InsaneJournal

While Eleanore entered in the main way, Abigail quietly slipped around to the other entrance, reserved just for the working girls. She was almost surprised to find the back door unguarded, but then she supposed that they weren't expecting much trouble. She pulled her hood up, starting up the steps and making her way inside. She tried to look as though she knew exactly where she needed to go, and she started toward the back staircase.

She was stopped a few moments later by a rough hand grasping her arm; Abigail gasped and wheeled around to face whoever it was. "Nicholas-" she started, her eyes wide. "Nicholas, please-"

The heavyset bouncer pulled her aside- Abby had no idea what he was going to do with her, but she couldn't help the wave of fear that washed over her. He cornered her, hands moving to her forearms. He looked angry, but then-

"Your room," he started, his voice low. "She's kept them there, but be careful- she's expecting you."

His advice surprised her, but then- he'd always seemed to have a soft spot for her. "Thank you," she whispered, nodding once. He released her and she hugged him briefly, slipping past him as she started toward the staircase. Most of the girls were already settled for the evening with their clients, and the few she passed were new faces that she didn't recognize.

She was halfway down the hall when she heard, rather than felt, the thump of something against the back of her head.

She came to a few minutes later, not in the hallway, but in the Madame's study, a pungent odor of cheap smelling salts being fanned at her face to revive her. She recognized the room immediately; how many times had she prayed that she wouldn't have to see this room ever again? Then again, why would she even want to be in this place again at all?

Coughing and blinking back stars, Abigail sat up, frowning when she heard the laughter of the proprietress. "Where are they," she demanded, her voice sounding weaker than she wished it to.

"Oh, I don't know," the older woman replied, clearly amused by her little game. "But you will never be seeing them again. Stay here, and we'll let the brat go. As for your husband... I can't believe you went and married him. Then again, I never would have thought anybody would want to marry you, knowing you're a whore-"

"Shut up." Abby didn't want to listen to anymore, and she pushed herself to her feet, a hand on the edge of the couch to steady herself. "Let them go."

"Why would I do that?" the Madame asked, feigning innocence as she lowered herself into a chair. "You left, robbing me of an income-"

"You've never had a problem finding willing girls to work here," Abby retorted, fisting her hands at her sides.

"That's besides the point," the Madame replied sharply, cutting her off. "I took you in when I didn't have to. I gave you every opportunity and what do you do? Get pregnant with a bastard child. And who had to clean up your mess and fix everything for you? It's a wonder I let you stay on like I did, after everything. I should have left you to die, Abigail. You always were an ungrateful child."

"I don't have to listen to this." Abigail turned to leave, hating the feeling that was creeping over her, the old familiar feeling of worthlessness. She firmly reminded herself that it was not true. She had a family who loved her, and was depending on her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the Madame said in sickly sweet tones. "Do you see this bell? One ring and they're both dead. And it will be all your fault, Abigail. Do you want that?"

Abby paused with one hand on the doorknob. She didn't know if the woman was bluffing- she hoped to heaven she was, but at the same time, she didn't want to risk it. She knew how ruthless the woman could be. "What do you want of me? I'm no use to you now."

"I think we might be able to come to some sort of agreement," the Madame replied, leaning back in her seat. "Come, Abigail, sit. Now, which of the two is more important to you?"

Abby didn't sit, though she did turn from where she was facing the door. Her heart sank at the Madame's words- it was a choice she certainly didn't want to make. "Let them go. I'll do whatever you want, just let. Them. Go."

"That's not enough, Abigail," the Madame replied, her voice sharp once more. "No. I think I want the girl."

"Never," Abby replied, shaking her head. She realized, then, that the knife at her ankle was gone, and she paled.

The Madame merely looked amused. "If you're thinking of trying anything, Abigail, I would suggest you reconsider. I made sure you were unarmed in here. I couldn't risk anything, now could I?"

Abby was silent, glaring back at the woman. "Don't make the child pay for the sins of her mother."

"What world are you living in, Abigail? Don't you know that's how things are done? Surely you cannot be so stupid as to think that you won't lose this battle against me? It's useless, Abigail. You're never going to see your daughter again. She's young. She'll be able to learn how things should be done-"

Abby didn't hear anything else the woman said- she was seeing red. She was barely aware of crossing the room- but the Madame had pulled a dagger out and was on her feet, as though ready to attack Abby in return. Abby was surprised to find herself on the ground a moment later, struggling with the older woman.

"No, Abigail. Don't even think about it."

Abby was still struggling, fingers wrapped around the older woman's wrist, acutely aware of the dagger tip pressed to the hollow of her throat. She stilled, mind racing as she tried to figure out what to do next. She reached out, grasping the edge of one of the side tables' tableclothes and yanked, bringing everything crashing down onto the floor. It was enough to distract the Madame and Abby tightened her hold on the Madame's wrist as the dagger scattered off to the side. Abby shoved the woman off of her, scrabbling onto all fours as she went after the weapon, giving an oomph of surprise as the Madame started after her.

She nearly had it when the Madame grasped her ankle and tugged hard; Abby overbalanced slid back away from the dagger. She felt the Madame yank at her hair and she cried out, turning to swing a fist at the older woman's face. She felt her hand make contact and she turned to go after the dagger once more, fingers wrapping around the handle for just a moment and she tried to push herself back up to her feet. Abby was tripped by the Madame and the dagger went flying to the other side of the room- it fell to the floor with a clatter and the next thing Abby knew, she'd been punched as well. The Madame scrambled past her, but Abby shook it off, turning to start after her- she tackled the woman to the ground then started after the dagger, finally grasping it moments later and she tightened her hold on it, turning back to face the Madame.

"Don't make me do this," Abby started, her breathing heavy- her head was pounding but she didn't care at the moment.

The Madame merely laughed. "You couldn't harm a fly, Abigail, and you know it. Go on. Use it on me. I dare you."

Abigail considered her options, then slowly shook her head. "No. You aren't worth it. I'm going to leave you here, and I'm going to get my family, and we are going to leave. Together."

She stood, still grasping the dagger, and started to back toward the door. She was turning to open it when the Madame lunged at her- Abby heard and wheeled back in the other woman's direction just in time for the dagger to sink through the dress and into the Madame's side- Abby's eyes widened in surprise- oh, she really hadn't expected that- and she shoved the woman back, watching as she crumpled to the floor.

She didn't stop to think; Abby crossed back to the other table, finding the knife Gabby had given her and tucking it into a pocket of her dress before practically funning out the room and making her way upstairs. Her appearance drew stares from the few she encountered, but she didn't care. Once she found the room she was looking for, she tried the handle, cursing to herself when she found it locked- oh, why hadn't she thought of that earlier? She turned to head back to the study, gasping in surprise again to find Nicholas, holding out the key for her.

"I- thank you," she started, taking it and turning back to the door-- she couldn't get it open quickly enough, despite her nervousness at what she would find on the other side.