Betrothed With A Price

You're walking down a dark alley.

The alley was long, narrow and muddy. For years, you thought you were going to live like this forever, in the dark.

What you don't know is, it could be worse, and worse, and, worse.

There is always an abyss beneath the abyss, for you.

Althea stared outside the window of her little bedroom where the little garden meadow she had planted herself two years ago was situated. The flowers were already blooming and she couldn't be more proud of the work she had done the previous years.

She walked out of her bedroom to the living room of her aunt's house and sat down on one of the sofa's. Her heart almost in her throat. These past few years has been hell.

She was like a prisoner in the precinct but the only difference was that she wasn't wearing overalls and they had more freedom than she'll ever have. Her life can almost be compared to that of Rapunzel's but the only difference was that the latter was held prisoner in a tower.

Growing up, she had never had the luxury to mingle or make friends. Her aunt made absolutely certain that she stayed away from everyone, including their next door neighbor, to the point of being homeschooled which was entirely her aunt's idea. If she didn't know any better, she'd think that she had been kidnapped but her father's picture which was hung on the wall of her bedroom tells her that she is indeed in her aunty's house. Althea has never met her father and has never seen him in person ever since she was born. She only hears about him from her aunt. The picture of him in her bedroom came as a result of constant bickering to see his face.

Her only escape from this hellhole is her love for reading and painting. She makes sure to absorb herself in her imaginations so that she doesn't pay attention to the outside world around her. If she wasn't doing any of the two then she would be in her garden tending to the beautiful flowers she planted.

She sighs when a thought hit her. Tomorrow is her eighteenth birthday but somehow she doesn't feel like celebrating because it never ends well. It'd just be the same old boring routine that she does every year. Sleep, eat, cut a cake and read her books. She's never allowed to visit the clubs or celebrate like normal teenagers but what she doesn't know is that tomorrow has a bigger present in store for her.

"Althea" her aunt's voice sprang through the air. She touched her arm and she flinched.

"Sorry Aunt. I didn't hear you come in" she apologized but the aunt doesn't seem to mind.

"It's alright" her aunt gave a small smile "I made lunch so let's eat" she announced and Althea gave a small nod before trailing behind her to the dinning area.

She pulled out one of the chair and sat down, while her aunt dished up for her.

After saying grace, she began to do justice to the food in front of her.

"Your father is visiting tonight and he has a surprise for you" her aunt comments before taking her own seat and dishing up for herself.

"My father is coming? Here?" She asked not believing her ears. "Why? How? Is there a problem?" Althea asked with furrowed brows as she stared at her aunt intently. Why is her father coming? Did something happen? He has never visited her ever since he dropped her off with her aunt and that was eighteen years ago. So why is he coming here? what's the occasion? She rubbed her hands nervously as she thought of the possibilities.

"He'll tell you himself when he gets here Althea. I can't say anything for now so I suggest that you wait." her aunt dismissed the topic and continued with her food.

Althea not wanting to push the matter any further, decided to drop it. Her aunt isn't the best when it comes to conversations. She always tries her best to wave it off or not reply at all so she deemed it better to keep quiet.

After lunch, she picked up the dishes and discarded the remnants before washing the dishes. She nicely places them on the dish rack and made her way to the bedroom to pickup her book and start off where she stopped in the morning because somehow, her mind was preoccupied.

Althea was absorbed in her book that she didn't know how much time has flew until her aunt announced that her father has arrived.

She quickly discarded her book and went on to welcome her father. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest with each step she took. What does he look like now? Will he recognize her? This and many more thoughts flooded her head as she made her way towards the living room.

"Dad" Her voice choked up with so much emotions when her eyes caught him standing right there at the center of the living room.

"Althea" he opened his arms and she ran into them, hugging him tightly as she breathed in his scent. She had missed him. All though the years she was scared and angry because she thought that he abandoned her or maybe never wanted to see her but seeing him now, all those thoughts she had years ago had vanished. She thought that she hated him but what she doesn't know is that she had only been missing him. He hasn't been there all her life but this little moment here, right now is worth all the treasures in the world.

Her aunt stood at a corner, watching the emotional display between father and daughter. If she didn't know better, she would think that her brother actually cares for his daughter but in real sense, she was only just a means to an end. He was only here to fulfill a promise he made years ago. A very dreadful one.

Her only problem is Althea and how she would react to the news her father is going to spill to her tonight. How will she accept it and how will she cope with the pain that comes with it. She had only just met him but that doesn't mean that he won't be disappearing from her life any moment from now.

Joshua on the other hand has never wanted to visit his daughter all these years because he was scared of getting attached to her. What's the point anyways, when she would still be taken away from him. His sister asked him to stay clear so that it'll hurt less in the future but seeing his daughter now, has awoken the fatherly affection he had tried to bury all these years.

"I've missed you so much. I thought that you never loved me and that you would never come for me. I didn't stop believing that you would" she tells him sincerely.

He pulls away from the hug and touches her face lovingly. Althea could almost see the pain that flashes in his eyes but it disappeared as quickly as it came making her wonder if she actually saw it or it was just a figment of her imagination.

"How have you been?" His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke.

"Better. I'm glad that you're here." She sniffs "We have a lot to catch up on right?" She asks taking his bag from him.

"Are your things ready? Cause we will be leaving at first flight tomorrow morning" he broke the news to her even if it caused a sting in his heart.

"Tomorrow?" She gave her father a puzzled look. It came as a surprise to her. She hasn't left this house in eighteen years. She hasn't met her father in such a long time and now all of a sudden, she'll be leaving with him tomorrow?

"But why tomorrow? Are you okay? Is everything okay?" She rushed out the words before she could stop them. Why would he suddenly say something like this to her. "We can go some other time. I thought that we-" she was saying when her father's voice interrupts hers.

"Althea" he calls out, his voice breaking as he located the couch next to him and lowered himself on it. As if working on impulse, Althea drops his bag at a corner and took a seat right next to her father. Why is he acting like this? Isn't he happy to see her like she was? Doesn't he want to spend time with her?

"Dad" she called softly "What's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry my child." He sobbed in defeat. "Please forgive me because I don't know what to do. This is the only way" he cried some more leaving Althea puzzled. What's happening?

She turned to look at her Aunt but the look on her face isn't helping matters right now. It's almost as if she's trying to avoid the situation. Like she doesn't want to be involved in whatever's going on.

"Dad you're scaring me" she breathed out "You just got here. You're supposed to have dinner and rest but now you're crying and I don't know what's going on"

"Althea" he whispered again.

"You're getting married" her aunt blurted out from across the room shocking everyone, including her brother who looked at her with pleading eyes, begging her not to say anything.

"She's going to find out sooner or later Joshua so it's not like we have a choice here" she yelled at him "If you haven't been so foolish to steal then just maybe, we won't be in this position"

"I did everything for her" he counters, pointing at Althea who looked confused at the exchange between her father and aunt.

"For her?" Her aunt, Tina spills "You could've done better. You could've gotten an honest job Joshua and associated yourself with better people. You chose this life and now poor Althea has to suffer and pay for the mistakes that her father created"

"Aunt" Althea whispered softly trying to understand the situation better. It was almost like they were speaking parables and she doesn't understand a single thing they were talking about. All she was able to get so far from the entire conversation was her father involving himself in something despicable that has somehow managed to ruin his life but how?

"Do you know how hard it's going to be for her?" She turns to face Althea "And you, what were you thinking? That he's here because he loves and misses you? Or that It's another happily ever after you read in those books? Have you ever asked yourself why now? Why he showed up now after abandoning you here for eighteen years? Have you?" Her aunt asked her sternly, leaving Althea speechless.

"Will someone just tell me what's going on" she yells on top of her voice and they both turn to look at her, giving her an audience. "I'm standing here so just say it to my face. How would I know what's going on if no one is telling me anything?"

"Well since you want to know then I'll let you in on the family's secret. Eighteen years ago when your mother was pregnant with you..." her aunt begin while Althea listened with rapt attention. "Your father stole a huge amount of money from Luciano Rojo. A ruthless and unforgivable mafia lord in Chicago. He was caught but couldn't afford to pay up so your father, left with no other choice approached his sworn enemy, Andrew Costello..." Her aunt continued and Althea who has the slightest knowledge about who these people were was still forced to listen because somehow, the problem involves her as well.

"Your father" she paused "He begged Andrew to help pay off his debt and Andrew agreed but on a condition that his child ends up with his as payment for his help"

Althea looked at her Aunt as realization hits her. Mouth hung open in astonishment.

"That child is you Althea and your father is only here to redeem that promise he made a long time ago." Her aunt dropped the bomb as Althea stared wide-eyed at her father who was still crying profusely.

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