Note to the readers

Just a little message to say that i'm very sorry for the lack of update this week.  I'm dealing with some RL issues at the moment and don't really feeling like i can do the next chapter justice.  I will of course be back as soon as i can though so please don't worry and thank you for your patience :)

Angie xx

CHAPTER 7.4: Odd

"Which bed do you want?"  Odd asked, approaching Olivia in the hallway of their Grandparents house.


"Shh!"  Olivia replied dramatically waving her hands for Odd to be quiet, "Mom's talking to Grandma and Grandpa about Oscar."

Odd joined her sister at the doorway and peered through to the scene in the lounge.


"What are they saying?"  She whispered to Olivia.


"Grandma's yelling at Mom for giving the house away to Oscar and for letting someone called Robson into our lives."  Olivia replied as quietly as she could muster, which still caused Morgan's head to turn towards the slit in the door that her daughters were peering through.


"Quick hide!"  Olivia grabbed Odds arm and dragged her outside into the back garden.

"I guess this is why we left in a rush."  Olivia stated once they were outside.


"Who is Robson?"  Odd asked screwing up her face in confusion.


Olivia shrugged, "Dunno, but he's living in our house with our brother."  She said, her eyes wide in indignation.

"Why did Mom give the house to Oscar?"  Odd asked.


"I guess because he's the only boy."  Olivia figured, "Well i suppose she couldn't give it to me."  She finished dejectedly.


"Or me."  Odd replied matching Olivia's outlook.


The conversation fell flat and the silence seemed endless between the two sisters, until Odd broke it by saying, "Maybe it's because Oscar has Stacey, you know so he's more likely to get married."  She paused, biting her lip unsure whether to continue then determining she should, "I don't get why she goes out with him after he pushed her off that jungle gym."

"What?  Oscar pushed Stacey?"  Olivia yelled, "How do you know that?"


"I was there."  Odd shrugged.


"Well why didn't you say anything?"  Olivia demanded. "Poor Stacey ended up in a cast and missed out on the part of Dorothy because of that accident."  As soon as the words left her mouth Olivia realised that was how she had gotten the part.  Not because she earned it but because Oscar sabotaged her competition.  What she couldn't figure out was why?


"I didn't know if that was normal or not."  Odd replied, sheepishly.  "You and Oscar just seem to get how to be around other Sims and i just don't"

"It's not normal Odd."  Olivia replied, thinking that perhaps everything about Oscar was not normal.  Not the way he had pushed her to compete with Stacey or how he had gained control of the family home.  "You have to tell Mom what you saw."


"Do you think it will help?"  Odd asked unsure that it would.


"You're right."  Olivia reasoned, "It won't help Mom, but if we tell Stacey maybe it will help her."


**************************************************

"Seriously Odette!"  Belisama shook her head, "You just got booted from your home and cheated out of your inheritance and you're quibbling over Stacey Leigh getting pushed out of a tree house."


"A jungle gym."  Odd corrected her friend.


"Like it matters!"  Belisama retorted, "My point is you have bigger worries than that air head."

"What can i do about Oscar being made the heir?"  Odd shrugged.


"Well maybe you could just hide away in the janitors closet and never confront your evil brother, oh and while you're at it maybe you could mope around and have zero conversational skills."  Belisama rolled her eyes, "Oh wait you already do all that stuff."


Odd shook her head at her friend, "You know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."  She replied.


"Seriously though are you ever gonna tell me what your deal is?"  Belisama asked.

Odd pursed her lips.  It wasn't the first time that Belisama had tried to get inside Odds head and figure out just why she had become even more withdrawn than she was at the start of their friendship, but she wasn't ready to share with anyone other than Elsa the details of her gift. 

Since the night that George and Alice had crossed over Odd tried her best not to get too close to anyone, distancing herself from Elsa and Belisama in the process.  But luckily neither friend had been willing to let her get away with such nonsense, in fact Odds withdrawal seemed to have had the opposite effect on Belisama bringing her right out of her shell, to the point where Odd was certain that the two of them were now best friends.


"Hello Earth to Odette!"  Belisama laughed, throwing a pencil at her friends head to break her from her trance.


"Sorry, look can we just get on with the assignment?"  She begged, hoping her friend would drop it.

"Okay for now."  Belisama relented.

**************

Odd set off from Belisama's on foot, hoping the cool air and the walk back home would help clear her head of the mounting troubles that were invading it.  But then she remembered that she couldn't go home, it was back to her Grandparents.  Not that it was so bad there but she was used to her room, her garden and all the assorted memories that went along with that familiarity, particularly of George.  Somehow she always seemed to feel closer to his memory at home, now if it were possible, she missed him even more.


Her sisters words and those of her friend rang in her ears.  Maybe she should tell Stacey what she had seen, but maybe the girl wouldn't believe her.  One thing was for sure Oscar would find out what she had said and he would not be happy.  Odd had tried her hardest to stay off his radar, the last thing she wanted was him taking an interest in her and her gift, nothing good could come of that she was sure.  But could she just sit back and do nothing while he tore apart her family?

As the City lit up behind her she continued across the bridge.  If only her problems could be solved by a spell or by convincing a spirit to cross over she was sure she could deal with them.  But the real world had never been her speciality and she felt like a fish out of water even trying to contemplate a solution.

****************



When she eventually arrived home it was to yet another argument, this time her Dad was laying into her Mom.


"What the hell were you thinking?  I warned you not to give him control of the house Morgan, it was too much too young for him."  Declan was yelling.


"I had no choice!"  Morgan yelled in reply.


"Of course you did!  You're the adult you have the ultimate choice!"  He spat in reply.


"You don't understand what Oscar is capable of."  She shook her head, "He's not some innocent little boy."


"He's our son."  Declan dismissed her off hand, turning his head away and catching sight of Odd in the doorway.

"Sweetheart?"  he called to her, beckoning her over to them.  Odd obliged and trudged over reluctantly.  "Go upstairs and get your things."  Her Dad instructed, "You're coming home to stay with me and Celine."


"But we just got here."  Odd mumbled in reply.


"Odette, i think it's best if you stay with your father for now."  Morgan told her, "Go and pack up your things."

Odd found Olivia folding out her clothes to pack in their shared room.


"Finally you're here!"  She exclaimed, "We don't have much time."


Olivia grabbed Odds hand and guided her to the couch.


"What do you mean not much time?  I still have to pack, Dad will wait for us."  Odd frowned in confusion.

"I'm not going to Dads."  Olivia explained, "Mom's found me a place in this treatment centre.  She's taking me there tonight."

"Treatment centre?"  Odd asked.

"Odd please we don't have time!"  Olivia cried, "You have to tell Stacey what Oscar did."

"I'm not sure it will help Liv, in fact it might make it worse."  She protested.

"You don't get it."  Olivia replied, "We're all just pawns in his game.  I couldn't see it before but since you told me that i get it now.  He's using her like he used me."

"But why would she listen to me?"  Odd shook her head, "You know her better Liv, just call her now and tell her."

"If i tell her she'll just think i'm trying to break them up because Anson dumped me, trust me Odd i know how her mind works."  Olivia replied convincingly.

"Won't she think i'm just trying to break them up too?"  Odd queried, still unsure.

"Hmm, maybe you're right."  Olivia answered, "Then you have to tell Anson.  He'll believe you, he's been waiting for a reason to get back at Oscar.  Odd promise me you'll do this."  She begged.

"If it really means that much to you."  Odd relented, seeing the look of determination in her sisters eyes.

"It does.  I can't get better if I'm worrying that Oscar is doing to someone else what he's done to me."  She smiled bitterly.

"I'll miss you."  Odd told her quietly, looking at her hands which were wringing in her lap.  This was the most conversation that the two sisters has ever had, Odd felt bad that it had only happened now they were saying goodbye.

Olivia pulled Odd up from the couch and threw her arms around her sister.

"I'm so sorry Odd, all this time i listened to Oscar and i haven't been a good sister to you.  Can you forgive me?"  Olivia asked.

"Of course."  Odd replied, feeling ever so slightly awkward at the closeness between them, but so very thankful that they had gotten a second chance at a relationship.

******************************************************

Odd woke the next morning in her fathers apartment and headed to the kitchen for breakfast.  It was strange being there without her siblings, usually the solitude would bring her peace but now that there was only her she felt the spotlight was upon her.  Dad and Celine would be no doubt be taking a much closer interest in her than usual.


"Good morning Odette!"  Celine chipped brightly as soon as she walked into the kitchen, "I got these pumpkins at the store yesterday, i thought maybe we could carve them tonight?"


"Oh."  Odd replied, "Erm okay."


"You know for Halloween?"  Celine added helpfully, noticing the girls confusion.

Odd grabbed the milk from the fridge and the cereal from the counter retreating hastily to the dining room.  She never understood the whole deal with Halloween, a bunch of Sims dressing up as ghosts and witches.  To her these things were her reality, not some Hallmark gimmick.


"I was thinking i could get us some costumes, maybe we could dress up for when the trick or treaters come."  Celine continued, deciding to ignore Odds lack of enthusiasm, "Or maybe we could just not answer the door and eat all the candy ourselves."  She giggled.

"Um sure."  Odd smiled reluctantly.  she didn't blame Celine for her efforts in trying to forge a relationship with her, she had watched other Sims interactions enough to know that this is what they did.  Somehow it seemed to make them feel better to be surrounded by others.  Although Odd much preferred the solitude of being alone, she figured she had her recent bridge building with Olivia to thank for her willingness to let Celine try.


"See you tonight!"  Celine called happily as Odd left to get dressed for school.

Odd walked from the apartment that she, for now at least, had to call home, wondering about the rest of her family.  She imagined that Mom and Olivia had reached the treatment centre and were getting ready to help battle her sisters demons, but what of the demons closer to home? 

Would Oscar be at school today? 

Would he say anything to her? 

Was she expected to say something to him?


The questions whirled inside her mind slowly drowning her and she found herself trying to think of anything else to make an escape.

As she climbed on board the school bus she let out a sigh of relief that Oscar was not on it.  No doubt he had taken his car.  But Anson Leigh was sitting there staring emptily out of the window.


Odd remembered Olivia's words, "You have to tell him Odd."  She had been so certain that it was what she should do but Odd was still unsure.  Anson had never deigned to speak directly to her, but she wasn't stupid.  She had heard the things he said about her, not that she let it affect her, heck her own family called her "Odd" she knew she wasn't conventional.

But to someone like Anson unconventional was a pollution staining his perfect view of the world.  She doubted he would listen to her, if he stopped to give her the time of day at all.

Sighing odd realised that this was just another complication on a long, long list of them right now, so she opted to copy Anson and stared out of the window for the rest of the journey.


As the skyscrapers and shops streamed by Odd wondered how she had managed to miss the fact that today was Halloween.  The City was littered with banners advertising the various balls and fancy dress parties and shops had decked their windows with pumpkins, ghosts and ghouls in an attempt to cash in on the holiday. 

Odd stared hard at a cardboard ghost in the bookstores window as the bus sat waiting on a red light turning green.  Is this what other Sims think ghosts are?  She wondered, white sheets with eye holes? She guessed that most hid from the truth as it was too complicated for them to process what life after death really looked like.

Odd shook her head at the sight of the school.  Was nowhere free from this holiday?  On the one hand her mind had been moved from her worries but she was now occupied solely with thoughts of George.

*************

As school let out there was only one place she wanted to go and it wasn't home to pumpkin carving with Celine.


"Odette!"  Elsa beamed as the girl entered the emporium, "How lovely to see you."


Odd slumped her shoulders.  She had felt sure that if anyone hated this sham of a day as much as her it would be Elsa, surely she could see how fake it was!


"Not you too."  Odd grumbled.  "What is it with everyone and Halloween?"


"It's a very special day Odette."  Elsa smiled reprovingly.

"But it's all so false."  She shook her head gesturing to the Halloween decorations that were filling the shop.


"Oh yeah this stuff is."  Elsa agreed, "But it sure gets the till ringing!  Today is my busiest of the year."


"I never thought about it like that."  Odd sniffed.


"Well that's not the reason why Halloween is so special."  Elsa continued, "Most Sims have forgotten it's true meaning which died out long ago.  You see traditionally Halloween marks the end of the harvest time, it's a time for thanking the Goddess for the bounties she has provided us with."


"So it's nothing to do with ghosts and scaring each other?"  Odd asked.

"Oh it still has it's spooky origins."  Elsa smiled, relishing telling her tale, "You see the end of the harvest marks the end of the light and heralds the dark.  It is the night when the veil between this realm and the spirit world is at its thinnest.  That is why we always set a place for our dearly departed at the festival table."


"There's a festival?"  Odd said, her eyes lighting up on discovering more about the supernatural world which she loved calling reality.


"Indeed i shall be attending it at midnight with my sisters, as i do every year."  Elsa beamed.


"Sisters?  I didn't know you had any family."  Odd asked, feeling silly for never having questioned it before.


"Not siblings Odette, my sisters are my coven."  Elsa revealed.

"You know other witches?"  Odd exclaimed rather too loudly causing Elsa to give her an admonishing look.


"We prefer the term wiccans, and yes there are a few genuine articles left."  She grinned.


"C-can i come to the festival?"  Odd asked, excitement invading her heart at the very thought.


"No."  Elsa replied firmly,  "I'm sorry Odette but this is an important night for us and we wiccans take our privacy very seriously."


"But i won't say anything i promise i would just sit and watch what happened, please?"  She begged.

"I'm sorry Odette but it's not safe for you.  In fact i want you to promise me that you will go straight home.  Not only is it Halloween but there is a full moon tonight."  Elsa warned.  "This is a powerful night and many supernatural creatures celebrate it in their own way."


Odd made her promises and reluctantly left the emporium and all dreams of uncovering the real Halloween behind.

Grudgingly she walked to the subway station wondering what Elsa had meant by other supernatural creatures?  She supposed she shouldn't think it too strange after all she took the existence of ghosts and witches in her stride, and vampires walked the streets as freely as regular Sims these days, it was just the norm.  What else could be out there that she hadn't yet discovered?


She felt completely adrift at Elsa's snub.  Being around the woman was her one remaining connection to her spirituality and whenever she was at the emporium Odd felt at ease, comfortable in her own skin.  She knew that the gaping hole in her life was George, when he had been around she always felt grounded because the supernatural world was with her as long as he was.  Now that he was gone she had to get it in bite sized chunks in the few hours she could sneak at Fairchild's Emporium after school.

She hadn't meant to walk right by the subway station, and she hadn't meant to disregard Elsa's warning.  Yet Odd found that she had been drawn to the cemetery.  Not in her usual spirit world is calling way, but simply by the tug of her heartstrings demanding that she be as close to George as possible. 


She visited Alice's grave often.  Although Elsa had not revealed it until much later, Odd now knew that George's body had lay in the attic for all those years. But now his bones as well as his spirit were at rest, alongside his Mother.

Standing over the marker where her best friend now lay she let out all her worries and sobbed openly in the deserted graveyard.


Odd knew that it was a risk for her to visit the cemetery on a normal day, let alone a night when the veil between the Sim and spirit worlds was at it's thinnest.  But she also knew that for her gift to work she had to be open and receptive to ghostly interactions and since George she had remained as tightly closed as she could, not wanting to go through that turmoil again.  She realised it was selfish to shut out the spirits who may need her help but heck she was a 17 year old girl she was allowed to be selfish right?

Drying her eyes she said goodbye to George and Alice and made her way home.  As she passed the walled pond housing a statue of some City founder she felt a sensation wash over her, and sure she was no longer alone she stopped in her tracks looking over towards the statue.

But as her eyes focused in the darkness of the night she saw nothing and no one.


She couldn't feel any calling or sensation passing through her so it couldn't be a spirit, perhaps another supernatural creature, like the ones Elsa had warned her of?  But she shrugged it off and continued to walk from the graveyard.

As she continued down the slope to the gates she felt it again, this time so strong she knew she had not been mistaken earlier, someone was watching her.  Not giving away her awareness she continued forward then suddenly spun around.

Whoever her stalker was he was fast, but this time she had spotted him rush away, farther into the walled garden.


A tiny voice of warning told her to leave but for the first time since George had left Odd felt a calling and knew she had to answer it. 

She walked to the rear of the walled area and stopped to take in the sight of her spectator.  If she didn't know better she would think him a statue as he blended seamlessly into the cold grey brickwork.  Seeing him was like looking at a piece of negative film come to life, but then Odd had to ask herself was he alive at all?

Swallowing hard she plucked up the nerve to sit next to him, hoping that if the black and white apparition realised she could see him he may try and communicate with her.


They sat side by side for what felt like an eternity.  Every so often Odd would glance at him from the corner of her eye and at other times she felt the weight of his gaze being returned.  Finally, when it became clear that he was not about to make contact Odd spoke up, "I can see you, you know."  She told him.

"I should hope so I'm sitting right next to you!"  The boy replied derisively and Odd felt her cheeks colour in embarrassment.  "So i guess that answers my question then."  The boy continued as if to himself.


"What question?"  She asked narrowing her eyes.


"Here i was wondering to myself if this girl is completely insane and now i know that you definitely are."  He smirked.

"I am not!"  Odd cried offended.


"Really?"  he snorted, "What other possible reason do you have for being in the graveyard on Halloween all by yourself?  Don't you know how dangerous that is?"


"Well you're out here by yourself!"  She replied indignantly.


"That's not the same."  He dismissed her retort instantly, "Besides that's not the only insane behaviour you've displayed this evening.  I mean here i am a complete stranger, for all you know i could be a deranged lunatic and what do you do?  Run away?  Oh no you sit down and stare at me."  he scoffed.

"I wasn't staring!"  She yelled, hearing how her voice had risen to a higher octave than usual, and hating that he'd had that effect on her. "I was waiting for you to initiate contact with me."


"Oh really?"  He tilted his head sarcastically, "What are you some Sci-fi nut?  I'm not an alien!"


"I didn't think you were an alien i thought you were a ghost!"  Odd retorted quickly, instantly cursing the words she had uttered, but this boy had gotten right under her skin.

At least her last remark had silenced his mocking, he seemed genuinely freaked out by it, in fact he was looking at Odd like she was the weirdest girl he'd ever met.

"Well at least we've cleared that up for you then."  He finally replied, "I'm not a ghost, go on you can touch my hand and check I'm not vapour if you want."  He offered his hand to her and Odd looked up expecting to see his mocking smirk, but instead she found him fixing her with a serious glance.


"That's okay i believe you."  She replied not taking her eyes off him for a second.  It was as though his glance was magnetised, drawing her in and she could not turn from it.


"What's your name ghost girl?"  The boy eventually asked, breaking the eye contact and the spell as he did.


"Odd."  She replied.

"Well that figures."  He laughed gently.


"Well it's Odette actually but my sister used to call me Odd when we were babies and it kinda stuck."  She explained, for some reason she felt the need to with this guy.


"It suits you."  He smirked, but she saw that it was playful and not mocking.  "I'm Lincoln but my family call me Ink."  he told her offering his hand again, this time for her to shake.


"Nice to meet you Ink."  She said shyly, before taking his hand and greeting him properly.

As she let go of his hand a flash of white blurred across the cemetery and as Odd looked up she saw that a girl was now standing directly in front of them.


"Well, well Ink I'm impressed, you actually found your own lunch tonight!"  The girl smiled and Odd saw it then as the flash of light glinted readily from her fangs betraying her true nature.  This girl, so similar to Ink in her black and white appearance was a vampire.


Staring open mouthed at Ink, Odd realised just what Elsa had meant when she warned her of the dangers of this night.

Oscar_and_Olivia

Ink

CHAPTER 7.4: Oscar and Olivia

3 years later......

Oscar flossed his perfect white teeth for the second time and play punched the air in front of his face.  He was ready for this day, like every other day there was nothing that could stop him anymore.  Smiling back at his handsome reflection he reached into his pocket and produced the car keys, twirling them around his index finger and chuckling to himself.  The keys, just like the people in his life were at his fingertips.  He felt powerful, almost invincible.


As he strolled towards his car he pressed the button on his keyring to open the doors, stopping briefly to admire his reflection once more in the vehicles gleaming surface, before sliding into its leather seat.  He gripped the wheel tightly, grinning smugly as he remembered the day Anson Leigh had first seen him pull up outside school in it.  Ah was anything better than the sweet smell of victory?  He doubted it.


Of course getting his hands on the car hadn't been simple, but an important lesson he had learned early on was that nothing worth having came easy.

2 years earlier............

He walked into his mothers room that day, set on confronting her.  She had become more and more unreliable of late, forgetting how he liked his meals prepared, washing his clothes in that flowery smelling laundry powder.  The memory of it's cloying fragrance alone made him shudder.  It was clear to Oscar that she was no longer fit to run the house and as such it was time she made up her mind and announced him as the rightful heir to her legacy.

As he entered the room he saw her stuffing what appeared to be a letter hurriedly back into her desk drawer, while frantically wiping her eyes before composing herself and turning to face him.


"Sweetheart?"  She asked, her voice catching in her throat.

It was clear to Oscar that she had been crying over whatever was in that drawer, yet another sign of her weakness.


"Am i disturbing you mother?"  He asked, applying his charm initially to test the waters of her response.


"No, not at all.  What's wrong?"  She replied.


"I was wondering if i could be more help around the house?"  He began. 

She replied by muttering something or other about the housekeeper being on top of things and he realised she had mistaken his offer, "No!"  He cut in, "I was actually thinking i could take the burden of the financials off your hands."  He smiled beguilingly, "I know how tiresome dealing with bills and such must be for you."

"Oh Oscar, you shouldn't be worrying about things like that.  You need to focus on your school work and be a child for now."  She laughed his suggestion off.  "Besides that will be responsibility of whoever i chose as heir, you know that."


He did know it, all too well.  For a very long time the house they lived in and the accumulated wealth of the Traytor family had been handed down through the generations to the chosen child, and Oscar was determined that he would be the chosen one.


"I was just thinking that it would be good practice, for when its official."  He smiled charmingly, "I mean i can show you why I'm the best Sim for the job."  He laughed.


"Oscar that is a decision i will make when you all turn 18.  I haven't made my choice yet."  Morgan reminded him.

Oscar regarded her calmly, his anger at her indecision simmering below the cool surface he so expertly portrayed.  "Well if you ever need anything you only have to ask."  He said, plastering a fake smile across his face.


Later that evening he had returned to her bedroom and raided the contents of the drawer she had tried so pathetically to keep hidden from him earlier.  The crumpled piece of card that he withdrew brought a cruel smile to his lips.  It was an invite to his father and Celine's wedding, she had been crying over this!  He sneered.  But then another screwed up piece of paper caught his eye and he snatched it up greedily.

After he let the initial shock pass over his face he smiled.  Perhaps this was the true cause of her upset?  Either way he knew then and there that he had enough leverage to get his way.  This house and everything in it was about to become his.

Current day..............

Speeding away from the house Oscar smirked as he watched his two sisters standing waiting for the school bus growing smaller and smaller in his rear view mirror, right where they belonged.  "You snooze you lose."  He spoke aloud to himself before laughing. 

Looking back now he could hardly imagine why he thought he needed Olivia to get the better of Anson.  He had even gone as far as to put a stop to the fledgling romance between her and Harry, instead steering her towards Anson as an attempt to sabotage the his rival, how easy that had been!  Anson was just as pliable as Olivia.

The boy had obviously imagined that dating Olivia would in someway anger Oscar which had given him his next genius idea of dating Stacey.  Boy did that really annoy her twin brother Anson to no end!

Pulling up outside of the Leigh's hillside mansion he kept his expression impassive as he felt Anson's glare fall firmly upon him.  Stepping out of the car he winked at the boy before sauntering up to Stacey and planting a big kiss firmly on her lips, dipping her backwards dramatically to produce the full desired affect on Anson.

"Hey baby!"  Stacey purred as he released her from his kiss.

"For you."  He said suavely pulling a bouquet of roses from behind his back and presenting them to the girl.

Stacey's face grew wide with surprise at his thoughtfulness.  Don't get used to it!  He thought smugly, once he was done wiping the floor with her brother Stacey would wear out her usefulness and be surplus to requirement but for now, in public at least he treat her like a princess.

"Your carriage awaits."  He grinned, placing his arm around her middle and leading her to his car, all the while aware of Anson's glower at his actions.  Yes he had gotten well and truly under the boys skin.  Top trumping his car and dating his sister had wiped the smirk clear from Anson's face and Oscar was revelling in it!

Revving the engine before speeding off towards Bridgeport, Oscar felt like a million simoleans and he was part way there too.  With the house now in his possession and his mothers bank account he was sitting pretty on a cool 500,000, even after he paid for the car!  Yes things were going his way and nothing could stop him!

And it had all been so simple........................

"You wouldn't do that!"  His mother protested, her face screwed up in confusion and horror at her sons threat.

"Yes i would mother."  He sneered, "I don't want to, believe me."  he lied, "But if you don't do this for me then how can you expect me to keep your secret?"

Morgan shook her head, how had she allowed her son to turn into this manipulative creature who sat before her now?  Had she really been so wrapped up in her own dramas that she had failed to spot who he truly was?  "Please Oscar, this isn't right what you're doing."  She begged, hoping to appeal to his better nature.

But Oscar did not have one.

"It's your choice mother.  Either declare me as your heir and sign the house over to me, or I'll tell everyone about you and Uncle Howie."  he threatened.

She had deliberated over it, he had watched her agonise.  But in the end she gave him his way, just as she always had.  Now like Olivia, she was under his control.

But Oscar had not come up with his scheme alone.  That night as he rifled through his mothers drawer the last thing he had expected to find was an ally but the letter from the prison had lead him straight to a perfect partner in crime.

Robson Colt, his murderous Grandfather who had killed a woman in cold blood before fleeing town with his toddler mother in tow.  His sentence had now been served and he was due for release within the year. 

The letter he had penned to Morgan was clearly the last in a long line of them, begging her to give him a second chance to be a part of her family.  But Morgan had scrunched the letter up and discarded it like trash, Oscar however was not so dismissive.  Writing a reply to his Grandfather he soon found a kindred spirit with the man who, thrilled to hear from a relative had kept up his correspondence until the day of his release.

After he had served his mandatory years probation Robson was declared a rehabilitated citizen of Bridgeport and his first call had been to Oscar, who had willingly met up with the man.


"Grandpa."  He nodded to the elder man, his hair was graying at the temples but still showed a brief flash of the pale auburn it had once been.


"Well my boy, have you convinced your mother about her decision?"  He asked, his face revealing little emotion.


Oscar beamed back at him, marvelling at his composure and presence.  "It's all mine!"  He crowed.

At this Robson broke into a flashing smile, "That's my boy!"  He congratulated.  "And she knows nothing of our contact with each other?"


"Not a thing."  Oscar smiled proudly.


"Well then perhaps tonight we should bring her up to speed?"  Robson suggested.


Oscar felt his confidence swell.  He had felt invincible before his Grandpa was by his side but now the feeling increased tenfold.  It was time for him to stamp his mark on the Traytor family home and his first order of business was to announce their new housemate.


**********************************************************

Olivia stared hard at her reflection in the mirror.  She could not see her protruding rib cage or her concave chest.  All she saw was a fat blob of shapeless flesh.  No wonder Anson dumped me.  She thought sighing.  Not that she really cared that he didn't want to date her anymore, in truth she found him a dreary snob.  All he cared to talk about was himself and how much money his family had.

But what did that say about her that she couldn't even keep a boyfriend whom she didn't particularly want?  Twisting to her side she scrutinised every inch of her figure, criticising it mentally as she did. 

Her life was slipping out of control, she could feel it.  First Anson had tired of her and now Oscar.  She couldn't figure out what she had done wrong to make her brother turn from her, but she guessed he was disappointed in her.  He had been keen for her to date Anson in the first place, telling her how he always talked about her and pushing her to ask him on a date.  Now that Anson was done with her it seemed that Oscar was too.

Pulling on her sweatshirt and shorts she picked up the remote for her stereo, turning on her workout CD.  She had soon worked out that watching what she ate was not enough, to get the perfect figure she had to work hard for it.

Stretching and pushing her body Olivia felt the now familiar aches and pain shoot through her fragile bones.  Gritting her teeth she pushed past it, nothing would stand in between her and the perfection she craved, even if it had been a long time since she knew why it mattered to her so much.

Morgan pushed Olivia's bedroom door open gently.  The girl was so determined in her goal that she didn't even notice her mother standing there.


"Livvy."  Morgan called to her, "Can you turn that off please?"


Olivia jumped at the sound of her mom's voice but did as she asked instantly before slumping onto her bed.


Morgan bit her lip, trying to chose her words carefully.  She felt a fool all the time lately, being blackmailed by your own child will do that for you, but she couldn't allow Olivia to pull the wool over her eyes any longer.  It was too clear that her daughter had a very serious problem.

As Olivia sat on the bed her head became suddenly light, if she hadn't been already siting she would have certainly fainted.  Rushing her hand to her face Olivia tried to compose herself but she was too late, her mom had noticed and was instantly at her side.

"Olivia!  Are you alright?"  Morgan gushed, worriedly.


"Mom I'm fine."  She pleaded, trying to convince herself at the same time.


"Sweetheart please, look at what you're doing to yourself."  Morgan begged.


"I told you i have it under control."  Olivia whined, "I've been eating my meals like i promised."  She lied.


Morgan sighed.  Of course she had noticed Olivia's ever shrinking frame and she had confronted the girl about it.  But Olivia had assured her that it was simply her scatter brained ways meaning that she forget to eat sometimes.  Morgan hadn't been convinced and had made a concerted effort to oversee her mealtimes personally, but she couldn't watch the girl twenty four seven and it was now painfully clear that Olivia had not stuck to her side of the bargain.


"I think maybe you need some professional help."  Morgan began, but Olivia shot up from the bed in reaction.

"I said I'm fine!"  She yelled.  She had her defences up but Morgan could see through them to the terrified little girl inside.


"Olivia it's okay."  She replied holding her hands up to appease her.  "It's okay to get some help with this."


Olivia's eyes filled with tears and Morgan drew her close, kissing the top of her head whispering "It'll be alright baby."

"Mom, what's wrong with me?"  Olivia sobbed, pulling from her embrace.


Morgan tucked an auburn curl behind her beautiful little daughters ear and replied, "Nothing sweetheart, you are perfect to me."


"Am i disgusting?"  She asked looking at Morgan so desolately that her heart almost broke in two.


"Olivia don't ever think that okay?"  Morgan dried her own eyes and lead the girl back to her bed instructing her to get some rest. 

Shutting the bedroom door softly she strode purposefully towards the lounge and her laptop.  She had to get Olivia the help she needed and fast.  She cursed herself for waiting as long as she had, it was so clear now just how little self esteem her daughter had left.  She had to restore it at any cost.

************

As she made her way downstairs Morgan decided that a cup of tea was needed to get her through the rest of the evening.  Yet as she stepped into the kitchen she realised that tea was not going to solve this.

Standing in her kitchen as bold as brass was her father.  Morgans hand flew to her mouth trying to mask her shock, but it was too great to be disguised.

"What the hell are you doing here?"  She demanded, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Hello Morgan."  Robson smiled, as though greeting a treasured friend.

"Get out!"  She yelled storming forward.

"You are not welcome around me or my family!  Get out of my house this second!"  She screamed.

"It's not your house is it mother?"  Oscar chimed up.

Morgan turned slowly to face her son, not certain she had heard him correctly.  But as she regarded him she saw his face was poker straight, she had not misheard.

"Grandpa will be taking over Nana Iris's room.  I assume you don't have an issue sleeping in a dead woman's bed?"  He smirked, turning to Robson who returned his smile.

"Absolutely not!"  Morgan yelled.

"It's not your decision mother!"  Oscar snapped, suddenly turning on her angrily.  "This is my house now and you'd do well to remember that."

"Oscar you've gone too far."  Morgan warned, "You cannot bring this man into our home, i won't stand by and allow you to let him back into our lives."

At this Robson stepped forward, "Morgan please, the boy is only allowing me a second chance to have a family.  Won't you at least do me the same courtesy?"

"Never!"  She gasped.   "Leave this house now and never come back."  She threatened.

Robson regarded her with steel eyes, "This is my home now."  He replied.

"You're behind this aren't you?"  She asked bitterly of Robson.  "You poisoned my sons mind."

Robson shook his head slowly.  But the glint in his eyes told Morgan that he had, had a hand in the events which had transpired.  He had wanted a way back into her life and he would stop at nothing to get it, but she wasn't about to cave so easily.  Already burned from her run in with Oscar and the blackmail she had given in to she refused to allow another member of her family force her into a corner.

"If he stays then i leave."  She addressed Oscar hoarsely.

"And go where mother?"  He scowled, "Don't forget who controls all the money."

"I would rather live on the streets than with this man!"  She replied holding her nerve despite his threats, "And if you have any sense Oscar you will chose your family over this murderer."

"He stays."  Oscar replied firmly.

Morgan nodded her head slowly trying to take in her sons choice.  He was only a few months shy of turning 18 and yet he had already thrown his life away by backing the wrong Traytor.  But perhaps that was a lesson that she had to let him learn for himself. 

Morgan turned on her heel and stormed from the room leaving the pair of them in her wake.  Robson wanted her in his life, it was what he had begged her for time and time again and if she denied him it perhaps he would tire of Oscar and go crawl back under a hole somewhere. 

But a strong maternal urge also stirred in her chest, telling her that she should stay and protect her son from this monster.  But what of Olivia and Odd?  She couldn't let them become part of Robson's mind games, she had already made them suffer enough by being too weak to stand up to Oscar.  No she was certain of what she had to do. 

Morgan and her daughters had to leave the Traytor home.

Chapter7.3(part_2)

Chapter7.4_Odd

Author's note:~

Sorry for the lack of Odd in this chapter, but i entitled it Oscar and Olivia as it's a catch up with their plots.  I will post a Odd centric chapter which catches you up with her and introduces a new character hopefully this week :)