The Hart's didn't stay long after brunch, we all hung around the table until Mariella's mother excused herself. By then Mr. Hart got the hint that he and his family were approaching the end of their welcome.
"I thank you again for the invitation, and for letting Silas stay over. I am sure he will be on his best behavior." Isabella had not warned me that with the visit of Hart brought a new guest that would be staying over. "He will surely be out of your hair by the phase's end."
"Please, Silas can stay as long as he needs." I had followed only out of curiosity. I was also hoping to win some brownie points in Vivienne's books. I thought that even if we couldn't be friends I could make it seem like we were. I should've been suspicious of something like this when the two boys fled the table without so much as a parting word. "He is always a joy to have around. All we want as parents is for our kids to have a good education. I am glad we can help Silas get his."
I found Isabella the moment the Hart's left. She was hard to find, as if she were hiding. When I did find her she made me feel bad for doing so.
She was reading under the sun in the family's courtyard. "Can't you figure things out on your own? Clearly you are smart enough." I felt as if I was being punished for something, but I didn't understand what.
I decided not to dwell on it, and fled to my room. It was the only place I could get some semblance of peace. I just wanted to lay my head into one of thousands of pillows on my bed and forget that today happened. I couldn't believe I said something so stupid. Why would I assume the inventions of this world?
I learned two very important lessons that day. First, never assume the contents of this world, secondly, lock your bedroom door, even if it wasn't humanly possible.
My heart fell from my chest faster than it had when Isabella first ambushed me with the question of my peculiar existence. "Mariella." One word was all it took to raise all the hair on the back of my neck.
"What do you want?" I smoldered in the anxiety of having an unknown man in my room. I almost walked right back into the hallway when I saw him, but instead I stood in the doorway, holding the door open.
"Don't act a stranger, come sit." I debated it. I had thought he and Ezekiel went somewhere.
"Where is Ezekiel?" I questioned, as I shut the door to my room. I felt like I was trapping myself, but I wasn't sure what else to do. I knew nothing about Silas apart from his family lineage. Isabella didn't tell me anything about him. She solely had me focusing on Vivienne that I completely neglected to question about the Hart's eldest.
"Your mother needed something from him." Silas stood from the sofa once he realized I wasn't moving away from in front of the door. "I was bored, so I thought I would come check-up on you. You didn't seem yourself today." He studied me as he stepped over to me. "Julian did leave us far too early." Silas hand lifted, and I flinched before he could graze my cheek. "He left you too early." His voice lowered, as his eyes found me. "But from what I see he's left a part of himself within you." I instinctively went to pull away from him as his fingers tickled the skin on my face, but I remained still, my eyes locked on his as he searched for something on me. It felt like Isabella interrogating me all over again.
"My grandfather lived a long and hard life. I am sure he is happy that he is finally able to rest." I gently pushed his hand off of my face. "I would like to rest now Silas, if that would be alright with you."
"Sure." His face seemed to light up as he lifted both of us hands. "I will see you at dinner." He smiled and I stepped aside so he could leave. "Do rest well." Silas added slipping out the door and into the hall.
I couldn't rest at all after an interaction like that. I couldn't surmise anything from it other than the fact that I now also had to worry about Silas knowing who I was, or rather who I wasn't.
The sun set quicker than I wanted it to. In the time spent 'resting' I tried to find anything in Mariella's room that could tell me anything about her. I had looked the first day I arrived, but I came up empty handed then and now. I was left defenseless at dinner. Isabella had seemingly abandoned me and I had an extra guest to deal with.
Dinner passed without any event. It was what came after the sunset that stopped me from sleeping. First as soon as dinner was finished Mariella's father asked me to walk with him.
It was silent for a long time. I was able to see a lot of the estate. It was odd how familiar it was beginning to come for me. At first I thought I would never be able to learn my way around, but it ended up being quite easy. I might not have known what hid behind most doors, however I couldn't be bothered if it didn't actually matter to me. My curiosity was never large. That was why I was concise with staying silent until Mariella's father was ready to speak. I certainly wasn't going to be the one to speak first. I've learned that I should never speak unless I am spoken to.
The moon was out, and it hung high in the sky. I could estimate it was around 1 o'clock, but I could never really know without a clock. It was spring in Udros; most of the flowers had bloomed, and the weather was still a bit damp. I could feel the warmth of summer shimmering in the winds, as deers with their does began popping up.
"Mariella." He didn't stop walking, so I didn't either. My eyes found him, and our eyes met. I could see the similarity the two shared. The green eyes, even if mine were darker, the nose, and long eyelashes. Even their hair color was similar if you plucked out the grays that bombarded his head. "It has been some time since we have talked."
"Yes." I could only agree with a small and slow response.
"I am sorry for that." I felt the pain in my chest ring out my heart. The hurt traveled throughout my entire body, but it couldn't budge once it reached my brain. "You are my youngest, and I have neglected you. You are to inherit the auction house and I have taught you nothing." He stopped finally, his hand reaching out to me as I thought the bridge would finally connect. "It is about time I teach you more about business. You are to turn 18 this year and with your grandfather's passing I think it is about time I take you under my wing." What did connect was something that made the pain in my body warp into a festering wrath. "It will be a lot all at once, but I believe you will be able to handle it…" His mouth kept moving, but the words did not compute. His hand burned my skin as it grew heavier with each second it sat upon my shoulder.
I knew then that there was a reason that I have been able to get away with living within Mariella's body. No one in this house cared about her. She had no friends, her family ignored her, and the only family member who recognized the change seemed not to care that she was gone. No one cared about Mariella Vial. I'm not sure Mariella even cared much about herself either. To not have a friend, to not have even tried to make one within the family, meant only one thing to me. Mariella didn't want to make friends. She didn't want to leave behind a trail of her woes. She cared not to leave an impression on this world, because she knew no one would care to look for one.
I thought then that we were alike. You might not have had scars on your body like mine, but yours were internal. You shake whenever you're around your sister, your heart stops when your eyes meet Silas, and your fingers go numb whenever you try to talk to anyone. You are an anxious little girl who was left alone in this world.
I understood the feeling, even if I had never experienced the manifestation of it. I didn't know then why your body acted even when I thought there was no reason to, but now it's obvious. I felt even more than idiot when I realized who you actually were. You were me. Different certainly, but fundamentally the same.
Maybe there was a reason I was brought here. Maybe I can help you, even if you don't want it. I could use our differences to our advantage, and I could help you. I've already helped you this much. I will be the you, you never got to be. Maybe then someone will let the two of us die.