Douce Mort

III

Ater Vangove sat looking at the abyss in front of him. The fire crackling behind him the smell of bourbon masked everything else. The old books in the old study, the fire, the burning wood, and even with the fire going the cold was the only thing that could be felt. Ater's once bright soul masked by his cold stares was just the cold stares.

"How could we break so much, Katarina?" Ater muttered to the wind, gazing to his left to the portrait of a boy and a girl. Smiles covered the children's faces. Young Ater Vangove and Katarina Peters smiling while young Ater was annoyed with the young Katarina, who jumped onto young Ater's back. "Why couldn't we stay like that? Why did they have to take you? An-and for some reason, it hurts me more, how did we end on such miserable terms? Why does it hurt? You left, I still hope the last six years didn't happen. That I told you," Taking a breath in, in hope not to burst. "That I told you to never leave me, so you and I could have been we. Damn it!"

It was those words, that found its way out of his mouth that broke him. The glass of bourbon that was in his hand found its way to the wall. The bourbon spilled on the portrait and the glass shattered against the wall. The portrait that once showed the beautiful children smiling and laughing. Now was tattered and torn, not only could you see the joy and happiness but the sadness and envy. As that scene would never happen again.

"Master Ater, Lord Natus Vonto and Miss Ara Peters are here. Would you like me to bring them in?" Alfred, the old faithful butler, had become accustomed to Ater Vangove's outburst, yet no one could find out how to stop them. "And Master Ater, would you like for me to clean the study?"

"Yes," Examining the mess he created in the room. His eyes landed on the painting not wanting to move his eyes in fear it would disappear just like her. "I would like that. Will you tell Jonathan to prepare lemonade for Ara, she loves it, and tell Natalia to watch over her while I tell Natus?"

"My lord, you are going to tell him, are you? Does that mean-"

"Yes, Alfred." Ater began to walk towards the door. "Alfred, I shall be in the dining room, please do send them there once they are in."

"Yes, my lord." Alfred bowed then left to do the very tasks Ater sent him to do.

"Hm. So it seems I have broke. . . or I truly am accepting that I am broken." Ater smirked, amused that it took him three years to find out he was broken.

Ater moved out of the study, while Alfred walked in. As he passed the paintings of the past heirs and paintings of the happiness, he experienced in the past. Ater paused in front of a painting of a man with a strict composure and a stern face.

"Why, hello Father. Long time no see? It seems we will become even more similar in a few months." Ater shook his head, in shame but you could see happiness, which would be strange in anyone's eyes who knew Ater. Ferus Vangove, father of Ater Vangove and adoptive father of Katarina Peters, was the man in the painting. Ferus Vangove would be described as strict, purifier, and more of a shot first ask questions later type of man.

Ater turned and continued to the dining room. The dining room was the least decorated room in the mansion. The bland ivory wall would have been an eyesore if not for the stand in the corner with a bullseye tree on it. The mahogany table had a vase filled with black and white roses for a centerpiece. The golden plates and silver silverware were accompanied by a beige colored mat underneath. Six wooden chair with pearl colored cushion surrounded the table, two chairs on each side of the table and one chair for each head of the table. Ara sat on the head of the table, furthest from where Ater stood. Natus sat, on Ara's left, looking at the bullseye tree opposite of him.

Ara's gaze at the crystal chandelier soon fell upon Ater. "Tear, Tear! You finally came. I saw Jonathan. He gave me lemonade, and it was really good. Alfred let me see his ancient pocket watch. It had this really cool design, he said it was his family's crest. Does your family a have a crest? Oh, and Natus is not telling me something about this lady that we saw. He said her name was Katrina Peter who was actually Puritans Vonto, I was wondering if you could tell me more about her, please?"

"Ara, I would like you to meet Natalia. Natalia!" Ater yelled.

"At, you rang." A woman appeared in a red dress. She had snow pale skin. Her murky blue-green eyes had a bit of light in them. The thin brown mop of hair on her head was in a bun. The red dress hugged her body enough to see an outline of her body but was not too tight that it emphasized her.

"Urg. Natalia, you will never say the proper name, will you?" Ater facepalmed himself, knowing the answer would be, 'Of course not.'

"Of course not, At. Now you must be Ara, the girl I've heard so much about. Hello Natus." A smile appeared on Natalia's face.

"Wow, you're really pretty. How do you know about me? Also, will you tell me about a woman named Katrina Peter who was Puritans Vonto, I think that's her name?" Ara's face brighten each word she spoke.

"Yes, of course. I shall answer any question you have. Also her name was Katarina Peters also known as Puritas Vonto." Natalia took Ara's hand. "Let's go we should leave Natus and Ater to talk. Come now."