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Chapter 14- Father's Son
Kai's POV"Where do you think you're going" Voltaire's voice carried after me as I made my way to the exit. Kate and Richard stood dumbstruck behind him.
"After her" I replied coldly.
He laughed icily, "Get back here; take care of your date"
"I am" I called back as I rushed into the front hall.
Shit, where the hell is she.
"You seen a blonde girl wearing black come by here?" I asked the two usher girls, playing a game of cards.
One looked up thoughtfully, "Hmm yes"
"Where'd she go?" I asked impatiently.
The other girl looks up this time and pointed to the front doors, "She left"
I muttered a thank you and then went through the large wooden front doors of this house. My house. Not much of a home.
A half moon glowed in the black sky. Why'd she have to wear black? I started down the driveway and than down the sidewalk. She could be anywhere.
A sudden streak of blonde caught my attention. I ran after it.
I saw her, sitting on a bench, her eyes focused straight ahead. I took a seat next to her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked flatly.
"Looking for you," I replied. She muttered an "oh"
She continued to stare, only moving to shiver. I draped my coat over her shoulders. She still said nothing.
"I'm sorry," I said, hating the way the words sounded weak.
She turned to look at me, startled, "for what?"
"I shouldn't have let him say that to you" I said. I'd always been taught never to be weak. It's hard to admit my faults. I'm supposed to always be strong. I'm pathetic.
She shook her head, "You know saying something would have made it worse Kai. Voltaire is an extremist when it comes to getting what he wants"
I silently agreed. We sat there for what seemed like hours. The cold air penetrating our skin, the moon still aglow.
"What did I do wrong?" her quiet voice cut through the air.
I sighed, "Nothing"
"Than why does he hate me so much?" she whispered. I could see the hurt in her eyes and in her expression.
I sighed again, "It's hard to explain."
She laughed softly, "I have time"
I nodded, running a hand through my hair. I started, "I'm the heir of his company. He resents me for it, hates the idea of me ever running it. So he tried to make me as much like him as possible, as unlike my father as he can. Voltaire married a girl a lot like the woman he was dancing with tonight. She died when my father was 14. My parents died when I was 8."
She muttered a soft apology, patting my arm.
I continued, "My father married my mother when they were 18. Voltaire was furious. He'd picked out the perfect fiancée for my dad. She was a rich, conceited bitch. My dad refused and so he moved to the other side of Japan, and I lived there with them until I was 8. Voltaire doesn't want me to be like my father. He wants me to marry the bitch, and you're in the way"
She smiled, "I think I get it. He doesn't hate me; he's threatened by me. Thanks Kai, for telling me"
"Yea" I replied.
She giggled, "Isn't it Ironic? Voltaire is threatened by me"
I nodded. Still smiling she moved herself onto my lap, snuggling into my chest. There was something about her I couldn't get enough of. But I knew Voltaire was planning something. As far as he was concerned, Destiny wasn't part of my future. The next generation is repeating the past.
-
After taking Destiny home and then going back it was almost 2 am. I walked inside to an empty hall. Everyone had either left or was sleeping in a room upstairs. I made my way upstairs.
I found myself walking towards the library instead of my room. I pushed open the tall oak door. The room was dark, only lit by the stream of moonlight pouring in from the sole window on the opposite wall. The room held an ancient feeling. I turned down the farthest aisle. There was a portrait on the floor, leaning against the wall at the end of the aisle.
A slate-haired man stared back at me through mahogany eyes. A small smile was tugging at his lips, a cheerful expression on his handsome face. Ben Hiwatari was written in the top left corner in tall loopy hand-writing. My father.
I sat down in front of it. Taking in everything from the way his hair fell messily into his eyes to the creases at the corners of his eyes. I hadn't been here for a while. His picture never moved, it had never been hung up for the world to see. But Voltaire hadn't destroyed it either.
I pulled the picture away from the wall to get a better look when something fell out from the back. Carefully placing the delicate portrait against the bookcase, I picked it up. It was a photo, with 1989 written on the back. I flipped it over.
Three familiar faces were grinning at me. The slate-haired man was there, beaming this time with his arm around a blue-haired woman. She was holding a small bundle in her arms, baby Kailee. I was sitting on my dad's shoulders, a lopsided grin on my face. I was so different back then. Voltaire changed me.
"What are you doing Kai?" Kailee kneeled on the floor next to me. I didn't hear her come in. Wordlessly, I handed her the photo. She let out a small gasp.
"Mom and Dad" she whispered. I nodded.
Her shoulders started to shake as she stared into the faces of out parents. Then she dropped it and broke into tears. I put my arm around her as she sobbed into my shirt.
"I can still remember her reading me stories at night. Sometimes I can still hear her voice at night. It helps me sleep" Kailee whispered, wiping her cheeks.
I nodded when something else caught my attention. I told Kailee to go to bed and she agreed unconditionally, her sobbing becoming softer as she got farther away.
On the highest shelf, there was a thin white strip sticking out at the very end of the case. It looked as if it had been crammed in there thoughtlessly. I reached out and slowly pulled it out.
It was a large white envelope, crinkled and dusty. I opened the flap and some contents fell out to the floor. Two more, smaller envelopes now lay on the floor beside a folded piece of stationary and two small boxes. I instinctively picked up the stationary first. Unfolding it, I began to read the letter.
Dear father,
If you receive this letter Carolyn and I both have passed away. Kailee and Kai will now be under your guardianship. I know they are my children, but please take them in. If you cannot forgive me for leaving, do not blame them. It is not their fault in any way. They don't deserve to be punished.
I also ask of you not to make Kai follow the path you wanted me to follow. He's an incredibly smart young boy, and he could go so far. I don't want that taken away from him. No forcing on fiancées and lessons on power. Please.
I'm sorry I never came back to see you. I could never find it in my heart to forgive you for trying to take my life away.
Your son,
Ben Hiwatari
How come I'd never found these before? I came to visit his picture many times over the years. I tucked the letter back into the envelope and shoved it back on the shelf.
One of the envelopes, and one of the boxes had my name on it. The other two had Kailee's. I shoved them all into my pocket and then hurried back to my room. If Voltaire found out I had these, he'd be furious.
In my room, I hid all of the things in a drawer in my closet, under a bunch of old clothes I never wore. It was late, and I had school. So, as best as I could, I got into bed and forced myself to sleep.
-
I rushed back into my room after school the next day. I retrieved the things with my name from the drawer and sat down on my bed, placing the box in front of me, and carefully opened the envelope.
It had been opened before. The seal was ripped. Strange. I slid one of the sheets of paper out, and unfolded it. It was another letter.
Dear Kai,
If you get this letter, than your mother and I are no longer here. But we will always be in your heart Kai. Whenever you need us, we'll be there. We love you very much son.
You'll be living with your grandfather by now. Try not to hate him, he's not all bad. He's angry at me, for marrying your mother. You're only 8 years old now Kai, but someday you'll be older. Someday you'll have to make a decision. Someday, you'll understand what I did.
We'll always love you Kai, never forget us.
Love,
Mom and dad
It was a good-bye letter. I was supposed to get it eight years ago. Eight years. I shook my head, Voltaire had to be behind this. But why would he hide a good-bye letter. My eyes drifted to the other sheet inside the envelope. Maybe…
Do not read until your 16 birthday
It said, a sticker sealed both end closed. But it was ripped; I noticed when I looked closer. He'd read this one too.
Dear Kai,
Happy birthday for starters son. I wish we could be there with you. I hope you're having a wonderful time. I imagine you're a handsome young man now. Taking after you father. Haha.
On a more serious note, I think it's time I warned you. You know that your mother and I left Voltaire very unhappy and angry. I believe he's going to take it out on you son, even if I've asked him plenty of times not to. He has your future planned out and you have two choices. You can follow his plan. I can tell you what it will be like. You're spouse will be arranged, and you can bet she'll be a wealthy girl, but also a very unkind one. You will run Voltaire's company, exactly the way he wants you to. I'm sorry to say you'll be his puppet. It is a safe way to go Kai. If you want to ensure a safe life, you're already a billionaire. It's an easy enough road.
You do have another option though. You can make your own life. It won't be easy, believe me. Voltaire is hard to beat. I couldn't win, so I ran away with your mother. It sounds cowardly Kai, but I have no regrets. It made me happy. I wasn't a billionaire and I didn't have that safety, but my life was mine. I hope you really are your father's son. Remember, no one can make choices for you unless you let them.
Love,
Your father
That was definitely why I've never seen these letters. I sighed.
I reached out for the little box. It was small, made of a sort of blue velvet. I opened it.
On top was a little note. I held it in front of my nose.
Follow your heart Kai.
I looked down into the box. Now this was a surprise. Inside sat an engagement ring. It had a silver band with a large sapphire sitting in the middle.Two diamonds sat on either side of it.
Ok, I flipped over the card.
This is the ring I gave you're mother. I hope you chose the right girl.
I fell back onto the covers. So I have an engagement ring. I'm sixteen. This is great. I groaned, as much as I don't want to be Voltaire's puppet, I'm already so close.
-
"Kai!" Destiny shrieked happily as I entered Kailee's room. She leapt up and threw herself into my chest. I wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulders.
Kailee smiled, "what's up?"
I turned her envelope over and over in my hand. I couldn't decide if I should give it to her now. Visions of her tear streamed face flashed through my head.
"What's that? In your hand?" she asked, making the decision for me. I sighed and than letting go of Destiny I walked over and handed it to her. She took it slowly, a puzzled expression on her face.
"It's yours" I replied and she nodded, still confused. Her eyes flickered across her name written on the front, her eyes narrowing in concern. The room was silent as she slid the single letter inside out into her hand. She unfolded it and then read.
Her puzzlement turned into a distressed amazement. She continued to stare at the words after she finished. I watched a single tear fall onto the letter.
"Why didn't I get this eight years ago?" Kailee finally whispered.
I sighed. "Voltaire probably", I said bitterly.
Destiny, who had been standing beside the door watching through the whole thing spoke up, "Umm, what's going on?"
Kailee answered, "It's a letter. From my parents"
She walked over and sat next to Kailee, reading the letter over her shoulder. She let out a little gasp, "Oh wow"
"There's something else," I said, causing them both to focus their attention on me. I tossed her a larger blue velvet box. She caught it with both hands. She took a deep breath and then opened it. I sat down on her other side.
This was your great great great grandmother's necklace. It's been passed on through generations from mother to daughter. I give it to you now sweetheart.
Mom
Kailee gasped in awe, inside, sitting on a white cloth lay a silver chain with a large diamond pendant sitting neatly in the centre. It glittered under in the light, and as we looked more closely, there was a name engraved in the back. Emmaline Leshana. Wasn't familiar.
"It's beautiful," Kailee murmured, as she delicately lifted it into her hands. Then it slid onto the blankets as she burst into sobs. Destiny immediately pulled my sister into a comforting hug and stroked her hair as she cried.
I picked up the abandoned treasure. It was heavy for its size. I traced my thumb over the name. It must be worth a fortune; I was surprised Voltaire hadn't sold it. I put it back inside its box.
I looked back at Kailee. Destiny was rocking her back and forth and her crying seemed to be ceasing. Destiny caught my eye. She gave me a questioning look.
"Kailee" Destiny whispered, "Are you okay?"
Kailee nodded into the older girls shoulder. Destiny let go of her and she sat up, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.
"Sorry" she mumbled. Destiny squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Hide this," I said, handing her back the velvet blue box. She nodded solemnly.
"Could one of you please, tell me what's going on?" Destiny asked hopefully. Kailee looked away and I sighed. That left me.
I ran a hand through my hair and then I told her about the portrait and the letter my father has written to my eight-year old self.
"oh" was all she could say when I was done. I didn't tell her about the ring or the second letter I had.
"Did they leave you some sort of treasure too?" she then asked.
"Never mind" I brushed it off, she nodded.
We sat in silence, Kailee fiddled with the box in her hands. A knock on the door caught everyone's attention. Kailee quickly stuffed the necklace under her pillow as I went and opened the door.
A figure dressed in a black leather skirt and pinker halter stood in the doorway.
"Hello Kai".
It was Kate.
-
WHOA. Bahahah cliffy-ish. mwuaahaa. I have eaten too many smarties and hugs. I need to cut back on my sugar-intake. Eats more candy mmmmmmmmm.
Ahahah. REVIEW PLEASE! (Sorry its so short. My teachers and my boss seem to think I have nothing better to do than homework and working. Pfft.)
REVIEW! I'll give you some smarties if you do D