Chapter 3
CHAPTER
THREE
Era
Two whole years had passed, and I was still trapped in this damn sister wives’ nightmare. I hated the sight of Syris now. Anytime our eyes connected, my stomach churned in disgust.
Every time he touched me, it felt like my stomach bile saturated my tongue, and I got queasy. Since the last night of our honeymoon, I hadn’t slept with Syris, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t tried. Every time he attempted to have sex with me, we fought like cats and dogs.
No, I literally mean like Ike and Tina. I ate his slaps and him choking me, and he endured my nut shots, blows, and my attempts to kill him. Yup, in the blink of an eye, I went from the happiest woman on the planet, to the most bitter and angriest woman in the world.
I had absolutely nothing to smile about. Not only was I married to a bigamist, but I was held against my will. That nigga wouldn’t let me out of his sight.
Everyone was free to leave the compound but me.
I was either in my grand bedroom, the garden, or the small room that was created for my pottery.
But that wasn’t enough. I wanted out of this damn mansion.
I missed being around people and teaching the one thing I loved the most in this world, pottery.
Syris called me Butterfly because I was a social butterfly.
It was in me to be living and exploring, not held against my will.
I was so tired of being surrounded by Syris, his wife, Temi, his two other wives, and their school bus of children, that at any given moment I was ready to set the whole compound ablaze.
Yet, I was stuck in this deluded, yet lavish lifestyle.
After I was dressed in designer clothes from head to toe, I looked over my once natural curls that were now replaced by a silk press, and I smirked.
Pulling on my shades, I exited my bedroom and greeted the two security guards outside of my bedroom.
I changed my whole look because my natural curls represented how free I felt, and I was no longer the happy and outgoing Era.
I looked stunning yet heartless because that’s exactly how I felt.
Once I made it down Syris’s winding staircase, I stopped in front of the grand dining hall, and the guards opened the door for me.
I entered like the bad bitch that I was as the sound of my designer pumps reverberated throughout the dining hall and all commotion ceased.
Syris stopped eating and stared at me lustfully as I took the seat at the end of the table facing him.
The muscle in his jaw flexed because Temi always sat to his right, and I sat to his left, but today I wasn’t feeling that shit more than usual.
The expensive long oak table was filled with his kids and other family members, and I rolled my eyes because as usual all the attention was on me.
My butler, Paul, handed me a cloth napkin, then placed my breakfast plate in front of me.
“Good morning, Paul, and thank you. How are you feeling?” I questioned while spreading the black napkin over my white high waist, wide leg palazzo pants.
A small smile covered his face as he poured me a mug of my favorite peppermint tea. “Good morning, Mrs. Hopes. These old bones ain’t what they used to be, but nonetheless, I feel good. Thank you for asking.”
I grinned at him and picked up my silverware. “That’s good to hear. Have a good day.”
“You as well, ma’am.” Paul bowed, and exited the dining hall, using the domestic staff entrance.
“Remove those shades from your face,” Syris spoke as I forked up a serving of my omelet.
Exhaling, I laid the fork to rest and removed my shades as he instructed.
“Happy now?” I quizzed, then savored the serving of the delicious cheesy vegetable omelet on my fork.
I wasn’t a vegetarian at all, but during the morning time, I preferred not to eat as much meat as regular people did. It was simply a preference of mine.
“At the moment, I’m not happy because the energy radiating from you and it’s screaming you want to pick a fight, and I’m not going to give in today.”
“Whatever, Syris.” Temi’s eyes widened as she stopped feeding Syris’s youngest.
As soon as Poppy and my eyes connected, she smiled then climbed down from her chair and headed straight for me. Her chubby two- year- old legs carried her as fast as she could go. The other kids knew to stay away from me, but this one was always overstepping my boundaries.
I sat back in my chair in a frustrated manner and waited for her to make it to me. As soon as she did, I stopped her right in her tracks. I wasn’t in the mood to be making bonds with anyone, and that went for every age.
“Lil girl, stop right there, and gon back over there with your mommy and daddy.” Her smile instantly faded as her bottom lip trembled and eyes watered. I felt bad, but again, I didn’t want to be here.
She stood there and silently cried until her little feet inched closer towards me. “Poppy, I’m warning you. Don’t come any closer to me. Go over there with your parents.”
Syris slammed his hand down on the table then stood from his seat. “What the fuck did you just say!” he shouted, and everyone at the table flinched but me.
“I told her to go back to you and her mama because I don’t want to be around you or your classroom full of children.”
Syris walked away from his seat and stood behind Temi.
“Butterfly, why can’t things go back to the way they were?
You’ve been here for two years now. I don’t know why you’re still resisting my family or me?
I miss my Butterfly,” he stated sadly. Everyone spared him a sad look, and I couldn’t believe they felt sorry for this crazy ass man.
“You’re holding me against my will, nigga!” I screamed. “I don’t give a shit about how y’all do shit in this backwards ass country, but where I’m from, men cleave to one wife, not a harem of them!” I spat then stood from my seat.
I rubbed down my face, cleared my throat, and relaxed some because I really wasn’t in a fighting mood. “Syris, baby, I’m begging you. Please just let me go. I just want to go home. I’m not made for your world. If you ever loved me, then please just let me go.”
“No!” he yelled as spit flew out of his mouth, and this time I did flinch. He raced from behind Temi, and in a flash, he was in front of me with his hands wrapped tightly around my throat.
“I will never give you up. Never! You belong at my side until the day I die. That’s the only way you’re getting out of this marriage. Are you catching my drift?”
He squeezed tighter as my coffin shaped nails clawed at his wrists, but the animalistic look in his eyes displayed he was in savage mode.
Syris wasn’t going to let up until I agreed, and I would rather die before I gave in.
Mustering up some strength, I kneed him in his dick, and he quickly released me and bent over.
While gasping for air, I fumbled and picked up my porcelain plate, then cracked him over the head with it.
Blood trickled from his head, but that nigga ate those licks.
Syris stood and backhanded my ass so fast, I thought he was a Marvel character.
There were sharp intakes of breath as Poppy and a few other children began to cry.
I fell over my seat, and he was on me in seconds.
“You about to learn today to stop fucking disobeying me.” Syris grabbed the top of my hair and dragged me out of the dining hall, kicking and screaming.
“Let me go, Syris! Let me go!” I screamed and cried.
He wasn’t for the bullshit today because that maniac dragged me up every damn stair of our spiral staircase.
My lower back and ass connected with each step as Syris trekked up the stairs.
When we made it to the top, my guards stepped out of the way, but the muscle in my two personal guards’ cheeks flexed as they reluctantly stepped out of his way.
My tears and cries were full on screams now because his grip on my hair felt invincible and vice-like. Syris entered my room, then tossed me onto my bed. He kicked the door closed behind him then undressed.
“Wha—what are you doing?” I stammered.
“About to take what’s mine. Strip, or I swear, I will beat you unconscious, Butterfly. I don’t want to, but I will. Now strip!” he hollered.
I climbed out of my bed as I sobbed and slowly undressed.
My tears fell because my body ached like a bitch.
My sobs were from the humiliation I’d just endured, but most importantly, I cried because the last bit of fight I had was beaten, and now about to be sexually assaulted out of me.
The identity I fought so hard not to give in to, had finally won.
As soon as I slipped out of my last article of clothing, Syris pushed me back onto my bed and hovered over me. With lightning speed, he slapped fire out of my ass, and my head snapped to the left. I didn’t even scream. I ate that shit like he did earlier.
“I’m not tolerating any more disrespect from you. From now on, you will act like you’re a part of this family, or so help me God, Butterfly, I will dispose of you. Am I clear?” he inquired as he glared at me.
“Crystal,” I replied hoarsely.
“Good.” Syris’s warm mouth covered and savored my pert nipples while his thick fingers stimulated my honeypot. No matter how much I revolted his touch, I didn’t move a muscle because he had finally broken me, and I was tired of fighting.
Once he got his fill of my ample breasts, his mouth covered mine as my tears rained down my face.
I was going to die hating this man, but right now, surviving was the main entree on my plate.
Our tongues fell right into sync for a brief moment, before his long, meaty, dick impaled me without any warning.
My nails raked across his muscular back, and he swallowed my screams from the foreign intrusion. “Damn, that’s what I’m talking about,” he moaned. My pussy was inflamed from the way he pierced me, but I had to tolerate it.
“Fuck, Butterfly! I missed this shit. You’re the only woman’s pussy who makes me act so fucking insane. I’m sorry for hitting you, but you gotta learn, baby. You have got to learn,” he voiced solemnly and stroked deeper in me. Before I could catch myself, I squirted on him.
He flashed me a cocky grin as my back arched off the bed because he could tell that I did miss his dick.
Sex was never going to be an issue for us because our passion was there, but his lifestyle was what I couldn’t fuck with.
Syris rained kisses down on me, and that made me cry harder because I loved him just as much as I hated him.
He was forcing me to live in a world that I was unaccustomed to, and I didn’t want to be a part of.
No matter how he knew how to please my body, I still didn’t want him.
Love didn’t live here anymore, only my new best friend, survival.
Syris’s strong arms wrapped around my thick thighs, and he pounded into me like a mad man.
Whatever point he was trying to prove, he did because I was cummin’ left and right from his deep and hostile strokes.
“Shit, I’m about to cum!” he roared and collapsed on top of me. He filled me to the brim with his seeds as I laid there and didn’t move. Syris’s body continued to spazz as my heavy lids closed and drifted off into the slumber.
I wasn’t sure how long I was asleep, but the feel of something warm and wet dabbing at my face prompted me to stir in my sleep until I opened my eyes.
My entire body felt like I had been run over by an eighteen-wheeler truck.
Slowly, I sat up with Temi’s help then she sat the damp rag on my nightstand.
Peering around my room, there were so many designer bags and boxes littered everywhere that Temi barely had any room to move.
“What’s going on?” I probed in a confused and raspy tone. Temi handed me a glass of water and a thick coated tablet. “What’s this?”
“Water for your dry throat and that, my dear, is pain medicine to help with your soreness. Your masseuse is outside your room on standby once we’re done talking.”
I squinted at her because I didn’t trust her or her generosity. “Why are you being so nice to me and where did all this shit come from?”
“It’s Syris's way of apologizing. There’s also a new Benz in the driveway for you. I’m here, my dear, to offer you some very much unsolicited but helpful advice. Now as much as it pains me to say this, it has to be said.
“Era, he loves you most of all. I’ve never seen Syris get so furious with anyone except you.
You were all he talked about from the moment y’all met.
I know you’re not accustomed to the ways of our country, and him forcing you to stay here doesn’t help one bit, but if you want to stay alive, then do as he says.
You don’t realize that you have the upper hand.
“He’s so obsessed over you that he would do just about anything to keep you. That means you have all the power. You control his heart and dick. That’s one hell of a combo, baby girl.
“I know you want to get out and come and go like the rest of us, so oblige him. Make him feel like he has your heart. You want that pottery studio I hear you shouting so much about, then earn it. And please show his kids some attention, especially Poppy. He loves her dearly, and she’s so smitten with you.
Can you do that?” she quizzed pleadingly while looking into my eyes.
I wiped away a few of my fallen tears because I didn’t want to become this needy and submissive woman, but if playing that role got me the hell out of this mansion, then so be it. “Yeah, I can try.”
A smile covered her beautiful face. “Good. Dinner is in a few hours, so I’ll send in your masseuse and stall Syris a bit,” she spoke as she rose from the bed and floated to my door.
“Temi?”
“Yes,” she answered with a smile.
“Will you tell me one day the real motive behind why you’ve been so nice to me since my arrival?”
“In due time.” She waved goodbye, and I shouted a quick thank you behind her. I wasn’t sure how to be docile and submissive, but for the idea that was churning in my head, I had no choice but to figure it out.