Ezekiel smiled down at her and then led her down the stairs. He was slower than she was since he was still sore. Once they were in a small sitting area they could see Eric standing there, looking out at the garden.

"Eric," Ezekiel said. "I'd like to request an audience with you."

Eric merely nodded and the guilt was evident in his expression. He wouldn't be able to cover it up if he wanted to. His hair fell slightly in his face and his eyes were downcast. It seemed there was almost a shadow being cast in them and he was trying to evade this misfortune.

"I'm sorry Verona," Eric said looking straight at her. "I wanted to take something away from the one person who receives everything in my life and instead I took something away from myself. I think you're beautiful and smart and kind... but not for me. Maybe someday someone will love me."

In Verona's eyes, Eric was either one good of two things: A very remorseful man, or a great manipulator.
She wasn't quite sure which of the two as of now. She was, in a way, afraid to trust him. She wasn't so easy to forgive like Ezekiel was. Brother in-law or not, he'd killed Ezekiel's father.
Listening on to Eric's little speech, Verona still clung to Ezekiel.

"I don't believe you," she said bluntly. And that was it. She didn't believe all of this foolishness. Taking something from Ezekiel... No. He wanted the company, and that was it! Verona wasn't stupid!

The anger seemed to be boiling up inside Verona now. He was such a liar! Well, to her anyway..

Eric shrank away from her like he expected to get hit. It was almost a knee jerk reaction that Ezekiel was unaware of. A puzzled question crossed Ezekiel's face to confirm this as he glanced at Verona.

"Apparently you hit pretty hard or he was doing that before," Ezekiel said in a bit of a puzzled tone.

When Eric straightened up slightly he was still a bit downcast. He was watching Verona for the most part, afraid to look up at his brother, who should be angry.

"Yes I am angry at you Eric but I'm not our father," he said. "If I was you'd be dead. I have a few requirements and punishments. First of all if you commit any more crimes that deal with the life of a human I am sure that you will be put to death. Secondly you are to spend time locked away in the prison, no special accommodation's. Lastly I'll be looking for someone that might like you but due to your actions I doubt someone could be found."

He glanced at Verona to see if she wanted to add anything to it. Eric was just looking a bit more horror struck. He did not want to be even more separated from his family than he already was. He looked ready to cry as he bent down the floor, resting his head down with his arms wrapped around his head, knees on the ground.

Verona's eyes burned now, as she was listening to all of Ezekiel's requirements, and punishments. She was mostly pleased, although..
"And I have one: If you ever, ever so much as even think of hurting Ezekiel, I will make your life a living hell Eric. I will."
It was obvious by the tone of her voice, that she meant every word of that. She would never kill Eric. No. Killing him, would have only been a favor. She would find ways to hurt him though, beyond the physical pain she could cause. Verona would do everything within her power to make him pay..


But when he fell to the floor, a slight bit of pity overtook her... He looked so helpless, and... innocent..? Yes, sadly enough, she was feeling sorry for him.
"Eric," she said in a soft voice, not knowing quite what to do. She wanted to comfort him in a way. But she didn't exactly want to touch him either.
"Get up please.."

Ezekiel had been equally shocked and when his brother didn't stand up he knew exactly what was happening. Whenever a Singston cried they tried to hide it. It was almost a rule to not be seen in public crying.

"I messed up," Eric admitted. "I'm not the one that's killing mother though. I love her more than you can imagine. If I had known that losing her husband would do this to her I wouldn't have done it."

He was still on the floor and it was becoming obvious that he'd been crying. He shivered slightly as he coughed. They would have to have maids come in to take care of him.

"Please believe me I'm only doing it because I felt ostracized and this is the cruelest punishment you could give, accommodations would not have been much better," Eric managed to say. "Please forgive me Verona... I thought you could learn to love me."

Gasping out, Verona was livid. She was crying however, because of just how angry she really was.
"Learn to love you!?" She screamed at him. "How dare you even think that!? You took from me the closest thing I would have to a father, and you expect me to love you!? You killed your own father you bastard!"

If it weren't for the amount of tears spilling from her eyes, Verona would have attacked him. Physically, with her fists, she would have beat him down. She could have done it so easily.

Seizing him back the back of his shirt, Verona smacked him in the face, hard. There was blood on his face. But not from the impact. The blood had come from Verona's fingernails catching on Eric's skin.
Then, she smacked him again, right in the same spot, screaming about something. Her words weren't flowing so well as of now. All that was apparent, was this: "I hate you! I hate you!"

After the second time that she had hit him Ezekiel wrapped his arms around Verona and pulled her away. He hadn't counted on her actually acting like that and he was a bit angry at the moment. He had a feeling that Eric had more to say.

"Did you have more to say?" Ezekiel asked as he made sure Verona was restrained as best as he could.

"Yes," Eric said with a sob. "When my father spoke to me before he tied I realized that I'd made the hugest mistake of my life and that Ezekiel truly loves Verona, more than anything in the world. The last words that came out his mouth were the cruelest things I've ever heard."

"Was he in his form after that?" Ezekiel asked.

"No... he hated me since I was born and now you're the only one who cares and actually stands up for me..." Eric said.

It was almost hard to understand Eric because he was crying so much. He did manage to speak though and when he was done he just started to sob full out, something he'd never done in his life before.

"Let go of me!" Verona snapped, practically hitting Ezekiel in the face as well. It was originally meant to be a push.. But it hit his skin a bit too hard for that.
Pushing from his arms, Verona left the room.
She sped off into the direction of Ezekiel's, eventually getting there, and slamming the door behind her. She hated Eric.
Hate was a strong word when it came from Verona's lips. But Eric was so despicable.. He made her so angry, that she felt she could actually, maybe kill him. That was terrible.

Sobbing, Verona hid in Ezekiel's blankets. Not only had she just blessed out her soon to be brother-in-law, she slapped her fiance. Neither of which she'd intended to do.
Though her clothing, and hair was being ruined, she didn't care anymore.. Maybe she would just... leave. She could find Mayhen, and ask him to help her get away from this place.. This family. She did love Ezekiel more than anything. But it was so stressful.. It seemed like there was a larger negative side, than positive.

Ezekiel was a bit shocked. His face already hurt but he started after her. When the door shut he paused slightly. He hated this stress also and didn't want her to leave him. The threat was too large for him and he would banish Eric if she did. He knocked lightly before entering.

Upon seeing her figure under the covers he approached her slowly. Sitting down next to where she was he placed a hand gently on her body. He wasn't sure what to do but he didn't want her to be upset.

"Please stop crying," he said gently. "Please don't hate my brother. He's scared... and being punished for what he did."

Ezekiel's free hand was on his face right now, where he'd been slapped. It hurt and now he just wanted to lay down and sleep. He hadn't added into the punishment something he should have.

"Don't touch me," Verona screamed at him through the covers. She was in no sort of mood to be comforted, or anything of the sort. She hated Eric. Nothing could change that.
It was obvious though, that the bigger issue here, was with herself. Verona had just smacked Ezekiel Singston. Not only did she smack him, it was the sort of smack that she'd given Eric. Only it was more to Ezekiel's chin than anything. She hadn't after all, meant to slap him...

"I can't do this," she began, still hiding her face. "You're killing me Ezekiel!"

Hadn't she said something of this sort before..? Maybe. It was the day that she'd come so close from one hundred percent leaving Ezekiel. She didn't have the guts to do that though, did she? No.. Maybe... She wasn't exactly sure..

Ezekiel was about to snap if she pushed him away any further. He turned away from her and buried his face in his hands. He did not cry this time but rather just sat there in silence. He did not understand what was wrong with him, they'd been so happy the night before and now she was doing it again.

"Do you want him dead?" he asked after a moment, though he had a hard time actually speaking the words. "Dead and gone?"

He wouldn't let it happen but he might have to make Eric disappear. He hated the idea and he suppressed the urge to cry. He loved hi brother despite all the things that he'd done.

Dead. That may have been a bit harsh, would it not? It might be ample punishment though; a life for a life.
"I don't know," she sobbed at him. Verona by now, had pulled a pillow over her head, as if trying to block Ezekiel out. She was certainly having the oddest of mood swings wasn't she..? Hm.
She didn't exactly want him dead.. But gone would certainly make her happy... Maybe... She just wanted away from him. Literally away.

"Ezekiel... I'm leaving." She said. Okay, not leaving leaving, but leaving. She was just going somewhere else. She wasn't going to stay in this house. She hoped the best for Ezekiel's mother, but couldn't stay.

She did however, want to see Ezekiel's reaction to these words.. She didn't want to hurt him, but she wanted to see if she held any significance anymore. Which she knew she did.

"Didn't you listen to anything he said?" Ezekiel asked. "What do you mean by leaving? Why are you leaving? Are you just going to give up?"

He was nervous now and his brow was creased from anxiety. He was trying so hard not to yell at her for being so cruel. It must have been a ploy. He laid down on the floor finally, nearly same position as Eric and just sat there. He sounded like he was crying and his body shook slightly.

He hated himself more than anything in the world now. He wanted to die. He would rather die than see her leave.

"Ezekiel," she nearly snapped. "Stop trying to make me see him as a good person, cause I won't!"

But upon hearing Ezekiel's sniffling, she sat up wearily, and looked down on him.
"Ezekiel..?" She asked softly. She looked almost shocked.. Had she been expecting something different..?
Crawling from the bed, she sat down in front of him, and picked his face up to meet her gaze.
"Please... I'm not leaving you. I'm leaving your house... I don't want to be around Eric, that's all. I love you.."
Maybe a good break was all she needed. A break from everything... Yeah.

Pushing some hair from his face, Verona kissed his forehead. "Come on.. Shhh..."

He slowly began to calm down when she spoke. She wasn't leaving him after all. Ezekiel relaxed a bit more before he rested his head on her shoulder. He was still under stress and wanted a drink... or two... or maybe three.

"I need to have a drink..." he said. "Something strong."

He wasn't looking at her since he knew what she would say. He could just have coffee, that would definitely kick his senses into gear. He didn't want to be here when they took his brother away, which would be at approximately noon that day.

Sighing, Verona shook her head. "No.. You don't need to drink... I don't want you to die from alcohol poisoning or something."

Thinking for a moment, Verona smiled. "If I can keep you busy and distracted, do you think you'd have to drink? I mean, really wake you up!"

Her eyes were all red again, and a slight bit puffy, but not as bad as they would have been if she hadn't stopped her crying.

Leaning back, Verona took Ezekiel's face in her hands, and smiled at him. It was a sweet smile; sincere. But deep within it, was mischief. But he would enjoy this all the same.

"Marriage," he reminded. "But I'll have coffee instead. I need to get out before eleven. I don't think I could stand seeing the force take my brother."

He had stood up slowly and brought her up with him. She was tempting him again and he was foolish. He kissed her gently before stepping away. He went towards where his shoes had been put and put them on before glancing back at her.

Puckering her lips, Verona sort of turned it into a frown, and plopped back down on the bed.
"You're so perverted," she snapped at him, crossing her arms. Of course, he;d caught her red handed. But she would never admit that.
"I wasn't even thinking about that.." Her face was turning slightly red now, remembering that night..
"Is that really all you can think about?"

"I was talking about sitting in the hot tub together with a cup of coffee in each hand," he said jokingly. "There's nothing perverted about coffee."

It was his way of apologizing to her in a way. He waited though, wanting her to change or at least put shoes on.

"We should leave soon lest there be no coffee left to feed my urge," he said with a slightly sarcastic tone.

Laughing slightly, Verona only shook her head, and climbed from the bed.
Walking over to Ezekiel, she embraced him gently, and then stepped back to find her shoes.
They were around there somewhere... She did end up finding them under one of her bags though. Hidden most likely.

"Sure," she said, slipping her shoes on. "Exactly which urge, hmm?"

She was teasing him now, being mean in her own special way.

"The urge to drink some coffee," he said. "Or to hug you."

Ezekiel went over to her after that and wrapped his arms securely around her waist. If she tried to injure him again he would either give up or would start crying because it hit a bruise.

"How's that?" he asked.

Verona closed her eyes now, smiling, and leaning into Ezekiel's arms.
"Sounds good to me," she whispered against him. "But if it's one thing I know for sure... I am ready to marry you Mister Singston."

Pulling back slightly, she smiled up at him. This time, it was a genuinely pure smile. Pure of heart, and free of any perversion.
"Can you..?"

"We have to plan for it," Ezekiel said. "And I'd like your parents' consent in the marriage.... but their rejection won't stop me. They need to know about Eric."

He shifted slightly as he let go of her and went to the door. he wasn't planning to visit her parents quite yet though. He glanced at her briefly before exiting and waiting for her outside the room with the door being held open.

"Of course," she said quietly. Soon enough, she was primping herself next to Ezekiel. Sort of. SHe liked to look nice, duh.

"I don't think they'll be that entirely angry though... After all of the commotion back in town, they could see that you aren't so bad. If not that, they'll like that you're rich."

Shurgging, it was true. They were a money set of people.

"We'll talk to them after the coffee," he said lightly. "I think we'll go where I usually go because I have a feeling that I might need to rescue Veronica from dangers. I'll just drop her off at Aldous' place if she's there. They serve good coffee there too."

He grinned lightly before taking her arm as they went towards the door. He could choose between taking a car and walking. The walking would prove to be a better form of lobbying his innocence to the unsuspecting towns folk.