The Grey Storm

2

The Manor
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"You're surprisingly quiet blue, what's on your mind?" Isamiona looked at the buildings, houses and places. With her neck brace around her neck as a headache throbbed in her skull. Marking permanent landmarks in her mind, Incheon was a big city with the night life was just as she expected, nothing exciting as Seoul or Busan. The drive from the airport was heavily silent, excluding the random questions Elijah kept asking. The atmosphere was still hostile, on a brinkmanship of who will snap first.

Though it's been years since they last seen each other, things has changed as their relationship faded over the years. Elijah kept looking at the rearview mirror to see Isamiona all to herself, gripping the steering wheel tightly as Ethan watched his own reflection flashing on the window as cars passed by.  "Garce! Are you even listening?"(Bitch) Ethan poked her shoulder hard to get her attention, in which she didn't faze or flinch in fear.

"Vhat dhere is to talk about?" pressing her knuckles against her chin, lazily leaning against the window. Taking her phone out to text a few contacts, Elijah smiled slightly trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Eager to meet him?" looking up from her phone, rolling her eyes. "No, I prefer not to see him at all. Saves dhe drama."

"But his our father, I mean he was willi-"

"Only by law." she cut Ethan off, stated calmly getting heavily annoyed by this childish bickering. "Clinthar is demolished and under investigation currently." she was looking at the window, tonight won't be going well without a fight. "He's only doing dhis so reporters can back off until he finds somewhere else to dump me at."

"Some will be grateful he took you in and not in an orphanage or juvenile detention centre!" Ethan snapped back at her, turning back to look at Isamiona. She was neutral by his empty threats and harsh manners that she grew over the years, noticing his harden glare leaning closer to him. Pulling her glove slowly off flexing her fingers, smirking at Ethan's annoyed but puzzled expression. Gripping his chin swiftly into an iron grip, making him wince at the force.

"Pain is pain," her nails dug into his cheeks tilting his head, watching Ethan's face change in amusement. "Since I'm now dhe new Head of dhe family. I can make any decision and no one can say a dhing," both guys froze as Ethan swallowed hard, her finger trace under his chin giving Elijah a glare. "Vhen I snap my fingers, you both hop. Understand?" Ethan nodded slightly as she let go of him, rubbing his sore cheeks while Elijah was surprised at the new Isamiona. "You got a man's grip for a tiny thing,"

"Praise dhe black steel cage," Isamiona sarcastically said while rolling her eyes leaning back in her seat, Ethan lean close to Elijah who beckoned him. "She's way different than five years ago,"

"I wonder if that accident wrecked her brain!" Ethan hissed quietly crossing his arms in frustration, Elijah looked at the rearview mirror once more to see her leaning against the window, falling asleep suddenly.

"We're here, Isamiona." Elijah parked into an underground garage under a huge mansion, Ethan got out as the garge room's lights switched on automatically. Elijah looked at the sleeping girl, her face still have cuts on them along the forehead and lips. Opening the door to wake her up, "Don't," she said sleepily, her eyes shot open unbuckling herself. Getting out as the trunk opened automatically, an elderly man appeared from behind the car collecting her suitcases.

"Master Devlin," she greeted nodding her head as the Butler gave a wrinkled smile and bowed lowly. Taking her gloved hand and kissing it deeply before placing it on his forehead, holding her hands with a gentle squeeze. "Lady Rosemary, glad to have you in the Rosemary Manor at last."

"You're a sight for sore eyes, still looking young I see." Isamiona teased.

"Milady flatters me so, Master Nikovor, Master Apollo." he placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, the siblings all followed the Butler upstairs the wooden staircase to the main manor. Mister Devlin held the door for them to walk first, Isamiona gave him her neck brace, beckoning Ethan with her index finger. Sighing as he stood in front of her, Isamiona without warning swung a fist to his face which knocked him down.

Ethan grunted as he fell down, Isamiona crouched low by him pulling him by his chin. "Don't you ever treat me like a child or disrespect me in public again! Know your place!" she spoke in a low threatening voice, Ethan rubbed his throbbing cheek. Isamiona glared at him punching the bridge of his nose with the side of her fist as he yelped, she looked at Elijah who lifted his hands in surrender not getting himself involved.

All three of them removed their shoes by the garage door. "We're home!" Ethan said sliding into house slippers, Elijah showed her thermal sock slippers for her to put on. "Oh my? Is she here?" a woman's voice echoed throughout the halls. A young looking woman who looks like she's in her late thirties, dark hair and eyes with pale skin. Like in those Korean dramas that her friends watches, beautiful like a porcelain doll.

"Welcome home dear Isamiona. I'm Hyo-Sonn but you can call me Hyo, we've been waiting for you." she smiled so sweetly bowing slightly at the short girl who looked at the woman blankly, with distaste and pulled a face. Isamiona nodded then walked away without saying anything using both crutches to support herself. Hyo was taken back at Isamiona's reaction frowning from the harsh rejection, she felt hurt by Isamiona's look.

"Forgive her Lady Rosemary, I don't know what's with her today?" Elijah tried to apologise to cheer the woman up, "She's genuinely friendly and talkative," sighing in frustration, trying to find excuses. Ethan shrugged walking away quickly mumbling a greeting, Hyo shook her head assuring Elijah, with a small smile and squeezing the young man's shoulder gently in understanding. "It's okay, she's been through enough. I'm sure she'll warm up soon."

Isamiona walked to the hallway ignoring the servants who were getting ready for the later morning activities of the Manor, pulling the cart of bags by herself through the single hallway of the estate. Trailing her fingertips gently on the gold and cream coloured walls. This Manor was under her Eüya's name who placed her next in line for the Rosemary Manor, the house was Malagarian-Korean fusion style, with some Persian flare. It was in honour of her Eüya and the Korean guy who left her to be a single mother, it was to bring two cultures together into one.

For years Isamiona studied the layout models and blueprints of the house back in Cape town, obviously changes were made but she remembered every brick to window details of the Manor and here finally she was in the house of power. Yet it felt so empty, like an unwanted gift. There were shadowy figures in the second Kitchen, from the corner of her eye. Slowing down leaning against the wall, turning her head to take a slight peek. Four guys as young as Elijah and Ethan were having a conversation which seemed serious, moving away from the wall not to eavesdrop on them.

Passing the third living room, a man sat in the couch. He looked like he would be in his early forties, sleek dark hair that was gelled back. With a glass in his hand swirling the dark amber liquid, "I see you came early Isamiona. I thought you would be resting still?" he said tiredly leaning back with a heavy sigh, Isamiona narrowed her eyes looking at man. Or known as her biological father, Iseul Rosemary. The deadbeat father who she has never seen in sixteen years of her life, she was disappointed at the sight.

This was supposed to be the next in line of the Rosemary family? This man before her who looked so pathetic and she could clearly see why her Eüya made her next in line instead. He looked up at her awkwardly, both looking at each other for a long time. Grey eyes met hazel brown eyes, "Master Rosemary," she greeted mockingly, furrowed her brows in mocking expression. "Ay, welcome to the Rosemary Manor—"(Yes) she turned away while walking on before he could finish, "Wish to see you more often," he mumbled on.