Previously on Avenging Angels
Rose finds out that Miss Helda knew her mother and demands answers from the past.
FORTY-FOUR
"How did she kill my mother?!" I spat angrily and Miss Helda looked up at me in shock.
"Wh-what? What do you mean?" she stuttered as her eyes was on everything except me.
"I know everything. You don't need to hide it. Avalor killed my mother" I said.
"She..." she paused.
"She... When I got to the hospital later that evening after Regina and you were born, I entered the wrong room due to my excitement and that room was your mother's.
"Although I was surprised, she was happy to see me and even let me carry you in my arms. When she heard that Avalor was in the same hospital, she begged me to inform Avalor so they could meet. I tried to stop her but she insisted so I had no other choice but to tell Avalor" she grimaced.
"Avalor didn't take the news lightly. She was angry to know her childhood friend was in same building as her. I did calm her down but she wasn't still happy. When I was in the bathroom, someone came in and Avalor ordered for the person to disguise as a nurse and take down someone.
"My guess wasn't far from reality. I quickly ran back to the room to save your mother but before I could get there, I saw another nurse running out of the room looking so frightened. That was when I knew I was too late. I failed to save Rosaline"
"The guilt that overcame my life was too much. I saw your mother anywhere I went. She was constantly in my head. Each time I lay my head to sleep, her voice would ring my ears and it was unbearable"
"You knew what she did. You knew she killed my mother. Why didn't you do anything? I'm sure you must have had some evidence back then. Why didn't you report her to the police?" I ranted out with pain.
"I raised Avalor since she was ten. She was like the child I never had. I was weak, I couldn't do anything. You can't possibly ask a mother to ten in her daughter" her lips quivered and I looked away from her.
"I had to make a choice back then and I'm sorry I chose Avalor instead. My dear, will you ever find it in your heart to forgive? I was unable to save your mother. Please forgive me" she pleaded as she brought her hands together.
"Don't ask me for my forgiveness. I just want to know the truth. Everything"
"What about my father? How did she kill him?" I asked with a scorn.
"W-hat? I don't understand" she frowned.
"Avalor didn't only kill my mother but she also murdered my father" I said grimly.
"Oh dear Lord" she sank into her chair with a disturbed face.
"Ten years ago, my father allegedly committed suicide but that was far from the truth. After Uncle Ray got custody, I found out that Avalor killed him"
"Oh, Avalor. What have you done?" she rest her head on her hands as a defeated look took over her features.
"She is despicable" I spat.
"When? How? Why...? I thought all these while Brudy and you girls will be safe and sound far from Avalor. But..." the tears fell down from her eyes a second time.
"How will she pay for all the sins she has committed?" she cried out.
"Oh, she will pay very soon. The one thing you can do for me is to stay out of my way while I get revenge on Avalor for her notorious deeds. Don't you dare stop me while I do the right thing"
"I won't. I have no right to" she mumbled.
"Let have a look at you" she stood up from her chair and walked towards me.
She held my arms as she looked at me with love filled eyes and I didn't find it in me to cringe from her touch.
"Oh, my dear Rose" she stroked my hair lovingly.
She then opened her arms, a sign that she was asking for permission to hug me and I leaned forward to embrace her.
It was quite different from what I expected. I've never been close to old people and I never got to see either of my grandparents so when I watched movies and I saw people with their grandparents, I always thought it would be weird.
I thought as they were so old, fragile and weak, it would be odd to feel their wrinkly skin but hugging Miss Helda made me realize how wrong I was.
Her sweet scent, her petite figure and most of her all, her soft touch. Everything was so comforting that I found myself inching towards her and tightening my hands around her.
The hug was so comforting that for a moment, all my problems, all my worries and all my hatred faded into nothingness and I was left with a light and clean mind.
"I wonder how I never noticed the apparent resemblance between you and your mother" she said as we pulled apart.
"You look so much like her"
"I do?" I asked in surprise.
"Of course, the gorgeous raven hair, the sparkling blue eyes, the witty and sarcastic mouth" she gave me a teasing smile and I chuckled.
"You're a carbon copy of Rosaline"
"Thank you" I said quietly.
That meant a lot to me.
She walked back to her desk and I took that as my chance to leave but she called me back.
"I have something for you" she said as she rummaged through the drawers and I waited patiently for what she was about to give me.
"Here you go" she handed me a paper and I took it with questioning eyes.
The paper was actually a photo of a couple and my heart constricted as thousands of emotions ran through my veins.
In the picture, was a young lady with vivid black hair and shiny blue eyes that twinkled as her youthful face was stretched out into a wide grin. She was putting on a red, strapless ball gown that cupped her chest and swept the floor with its glory.
Next to her was a young lad with sleek ginger hair and lighter shades of blue eyes. He wore a black suit that accentuated his lean figure.
The couple hand in hand, both wore a bright smile as their beauty shown even brighter than the moon outside.
Rosaline Merriweather and Brudy Thorne.
It was obvious to anyone with clear eyes and working brains that they were a match made in heaven.
"This..." I struggled to get the words out as the emotions dried my throat up.
"This was in the senior prom of the high school they attended. Your father bought that dress for your mother and she said it was the best gift she has ever received from anyone. They were always seen together. They were inseparable" Miss Helda said with a wistful smile.
"I wish they had more time together" the bitter taste that stayed in my mouth after that statement made me almost throw up.
"This means a lot to me. Thank you so much," I said and hugged her.
"Now now, you can leave before our eyes get messy again" she grinned and it wasn't hard for me to return it with a smile of mine.
I took my necklace and with the photo buried in my palm, I left the room while marking my lighter shoulders as though a huge weight has been pulled out of my body.