Ella
Both Bella and I were in a pissed off mood that week . The teacher was teaching something about the papers that the business needs , to start up, that was bullshit. It's been three weeks since my stay at Callahans and Bella's at Williams. Tonight's a party at Williams . That means every person from our batch will be there .
I text Bella about going to the party tonight . Soon my phone chimed with an incoming text obviously from Bella .
Bella : Investigation ? .
"Hey , aren't you Ella Danbury?" a blondie approaches me . A bright smile on her face . She looked like a doll with her blonde hair and hazel eyes . Her pale skin made her more beautiful.
"Yes I am . Who are you ?" I ask reciprocating her smile .
"I'm Mellissa Austen " she extends one hand and I take it happily .
"Oh there you are " a female voice comes from behind are .
"Hey Ella " the other one greets me .
"Aurora right " I extend my hand and she takes it gracefully .
"You're beautiful British " Aurora chimes in her graceful voice .
"Well I don't know both of you but it seems you both know me " I ask them .
"And Arabella " Mellissa raises a finger and shakes her head making me chuckle and wonder at the same time .
"How do you know both of us " I ask folding my hands on the table.
"You are Aiden's latest conquest and well both of us know how it can be " both the girls share a knowing look.
"Ohhkkaaayyy" that shocks me to the least . I wonder why wouldn't he parade about his obsession.
"Yeah and Arabella because she is our friend " Aurora says .
"You and Arabella are friends ?" Now I'm getting too curious.
"We are taking fine arts classes together " oh she is friends with her from college.
"And would you like to be my friend Ella " Mellisa asks me .
"It's an honor Ms. Austen " all of us begin to giggle when the class starts and Aurora leaves us . She was crossing the door when she bumps into Xander . The latter holds her arm to stable her but she yanks it away and utter cursings walking away .
"It's still there " Mellisa shakes her head decisively .
"What's there . I even noticed it the other day " I ask Mellisa who took a seat beside me in the other row .
"Aurora is the daughter of the lord Elliot and both Xander and Aurora could be called childhood sweethearts but then something happened . Even I don't know . Aurora went to States while Xander lived here with Mike , Aiden and Eli " she looks at Xander and Aiden who just entered and took the seats behind us . I didn't miss the dismissive tone while she spoke of Mike . Something's fishy ...
"Party tonight " Bella walks to us with Aurora while I'm accompanied by Mellisa .
"Yeahh . What bout you'll " I ask them.
"Well I guess that's a yes " Both Aurora and Mellisa share a look .
"Are you both sisters ?" Bella asks them .
"Childhood friends" they both laugh out loud.
"Ohhh . I see " both of us . Me and Bella say in unison .
"Okay . So back to the party " Yeahh . I need get Bella to myself to get over with our plan to the basement .
"Bella . We need to get home . Mom and Dad ... " I say and she agrees. That how it goes she lies I agree I agree she lies .
"Well we'll take a leave . Meet you both at the party tonight " we wave and get into our cars . Since our accidents our bodyguards drive us to and from college .
"Liam , we will be going out tonight to William's. Be there " I keep scrolling down my newsfeed when I suddenly find a news pertaining to Madeline Rose .
'Twenty year Madeline Rose and husband disappeared . Daughter not found ' I open the picture and zoom onto the lady's picture . I find her picture familiar and her Husband's too .
"Ma'am . Are you okay " Liam turns a little and I give him a nod .
"Yeah" .
It's eight in the evening and we'll leave in thirty minutes for the party . Bella is already dressed in a red dress while I dressed into a black dress .
"Let's go" she chimes out loosening her braid while I fix my chignon . We both slip into our heels and march out of our house . Both of us settle in her car when I begin to tell her the news but she shuts me up and nod at our guards .
"What's the matter " I whisper in her ear.
"Let's reach in first " she turns and looks out of window.
"Fine " I look out too .
Minutes later we walk to the mansion . The mansion is manusolen actually .
"They're checking everyone " I hiss when the guards approach us but stop midway when he sees Bella .
"Did a number . Let's go " we walk inside hand in hand .
The neon lights dance around. Smell of liquor is spread in the room.
Kissing and making out is the scene in every corner of the room. The school Captain who happens to be Eli's cousin .
Melissa and Aurora make their way towards us . I turn to grab a drink when my gaze falls at Aiden . Its been three weeks since our last encounter and he's been parading different girls since then . I won't say I hated that but it stings . I don't like Aiden that's for sure . But his dominance makes it difficult for me to hate him . He makes me challenge him and myself . His bumpy relationship with his parents . His fact being my half brother all are bearable but a girl having a hand on him is not . I don't have time or energy to fight .
"Are you okay , Ella " Aurora pats my shoulder .
I nod and gulp the drink in full force.
I look around but my sister is no where to be found .
"Where is Bella ?" I ask her downing my second drink .
"I don't know . Last time I saw she was with Mel" She looks around like me and her gaze falls at Xander who has a girl giving him a lap dance . I see feral look in Aurora's eyes but she quickly schools her face and before the moment is gone I ask her.
"Do you like Xander " I utter twirling the third drink in my hand .
"I fucking despise his whole existence with every fiber of my body " she spats out and laughs .
"Well I'm saying the same for Aiden" we both share a look .
"Let's see where the other two are " .
Without wasting any time both of us start heading upstairs where guys are already making out or something like that.
"Aren't Eli's parents home . Ever " I ask Aurora.
"I don't know . Been a long time since I met his father " she keeps on walking without missing a beat.
My steps become unsteady as I try to make it upstairs. I look at the door of the study . The place where my sister died . A murder or a suicide or a murder facaded suicide.
"Hey Are you alright " Aurora asks me . I jerk away a little .
"Oh yeah . Just .." I can't make my mouth work .
"I know what happened to Isabella and .." she leans in my ears and whispers " I know it's a murder " she backs away and walks inside the study .
I'm still dazed a little and a whole lot of confused because of what Aurora said . Does she know something .
I follow her and close the door behind me . She is touching some books on the huge book shelf . The study is dimmed with light only on the table . A large brown table with paper spreaded all over. I pick up some papers and see .
"Here come in " she whispers as if someone could hear us .
"Hmm" I follow her and she punches the code into the keypad which makes the book shelf open into a dark alley . Both of us switch on our flashlight as we start walking . As soon as I start walking my heels get a little stuck so i turn around and see a figure outside the alley in the study . Before I can figure out further the door closes. The alley is pitch black and the sound of our heels is the only thing that can be heard . After five minutes of a walk we stop short before she punches a code again .
My goodness who the hell keeps so many codes . This place probably has more security than Buckingham palace .
The door opens into a library .
She urges me in and closes the door behind us. It's dimly lit inside .
"What's in here " I ask as I suspect the books .
"The secrets none of us are supposed to know " I don't understand what she speaks but follow her .
"Ella . Do you know how did I come to know you " she asks me as we sit with three dozen books from the library.
"Nope " I say and start browsing through the books . I open my phone and hold it up trying to catch a signal but nothing.
"It's not gonna work Ella . There is no connection here . It was done so that no one would ever get traced if they stay here . In this room " she points around the room .
"Oh . Okay , Back to the original question. How do you know me " I fold my arms over the opened book .
She passes me a book which had pictures from I guess grandfather's age .
"Check in there and all the questions will be answered " she smirks and searches for something in her own book.
I keep moving through the pages when a picture catches my attention .
"Did you find something " I ask her .
"Nope . You ?" she asks me . I haven't seen anyone whom I may know .
I keep on turning the pages when i see Dad's picture there . Not just Dad but Eli's father , Aiden's father , Bella's father , Mike's father , Xander's father and four other men . Not just that I also see some pictures of ladies who were their wives .
"Who are these " I point to the four people.
"Two of them are my and Mel's dad . The other two are the most significant ones " she says and shows me the screenshot of a news .
A man who looks just like the one in picture is reported to be dead and the lady . Madeline Rose . Is she someone whom I know .
"Madeline Rose " I say .
"Show me " she takes the book and stares at me and the pictures alternately .
"What " I ask her .
"You look ... " before she can finish we can hear heavy footsteps.
We close the books and hide under the farthest table .
The code is punched into the pad and the door opens and closes. The library was dimly lit and not enough to find us here. My heart is thudding so loud that I fear I might faint . Aurora was sweating too . Both of us had clamped hands together
"I don't think so Ella or Aurora is here " A man says . Aurora's eyes go bulging out . She looks at me terrified and it's sure . It's her bodyguard . The other man who speaks makes me sweat too . It's Liam . How the fuck are they here it's impossible .
"I don't think so. Boss will rip us apart he finds out that the girls were here " the other man speaks .
I think in the last six point seven minutes I've hailed Jesus and Mary more than the hundred times.
"Let's go . We need to search the basement too " they both shut off the light and leave closing the door behind us . We both hear the door code punch .
"I think we can go out " we both still holding hands creep out into the dark library . It's so haunting . We switch on the flashlights and start browsing again when we hear footsteps lighter ones this time , more of ladies walking in . We switch off our lights open our shoes and hurry to hide behind the shelf in the darkest corner .
We both hear the opening of the door and see through the crook of the books and the two person we see makes my world shatter around me .