Chapter III - Eclipse
“Lillya!!”
Nelya’s voice came from behind me as I watched the huge tree while hugging my book. The backyard of the mansion was quiet. No one ever came here, except the servants that maintained the garden.
Hence, that beautiful garden placed behind the mansion has always been our spot. Nelya and I had played there since throughout the six years I’ve spent there.
Nelya was fourteen, and because I didn’t have a known age...I was fourteen too, being that we were the same height.
I turned around…
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zartrnc88x488q6hq9qsl/Nelya.png?rlkey=wazqzouwkcky3vgus9qbuhwaj&raw=1]
...she looked beautiful, as always. Her blue dress matched her eyes, which made her pout.
“Oh, come on. Today as well?” She asked, hugging my arm. “Come on! I want to play!”
“Nelya...I have to keep up with my studies.” I sighed, shaking her hands off my arm. “We’ll play later, okay?”
Despite her now almost mature age, Nelya never really abandoned the habit to play and having fun. No matter what was the activity – as long as it was fun and it was with me, she would do anything.
I, on the contrary, started growing an interest towards the world during these six years. I wanted to know about myself, the world and everything that surrounded me. I tried to join all my siblings, and I asked mom and dad if they could send me to the school they were all attending to in the city.
However, something weird happened the first day I tried to leave the mansion.
It was my first day at school. My father, with his power and money, convinced the owner and put me in the same class as Nelya. However, right when I was about to hop on our carriage...I fainted.
Whenever I tried to walk past the gates, I fainted.
All my family was worried, and wondered why. I was confused from this weird phenomenon as well.
We asked to the same doctor, and he said that it’s probably for the same reason I lost my memories…
...something bad may have happened out there, in the outside world. And my mind never wanted to leave the mansion.
Another mystery piled up.
How did I get to the mansion in the first place? Did this phenomenon start only after they took me in?
I didn’t know...and I thought I would have probably never known.
I tried to fight against this ‘’illness’’...that’s how I personally viewed this issue. Nothing. After six whole years...my mind and body couldn’t leave that home.
Luckily, mom and dad were the understanding type – I was home-schooled, and my siblings brought countless books every week from the city’s library. I started reading roughly after a year I was adopted...both fictions and ‘’serious’’ books.
That day too I wanted to immerse myself into the newest book I got. ‘’The meaning of our mind – written my Nikolaj Kriks.’’
It was a book about psychology, the branch I was mostly interested in.
But alas, Nelya shook my whole body with her hands.
“Come on! You’ll read later! Come on!”
She had just arrived from school...and instead of being tired, she was energetic. I didn’t quite get her...because I had heard from the others that school is hard and demanding.
“Don’t you have to study or do any homework?” I asked her, sighing.
“...you really don’t want me around, do you?”
She suddenly stopped nagging me, putting her hands behind her back. Her eyes looked down while she frowned.
“It’s...it’s not that.” I sighed, putting my hand on her shoulder. “It’s just...Nelya, I-I want to study.”
“Fine. I understand.” She smiled at me, cheering up. “But can we hang out after dinner? In your room?”
“Yes, of course.” I nodded. “Thank you.”
She left in a hurry, going back inside from the rear entrance. I was left alone once more.
I sighed peacefully and smiled, sitting under the tree and opening the book. It was spring – April, to be exact. There was a very cool breeze outside.
And so I sat there, enjoying my book…
...at the time I did not know that day would be one of the last peaceful days of my life.
----------------------------------------
Evening came, and everyone was back home from their respective day. Everything was done and finished...and it was time for the whole family to relax.
I went to the living room, in search of Nelya. I wanted to hang out with her before dinner was ready.
Throughout those six years, the living room didn’t change much. Everything was in its usual place.
I didn’t find Nelya there. However, I found my three sisters of the five I had – Annaliese, Katherine and Rosie.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/chpquzhz8im3j4saackd1/Rosie.png?rlkey=zwexsmn72i9l45siplx47e9nv&raw=1]
Rosie was the oldest sister I had. She was a gentle, caring girl, blooming into a fine and mature woman. She was twenty-one at the time, and she worked at a local shop. Her hair were black and long, and her eyes were deep green.
We were close, but she was too old, and I didn’t really understand her mind...but she did care about me even if every time we had the chance to talk, I’d naturally come out a little cold and silent.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/etew4ly77y3s17bkb6h8d/Katherinevera.png?rlkey=ffjurb6gvmojrjxpe7q3erepn&raw=1]
Katherine was nineteen. She was a bit more cold and selfish. She had shorter, but still black hair and her eyes were brown. We didn’t talk much...but not because I didn’t want to. It was because she was a quiet, grumpy girl, and she never really talked to anyone if not necessary. She was still studying at an academy around the city.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1ifxivv84xgl429il55bv/Katherine.png?rlkey=gvxckoh5fmnug0ru1szck6wvk&raw=1]
Annaliese was eighteen. She had golden, beautiful hair and a pair of great blue eyes.
She was...a pain in the butt. She was cocky, sarcastic and she always looked at me with a condescending, almost mocking smirk. I didn't like her one bit.
It didn’t matter that she was my sister – I just could never respect her in any way. She was mean, rude and arrogant to me any time she could…
...I didn’t know why, but that’s what she was and, no matter how much of a dumb child I was at the time...I just couldn’t be fooled by her smirks.
She studied at the same academy Katherine did.
Despite Annaliese being the only one of these three that I kind of hated, I actually never loved Rosie and Katherine as well...at least not as much as I loved Nelya. They definitely felt more distant. The gap of maturity grew too wide with time, and Nelya’s childishness didn’t do me any favor because I was constantly being affected by it.
“Oh, hi Lillya!” Rosie greeted me with a smile.
“Hi Rosie.” I saluted her. Annaliese waved at me smiling, while Katherine nodded briefly before she lowered her head and kept reading her book on the couch.
“Where are the others?” I asked them.
“Nelya is in your room. She is surprisingly studying, hahah!” Rosie replied.
“I didn’t ask about Nelya precisely…” I blushed, sighing.
They knew I had a soft spot for Nelya. We even shared our bedroom together.
However, I actually wanted to greet everyone, so I asked them again – “Where are the guys?”
“Gale and Vance are still in the city. They are doing what they always do.” Rosie shook her head and sighed.
“And Will?” I asked.
“He’s training outside.”
“Okay.”
I’ll go say hi to William first, then I’ll reach Nelya and hang out with her.
----------------------------------------
I went back outside, the darkness of the backyard felt a bit intimidating, even if I left it not too long ago.
I saw William there, doing a set of push-ups. I figured that he probably had just started training because I was near that tree just a few minutes ago.
“Hey Will!” I reached him, interrupting his streak.
“Hey girl, how is it going?” He brushed his hair and smiled at me while sitting on the ground, his legs crossed.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jguapulxcokhqdu71bjha/William.png?rlkey=ahxg2v6dral57alx1ru6pi9kk&raw=1]
William was part of the royal guards of the kingdom, and he rarely was at home. He recently came back from a year-long trip to another continent...he had to guard one of the kingdom’s diplomats from assassination attempts. He was given time to rest, but he’d have to go back after the end of this summer.
He was a very active guy. He never rested, and kept his skills and body sharp. When he was on break, he worked with Rosie at the local shop I talked about...because he wanted to provide for our already wealthy family. And then, after work, he would always train until evening was ready. He was also my oldest sibling...as he was twenty-eight. He had a weird condition...which made his hair look white. We probably had the same ‘’problem’’, even if his eyes were azure and not red like mine.
“I’m doing good, thanks. Today I read this!” I replied, showing him the book I had in my arms.
I really liked him – he was a strong and dutiful man with great care for his family. He always swore to protect me from any danger…
...he also was the only one who knew about the joints.
“Oh, nice. Still on the psychological route, eh?” He giggled. “You really do like studying the human mind.”
“Yes, I do.” I smiled, “While you are all physical!” I added, pouting. “You should really rest, brother.”
“Nah, I shouldn’t…” he grunted, standing up and petting my head. “...I have to work hard and provide for you all.”
“You don’t have too...”
He sighed, “...please, can we not go through this again? I don’t want to spend my free time arguing with you.”
“S-Sorry.” I looked down.
“No problem. Now...you should go back inside.” He said. “I gotta focus here.”
“Okay, see you at dinner!”
I turned around and ran back inside, a smile on my face.
I adored William. He made me feel the safest girl in the world...and he also helped me go through the issues I had because of those doll joints.
I ran upstairs and walked towards my bedroom, opening the door.
Nelya was there, reading a book at the desk.
“Hey...sorry to keep you waiting.” I giggled, placing the book on the bed.
“Ah! Finally!!!!!”
She immediately jumped off the chair, hugging me tightly. I embraced her and laughed. It was joyful, seeing how excited she was everytime we had the chance to spend some time together...even after six whole years.
“There, there, I’m here now.” I cooed, mocking her.
“Oh, come on! I’m just happy that we can finally hang out.” She pushed me slightly.
“So? What did you do while your heart was aching for playtime?” I asked her, sitting at the desk and checking the book she was reading…
“Give me that!”
“Oh-!”
...it wasn’t a book, it was her secret diary. She snatched it very quickly, breathing a sigh of relief.
There was only one thing Nelya kept from me, even if we were as close as we ever could be – her diary. She’d been writing it even before we met, and nobody but her knew its contents.
She described it to me as the deepest spot of her heart, where everything that hurt her was kept locked and in place...and everything that made her happy was recorded for her to cherish the memories.
She swore to herself to never let anyone read it, and for all those six years...she always kept the key which opened it hanging on her neck. The key was a golden, small one...and despite my respect for her desire to never let me read it, my eyes would always gaze at it with curiosity.
I was a girl with no memories, after all. My brain ached to gain information, constantly.
I never really understood why she had such a thing. We were twin sisters, tied by a bond that surpassed even the fact that we weren’t of the same blood. I loved her so much, yet she felt this...need of secrecy I sometimes was a bit angry of.
“Whops, sorry. Didn’t mean to. I thought it was a normal book.” I raised my hands, standing up and sitting on the bed. I removed my shoes and stretched. “Let me have a bath first, I sat outside all day, my clothes are dirty.”
“Alright.” She shrugged, going out of the room.
“…”
I went in front of the mirror of our bedroom and stared at myself.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n3naazepfrjbh7iahppj5/Lillya.png?rlkey=of050hcu4e96qt1ghtl560kd0&raw=1]
Despite my thoughts about her diary, I was no less.
I kept this curse hidden – the curse I’ve been bearing for six whole years.
My naked shoulders’ joints moved as I unbuttoned my dress slowly, making it slide down. My whole body shone by the light of the gas lantern hissing peacefully.
I took a deep breath and stared at myself, doing what I’ve been doing for all this time...following my dear brother William’s advice.
“I am real.” I stated, nodding. “I am real. I am real. I am real. I am-”
And right at that moment, I saw someone behind me.
I turned around as soon as I could, slamming my own body against the mirror, my heart beating out of my chest.
I saw someone, I was sure of it.
It was someone blonde, with a smile...it was a brief second but I did see it.
I looked around...she wasn’t there anymore.
Though an eerie, chilling sensation remained.