The Search

Chapter 9.

Jade

When I wake, my head pounds and the light cascading from the window burns my eyes. I rest my elbows behind me and sit up ignoring my grogginess.

My stomach growls and I angrily stand up going towards the bathroom. I stop short when I realize I'm in my old childhood room, and it appears it hasn't changed since I was 14.

I sigh, tears springing to my eyes when I notice all my old drawings and my record collection. Shaking my head I enter the bathroom, washing my face and brushing my teeth.

I look to my night side table and see I'm late to breakfast by 10 minutes. I smirk, changing into short shorts and a tank top, clothing my brothers and father hate. But they seemed to have made the mistake by grabbing it from the apartment.

It's Italy and I'm used to Calgary Alberta's freezing weather. Obviously I need to dress down.

I head downstairs noticing how nothing has changed but how everything has changed at the same time. It's a huge place like always but it's quiet and dark.

And my Mother use to always have Christmas decorations up at this time. Especially a real tree. They seem to have forgot tradition and turned into the twisted people I remember them as.

Heading to the dining room I open the doors alarming everyone sitting at the table. My nephews, brother in law and sister in laws, most of them who I've never met before.

My Father and Brothers keep their eyes on me as I walk by them, and they angrily look down at my apparel.

I walk to the bar, grabbing a bottle of champagne and cock it open making some of them jump when it pops.

Taking a sip I smile and sit down at the other end, at the other head seat where no one else is.

I lean back and prop my feet up on the table, having only an appetite for alcohol.

James smirks leaning back in his chair that seems to be the closest to me. "You seem to have changed sister."

I take another sip smiling at him, "you haven't brother." I look at the two boys sitting beside him and smile softly. "Although they have changed you somewhat haven't they?"

James smirk dies down and he rests against his chair, my plan already set into action. They won't guess I have a family, if they have pity that I don't.

"You don't need that." My Father speaks up, "you have us."

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it, "ah yes, the pigheaded assholes who kidnapped me and brought me to Italy." I sigh, "how wonderful."

"You're lucky we brought you here." Alexander speaks up, "the place was horrid anyway, no place for you to be living."

I take a huge gulp of the bottle in my hand sighing and closing my eyes to relieve the pain pounding in my head.

"Aye, but it was my home." Which technically wasn't a lie. "As much as I would love to stay here and chat with you lovely bunch, I would also like to go home now. So if you would please call the jet and I can be of-"

"You're staying Jade." My Father slams his utensils down on the table. "I am done with this behaviour of yours, you are under my roof and your brothers roof, you better start showing some respect-"

I abruptly stand slamming the bottle down on the table like he had done with his utensils. "I no longer respect you." I say through gritted teeth, "I no longer see you as my family like I had all those years ago because you manipulated me. You made me follow your rules, do what you say but in the end it was only for your benefit."

My Father stands to match my stature, "sit down and eat Jade."

"Let me go home."

Alexander stands up and stalks towards me grabbing my wrist in a tight grip and starts dragging me to the empty chair beside my Father I was supposed to sit in.

I dig my heals into the ground, this stops Alexander for a second but then he leans close to my ear talking in a hushed tone, "I will throw you over my shoulder, do not make a scene that will only embarrass you."

I grab the champagne bottle and let him pull me towards the chair. Much to my disappointment he pushes me down and slides it in. Then proceeds to sit down next to me, on the other side is his wife.

My Father grabs the bottle out of my hands rather roughly and holds it in the air. "How about a little champagne for everyone? Yes? To celebrate the princesses return?"

Maids come scattering out with champagne glasses filled to a normal amount, (rather than a bottle) and they all raise their glasses for a toast.

I on the other hand stare ahead at the shiny centre piece and down the drink in one swallow.