For us siblings, living in this household was like living in—it's hell. We're treated as an object, not even a living being that has a soul living inside of this body. Throughout our life, we're treated for one purpose. That was to bring fortune to the family. We're nothing but a living production of healing potion for our family. My brother Albert was an heir, yet why has he been treated such a way too? The answer would be the words of our father that struck us. "As the heir, there are sacrifices that need to be made. This is for the better of our family."
From his words, it feels like he treats the two of us as immortals. The blood of the phoenix was an entity that grants healing to everyone to whoever consumes the blood, it shall cure anything such as unknown diseases, cut off limbs, etc. And now, since the blood of the phoenix runs through our veins we're subjected to several experimentations and extraction.
However, because the spirit of the phoenix was still dormant in our conjointed soul. Its effectiveness was only a sliver of what it can do. But still effective enough to be graded as a D-Grade potion. Yet, our father was a greedy, impatient person who only sees opportunities, so whenever he can extract our blood. He would certainly do so, despite the circumstance of our body. There's nothing we can do, as we both live in fear.
Fight back? Retaliate? That's just a hopeful wish. The fear he implanted within our mind was like a poison, paralyzing us from head to toe—hopeless before him. We do have a mother, but at the same time, we don't. She's alive and well, yet feels dead to us.
I grew up with only my brother by my side. He's the only one who cares about me the most. However, as soon we had begun growing, his attitude took a gradual turn and became more aggressive and hot-tempered. Yet, all of that crumbles down upon facing our father. I know deep inside, that's not my brother's fault—It was the spirit of the Phoenix. A gut feeling, but I'm certain.
Due to our unique constitution where we share the same spirit, naturally, the spirit of the phoenix would be in half as the other half would be on my brother. He inherited the personality of the phoenix along with its flaming body. While I inherited the everlasting flaming wings that signify the burning passion symbol of the sun.
We the vessels shouldn't inherit the personality of the spirit, but that doesn't apply to the phoenix. However, there's a connection from the incredibly hot sensation that boils inside my brother's body. Ever since he told me about that, his personality changed. But deep inside, he's still the brother that I know.
Then one day, he met a girl named Stephanie who helped him from his misery. He told me the story about his fateful encounter with her. The day where the burning sensation in his body, vanished for a split second upon touching her hand. He said it's like a miracle to him. Stephanie herself is not even sure what happened and left my brother alone in confusion because my brother acted weirdly, screaming how she helped him and became his life savior.
From that day onward, my brother became obsessed with Stephanie and misinterpreted it as love. I've known that his feeling was not romantic because I'm his sister and I could feel it.
But, what is love anyway?
His obsessiveness gradually got worse along with the pain inside his body; therefore, his sanity was out of control at some point. But still, he doesn't go overboard with everything he's doing. He still managed to keep in control.
Of course, one day, Stephanie snapped and explicitly screamed at my brother's face. "I already have a boyfriend! His name is Claude! So, stop following me! I already rejected you a thousand times! He's way better than you because he's training under the Saintess Irene, the Sword Blade Saint!" It's nothing out of the ordinary, but the frustration in her voice was just a snap from my brother's persistency.
Claude was the name that Stephanie yelled. Obviously, it caused an uproar because, in the school, Stephanie was considered a beauty among us.
In a twist of fate, we met him on the same day of our spirit age ceremony. At first, I was baffled by his beauty because his beauty was out of this world. Moreover, he looks like a young girl that even looks beautiful than any girl that I've met. If the children who went along with us realized that the 'she' was an actual 'he', otherwise, they would also have the same reaction as me.
The fateful encounter with him only made my brother's temper or his overall behavior worse. His 'obsessiveness' that was still in control, gradually worsened with the arrival of Claude in my brother's eyes. More than anything, he only sees Claude as the person who took his salvation.
And I, as his sister can only watch him from afar. I don't want to help my brother in any way possible, or I should say I don't want to tolerate his behavior toward other people, especially his violent acts. I don't want him to turn like our father. But, I didn't do anything as I just watch him from the sideline.
As a consequence, there were times where he will vent his frustration and anger to me or other people, but I mostly took it upon myself because I don't want any other people to get harmed along with the hope for him to have his sense of reality to be back once he saw the state of his mind—and me.
However, I learned that insanity could be contagious and I'm the perfect example of it. The stress of my misery and everything around me is just a poison that would eventually corrupt me in the end. It escalated further than what I imagined and there's no turning back. Until...
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In my room, my brother's voice called out to me.
"Rosalyn."
"Yes, brother?"
"Father called us."
"Y-Y-Yes..."
That means, he will extract some of our blood once again and check its proficiency once more. It's our daily routine where we will give our blood to create his potion that he could sell. Also, if our blood was extracted our normal regenerative capability will eat out our mana and nutrients on our body, to supply its needs. Brother and I kept our mouths throughout the process.
After pulling out the needle, father smiles at us. He was looking frailer than before because he's still on his recovery, yet his greediness still prevails more than taking care of his own health.
"Next time, Albert. Pursue harder."
"Yes, father."
"We need to know where he was able to acquire the B-graded potion. We're lucky enough to be able to have it as a gift from him. But next time, don't ever mess with the girl again. God's grace was still with us, and you're lucky enough that your situation didn't affect our family."
Then a quick glance to us. "Haah... To think I have such thought of helping you. I'm glad that didn't happen. Go back to your rooms. Get enough rest and we'll be meeting each other in a year. I'm able to extract a lot that suffices enough for a year. Now, go."
Brother's face became twisted and only kept it to himself while going out of the room.
"Yes, Father."
"Y-Y-Yes, dear father..."
Once brother passed through the door. "Rosalyn."
"Yes?"
"Go look over your brother, okay? I already know that the phoenix in your brother's body was awakened and already manifesting inside of him. I'm not the type of person who overlooks this kind of stuff, but what I really hate were liars. Are we clear, Rosalyn?"
"Y-Y-Yes... W-We didn't mean to hide—"
Father came closer and pats me in the head then looks into my eyes, giving me a terrifying smile. "Don't worry. I'll forgive you once. But remember your role, are we clear?"
"I-I understand, father..."
"Good. I'm satisfied since we're at a mutual understanding. As long you understand it, we both can benefit from this. The power of the phoenix was the pinnacle of everything, as long we have it, we can make our family reach further great heights. Even though it's still in a dormant state, I expect you two to tame it. Throughout centuries of waiting, you two are the chosen one and the only hope of this family. You don't want to die early like those before you, am I right? Your mother and I would be sad."
"Y-Yes, father..."
"Well then, go back and rest."
While leaving the place, my entire body was uncontrollably shaking out of fear. I haven't felt this sensation for a long time. The servants who were cleaning the hall took a quick glance and ignores me out of pity. It stayed the same until I reach my own room; however, as soon I enter my room a sensation of secureness envelops around my chest leaving me a room to breathe.
I lay down on the side of the bed hugging a cushion. "I miss you. You're the only one who can save me... Claude. I envy Stephanie, but I also need to thank her. To think he's willing to take care of me and marry me. I'm glad."
Remembering the time he hugged me in his embrace and accepted me for who I am, that time, I'm determined that he's the one. It was warm and gentle. I haven't experienced that warmth for a long time. I want to feel that warmth again.
I want to feel it.
I want to feel his touch.
I want his everything.
For forever and ever.
He will love me surely.
I'm sure.
I'm certain about it.
If he can love many women then he can also love me.
He's the only one who can protect me.
And, I'm the only one who can reciprocate his love.
"Am I right, dear Claude?" I look at the cushion that I'm embracing. "Hehehehe, I love you."