Threads Of Fate

From Darkness to Light

Zenith stood at the imposing entrance of the Attenborough manor, her brown eyes clouded with contemplation. The grand structure loomed behind her, its stone façade bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, casting long shadows across the manicured lawn. In her hands, she held a stack of documents that felt heavy with significance—a binding agreement that tethered her newfound sister, Daisy, to their mother's establishment. The crisp paper rustled softly in the gentle breeze, mirroring the turmoil of emotions swirling inside her as she pondered the implications of this unexpected family connection.. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder that halted Zenith just a few steps into the grand manor. It loomed above her, its elegant façade contrasting with the turmoil in her heart. Inside, her sister Daisy waited—innocent and oblivious, or perhaps too fragile for the harsh realities of the world outside. "Daisy wasn't cut out for the real world," Madame Delphine had declared, her words draping over Zenith like a heavy shroud.

Was it true? Zenith's thoughts spiraled as her fingers tightened around the crumpled document she carried. Was she truly risking Daisy's safety in the name of elusive freedom? The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her chest, and a pang of guilt surged through her. Daisy might already despise her for the secret that loomed between them—that of being sisters. Yet now, her future hung precariously in Zenith's grasp, a delicate thread poised to snap.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Edward's voice broke through her reverie, cutting through the tension like a knife. 

She lifted her gaze, caught off guard by the sight of him descending the front steps of his home. The way his tousled blonde hair lifted slightly in the wind added an almost ethereal quality to him. He regarded her with an expression that was both inquisitive and guarded, curiosity flickering amid an undercurrent of distrust. Zenith could sense the hesitation in his stance as if he were weighing each possible outcome of the thoughts that ran through her mind.

Zenith stayed quiet and handed the parchment over to Edward. He carefully took the letter from her hands as their fingers brushed slightly. He studied the parchment and glanced at Zenith

"Daisy is waiting for you," he reminded her gently.

"Edward," she called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I don't know what to do." 

He studied her intensely, his brows furrowing slightly in concern as he noticed the distress reflected in her deep chocolate eyes, which shimmered with unshed tears. Zenith inhaled deeply, as if steeling herself against a wave of emotions, and took a seat on the cool, worn steps, with Edward standing tall and watchful beside her.

"I spoke to my mother," she confessed, her voice trembling.

Edward nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her words. "Anya has filled us in—how Daisy is your sister, and how your mother is Madame Delphine. But you mustn't worry; your sister remains unaware of your connection."

"Edward, she's been sheltered her entire life," Zenith replied, her voice shaking with uncertainty. "It hasn't been in a conventional way, especially given her experiences in that establishment. My mother insists that I'm making a mistake, that Daisy won't survive in the world outside those walls. Am I really sentencing my sister to an enormous error?"

Edward listened attentively, his heart heavy with empathy. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, surprising them both. "Zenith, I may not be particularly fond of you right now, especially after you left me just a day before our wedding, but there was a time when I knew a different Zenith Avery—a woman who was determined to do what was right. And if her plans went awry, she would always strive to make things right again. The Zenith I knew was brave; she never hesitated to stand up for her beliefs."