I would have never expected my life to take the turn it took today, and I couldn't have possibly guessed what it was going to be like from now on.
Today started out just like any other day since the decease of our beloved mother.
I woke up to the singing of the birds as the sweet familiar aromas filled my nose and hypnotized my brain. Jasmine, gardenia, lilies, lilacs, roses…so many fragrances that I knew by heart and yet many, many, that I couldn't identify, or sometimes didn't know about.
With a certain sense of satisfaction, I welcomed the real world and embraced the sun rays lighting my sheets. I jumped off my bed feeling really light and energetic, and headed to the bathroom for the daily morning routine.
My father had said that he'd be out to work early today, so it was my duty to tend our little garden this time. I walked out barefoot, the wind messing with my wet hair made me shiver at first but I liked the sensation, the extra feeling of freshness after my morning shower only made it better. I took a very deep breath and held it in, taking a sample of every fragrance out there, then let out slowly.
And the sweet variety of breathtaking aromas wasn't the only special thing about our small garden, the sight was mesmerizing as well. A kingdom of colors arranged beautifully, planned carefully to look in shape in every season by my father and mother.
I started to water the flowers and take care of them, and I was done in no time, or so I thought at first, but I realized that it took much longer than it felt like when I heard my sister Gumi calling us for breakfast. I washed quickly and joined my siblings around the breakfast table Gumi had prepared.
Miku, Gumi, Rin, Len, and I, always sat around the table in the same order. Two chairs were empty, one was my father's, and the other was where my mother used to sit. It had only been a few months since she had passed away, so we decided we weren't ready to rearrange the house yet. With every change made, it felt like I was losing more pieces of her. Every adjustment deleted more of her presence which was already close to vanish, from the physical world of course. Because she would always be with us in our hearts.
Only little awkward comments were made, but that's how meal times have been recently, like every other activity we used to do as a full family.
"Is Kaito-nii coming over today?" Rin asked me cheerfully, chomping a mouthful of something-or-another. "I hope he does, maybe he'll bring me a gift!"
"Rin! We shouldn't be greedy! Kaito-san is Luka's fiancé, he has no reason to bring us all gifts every time he comes over!" Gumi lectured her, pinching her cheek.
"ow! I know, but he always does!"
"That's because he's filthy rich." Len interrupted, a bit disgusted. He never liked Kaito. I didn't exactly love him to begin with, but it was going to be an arranged marriage. He was ever so nice and kind to us, but I couldn't bring myself to love him, not in the wife-husband way at least, but as long as it was going to help my family I was okay with it. He offered to financially support my family, and help them in any way he can, and promised to get me whatever I wanted, and grant all my wishes, not that I actually had any wish that a human could achieve.
But it was going to make my father, siblings, and Kaito himself feel happy and safe. It was going to please everyone, and I had no reason not to do it.
I wasn't waiting for prince charming on a white horse (although that's what all ladies in town would call Kaito) or anything, I had no big goal or reason to live for, so I had simply decided to enjoy and appreciate the most delicate details; the smallest touches of happiness and beauty that people don't usually notice, and to make sure other people around me were happy as well.
It was going to please everyone, and maybe I could find some hints of happiness in the new lifestyle, so why not?
I hadn't always been like that though. I once had dreams, desires, wishes,…it could all be traced to my mother's death. It was after her passing that I learnt what was truly important in life. Money, work, parties, and even relationships…all of them were just minor details in the big picture. It was human beings who actually mattered. We are the important pieces of the big picture. Lose them, and the rest of the details are meaningless. You could always gain money again or get a different job, but once you lose someone to death, it's absolute. No going back, no other options.
That's why I have no interest in anything, and why I also think that we should try to protect all life forms and give them happiness while they still exist.
"Maybe he'll get me a new pair of shoes! To go with the dress he got me last time!" Miku cheered.
"you guys are impossible!" Gumi sighed, crossing her arms in defeat. "So is he coming over?" Gumi asked this time.
"I'm sorry guys, but I don't think he'll be able to make it this week. He's off to Egypt, for a trade with a famous merchant who had managed to obtain some ancient relics of some sort…I think." I finally answered, trying to recall what Kaito had told me last time we met
"Oh, so he's into this kind of stuff? Awesome!" Len and Rin commented at the same moment.
"What about my shoes?!" Miku complained
I was about to answer Miku, when the door cracked open unexpectedly. All eyes were focused on the door, and the room fell into utter silence.
"Up, and ready for breakfast I see!" The newcomer's kind and loving voice made the five of us cheer. It was father's voice.
"You're back very early today. Is something the matter?" I asked him, smiling. "you've never been back this early before so that's pretty weird! Come join us for breakfast!" I invited him excitedly.
But something didn't feel right about him. He scratched his head and smiled at me, but what I sensed was hesitation, his smile was more nervous than happy.
"Surely not! I mean can't I just join my family for breakfast once every now and then?!" He continued.
"Sure! Have a seat papa!" Rin cheered from her chair, with a mouth full of many sorts of food. "You brought us anything?"
"of course! A new hairpin for Gumi, the gloves to go with Miku's dress, and the matching jackets Len and Rin asked for. As for you Luka dear," My father turned to me before he spoke, "I really had no idea at all what would you like, I mean you never ask for anything, so I got you a rose that grabbed my attention. I supposed you may like it since you enjoy helping me in the garden."
"It's really beautiful! The most beautiful rose I've ever seen! Thank you father!" I exclaimed as my father gave me the flower. I had never seen a flower that pretty before, but the anxiety showing in my father's nervous smile was still distracting me.
"And it's exactly the same colour of your hair, which was probably why it caught father's attention!" Gumi cheered.
I turned my back to them and went to put the rose in a small vase with some water, oblivious to the fact that the very rose I had in my hands was going to change my fate in ways I was unable to imagine.
The day passed ever so peacefully, and we enjoyed a nice afternoon with my father in the garden. Len and Rin spent the whole day playing tag, Miku was making us flower crowns, Gumi and I were practicing bow shooting, with father helping us, but the night came down quickly and weirdly enough it started to rain so we retreated to our small cozy home.
But the fake peace, the false calm before the storm, did not last for too long. Soon enough it was broken by some terrifyingly violent knocking on the door. My siblings and I didn't know what to think, but it seemed as if father knew exactly what to expect. He started trembling so badly, fighting for his breath at the same time. Sweat was dripping from his forehead and his eyes seemed a bit unfocused.
"Let me get this." He announced, trying to swallow his fear, his legs still shaking as he marched towards the door, but it seemed our visitor was in hurry that he had to break the door down before we could open it.
We stammered in our places, Len and Rin hugging, Miku sobbing softly, and being silenced by Gumi, waiting for the approaching figure to come out of the shadows and into our living room. I caught my bow which was luckily right next to me, and hoped to not have to use it.
My father backed away from the door, falling onto his back, as the tall figure came closer, revealing something horrifying, something so terrible I would never be able to forget.
Long messy strands of purple hair framed the very white and pale face of the figure. Its sapphire eyes; surrounded by what seemed like scales around their far end; were so cold and raging with anger he could almost pierce into my soul. Two ugly horns emerged symmetrically from the top of the head adding to the demonic look, and two huge raven-black feathery wings were visible from behind his back, like those of a crow.
The petrifying creature growled so loudly it made my heart sink in my chest, and I thought my ears were going to explode. My bow fell from my hand, and my heart was beating so loudly it felt it was right inside my head, pumping blood and adrenaline through my vessels. I had never seen something like that before. It only belonged in legends and fairytale, demons couldn't really exist, right?! At least they weren't supposed to take such spine-chilling appearances in front of us, were they?! I couldn't even tell if this was real or just one crappy nightmare of mine, or perhaps both!
"How dare you enter my garden and pick that rose?! Who do you think you are, you filthy human?!" The monster growled at my father on the ground "Who allowed you to do so?!"
"I…I d-did'nt know it b-belonged to anyone! B-besides, it's j-just a rose, isn't it? Y-you can take all the f-flowers in our g-garden instead if-f you like!"
"Liar! You saw me while you were picking it up and ran away you coward rat!" The monster roared, holding my father up in the air from his shirt, with one arm.
My muscles finally unfroze at the dangerous situation my father was in, and I knew I had to do something. I was the older sibling, and I had to handle this. I grabbed my bow quickly and got ready to shoot.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so sorry I swear, I-i… you could take your rose and any other one you like! I was ju-just getting it for my d-daughter! I didn't know it would make you feel bad!" My father begged. It hurt me a lot to see my father so helpless and weak.
"Ah, so that's your daughter…" The demon said quietly after a pause, with a dark voice and a sickly smile that sent shivers through my spine, the same moment my arrow hit his leg, not even flinching.
"I think I've found a rose I like. The trade is done, and you're freaking forgiven." He faked a honeyed voice, throwing my father against the wall and walking towards me this time.
"No! do not touch Luka! Do not touch my children or I'll kill you!" I heard my father threaten, trying to run as fast as I can, but the beast was much quicker than me and grabbed me from my hair with his clawed hands. Miku and Rin were crying and checking father's wounds, Len and Gumi got themselves two knives from the kitchen and tried to attack the monster but he quickly knocked them to the ground with only one move of his giant wings.
"I will not hurt anyone, would you just come stay with me at my mansion? I promise you to not touch or hurt your father or siblings again…" The nauseating honeyed voice paused "If you do not agree on the other hand, I'll just slaughter them all right in front of you and leave, Luka. Isn't it wonderful how your hair is the exact same color of my rose?"
"Don't you dare!" Rin threatened, pressing a clean cloth against a wound in my father's head. "It might be late and raining now, but tomorrow, the whole town will know of what you did and they'll come after you!"
"Then Luka and I shall be preparing tea for them. Isn't that what your filthy kind does when someone visits them?" It disgusted me so much to hear my name in his sugar-coated nightmarish voice.
As he was still focused on Rin, I grabbed the vase that had his stupid rose and smashed it against his head, not able to run away because of his firm grip on my hair. Blood started streaming down his face, but it only made him smile flashing two rows of white, animal-like teeth at me.
"Good move, Luka."
"For God's sake! you monster don't even have feelings!" I cried as tears started welling in the corners of my eyes.
"True." was all he said, placing his foot on Gumi's head who was knocked out on the ground, smirking at me. "want me to crack her head open?"
"No please! Please! Don't !" I cried, defeated. I had put my family in enough danger and pain while I could actually save them all with one word. I took a deep breath before I spoke again.
"fine, I'll come with you." I answered, as calmly as I managed; I didn't want him to enjoy his triumph. "Let me just pack a thing or two."
The monster seemed surprised at my coldness, and it made me feel a little better.
I turned my back to my wounded family and got ready to leave with the damned creature.
"I'll be back! I promise!" I whispered to Rin and Miku, the only ones still conscious, before I walked out of the door. "We'll find a way! Kaito will save me, just tell Kaito, alright? We can't have him killing father so I'll have to go! Get the neighbors to help you take care of father, Len, and Gumi, do not let them get hurt!"
They both nodded, but held onto my arms, crying, not wanting to let go of me. I didn't want to let go of them either, but that perhaps was my purpose in life. I was put here to save my family. I relaxed a bit at the thought, but the monster ran out of patience and pulled me away from my sisters' embrace by force, throwing them to the ground.
I freed myself from his grasp and said no more, walking in front of him out of the main door. I didn't want him to hurt my loved ones any more. I had enough.
I swallowed my fears and tried to walk steadily and fast. What was I taken to his mansion as? I wasn't sure but I had such awful guesses in mind. But it didn't matter anyway, or so I convinced myself. Kaito was going to save me.