Storming into the Sterling mansion Simeon was still fuming from what had just taken place at Apex. To think a man could think to do that to a lady let alone his own sister! Simeon never wanted Vivienne face the harshness of the world but he wasn't worried about the outside world at the moment, he just wanted to grab her and lock her in a high tower so no one but him and Levi could get to her.

Vivienne had tried her best to calm her raging brother, during the drive home she could sense the bloodlust that emerged from him. She almost feared for her life but when she realized where her thoughts were taking her she immediately stopped them. Simeon wouldn't hurt a hair on her head and she knew this all too well.

"Simeon, let's get you ice for your hand" Vivienne ordered softly, she gently gripped the hand that was not swollen and led him into the kitchen.

"It's fine" Simeon huffed.

"No, it's not"

Vivienne sat him down at the island and got a kitchen towel and soaked it in some water. She then took a plastic bag and filled it with ice. As she stopped in front of her brother she held out her hand, as Simeon placed his large hand into his sister's small one he noted that it was soft and warm like it always was.

As his younger sister cleaned the blood from his hand he basked in the comfortable silence between them, he missed spending his free time with her learning something new about her at each turn. He watched her carefully, her golden blonde hair that was neatly curled on her head was out of place and a bit of a mess, her creamy skin was still pale and her once bright blue eyes were panicked.

Anger rose within Simeon again as he looked at her torn dress, he didn't want to think about what could've happened to his sister if he had continued to listen to Abigail's self-obsessed rant.

Their peace was cut short when a loud shriek echoed in the kitchen.

Turning their head sharply they both froze as the head of the Sterling family stood in the entrance to the kitchen.

Simeon's rage grew more as Vivienne stood frozen in panic, she knew her mother would question them and she would be angry but Vivienne prayed that she would understand.

Marian looked her children over, mainly Vivienne, her hair was not kept and her clothes tattered.

"Why do you look like you've just stepped out of a tornado? This is not how you left this house, answer me young lady!" Marian snapped.

"Watch your tone mother" Simeon growled.

Marian and Vivienne jumped slightly at the new tone from Simeon, Marian was more than shocked she had not expected for her son to take such a tone with her. She frowned as she turned to him but that frown quickly changed to slight panic when she saw anger written clearly across his face. Hatred and disgust also showed in his eyes, and it struck Marian.

"I'd suggest you watch yours, do not forget who you are speaking to" Marian warned.

Simeon laughed bitterly, "I know exactly who I'm speaking to Marian" the young man sneered "I'm speaking to a child abusing, manipulative murderer."

Marian and Vivienne gasped, Marian out of shock and Vivienne out of horror, the poor girl was shaking like a leaf.

"How dare you!" Marian hissed.

"No!" Simeon boomed as he jumped from the bar stool and stomping toward his mother like an animal, he reached her, grabbing her arm roughly yanking her toward him as the woman's eyes widened in fear. "How dare you! Send us to a marriage interview and covering it as a 'business deal'. Do you want to know the result Mother? Hmm? Take a look at my sister, that's the result of the potential spouse you had picked out. He was going to rape her! And it would've been your fault!"

Marian gasped once again as she looked at her daughter, ignoring her son's grip she pulled her arm from his grip rushing across the kitchen to the young girl.

"Darling are you alright?"

Vivienne's eyes widened tremendously as she saw her mother bolting up to her, she didn't hesitate to scurry away from her. The hands that were reaching for her were not ones of a gentle touch and a loving embrace. No. those hands were meant to inflict pain and Vivienne knew better than to trust the look of 'concern' in Marian's eyes.

Marian was struck with a feeling once again as her daughter ran away from her in panic.

"Do not touch her!" Simeon barked at his mother.

Anger boiled within Marian, as something familiar in her snapped, she spun around glaring at her son "she is my daughter. I can touch her if I want to" venom dripped from every word.

Vivienne's eyes widened further, she had immediately sense the change in moods that Simeon seemed to miss because he was too blinded by his anger. The monster within her mother had surfaced and one of them would be punished.

Simeon scoffed "some mother you are. Who beats their child until they've lost consciousness? Who in their right mind holds their child inches above open flames? Who the fuck forces their kid to drink bleach?!"

Vivienne's heart rate was through the roof as she stood watching the scene unfold in front of her. Her older brother had finally snapped and was getting the feelings he's kept bottled up within him out.

In a way she was proud of him, he'd did what she and Levi couldn't dream about. He stood up to the monster.

But on another note, Vivienne feared for his life, his last statement had obviously triggered something within Marian Sterling and the dark expression on the woman's face.

Unbeknownst to the three, the youngest Sterling had entered the kitchen earlier on and was frozen as he watched his older brother yell at the monster that was mere feet front him.

Levi dared to sneak a peek at his mother, as he did the little boy wished he hadn't. She had the look on her face that he'd seen so much, that chilled him to the bone every time.

She was in beast mode and there would be dire repercussions for his big brother's actions.

The snicker drew the attention of all three Sterling children, the snickering turned into fits of giggles which quickly morphed into a horrible cackle.

The children's eyes widened as they watched the woman before them, her head thrown back and her arm over her stomach. The woman had lost her wits, she'd gone mad.

"Oh my darling" Marian chuckled darkly as her eyes found her eldest son.

Simeon's eyes widened further, then and only then did he realize his mistake in speaking up. He had let his anger get the best of him; let it drive him right into a pinch.

"I'm proud of you son, you've grown a back bone. You don't know how happy that's made me" she grinned.

The hairs on the back of Simeon's neck stood as his skin crawled; he wanted to be far away from the monster in front of him as soon as possible.

"Go down to the basement, you're to be punished" Marian stated.

"I won't allow you to touch me" Simeon said, his voice low and dangerous, "I won't hesitate to call those FBI agents here and have you sent where you deserve to be."

The grinned was wiped from Marian's features but was replaced by a mocking look, "oh? Do you remember the last time you called the authorities son? No one will help you darling, you have no proof and honestly you expect police officers to believe you over me? A woman who is struggling to raising her children after her husband ran out with his lover?"

"But father didn't run out, now did he? You did something to him and sooner or later everyone is going to find out" Simeon vowed.

Marian chuckled again, "watch your words Simeon, I will say that the backbone you've grown would prove to be most promising but I will not tolerate groundless accusations. Now into the basement."

"Did you not hear me earlier mother? I will not be beaten for speaking the truth; your days of putting a harmful hand on me are over."

Marian knew this too and she feared him but she refused to be overruled. She knew if she wanted to teach her son a lesson in going against her she had to hit him where it hurt most.

Smiling once again she looked her son in the eye "you may be right about that son" Marian then turned to the young seventeen year old girl whose eyes were wide in fright "Vivienne go down in the basement."

What?

"Vivienne isn't going down there she has done nothing wrong" Simeon snapped "I won't let you hurt her."

"She is not old enough to defy me. You should be careful Simeon, I would hate to disown my eldest child and kick him from his childhood home" Marian remarked wickedly "well Vivienne or you going to abide by my rules? Or should I punish Levi?"

"I'll go!" the words came from Vivienne's mouth immediately; she did not want Levi to be dragged into the mess. It was her fault. If her brother wasn't speaking on her behalf than none of this would have happened.

"Vivienne" Levi's voice shook as he watched his older sister.

"It's ok, you go upstairs until dinner time ok?" with that she turned and made her way to the basement door.

"You also Simeon, you're going down with her" Marian ordered.

Glaring at the vessel that brought him into the world, Simeon reluctantly followed his sister down to the torture chambers.

Marian turned to her youngest child "go upstairs honey" but the boy didn't move; his eyes were filled with unshed tears as he hoped his siblings wouldn't leave him alone with the monster.

"Go now boy!" as she barked the order the twelve year old flew from the room.

Down in the basement, Vivienne had already stripped of her clothing, "I'm sorry" Simeon whispered. His voice was reduced to something so broken that it hurt Vivienne.

"You have nothing to be sorry for dear brother" she replied.

"I'd beg to differ" the voice of the monster made them tense, Marian looked at her daughter in her son's arms. Their embrace was so touching; she liked the look in Simeon's eyes. The look of the powerless and defeated.

This will be a well-deserved lesson for him.

Marian ripped Vivienne from Simeon's embrace and tied her wrist together then tied them above her head. She turned around and ventured through her many toys she used on them.

Their mother had a style. Whatever they got into trouble with she'd use to punish them and they were always to be bare, she thought it was fitting.

Marian knew the punishment was not for Vivienne but her son, this was the first time that she had one of the children watch another get punished, the new feeling it brought was one she wouldn't mind experiencing again. Grabbing a leather belt, she glanced at Simeon, smirking as she did so only for him to glare daggers at her.

This was her way of controlling him.

To keep him at bay she would hurt the ones he was so desperate to protect.

Simeon's fists clenched as he watched his sister braced herself for the first lash of the belt, he'd failed once again. Self-hatred grew deep inside him as he struggled to keep his tears from falling.

He locked eyes with Vivienne, she gave him a small smiled and refused to look away from him. As the first tear slid down his cheek, the sound of the belt connecting to her skin echoed.

The first hit.