Raven

Chapter 14

Raven's POV

Yes, it was Miss Harlequin, sitting at the head of the table. These three must be the triplets Miss Gryca was referring to who went out with the young miss. They do look identical.

And since the triplets were here, that leaves Miss Harlequin as the master of this house. She was indeed Lilibeth's acquaintance, or should I say, her boss.

Lily was already there too, sitting beside Miss Gryca and opposite me.

"Y-You are the one who adopted me?" I asked. "H-How did it happen?"

"Let's save the questions for later. For now, we should eat. I am famished." Miss Harlequin smiled.

I glanced at Lilibeth and saw her mouthing some words.

'We'll explain everything later.' She said.

Beside Miss Harley was Hyperion. The same guy from the mall, and also from my dream. Remember the eleventh prince? He's serving Miss Harlequin right now just like what he did for her inside that dream.

We all started eating. The three kids were bickering on who had the most expensive gift that Miss Harley bought for them today.

The dinner was grand, however, I only had a little appetite now that I have questions swarming inside my head.

The dinner ended with me eating only a piece of baby pork rib and five spoons of mashed potato.

The one named Nyx came up to me and offered some jelly beans. "I saw you only ate a little earlier. Here, eat some."

"T-Thank you," I said as I accepted the jelly beans.

After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms except for me, Lily, and Miss Harley. With Miss Harley leading the way, we all went to the library.

The moment I stepped inside the library, I felt like stepping into a whole new different world. I was amazed by the ton of books inside this room. There were some unopened ones on the floor. The interior of the room could be compared to European architecture way back in the 17th century. The sides were adorned with candlelit candelabra, making the atmosphere seemed enchanting. It feels like a hidden passage will suddenly open if I pull one of the books or candelabra.

"So, what do you want to ask?" Miss Harley said the moment she sat down on her study table.

"I want to know everything," I said meekly. "I'm just confused."

There was a moment of silence. I saw Miss Harlequin glanced at Lily before she started talking. "Your parents were once a butler and maid of our manor back in Italy. They were both Filipino whom my mother hired. And I was honest when I said you do look just like your mother."

"When your mother conceived you, she was advised to stay at home since her pregnancy was at risk. They both decided to resign since your father was worried about your mother's health. My mother sent them back here and gave them benefits to support her pregnancy, and for your aftercare later on, if you're finally born."

She paused and smiled at me sadly. "My mother trusted them. But they did something that my mother could never forgive them for."

I gulped. "What is it?"

"They kidnap me and almost got me killed." Miss Harley sighed. "Mother couldn't believe that they could do such crime to me, to her. When my parents and the authority intercepted them, they confessed that they were just blackmailed. My mother believed them, after all, they worked for her for 10 years. She didn't file a lawsuit against them, instead, she only filed a restraining order."

I listened silently as I tried to picture out the events. This literally fits the saying "biting the hands that feed you."

I never knew my mom, whom I find very loving and caring, if my memory serves me right, would do such a thing.

Then she continued. "It was your birthday when that accident occurred. Can you still remember what happened before the crash?"

I tried recalling the memories that I've been suppressing all this time. "I remembered that they said we will be going to a beach resort."

Hyperion came inside the library, carrying a tray of tea. He placed it down on the coffee table and poured some for Miss Harley.

"I was there at your accident. Not just me, but also Hyperion and Lilibeth. Who do you think called the ambulance after the crash, knowing that that road was deserted?"

Miss Harley got a point. That place was like in the middle of nowhere. Only a few motorists would dare to pass that road. And Lily also mentioned that it was them who first saw me.

I looked at Hyperion who was looking at me coldly. No wonder he's hostile towards me, even inside my dream.

"Your parents tried crashing your car onto the car I was in. A suicide mission. But they missed, hence, the accident." She stared at me. "I even saw you looking at the air, after the accident. Talking to someone we can not see."

She stood up and sat beside me. "My mother spared you since you are still a child. She ordered Lilibeth to be your guardian and helped you live a comfortable life." She held my hand and squeezed it gently. Her warm palms helped me calm down and became at ease. "I don't want you to become just like your parents. I don't want you to get corrupted."

My chest became heavy as I think of all the times I spent with my parents. If only I knew the situation, maybe I could persuade them to stop their evil deeds.

Tears gathered in my eye. "Thank you for saving me," I said, choking on my words.

Thinking of all the bad things my parents have done to their family, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. "I'm so sorry."

She hugged me tight and caressed my back. "Ssh, don't cry. It's not your fault. It's the least thing I could do for you. After all, we are the closest to a family that you've only got."

I nodded silently as I tried to fight the drowsiness that suddenly wrapped me. However, the more I resist, the sleepier I became.

"Sleep now, Raven. You still got a long day ahead of you." I heard Lilibeth whispered.

I finally let my sleepiness engulfed me, drifting off to dreamland. The last thing I heard, echoing inside my head, was another voice that was so familiar to me.

"Grata domum, Raven."

?

It was so dark and cold. I couldn't help but shudder as the light drizzle touched my skin. I tried adjusting my eyes to the darkness and found myself standing in the middle of the road. The fog was clouding my sight but I could still make out some figures. Including this upside-down car in front of me.

A sense of dread crept onto my skin as I realized where I am. Who would forget this place if you keep on seeing this in your dream again and again?

I took a step forward, not minding the sticky feeling on my feet that made the hairs on my body stood up. The smell of blood and mud permeated into the air making me nauseous.

I went closer to the upturned car and I saw my younger self crawling out from it.

"I am such a mess," I whispered while looking pitifully at her.

"Mom? Dad?" I heard the little me talk while checking her head for blood. She called out for help, her voice echoing on this deserted road.

In the fog, I saw two silhouettes materializing. Unlike my dream, they didn't help my younger self, instead, they floated towards me.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" Dad asked, searching my body for injuries.

"W-Wait, you must be mistaken." I felt a lump stuck in my throat as I stared at the phantom form of my parents. "She's there. She needs your he—." I pointed to the place where the little me was standing, but she was nowhere to be found.

A surge of memories from that night flowed back into my head like a dam. The pain, emptiness, and anguish came crashing back. It's all coming back.

Mom held my face and wiped the tears that I didn't know I produced. "Stop crying, sweetie. You're going to be alright." She whispered and hugged me tightly.

I couldn't take it anymore. My knees gave out and I finally broke down, bawling my eyes out. Reliving the pain again made my chest hurt to the extent that I think I'm losing air to breathe.

"W-Why? W-Why did y-you do that?" I said almost incomprehensibly.

They were both quiet so I looked up at them. I saw them looked at each other before dad decided to answer me. He kneeled and hugged me tightly. "We did that for your own good. We did it to save you."

"She's lying to you, sweetie." Mom also hugged me tight and said. "That's not what really happened."

"What do you mean lying?" I choked up from my tears.

Mom spoke but there was no sound coming out from her mouth. Dad also tried talking but there were no words. They tried to hold my hand but they were suddenly pulled by an unknown force.

The fog thickened, giving me zero visibility. I called out to them. "Mom! Dad!"

The ground suddenly shook. Cracks appeared in the air as if it was a broken mirror. It spread around me until it exploded, blowing bits and bits of broken shard. Luckily, I ducked in time, avoiding it from wounding my face.

My surroundings fell into a complete silence. I slowly looked up and was confused. "Rose Mansion?"

The scenery changed. I'm now at the front of the Rose Mansion. Everything was familiar yet unfamiliar. The walls of the mansion were different from what I've seen. It was full of vines, making the mansion looked like it was painted green.

It was still quiet until a panicked voice broke the silence.

"Leo! She's not in the library!"

When I turned around, there were so many butlers and maids, scattered throughout the estate, calling out one name.

"Rori!"

The scenery changed again and I was surprised to see myself submerged in a river, from the waist down.

I looked around and I saw the most enchanting scene ever.

There was a little girl playing in the river, while the animals were just staring at her. Her platinum white hair and pale skin glowed under the sun.

She must have sensed me because she suddenly looked in my direction and smiled.

"Grata domum, Raven."