The return of the Dark

10

First my Uncle became pale. Then red. Then purple.
Anger was filling the air, giving it an electric tension. Robins friends gathered behind him, like a pack of wolves, and Robin was the Alpha.
I swallowed nervously.
What had I done? My Uncle stepped towards Robin, keeping a painful distance between them. It was almost like my Uncle — and even Robin — couldn't bare it if he got closer.
Loveday stepped back, just like me with mixed feeling about what was happening. There was only one difference: she knew what this was about.
"What are you doing here?" growled my Uncle at Robin, almost like he was a monster.
"I'm invited," answered Robin as he raised his shoulders. I was shocked when I heard his voice — ice cold and emotionless, with a threatening undertone. He slid his thumbs beneath his belt. Like it was no big deal. "That's why I'm here."
A vein in my Uncles forehead started to swell. "Who did that?"
Before Robin could answer my Uncle turned around. I had never seen him this angry and I stepped back.
"You invited him?!" With a finger he pointed towards Robin, who shook his head when Loveday opened her mouth. I swallowed and took a deep breath. Why did I thought this was a good idea?
"I did," I admitted, feeling completely empty. "Because I don't know any of this people and I didn't want a party!"
Now my anger started to bubble in my stomach, almost exploding.
"You can get to know them!" My Uncle sounded like it was the most easiest thing on Earth. I shook my head.
"Why can't I invite my friends here if it is a party for me?!" I was shouting and the people started to look. Let them, I thought. This was something between me and my Uncle.
Suddenly I had a feeling that I never should've returned here. Here there was only chaos and... pride.
"It's fine that you invite people," said my Uncle deadly calm. "But not them!" Again he pointed at Robin. I opened my mouth, but my Uncle turned away from me. He stepped towards Robin, until he was standing just a few inches away from him.
Robin was taller than Uncle Benjamin. Way more muscled. If this was going to end in a fight, Robin would definitely win and I felt worried. Sweating I looked at Loveday, but she looked at her shoes.
"I want you to leave," whispered my Uncle threatening. "Right now."
Like it was nothing, Robin pushed him aside. "I was invited by Maria," said Robin as he walked towards me. "Only she can sent me away."
    My Uncle was about to explode. Actually, he did.
    "ODIN!" The loud voice of my Uncle boomed across the garden. First a bark. Then a white flash that sprinted over the grass, between the people. But before Odin could attack, I stepped in front of Robin, panicked.
    "No! Stop!"
    I was using my body as a shield and Odin stopped before he could make his jump.
    "Maria! Step out of his way. I don't want them here!" Uncle Benjamin walked towards me and I breathed heavily. Loveday stepped over to Uncle Benjamin and placed a hand over his shoulder, a desperate move to calm him down.
"Benjamin..." But it didn't help. He shook off her hand.
"Don't touch me." Loveday was openly shocked — I saw it on her face. She became pale and stepped back. Uncle Benjamin had growled to her, like a wild animal.
"Maria, come on," said Robin from behind me and his friends came closer and closer, forcing my Uncle to step back. I swallowed — I didn't know what to do. The air was colder then before, very tensed and loaded with furious emotions.
"I..." I looked at both mans. And decided. "I have to go to the bathroom. Excuse me."

* * *

With a heavy feeling I ran away from the party. My heart pounced hard against my chest, like it was trying to get out. I swallowed and as soon I was inside, I took off my shoes and ran along on by bare feet.
    Much better.
    People outside talked confused, not aware of what just happened. I knew that the relationship between our families had become weak, but I didn't knew that it had broke.
    That explained a lot.
    But I still didn't know what happened. I slammed the door behind me and leaned against the wall. Alone. Finally, I was alone.
    I took deep breaths and tried to clear my head, but there was still a fog of confusion. I closed my eyes for a moment.
    What had I done?
    Because of my behaviour everything had collapsed. Guilt was building up inside me.
    I was shocked when someone knocked on the door.
    "Maria?"
    I sighed in relief. "Mrs. Heliotrope?"
    "It's me, dear. Can I come in?" I hesitated for a moment, but then I decided that it was good to talk to the person that practically raised me.
    I opened the door and let Mrs. Heliotrope inside the large bathroom. Her green dress was elegant, old fashioned, but still nice.
    She sat down on the edge of the bath. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, my eyes pointed at the ground. The silence between us became bigger, until Mrs. Heliotrope decided to say something.
    "What happened outside?"
    The guilt feeling became a little bit bigger.
    "Robin came. With some friends." I paused for a moment. "And Uncle Benjamin snapped."
    Mrs. Heliotrope sighed. I looked up at her. She looked a bit disappointed and she shook her head.
"How could you do that?" she asked and I raised my shoulders. Like I didn't know. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"I wanted for us all to be together," I admitted. "And I don't even know all those people. I didn't know we hated each other again." Disgust filled me and Mrs. Heliotrope sighed again. She sat next to me and lied her hand on my shoulder.
"Maria, it is a difficult situation. And I understand why nobody wants to talk about it."
I rolled my eyes — I was sick of these pep talks. "Then tell me what is going on!" Mrs. Heliotrope became pale as she opened her mouth, but she was shut by an loud knock on the door. We both sat there in shock.
Was it my Uncle? Was he going to punish me? But no. It wasn't my Uncle.
"Maria?" Robin knocked once again. "I know you're in there."
"I'm not coming out," I said angrily. "Not before anyone tells me what is going on!" I could hear him sigh. I knew that he, just like Mrs. Heliotrope, didn't want to explain it.
"Alright." I raised a brow. What? "I'll tell you." No way!
Mrs. Heliotrope and I looked at each other for a moment. Then I stood up quickly and walked over to the door. When I opened it, Robin was leaning against the wall and he looked up.
"So," I said. "Tell me."
A grin was spreading over his face and he shook his head as he stood up right. He offered me his arm.
"Not so fast, Princess," he said. "You still owe me a dance."
"I don't want to dance." I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at him. But he wasn't scared off.
"After the dance we can talk. This is still a party, after all." He winked at me and I rolled with my eyes as I accepted his arm.