They Rise at Dusk (Book #1) ✔️

Chapter 46: Dawn of a New Era

I picked up a new phone for myself, since mine got destroyed in the accident, and the first thing that popped on the screen was Jasmine's message. 

Call me ASAP. I have information.

That would have to wait for a more private moment. 

Half an hour later, a limousine was waiting for me in front of Dorian's house. Knowing that showing up in jeans and a t-shirt wasn't acceptable, I've managed a change of clothing, and put on Dorian's mother's short black Balmain with a deep V-neck.

Nausea gripped me from the inside out as I entered the limousine and found my sister Libby sitting on the opposite side. She swung her crossed bare leg back and forth and sipped a martini through a straw. Her silver hair fell over the pink tulle dress. Her bright blue eyes smiled at me, and her lips closed around the straw. Iron-clad bracelets clinked against each other around her thin wrists, and the crystal earrings sparkled under the neon-lighting coming from the limousine liquor cabinet.

Libby grinned, "Hi, Odette."

"Lisbeth." I crossed my legs.

Libby was beautiful in a pale, sick way. The way a maiden on her death bed might be considered beautiful. She looked fragile, broken, unstable, but there was poison hiding behind her cold gaze.

"Oh, I'm so happy!" She squealed, spilling her martini over her dress. "I told daddy he should have brought you back a long time ago. Honestly, Edmond is so serious all the time, you can't even have fun with him. And Lucien's sulking all the time. Like, lighten up, depression is the least fun of all disorders you can have. Mix it up, let's go a little crazy."

Oh, boy.

"How come you're picking me up, Libby?" I asked, trying to ignore the memory of traumatic experiences I've lived through in that house.

"Daddy wanted to send someone, and he didn't feel like going himself." Libby grabbed the straw and sucked the contents. "I think he should have welcomed you properly. Though, I think we can still manage a party. How about tonight? Oh, let's have a party tonight! Honestly, it's been so dull without you."

Libby was fifteen years older than me.

"So, Libby." I ignored everything she's just said. "How's home?"

"Oh, home is home-" She stopped talking, her gaze flying to the side and her eyebrows furrowing, "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm going to tell her how's home."

I took in a deep breath. Fuck my life.

"That's Odette, silly." Libby talked to her side. "She's always been on our side!"

"Everything okay, Libby?" I asked, lips pursing.

"Oh, yes." She glanced back at me. "What was I saying? Oh, yes. Home's home, you know? Mommy's been busy lately with all the work in the UAE, and daddy doesn't like it all that much. Aunt Lucrecia doesn't exit anymore, by the way, just like you didn't exist-"

"Libby." I cut her off, my blood beginning to boil. "Who's the worst?"

She laughed, and it lasted way longer than necessary, "Edmond is off the rails. Keeps talking about how he wants to be king. He doesn't even know I know about his underground dungeon. Daddy is up there with his shenanigans. But Lucien- he's the first to go, if you ask me."

I arched my eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Libby looked at me like I was the idiot, "He's going to kill himself, silly."

My mouth fell open, and I had no idea what to say. Two years. I've been gone for two years, and Lucien was on the verge of ending it and Edmond has gone full psychopath.