NARRATOR'S POV
"Work with me Malory and I will guarantee your freedom" the older woman told her stepsister with a stern look on her face- not a crack of a smile, not a hint of malice, not even a trace of deceit. Just pure seriousness as if the fate of the world is depending on the outcome of this conversation.
Amber extended her hand for Malory to take, she wanted an alliance to take down their father- to end his reign of terror in the family.
The younger sister hesitated for a moment, it is true that Marcus Stone is a cruel man- a spiteful man, rotten to his very core. He was greedy, hurtful and a manifestation of a demon straight from the depths of hell.
At the age of sixteen, Malory had already been promised to a man twice much older than she is- no questions asked, no choice was given. She was to be married off to a wealthy man, an older man that she knows nothing of- just like Amber. It was enough reason to run away however, is it enough reason to slay the monster of the Stone household? She may never know but this is an opportunity of a lifetime, the freedom she had been long for all these years- the freedom that was stolen from her since the day her mother married Marcus.
She's just a girl, dreaming of a fairytale. So how could she ever pass this opportunity, handed out to her?
She may not know Amber's true intentions but, the sound of freedom is too delightful to hear that she put aside all doubt she had in her heart.
With the slightest hint of hesitation, Malory shook Amber's hand. Not fully knowing who's the real devil between her abusive father and supposedly dead sibling.
"It's a deal, but I will not dirty my hands. You have to deal the decisive blow" she said with a firm voice.
"Of course there is no need for you to do that- in fact, it would be my pleasure to do so" Amber replied voice filled with subtle hate, not wanting to scare her stepsibling away.
"What will be my part then?" Malory asked, eyeing her stepsister.
"The day after tomorrow meet me here and I will give something to you along with some instructions" Amber told her.
"Don't tell me you don't have a plan yet" the younger one asked.
"Of course I have a plan, I just need to collect the thing we will be needing" Amber reassured her newly found pawn on her chess game.
Two girls formed a pact, two boys stood still in the dark- both longing for the love of their life to live a happy life. Free of worry, free of pain, just smiling brightly under the sun.
But sometimes, what we wished for is just beyond impossible.
The younger sister placed a hand in her stomach, feeling the life growing inside her. Just a little longer she thought- already dreaming of the life she can genuinely enjoy.
An innocent child and a naïve mother in front of her- as Malory closed her eyes, the devil smiled.
Back in the mansion deep in the woods, a girl with porcelain skin stands on top of a stool- books in hand she's to clean them until they are free from dust. Beside her is a man with blonde hair and emerald green eyes and in his arms are dusty books.
With a thump and a dusty cloud, the girl added three more books- thick and heavy.
"Ah wait I'll put this aside first, their quite heavy" the man whine.
"Ha! You really are a frail man aren't you?" the girl spoke teasingly, knowing that the man will not let that slide.
"What?! Of course not and you wouldn't say that if you ever see me in a fight" the man scoffed.
The girl turned "1515, I've been with you since 1515 and up until now you haven't been in a fight" she replied with a tone already claiming victory.
"W-well, that's because we haven't encountered any trouble since then" the man stated.
With a hearty laugh, the girl let out a side comment "Did you ever"
"Oh shut it" Alexander turned to the side, clearly embarrassed. It is true he wasn't good at fighting and due to that very reason, he tends to avoid them- taking the safer route. However, that doesn't mean he won't fight if needed. If the situation calls for it, he's willing to give everything he has.
Alexander turned to let the books on the table and after doing so, Andrea spoke again.
"On a different note, how are things going in between you and Rachelle" she casually asked.
"Ah! Don't say things like that so lightly" the man replied his face glowing red.
"Oh hush you, it's not like she can hear us. She's with Sofia downstairs" Andrea responded.
"Now tell me, what happened during your little walk?" she asked, enthusiastically.
Alexander looked away from her glimmering eyes- as always the girl is too fond of romance.
"Well…" he started as sweat formed in his temple while the other waited, excitement growing by each second.
"I-I might've confessed" he said simply before biting the insides of his mouth.
Andrea's anticipation faded and her excitement died down- lips curving into a frown.
"By confessing you mean, you actually told her right?" she asked disapprovingly- knowing where this is going.
"Y-yes! What do you take me for?" she knew it, by 'confess' he meant by saying it in a weird and unrecognizable manner.
"Tell me, what did you tell her?" she asked with a voice filled with doubt.
The other stayed in silence for a moment.
"W-well… I gave her some baby's breath" Alexander proudly stated.
"I tucked them in her ear" he continued.
Andrea placed a palm on her forehead, what was she even expecting from this man.
"Are you kidding me? How on earth do you think, she will understand what you meant?" she told him.
A faint smile appeared on Alexander's lips "I don't" he simply said.
"I'm not ready yet and I know deep down she doesn't like me- not the same way as I do for her at least. But I'll wait, so hold your horses and watch me. Because I'll make her fall in love with me. It will take time and it will be difficult but, it will be worth it. Because I love her more than life itself" he stated with full confidence.
Andrea smiled at this, maybe he's not helpless after all.
Maybe, just maybe he can handle things on his own, and maybe it was her who should stop pushing things.
A wise man once said that 'patience is a virtue', maybe their right.
With a subtle smile, she turned back into books that they have to clean.
Thinking, 'I'll wait but that doesn't mean she won't pull the string whenever it's needed or on that note whenever she felt like it'.
A stubborn woman she truly is, even after such a long time- her personality never changed and it never will, not even after the very end.