her drive way. He rolled down his window, "Did you enjoy your dinner Ellie? You know you really should try not to be so rude." "Rude, me rude how dare you. You seem to have bought everyone in this town but I can't be bought Mr. Branstan. Perhaps if you don't want someone to be rude to you, you just might want to change your mannerisms like kissing and laughing at someone at their aunt's funeral. I disliked that very much. Diplomacy would pay off better, good night sir," she said as she turned toward the house. Before she knew what hit her he was out of his car and blocking her way to the house. Ellie was so shocked with his quickness that she couldn't get out a single word. He stood with his face a breaths length away. His eyes pierced deep into hers, "Do you really Ellie?" He kissed her hard on the lips making her drop all her books. "That is the one I owe you from yesterday before...Mitch interrupted us. I will have to have a talk with that girl and make sure she doesn't interfere again. You shouldn't test my patients. Have a pleasant sleep Ellie." He started to walk away then stopped, with one pull of his fingers he pulled out her braid. "I don't like it in a braid, keep you hair down Ellie, for me." He scraped his fingernail down her cheek, "I always get my way," then walked to his car. He laughed as he drove away. Ellie was paralysed for a long time finally she started to thaw out as she looked around, very slowly bent down, gathered her books then ran into the house. Her nerves were frayed. "What is he trying to do? She was looking in the mirror to see if he cut her face with his fingernail, it was as if he was just playing with her. He's yanking my strings to upset me but what is it he wants?" She said heatedly. How could he blazingly kiss my..." she touched her lips with her fingers but they still felt hot. "I think staying here might not be such a good idea, I sure don't need another...guy in my life, not right now, maybe not for a long while. I must confront him next time, tell him to stop this and tell him how very much it upsets me." She turned around to check the when door making sure it was locked, then after phoning David she grabbed some of her books, turned out the lights and went to bed. Chapter 4 Captured Butterflies "No stop, I don't want to go, leave me be. No please leave me alone NO!" she screamed as she woke up shaking in her bed. "This is ridiculous," she said as she wiped the sweat from her brow. 'How the hell can I let someone get to me that way, a stranger I don't even know messing with my mind like that?" She looked at the clock, "2 in the morning?" She let her head flop back on to the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. She pulled herself out of the bed, grabbed her robe and headed down stairs. She entered the kitchen, made herself a tea, then grabbing her books before she headed for the sunroom. She took a sip of tea then picked up the book from the top of the pile. "Original Families and their Estates, this might tell me something about him and his family." She looked up his name in the back, "Branstan Estate here it is, page 154." She flipped threw the book until she found it and began to read. "R.B. Branstan bought the property from the crown in 1823. When tragedy struck the family in 1822 over in Europe, leaving R.B. Junior inheriting all the family assets. With only sad memories for company he decided he would move over to Canada. Except for the original family home, he sold all the estates in Europe and took a ship to North America. Once the large piece of land was bought from the crown the building of the estate commenced and hence the strong stone structure still stands today at the end of Branstan Road. In 1889 a couple of acres of the land was given to Valerie Stanton's family for her hand in marriage. ... Wait a minute that's my great aunt. So David was right, this property was once part of the Branstan Estate. Renald Branstan had the house built that now stands on the Stanton property for Valerie Stanton's parents but tragedy befell the couple as she died on the eve of their wedding. The corner lot was lost from the Branstan estate, as it had already been signed over to the Stantons. Wow! What a tough break. That must have been Renald's grandfather. That's interesting information." She took a last sip from her cup and yawned. "Well I think I'll try to sleep again she got up placed her cup in the sink and headed up the stairs to her room again. She could feel the morning sun's steaming heat, warming up her bedroom as her eyelashes started to flutter awake. She pulled herself up, washed, dressed, then headed down stairs to make herself some breakfast. "I'm going to concentrate on my research today and put...yesterday out of my mind." She sat in the sunroom eating her breakfast going threw her reference books placing strips of paper between the pages that would help her with her story. She was grabbing for her third book when she noticed the time. "Oh my heavens, it's almost one-o'clock I've lost track of the whole morning." She got up, stretched then went into the kitchen to make herself a salad for lunch. She sat down with her salad, grabbed the last book then continued to flip threw it like the others. Suddenly she got the urge to open the glass doors, clouds were forming over head but the beautiful smell of the garden where clutching at her very senses, after taking a big sniff she smiled then sat down again. She picked up the book and continued with the job at hand. All the smells from the garden waffled into the sunroom pulling her thoughts into her aunt's garden, tempting her to abandon her work and take a stroll. She looked down into her lap where the book lay, then at the beautiful garden. "Yup I think it's time for a break." She stretched her arms in the air, placed the book on the table and walked out into the garden. She walked slowly threw the paths that weaved threw her aunt's garden while her mind weaved threw her paths of memories. There was a man out there weeding the garden. "Excuse me who are you?" "Hi there, names Andrew just doing the weeding, promised your aunt to take care of it after she was gone, she told me that you're not much of a Gardner." A smile formed on her lips as she watched him. " That would be right, these hands create stories not flowers. My aunt's hands held that magic. How much do you charge?" "Oh can't take money mam, already getting paid by Mr. Branstan besides I couldn't stand knowing no one was looking after it now. I'd do it for free for Mrs. June." "Well thanks Andrew I really appreciate it." "Your welcome mam." She continued her walk until she came to a bench sitting on a small grassy hill that over looked the whole garden. As she walked past the biggest carnations she ever saw in her life she spied an enormous butterfly. She laughed to herself as she quietly bent over and cupped her hands around it. "Catching butterflies Miss Stanton." Her whole body jumped and the butterfly escaped into the air. He reached over and grabbed it. "Sorry to frighten you, would you like to have it back?" A huge grin formed on his lips. "Must you always pop out of no where, scaring people to death?" "Oh, if I wanted to scare someone to death Miss Stanton I could think a lot worse ways to accomplish that. What's with the butterfly anyway, collector?" "No if you must know it was one of my childhood memories. I spent a lot of time out here with my aunt, it was always so beautiful even if the sun wasn't out, the colours, smells...anyway one day I was here with my aunt, and I caught a beautiful butterfly. I wanted to keep it so badly. I would bring it home, name it, and keep it in a jar but my aunt wouldn't let me. She said beautiful things from nature needed to be free." She smiled as the memory swept over her, then pulled her self back to the present, sadly she looked at him still holding the butterfly. "Let it go." "I don't agree with your aunt. I think if you can train them to stay, it will even give up its freedom, for the right reason. See..." he opened his hand but the butterfly sat there in a docile state, beautiful but sad looking. He whispered to it, "you may go" and it flew up in the air. "Why do I even bother talking to you? You're a very strange man," She said as she looked towards the garden again. "I think I made a mistake coming back here, perhaps small town life is not for me. The peace and quite here wound have been nice but certain things," she looked at him from the corner of her eyes, "are placing me on edge. It's not what I need in my life right now; my writing is going to suffer for it. I have no desire to get involved with anyone so your affections are going to waste. I'm sure there are lot of women who would love to receive your attention. I would appreciate if you wouldn't make a repeat of yesterday night sir, it was...upsetting." Mr. Branstan smiled then walked over to the bench to sit down. "Do I scare you Ellie, managed to fray your nerves a bit, come sit, join me?" She stiffened her back and shoulders, "No I don't think you understand what I'm saying to you. I don't want to sit, talk or anything with you, please sir leave me alone. You do and say inappropriate things, treat it like a game, you enjoy playing with people sir, like they're your toys! It's rude." A large grin flew across his face. "Is that what you think I'm doing, playing a game? I assure you Miss Stanton it is far from being a game. In fact it's rather deadly serous." He patted the seat beside him, come here and sit Ellie." "I don't think so, I'll pass." "You have questions you are dieing to ask me so instead of getting it from a book sit down and ask, perhaps you'll get the answers." Then he leaned back. "Unless you're a liar Miss Stanton and you are afraid of me," he smiled. She glared at him, crossed her arms over her chest then slowly made her way to the bench. She sat down, "Ok how did you know my family, and don't tell me your our neighbour cause I know there's more to it than that, like the fact that my property once belonged to your family. How come I was never told anything about this before or that our families where almost connected. Unfortunately it must have been sad for your grandfather such a sad accident that killed my aunt before they got married." "No Miss Stanton, Valerie did not just simply die of an unfortunate accident, she committed suicide so she didn't have to get married to my...grandfather. She played my family and gambled with her family's souls, now that you're the only living Stanton left the debt falls to you. "Wait what debt? What are you talking about? Do you mean a debt is still owed for the house and property? Was it never paid for, I just don't understand Mr. Branstan." "Your aunt never showed you the contract did she?" He leaned in menacingly towards her, "another Stanton deception." His cool breath frightened her, "contract? I have no idea what you mean. But if there is a problem then maybe you should take back the property. You can have it and the house if you like. I think my place is in the city anyway so I could be out by the end of the month. "That is not an option I will except, you may not leave to go anywhere." Then he got up and stood behind the bench his anger obvious now. Ellie stood up, "I beg your pardon? I'll leave to go anywhere I please. This has made my mind up for me; I no longer want anything to do with this house. I will be gone by the end of the month then you can do with it what ever pleases you." She started to walk away. " FREEZE MISS STANTON! He yelled venomously. She froze in her tracks, not being able to move. A terrifying moment of déjà vu entered her thoughts, one from a dream. He walked over grabbed her long braid and yanked it down so hard it gave her a headache causing her face to look into the clouds. He then started to pull it out into straight strands, combing it with his fingers. "I thought I told you yesterday I like it straight, don't braid it again." When he finished toying with her hair he got in front of her, then pulled her chin tightly down. "You see because of default of the contract I own you, Miss Stanton. You do not want to make me angry because you will lose everything that means anything to you. I will destroy everything around you then slowly and painfully I will destroy you. Making me angry is not wise. Now I think you should spend some time going threw your...house and find that contract. It must exist, it has to be there or the house would not be standing. Then start preparing your self to fulfill your family's obligations. As far as you going someplace..." he slapped her cheek hard leaving a red hand mark on her cheek then smiled with amusement. "You will be going no place. Don't try to leave ether, you will find that my power stretches near and far enough to make it quite unbearable for you or your friends. I will be waiting to here from you Miss Stanton you know where I live. Oh yes, do try to have pleasant dreams won't you Miss Stanton?" He snapped his fingers releasing her from her frozen state. She spun around to face him but he was gone. She walked back to the house but she was visibly shaking with fear. "Not leave eh, well we shall see, I think it's time to see if Marinda needs some help at the gallery. She wanted me to move in with her so I think I will." She stopped at the glass doors. "Well auntie you were right I should not have come back here." She went inside to make herself a tea. "I need to calm myself, he's just trying to upset me he's sick, and he enjoys scaring people. He must be crazy; I must get control of myself. I'll phone Marinda and talk to her about coming there to stay." She flipped open the cell phone and pressed Marinda's number but got her voice mail. "Hi my sexy friend you missed me but you can leave a message, I will get back to you, darling. Beep!" "Hi Marinda ya its me Ellie I need to talk to you, could you give me a call? She snapped the phone shut. She fixed herself a tea then headed to the front room, she couldn't be near the garden right now. "Mitch is right, he's dangerous and I have to get out of here before he..." she shuttered... " hurts me. She might even be right about the evil part he sure acts evil." Tears started to pour down her cheek as she touched the spot he slapped it stung and burned as the tears rolled over it. "Why is he doing this to me?" Chapter 5 Bloody Contract With a shaky hand she brought the teacup to her lips. The cell went off sending the cup to shiver in her hand. "For heaven sake El, relax will you?" She told herself while she answered the phone, "hello." "Hey El it's me what's up, actually I'm glad you phoned cause I was going to ask you for a favour." "Oh ya? Sure Mar anything, you know that, you've done so much for me I owe you a million times over, anything just ask." "You better hear it first cause it's a big one." "Hey there isn't a favour to big, where you're concerned, just name it." " Well you know how I told you about 3 years ago that there was a privet backer that pulled the gallery out of the red, and kept it out ever since? "Oh ya!" " He pulled his backing, I lost the gallery. They're closing down." She started to cry." "Oh that's horrible Mar what are you going to do now."