Eclipse of Solaris

Ch. 5

The next morning as me and twins play out in the garden, I feel eyes burning into the back of my skull.
I turn and look up towards where my parents room is and see Lady Alden gazing at me on the balcony.
She soon turns and hurries back into the room.
I think nothing of it as Briar drags Beau over to me so we can have a pretend tea-party.
Once all of our "cups" and "plates" are gathered, Briar pours our "tea".
As I'm taking a sip of the oh-so-delicious drink that my little sister graciously offered, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
I turn once more and there stands the Lady herself.
Lady Alden.
"Yes, Lady Alden. Do you need anything?" I question, trying to keep my composure around the children.
She takes a seat beside me and stares at what we are doing before getting a "cup" for herself.
"Well. I'd like to speak to you children." She says gently
I huff a response before taking another 'sip' from the pretend cup.
"So, as you all know, your mother is no longer around and I'd like to fill her role as your parent." She looks at us, studying our expressions before quickly continuing.
"I just think It would be nice for you children to have a nice, loving mother instead of that wench who left you poor children. Not to mention you three would have two new siblings to play with, Wouldn't that be just divine!" She explains before I chime in.
"We do Not need you to be our 'Mother' not do we need the children you made to be our siblings. Our family was as perfect before you came along and you've ruined it. Do not speak of this topic again." I demand. Clearly this woman was deranged to think we would accept her as our mother.
I wonder what father sees in her, this filthy broad is nothing more than a plaything father brought in for a little while I'm sure.

I glance over to Martha, she's staring down at the floor, her cheeks reddened.
Suddenly she gets up from the ground, excuses herself and hurries away.
I look towards the twins, Briar is crying and Beau is close to tears.
I take both in my arms as I gently try to console them.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she won't be here for long. Everything's going to be okay" I say as I stroke Briars head as she leans into me.

After about 15 minutes, the crying children go back to playing as I'm still sitting on the ground near the "table".
I hear the door opening from behind me.
Father exits the house and walks towards me.
"Alessia" he says.
I don't spare him a glance as I continue to watch my siblings play.
"Why must you be so cruel! Lady Alden is only trying to help you and all you do is yell at her and make her feel terrible." He says in an accusatory manner.
"Don't you dare act like she's the victim here. Our mother left us and you automatically try and shove another woman into her role. Martha will Never be our mother no matter how many times you say she is and the children she births will never be our siblings, whether they are yours or not makes no difference. I do not want to speak on this matter anymore now" I demand.
Father stares, dumbfounded as if he thought he was doing us good.
He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose as if we are the most unbearable children to deal with.
"Fine. And when you see that we are trying to do what's best for you children, I hope Martha will still accept any of you at all." He says before exiting the garden angrily.

I shake my head, how foolish could that man possibly be.
Sighing, I get up and say goodbye to the twins before retreating to my room for a nap.