With each step she took, the air grew colder, sending a shiver down her spine. The atmosphere grew increasingly eerie as if the darkness was consuming her. She sensed the presence of something powerful lurking in the shadows, waiting for her arrival. Suddenly, she felt a cold breath on the back of her neck, and a chill ran down her entire body. The silence was deafening, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. The darkness seemed to be closing in on her, and she couldn't see anything beyond her own trembling hands. Fear gripped her heart, and she realized that she was not alone in that dark place.
As Diya arrived at the edge of the underworld, she couldn't help but be awestruck by the magnificent sight of the grand mansion stood tall and proud, radiating a majestic aura that seemed to defy the desolation around it. With cautious steps, she made her way towards the imposing structure, filled with a sense of wonder and anticipation.
With a sudden jolt, she spun around, her eyes wide with shock, frantically scanning the surroundings for any sign of the mysterious man in the black robe. However, to her bewilderment, even the mysterious woman had disappeared without leaving even a trace.
As she stepped closer to the door, its rusty hinges groaned in protest, and it swung open with a haunting creak. Peering into the darkness beyond, she was met with the eerie sight of a spectral figure. It was the unmistakable form of her own grandmother, Emily Brown.
"Diya, my dear," Emily whispered, her voice echoing through the empty halls. "I have been waiting for you."
As Diya stepped inside her grandmother's Manor, a shock of nostalgia hit her. She couldn't help but feel an overwhelming surge of love for her grandmother, who had left her with many fond memories of the place. The Manor appeared to be frozen in time, with elaborate furniture covered in a thick layer of dust. Faded portraits, hanging on the walls, seemed to be staring back at her as if they too were waiting for her arrival. Emily, her grandmother's trusted aide, led Diya to the grand library, where the scent of old books and leather filled the air. It was here that they would finally uncover the truth behind the curse that had haunted their family for decades.
"Wow, that's quite a sight!" As she looked around the grand mansion, her mind wandered.
Diya, who had previously discovered Roselle's shrine in her world, was likely taken aback to learn that the same mansion where she found it now stands in the underworld as Mr Manor's dilapidated mansion. The mansion, which was once a grand and proud structure, now bears the marks of neglect and decay, a stark contrast to its former glory. It must have been a jarring experience for Diya to see this familiar place in such a state.
"It's amazing how things can be so different yet connected in unexpected ways!" she murmured under her breath again.
Within the library's maze of shelves and books, Emily began to recount the tale of their ancestral feud. Roselle Manor was once a charming and radiant woman, admired for her beauty and grace. However, envy and jealousy took hold of her heart when she noticed the affection and attention that Mr Manor, her love interest, bestowed upon Emily. Consumed by her resentment, Roselle placed a wicked curse on their families, vowing to create an eternal conflict that would bring them to ruin. She swore to unleash a never-ending war that would tear them apart, leaving nothing but pain and suffering in its wake.
"I never understood why she despised me so," Emily sighed. "But her resentment towards our love was rooted in her fear of losing her own status within the family."
Diya's heart went out to Emily as she listened intently to her story. She could feel the weight of their shared history bearing down on her, but she was determined to be there for her grandmother. As Emily continued to speak, Diya could sense the depth of her pain and the rawness of her emotions. She wanted to reach out and comfort her, to ease her burden and let her know that she was not alone. With every word, Diya's empathy grew, and she vowed to be a source of support and strength for her friend, no matter what.
"I am sorry, my darling Diya," Emily whispered, tears streaming down her ethereal face. "I should have protected you from the burden of this curse. It was never meant for you to carry."
Diya's eyes welled up with tears, a mixture of sadness and relief, "Grandmother, the curse has been lifted. We don't need to worry anymore," she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
"I'm glad to hear that, my dear," Emily Brown, her grandmother, replied softly. "But we still need to find the book and return it to its rightful place. Only then can you be truly safe and secure in your future," she added, her voice full of concern.
As they strolled through the hallway, a voice interrupted their conversation, "I will take care of the book."
They spun around to see Roselle, who had slipped into the library unnoticed. Her steps were so light that they couldn't hear her coming. Diya's heart skipped a beat as she noticed Roselle's piercing gaze fixed on her. Her eyes widened in terror, and she took a few steps back as Roselle approached her. The air around them seemed to grow colder with each passing second, and a sense of dread washed over them. Roselle noticed the fear in Diya's eyes and gave her an evil smirk, sending shivers down their spines."Roselle, she's your granddaughter, don't forget that," Emily reminded her.
"When did Diya become my granddaughter? I know I have a grandson, but not her," Roselle wickedly replied.
Diya's heart shattered into a million pieces as soon as she heard Roselle's piercing words. She couldn't believe that someone she would have considered a family could be so heartless and cruel. It felt like a betrayal to hear Roselle despise her granddaughter and want to erase them from history. Diya struggled to keep her composure and pretended to be unfazed, but deep down, she knew that Roselle's words would haunt her for a long time. It was a painful reminder for Diya that sometimes people she thinks she knows can surprise her in the worst way possible.
"You can't take back your words, Roselle! Remember, words can be sharper than knives!" Emily was furious with Roselle for her cruel words.
"I've already shown my disapproval to her when she visited the mansion, Emily, so there's no need for you to be so defensive. She's quite familiar with my temper and the sharpness of my tongue," Roselle said with a smirk.
"Roselle, that doesn't justify your mistreatment of her," Emily said, still trying to defend Diya.
"Please, let's not argue again. I didn't come here to witness another fight," Diya interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension between her two grandmothers. She turned to Roselle and added, "I'll make sure the book gets to its rightful place safely."
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💕Hey, what's your take on Roselle's next move? Do you think she'll finally let go of her anger and resentment towards Emily or is she brewing up another wicked plan to harm Emily's family? It's getting intense, isn't it?
Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for reading! ❤️