Chapter V - Shattered Delusion
I didn’t sleep much – I kept thinking about Erika’s words. What could they have meant? Why did she ask me, and only when we were alone?
I didn’t dare to talk to William about it, since he was going to see me reinforce that vision’s existence.
However, despite all my efforts, I couldn’t really keep repeating that nothing was happening, and that it was all in my head.
It was Saturday that morning, and Nelya was home, along with everyone else.
Weekends weren’t a big thing to me, since I was home-schooled and completely free to choose how and when I invested my time in education. But Nelya...Nelya was ecstatic. She couldn’t wait for weekends to arrive so that we could hang out all day.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/297osojstllwfhdbceu73/Satomi-p.png?rlkey=uul4h54qy6qyzfweeymmf7qo7&raw=1]
“Good morning, miss Lillya.”
Satomi was another one of the four maids. She was in charge of the ‘’well-being’’ of everyone there, meaning that she took care of whoever was troubled and needed assistance. She was the one who brought all my siblings to school, since she was really good with carriages. She also was in charge of any business that had to be carried out in town. In fact, she had been one of the most active during the search of my parents.
She took telegraphs, letters, anything...she had every business in the house in her own hands. She was very trusted indeed.
That morning, I saw her talking with my mom in the corridor where some of our bedrooms were.
“Ah, good morning, Lillya.” Mom saluted me as well, caressing my head. “Is Nelya still asleep?”
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6s5ktvzl1g6yruqhix8v4/Mom.png?rlkey=xlgnu4vhtj6s4ygd4t3h96hev&raw=1]
Mom…
...she had one of the purest souls.
She was a sweet woman, who married my father because of who he was, and not what he had.
Her name was Victoire Gindre...and she came from a faraway kingdom. Her hair were of a beautiful gold, signature of most of the children she had. Her eyes deep and blue.
I...think we should move on. I can't take it.
After I passed through the two, I ran downstairs and reached the dining hall.
There, I met Katherine, William and Annaliese, eating their breakfast.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h56t0rbvpryglxyh5i28z/Cl-a.png?rlkey=qt9c1e9xkthp4640nd8yc0yz3&raw=1]
“Good morning, miss Lillya. Breakfast will be served. Please sit.”
She was Cléa. She was the oldest maid, and she came from the same kingdom mom came from...they were best friends, in fact. They had a lot in common, since they shared the same culture.
She was our cook. She only did that because she was very, very good at it. Every plate she cooked...was a work of art.
I sat at the table, sighing. Breakfast arrived very soon and I started eating it slowly.
“How are you this morning, Lillya?” William asked me.
“H-Huh? Why?” I looked at him confused.
“You look a little worn out. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, come on. Can I eat without seeing this sappy garbage?” Annaliese rolled her eyes. “She is fine! I can tell.”
“Will you shut up for once?” William retorted. “I didn’t ask anything to you.”
“Can you both shut up? I’m trying to read.” Katherine sighed. “I’m bringing food to my room if you keep going.”
“Go in your room, then?” Annaliese replied, annoyed. “The table is made to converse, not to read!”
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sleya4zuq4cj78retrrw6/dad.png?rlkey=teqv7x11j0v5hoen4pnu9zl0s&raw=1]
“Come on, children. Do not fight…”
Dad entered the room and sighed, shaking his head.
“...it always makes me sad to see your angry faces! Come on, smile!”
Dad...was dad. He was gentle, caring, way too permissive. He literally loved each one of us, and we were all constantly pampered by his wealth and attention. He didn’t work, so he was always, always around. I couldn’t recall one time he was mad at us. Mom was the same...but she couldn’t compete with him. He was the one who was responsible for the children who had black hair.
He was the best dad I could ask for…
“Sorry, dad.” William bowed, as we all looked at him sit at his place, the head of the table.
“A-Anyway...I’m fine, Will. Thanks.” I nodded briefly, standing up and stretching. “You all have a nice day.”
“Have a nice day too!” Annaliese giggled as she replied to me. I ignored her and set out.
“Good morning, Ferya.”
Last but not least...we had Ferya. A maid who paired PERFECTLY with Katherine. She was gloomy, silent and had probably never smiled in her whole life.
She was the opposite of Steelia – she took care of the indoors.
We never spoke much, and I didn’t really know anything about her. She was the youngest maid, that I knew. We were about the same height.
She nodded at my salute, and then kept walking.
And with her, the whole family is complete.
Fifteen people…
...and no one who would have been able to guess that a shadow was hiding, ready to claim the souls of everyone.
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I closed the door of my room slowly, darkness still shrouded every inch. Nelya wasn’t in the bed though, I heard water running in the bathroom.
I opened the curtains, bathing everything with light. I took a deep breath and glanced at the mirror...rigorously at the side of the bed.
Erika’s words rang in my head.
There must have been a reason for her to ask me such a thing. I just knew something was up.
“…”
For once, I didn’t want to stay put and let things happen to me. No. I wanted to take action.
“Ah, Lillya! Did you have breakfast? I’m...hey! Where are you going?”
I stormed out of the room, my fists clenched.
I was going to receive answers from her, no matter what.
I knocked on her door, multiple times.
“Erika! Erika open the door!” I called her out, taking deep breaths. What I was doing was new...throughout those six years, I had never called her name so fiercely.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Nelya walked out of the room, her frilly dress already on. She tilted her head.
I shooed away with my hand, she shrugged and went downstairs, letting her hunger win over her curiosity.
“...ngh! Open the door I tell you!” I started yelling, banging on the door.
And then, I yelped. She was at my right...arms crossed.
“A-Ah...hi.” I scratched the back of my head, smiling. “Sorry.”
“…” she sighed, opening her door. “...you could have just opened it.”
“I-I’m not that rude!”
“What if I was in danger? Hm? What if I was about to die in my own bed? You would never be the one who’d save me, just because ‘’it would be rude’’?”
“…”
I looked at her go inside her room after that dark sentence. I followed her inside.
Her room was neat and tidy – it smelled exactly like her. Countless books on the desk, some opened, some closed shut.
“So? What did you want?” Erika asked, sitting on the chair. “I have little time, make haste.”
“I...I am worried about what you told me yesterday.” I confessed.
“And why would you be?”
“Because you wouldn’t search for a ghost if you weren’t sure about their existence.” I replied, fidgeting with my hands. “...so...i-is there any ghost?”
She chuckled, opening a book on the desk. “Your naïveté is charming, truly.”
I sighed, “please, just answer me.”
"Are you perhaps afraid of ghosts?”
“...yes.” I nodded.
“Hm.” Erika looked at me again, regaining her interest in the conversation. “Well...no. I saw no ghost. But I could sense something was wrong yesterday.”
“Something was wrong?” I asked her.
“Yes. See...I have a special ability. I probably was born with it. I can sense...people’s auras, or to be more specific, I can sense the energy within every single thing that is in this world.”
I tiled my head and grimaced.
What the hell is she saying…?
“Last night, I sensed something even stronger than your wretched aura.” She said, looking down at her nails. “At first, I thought it was you. But no...I am sure it was something else. The feeling peaked right before dinner.”
“…”
Right before dinner...I was about to take a shower...then I saw that figure.
It couldn’t be any clearer. What I saw was real.
“Lillya? You look rather pale.” Erika pointed out.
“Eh? Y-Yeah...uh...this is scaring me.” I chuckled, sitting down on her bed to regain strength. “What do you mean by...stronger aura? Are we in danger?”
“...perhaps.” She sighed and shrugged. “Nobody listened to me when I told them about you...nobody is going to listen to me when I’ll tell them about this.”
“But I do care…!” I stood up fiercely, making her widen her eyes. “Erika, please. I know you hate me but…I want to know if something is wrong!”
Erika stared at my very soul. She felt alarmed, she wasn’t expecting such a behavior.
“...okay. Listen to me.” She stood up and walked closer, her arms crossed. “Just tell me if you see anything. That’s all. We can’t do much. Maybe it’s just my brain malfunctioning. I doubt it...but it’s possible. Will you calm down now?”
I took a deep breath and nodded.
“Perfect. Now leave at once, you’re filling my sacred room with your stench.”
...she didn’t last one minute of being nice to me.
Her door closed right behind me.
I held my chest, squeezing my eyes.
What do I do? What do I do?! This is absurd!
I should really tell William about it. Yes. First thing tonight...I’ll talk to him!
“Lillyaaa!!!” All my agitation vanished as soon as she hugged me from behind. “What happened with Erika?! Did you have another fight…?”
“Nothing, don’t worry about it.”
“Okay.” She nodded, shrugging. “Let’s do something.”
“Yeah…” I sighed, going back into my room with her.
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Nelya was finally asleep. After a whole day of going around the mansion, playing the usual games...she finally gave in at around midnight.
I stared at her, as she slept calmly, her chest rising and falling slowly.
I got up from the bed, looked at the moonlight outside…
...everything is going to be okay.
...I left the room slowly and silently. Then I started walking through the corridor.
William’s bedroom was at the other side of the floor, so I would have had to walk for a while. Everyone was asleep – he was as well...and I was already feeling guilty about waking him up as I approached the first turn.
But I needed him...I needed his guidance. Erika was searching for something we both tried to say wasn’t real. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. I was scared and I knew I couldn’t have went through it alone.
And so I turned...his room was right at the end of that corridor.
My bare feet walked, first slowly...then with a faster pace. Then I started skipping without even realizing it.
I yearned his calming voice, his soothing touch...the darkness around me was too much to bear-
And then, I saw her.
She was on the big balcony of the second floor.
There were tables and chairs there. We used to eat there when summer came, as it was too hot inside.
She wore a smirk of satisfaction, as she sipped a glass of wine...slowly. Her posture relaxed. Her eyes weren’t directed at me...no, she was looking afar, almost ignoring me.
I froze at that sight – it was too sudden, too absurd. The woman I saw in the mirror was in front of me...and with no shame.
She looked young and beautiful...her eyes were two glimmering rubies.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bwwmdxkr4y67ndyh2but1/furudo-erika-artist_missile228-depth-of-field-best-quality-illustration-ama-s-3861476472.png?rlkey=xd365jux53j7pbkaell00ftwi&raw=1]
After what felt like an eternity, her gaze fell on my hopeless figure. She tilted her head and smiled more.
“Why don’t you have a seat?”
Her voice was soft and sweet...almost as if she was chanting to me. She raised her glass of wine, beckoning me.
“…!”
I took a few steps back, I was about to scream, to call for help.
But then...something changed my intentions.
“Please, have a seat.”
Her voice was suddenly a pulling force. I felt like my own body was moving on its own. My throat blocked, all my emotions suppressed.
I walked out, reaching the table she was sitting. She patted on it, pointing the chair on the opposite side with her slender finger.
“…”
My heart was almost jumping out of my mouth, my head spun and my ears throbbed.
What I was experiencing was unreal and terrifying.
But I did what she asked. I had a seat.
I looked in her deep, red eyes.
“Do you know who I am?” She asked.
I shook my head, holding my trembling hands together on the table. Although it was a cool night, my whole body was shaking like never before.
The woman nodded solemnly, sipping more wine and clearing her throat.
“I am Yunya. I am your creator.”
“...c-creator…?” I finally mustered the courage to speak, asking for clarity.
“Yes. I created you” She smiled sweetly, closing her eyes happily.
“...you...you’re my mom?” I suddenly felt, although very temporary, more warmth. Was she really my mother? “...no...you look too young.” I shook my head again. “Y-You’re lying.”
“That’s because I am a witch.” She replied chuckling, her smirk growing wider. “I am not human, nor are you.”
“...w-what…? What do you mean?”
“It’s not that difficult to understand, Lillya. You are not human.”
My heart started racing even more.
I knew.
I already knew what she was going to say.
Every piece was coming together, slowly but steadily.
I tried to stand up, I tried to run. But it was as if I was glued to that chair.
I took a deep breath, clenching my fists. Her eyes met mine.
I opened my mouth once more, asking her one more question.
“What am I…then…?”
“A tool.”
Her answer was clear, simple and frank.
“...a tool…?”
“Yes. A tool. A mere tool I will use to vanquish this whole family.”
At that point, her smirk wasn’t pleased, and her expression wasn’t one of a relaxed, delighted girl.
Her whole face suddenly oozed hatred, pure hatred and violence.
“You will kill every single one of them, and you will do it exactly how I demand it. Go to bed now. We’ll talk more tomorrow night, at this same spot.”
“N-No...I…”
My heart was at its limit. I was about to faint right there.
Then, the witch who called herself Yunya snapped her fingers…
…I regained the control of my own body, I fell off the chair, mewling and trembling as I looked at her powerful figure. I dragged myself away, still lying on the floor hopelessly.
“You are a puppet. You are my puppet…”
She got up, walking away and leaning against the balcony’s banister.
“...no matter what you do…”
“...no matter what you say…”
“...no matter what you feel…”
“...no matter what you think…”
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd8pelbvgd6gaw6vztsd9/Progetto-senza-titolo-1.png?rlkey=znav1ixs90inb2cdimp7gp2la&raw=1]