A few days later her parents returned again. This time together. And they brought her three younger brothers and three younger sisters along.
Her immediate family circled around her hospital bed, hovering like vultures anticipating a hearty meal. They began talking all at once, bickering over what to do and lamenting their predicament. Not one word of concern for Elvira's condition was uttered. Her condition was considered an obstacle they had to overcome in order to live happily ever after.
While they argued with each other about who was must harmed by Elvira's accident, she watched it all from the void.
'Ingrates!' She thought disgustedly. She'd ensured each of her siblings had a nice job with plenty of opportunities to advance if they showed even a little initiative. Instead, they took it as her being condescending. Alicia even had the gall to liken it to slavery! As if that spoiled brat had any idea what that truly meant.
As her siblings and parents continued to bicker about who hated Elvira more, Priscilla was busy planning something outrageous.
"How easy it would be to just loosen a cord or two…" Priscilla said softly although everyone in attendance could hear her.
"Don't." Her father warned as her other siblings snickered.
Priscilla blinked and looked up at him innocently, but she couldn't hide the evil sneer that slid across her face.
"We cannot act outwardly against her, or we will lose everything." Their father said sternly. Priscilla sighed loudly and pouted.
'So, it is not out of concern for me but my fortune' Elvira thought sadly.
Her mother's smile was grim. She wasn't thinking of her daughter lying helpless in a coma. She was thinking of the of the scandal that would erupt if they 'accidentally helped' her die. 'Think of the family name' was the code her mother lived by and the mantra she chanted continually as if could afford some magical protection against the stupidity and greed of her offspring.
"I thought you girls were working on convincing Grandfather to let her go peacefully." Simon accused heatedly.
"We are" whined Alicia.
"But you know how stubborn and unreasonable he is whenever it concerns his dear Elvira." Raquel scoffed.
"What if…" Priscilla mused out loud. "No. Nevermind." She said quickly. But she knew she had caught their attention. Just as she planned.
"Go head. Spill it." Her father ordered. He knew his daughter well. She was definitely planning something.
"What if Grandfather had an accident?" asked Priscilla as nonchalantly as if she was inquiring about the weather.
"You mean kill him?" Brent asked appalled. He was greedy and selfish. But also, a coward. He lacked the cruelty of his siblings. He would never take any overt action no matter what was at stake. He preferred to just remain uninvolved and hope things worked out in his favor.
His siblings on the other hand – and especially Priscilla – were not afraid to go for what they wanted. And they did not care how they got it or who got hurt in the process.
"No! Of course not!" Priscilla pretended to be shocked and offended at the thought.
"He's already been too sick to visit her." Raquel said following her devious sister's train of thought. She wasn't quite as clever as Priscilla, but she understood where her sister was headed.
'Ah, that makes sense.' Elvira thought. Now that her memories had returned, she knew who was paying for her medical care. She had wondered why her beloved grandfather would pay for her upkeep yet not visit her. He would be appalled if he knew what the rest of his family was plotting against them both.
"We couldn't get the money that way, moron." Alicia scoffed. "You don't honestly believe that anyone other than Elvira is a beneficiary of his will. He'd bequeath money, heirlooms, or property to charity before he'd leave it to any of us." The more she thought about it, the more envious she became. She truly hated that man (her grandfather) and that bitch, Elvira.
"But…" Priscilla teased as her family hung on every word. "If he were to have an accident that included not just a physically debilitating injury, but a brain injury as well we could get his favorite son set up with Power of Attorney to ensure his care, right Daddy?" She said turning to look at her father.
He smiled. Priscilla was his favorite. She was every bit as cruel, devious, and nasty as he was. Perhaps, even more so. He smiled affectionately at her.
"That's a good idea, Sweetheart."
"Unfortunately, there is a snag." Said their mother.
"What?" Priscilla inquired shocked that her plan was anything less than flawless.
"I don't think your father is as favored as you seem to think he is."
"One of our uncles?" Alicia inquired.
Her mother shook her head. "No, I don't believe he cares any more for them than your father."
"Then who?" Peter asked.
"Paul!" his three sisters said simultaneously as the realization hit them all at once.
That name brought a pang of longing to Elvira's heart. That was the name of her husband. She remembered now that she was married too, but with no children. She never really had any desire for children. Her culinary creations and the businesses based on them were her children. And they took all her time, energy, and love.
Well, almost all. She did spend time, energy, and love on her husband. But, she admitted, she had no time for anyone else except him.
Strange that she had not thought of him until now. And stranger still that he had not come to visit her.
"Of course!" their parents agreed.
"Afterall," their mother said with a thin smile "He is the beloved husband of his beloved granddaughter."
"Yes!" their father agreed getting excited now. "And we can convince him at the same time to allow Paul the power to take over the care of his own wife."
"And then we can have the plug pulled on his dear wife." Priscilla said.
"But doesn't Paul love Elvira?" Brent asked.
His parents and siblings laughed harshly.
"Maybe in the beginning. But he loves nothing so much as himself." Priscilla said with certainty.
"And money and power." Raquel added.
"So, how can we get him to cooperate? And make sure he does what we want him to do?" asked Simon.
"Right. How can we guarantee he doesn't betray us?" Peter inquired.
"We need to ensure his compliance." Their father agreed.
"But how do we do it?" Alicia asked.
"Convincing Paul is the easy part." Priscilla said with confidence. "Leave that to me."
The others nodded in agreement.
"What we need to do now is figure out how to incapacitate Grandpa just enough so we can put the rest of the plan in motion."
"Let's leave this depressing place." Raquel whined.
The others murmured agreement as they all rose to leave. Each spared one last look at their sister lying helpless attached to monitors and machines. Alicia even stuck her tongue out at her in a mocking gesture. And Peter stuck his middle finger up at Elvira as Raquel drew her finger across her own neck mimicking slitting her throat. This sent all of the siblings into fits of snickers.
"Sleep well" Priscilla taunted. "Soon you'll sleep forever."
Even their parents laughed at the way their other children ridiculed their oldest sister.
Their mother said coldly as exited the room. "We don't need to come back here until our plan has been executed."