The Mist Heiress

Chapter 2

Five weeks had passed since my last beating. 

Everyday was also the same routine for me, my chore was to help the sisters in need, and when I'm not helping them, I was sent to my room and was not called out until I was needed again.

 was constantly locked up within those four walls, bare and lifeless like the emptiness in my heart. However, I noticed several changes in behaviour of the sisters. Whenever they passed by me, their eyes will be filled with such eagerness and their face with a sly look, as if they were contemplating a sinister plan. Every once and then, the sisters would call upon me to butcher a chicken or a duck, using dinner as an excuse, but I always refused to. I can't stand the sight of other's blood on my hands, knowing that I had inflicted pain on them.

Surprisingly, Sister Judith didn't lash me again for my disobedience, in fact, it seemed as if my birthday plan had taken up most of their concentration. I was still baffled by their sudden change. Still, I couldn't deny the little part of me that was excited for the change. Maybe this time it will be different. 

I woke up to see it was yet another gloomy day. I inched out of bed and pulled a red sweatshirt onto my body. Fortunately, my body was already fully healed, leaving no trace of the ugly scars . Normally, sister Beatrice would wake me and deliver my breakfast, but when I heard voices from the hall, I know today would be different.

I opened my door discretely to make out the voices below.

'My wife, she died when she was giving birth to my daughter. And my daughter, she- she died shortly afterwards. I lost everything ever since.' I listened. A man's voice? I was surprised, we rarely have males around.

'I understand your pain and I offer you my sincerest condolences, I shall pray for your loss to our almighty Lord and hope that they are in a better place.' Sister Judith spoke with such earnest in her voice, though I knew she was putting up a facade. 

'Thank you.' The man spoke again. I couldn't help but notice that there was an edge to his voice, something that resembled anxiousness. Curiosity overwhelmed me, urging me to sneak a peek. He cleared his throat. 'So, my point of visiting today is that I was hoping that uh- I could find a daughter.'

Sister Judith voice was warm when she answered. 'Of course! It has been a long time since any one of our children is adopted. I believe you are in search of a young girl? I shall gather them. Please excuse me, I will be back in a moment.' With that, Sister Judith was gone. 

I was tempted to sneak out of my room but instead I turned and went back inside as I heard the stairs creaked. I hid myself underneath my blanket and pretend to still be sleeping.  

The footsteps grew louder and I burrowed deeper into my sheets, holding my breath. At first when the footsteps got closer, I thought it was just going to walk past my room and into the girls', but it did not. It stopped right in front of mine and I heard someone twisted the knob.

I peeked. I gasped. I almost screamed.

He was a huge man, with dark hair the same colour as mine and eyes as dark as the night.  He had a vicious scar running across his face and his lips were twisted into an awkward smile.

'Aurelia....' His hoarse voice sounded, he gripped the doorknob forcefully, as if he was restraining himself from charging into the room. Without another thought, I stood up and was momentarily embarrassed at my clothing. With only a red sweater, a really torn shorts and no shoes, I backed away as far as I could into the dark corners of my room. 

Truthfully, he intimidated me. His presence in the room was overwhelming, it was my first time being close to the opposite sex. Despite the scar, I could see an odd resemblance of his features with mine, as if we are both related. What a crazy thought.

I shook that thought away. They told me that my mother had died and my father disappeared ever since I was born, I had no siblings. Who is this man? For a moment, I caught a glint of moisture in his eyes and a sense of recognition, but I was hesitant. He scanned me with those eyes and I hard the urge to cover up and cower in the corner. Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of girl who runs away from her fears. Instead, I braved myself and asked. 'Who are you?'

I was expecting an answer, instead he extended his hands and spoke in such rush.

'Take my hand, hurry.'

 His voice awakened something buried deep in my soul and my heart fluttered awake at his voice. My heart felt warm, and there was another feeling altogether, safe.The urge to run to him was overwhelming, still my foot was rooted to the ground. 

'I demand answers! Who are you?' I yelled. I was surprised at myself for losing composure, I was never this vocal, I was reserved, well restrained. I heard hectic footsteps on the floor above and a moment of panic flashed between his eyes. His hands extended further as to reaffirm himself. 

'No time for answers, please, take my hand, we'll leave this place.'

Leaving. My impossible dream. My mind was hopeful yet wary, what if it is a trap? 

My foot started to move at the same time the adrenaline was coursing through my veins, I could hear the pounding in my ears and my logic beaming danger signs in my head, but my body was not responding to my commands. It was gravitating towards this stranger as if it recognises him. 

All the while when I was moving across the room, I was thinking of the possibilities of me being free and calculating the odds of this stranger coming to my rescue, but I guess I was always of an act-now-think-later kind of person, I can live with my own consequences.

The moment my shaking palms connected with his, I felt him yanking me out of the doors and down the flight of stairs.

Was it the rapid pounding of my heart that filled the air around us or the chaotic footsteps that was catching up with us? He pulled me into a run, in a hurry to leave the Orphanage.

'Stop!' Sister Judith was fuming, in her hands was a diamond-shaped stake with very pointy ends. Soon, there were other sisters falling into step behind her. Their faces were twisted into something feral and I caught a glimpse of fangs. Or was it my imagination? Luckily, his hands were already on the door, he yanked it open and started to push me outside when Sister Judith spoke.

'You know you will never outrun me Deveraux.' 

I felt him tensed.

'Do you think you can fool me with your disguise? Pathetic. I smelled you the first time you came through the doors.'

Deveraux scoffed. 'I never attempted to fool you sister, you are the one who is fooling yourself'

'You can't run away from this. You betrayed us all and I was merciful enough to not initiate your death sentence, I am sure many of the reapers are willing to oblige in an attempt to please me.'

Deveraux laughed bitterly. 'You might as well have.'

Without any warning, he pushed me further down the steps and closed the doors forcefully behind him.

He whistled. 'Girl, when I say run, run and don't look back.'

I did not have time to process what he said or how to react when the door burst open. Deveraux yelled. 

I ran.