The Dharmanath family were woken up by the sounds of thundering and heavy water droplets falling from the sky.
"Ugh... the Weather Sorcerers said it'll be sunny this upcoming week." Marquess pinched his forehead.
"Let's just hope that this rain will be gone by tomorrow."' He resigned and accepted reality. He can't do anything about it if the Sorcerers' prediction were wrong; all he can do is hope that it'll be a quick storm.
The Marchioness entered the living room with a tray of hot chocolate. She placed it down on the round bamboo table.
"Where's Aeron and...that girl?." She asked Ainsley.
"I...um...I think they're sleeping" Ainsley felt a bit uncomfortable around his mother. He noticed that his sister and mom don't like each other and he is conflicted by this fact. While he never really felt his mother's loving side, he still hopes that one day, she'll shower him with love and become one big happy family.
Unfortunately for Ainsley, that is proven to be hard to achieve. The Marquess stood up and grabbed a cup of hot chocolate "I'll go wake those two up. Don't you think this is the perfect time to huddle together at the fireplace while telling stories?" He gleams at his wife and son.
The Marquess always had this playful side of him, but he drowned himself in sorrow and work that he became as stoic, irritable and untouchable. Ever since deciding to change, his former self started to re-surface. Whether this was a good thing or bad...Who knows? The future is unprecedented, even if someone knows what will happen.
—
Drenched in icy cold water, the twins stayed closed underneath the palm tree. They're uncomfortable from their wet clothes but didn't feel cold. Ainaira was used to the cold because of the constant use of the Keeper Eyes; it is the state in which she can see Mana Configuration. Their deadpan and nonchalant faces look unnatural for two people who are stranded.
Ainaira predicted that it would rain but she fell asleep, and by the time she woke up, it had already started to rain, and that's how the two ended up where they were. The siblings left the palm tree and try to walk through the thick forest to get back to the cottage.
"Do you think they'll notice...?" Aeron hesitantly asked
"I thought we were supposed to be on silent treatment…?"
Ainaira had no intention of having a conversation but Aeron was not backing down.
"Hey..."
He looked at her, thinking what he should say next. If he's not careful, he might make their relationship worse.
"I'll sneak you inside the competition, but on the condition that I must accompany you." He's been contemplating their argument back at the March ever since. What she said bothered him and even if he says that he cares, she wouldn't believe him. Action speaks louder than words, so despite not wanting to endanger his sister, he decided to help her with whatever she wants.
Ainaira kept quiet, she doesn't need his help anymore because she'll be attending the Union academy by Monday. Though it will be easier for her to sneak in the forest with Aeron's help, it isn't as hard as sneaking past the gates.
Ainaira stopped walking when she realized where they were. She crouched down, leaning on a tree and looked at the moonlight, the night sky was surrounded with dark clouds, yet the moon was still shining brightly.
She recalled something in the distant past.
For some odd reason Ainaira asked Aeron a puzzling question
"Do you remember?"
Aeron stopped to look at her. He couldn't see Ainaira's face, as it was covered up by her messy and wet hair.
"It was in this part of the forest...it was...also raining just like now."
He felt something dark looming. His eyes squinted from the heavy rain falling on his face. The figure of his sister was getting blurrier by the second.
"It just was a light drizzle though... but it occurred at the same time as now..."
It was odd, his chest was thumping rapidly and it felt like something was stuck on his throat. Why was he feeling anxious? Why did he find this forest so familiar?
"...You killed me"
Aeron stumbled back and he felt as though his head was splitting open.
Images flash of his sister sitting and leaning beside a tree to someone lying limp on the ground.
(Who...?)
His ears rang and couldn't bear with the deafening sound and he fell on the wet and muddy dirt. He wasn't able to comprehend what she had said in the last part. His head and ears were in much unimaginable pain.
Ainaira didn't notice what was going on. She was shaking and biting her lip, with blood slowly dripping from her chin. She was too busy being drowned out by her memories, her death, the laughter and Aeron's cold and expressionless face.
A hand reached out to her shoulder. It pulled her in and held her tightly.
"I'm sorry." Tears were dripping down Aeron's face. His voice was shaky, there isn't a word that can describe how badly he wanted to say these words. He doesn't understand why, but he had to.
Ainaira stared at him blankly with eyes widen
"...Aeron?"
Unable to keep his eyes open, he fell unconscious on the ground.
"What...just happened...?" Ainaira was oblivious to what just transpired and stared at Aeron on the ground, unconscious.
(Why was he crying? What's with the apology? Why did he suddenly fall unconscious? And why do I feel that same nauseating dark aura that the voices used to control me?) These questions lingered in her head.
"Haa...!"
She pushed her bangs to the side, her face was mortified. Her entire body was trembling in fear and dread slowly consumed her.
(Don't tell me... it's still here!?)
Ainaira started to panic. her heart was racing and everything was getting muddled, as flashes of her past started to catch up on her. She doesn't know if what she's experiencing is real or not.
"AAAHHHHHH!!!" She screams loudly.
From afar, the Marquess heard a young woman scream. He felt his heart sink and quickly went to the source of the sound
.
"Ainaira..."
Ainsley and the Marchioness followed behind him. It's been 3 hours since he found out the twins weren't in their respective rooms and the family decided to search the island. He had a feeling that he needed to find them quickly before something unfortunate will befall them.
After hearing a familiar voice scream, he feared that his intuition was correct. Ignoring the branches, leaves and mud that was getting all over his clothes and face, he just wanted to know if his children were safe.
He turned to his left and saw Aeron unconscious and Ainaira breathing hectically.
"AERON! AINAIRA!" He hastily ran towards the twins.
"Sister!" Ainsley saw his sister's distraught face and worriedly ran to her. Meanwhile, the Marchioness rushed to Aeron's side.
Rosetta gave Ainaira a deathly glare, assuming she had something to do with Aeron's circumstance.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" She grabbed Ainaira clothes and shook her in anger.
The Marquess shielded Ainaira and yelled at the Marchioness.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP!"
"SHE DID SOMETHING TO AERON, SHE MUST'VE HAVE! LOOK AT YOUR SON!"
She pushed the Marquess aside and pulled Ainaira's hair.
"YOU BITCH! WHAT DID YOU DO!? ANSWER ME!!"
"I did nothing– GET...OFF ME…!" Ainaira snapped out of her trance, and she dug her nails into the Marchioness' arm. Rosetta screamed in pain as blood trickled down to her fingertips.
"You villainous wrench...!" Rosetta glared at her as if she was looking at a demon while holding her wounded right arm.
The two were like two predators, sizing up each other. The Marquess was covering Ainsley's view while attempting to calm the two down.
"Rosetta, let's settle this peacefully, alright?" He then turned his head towards Ainaira "Sweetie, tell us what happened."
"I was just sitting down...mumbling. Then, Aeron suddenly collapsed."
She kept direct eye contact on the Marchioness as she was explaining the situation to her father.
Even if she was partially making it up, it is true that she didn't know why he suddenly collapsed. She was unaware of the situation, just like everyone else.
"LIES! YOU POISONED HIM, DIDN'T YOU!?" Rosetta's face contorted with rage.
"ROSETTA!" The Marquess gave her a warning. his face was glaring at her to not to do anything reckless unless it is confirmed.
She scoffs: "You actually believe this attention grabbing bitch? She's a parasite to the family, spreading rumors, spending money, and throwing tantrums!"
He was quiet, closing his eyes. -He exhaled-"It's my fault. I neglected her, but one thing is for certain; I will not abandon my children again!"
"What about Aeron? WHERE'S HIS JUSTICE?! HE'S YOUR CHILD TOO, ISN'T HE?! THE HEIR! HE'S MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL THAN HER!!" Rosetta put all her heart into defending the unconscious twin.
"What-?" the Marquess looked baffled. He was shocked at the words Rosetta just said. "I'm not abandoning Aeron. I'm not taking any side. This isn't about who is the heir or not!"
"Are you blind...?! What reason do you think that wicked girl had in order to assassinate Aeron if it wasn't about inheritance?!"
The Marquess was slowly losing patience.
"You're assuming way too much with too little evidence."
"DO WE NEED ONE!? LOOK AT WHAT SHE DID TO MY ARM! SHOULDN'T IT BE EXPECTED WITH SOMEONE LIKE HER?!"
Rosetta was pointing at Ainaira, bearing the pain of her injuries.
"Haa..."
Ainaira senses became numb and dull.
(I don't want to deal with this...)
She closed her eyes and was contemplating to fulfill one single desire.
(...I should just kill them all.)
Black and violet particles swish around her body. Cold winds and a decaying odor envelops the forest. Her red eyes faded and transformed into deep hollowed-out eyes. The air crackled with purple sparks. Her eyes were fixated on the people in front of her. They didn't notice the danger about to happen, they were too busy arguing with each other.
As Ainaira is about to move her hand, she had a glance of a 12 year old boy, collapsed on the ground. His eyes were closed while tears fell down his face. His hands were covering his ears, trying to block out the insufferable scene in front of him. The sad sight of the young child made her be reminded of "that night".
"..."
"Ah-!"
All the mana that she built up to destroy everything dissipated in a flash.
"Ainsley..." She muttered quietly before rushing towards him, running between the Marchioness and Marquess.
She hugged the little boy "Shh…I'm sorry...did we scare you?"
"I-I...!" Ainsley kept weeping, unable to formulate any words he wanted to say.
"It's alright, you don't have to say anything. I'm sorry, it's our fault. I'm sorry you had to see all of that..." She kept on reassuring him with a soft and loving voice.
Rosetta was left speechless. She couldn't believe the scene unfolding in front of her. It was a strange sight indeed. When was the last time when you saw a villainess comfort someone with a geniune heart?
The Marquess's eyes widened from the sight. He was reminded of someone he once dearly loved. Yes. He saw Lillian through Ainaira's action, being sweet and thoughtful. Right now, she looks just like her mother.
But whether they felt shock or sentimental, it was not long before the two felt shame. They just showed a disgraceful sight to a child.
The long and rainy night was no longer filled with shouts of angry voices but with the silence of the guilty and the cries of a pitiful child.