Black Butterfly; Book 2: Family Lies

Chapter 13

December 31, 2014
3:00 A.M.

Jazmin was walking through a field of wild flowers and grass high enough to reach her thighs. The sky was blue and the warm breeze seem to tickle her skin. It sent a pleasant shiver through her body. She turns to see the terrible house look friendly and welcoming. "It started out like this, you know," a voice said.

Jazmin turns her head to see Kory right beside her. She should've felt fear, but she felt like she is in peace. Like nothing wrong could happen. "Before, you went.... you know," Jazmin says awkwardly.

"Before I went mad? No, before my grandfather became head. It was alot calmer and there wasn't as much greed," Kory says. "I got stuck with the greed of having my sister. So much, that I started killing just to keep her."

"That still isn't an excuse though. I'm guessing Charity would've never left you. We read her diary, and before all that madness happened she really did adore. Maybe a little distant because she married her brother, but she did love you, Kory."

"I realize that now and I regret not noticing that," Kory says with guilt laced in his voice. "What about you? Don't you have someone you love so much that you can't let go?"

"Only my brother, Trevor. He's been there for me, but I don't think I could love him the way you loved Charity," Jazmin says thoughtfully.

"Understandable," Kory says. Then the house bursts into flames and Jazmin gets sense of dread in her gut.

"W-what's going on?" she asks. The field around was now engulfed in hot, wild flames.

"This is my destiny, I suppose. I've done so much wrong that not even moving on can save my damned soul," Kory says. His eyes did not show any fear or sadness. Acceptance: that's what Jazm n thought to herself.

"NO! Kory!" a voice that sounded similar to her own. She looked back to see a girl that looks almost like running towards them.

"Charity?" Kory gasps. His face is filled with uncertainty and sorrow.

"Please do not go. Come to me! Please, I forgive you and can't go on without you," Charity says desperately. Jazmin begins to wonder where the cameras were; this scene was too clichéd. Suddenly the heat and terror disappeared in a flash and Jazmin felt relief go throughout her whole body. The two dead lovers were holding eachother in tears and start to walk away from Jazmin. She watches as the everything slowly fades.

She opens her eyes to see it's 5:00 A.M. She looks over to the side of the bed and sees Austin sleeping in the recliner. The blonde boy had a furrow in his forehead. She studied the boy who helped Serena and Trevor. They weren't close, but she was glad that she knew Austin. She gets up and began washing her face from the sweat that had condensed in her face.

There was a knock at the hotel door. She quickly went to it and saw the rest of the group look like they were fighting to stay awake. She opens the door and hugs Trevor who meekly puts a arm around her shoulder and then stumbles in. Then Serena who just smiled sleepily and was guided in by Taylor. She awkwardly hugged Oakley who was leaning on Emmet's shoulder. She looks to the boy that is suppose to be too young to own his own business,"It's all over now, isn't it?"

Emmet nods and walks the two into the room. Jazmin closes the door and let's everyone get situated. Most didn't care at all because Trevor was sleeping on the coffee table. She tries her hardest not to laugh and gets under the covers with Serena and Taylor. Jazmin knew that she could never imagine anywhere else she rather be than with these guys. Sleep soon swallowed her up as well.

December 31, 2014
11:54 P.M.

Jazmin was pulling Trevor's arm out of the van and into the office. Mostly everyone had gotten back to the way they were. Emmet and Taylor were silent as ever, Serena and Austin were as clueless as ever, and Trevor and Oakley were still loud. "C'mon, you guys, if you don't hurry your butts will miss it," Jazmin whines.

"Who said we were having a party in my office?" Emmet says with a pinch of annoyance.

"Me," Oakley and Jazmin say at once. The two girls look at eachother and roar in laughter. Emmet mutters something under his breath. Taylor unlocks the door and turns on the light. Everyone gets stopped short. A huge table was in the middle of the office. A letter with an S was on top of a ball.

"What the hell," Emmet says as he walks up to the display. The ball was on top of a metal pole. There was a timer counting down to what seem to be midnight. There was a city of black figures gathering around the pole. "Taylor, please check the security cameras. Austin, Trevor, look for anything out of the ordinary. Serena, Oakley, talk to any of the businesses still open and ask if they saw anyone near the office." Everyone reluctantly set to work. Jazmin goes up and picks up the letter.

"Looks like they want the game to start. Maybe we should stop ignoring them," Jazmin says. Emmet glares at the letter in her hand.

"Maybe. But I don't want to do it," he says through a clench jaw.

"Why?" Jazmin asks. Emmet only answers her with silence. "I'll read it then:

My dearest black butterflies, I do hope you enjoy my little New Year's present. However, unlocking secrets one by one is an adventure that must be continued. To know why the Loves were so mad was certaintly one. You must know the truth of yourselves to know the truth about the connection of eachother. My dears, you were all cursed to be together and that is the fault of your orgins. I'm afraid the closer you get to the truth, the farther yoy leave your true self behind. Happy New Years."

Jazmin finishes reading the letter and pulls out an article. It was about the Love fued a long time ago and the murder of Jazmin's father. She recognized one man though. Serena's father once again. "May the people that were affected learn from experice, and let future learn from its history. The tradegies that have been plaguing the wealthy family's of this county be released one day. I say goodbye to my friend that was murdered just recently and let him be resting in a place much kinder than this one."

"Wait, is he talking about my father? Serena's father and mine were friends?" Jazmin asks more to herself.

"Must have," Emmet says while reading one of the articles. Suddenly the ball on the pole drops down and music fills the room. Everyone returns to the office right after. All anyone could do that night was wonder who was ready to change their whole world upside down and still refuse to reveal who they were.