The Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 9- Back to my parents

The sun tormented me awake and so I awoke Giselle and Valerie also.

"Morning" I yawned.

"Morning" They replied.

It was still early as we got up slowly and made our way to the empty Dining Chamber.

The rest of the day we spent strolling the gardens, talking and playing tag and hide and seek. I always won of course because I'm the best at concealment charms and they could never find me... it wasn't cheating.

The day wore thin and it wasn't long until I was forced to pack my trunk. It was made better when Giselle and Valerie agreed to help out. I had to leave Persie as she didn't want to leave Hades. Giselle and Valerie promised to take care of her though.

As time ticked on, they helped me carry my trunk to the courtyard. I wondered if my siblings would be there too. That was soon answered when only my mother arrived.

"Maman!" I exclaimed, embracing her.

She patted me on the back robotically.

"Nice to see you" she replied, with a stiff upper lip.

"These are my friends Giselle and Valerie," I announced.

They both smiled but my mother completely looked past them.

"Where's your cat?"

"Persie, she wanted to stay here"

"Because a cat can make decisions can't they?" Mother muttered "Well, say goodbye. We must be off"

"Why the rush? You haven't even said hello to my friends"

"Hello. Now please come along. Do not ask further questions"

"Why did adults keep saying that to me recently?" I thought angrily.

I obeyed, quickly hugged Valerie and Giselle, and bid them goodbye. They wished me luck and I joined my mother in the carriage. I waved until I saw the very last glimpse of them. I admired the view of the wondrous castle. I couldn't believe that I had only set foot in it over two months ago. As the castle disappeared, I had no choice but to look my mother in the eye.

I knew there was something wrong from the beginning. I know she could be rude sometimes but never in a social situation and especially not this rude.

"What is wrong Maman?" I asked.

"When we get home" she replied dryly.

I noticed her skin was quite pale, her eyes swollen and bright red. She had been crying. I didn't persist to not get in trouble. However, I couldn't conceal my intrigue in her uncharacteristic behavior.

We soon arrived at our cottage. There it still stood. Just as we stepped out into the street, my mother peered left and right. Then she pulled up her hood and scooped me under her arm. Hurriedly, she ushered me inside.

"We are in trouble" she announced, her eyes mad and wide.

"Why?"

"My dear!" My father exclaimed.

"Papa!" I cheered, hugging him.

"Have you grown?" He chuckled.

"I don't think s-"

"We have some business to discuss" My mother snapped, slamming the door behind us and engulfing us in a light dullness.

My father gave her a grimace and took my hand. We went into the dining room, where all the curtains had been shut. Margot sat at the far end of the table, she was crying. This came as a shock to me as I had barely seen her cry in all the years I had known her. Emmeline was pacing behind her and hadn't even noticed my arrival. Juliette was sitting beside Margot, brushing her hair with her fingers and whispering comforting words to her.

"Your sister has arrived," Mother announced.

They all looked up.

"Maria!" Emmeline whispered half-exasperatedly.

She hugged me.

"What is going on?" I repeated.

"Sit down dear" my father whispered.

I sat beside Juliette, father took the other head seat whilst my mother and Emmeline sat opposite us.

"Margot has been in some... trouble," He said croakily.

"Trouble?"

"She has been corrupted by her friends more like" Our mother hissed.

Margot made a choked sob.

"I said I'm sorry!" She cried.

"Well sorry isn't enough is it?!" Mother replied. She had stood up to yell this, pulling out her hair as she did. "How dare you! My daughter! Imagine what they are going to say when they find out! We will be a laughing stock! We will be despised! We-we!" She shrieked, falling into tears.

"Margot helped kill Monsieur Faivre," Emmeline spoke mundanely.

Her face had crispened to become emotionless.

"Then she has ruined our reputation...forever" I croaked hoarsely.