Camille Ellison had six sisters, but each one died. One after another, each on the full moon of the first six months of that year.
She believed the first was accidental, the second, third, and fourth could be passed as coincidence; But as the death...
The last few days had been hectic. Once my nanny, Lucy was found with mangled limbs in the middle of the square, summer decorations turned into ones of mourning. The service was to be held three days from today on the pier. The winds brought smells of sand, meaning it would be bloody hot soon.
Lucy had no family, no children, or even a husband, or if she did they had been forgotten. I had not spoken to Luc since the death, yet each night I huddled deeper into his cloak trying to make it heat up some of the brittle coldness that had enveloped my body.
Of course, the annual Summer Masquerade ball would still be held, still a week from today. It was too big of an event to be rescheduled. Even off-islanders came to dance the night away in big gowns, and shoes that made dainty noises each time the girl moved.
The ball was in a week, and I had still yet to find a dress. Festivities were to be held all week long. The other day Vera, Ruth, and I looked through storage for dresses and shoes.
Vera glanced at me once and let her eyebrows droop before turning back to the box of dresses.
I knew they weren't going to let me choose first so I waited, and waited. Eventually, the pins and baubles had been placed in a sack to use later, and they'd both picked out dresses, leaving me alone upstairs to pick mine out myself.
After rifling through two boxes I came across one dress that I deemed suitable. Well, hopefully, some of my sisters' past suitors would deem it suitable.
I had it all planned out in my head. I would ask them about my sisters, playing it casual in the beginning, and then I would make the questions more specific. Little bits that could lead to unveiling why they are dead, and why Vera looks paler and paler by the minute.
It's like she's fading out of the world, and as she fades I am beginning to forget what she looked like when she was a toddler and I was just a babe. Although perhaps that's just because nobody remembers many things when they were young.
Finally, after carefully trying on the dress, shoes, and imagining how I would do my hair, I climbed up the latter, fabric in hand, and closed the trap door once I got into the mudroom. When the basement was sealed, I made my way into our family room.
There was no sign of my sisters. They've probably gone out for a walk through the garden. It's quite pleasant this time of the year.
Walking into the kitchen there was a cloth sack on the wooden counters. Folding the fabric back I found this week's order of groceries from a neighboring island, plus a note scrawled in a man's hurried script.
Hattie,
My family has come to town for the week of the masquerade ball, and that means we'll get to see each other more than just a quick trip in the cove.
Perhaps it is time you meet the family? and for me to formally ask you to be my date. Stop by the Charleston Estate tomorrow when you come into town, they've all been dying to meet you.
Much love,
Henry Charleston
I paused a moment, pondering over the mysterious letter. The return address said Irelynne, which was the island over from us. Island of the Earth. News tends to be quite slow when going from island to island, so perhaps it hasn't reached Irelynne yet.
Her poor lover. He will be heartbroken when he hears of the news, and even when Hattie fails to show to his home tomorrow.
Making a decision to look out for him at the ball, I stuff the note back into the envelope and leave it out for my other sisters to find. They'll know what to do with it better than I would. Perhaps they will even talk to me about it.
Leaving the letter be, I padded my way into my bedroom. It had turned quite dusty over the past years, for I haven't had the energy to clean it. Especially when my sisters have kept passing. Ruth and Vera would have a fit if they found out, but seeing as they hadn't been in my room in years I was sure they wouldn't find out.
When we were younger we'd agreed to let our rooms be our own personal space; that rule has held ever since.
Drawing supplies scattered my room, along with papers and strung up artwork, although I don't use them anymore, mainly because I haven't been able to find some of the supplies I have needed.
I make a mental reminder to go into the market tomorrow to buy some. I'll also need to return Luc's cloak to him at some point, but for the day I will keep it.
It smells just like him, enveloping my room in the scent of pine needles, with a bit of vanilla. Someone could make a candle with his scent and become wealthy by how well it sells. I'm not sure why everyone in the market doesn't constantly want to be by him.
I can definitely see why Annaleigh would though, and his other friend that I never learned the name of. The one he had been looking for the day I'd met him.
Sighing, and pushing those thoughts out of my mind, I fish a novel out of my bookcase and retreat back into the family room to find the place I last left off.
Ruth and Vera still have yet to return from wherever they went off to, but they will have to come back soon. The sun has begun to dip just slightly, bringing the hues of orange with it. Perhaps they have stayed out to watch the sunset. I wouldn't be surprised. Those two were always ones for little moments in life, yet I can't seem to remember why.
Looking at the pictures of the walls I notice all the ones that are left are of me, Ruth, and Vera. Vera's have slowly begun to disappear, but I assume she's taken some to her room.
All the pictures of my dead sisters are gone.
So are all the memories they took with them.
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1017 words! Chapter numero 4 is in the books! Get it, literally. :) Okk sorry for the bad joke but I typed out the saying and then realized what I wrote and had to share it. Y'all are probably cringing so bad right now so I'm sorry. You're definitely cringing because I made myself cringe too.
New topic. Please don't skip over these authors' notes if you're scared of a spoiler warning. I'm not that type of author y'all. I won't do that to you guys, but if you look in the comments there could be spoilers so I advise you to stay out of them.
I hope everyone had a good week (its Sunday night as I write this) and I'm hoping we all have an even better one next week!!
Wishes for a happy week! -Elle
This piece is completely written by me. If there are any references to any characters, places, or themes, it is purely coincidental. This novel is exclusively on Wattpad so if you notice it anywhere other than here, it has been illegally stolen. Please notify the author right away if this happens.
