The Chosen

Chapter 9

I rolled out of bed with a shiver, the air this morning was cold against my skin and I shivered as I made my way to the closet in a hurry to find warm clothing. Looking around I couldn't see where the cold air was getting into the dwelling. maybe the machine that dealt with the temperature was broken, I thought. I remember reading that most terrestrial dwelling has a machine to keep the temperature at a certain point, it seemed like a good Idea in the winter when the cold was the last thing you wanted. I moved things around in the closet trying to find something to keep me warm, all I could find was my usual slips and such. I saw some boxes up the top and standing on the tips of my toes I pulled them down. Opening them up the smell of old clothing hit me with a rush, its was a good smell but slightly stale. Rifling through the boxes I found tens of pieces of good quality Terrestrial clothing. Most of them brand new, slightly out of style but new nevertheless.

I tipped the first box out onto the floor of my closet sifting through it I found lots of pieces of clothing, but nothing that could really keep me very warm. I groaned, this was going to be hard I thought. Just as I was about to give up an older looking dress caught my eye. It had long sleeves and was made out of a warm fluffy material. Perfect. I picked it up eyeing it over. It had obviously been worn by someone quite frequently but I didn't mind, It looked incredibly comfortable. Pulling it on I packed up all the other clothes and popped them back up the top of my wardrobe.

I wandered downstairs towards the kitchen, happy with my warm discovery. I could smell something cooking in the kitchen and hurriedly entered, breathing in the smell of fresh pastries. The kitchen was thankfully much warmer than the rest of the house probably due to the three big ovens that filled up the space. Mariah was working at her bench, preparing god knows what. She looked happy with herself like she was pleased with what was cooking. I would be happy as well if it smelt that good.

I stepped further into the kitchen, my favourite room in the house, before Mariah noticed me. She looked up, at first pleased to see me then a shocked look crossed her face.

"What an earth are you wearing girl" she said gasping and rushing over to me

What did she mean, what was I wearing I thought looking down at the dress I had previously worn so happily, "it was cold this morning so I found this" I said looking at her with what I was sure was a very puzzled expression.

Mariah shook her head at me "where did you find that dress?!" She scolded looking around worriedly "you are so lucky Zariah is not home to see this" she murmured.

"I found it in a box at the top of my closet Mariah" I said going and sitting down on a stool "is the heat broken?"

Mariah paced around me "yes the heat is broken, yes it will be fixed before Zariah comes home and gosh damn it girl why that dress" she groaned and flopped down

I raised my eyebrow at her "what is wrong with my dress Mariah, for gosh sake tell me" I said shaking my head at her

She frowned back "I forget you dont know much about life here" she said grimly before standing up and starting her pacing again "that dress was Zariah and Xavier's sisters favourite dress dear"

Zariah had a sister I though with a frown, how had I not heard of this from at least one of the brothers, "A sister?" I asked "where is she?"

Mariah's frown deepened "no one knows Fae, hold on Ill tell you the story, then you need to get out of that dress" Mariah sat down across from me at the table "a while ago Zariah and Xavier's sister Lucille turned 18 and became very interested in science and the reason behind why she couldn't have children because unlike her brothers she was born on earth" She shifted in her seat

"Lucille took a job at a lab and began her research with the help of a young male lab assistant, now Fae im sure you can see where this is going. The lab assistant and her fell in love and a couple weeks later Lucielle rushed into the kitchen to tell us to her utmost shock she was pregnant. This was unheard of as she was an earthborn baby, we told know one except her brothers of this phenomena not even the lab assistant" Mariah's face turned dark before she continued

"About a week after she told us little Lucille disappeared without a trace, no one knows where she went or who might have taken her. The only daughter of the Emperor was a precious thing. They searched far and wide and eventually came across the lab assistant, he was dead in his home. So after three years they gave up Fae, packed all of her stuff away and swore never to speak of the loss of their dearest sister" Mariah stood up and walked around to me "and you are wearing her favourite dress"

I was shocked hearing this story for the first time, "Mariah why was it in my closet?"

Mariah smiled "well dear you are in her old room" then she walked off into a little room of side the kitchen reappearing with a new dress for me "here you go sweetheart, go get changed in that room and then give me that gosh darn dress" she said smiling gently at me.

I got changed quickly and hurried out to question Mariah more about Lucille. "Hey Mariah, what did the brothers do about the loss of their sister?" I asked my face grim.

Mariah looked up at me again "neither handled it very well, Zariah withdrew from the world and we lost sight of the smiling social boy he once was, the only time I have seen him have fun in the years since he lost Lucille has been when he was with you" she smiled at me before continuing "and well Xavier through himself into science relentlessly pursuing the cause him and his sister once pursued together, he took it the best I think out of the two of them, seemed to move on fast" Mariah shrugged pushing a plate of delicious smelling food infront of me.

She picked out her wallet from her pocket and flipped it open "here, thats Lucielle" she said pointing at a small photo of a white haired young girl with the bluest eyes I had ever seen, she looked so much like her brothers I was shocked "she is stunning" I said smiling ay Mariah, her face fell "yes she was my dear" she said before continuing her cooking.

I ate hurriedly pushing all thoughts of Lucille to the back of my mind and instead thought of my day ahead and what I would do. Just as I finished my last mouthful Xavier popped his head into the kitchen with a grin

"sorry Fae for the short notice but I don't suppose you are free today to do that thing we talked about?" He said hovering in the doorway.

I looked up at Mariah still cooking before turning and smiling at Xavier "sure thing" I said wandering over to him "lets go now"

As we left the kitchen I peeked over my shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of Mariah cooking but instead saw her watching me with a concerned look on her face. I wonder what she is worried about I thought as we got into the car and zoomed off into the city of white.

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Authors note

Hey yall! Sorry for a long wait but it is finally here ❤️❤️❤️ hope you all enjoy it and please dont forget to comment and vote as every single one makes my day.

What do you all think off Lucille and her disappearance?
And what off Mariah's concern??