Aome

Chapter 2 -Roses Are Red-

Inside of manor in photo's ---->

Chapter 2- Part 1

Mathew's POV

"So you have 4 other siblings right? I ask. She nods, I quickly scribble it down. "Now tell me about your family" I say.

"Well, there's not much to say." She responds while picking at her shirt, I can tell by her movements that this subject is uncomfortable for her.

"And what do you mean by that?" I ask softly, trying to coax the information out of her, trying to use my less demanding voice.

"My mom got arrested eight years ago, and Beverly became my step-mom a year after." To any other person or even untrained therapist her voice would have sounded neutral, but when she mentioned the name of her step-mother I couldn't help but hear the slight bitterness that creeped into her tone. But the way Luce referred to her step-mom was not uncommon, most children took time to warm up to their step parents, but for Luce it's been 8 years.

 

"So Beverly has been there for most of your life right? Sort of like a mother figure" She was quiet for a while before slowly nodding her head, as if not to sure how else to respond. I jotted down more notes, some reading “uncomfortable talking about family” and “very hesitant”

"Luce, do you know why they arrested your mom?" I ask, looking up to meet her eyes, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked to the top corner of the ceiling.

Luce's eyes glazed over as if recalling on a past memory. After a few minutes she responded,

"No"

Luce's POV 

“I don’t understand? Why me?” I whisper quietly to Elizabeth.

“Don’t ask me, She just told me to get you” Elizabeth replied, flicking her blond hair over her shoulder. “I'm scared” I whisper shakily. And it was true, my step-mom the queen of all witches asked if she could talk to me. That was never a good sign.

“Yeah” Liz murmured “me too.” Our footsteps are the only sound that was heard in the whole mansion. My father wasn’t home from work yet and Beverly was downstairs doing who knows what. After Melanie and I ate our baguette, Liz walked in telling me Beverly wanted to speak with me. I ushered Mel out of my room and into hers, then left with Liz. I was terrified, absolutely positively terrified. We made our way down the curving stairway and onto the first floor. The ground was white marble and the wallpaper was white too with repetitive patterns. There were two staircases you could go down depending on which part of the mansion you’re in, they curved inwards and where brown.

 

There was plush white and brown couches and a table with a centerpiece of white flowers. We walked towards the entrance in the front that lead to the living room. That was where she was. “Lucinda” The evil voice of Beverly said, she was seated on one of the expansive couches that faced the fireplace, from my view all that was visible was her long brown curls and white gloves that were holding a single rose. I cleared my throat before answering, “Yes, Ma'am.” Liz awkwardly shuffled her feet. “You are dismissed Elizabeth” The witches voice was cold, and Liz quickly scampered from the room. My palms were sweating and I wiped them on my skirt. “Come here” Her gloved hand stroked the petal’s, the red stands out in the white room, it looks like fresh blood from a wound, beautiful but deadly an odd mix.

 

I walk until I'm in front of her taking small steps on the fur rug, the fur tickling my bare feet. It’s then that I notice the brown basket beside her that is full of rose petals, and the stems are placed in another. I want to ask what they are for, but refrain myself from doing so. Beverly was indeed a beautiful lady, soft tendrils of brown hair, and skin as pale a snow, her lips are the color of roses seated beside her, and shes wearing a black pencil skirt and a  white loose button up shirt, that makes her pale skin seem like porcelain. Her dark green eyes bore right through mine, cold and hard, evil. “I hear it’s your birthday.” I stare at her nodding my head slightly.

 

“Don’t expect special treatment, it’s just a day after all, nothing special.” Her voice is full of malice, as if she enjoys hurting me in every non physical way. “Of course” I say, trying to make my voice sound as un emotional as I can, not wanting her to have the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me. A wicked smile splits her face as if she’s proud, like her job was well done. I wanted to choke her. “Good, now sprinkle these petals around the backyard be back right after, no wandering off.” She hands me the basket containing the hoards of red rose petals. I grab it from her, and leave towards the door. Turning around for one last glance, I catch her admiring the final rose in her hand, like it’s a something so delicate just a whisper in the wind can tear it apart.

 

 

By the time I reach the glass double-doors the moon is shining brightly in the dark sky, it's light reflecting against trees casting an eerie glow. I didn't question Beverly's actions because we all knew something wasn't right in her head. I headed to the large pile of grass that separated my house and the woods that surrounded it. I grab the basket in my one hand and start sprinkling them all across in a line, seeing the red petals float down until they reached the soft grass. That's when something caught my eye, a quick movement in the dark, I spun around my heart racing.

 

The abandoned playground, it's swing blew in the soft breeze, which was what I saw move. I sighed putting a hand on my chest, trying to calm myself. A few minutes more of comforting myself that there was nothing to be afraid of, I resumed my task of sprinkling each petal, one by one. That's when I saw it again, this time causing me to drop the petals, which made a small pile on the ground. I knew it was human, I saw the figure two tall to be a animal, and to nimble to be anything else. There it was again a rustle in the trees accompanied by a child's laugh, I stumbled back my heart threatening to rip itself from my chest, my head whips side to side searching for the cause of this, could it be one of my siblings playing a trick.

 

I was going to kill them. "Pst" The voice said again coming from one of the trees on the right side, another giggle and a figure darted. Lucky for me the moonlight caught a view of what the person was wearing it looked suspiciously like the same dress as Mel's. By now I was fuming, scared and angry. "This isn't funny" I shouted into the darkness, silence. "Mel I know it's you give it up" I say again, silence. I prepare to threaten to get Beverly when the figure moves again this time running threw the moonlight and into the forest, and I know it's her, the blond hair exactly like my sisters. I growl in frustration, debating weather or not to run after her or tell my siblings, but if they were in on this too why would they tell me? So without a second glance I take after the already retreating figure.