Inqueda

chapter 9

I know I haven't updated in a long time and I'm sorry.  I've been so busy, I hope this long chapter makes up for it. Ps. Sorry if there are any errors, I'll still come back and edit. Hope you like it.

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Even though I was of the theory that he is probably Cerball's son, but I still hadn't ascertained to that fact so I'm still not sure as to what extent to trust him. So feigning ignorance, I turned to him with what I hope is a confused expression " know what?"  That seemed to annoy him even more and he ground out again " the meaning of my name"

I continued to look at him with what I hoped is a neutral expression " is it that strange to know the meaning of your name?" He took a threatning step towards me " don't play games with me, I'm not known for my patience."  I sighed and tried to put some distance between us, his proximity is befuddling me more than I was comfortable with,  but just as I took a step back, he smoothly pulled me forward and I was even closer than we were before and through clenched teeth he ground out " where do you think you're going? You haven't answered my question ".

My heartrate skyrocketed, I would have understood it if I was feeling afraid, afterall this should be a very scary situation. However, I am feeling very far from afraid at the moment. My body seemed to have grown a mind of its own and unfamiliar feelings were running through my body. I don't know why one man should affect me so much within such a short time of meeting him.

I am very sure I would have remembered if we had been acquainted before, his is not exactly a forgettable face, however there is something about him that pulls at a part of me, like you have finally found what you have been waiting for without even knowing that you have been searching. But that is just not possible, or is it? I felt so confused, and in a bid for him not to know just how much I was affected by him, in a show of bravado, raising a brow I asked " and is this how you manhandle all your guests or do I just get special treatment? " He opened his mouth to answer when we both heard from the direction of the door " what exactly is going on here? Cornall, you're home early" we both turned to the door with him still holding unto my arm, Cerball was leaning on the door with no expression on his face, I have always wondered how people do that, I have always been an open book to everyone and my mother always told me that I wear my feeling on my face all the time and I've tried to remedy it to no avail. However his expression morphed into a frown quickly " why are you holding her cornall? Unhand her immediately ."

He let go of my hand, albeit reluctantly " I found her ransacking out kitchen, I didn't exactly know who she was or why she was here. I still don't by the way." He said the last part with an accusatory look directed at me.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes " now you're just exaggerating, I was merely searching for food in the refrigerator with cerball's blessings I might add." He just ignored me and turned to his father " since you seem to have the answers, who is she and what is she doing here?"

Cerball ignored him and turned to me " have you had anything to eat?" I just shook my head no, then he nodded towards the dinning set in the middle of the kitchen " take a seat then, I'll rough something up for you. By the way, my Secretary asked around and got the contact for one of the departmental stores, they're having their shopper send you a few things in different sizes since I couldn't guess the right one. Oh and you'll be starting school with cornall on Monday till I settle a few things."

He said all these almost in one breath, then calmly turned to cornall " are you hungry too?" But cornall was opening and shutting his mouth like he couldn't decide which of the words battling in his head to let out. After a few tries he finally shouted " what?! You wouldn't even answer me any questions about her yet you expect me to take her to school? And you're buying her stuff? Who the hell is she and where are her own things?" 

With his back turned to us as calmly bringing things out from the fridge, cerball simply replied " language," then he turned, set the things he was holding on the counter too and continued " you might be my son, but this is still my house and i still have the right to do as I wish, that includes having guests and you would do me the courtesy of not insulting my guest. "

Cornall was apoplectic " who is she? And I haven't insulted your guest in any manner." He ground out the word 'guest' snidely, but cerball was unfazed " making a guest feel unwelcome is a form of insult on its own and I want to believe I raised you better than that. Now behave like a sensible matured person and i might actually talk to you."

Cornall seemed to be waging a war within himself, but Cerball ignored him and went about working on the food like he hasn't a care in the world. Watching their interaction is facinating and different than what I was used to. My father was in no way imposing or harsh to us, but I don't think my brother would have ever dared talk to my father like that. I guess it is because we grew up with the notion that even though he is our father, he is our king first.

I guess all this freedom comes from him having grown up in America. I had read that they're big on everyone having and knowing their right here. It's all so fascinating to me but I realise that they might want to talk in private for a while or something  so I fixed a polite smile on my face and was about standing up  " maybe the two of you would like a few minutes to yourselves, I don't mind, I wanted to use the bathroom anyway."

Cerball turned to me with a small smile in his face " ever the diplomat, like your mother. But no, we don't really need a few minutes. The story is short and straightforward. "

He then turned to Conall " I've told you about my childhood friend, Brian, he was more a brother than a friend. This is his daughter, Orla, she has suddenly become the only surviving member of her family. " I was looking at conall while cerball spoke, and I saw his shock in how his mouth dropped open and his eyes opened wider than normal, he then turned to me and caught my eyes. I don't know what he saw in my face, but I couldn't bear what I was now seeing in his, pity.

I dropped my gaze to my laps though I couldn't see it, for lack of something better to do, my fingers were clenching and unclenching on the robe.  It still hurts too much to think about my family, though even when I'm not actively thinking about them, they are always at the back of my mind same with that hollow feeling in my chest. Losing a loved one is never easy I know, but I believe it's harder when you know that they shouldnt have gone, and not even that it was an accident, I might have been able to make peace with that, but that a single human being decided to play god and take another's life for no reason talkmore of wiping out a whole family.

I didn't realize that cerball had moved, or that I was crying until I felt him wipe the tears from my cheeks. I looked up and his eyes was clouded with unshed tears. Or mayve my vision was clouded, I couldn't tell the difference anymore. He was kneeling infront of me with pain etched in every feature onhis face. My grief might be threatning to swallow me whole, but it seemed he might the only one who could begin to understand the extent of pain I was feeling, because from the stories I had heard, he loved them too, even before I was born.

I was trying to control my tears, but it seemed that the dam has burst with that first reminder of them. Memories upon memories battered my mind, the pain seemed unbearable, like I could just curl into a ball and die. But Cerball hugged me and held on while my tears drenched his short as I sobbed my heart out for the family that was cruelly taken from me.