Snap Shot

Chapter Four

A blinding light pierces through my curtains, I really need to invest into blackout blinds, shining in my face. I blink in order to get used to this brightness, it works and I groggily get out of bed. Carefully I get myself dressed, correctly first time, before making my way towards the bathroom in order to use the toilet. Once I've washed my hands I head downstairs for breakfast hoping that last night was just a crazy dream.

It's not. When I enter the kitchen the maids are darting around the room, preparing a feast for an army. Unsure what to do I just stand in the doorway watching them before jumping when a hand is rested on my shoulder. I turn, only to come face to face with my uncle. "Come, sit in the dinning room," he tells me, before heading in that direction himself. Wearily, I follow him and slouch on the sofa. After plonking my bottom down on the navy cushion, I notice the guy from last night is in here too. I shrug, there isn't anything I can do about him being here so I might as well just deal with it like an adult, even if he has a creepy air about him.

Even before an awkward silence can be formed the maids enter the room carrying platters of steaming food which they place on the glass surface of the coffee table. Intently I admire each item, not only do we have the typical full English breakfast items, there are pancakes, croissants and pretty much any continental breakfast items you could possibly think of. One thing I know for sure is I'll be stuffed.

I grab a plate, it's warm to touch and I pile it high with a bit of everything, as I stuff myself a conversation begins. "How did you sleep, spud?" my uncle questions.

"Fine," I respond still not wide awake with it being only 5.30am, "I'll have to leave soon though I'm needed in for just after seven."

"Seven?" Mr D King repeats, sounding shocked.

"Yea," I reply, "Photos will be taken starting at nine. You do know, it takes a good hour or so to get all the make-up done and my hair styled. Sometimes we need to go through the poses before hand to make sure I know what is expected of me."

Still shy, but after having no response from him I turned to face him only to see him opening and closing his mouth like a fish eating. I laugh at his obvious disbelief. All I ever seem to do when I'm around him is burst into laughter, followed by tears when I laugh so hard that I feel like rolling around on the floor while I stuff my face.

"That early?" he questions.

"It's one of the reasons I'm always tired, I start early and finish late," I tell him, trying not to moan because of the food.

"But yea, I need to go now, if I miss the bus I'll be late," I tell them as I take my empty plate with me, leaving the room.

"Wait..." Mr D King orders so I pause in the doorway and turn to face him, "I can give you a lift on my way to work."

Unsure of how to respond I turn to face my uncle who had been silent throughout the whole of our conversation, he gives me a subtle nod.

I take my plate and place it down on the table before sitting back down on the sofa noticing that Mr D doesn't seem to have eaten any of the food prepared by the maids. I ask him, "Aren't you hungry?"

A small smile flashes across his face before his blank expression is back up, "No," he sharply replies, "I ate before you got down." He doesn't seem to be lying, the red tint to his lips as though he still has jam on his face supports his statement after all. Yum, strawberry jam my favourite.

I smile lightly, "I wouldn't have guessed, you know, with the jam still coating your lips."

He pales considerably as though he's worried, looking towards my uncle who also looks ill. "Don't worry about it," I continue, "There isn't any reason to be embra-" Before I could even finish he darted out the room as if the devil was chasing after him. I look to my uncle confused, he just shrugs.

I lay down on the sofa, and rest my eyes hoping to think about these mysterious events while waiting for him to return but before I have the chance, the door opens and he's back. The pink tinge has left his lips. That was quick, the bathroom is at the outside of our small house. Oh well, must have had my eyes closed for longer than I thought.

"So what is it you do for a living?" I question.

"Nothing major, I just teach others how to build up their confidence through a six-week course."

"Sounds.. interesting."

"It's very rewarding, if you want I could help you with yours?"

I feel my cheeks flushing and I get defensive, "What are you talking about? I'm fine as I am," I stand out and storm out of the room before running to my bedroom. I hide in my wardrobe, a trick I'd done ever since I was younger.

There is a knock on my door.

"Go away," I yell, hoping I don't sound ready to cry.

"Spud, it's me. Dae didn't mean it like that. Come on, let me in. You need to go to work soon." my uncle assures me.

Lightly I say, "Come in."

The door squeaking pierces the silence but I'm certain I hear two sets of footsteps enter my room, they aren't quite well enough timed to make it seem like one. That and I can hear two beats one fast, going click each second, the other slow and faint, ddrrrummmmm barely heard once every few seconds. I wonder what that could be.

"Uncle," I ask, "who are the maids?"

There is a moments silence whilst he takes a deep breathe before responding, "They are part of your inheritance."

"Inheritance?" I squeak, "What! Who died?"

"Your parents," my uncle calmly responds.

I'm confused, they died when I was but a child, a fatal car accident. I have kept the newspaper clippings as a constant reminder. Have they really been alive all this time? Do they hate me or something? Hiccuping, I swallow a sob.

Almost as though he can feel my dispair Mr D King says, "No, they've always been dead, M'l-".

My uncle coats his last word with a cough before continuing himself, "They are to be recieved, according to the will, a month before you turn twenty-one. During the time before your birthday," he recites as if the words are memorised, "you must learn about your bloodline and decide if that is what you want for your life. If you are ready, if you can cope and deal with the path set before you. Once," he pauses, "the cloak strikes witching hour on the eve of your birthday you must make your choice."

I open the wardrobe door when I no longer hear the clicking only to see my uncle standing there frozen. His head bowed down. No movement to be seen. He shudders, once, twice, before becoming still again.

The sound of clogs whirling back up comes from my uncle, I take a step back.

"Hel-el-el-lo Sp-sp-spud, ho-ho-how are-are-are y-y-y-ou?" comes out monotonously from my uncles mouth. I stare in horror, "S-s-se-elf-elf de-de-stru-stru-ct innnnnnnn f-ive f-oar, th-th-th-ree, t-two."

Almost in slow motion, Mr D King, rushes across the room, pushing me down shielding my body with his, just as I hear a "one". In a the whole room shines brighter than heaven. The floor shakes beneath us both, then it's dark again.

The lights flicker back on, looking over his shoulder, all I see is a pile of smoldering ash where my uncle just stood.

A tear, drizzles down my face.