Me And The Dark

Chapter 20

Valentina

The journey from the station to the manor had been marked by a heavy silence.

Once we arrived at the manor, without exchanging a word, my father went straight to his office, his silhouette disappearing behind the massive door.

Leaving my mother to look after me, there was no doubt that the silence that had taken over the passenger compartment of the car had spread throughout the house.

After taking off her coat, my mother turned to me, a distant look in her eyes.

"I've bought some new clothes for the winter and had them put in your room," she said.

My mother had this infuriating habit of buying clothes that in no way matched my style, a habit that was the source of many arguments between us.

I'd learnt a long time ago to express my disagreement openly, but there was no need to do that now - this was clearly not the time to start another battle.

Answering as neutrally as possible, I blurted out: "That wasn't necessary."

She replied without batting an eyelid. "Of course it is. I can't stand seeing you in those big sweaters. And those converse shoes..." A shiver of disgust ran down her face at the mention of my favourite shoes.

I could feel the tension rising inside me, but I preferred not to add to it. "If you say so..." Giving her a weary look, I retrieved my suitcase and took it up to my room.

On the way, I walked through the long corridor of the manor house. It was adorned with numerous paintings, most of them depicting my ancestors who had lived here.

Their gazes seemed to follow my every step. Other paintings depicted my family, including my sister.

The last painting was at the end of the corridor, and it showed Emily, alone inside. My parents had found a way to enchant her to bring my sister to life, a detail I found disturbing.

I would have preferred her soul to rest in peace rather than be trapped in this painting.

"There you are!" exclaimed the animated child in the painting, supposed to be my sister.

I respond politely, but distantly. "Hi, Emily..."

My parents, particularly my mother, found Emily's presence a comfort. Personally, however, I found it creepy and disturbing. I would have liked her to rest in peace; it would have been healthier for everyone.

I continued on to my room and closed the door behind me. The only thing that had changed was the pile of hideous clothes on my bed.

" Seriously..." I grunted with a sigh, picking up the pile of clothes and throwing it carelessly into the corner of the room. It was the kind of memory that reminded me of how stifling my life at the manor could be.

I put down my suitcase and instinctively looked at the wall of photos. All the familiar faces were there, a reminder of my life at Hogwarts.

Aurora and our moments together took up most of the space, and the boys appeared, of course, but I did my best to avoid concentrating on the shots with Mattheo Riddle in them.

After unpacking my suitcase and texting my friends to let them know I'd arrived, I headed for the library, ready to continue my research.

The library was a special place, a retreat where I felt both relaxed and safe. It was one of the few places in the manor where I really felt at home.

As I entered the room, the soft glow of the crystal chandeliers illuminated the shelves filled with old books. The smell of bound leather and aged paper wafted through the air. The comfortable armchairs and mahogany tables were an invitation to read.