Jaded Secrets

Chapter 1.

Blood. That's what it looked like. The water dripping down the side of the red Porsche. Before I could fully admire the orchards and the trees swaying in the wind, the door opened and a gush of babbling voices hit me like a tide.

A man stood in the doorway, initially just a silhouette as my eyes adjusted to the lights. His glazed eyes widened and his face turned a sickly white. His lips parted but no words came.

My father broke the silence, "It's been a while, Liam." He held out his hand for "Liam" to shake, "This is Rene". As Liam's hand met my father's in a shaky grip, I tried to recall the countless names my dad had thrown on me yesterday.

Liam. Liam? Liam. "You're mum's cousin." The color slowly returned to his face, his tense features relaxing, "That's me alright. Come in before you catch a cold."

A chill crept up my spine the minute my foot touched the cold jade floor. The water dripped down from the roof and formed puddles in the courtyard, a massive space surrounded by leaves. I heard the door shut softly yet it somehow managed to suffocate me despite the open space in front of me. The whole house had a stifling feeling, and a sort of sharp, unwelcoming scent. Yet it was beautiful. Intimidating but beautiful.

Liam walked ahead of us and pushed open the glass screen. Classical music and the smell of sandalwood wafted through the tense air.

Two people sitting facing each other in a huge room almost empty if not for the little table and chairs surrounding it. Their faces were now turned towards me. "Rene, meet your cousins. Ewan, Daphne, this is Rene."

The girl spun around. Now they both faced me, their similar deep brown eyes scanning me almost painfully. She spoke first, "Lai zuo".

Eyebrows raised, I turned towards Liam, "Go sit down." He turned towards the other two, "Dui ren hao dian." With a half-smile he turned and walked out with a gesture asking Father to go with him. Father smiled at them, gave me a little nod and followed.

As the door slid shut, a feeling a dread washed over me. Their eyes were not unfriendly. More intrigued. But it gave me the feeling of being watched through a cage.

I did as asked and pulled one of the chairs to sit down. The wood scraped against the floor, disturbing the now silent house.

"You don't speak Mandarin, do you?", Ewan leaned towards me, then glancing at the girl. My lips were dry and when I tried to speak a croaky "No" was all that I could muster.

The girl couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, dearie. We're not going to kill you." Daphne's smile vanished like a wisp of smoke, and her eyes bore into me with a chilling intensity. "Or are we now?"

I almost jumped right out of my chair but Ewan's hand pulled me back. He gave his sister a look that stifled her laughs. "Daphne. Don't be a bitch." That got her laughing again, "Did you see the look on her face?"

It took her a while to stop giggling. It was weird how childlike she looked right now, just moments after those eyes had terrified me. Silence followed. It suddenly struck me how similar they looked, even for siblings.

"Is Grandpa alright now?", I remembered the reason we'd come. That call we got. "More or less.", she said. "He wanted to see you. That's why mama called.", Ewan's eyes moved from mine to the door which was now sliding open. I couldn't help admire his sharp features, with a sort of softness that his sister's shared as well.

The woman that stepped through the door looked almost identical, but much older for sure. It was only when I looked at the door that I saw a portrait hung right above it. An exquisitely beautiful woman in a cheongsam. Her face radiated warmth. The only bit of warmth in this mansion.