Chapter 16 THE VISIT (Demilia’s POV)
"How?" I demanded to know. "She just called me a ghost, the one that shouldn't exist in the first place. What exactly does that mean?"
"She's the type of person that loves riddles," he muttered, clearly irritated, and hiding the true meaning of what she said.
"This has nothing to do with riddles," I insisted, seeing that he was doing everything possible to make me for about it. "She definitely knows something, and it must have something to do with my past."
He turned immediately to face me, his jaw clenched tightly. "Demilia, I said you should drop that immediately."
"No," I replied stubbornly, not ready to give in. "I won't let you have your way this time."
He sighed, and I could see how exhausted he was by just looking at him. "You want answers, right? Fine. You will get exactly what you are looking for. My mother isn't the welcoming type. She has always been against me bringing someone into this family. In her opinion, I'm cursed, that whatever I put my heart to, anything that I love ends in blood."
"That can't be what she meant," I replied quietly. "She wasn't referring to you in anyway. Shebwas clearly talking about me, I understand everything she was saying, but just needed a confirmation."
He froze, as if that wasn't tru3. "What?"
"She clearly said I shouldn't be here. That I'm an unwanted ghost, coming from a night that shouldn't have existed."
Ethan's eyes darkened, his face grave. "That was her way of trying to scare you, nothing serious attached to that."
"Then, could you explain why Adrian had to send me a warning message, and that was before her arrival." I asked, waiting for him to reply.
I noticed the moment I mentioned that name, that he became stiffened. "Adrian?"
"Yes," I replied. "He texted me this morning, and it read: 'Don't trust Ethan's mother."
I noticed how Ethan's voice immediately dropped into a whisper, lie he wasn't comfortable hearing me mention the name. "Why exactly are you still communicating with him?"
"I just read the message, but never replied him," I chipped in quickly. "But maybe, I shouldn't have ignored him. I should have replied immediately."
"Don't you dare do such, Demilia. You are simply testing me," he warned sternly, taking more steps closer.
"Then, it would be better if you stop hiding things from me! If you are more open to me, I will not have any reason to start looking for answers elsewhere." I screamed, my voice almost breaking. "Your mother obviously knows who I am, Ethan. And at this point, I can't boast of recognizing myself anymore."
He stared at me for sometime, long enough to build up tension. Then, quietly, he added. "Maybe it's even better that way. It might be the best way to keep you stable and focused."
"Better for who exactly?" I asked in shock.
“Both of us,” he answered without remorse.
Then silence stretched on again, even more than the other. He walked away without giving me the answers I needed, and leaving me in confusion more than I was before.
My phone buzzed as I was still trying to process everything. It was another message, also same unknown number.
Only that this time around, it was only five words.
“She remembers everything that happened.”
A cold shivers ran over me, making my blood run cold.
I glanced toward the hallway, exactly the point where Mrs. Blackwell had disappeared not long ago, and that alone made me realize that Adrian's warning wasn't just paranoia as I saw it.
>>>>>>>>>>>
"Demilia, open the door. It's me."
The knock remained consistent, fast and even, a very desperate knock.
At first, my whole thought is that it was Ethan. He hadn't spoken to me ever since the confrontation with his mother, ensuring to segregate himself in his study. The moment I heard the voice, just the crack, the trembling and raw and desperate. It showed me that it wasn't his.
I froze, my hand reaching the knob, but hesitating a little. "Who's there?" I called out, barely just a whisper.
"It's me!" Came the voice, but louder than the first time, then a desperate bang. "Demilia, please. It's your brother, Drake."
My heart stopped beating for a second. "Drake?"
What was he doing here?
I quickly swung the door open, curious to know what brought him to my doorpost after selling me off.
As I opened the door, the sight before me was made my heart hitch. Drake was standing, all his body bruised, everywhere bloodied. Just a look at his shirt almost made me cry, it was torn, his lips splitting inti two equal halves. His eyes harbored the look of one that is terrified.
"Drake!" I gasped in shock, rushing forward to meet him. "Oh my God, what happened to to you like this?"
I stumbled inside, clinging to his side, refusing to let go. "Lock the door immediately. " He panted, and unable to explain what was happening. "Do it right now."
I quickly obeyed by slamming the door shut, and ensured to turn the lock. "Drake, what exactly is going on? Could you explain what happened to you."
He ignored my questions, the quickly grabbed my shoulders, his hands trembling from unknown fights. "All you need to know is that you have to get out of here, Demi. Like right now."
"What exactly are you trying to say with that?" I asked, a bit confused, and still trying to at least stable him. "Can't you see how hurt you are? Sit right here, key me get someone to address your..."
"No! He screamed all of a sudden, his eye wide and wild. "Don't try to call anyone! Especially not anyone like Ethan."
I froze, completely taken aback. "Why?"
He shook his head, going ahead to scare me even the more. "They are not resting. I would want you to know that you are not safe this time around."