Chapter 9
Nerea's point of view
Sunlight streams through the thin curtains of my room stabbing through my eyelids like a dagger I groan, rolling over and burying my face in the pillow but it is no use.
The warmth spreads across my bed coaxing me awake.
With a reluctant sigh I toss the blanket off my face stretching my arms over my head. At least I didn't have any dreams but left me feeling like I had run a marathon in my sleep.
I should be thankful for that small mercy.
Sitting up I try to shake off the haze of sleep and the memory of last night. The ghost -I still can't believe what I saw-it sends a shiver down my spine. I should have a little too dramatically, and glance around the room have expecting to see some figure hovering in the corner.
Nothing but the money light and the familiar mess of my belongings.
I took a deep breath. Maybe I imagine it or maybe I didn't.
Either way I need to focus on more pressing matters.
I swung my feet over the side of the bed and pushed myself up heading downstairs. My stomach crumbles has the saint of fresh coffee and buttered toast fills my nostrils. I nearly crashed into someone at the bottom of the stairs and I am startled to see Tessa the last maid in the house still here, I thought she had left days ago with the rest of the maids.
"Tessa?"I blurted out blinking in surprise."why are you still here I thought you left already?"
She offers me a small sad smile and set the table with a plate of scrambled eggs buttered toast and is steaming cup of black coffee.
"I wanted to leave officially,"she says quietly her voice tinged with resignation.
"My salary has been withheld and when it is hard to say goodbye."
I nodded, A wave of guilt washing over me.
"You have been a steady presence in this house and you have been here ever since I turned 12 I'm so sorry that things had gone so bad and I can't pay you your salary."I apologized in a small voice.
"Oh you don't have to blame yourself Miss Nerea, I perfectly understand."
"Goodbye Tessa I will miss you."I said I will hug briefly.
She turns away and I watched her walk out of the door her shoulders slumped and it feels like the final nail in the coffin of whatever remains of my once wealthy life.
I sat down picking at the toast absently my thoughts already drifting to my next problem.
Once I finished breakfast I check my bank account on my phone and my heart sank.
The numbers on the screen stared back at me- mocking me, taunting me. It's even worse than I thought.
Barely enough left to get by and I still haven't told Rosa that I had sold my car.
How am I going to explain that? I can already hear her voice in my head scolding me for not having patience.
" But I needed the money."I wanted to myself taking a sip from the hot coffee.
I left my breakfast unfinished and I began to pace the living room my mind racing, I needed a solution and very fast.
I run my fingers through my hair tugging slightly as the roots trying to think.
Then it hits me a spark of inspiration flickering in the fog.
I snapped my fingers grinning like a fool
"Of course how did I not think of it sooner?'I said to myself and without wasting another second I sprint up the stairs and headed straight to my parents old room.
The room feels heavy like it filled with ghost of memories I had rather not wish to remember.
The curtains are drawn casting a dim almost eerie light over everything.
I pulled open the closest doors rummage through drawers, lifted up old blankets anything that might be hiding what I am looking for.
Minute tick by and my frustration grows.
Finally I stopped panting and glanced around.
And that was when I noticed it the ties On The floor... Something about them looks off.
They are arranged in a criss cross pattern that doesn't match the rest of the house how couldn't I've seen this all this while.
I knelt than curiosity buzzing in my veins. Slowly I pressed each tile,feeling each of them.
And then one shift under my fingers.
My heart races as I push the tile aside revealing a small dark hole beneath.
I hesitated for a second then reached in my fingers brushing against something cold and metallic.
I pulled it out it was a pendant. It was light blue in color catching the faint light from the window and told delicate and beautiful it's almost feels like it's glowing.
The locket was shaped like a petal with beautiful designs etched into its surface.
"This looks kind of familiar."I thought to myself looking at it. And then I tugged at my pajama top and my fingers grazed something and hadn't noticed was there.
The petal that the old lady at the train station had given me.
"How did this get here I don't remember keeping it here." I pouted and shrugged and held both the petal and pendant side by side.
They are an exact match this can't be a coincidence can it I thought to myself.
I shook my head trying to dismissed uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.
Ficus, Nerea, focus,I said to myself.
I turned my attention to the other item in the hole a book.
The leather cover was cracked and the pages looks ancient yellowed with ages I didn't bother to open it and then I had foot steps outside the door.
Rosa.
My heart leaps into my throat quickly I slide with tile back into place clutching the book and dependent to my chest.
I slipped back to my room moving has quietly as I can.
Once I was safely inside, I took a moment to catch my breath.
Then I smile down at the pendant.
Minutes later I was working on the street the cool air filling my lungs helping to clear my mind.
The street was bustling with life vendors shouting children laughing and people rushing about their day.
I weaved through the crowd my eyes scanning the shops around me.
There are the far end of the street I spotted what I was looking for.
" Old World Treasure" the antique shop sign which was faded and barely unreadable.
The bell above the door tinkles as I stepped in and The familiar sense of aged paper and polished woods.
My eyes darted around taking in the cluttered shelves filled with trinkets and treasures from long past. Behind the counter stands a young man his skin a warm shade of brown his dark hair falling in loose curls around his face.
He looks up has I entered his expression curious.
"Hello" I said trying to keep my voice steady."I have something you might be interested in."
His eyes narrow slightly but he nods."let me see it."he replied his voice calm but intrigued.
I pulled out the pendant by jacket pocket and placed it on the counter watching his reaction closely.
His eyes widened and he picks it up slowly turning it over in his hands inspecting the petal shaped locket with a practice eye.
"This is... quite unique,"he murmured more to himself than to me.' where did you find this?"
"It is a family heirloom."I lied keeping my face expressionless."it was given to me by my grandmother." I continued.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "I will give you $200."
I left out a short laugh shaking my head."you have got to be kidding me this is worth way more than that. I was thinking more along the lines of $1,000."
Hi chuckled clearly enjoying the negotiation."I like your bargaining spirit but $1,000 is a bit high. How about $500?"
I considered his offer tapping my fingers against the counter
"Make it $700 and we will have a deal."
He hesitated and nods extending his hand for a handshake." Deal"
I shook his hand a rush of victory warning my chest he counts out the bills and hands them to me and I tugged to them into my pocket with a grin.
"Nice doing business with you."
" Anytime." He let out a cute smile.
As I stepped outside the weight on my shoulders feels a little lighter.
I hummed a tune under my breath silently congratulating myself and already thinking of what I could do with the money.
All the ideas and things I had piled up in my head that I could use the money on suddenly vanished.
Ad I strolled down the street I caught a glimpse of a boutique with mannequins in the window dress in the latest fashion.
I smiled snapping my fingers with a new found sense of happiness.
"Today won't be a bad day afterall,one dress won't hurt." I said to myself pushing the boutique door open.