Deceitful Kingdom

Chapter 1

Tatiana

Chapter 1

The funeral of Daniel and Masha Petrova.

The pain was too much. It was unbearable for me to see their coffins being placed in their graves… it wasn't fair.

My eighteenth birthday was supposed to bring me happiness and a new life, not end whatever life I had in me.

I was hyper aware of everything around me. The people who ran away yesterday who just now decided to grace me with their presence as if to pay their respect for my parents. Why didn't they do something yesterday then? If they were so honourable why did they f*****g run like cowards?

My knees hit the soil of the cemetery beneath me as they started covering up the coffins with more soil, buring them six feet under and buring my heart and soul with them.

How was I supposed to go on? My family were my everything and I was only eighteen for God's sake, what would I do on my own?

Tears started flowing from my eyes as if they were a river and I tried, god knows I tried to hold back my sobs and tears. To appear strong but I couldn't, I f*****g couldn't.

My sobs got louder and I felt the pitiful stares people were giving me but who cared. The ones that mattered were gone.

“Mommy don't leave me.” I let out in between a choked sob when I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder. What the hell?

Looking behind me, I saw what almost looked like a carbon copy of my father. Was my mind playing games on me? Did I desperately want my father back, that I imagined him?

No. Even imagination wouldn't go that far, besides this man had softer features than my Dad had but if he wasn't Dad then who the hell was he?

“What the…” I trailed off as I looked behind the man, seeing way too many men in black, guards protecting an elderly person who was holding a cane to help him stand.

“Hello Tatiana. I'm Henry, your father's twin brother.” The man, Henry, was still rubbing his hand up and down my back now, comforting me and his touch was so much like Dad's.

But how was that possible?

“T-twin?” I whispered, my gaze locked on him as I wished if he were truly my father and not just a twin. A twin that I didn't know about.

He only gave me a sad smile and said.”I think I'm free to assume that your Dad never mentioned me.”

He wasn't asking but stating and I still nodded my head at his words nonetheless. Why didn't my father ever mention him and from the looks of it? Henry loved his twin so why didn't I know about him?

“I'm sure, that Russian woman forbade him from mentioning his family.” The elder man finally spoke and I wished he didn't because what the f**k did he mean?

How dare he talk about my dead mother like that?

“That Russian woman? Are you f*****g kidding me?” I rose to my feet and so did Henry while eyeing me warily, obviously seeing that I was slowly losing my grip on where I was and how many people were around.

My eyes narrowed on the man and he was eyeing me harshly, trying to intimidate me. Good f*****g luck.

“That Russian woman's name was Masha Petrova and she was my mother so if you disrespect her in front of me again, don't blame anyone but yourself for what's going to happen, understand?” I threatened, my voice was venom laced but who gave a f**k? A stranger thought he could insult my mom and get away with it.

He scoffed. “She didn't even raise you well enough to respect your elders.”

My eyes widened and Henry immediately grabbed me when I tried to launch at that man. Who did he think he was? Huh?

“f**k off my parents’ funeral.” I yelled and everyone went quiet, watching the scene unfold.

The older man just hit the cane on the ground as he looked at the man holding me back. “Henry, wrap this up and follow me to the plane.”

He gave me a glare that made it clear he disapproved of me before walking away.

My eyes were watery again as I watched him walk away. If Dad was here he would never allow anyone to talk like that about Mom.

Henry then gave me an apologetic look. “I'm sorry about that. My father was always like that, with everyone and he didn't exactly…”

He looked around, trailing off, maybe realising we were still surrounded by people and didn't want to talk about private things here but my mind was still caught up.

That man was my grandfather? How could someone sound and look so cruel and to their flesh and blood.

Anyway, that wasn't my concern now. I needed to say goodbye to my parents…

******************

I was currently in my room, folding up my clothes and putting them in a suitcase because apparently Henry and my ‘grandfather’ were here to take me back to the states, where my father's family lived their entire life and so did he.

Before he met my mother and they both decided to live in London and leave everything behind and now it made sense honestly. How could he handle a father like that?

Henry, who wasn't sure on what to do with me decided to join in and help me pack up my clothes.

“My father was always a hard man, Tatiana and he fought with Daniel a lot because he was a rebel against everything my own father did.” Henry told me while folding up some of my shirts but I knew he was trying to distract himself with anything as he talked.

“And when Daniel decided to marry Masha, my father disapproved of her because she was an outsider and you'll soon understand that things don't go the way we want in this family.” I could sense the sadness in his voice and I felt sad for him, it sounded like he was suffocating from his life and his father.

“Daniel then fought with our father about his marriage and that ended with Daniel walking away and my father threatening him that he won't ever talk or acknowledge him again.” Henry's eyes met mine, long forgotten the packing up.

“Your father left, Tatiana. He chose Masha over everything and I only wished if I was as brave as he was that day, maybe he wouldn't have died if I was by his side.”

I was shocked to hear that because my parents never mentioned such a thing to me my whole life but now I kind of see why. That wasn't exactly a story that you tell your child.

And it didn't mean I never asked but looking back at it Dad always dodged my questions one way or another and I didn’t mind.

Our family of three was more than enough for me so I never gave it much thought about any extended family I might have had.

But now he mentioned my parents’ murder. “Henry, I saw the man who killed my parents.”

Maybe I shouldn't have told him that, maybe I was quick with trusting him but I needed to tell someone about what I knew.

Henry's eyes widened at my words and he turned to me. “Are you sure?”

I just nodded my head, not happy to relive the memory of the previous night.

“All right, Tatiana, I need you to listen to me. When you come with us, I want you to get a hold of yourself and ignore Dad's words and I know that's hard but for your sake and mine as well, you have to try.” Henry put his hands on my shoulders, turning me to look at him as he talked. His gaze was soft like the way it had been in the cemetery and it had me wondering how he was the son of that man? He was nothing like him from what I saw.

I sighed. “I'll try but if he talks badly about my mother I don't think I can stop myself.”

I told him because I wanted to be truthful to him, not trick him in any kind of way.

He just smiled and said. “Of course, I appreciate the effort of trying but come on let's continue packing up so we can leave as soon as we can.”

We packed up only two suitcases, it would take us a day to pack everything I had so I just had to make do with what I took and besides I'm sure that Henry wouldn't let me need anything while he was around.

Now we were at the airport, heading for the private jet that they came in and I was unconsciously slowing my steps down, not wanting to face that man again and handle his harsh gaze.

Henry seemed to notice my hesitancy and my wary gaze of the jet because he immediately wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulder. “You won't even have to talk to him now, Tatiana. Just take a seat far away and that will be all.”

I smiled, and it was probably the most genuine I gave in the span of one day. “Thanks Uncle.”

I didn't know why I called him that but it felt right to do so, he gave me the comforting feelings an Uncle should give and I was happy to have someone be there for me in such a tough time.

He tapped my back, gesturing for me to walk ahead and I did, hurrying up the steps of the jet and entering it.

And I saw that man, my grandfather who, speaking of which, I didn't even know his name but oh well, who cared.

He was holding an Ipad in his hand, too focused on it to acknowledge me and I wasn't sad for that as I went ahead and seated myself away from everyone, at the very back of the jet.

I placed my bag beside me but not before I took out my airpods and put them in my ears, wanting to escape reality for a little while, it wasn't too much to ask.

Putting on Ruelle's ‘Madness’ I leaned back in my seat, getting lost in the music, hoping it would help calm down my sorrows.

But I remembered that maybe I should start researching Dad's family due to what I saw today, they might be a big deal in the states and I kind of needed any info I could get.

Fetching out my Ipad, I immediately typed in Henry Ellis, seeing what I can find from there about the entire family.

I froze when I saw the headlines.

A tragedy fell upon the Ellis family with the death of their son, Daniel and his wife.

After his disappearance for many years, Daniel Ellis was finally mentioned to the world again but in an unfortunate way.

The murder of Daniel Ellis.

The sad death of Daniel Ellis.

Ellis. Daniel. Ellis family.

They never mentioned my Mom's name in any of those. Why did no one acknowledge my mother? Why did my grandfather hate her?

I let my tears fall freely as I kept on searching. Finding a new article that made everything even more complicated.

Two deaths in the span of two months, did the Ellis family lose their power to protect their own blood?

After the death of his daughter, Henry Ellis was faced with the murder of his twin brother which left one question: How far will the Ellis family go before they fall from their mighty throne?

The death of his… daughter? Henry had a daughter who died? It made sense why they suddenly felt like they needed to keep beside them, why they felt that I should stay beside a family I've never met.

Fucking hell.

Henry was married to a woman named Isabelle and they had a daughter whose name was Charlotte before she died or killed, if I was to give her the same fate as my parents.

Another Article.

The Ellis family are left with no heirs, a castle and a throne with no one to left inside them, what will become of their future?

What life was my father living in before he left it all behind and what happened to Henry's daughter? What kind of life was I entering by agreeing to go with them? And more importantly, who was going to become the family's heir?

Me?