Chapter 1
BPOV
"I will come back for you, I promise…"
The woman's face above me was like looking into a mirror, a reflection…there were a few minor details to her face such as the colour of her bright hazel eyes and caramel coloured hair, which made me aware that I wasn't seeing my own face.
Her long hair cascaded around her face, tickling my cheeks as she gazed down at me with adoration. A kind of sad smile touched her lips then she kissed me on my forehead. Leaning back so that she was straight I looked from left to right. I became aware that I was lying on my back, cocooned in blankets and was protected from the heavy rain by some sort of straw canapé.
Looking back to the woman above me I noticed her hand was wrapped around a basket-like handle that was attached to whatever I was lying in. Her fingers were elegant, like mine, and she wore a ring with a silver dragon wrapped neatly around an emerald stone.
Suddenly I was jostled and I could now see a black door to my right and I could hear a faint ringing sound.
A soft hand stroked my cheek and my eyes shifted towards the mysterious woman. Her eyes were rimmed with unshed tears as she smiled that sad smile again. I didn't get much time to look at her as she suddenly disappeared out of sight leaving me in the dark…
I woke up with a start, my breath coming out in short gasps and feeling completely disoriented. It wasn't like this was the first time I had had this dream, ever since I could remember this dream had haunted me. Which was long time since I was now 18 years old.
I sat up in my bed, running a hand through my uncombed hair and looked around.
I was still in my four-poster bed, in my bedchamber and surrounded by a variety of blankets and cushions.
Without much warning the doors burst open and lo and behold my sister stepped through, her hawk eyes zeroing in on me.
"Father told me to wake you up," she began coldly, "I do not know why he could not send for one of the servants to do it instead but here I am."
When I didn't move she narrowed her eyes at me
"Did I stutter, sister?" she sneered
It was not secret that Colette despised me and never made any move to cover it up. I couldn't really figure out why she hated me so much.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood on the cold stone floor, trying hard not flinch from the freezing bite that it gave me.
When I turned to face Colette with an expressionless face, she stared back before glancing to her right snapping her fingers.
"Maid, help Bella into her corset and dress" she quipped, then made her way down the corridor without glancing back.
The maid scurried in with large box with my dress and corset in it and placed them on my unmade bed.
The maid lifted the lid on the box and I glanced inside and frowned. Although the gown was pretty with lace and silk it was the colour that threw me off. Black.
"Why is this gown black?" I asked to no one in particular
"It's Uncle Henry's funeral today," a voice to my right, answered for me
I immediately stiffened when I heard his voice
I didn't move, I couldn't move. Frozen on the spot, I felt him move up right behind me, pressing his chest against my back, completely oblivious to the maid standing right there in my room.
I felt his breath on my neck as he brushed my hair on to my left shoulder.
Nausea radiated through my body, my brain yelling at me to move and get away from him immediately but I was locked on the spot.
He continued to nuzzle at my neck, his hand slowly skimming down my right arm then slipping onto my waist where his fingers gripped me hard.
I felt my body heat up and I gritted my teeth, disgust replaced anger, as I tried to make my body break away from his revolting hold. My face flushed and I began to feel a layer of sweat form on my forehead.
I don't know what happened but next thing I knew he cried out and wrenched his hand from my waist.
I gasped for breath and I felt like I had almost drowned under his touch.
I whirled around, facing him as he looked at me with rage, "stay away from me Michael" I seethed at my brother.
He narrowed his eyes at me, looking at his hand that had been on my waist, and then finally stormed out of the room.
I turned back to the box on my bed, my arms shaking as I reached for the black gown, running my fingers along the silk and lace.
"Should I help you dress, miss?" the maid's timid voice startled me.
I nodded quickly and I let her help me into my corset, the maid pulling the strings tight, followed by the black gown.
I walked over and sat down at my dresser while the maid combed through my knotted curly hair. She tugged the top part of my hair up, braiding, curling it around before tucking it neatly into a bun. She then curled the remaining hair at the base of my head, leaving it to hang passed my shoulders. The final touch was a black veil, which was tucked at the front of my hair then falling in front of my eyes.
Once all of this was done, I walked over to the full-length mirror and simply stared at what I saw.
In comparison to my blonde haired, blue-eyed twin brother and sister, Colette and Michael, my hair was a dark chocolate brown and my eyes were a bright green, which stood out against my pale skin. It was obvious that the family I grew up with wasn't my family at all. While they were elegant and beautiful, I was just plain and simple. I was rarely noticed growing up. While Colette and Michael were paraded around, I was pushed to the back, where no one could see me. My mother, Marie, despised me just as much as Colette did and Michael made my skin crawl. The only person in this household who seemed to accept me was my father, Phillip. He was the reason I was still apart of this household. Being a humble and sympathetic man, seeing me dropped on his doorstep was something he could not turn away. That was the night I continued to dream about consistently.
A knock on the door woke me from my daydream and I turned, prepared to mother, Colette or Michael. Instead my father greeted me. I immediately relaxed, my muscles sighing with relief when I saw him.
Phillip smiled gently, his eyes shining as he looked at me. "You look wonderful" he remarked.
I cracked a smile and laughed slightly, "Father, it's a funeral, I don't think fashion is of any significance at these events."
"Ah, I think you would be surprised my dear," he replied, as he strode over to me, "A lot of women consider it to be the perfect opportunity to show off all sorts of hairstyles and dresses."
He turned around and walked next to me as I ambled out of my room and into the corridor.
We descended down the stairs where we walked through the foyer and out the door to the carriage.
I climbed in expecting to be greeted with cold stares from the rest of family but instead there was nothing; they must have taken an earlier carriage.
My father climbed in after me and the carriage pulled out of our gravelled driveway.
…
Twenty minutes later we arrived at the graveyard and stood with the rest of the family.
I didn't know Uncle Henry well but judging by the vast crowd that had attended, I assumed he wasn't the most popular of men in our town.
I sat down on an aisle seat next to my father and prepared myself for the tedious and droning speeches that were to follow.
The coffin was still sitting above ground, its shiny black top reflecting the bare branches of the trees that surrounded us.
There was no sun and the cold nipped at my ankles and hands, making me rather uncomfortable, I shifted slightly, rotating my ankles and wrists subtly. My father glanced at me briefly but thought nothing of my movements.
I signed and looked around, glancing at the few headstones in the distance and stopped short when I saw a shadowy figure standing out in the open.
I squinted my eyes, trying to focus in on the person. The height told me that it was a male and the strong, broad shoulders further reinforced my observation. I couldn't see his face but I could feel his heavy gaze resting on me. He made no move to step toward where I was sitting but instead he simply stood there.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from him but I wish I had because suddenly it felt like flames were licking their way up my arms, my chest and then to my neck. I gasped; squeezing my eyes shut as I felt like my body had been thrown into a furnace. I couldn't escape even when I had been looking at him moments before. All I could see behind my eyelids was fire, everywhere. A tall, menacing shadow stood amidst flames, walking straight for me, its hand reaching for my face, getting close, too close. I opened my mouth and screamed as agonizing heat burned away my flesh, creating blisters. The hand still reaching for me continued to get closer and closer until finally, out of self-defence and fear, I grabbed its wrist, my palm sizzling at the contact. The creature reared, screeching as it shook my hand from its wrist and throwing me to the ground in the process. As soon as the contact disappeared the fires vanished and I gasped, welcoming the cool crisp air into my lungs.
"…Bella? Bella!" my father's voice hovered over me
My eyes peeled open as I looked up at him, his head leaning over me, his hand tapping my cheek, trying to bring me to my senses.
My breathing was laboured and irregular. I was lying on my back with the frosty grass beneath me and everyone from the funeral had turned in their seats to stare, not moving to help.
"Phillip, get her up quickly, everyone is staring!" my mother whispered desperately to my father.
He shot her a glare that immediately silenced her and turned back to me
"Bella? Are you okay? What happened?" he asked
"I don't know" I replied weakly
I remembered the shadow figure in the distance and sat up instantly turning around to looked at the place where I had seen him.
I was greeted with nothing.
It was as if he had never been in the first place.
Father offered me his hand, pulling me to my feet.
He looked concerned before he finally said; "I'm sending you back home"
I didn't object as he led me back to the carriage, my body shaking and my head spinning. I stepped inside and collapsed on the seats.
I was exhausted. I barely remembered the trip home. The maids helped me inside the house and into my bed-chamber, where I fell into my bed and blacked out.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I know not much has happened but I promise you guys there is lots to come (: I would really appreciate reviews, tell me what you guys think or if you have any ideas for what should happen next :D let me know!
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