Beasty | First Draft Sample

11

There was a girl once. A girl who thought her father was the strongest man alive. Indestructible. There was a girl once. A girl who thought her mum was the most beautiful woman alive. Eternal. 

There was a girl once and she lived life like a fairy-tale. Her father was her fairy tale's king and her mum, the queen. Her sister her forever best friend, and she everyone's princess. The youngest.

Her fairy tale bloomed and bloomed and thrived. Everyone was happy. Everyone was prospering. And then her fairy tale died. Her hero, destroyed. Her idol, only mortal. Her fairy tale a mere fable.

There was a princess once. And she watched her fairy tale die. She survived though. And every year, on this day, she asked herself why. And every year, on this day, she lost another piece of hope that she'd ever know the answer.

Why not her? Why them? Why?

The two grey gravestones sat beside each other. Close together, and it was sure that even after death mum and dad were together. Lying. Beside each other.

Going down on my knees I ignored my blurry vision as I placed two single stems of white roses over each grey cemented grave.

White. For hope.

In the distant, thunder rumbled, and I sighed as I reached over and brushed my hand over the headstone before me.

"Hi pa."

Another tear fell down my cheek and I rested my hand over mum's grave.

"Ma."

I couldn't help it, slumping over I let myself go to the misery. The events from the dreadful day flashing before me. The tall truck had come out of nowhere.

"I miss you, you both. You all. I miss you and I wish you were here." Another sob ripped out of my lips, breaking me mid-sentence but I continued. "It's stupid and I know that nothing's going to change but so much has happened and I wish you both were here to show me the way. I'm so confused."

A hand gripped my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, moving my palm over the hand I covered it with mine. I didn't so much as flinch from the contact.

"Your flight back to Berlin is in an hour, Olivia."

I sighed.

Reaching forward I slowly touched both my parents' gravestones.

"I love you. Both of you." I whispered, wiping my eyes I got to my feet and turned to face my oldest housekeeper.

Her face melted into a motherly expression and she pulled me closer against her, her hands holding both mine between them.

"I'm sure they would be very proud of you, miss."

I nodded, blurry eyed. "I hope so,"

A small smile filtered into the old woman's face and she pat my hand.

"I'm sure they would be. Every year, on their death anniversary you catch a flight to London. Just to visit your parents grave. You're a good daughter, Olivia."

I sighed as I followed the woman towards the black car at the entrance of the cemetery.

"Is there any way I can meet Mr. Monatelly before I rush back to the airport, Pompy?"

Sliding into the back seat of the car, I turned to see Pompy slide in beside me. The driver, Thomas, turned and I nodded softly before he began driving.

Back to the estate.

Back home.

Home.

A strange feeling flushed into my chest when the first thoughts of home brought up flashes of the castle. Romanov's Castle.