EUTERPE:
"Grab your stuff and then we can leave." Moore said opening the door.
I sighed walking in the house and looked around slowly, I guess this was it.
"Is that blood?" Moore asked behind me.
I turned and looked to see him pointing at the floor and shrugged before leaving the room. As I walked into my room I went straight for the bathroom before shutting the door. My feet moved quickly and I stood in front of my mirror looking at myself.
Nolan was dead...
The man who I thought would be my protector but was really my nightmare.
I washed my face and grabbed the little makeup I had trying to cover my busted up face. I hated wearing makeup but it was a necessity in my life. If I wanted to go out I had to wear makeup or make sure no one would see my face.
After what felt like hours I got my face to look somewhat natural. My black eye just looks more like eye bags so I didn't really care about covering that up too much. I grabbed all the stuff I needed before I started packing my actual clothes. At least I won't be questioned about wearing hoods all the time, it's the UK so no one can say anything. I went to my desk and took out the letter that's been waiting to be delivered for almost six years.
As I said, I had a message to deliver and then one more thing before I can leave. I'm sure it won't take long to complete either. I'll be out of there before the week is over.
"Euterpe we have to leave! Are you finished?" Moore yelled.
I sighed grabbing my suitcase and carry on bag before slowly walking down the stairs. Was this really happening? Was it maybe just a dream?
"I'll carry it. Let's go." Moore grabbed my suitcase and walked out.
I bit my lip before stepping out the door and felt a little freedom, something I never had. My hand slowly closed the door and I released a breath walking to the car.
Goodbye Northern Ireland, goodbye Nolan.
—
"Don't look at me like that." Moore rolled his eyes.
I glared at him darkly, how the fuck could he do this... he can't do this.
We were standing in the airport after our almost two hours flight. My problem was that he had me cuffed, cuffed! Everyone keeps staring at me like I was a fugitive or something.
"I don't trust you kid. If you make a run for it I can't exactly go after you." He explained carrying our stuff.
I walked next to him with a scowl, I should just run away so he can have problems with work. As we went outside he flagged down a taxi before pushing me in the back. The driver looked extremely worried and terrified as he glanced at my stone-cold face.
I hate people.
Moore got in next to me, "Hi," he waved before sensing the tension, "Oh, don't worry about her. I can assure you that she's an absolute sweetheart, she is just moody... it's that time... you know?" He whispered not so quietly.
Can I go to jail for killing him... I mean technically if no one witnesses it then I'm okay, right? That just means I'll have to get the taxi driver to look away or something. He wouldn't be a witness because he didn't see anything and I'll turn music on so he doesn't hear anything. Perfect plan.
"Oh of course! I apologize, may I know your destination?" He asked turning slightly.
"Uh... it's," Moore checked his pockets, "Ah! Here you go," he handed the driver a paper, "We need to go there." He nodded.
"Yes sir." The driver replied.
The car started moving and since my cuffs were in front of me I took my phone with trouble out of my hood pocket. My fingers tapped quietly and I could see Moore watching me before I handed the phone over to him.
"Where exactly are we going?" He read loudly, "Oh, well your brother owns a mansion a bit in the countryside. I guess the city isn't for everyone." He said handing me my phone.
My eyes went out the window, a half brother. I won't lie, it was a bit weird hearing that I had more family. I half expected myself to be excited but for some reason I'm not, I don't want more family. With what I've gone through family isn't something at the top of my Christmas list. If anything it's quite the opposite.
It took forty minutes but we finally made it to what looked like a forest. The drive turned on a dirt road making my curiosity grow quickly. We passed an open gate and my eyes caught something but it was too quick for me to process. The dirt was long gone and replaced with gravel before we saw the home. I scoffed, a mansion? This was a fucking castle. The car rolled to a stop and Moore got out and opened my door.
"Wait here will you, I am going to need a ride back to the city." He told the drive who nodded.
Moore grabbed my bags and pulled me along with a free hand to the large double doors. He rang the bell and a minute later an old man who I assumed was the butler by his outfit.
"Mr. Moore and Miss Sage, do come in, the boss has been expecting you." He bowed moving aside.
No one said he was rich.
"Let us take those," the butler said before handing them to maids.
"Um thank you..." Moore trailed off.
"Ah, yes... My apologies, I am Jensen the house manager." He introduced politely.
Moore stuck his hand out, "Very nice to meet you. I believe we have to get someone to someone else." He nodded at me.
"Of course, follow me." He turned sharply before walking.
My eyes scanned everything as we walked through the large foyer. I saw a large marble arch and admired the architecture until my eyes landed on what I saw at the gate.
A family crest.
But it was not any family crest, it was the Vaughn family crest. It was simple so it was unsuspected but in the criminal world in meant power, it meant death.
I stopped, oh fuck no! He said I had a half brother, not half brothers. That means there are six of them! I can't do this, no way. They can't send me from a criminal father to a whole criminal family! They are the mafia, Moore can't do this. I change my mind, I am not doing it. I turned to run but someone picked me up and I thrashed wildly.
"Sorry kid but I saw your face. You were about to run," Moore grunted still carrying me.
I do not like people touching me.
I heard knocking but was too busy trying to get if our Moore's hood with stupid handcuffs on. He walked forward and I was finally able to elbow him in the chest and he dropped me. I wheezed, damn I need to take my painkillers again.
"Euterpe!" He coughed.
I rolled to stand up and was about to kick him when we heard someone's throat clear. Both of our heads snapped to the sound and I held my breath looking at six overgrown men. Oh great, they probably think I'm some juvenile delinquent now. Which isn't wrong but they didn't have to know that... wait who am I kidding? They probably did a background check on me already.
Hey- where did Jensen go... I looked around but he wasn't there. He's definitely a ghost, that's it, I'm leaving. I turned and took a few steps before Moore's arm shot out stopping me.
"Mr. Vaughn, it's nice to meet you." Moore grabbed my shoulders holding me still.
Stop touching me dude.
"A pleasure Mr. Moore, is there anything we should know before you leave?" A deep cold voice asked.
I was looking down, I don't want to be here.
"Uh, no I don't believe so." He shook his head before turning to me, "Now Euterpe, I want you to behave while you're living here. If you didn't know, I don't exactly have jurisdiction here. So that means if you get in trouble I can't help you. This isn't Ireland, no one in the station works here." He said pointedly.
I rolled my eyes, he has never helped me. He thought calling Nolan instead of actually booking me would make me be good. He has no idea that each time he called Nolan, I was beaten and starved for three days straight.
I finally nodded and he turned to the others, "Well I should be on my way. Her social worker will be in contact as well as her father's lawyer. He wants to discuss the contents of his will. However, it will most likely be around a week or two before those calls. Both are very busy people." He explained.
"Thank you, Mr. Moore. Jensen our butler will escort you out." The same voice spoke.
Moore walked out but stopped when I whistled and turned to me with a curious face. Did this stupid head really forget? I threw his handcuffs at him and his mouth parted in shock. I shrugged and he shook his head before walking again.
I took an unnoticeable deep breath before looking at them slowly. They were scattered around the office with one sitting behind a large desk. I internally cringed looking at them, all six of them were carbon copies of Avery. Each of them had the same shade of brown hair like her but they all had a different shade of blue eyes. I hoped that maybe they would look like their father so I wouldn't freak. All of them studied me and I felt like a zoo attraction with all the attention.
I walked over and plopped down on a chair before leaning back while crossing my legs and arms. I finally looked at the one sitting down and my eyes connected with his. I could quickly note this his were my favorite, his were dark blue with gray specks and a black outline, perfectly beautiful but extremely emotionless. His brown hair was perfectly styled and he had a small scar on his left cheek.
His eyes flashed, "Emory..." his lips parted.
A few of the others had a tinge of recognition run over their features before going blank.
Who the hell is Emory?
I gave him a confused look before looking around, was he talking to me?
"Emory wasn't our sister." One spoke up.
"It was Avery, she was a fucking liar and nothing else. Do you think she would've told us the truth? It's her." Another snapped.
The man cleared his throat, "Anyways, it's nice to meet you Euterpe. I'm very sorry for your loss." He said emotionlessly.
Hmm, perfect. This means if they keep their distance and not act like family it won't be difficult to leave. I nodded and he narrowed his eyes a bit.
"If you didn't already know I'm the oldest Rydge, Rydge Vaughn." He spoke formally, "Introduce yourselves, appropriately." He ordered the others.
"I'm Castriel, I'm twenty-four the second oldest." A guy standing by the window spoke. His eyes were the lightest blue I've ever seen but I moved on.
"Hi Euterpe, I'm Thorn. I'm the third oldest at twenty-three." He spoke warmly. His eyes were the exact shade of Avery's so I looked away quickly and I saw a flash of confusion.
Erm- they all look the same and it's making me want to wash my eyes out. The only way I could tell them apart was their facial structures and features plus some were taller than the others.
"I'm Axton and this is my twin Braxton, we are both twenty. But Braxton was born first." Another nodded to his identical copy.
"And I'm Othello, nineteen." He said gruffly before scanning me.
They all had an English accent but I detected something else behind it like they were hiding their real one. It was quiet for a while, this is really awkward...
"Euterpe," Rydge voiced and I looked up, "This is going to be new to all of us, but we need to set some ground rules." He brought out a file.
My eyes went to it and I sighed internally, why is everyone looking at my record.
"Euterpe Sage," he read, "Euterpe, why don't you have a middle name?" He asked looking up, "It was something nonnegotiable with Avery. She made sure all her children had middle names." He narrowed his eyes.
"No middle name? That's odd." Castriel looked over at me.
I shrugged indifferently.
"Euterpe, I think it's best if you answer verbally. It is a rule in this house." Braxton finally spoke.
Please.
"I cannot exactly respond verbally if I'm mute now can I?" I sighed in ASL.
Some of them looked confused until there was a gasp in the room making us turn.
"You're mute," Thorn stated, "Didn't I tell you those ASL lessons would be put to use one day." He grinned at the others.
"Mute?" Othello repeated shocked.
I nodded, what's so hard to believe about that?
"I don't have a middle name because she wanted my father to name me. He never got around to it." I shrugged.
Rydge narrowed his eyes, "And in seventeen years he never came up with a name? I find that very hard to believe, especially with how persistent your mother was." He said pointedly.
My jaw clenched, "My father," I internally cringed, "Was a very busy man. What is your middle name then?" I shot back.
"Phoenix," he didn't miss a beat, "We all have the same middle name." He leaned back.
Of course, Phoenix.
It was on the stupid crest. The Phoenix was meant to serve as a reminder of the man who created this Mafia. It was to honor Phoenix Vaughn, the man who made it possible. I believe it was their great great great grandfather, I don't know, there were too many greats to remember.
I looked away.
"You seem to like the inside of a jail cell," Rydge spoke again reading the file.
Axton smirked, "Makes sense, she seems to be on a first-name basis with a whole police station apparently." He cocked his head.
Stupid Moore.
"Assault, larceny, trespassing, drug possession, carjacking, and lastly weapon possession." Rydge listed slowly.
As the list went on the other five grew shocked and the twins mouth dropped.
"Is that it? I thought there was more?" My face stayed cold but inside I was confused.
I swear I was arrested for jaywalking. Haha, just playing.
Rydge narrowed his eyes, "Do you think this is a joke Euterpe? You're only seventeen and you have a larger record than anyone in this room."
I highly doubt that.
Castriel picked up the file and started reading it while I had a stare-off with Rydge.
"There's a pattern here..." Castriel looked at me, "Is there a reason you get yourself arrested? Is there a reason you do it on purpose?" He put it down.
Yes,
"On purpose? Did you want attention?" Othello asked confused.
Yes,
"From your mother and father?" He Continued.
No.
"Do tell us." He finished.
No.
My eyes went to Rydge and he got the message, "If you are not going to talk about that, what about your school life." He looked at another paper, "This paper is confirming your graduation from two summers ago." His eyebrow went up a bit.
"So you're smart?" Axton tilted his head.
No, I wouldn't say I'm smart. The only reason I graduated early was because school was my only escape. I took extra classes, even the unnecessary ones, and went to summer school. My freedom time was short-lived when they said I had too many credits and needed to graduate already. I mean what kind of school kicks a student out for having too many credits? They should be impressed.
"It also lists your extracurricular activities, such as fighting with other students." Rydge lightly scoffed, "You sent a boy to the hospital?" He looked up.
"Sick," Axton whispered with a grin.
"He deserved it and no I will not provide my reasoning. I legally can't talk about it." I internally smirked.
"And legally-"
"Shut up Axton." Braxton elbowed him.
He hissed, "Fuck okay!" He rubbed his side.
"You're a music prodigy?!" Thorn gasped glancing over Rydge's shoulder.
I nodded, I'm very proud of it.
"So was it just a coincidence that you were named Euterpe?" Rydge clasped his hands.
"Maybe, but it was a good one." I shrugged.
Rydge's eyes narrowed at me, I felt like he was trying to read me. I knew he wouldn't be able to though, I hid my feelings better than anyone I ever met. No matter how much emotion I had I was never able to portray it on my face. My face automatically stayed blank and cold even when I was happy. It was a bad habit of mine.
He leaned back a bit, "I know you graduated but we happen to own a private school, several actually. You are going to attend with the twins and Othello next week for the upcoming semester. They are older but this school is a high school and university combined." He explained.
Oh, fuck no, not-
"It's called Ashes Private College." He finished looking at me with amusement.
He knows. I went there during my first year of high school before I left the country. That school annoyed me to the point that I wanted to stay home. There was nothing but rich stuck up kids and the only reason I went was that it was closer to the house.
I bit my tongue looking down, "Now just because we own the school doesn't mean you can do what you want. One of the rules will be absolutely no fighting, if there are any problems you will go to one of the boys." He spoke slowly.
I wanted to protest but I nodded.
"Okay, what do you sexually identify as?" Rydge asked calmly.
The others gaped at him while Thorn choked on air before looking at Rydge horrified.
Respectable.
"Bisexual." I answered.
He nodded, "Then absolutely no dating. While you're living here, you are not allowed to date. No boys or girls."
Fine with me so I nodded again.
"Lastly, this is your home now too so you can go anywhere you please. However, as I'm sure you know the Vaughn's are in the top tier social class. We own many businesses that each of us manage personally. We all have our own offices here. You can go wherever you like but never in one of the offices without one of us with you. We keep very important documents there and wouldn't want trouble finding them. Do you understand?" All of them looked at me.
I nodded, "I understand."
He nodded back satisfied, "Well I'm sure you've had an eventful two days so why don't you rest before dinner." He pressed a button by his desk phone, "Jensen can you escort Euterpe to her room." He spoke before looking at me, "One of the others or Jensen will fetch you when it's time. We still have much to discuss." He said coldly as the door opened.
"Miss Euterpe, follow me." Jensen bowed waiting by the door.
I slowly got up ignoring their curious looks and walked over to Jensen.
"It's nice to see you again Euterpe," Rydge commented before putting my file away.
Again?
I shrugged it off and followed Jensen. We walked through a few halls and I tried to remember the layout.
"Here we are, your bags have already been put inside, and if you need help just ring us. Good day, Miss." He bowed before leaving.
I opened the door and saw a mix of grey and white, it was actually quite nice. I moved to the bed and opened my makeup bag before taking out my painkillers. They won't look in there. I swallowed two and laid down playing with my necklace.
I have to get out of here.
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N
Hey cuties, I know this is early for me to post but I had a little time. I'm not sure if there will be an update at my regular time but I will try to get it out. Love you. Please stay safe. See you soon!