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Soon after arriving at the "back house", I decided on just going to bed. Everything that happened so far was nerve wrecking. The poor maid's death, the discovery of a new family, accusations of being either a witch or a demon and death threats. It was a lot of stress for the body of a malnourished sever year old.
The next morning I woke up to a knock on the door. It was a male servant, holding a basket with food in it. He looked down at me and snickered,-"You're the bastard child everyone was talking about?"- still holding onto the basket.
I frowned-"Yes, and what does it have to do with you?"
"OH! Me, nothing~...but since I have a good heart I, Julios, have decided to help you!"
I grimaced at him-"Help me?"- I just want the food. Why's this fool talking to me as if I can't see through this little facade of his, it's so obvious it feels like he's mocking my intelligence.
"Little lady, you see, the people here belittle you, and think you're a hindrance. All because you're not a legitimate child. But, you still carry the lord's noble blood in you, so you must show them you're part of that family. And I, Julios, can help you with that. So, what do you say little lady?"
Is this dude serious, the only thing he'll do is get in trouble. Does he think he can use me to get some sort of recognition from that old man? He think's he'll turn me into a "little lady", and will receive some sort of reward, is that it? He's kind of stupid for a grown man, and he thinks I'm even dumber than him..."Hmmm"- Let's play with him just a bit then.
"And how will we do that mister? I'm so scared of father. Oh my! Can I call him that, I've never had a real family before, it must be nice."- I shyly said, while placing my hands on my face, as not to laugh.
He was smiling from ear to ear, how predictable. Clearly he wants to use me.
"Well, all you need is to make the madam's children look bad. First, you walk to the main house and tell everyone you want to see your family. And when you see your siblings walking down the staircase, you 'accidentally' push them. Oh, but don't worry, no one will get mad at you, you'll definitely end up being accepted. And don't tell anyone I was the one who gave this idea, they might think you're fake."
.....
"So, will you do it?"
....."NO! Do you think I'm stupid enough to risk my neck with your games, just so you could gain something from me acting the way you want me to? I ain't no fool like you."
.....
.....
"Well, this is all I wanted to hear. Thank you for your time. Oh! And here, your food for the week. Until next time."
.....
What the heck? What did he mean by that? I was dumbfounded, he was testing me.
At a distance, at the back entrance of the main house, the beautiful blonde woman from before was waiting for the servant. They talked a little, and left. It wasn't he that was testing me, but her.
A week later, while walking towards the river, which goes through the lord's property, to bathe myself, I see a pretty blonde boy. Bright purple eyes staring at a bird's nest on the tree. I decided to wait for him to take his leave, since I wasn't allowed to talk to the "real" children, specially the heir.
His hair a platinum blonde under the sunlight, a long straight nose, and eyes a purple so shiny it looked like a galaxy. Truly what a pretty kid. He stood there for a few more seconds looking at the bird's nest, then his hand goes inside his coat and takes out a dagger, beautifully crafted. In a matter of seconds three birds were on the ground bleeding in agony, their wings broken, one immediately died on the fall.
"Hiccup"
I put my hands on my mouth, and trembled. How can a eleven year old child do something like this with a straight face. And even worse, show absolutely no remorse.
...
"Who's there?"
...
"Show yourself before I come there, or call the guards."
...
I slowly got up, and turned around. The boy's face still holding the same expression as when he killed the birds. As if he was... bored. Then, he took the knife the in his hands once again, adjusting it to throw once again, but this time, aimed at me.
I was paralyzed, dominated by the fear of being killed, not like in my first life, when I died because I was sick. No, this time someone was staring deep into my eyes, seeing my fear, like a fox, and enjoying every second of it. In the blink of an eye, the blade was thrown in my direction.
Hitched breath, a dry swallow, hands shaking and and a boy standing still, but this time he was smiling, like he just found something interesting, no, like he found a new toy to break.
"THUD"- the dagger hit a snake on the tree branch behind me.
.....
.....
"What is your name bastard child?"
.....
Why is he approaching me, and walking towards me. He stopped right in front of me, and reached his hand, I closed my eyes as reflex once more-"Pffft"-he pulled the dagger from the tree and pointed it to the mole under my colar bone.
"Will you not answer me?"
.....
"M-my name... my name is Tavora."
His widened his eyes, and blinked. Just for a few seconds he stared at me quietly, and suddenly burst ou laughing -"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA cough cough HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"- like father like son.
"TAVORA, a name that means abomination, something detestable, misfortune and brokenness. That's your name?!?!"
.....
"Who gave it to you? Father? Your mother?"
.....
"Wait, your mother, truly? HAHAHAHA!It just keeps getting better."
"You're really not loved by anyone, how sad. I mean... I don't judge your mother, look at you. Eyes red as blood, hair so white and curly like vines, moles on your face and body like a witch. You truly are repulsive"
...
His words cut me like a knife, reminding me of the bullying I suffered in my first life, however much, this time I don't have a family to comfort me. That thought gave me a sudden shock of reality, reminding me once again I was in another world, not knowing anyone or anything, and just like my first life I was born 'ugly'.
...
"BROTHER! WHERE ARE YOU?!"- a girl's voice from a distance shouted.
"OVER HERE! I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU"
I turned to him in baffled, just about to walk away when he grabbed my arm holding me in place. A smirk on his lips, as if about to do something malicious.
The sister arrived, blonde wavy hair and violet eyes, rosy cheeks, bottom nose, milky skin and pink full lips. She could be a celebrity in my original.
"Leonora, I present to you our half bastard sister, Tavora."
She blinked, looked at me and just like he did, and burst ou laughing. What's wrong with these people, is this laugh a family thing? They all laugh the same. Are they taught to laugh like this? How annoying.
"Pleasure to meet you Tavora, I'm Leonora Geier Sullen, and your older sister. Please~, let's treat each other very, very, very well from now on."
Wait, did she just say Geier Sullen, as in the family from that novel I was reading before I died, and they die mid story. That family? You've got to be kidding me.
Just as I was about to walk away from them, the madam of the house arrived.
"Mother, listen to th-"
"Child, did you not have a deal with my husband, as to not approach my children? Did he not warn you that you would be punished?"
I was still in shock, not being able to utter a single word. So I did the only thing a sane person would do in this situation, I ran. I ran to the middle of the woods not looking back, trying not to think of anything, and only after reaching a cliff did I stop.
It was the first time since coming to this world that I stopped. Always working to help sustain both me and the maid, and having multiple jobs when she got sick to buy her medicine. I never once had time to truly stop and think.
Think about my situation, where I was, who I was. No time to miss my family, my friends, my job, my beautiful little sister, my life. Not once, since I was born here, did I have time to mourn my own death. It was the first time I actually took time to pity and cry for myself.
When I finally stopped, the moon was up high in the sky, shinning so brightly, as if to mock me. No one came looking for me, in this world, no one would come for me. So I took a decision, looking down the cliff a thought came to mind. 'If all it took to bring me here was to die, than maybe if die here I can go back.'
And so, .... I jumped.
That was my first lifetime here. Unfortunately, my guess wasn't right, and I once again woke up in this world, and took the same decision as in my first life here. But on my second life, I drowned myself in the river.
The third time, I decided to continue living, since suicide wasn't an option, perhaps I could try making a living here. I used my knowledge as a doctor from my world to help the people, but instead, my family accused me of being a witch. And every time, the one who burns me at the stake or cuts off my head, is the famous witch hunter, and sub male lead of the book, Count Aryon Venator Stoker.
And so, that's how my fourteen lives went by, in resume:
01°- suicide by jumping off a cliff
02°- suicide by drowning in the river
03°- murdered by count, burned at the stake
04°- murdered by poison (the madam did it)
05°- murdered hunted by the count
06°- suicide by hanging
07°- murdered by family abuse
08°- murdered by the count, burned at the stake
09°- murdered by sister saying I was a demon, my head was cut off by the count
10°- caught smallpox from the maid
11°- villagers called the count and accused me of being a witch, they threw rocks at me
12°- murdered by the count, burned me at the stake (again)
13°- murdered by beating
14°- murdered by the count, cut off my head when first saw me
And now, my fifteenth life.