Sterling Estate (discontinued for reconstruction)

Chapter 7: Key to unexpected surprise

Evealyn tries helping Rae into coaxing Misty to touch her. They try distracting her by dangling a grape stem In front of her. When that failed Evealyn had pet her and they planned to switch her hand with Rae's. Though the feline could tell the difference and started growling when her hand came near. They tried the distraction tactic. With every try Rae has either gotten hissed at or has near misses of her clawing at her.

Dylan watches this amused seeing his sister try and fail to get appease the feline into being pet by her. They had asked him for help but he said he didn't want any part of it. In fact saying he rather enjoyed the show.

Rae would shoot him a glare every time he would laugh at her attempt. While Rae's still trying to coax misty, Evealyn sighs, grabbing herself another apple. "It seems like Evealyn's ready to tap out." He says with amused chuckling.

He's eyes trailing to the platter Evealyn's hand was reaching for. He noticed the little hair tie around her wrist. Finding it rather interesting.

"Hey squirrel, I think your acorn might have gotten chipped in the negotiations." Pointing out her wrist tie.

Hearing that Evealyn became surprised taking a quick look over it. Remarkably so there was a slit in the acorn that she believes wasn't there before. Feeling torn that a piece had broken off. Dylan, seeing her reaction without thinking, says to her "don't need to look so glum you can just replace it."

"This is not something I can 'just replace" sounding a bit irritated with what he said. She knows he doesn't know what it means to her. All be it hurt her hearing him say that.

"And why can't you? I bet those things are real cheap."

Cheap, CHEAP? Did he just call something she holds sentimental CHEAP?

"This is not some cheap trinket, this is the last present I got from Grandma Jose." She shouted fuming so much that she startled Misty and Rae who both jolted at her sudden outburst. Evealyn felt sorry for frightening her pets her to calm down.

"Ah- Evealyn I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you like this."

"It's fine." Evealyn says though below the surface she was not fine. In fact she feels hurt even though she knows it's not intentional. Looking at the acorn missing a piece she laments wondering if she could get it fixed somehow. She just needs to find the missing section which could be anywhere. Looking through the silt lamenting she notices that it seems there's something inside.

Wondering what it could be but is afraid to mention it in the case of either of them saying to break it any further. So she fiddles around with it almost like she's testing something. When one of the leaves feels loose she lightly nudges it to the side. To her surprise the lower half of a key pops out.

Dylan was just as shocked as well seeing it. As he thought she was just still upset why she fiddled with it earlier. Rae was about to throw in the towel in trying to coax misty. That was when she heard a flick sound just near her head. Looking up to see that Evealyn's acorn was now a key. They were all stunned for a moment trying to process what happened.

An idea came to Rae's mind "why don't we see if that's the key we need." Evealyn thought for a moment thinking why not it's not like anything would surprise her at this point. Taking the key closer to the lock on the notebook.

"It fit's." Evealyn says as she begins to turn the key in the lock. The notebook flies open once it does reveal to Evealyn what she knows about the notebook.

"Wow it really worked, looks like your big mouth paid off Dylan. Rae says making Dylan unsure if he should take that as a compliment or be offended. Nevertheless Rae and Dylan were both intrigued as to what was inside. Bringing themselves closer to Evealyn to have a look. Their eyes widen when they see what's inside. "That's what's inside Dylan exclaims." Evealyn believes from the twins' expressions and Dylan's comment they might be disappointed.

"I know, you guys must be surprised to have to see an ordinary recipe book." But they twins are more surprised that she called it that than the contents inside. "Ev, that's not why were surprised"

"It's not?" Trying to figure out why they must be disappointed having to risk getting scolded by Marianne to find it. Rae points to it saying "This doesn't look like some ordinary recipe book."

Evealyn is confused, sure looking closely some of the recipes don't make sense. As there are some latin and french words mixed in. "Don't mind the mix of foreign words thrown in there. I can assure you this is just a recipe book."

Dylan shakes his head saying that Rae was writing and that it's not a normal everyday book. Evealyn is confused why the twins are acting that way. That was until Dylan took something out of his jacket pocket. It was the small vial from earlier. "Dylan don't tell me that's–" he shushes Rae to not say anything more. Evealyn questions to herself why he has a vial of unidentified liquid in his pockets. He tells her to hold it but she's skeptical.

"Just trust me, hold it but don't open it." She is still unsure but does what he tells her.

"Can I borrow that for a second?" He says pointing to the recipe book. "Sure, but tell me what this is about."

"Just wait a moment." He says beginning to flip through the pages of the book trying to find something. When he does he pushes it back in front of Evealyn. Telling her to read only the latin and french words on the page while holding the vial. Sit a bit confused as to what this was supposed to do in the first place.

She does so anyways thinking nothing of it. Being glad she learned a bit of latina and french while living with Grandma. Also taking a few foreign language classes when she was away.

"Un lapin rencontre un lapin, leporem offendit leporem, gracieusement, venuste" After saying the words Evealyn is unsure what is supposed to happen. Believing he might be trying to pull some prank on her. Finds herself wrong when her hand feels cold like when she was in the Corridor. Looking at her hand the vial was glowing and the liquid now had fine bubbles in it. Her eyes widening in surprise as the glow slowly begins to fade. "Okay what was that, why did this thing just glow?" She exclaims confused as to what is going on but everyone around her seems calm. Especially misty who was trying to lick her hand, which she quickly moves.

"So are either of you going to answer, WHAT Just Happened." Evealyn so desperate for someone to give her answers.

"Well" Rae says, kind of sounding nervous.

"Well, What?" Evealyn waiting for some answers making direct eye contact.

"Well you see that book In Front of you is an Akrilis." Rae says cautiously, wanting to be careful with her next words.

"And what is that supposed to explain anything to me." Evealyn's voice was calm but it sounded very distant and uninterested. As this all seems like some weird prank to her. Believing that Rae is even making the work up.

Rae seems a bit hesitant with her next words but before she could answer someone places a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry child, I'll explain it to her." Rae looks back seeing that it was Miss Joyclyn. "Okay miss Joce." She says turning back to Evealyn who looks stunned.

Thinking about it, everyone said that grandma was dead. Was she really dead all this time, or was she just hiding somewhere. If she was then why. Having a million thoughts trickling down in her mind like sand in an hourglass.

"Hello Eve I'm finally glad to finally be able to talk to you again like this." Evealyn raises her head at the sound of her grandmother's voice. Still not believing she's really there she had already accepted her death.

"No." Evealyn says looking a bit panicked everyone around her were worried seeing her like this.

"Eve, what's wrong?" Grandma Jose asks, concerned, seeing her eyes having fear and trembling.

"Ev, calm down and let Miss Joce explai—" before she could finish Evealyn's eyes beginning to close and she slumps over. Rae catches her trying to shake her awake.

"Ev, EVEALYN?" No response. 

A/N: Well then, *ahem* that was something so, what do you all think is the truth to all this leave your thoughts in the comments and have a good one.   Also remember to Vote and share with your friends.