Chapter Five

Ursa roamed her garden freely, enjoying the peace and quiet of her sanctuary. It had been six years since she left the Frost home and gone off with Amistad to live in a small cottage. Until they found the perfect place to call home. Once again she had secluded herself from the world, but gained the freedom to come and go as she pleased without having to look over her shoulder all the time. The manor had a large estate, which gave her the opportunity to be out and about as she wished. It also aided that it was all walled in, so that no trespassers dared to enter for if they did it was a long climb up and fall down.

It was also the reason Amistad dared to leave her side, by now the woman was probably with her son. Watching him graduate from a prestiges school and accelerated law school program. The boy was smart and made his mother proud, the way her face lit up when she talked about him and his academic achievements made her a bit jealous that she could never make her family feel as proud. Nevertheless, the lesson she learned was that she didn't need to make them proud. As long as she was proud of herself and her accomplishments it was enough, plus if she ever needed any moral support or someone to make her feel worth Amistad was there. It might not be the same to some people, but it held a great value for her since she was her mother figure in life.

She sighed as she recalled Amistad and how she had been gone for a week already. It was sad to see how lonely the house felt without another body to habit it. She picked at one of the white roses before her, 'One more week and she'll be back,' she told herself. 'I should just use this time to focus on my third book.'

Ursa sighed once more, this time it wasn't in longing but displeasure, she had a deadline for her third installment but no motivation to write it or what to write about. It appeared that her editor wanted her protagonist to have a happy ending, but how was she supposed to write one when her had figured her protagonist freedom was her happy ending. Well, apparently she was wrong. Even if her protagonist was free of her prison, well established and independent it wasn't enough. The final book had to make her reconcile with her past and find someone that truly loved her for who she was and not what she could offer.

Tough luck with that, she thought to herself as she decided to go back to the house so that she could make herself something for dinner. As she walked inside she heard the buzzard to the front gate go off. That was strange, considering she hadn't ordered anything from the grocery store for delivery, it as too late for the mail and her editor wasn't due until next month. Precariously she walked towards the buzzard to see who dared trespass on her peaceful evening.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It had taken Terra years to find his sister, which he had to give her credit for being able to hide so long. He had always feared that his sister was some where out on the streets suffering or in a lab somewhere being tested or worse possibly dead. If she stumbled upon the wrong people, who knew what would have become of her. But thank the heavens she seemed to have an ample head on her shoulders that allowed her to live respectfully well. If it wasn't for his cousin, Namine, who stumbled upon her work he would have never gotten a solid lead as to how to find her.

His little sister was a novelist, who's current series was a sensation with the masses. A beastly female, whom lived her life in the shadows. A topic that hit close to home for her, but since it was a fantasy fiction novel no one was the wiser except for those that knew her secret. A secret that he had gotten out of his father, but yet to tell the rest of the family. Well, his grandmother knew, but never exposed her. She just called Ursa her nightingale, whom she wished to meet and get to know before she passed.

A nightingale that escaped her cage and never looked back, she occasional wrote to their father, but that was about it. She just summed up her life in a single paragraph and never made to reach out or let them do the same. How would she react to his sudden presence now? He had showed up uninvited and unannounced that he wasn't sure how she would respond to his appearance. So far the high iron gate remained closed and unwilling to budge from his prying. 'You can try all you want, but the gate won't open,' a voice stated from the call box. The camera at the gate turned towards him.

'It would be easier if you allowed me entrance,' he looked at the camera, his hands falling from the gate bars.

Ursa studied the brunette, trying to pin his appearance down, but failing to come up with any recollection of him. He was tall, well built, handsome, brown hair that reached the base of his neck with bangs that fell along the side of his face framing it, and his skin was slightly tanned. However, if there was anything familiar about him it had to be his blue eyes that held eye contact with her even though he couldn't see her and it was through a screen. Eyes that would always try to search for her or looked at her with pity and remorse as if they wished that they could do something about her appearance. 'Who are you? What are you doing here?' As she asked those questions she had a sickening feeling as to who he might be and what he was doing there.

'I am here to see you,' he boldly stated.

'That doesn't answer my other question and I don't take visitors,' she responded.

'Not even family,' he asked answering her first question, but remaining cryptic.

Ursa studied him closer and finally realized why he looked familiar, why his blue hues haunted her and made her remember a past she wished every night to forget. He was her older brother, Terra, Amistad had told her about him and Ventus. She had heard him talking to Amistad, asking her to leave the house so that they could have some tranquility and not have to see their father's mistress invading their house. She clutched her left hand into a fist as anger flared at the memory of her bother insulting and demanding that her guardian leave. She took in a deep breathe and tried to remain calm, 'I am sorry, I have no idea of what you are talking about. I am going to have to ask you to please leave, before I call the police.'

What? She was turning him away, after he had come so far, 'Ursa, I know that this is you. I demand that you open this gate.'

Remain calm, remain calm, her inner voice told herself as she tried to deal with her short tempered brother. 'You can demand all you want, but that still won't change my mind. Leave before I call the police and don't come back,' she ordered.

Inhale, exhale, he tried to do as his anger management therapist suggested years ago and tried to convey his message better. On his last exhale he tried once again, 'I promise, I am not here to disturb you. I came because I want to meet you and get to know you better. As well as relay a request from our grandmother, who is dying and wishes to see you before she goes.'

She recalled the older woman and slightly frowned, she released the grip of her clutched fist. She had shared her admiration and even kindness, something that she had never received from her family members. Her father didn't count because his kindness was laced with pity, remorse and somehow guilt. She should let him in, but if she did that meant that more of her family would waltz into her life and ruin the tranquility that she had managed to build. What if once they saw her they would want to spirit her way again and confine her within a dark cell. Never to let her out again, she shook her head, she couldn't have that. 'You can apologize to her and give my regards to the family once she passes,' she offered briskly.

His temper got the best of him once he realized that she wouldn't let him in or honor their grandmother's request. 'I thought that you would be different and willing to see me. Now, I see that that was all in my head. To believe that someone they claimed to be hideous on the outside was just as horrendous on the inside.' The words left his mouth before he could stop them and take them back.

Ursa could feel her blood boil, so cold and cruelly she spoke her final words before cutting off the intercom, 'Than you have nothing left to do here. You've made your assumption about me, now you can turn around and leave because my home will never be open to you.'

Terra heard the intercom cut off and in his fury he kicked the gate. He knew he shouldn't have said what he did, now it was going to be harder for her to accept him. 'You just had to take after our Grandfather,' he didn't know whether he said this about himself and his short temper or her and her stubbornness and refusal to accept an extended hand. 'Dammit!'

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ursa tried to calm herself, but the anger and sadness that she felt from the words she never wanted to hear were unbearable. It hurt so much that she didn't hold back as she screamed in rage and frustration. She had never been asked to be born, let alone to be born with the appearance of a monster. She dropped to her knees at the entrance way and wiped away angrily at the tears that fell from her eyes. 'Why,' she demanded as she leaned over and hid her face in her arms. Willing the tears to stop and the anger she felt towards her brother to dissipate.

He had no right to come into her life and demand that she let him in or tell her such hurtful words. She had never done anything to him or the family. She continued to cry and feel worthless about herself, until darkness clouded her mind and she passed out on the marble surface of the entry way. Dreaming about what her past would have been if she had never been locked away and it seemed darker and lonelier than with her life with Riku and Amistad.

Ursa didn't wake up until later that night, a cold shiver running down her spine as the temperature dropped and marble floor became colder. With weak and slender arms, she pushed herself up from the cold surface and hugged herself in order to give herself warmth and a bit of comfort. The manor was dark and more forbidding than what she was used too. She got up off the ground and walked towards the kitchen so that she could make some tea to warm herself and rid herself of herself pity and doubt. The light of the moon and stars filtering in through the windows her guide.

As she arrived at the kitchen she turned on the light and had to blink away the glaring brightness. Her eyes sore, from her crying, hurt a bit as they adjusted to the light. They were probably red and puffy too she thought in annoyance as she went to grab her electric kettle and fill it up with water so she could heat it. While it was heating it she prepped her mug with tea and honey, so that she would have to wait less for her tea too steep. As she waited patiently she looked out at the garden and saw the beautiful white roses being illuminated by the large full moon over head.

It reminded her of the beautiful garden at her grandmother's estate, the kindness of the older woman and her one request. It was something that wasn't impossible to honor, but at the same time hard to accept. Since she didn't know whether or not she would run into someone from the family or wonderful older brother. Yet the cheerful smile as she recognized her for who she was made her feel a bit guilty about refusing her request. The kettle went off and she was pulled from her thoughts as she grabbed it and filled her mug, allowing the warm smell of chamomile tea soothe her mind and senses.

After she finished drinking her tea, she strolled outside to go and gather white roses for a bouquet. Which she than went inside and tried to find something to make them look presentable, she really didn't have anything so she grabbed an old news paper and used that to hold them together. Afterwards she called a taxi and rushed to get ready before it arrived, realizing that she had no other option but to wear her burqas. As she was finishing she head the buzzard to the gate and rushed downstair to get it. At times like this she wished she had her drivers license, but the thought of driving in her burqas would be a sight that would probably always get her pulled over in. Considering it concealed too much and was probably a hazard since it limited her vision.

With the drive up to the estate she had plenty of time to calm her nerves and gather all her belongings. The driver was taken back by her appearance, but didn't say much, just summed it up as being something part of her culture. It was nice that he didn't ask too many questions, just drove her to her destination. However, with each minute that they got closer the more nervous she became. She didn't really know whether she was at the hospital her Uncle worked at, because she just assumed since she was family she would go there to be taken care of. The reason she knew were it was was because it was the last place she every needed to be, he could come across her name and it would be over for her. He would investigate and she would have more than her older brother to worry about. She shivered at the thought, 'We're here Sunshine,' the taxi driver turned back to her and she was sure he was mocking her black burqas and lack of cheerful personality.

She decided not to comment, she asked how much it was and paid him before getting out and thanking him. Upon entering the hospital she could feel all eyes on her, considering it was late and not many people were about still made her feel subconscious of her appearance. 'Excuse me,' she said to the receptionist, who had been studying her up and down deciding whether or not to call security.

'How may I help you,' she finally asked after her silent observation and conclusion that she wasn't a threat.

'I know that it is pass visiting hours, but I would like to make a delivery and short visit to Mrs. Violet Frost,' she gave out her grandmother full name and reason for being there.

The dark skinned woman eyed her once again and then the large white rose bouquet. 'As you said, it is pass visiting hours. I cannot allow you to go and interrupt our sleeping patients.'

'I,' she hung her head in disappointment and her shoulders slumped downward as well.

'If you'd like, you can come back tomorrow during visiting hours and I am sure that the receptionist would be more than welcome to help you locate her room.'

'I see,' she nodded, 'but I am unable to come at such hours. If I could leave these here and have them delivered to her would probably be enough,' she said softly.

The young woman looked her over and sighed, she would be a sight for sore eyes so early in the morning she thought. If it was nothing but a quick visit and delivery it couldn't hurt. 'Don't tell anyone that it was me that helped you and if she's asleep drop off the flowers and leave.' The dark clad woman nodded earnestly in understanding and she turned to her computer screen to look up the patient's information. 'You'll find Mrs. Frost on the eighth floor, room eight-sixteen, now don't dillydally if she's resting.'

'I understand,' she happily stated. 'Thank you so much.'

'You're welcome, now run along before I change my mind,' she waved her off.

Without hesitation, she raced off to the elevator, pressed the button up and as she waited her nerves began to get the best of her. Ursa had never really spoken to the woman, but once before she left. Now she was at the hospital willing to sneak into her room and see her, what if someone else was there and she got caught. No, she shook her head, it was too late to turn back. The door to one of the elevators finally opened and inside it revealed a beautiful young couple. 'Namine, you take the cake. I can't believe you fell asleep. You were supposed to be watching Grandma.'

'I couldn't help it,' the blonde female reached out with one of her hands to cover her yawn. 'She just kept going on and on about that woman again.'

'Wonder who she is?' Her blonde counterpart asked as he followed her out of the elevator.

'Probably a figment of her imagination. You know that Grandma Violet is getting old and senile. I've asked my mother about the woman and she says she doesn't know who she is.'

'Hmm,' Ventus didn't say anything else, but jumped as the large arrangement of white rose began to move. He hadn't noticed the silent figure draped in black.

'Ventus, you coming,' Namine called to him as he paused to watch the figure move into the elevator.

'Yeah,' he turned around to Namine and followed after her.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ursa found a small but sad smile form on her lips as she recognized who they were. It seemed that both her brothers and grown up to be handsome and healthy. It was no doubt in her mind that they were really cursed with her. Her cousin was very attractive as well and seemed that she was fortunate enough to escape the curse. Silently she rode up to the eight floor and slowly scanned the numbers on every room until she arrived at her destination. She was grateful that the nurses were making their rounds and she hadn't gotten stopped along the way.

She knocked lightly so as not to wake her grandmother, but not be rude about opening the door unannounced herself. In the private one patient room, she found the older woman sitting up gazing out the window. 'Oh, I am sorry to have interrupted you,' she didn't think she'd be awake at this hour, considering her own granddaughter had been asleep.

The woman turned to the sound of the lovely voice, 'Not at all,' she called out as she heard the soft retreating footsteps. 'Please, come in,' she beckoned.

'I just stopped by to deliver some flowers,' Ursa softly stated as she stopped and looked at the white roses. Feeling sad that the receiver couldn't enjoy their beauty.

The older woman not being able to see feared that the young woman had gone. 'Years can go by and I can lose my sight, but I will always recognize the voice of my beloved Nightingale.'

'I,' she was stunned by her statement and felt a tightening in her throat.

'Come,' she tried to coax her inside, 'please come and sit with me.' She offered the empty spot beside her, making Ursa wonder if she believed there to be a chair.

Stuck at the doorway, she didn't now what to say or do. She had only planned to deliver the flowers and check up on her. 'I think that it'd be best if I just left the flowers. It is getting late and you need to rest.'

'I can faintly smell them from here,' she stated leaning forward. 'I imagine they are roses.'

'White roses,' she filled her in as she finally up rooted herself and lightly closed the door behind as she walked further into the room.

'Ah,' she nodded as she smelled the fragrance of the roses get stronger as she walked further into the room. With her making her delivery she might just up and leave. 'I know that you are in a hurry and probably wish not to talk to me, but may I make a request?'

Ursa studied her and wondered what she could want from her as she lad the roses on her night stand. Regretting not bringing them in a vase, maybe she couldn't find one. 'If it is within my ability I can honor your request,' she told her as she turned to the sink so she could look for a vase within the top cabinets, but finding nothing but medical supplies. She then turned to look under the sink and found a vase.

'What are you doing,' she could hear the opening and closing of cabinets and then water running.

'Just getting a vase and water to put your roses in,' she answered as she returned to her side and placed the vase down so that she could grab the flowers and place them in the water.

'I wish I could see them, I imagine they are beautiful,' her grandmother told her.

'They are,' she said as she took off the paper that held them together and she then placed them in the vase. 'So what is you request,' she asked after she finished and turned to the elder woman.

'A song,' she answered. 'I would like to hear my lovely Nightingale sing to me.'

Ursa was baffled by the request, but nodded even thought she couldn't see her. It wasn't something unreasonable and if one song was enough, she should be able to comply. 'If that is want you wish.'

'Oh, yes,' her crinkled as she lit up and smiled brightly at her response. 'It would always ease my worries and allow me to rest peacefully.'

Ursa wondered how much worry she could possible have, but didn't bring it up, instead she wanted to clarify that it was just one song. 'Just one song?'

'Just one,' she answered as she patted the empty space on the bed.

'Alright,' Ursa took a seat beside her and watched as she, like a child, began to settling into bed for the night.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ventus had forgotten his keys and returned to retrieve them. However, as he drew closer he heard the sound of an angel singing a soft yet cheerful melody. The voice carried every note clearly and perfectly. He wanted to go inside and see who it was, but was afraid that he would startle the woman and cause her to stop her singing. He knew that the voice didn't belong to his grandmother, she couldn't carry such a long note. His mother sang off key when she tried, Namine had a nice voice but she was downstairs and his Aunt was at home, so it couldn't be any of his family members.

The song came to an end and he felt sad that it did, for he hadn't heard enough himself. As he got closer to the door and pressed his ear to it, he could hear his grandmother's weak and faint voice. 'Your voice is as lovely as I remember it,' she praised. 'Please come and visit me more often, I promise not to ask for much. Just a song will do.'

'I shouldn't be here, if someone sees me it'll be trouble,' the beautifully voiced female told her.

'Please,' he heard the plea in his grandmother's voice.

'I'll see, now you should get some rest,' he heard her say.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ursa wanted to reach out and touch the woman, but retracted her hand. Afraid that her touch would be unwanted. 'Ursa, I'll be waiting,' she told her as she got up and she froze when she said her name.

Tears began to cloud her vision, but she straightened and fixed her attire, with a shaky voice she bid her good-bye. She couldn't make a promise like that, it involved too much risk. 'Rest well,' she told her before turning to leave.

—

A/N: This week I'll upload two chapters back to back. Please enjoy!

Name: Terra Veale

Age: 28

Hair: Chestnut Brown

Eyes: Blue

Relationship: Ventus and Ursa's older brother

Likes: Spending time with his wife and family.

Dislikes: When things don't go his way, because he tends to lose his temper and Riku.

Description: Terra has a calm and cool appearance, however he tends to lose his temper when family is involved. Once he discovered that his younger sister hadn't died, he made it his mission to find her and bring her back to the family. He is married to Aqua and they have a young daughter together.

Name: Ventus Veale

Age: 25

Hair: Golden blond

Eyes: Bright Blue

Relationship: Terra's youngest brother and Ursa's 2nd oldest brother

Likes: Enjoys working at his family's company (they are in the music industry)

Dislikes: Unknown

Description: Ventus is a happy go luck young man. People are usually more willing to accept his cheerful nature vs his brother's more calculated one. Namine and him are super close, probably because she was a substitute for his younger sister (that he didn't know was alive). He is the first one to get close to Ursa.