1. Forced Legacy
“Ella, we are getting late. Can you be a little quick?” I heard my mom calling me from downstairs while here I was standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in a black dress. The sleeveless black gown I was wearing today is considered as our ancestral dress which was easy to say due to it’s intricate designs. There was cloak attached to the gown which was overall emitting a dark royal vibe. To compliment my dress I left my light brown wavy hair open with a bit of minimalist dark makeup. “ELLA.” I flinched at my mom scream and ran downstairs to meet her deadly stares. As dad always says if eyes could kill exists, it’s definitely going to be mom. I took a look at her back where dad was doing his hand symbol of abort which made me roll my eyes. “Sinclair, Valois and Albrecht already left and here we are, again getting late because of her self obsession.” Mom said furiously looking between me and dad.
“You should be happy, I’m appreciating your hard-work and genes,” as soon words slip out of my mouth my mom and dad gave me a‘I’m so done’look. But before they could say a word, Liam, our driver, rushed inside the hall and catching his breath he said, “Ma’am media is out there.” Mom look at dad and then they both went to the nearest window. Seeing them stunned I followed them too and took a look outside. The whole road was blocked due to the paparazzi, reporters and lots of vanity vans from different channels. “We can’t go from the front. Liam take care of the reporters.” Dad said and closed all the windows behind himself. Mom followed him and so did I. There was a secret way made for such situations so that we can easily slip out without any problem.
We went towards the biggest picture in the corner of the hall and press the buttons on the huge vase kept next to it. For someone not aware of our house secrets it will seem like a design on the vase but only the closed one knows what amazing things our house carry in itself. As the painting slides to the right we enter into an eerie corridor where the lights were so soft that it can only show the path ahead and not the surrounding. After walking for 15 minutes we came out of hidden spot in a jungle which was close to the cathedral we were supposed to go.
As soon we reach the cathedral I saw Maserati, Aston Martin, Corvette and Porsche arriving at the venue. I saw Liam getting out of Maserati and walking towards dad. “Ella.” My focus shifted to the direction of the voice where I saw Emeline, Victor and Zander standing. Emeline was wearing the darkest shade of red gown with the matching cloak, her black hair was styled in princess braid and her makeup was minimalist yet bold. Victor on the left was wearing a blue suit with matching cloak, his dark brown hair was perfectly tousled while Zander on the right was wearing a white suit with matching cape and his chestnut brown hair was perfectly coiffured. I went forward to engulf Emeline into a hug. “The media ruined the mood and the dresses.” Zander said crossing his arms.
“Did you guys too came here through the secret route?” I asked furrowing my eyebrows.
“Yes.” She said rolling her eyes in frustration.
“Kids. Let’s get inside.” Zander’s dad said and we all moved towards the huge entrance of the cathedral. As our parents open the door we found it was dark and gloomy from inside. Trying to keep my curiosity in control I entered. It was a whole other world inside, the walls were so huge colored in dark shades which was hard to decipher due to the light. But the chandeliers on the top was doing their work by giving it a soft glow which was pleasing to eyes. I see the stage where there was no picture or statue of Jesus instead it was a blank stage with the huge chandelier on the top. The seats were all vacant, there was no one except us and the vines on the wall and top was making it scary and beautiful. I was so lost in the thought when I bumped into Victor. He was too lost in the view just like I was, I passed him a smile and went towards the place where mom and dad were talking to a person whose face was hidden due to the hood of the cloak but I can easily tell he’s too old yet healthy to walk and jump around.
“Ella, he will show you the way.” Dad said pressing a warm hand at my back. I glanced at him and then at the old man who was waiting for me to walk beside him. I signaled him to move and started walking behind him taking a last glance of my parents and my friends who already left for their rituals. We all worship different deities due to which our room, our clothes and ourold manare different from each other. I walk into a circular dark room where I saw a circle in centre the room which was surrounded by skulls, ashes, flesh, blood and what not. I felt like puking cause of the pungent smell of the rotten flesh and blood but I tried to control myself. “Go and stand in the centre.” The man said as he moved to a corner of the pentagon made inside the circle. I did... I did what he said as I knew there’s no other way because my parents are waiting outside for me to join them after the ritual and they needed confirmation. “Take this and drink.” He offered me a bowl filled with blood which made me widen my eyes in surprise. I took the bowl into my hand which were mildly shivering. I didn’t let my guard down as I keep my head straight and eyes locked in his. “This is a infant blood..” as he mentioned this I almost tripped the bowl from my hand. I looked at the thick red liquid inside the bowl. “As they have pure blood and soul it will help you to get in touch with the other side very easily and even it will make you strong...” his words faded away as I get lost into the calculation of how many kids will be killed to collect this amount of blood for these shitty rituals.
“Did you heard what I said?” His voice was filled with anger, “Kids like you don’t understand the value of all these things. Just drink this.” He commanded in an angry tone which made me gulp down the blood in one go, the iron taste did its work on me and made me feel nauseous but somehow I managed to stand still. “Take this dagger and make a cut on yourself, take out a small flesh and blood and put in on the skull kept in the middle. This skull will work as a medium between you and your deity, consider it as him and devote yourself.” He said as he threw a dagger towards me. With mildly shivering hands I picked up the dagger and looked at him and then the dagger. God knows what got into me that I just ran towards him with the dagger in my hand and shoved it deep in his heart, and to make sure his voice can’t be heard I removed my cloak and wrapped it around his mouth. Soon, his body stopped reacting and that’s when I realised that he is dead. Panic rushed through my veins as I started thinking of a plan to get out of here and to tell a story about this to the people waiting outside. I scanned the whole room to find out something but as I couldn’t find out anything I just stayed there for a minute and decided to act normal as if nothing happened. I took my cloak and ran outside where I saw Victor, Zander and Emeline were coming too out of their rooms.
“Are you good?” My mom asked me running a hand through my hairs.
“Yes.” I passed her a smile but it vanished quickly when my dad asked me about the man. “He said he’ll have to clean up the mess.” I’m sure with this statement didn’t made them sure so I continued, “Actually as you know it was quite gruesome so I just slipped the blood bowl and all which just created a mess so he’s just cleaning it all.”
“Oh my sweet darling, I know it must be hard for you but don’t worry anymore as it’s all over. Now we’ll go home and have some rest. Okay?”
“Yes, sure. I’m too tired so I would prefer no disturbance tonight.” I said,so that I can bury his bodyis what I didn’t said. As it’s all were done I somehow win the situation to get my mom and dad back to the house but to make it a complete win situation I must take care of the dead body, I can’t risk anyone seeing it. I said goodbye to my friends and left for the home with my mom and dad knowing this night would be peaceful for them but not for me. At first place none of this would happen if our ancestors would have lived normally rather than creating a legacy for us to follow just for some mere money. But what’s done is done as at some point I know whatever they did was right else Beaumont wouldn’t be the most powerful family in this world or the most powerful politicians. “Ella, we are home.” My mom said placing her hand on my shoulder which brought me back to the reality. “I know tonight wasn’t yours but the upcoming days and your future is now all yours.” Her hug was warm and filled with love but at this point all I could feel was coldness and numb. “Of course mom.”
