The Bigger Better Beta

The night was dark, the full moon out and the night had this weird feel to it. I watched Clara my sister, descend from the alter, the white paper she was initially holding in her hands was now a deep shade of blue. Steam around the edges, as if it was on fire but surprisingly, it was not burning. Clara beamed, she turned to me, moving out of the way and ushering me to come forward. "Mine's blue like water, It's your turn Riri", she said excitedly. I sucked in a breath, honestly I didn't know exactly what was going on as I made my way towards the altar, I stared at the paper in my hand completely devoid of any color. How had Clara's paper then turned blue? I didn't know! I didn't even know what exactly I was doing here. Hell, I just knew it was tradition and whatever the significance was, I was too young to understand. Deciding not to question it again, I stuck my hand into the bowl and closed my eyes. Lucinda had told me it was nothing to be worried about. I only had to just put the paper into the altar and I would feel a pull. And just as she had told me, I felt the pull and I opened my eyes. But what I wasn't expecting to see was the same plain white paper staring back at me. Horror filled me when I realized that whatever I was doing wasn't working. I put my hand at the altar again. Closing my eyes, the same pull happened but when I opened my eyes, the paper was still plain white, again and again, the third and fourth time, but still nothing. I turned around to meet the smiling face of Clara, but when she saw the plain white paper in my hands, her smile immediately turned upside down. As if the gods heard my silent cry for help. A figure came bursting into the room. Upon seeing the plain white paper in my hands, her eyes immediately widened. "Lucy, nothing happened to the paper." I said shakily raising the paper for her to see. Lucinda quickly ran to me and snatched the paper from my hands, placing it into the altar. I watched miraculously as she retracted her hand and the plain white paper had suddenly turned deep brown, also looking like it was burning around the edges. "There, grandfather cannot know it was me, take it to him and tell him it is yours!" At this point, I felt the pressure, I knew grandfather didn't like me and I would have to face him directly. I didn't know when I began hyperventilating. "Riri! Riri!" I felt the burning sensation on my cheeks and thankfully it worked and I began breathing normally again. "Listen to me, Riri! Lucinda gripped me tightly on my shoulders, steadying me and bending just a bit so I could look her square in the eye. You gotta pull yourself together. No matter what you do make sure to remain calm okay. It's just a small lie." I nodded. Now go she said firmly and no matter what, make sure you remain calm! I turned to Clara who still looked bothered. She nodded as we both made our way out the room with our papers. I felt like the child going to show their parents their test scores when they had a bad grade. Not to long after we both stopped in front of a door. Pushing it slightly, both I and Clara entered inside. Inside the room was a giant round table consisting of members of the family. At the opposite end was Grandfather, he sat like the leader that he was. He was sitting on the biggest looking chair, casually resting his arms on the handle of the chair. While the rest of the family sat down on the other chairs. I noticed Grandfather break out into a smile the moment Clara entered the room, however his smile soon turned to a deep scowl when he saw me. I averted my gaze from grandfather to see father looking at me, he gave me a small strained smile as if he knew something was wrong, while the other members of the Silverstone family looked indifferent. Till date, I still didn't know what exactly was going on. Both I and Clara didn't waste any time, we both went towards the only podium that was in the room. Grandfather stepped down from the chair and calmly made his way towards us. First he looked at Clara with a smile. Clara knelt down and presented the paper to him. "Father," she said. Father took the paper from her and scrutinized it under the light. A large grin broke out on his face. Turning to the others, " it's blue" he said. He raised up the paper for them to see." My girl's paper turned blue." He shouted again. All around the table, there were series of cheers from the extended family. From the corner of my eye, I could see Clara give me a pitying look, I knew she was scared for me. Grandfather returned to Clara her paper, she stole one last glance at me before she made her way to her seat on the table, it was like she was finally now accepted. His eyes then darted in my direction and immediately he did, the smile on his face turned into a deep frown. Taking that as an invitation to come closer, I went towards him and handed him my own paper. His eyes scrutinized the paper as he ran his gaze over it, inspecting it incredulously, as if not believing I was able to do it. And he was right. I was nothing more than a failure and here I was trying to lie to him, that I've done something I didn't . Lucinda had warned me to remain calm but when I stared into his eyes which seemed to bore a hole in my head without even looking at me, I couldn't help the panic that began brewing within me. As if sensing my unease, grandfather tore his gaze away from the paper immediately and he looked at me. "Is this your paper?' He asked suspicionsly. I didn't know where the bravado came from but I answered anyway. "Yes Grandfather!" I said timidly. He only closed his eyes in response to my statement, one two three seconds passed before his eyes shot open with so much speed. He looked at me as if realising what happened. His eyes containing a blazing fury. "That is.......a lie." My heart skipped a bit, again and again, he could always tell when I was lying. Inside the room, there was a series of gasps. "You dare lie to me?!" Grandfather said before he gave me a backhand. "You dare try and humiliate me in front of my own court." He turned around. "Someone get this thing out of my sight. I knew she was useless the day she came here. She is unfit to be with us! See what that woman has put upon us now!" I felt the sting in my eyes, I didn't even know whether it was because of the slap or his words. Suddenly, Lucinda barged into the room. "Grandfather no! Please! It was all my idea." Clara ran out to stand with Lucinda too." Grandpa, if she can't do it today, I am sure she can do it another day." Grandfather only turned his head angrily towards towards my sisters. "If she couldn't change the colors today, then she can never change them again." It was father's turn to defend me as he stood up next. "Grandfather, I believe getting rid of her is too extreme! A decision of lesser consequence should be made." "No Son! are you telling me we should then bend the rules just for one child." Grandfather replied hotly There were series of murmurs by the family. They all seemed to be agreeing with Grandfather. "Grandfather if you will just-" father started but was cut off immediately. Enough boy! you seem to be forgetting your place on this council and and most especially the family! Klause shrunk back, settling pitiably in his seat. "Please Grandfathe-" Lucinda started but was interrupted by Grandfather again. "Enough Lucinda, or I can assure you, I could make it far worse for her." From my position on the floor, I looked up at grandfather, he stared back down at me, his eyes contained an evil glint. I knew he had been searching for ways to kick me out of the family and the opportunity had already presented itself. Till date I could never tell what I did to bear such hatred from the man. My only crime had been to exist. He turned to the others. "Members of the clan, with all that you have seen tonight, should Rihanna here be allowed here or should she be sent away?" I watched as the members of the family murmured among themselves. Aunty Gwenivere first began. "I believe she shouldn't be given accomadation in this premises atleast." Uncle Tom agreed with her. Cousins Jerry and Butch, wanted me to stay. "Sending a child, adopted or not away from her family is quite a serious decision. I believe the laws should be bent a bit." Father said. Grandfather just snorted, she will adjust. One by one, I watched as the members of the family decided my fate. What seemed like hours on end was probably just a few seconds. When it seemed like all had come to an end, Grandfather finally spoke. "The Silverstones have spoken. You will leave here once and for all." An evil smirk on his face, he had finally gotten what he wanted. No! Lucinda tried to get to me but was stopped by guards. "Be quiet Lucinda." randfather said with so much authority I felt the hair on my hands stand. Take her away. Father spoke as two men grabbed me by the hand and began dragging me out of the mansion. The two men dragged me out, as the door closed, the last thing I saw was grandfather's cold face staring at me, I was sure I imagined it, but for the briefest of seconds, his evil mask dropped a bit before it was replaced by one so stern again.