Marriage Was The Weapon

ELIZA’S POV Words couldn’t describe the guttural cry that exited my lips as the news report kept going. The fresh batch of cookies that I had made for a pack of elementary school kids had toppled carelessly off my hand as the name sank in. I stared back at the lighted screen behind me as images flashed on, showing a picture of a gruesome car accident and blood splatters around the gravelled road. There were strings of police tape tapered around the scene in the picture and a spread of police officers were vividly standing behind the beautiful African-American black reporter who was clad in a navy blue suit and a microphone in her hand as she recited stoically the images behind her with only her eyes showing the emotion. I fell to my knees with my hand toy chest as I let out a gut-wrenching cry, the voice of the newscaster drowned out in the background. “The wife of billionaire mogul and powerhouse heir to the fortune company. The Vale industries billionaire’s wife, who was found dead on the roadside a few nights ago will be finally laid to rest tomorrow being the 20th of July. The cause of death was stated to be burns from the irreparable damage done to her body as the car she was in, collided with the trees causing a fuel leak that set the car ablaze,” She reported “Her body was identified and has been transported to the morgue and further investigations have been carried out but according to the proper authorities, this is tagged as an open and shut case due to no direct evidence linking her death to anything other than a car accident. This is Ann Taylor reporting live…” “Mummy…” The little voice beside me had me turning my head. “Please don’t be sad?” I plastered on a weak smile at my beautiful four-year old daughter that was staring at me with doe eyes and a quivering lip. I pulled her towards me and rested her head on my shoulder, placing a soothing hand down her back. Her trembling stopped. If only she knew. Then it clicked. My eyes widened. “No, No, No. That's tomorrow!” I yelled and charged towards the remote to turn off the tv. In one strong pull, I tugged the apron off me which gave way thankfully and stormed out of my small kitchen towards my sorry excuse of a bedroom rummaging and packing whatever I could find into a small duffel bag I had thrown open on the bed. “Mummy?” Lisa called, confused and scared. “Nothing baby. I just need to pack.” I responded without looking in her direction. “We’re going on a trip” As I tossed in her favorite blanket, my hands paused for a while as I contemplated, thinking of how dangerous it would be if Lisa came with me. What if they found out? My memory went back to the last time I had heard from Lilian. FLASHBACK It was a rainy morning. As I stepped out, on my way to open the bakery. That’s when I saw her, wrapped in a familiar blanket, tucked in a basket, laid gently at my doorstep. A baby. And a short, rushed note: “Please protect her. I’ll come back for her when it’s safe. I’m gathering everything I need to make this stop. Don’t tell anyone. Especially him.” — L. FLASHBACK ENDS I knew that taking this risk was going to cause chaos but the thought of my sister being wronged had me throwing caution to the wind and getting into the car. I drove out of my driveway with one destination in mind. To meet my sister’s killer. The next day, I arrived at the Vale mansion with apprehension. I never knew what to expect walking into the mansion. Since my sister got secretly married I had never been here, never visited her home, not for lack of trying but due to the fact that my sister had been kept caged in the four walls of this paradise. Now driving through the long driveway made me dizzy with disgust at the dripping luxury each sight portrayed. As soon as I parked and stepped out of the car, I could hear the subtle sounds of violin playing in the distance. I took one last look at the towering mansion and with a deep breath stepped into the building. My eyes widened in awe at the expensive decor but it didn’t last long because a man clad in white and black holding a tray and a stiff smile playing on his lips approached me. “Please, how may I help you?” The young man asked respectfully. “I’m here for the funeral,” I said, holding back the tears that seemed to cloud her eyes. The man nodded in acknowledgement and outstretched his arm out forward dramatically. “Right this way ma’am,” he said and led me past the living room, towards the lobby. I could hear laughter and the classical music growing louder with each step I took. I frowned in confusion. Why would there be laughter resounding when… I froze in my tracks when the scene before answered my questions. There were guests drinking and laughing merrily as they clicked their flutes. They were all dressed fashionably not in black but in white. My eyes widened in horror as I sighted the so-called Elijah Vale staggering, with his arm slung lazily around a woman’s waist. I watched as the waiter beside me retracted back into the building from the corner of my eyes. I made my way down the stairs to the cluster of women that were giggling and laughing with champagne flutes in their hands. They all eyed me as I approached their table. “Can we help you?” One of the women closest to me spoke up first. “Yes actually you can help me” I said ignoring the irritated stares. “I’m looking for…” “And who are you?” I turned abruptly and the sound of the female voice behind me. It was an older woman who had a striking resemblance to Elijah vale. “I’m her sister,” I stated. They all gave me confused stares but I gave them a bitter smile. “I’m Lillian’s sister,” I clarified. Recognition clouded their eyes. The older woman’s face suddenly turned sad, but remorse was far from her eyes. “Oh you poor thing. Come now, we are about to say a few words for her before we bury her,” the woman said, with her arms held protectively around me as she walked with me towards the far end of the yard where a gaping six feet hole was dug. “Just wait here,” the woman said and left me standing there. It took a good few minutes for me to realise that the woman wasn’t coming back anytime soon. My hands fisted at my sides as I realised with each passing minute how much my sister was valued by these people. My shoulder heaved as I tried to hold back my sobs. “Why will you waste your tears on people who don’t care?” I jerked back at the sound of the male voice. I wiped at the treacherous tear that ran down my face to clear my vision. I couldn’t help but gasp at the sheer sight standing before me. He flashed me a boyish smirk and outstretched his arm. “Hi, I’m Cassian Vale”