The Forgotten Black

Marriage, Escape, Survive

Hello lovely reader, first of all I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year hope the start of 2025 has gone well for all of you. I've been gone for a while on holiday which is why I haven't updated but I'm back now and will start updating regualy (about once a week). Here is the next chapter please enjoy, and don't forget to vote and comment!

1983

Estrella pov

"Estrella!" I flinch out of my half sleep when my grandfather raises his voice from the monotone tone he has been using for the past few hours. Yes, hours, hours of him talking politics and me being bored out of my mind. I'm not the only one who is over it, the Gryffindor's can barely stand and even Fiona seems over it.

"Yes?" I ask. I have to admit when he first suggested that I learn about the game as he calls it, I didn't think it would be this boring and tedious.

"Do you have somewhere better to be?" He questions thickly, clearly annoyed at my lack of attention.

"No," I mumble.

"Then pay attention," he snaps.

"It's been hours grandfather can't we stop for today?" I dare to ask.

"Are you a Black?" He asks glaring at me.

"Yes," I whisper.

"Then act like it unless you want me to grab Robert to take care of your smart mouth," he threatens.

"Family mottos. I say a family you tell me the motto, in both English and Latin since you decided to run your mouth," he says and I refrain myself from rolling my eyes.

"Bring it on, I'm as confident as an Avery," I say smirking.

"That tongue of yours cuts sharper than a knife," grandfather says, chuckling lightly.

"I would however like to know why I need to know this?" I ask, trying to keep my sarcasm out of it.

"You can only start playing the game when you understand it and the others in it. The enemies, our enemies," grandfather says.

"You mean to tell me that I haven't been playing this whole time?" I ask.

"Oh no you have," he says walking towards me. He puts his hands on the table and leans towards me.

"But you haven't been winning, have you," he says. I could hear the mock in his tone and it takes everything in me to not react.

"Thought so. Family mottos," he says, straightening, turning away from me. With his back turned I allow the glare on my face. Hours pass as I list the words of each family of the sacred 28 even those who don't deserve it. I get a total of 3 strikes on my hands from my grandfather cain. My family's way of discipline to ensure I won't get it wrong again.

"Lastly Macmillian," grandfather says and for some reason I can't remember it.

"I-I," I stutter out not wanting to admit that I have forgotten it.

"You don't know," grandfather finishes.

"Why aren't you surprised by that?" I ask. It's not like me to forget, miss translate yes but to forget entirely no.

"Because the Macmillians don't have a motto," he answers.

"You tricked me," I accuse and he nods, not looking sorry. I almost laugh at the thought of my grandfather looking sorry impossible.

"The game is all about trickery Estrella. Don't play by the world's rules, instead do whatever it takes to win, to survive," he lectures and I nod carefully thinking about his advice.