Our Secret (being edited)

▪️Prologue▪️

2 years ago

If there was one place Erilian didn't want to be, it was here. The bright lights, loud chatter of people, and the sound of music coming from the speakers paired with the clicking of high heels as people passed her by had never been this unappealing to before. Her parents were currently celebrating their wedding anniversary in the ballroom of their well progressing company. Now, Erilian did love her parents, she was pretty sure they were the best partners anyone could ask for, but she seriously hated loud, crowded places. And the dress she was wearing wasn't making the night any easier for her.

A ballroom filled with people was not a place she wanted to spend her Saturday night at. She looked around at all the old and middle-aged people that had come and sighed, tying up her dark hair in a high ponytail. There was only a hand full of kids her age and they looked just as bored and depressed as she did. Her younger sister, Ivy, was quietly sitting in a corner next to the bar, a sketching book in hand while the second youngest of them, Iris, was laughing with a guy her age near the balconies. He was a joker. She had always had a thing for jokers. Why? Erilian never knew.

She kept looking around when suddenly she noticed someone was missing. She scanned the crowd for their oldest sister who was nowhere in sight. Reaching for her phone, she called her instead. After the second ring, the phoned picked up.

"Hello?" came a melodious voice for the other side of the line.

"El? Where are you?" Erilian asked in frustration.

"Oh? I left. Didn't mom and dad tell you?" The smile in her sister's voice was evident.

No fair she thought.

"What? No, they didn't tell me. How come you got to leave?" she asked feeling her frustration and frowned. Her sister's laugh flowed out from the other side of the line causing some of her frustration to disappear. Little did she know that that was the last time she would hear that carefree laugh for a while.

"Aww, don't worry. I'm sure they'll let you leave in a few minutes. I had some important things that I had to take care of in the studio so I had to leave. I'll be home in a few minutes." Elena reassured her.

Erilian sighed, "Alright, I'll see you then, bye, El." she hanged up. Phone in hand, she then went looking for her parents who were currently bidding the leaving guests farewell as the party was coming to a close. "Hey, mom, dad? Can we leave yet?" she asked slipping in to stand in between them both.

"Hey, sweetie." smiled her mother looking down at her, her beautiful dress catching Erilian's attention as she admired her mother's beauty that she was sure she was the only one that didn't inherent. "Almost, we just need a few more minutes," her mother rubbed her cheek affectionately as her father pulled her into a side hug.

"Don't worry, everyone's leaving." winked her father, letting her go to adjust his tux and run his hand through his combed-back hair.

"Iven, Elizabeth. It's been a wonderful evening," said an old couple as they approached them. "Sadly, we must take our leave," they apologized kindly.

"Of course. Thank you for coming." smiled Mrs. Matthews, waving them off while Erilian took a seat on one of the empty tables as she waited for her parents. After a few minutes, the other two girls joined her.

"Where's El?" asked Ivy, looking around, taking a seat to her right and placing her book on the table.

"She left," huffed Erilian, feeling dejected.

"What? How come she gets to leave?" asked Iris with a disbelieving tone slamming her glass down causing some of it to spill on Ivy who told her to watch it.