Love, Aurélie | REGULUS BLACK

Chapter Forty-Five

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[CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE]
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"DID YOU GO OVER THE PAPERS I GAVE YOU?" asked Regulus. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Yes. . .about that, I noticed there was a page missing," said Odette, "I know for a fact that it was there when we talked. It was the information on me. . .Aurélie."

"You must have lost it," shrugged Regulus.

"I couldn't have. I made sure to collect every sheet of parchment. Are you sure you didn't take it?"

"And exactly why would I do that?" Regulus rose an eyebrow. He tapped his finger against his arm. Odette looked away from him and focused on her feet. Her sock was dirty, perhaps she should follow Mei's example and wear black socks.

"Odette." said Regulus. "I don't think it will help you to hide anything from you anymore. You're not safe. Your whole family is and was not safe. The Benoits were one of the only families to successfully have contact with death genies. Other families did not last longer than a year before they were caught or driven to commit their own deaths. Death genies have a greater source of power than we are used to, people seek contact for all sort of reasons. It does not usually end well. Even the friendliest death genies come with the deadliest consequences. Your family was in good contact with them and look at where you are now. You have no idea the extent that some people would go to get that power."

"This all traces back to them?"

Regulus nodded, "That's all I know. I don't know what happened to your house, but Odette, answer this one question."

"Yeah?"

"How are you so oblivious?"

Odette stared at him, "I —"

"I sent someone," Regulus interrupted her. "I sent someone to your house, what's left of it anyway. There's nothing but the structure of what it used to be. The house and its content was all burned. There's still noticeable details, like you could tell the walls used to be blue and white, but for the most part, anything useful is gone. However, it was outside where they found something. A diary."

Odette's eyes widened, "A what?"

"A diary." repeated Regulus. He pulled out a small, leather journal from his bag and handed it to her.

Odette's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she took it. She opened it and skimmed through. It was all in french, Odette couldn't read it. She did manage to recognize the name Emilie and the date, but that was it. She closed it.

"What?" said Regukus as he took a seat beside her.

"Um. . .how do I explain this? I can't read it." said Odette.

"What?" said Regulus as he took the journal. He opened it up and rose an eyebrow, "Odette. . .you can't read french?"

"Can't speak it either, you see, I forgot a lot of things. . .it's weird."

Regulus shook his head and went to the first page, "I'll read the first page."

"You know french?"

"I had time to learn, don't interrupt me."

Odette nodded.

"November 18, 1977.
Dear Emilie,
I can't send letters anymore, father won't let me. He says it's too dangerous. I think he's being silly. Either way, I write this in hopes that if anything were to happen, you'd find this. I don't know how I'll hide this journal since my parents don't want anything to be left behind. They've burned all of our photographs, I managed to save one. I know I can't keep it, so I gave it to Édouard. He told me he would save it until I ask for it, I don't know what I would do without him. I want to tell him everything so bad, but I know I can't. I'm already in so much trouble with my father. Clément's already pulled me aside and warned me that father is considering ending me away. What if I run away, Emmy? Oh, I already know what you'd say, but I'd do it! I'd run away to Édouard and we could figure something out. I know. . ,I can't burden him. I'll have to figure something else. Cassia's gone again, I hope she disappears forever. This is all her fault. She's keeping secrets, everyone could tell but no one is saying anything. Father is calling, bye bye Emilie. Aurélie." Regulus closed the journal.