Creatures of Elysium

Chapter One: Complete Stranger

        Family. What is the true meaning of family? Why do humans give birth to helpless babies? Entirely dependent on another. To be fed, bathe, clothe. Are those acts merely requirements in earning a child's trust? Or purely deeds of unconditional love. Yet, how well do you genuinely know them? Your caregiver. Your mother. Your father. Not as the person who feeds you and raises you. But as separate individuals. With dreams, fears... and secrets.

        What is their story? What secrets do they hide? Will all the skeletons in the closet eventually come to light? Or will it be buried along with them?

        How is it possible to trust those who hide their sins? Someone you've known your whole life- then again, never truly know...

        My story started the night before...

~*~

        The knocking turned into loud, insisting, poundings at the front door. Loud enough to make me jump at its urgency.

        "Carla. Carla Williams." This time a voice accompanies the knocking.

        Clearly pretending nobody's home is not working.

        Groggily, I walked to the front door, twisted the cold knob to find a man at the front door. Disbelief crosses his face when he sees me.

        "May I help you," I asked.

        He immediately pulls himself together and begins to speak; an engaging voice follows the movement of his lip. "My apologies. It's just- the resemblance is uncanny..."

        "You are?" I do not recognize this elderly gentleman. He is not someone I have ever seen nor spoke with before.

        "Marcellus. I'm- I'm someone close to your father," he answered, not without hesitation.

        "I'm sorry. I have no idea who you are."

        It was late and I had a really long day. The last thing I needed was an unexpected visitor on my doorstep.

        "He never told you, did he?" His eyes bore right into mine, studying every expression.

        "Tell me what exactly?"

        A moment of silence fell between us before he whispered quietly, "Carla... I'm your grandfather."

        Right then and there, the world that I came to knew fell apart. How was this possible? Surely, it was a lie concocted by this unknown man.

        "How do I know if you're telling the truth?"

        "That's a valid concern. But I'll tell you something that no one else could have known. Your father has a scar on his left chest. He'll be likely to tell everyone it is from a surgery, but in fact it was from a fight he had in his younger days."

        I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "You could have heard that from anyone."

        "Your father has a mark on his inner lip. I know this because I have one too. 'My Pledge to You'. It's a mark that's been in our family for generations. I'm sure he has told you that."

        Indeed, my father did bear such marking on his inner lip. Could it be possible that he is telling the truth?

        Sensing my hesitation, he quickly interjected my thoughts. "Allow me in and I will explain further."

        Against my better judgement, I screamed at him. I was furious! Here was a complete stranger, claiming that he was my grandfather. When all this time, he was never around.

        "No! I'm not doing this! Not tonight. Not ever. You have never showed up before. And you have no right waltzing into my life when dad is gone. You pretty much abandoned us. Now leave!"

        There was no way in hell I will ever forgive him for whatever reason he had to say.

        "Carla. Please." He begged.

        "A grandfather??? How am I supposed to believe that? Dad died and all of a sudden you just appear? You weren't even at his funeral! Where have you been all this time?"

        I lashed out all my pent-up frustrations and anger at him. I could not help but recall back to the times when it was just me and dad. All the good times, now but a distant memory. And yet, right here, the grandfather I never knew, stood in front of me.

        Emotions and memories started weaving with one another. I pitied my father. The anguish he must have felt after being abandoned by his father- incomprehensible. I hate this man for cause my dad so much pain. But at the same time, yearns for a relationship with him.

        "If it is money that you are after, dad doesn't have it. All that's left is this house and a few hundred dollars to his name."

        Dad was struggling, yet he did not care to share his burdens with me. He must have been hurting for quite a while. My heart aches at the thought of him suffering in silence.

        "It is not money that I'm after, Carla. Believe me."

        "Had I known that you exist, I would have come sooner. Your father- Our relationship has always been... complicated. I love him, don't get me wrong. But we've never been known to see eye to eye."

        "When he met your mother, I forbade him from marrying her. After he left, I assumed he never forgave me. It was years later when I heard that your mother died giving birth. I tried reaching out to him, but he shut me out. He told me it was best to leave him be. He never mentioned that you were born... alive. I presumed... I presumed the worst."

        I could not help but take some time to gather my thoughts.

        My father not only kept me as a secret from my grandfather, but he knowingly lied to me all these year. The more I thought of it, the more it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. 

        "Why are you here now?"

        "I'm here to take you home, Carla."

        "But I am home!" I fumed.

        "Fair point. But you will be safer where I am at. Stefan would have wanted that. He would have wanted you safe."

        "This is my home and I am safe. Please leave. There is nothing much I can do for you."

        "Carla, the circumstances of your father's death is complex. I know the police told you that his death was an accident. But we... I believe otherwise."

        "We?" 

        "The council and I. There is a lot that you need to learn about us. About your father as well. Come with me and you'll know everything."

        Just like that, I am on my way to a place I've never heard of- with a grandfather I never knew I had. 12 hours in a private jet, 4 hours in a car, and I still have yet to arrive. Marcellus is the headmaster of a boarding school. For some odd reasons, it is located in the countryside near a mountain named Trails of Hyades. And not just any regular boarding school. It's an all boys boarding school!

~*~        "You do realize that I am a girl, right?"

        I recalled back to the conversation I had with him on the plane.

        "And what about my studies? How am I to cope?"

        "Yes, I'm fully aware of that Carla. Unfortunately, the only accommodation I can provide is a single room for you in one of the dormitories. That is at least until I sort out the documentation."

        "Patience, dear. In the meantime, do have fun getting to know your new friends."

        "But... BOYS!" I cannot help but whine. The idea of sharing a dorm with the other gender freaks me out. Boys in general make me lose it.

        "Don't you think that it would be inappropriate?"

        "Carla, I've told you. I trust my prefects. The dorm master would also be there to supervise. They will take good care of you. Rest assured that they will not take advantage of you."

        "Also, you ought not to worry about your education. Our curriculum is excellent. We are lucky that there is still a couple of days before half-term ends. That will give you time to familiarize yourself. I won't fret you catching up with your cohorts if I were you. I trust your homeschooling days with Stefan would be of great assistance." With that he smiled to himself and silence filled the whole flight.

~*~

        "Carla."

        "Carla. Open your eyes."

        I stir in my sleep as the voice interferes with my dream.

        "Carla, we're here."

        This time something cold touches my arm.

        The chillness jolts me awake.

        "Welcome home, Carla."