Indifference::Meeting the Family.4

Chapter four:)

The pregnant woman who was watering the flowers walked up to the car and tapped on the glass after seeing my moment. I didn’t want to turn my head to look at her. Didn’t want to move. I just wanted to curl up and die, and be with my father. Can a monster like me even make it to Heaven? It hurt so bad that I might never see him again…

Metri looked up at the woman for a moment, but I didn’t see if he mouthed anything at her. I was spaced out; staring at nothing. He then looked back down at me with a worried expression on his face, "We need to go now, Ailee. They’ve prepared a party for you…" he muttered something to himself then got out of the car and walked around to my side.

Like the gentleman he is, ha, I make myself laugh a little bit, he opened my door and motioned for me to get out of the car. But I didn’t move, or even turn around to face him. I was scared. "What are you waiting for? You got to get out of the car sometime.

I was silent for a few moments, but he didn’t get impatient. He knew how I could be. He knew me. But, I knew nothing about him. "Are all of them like you?" I asked him. I hoped I hadn’t come off rudely, but I needed to know. I was already frightened enough.

"And like you," was his simple reply.

I hesitated, then looked at him. I could see care in his eyes. I decided I needed to trust him. I turned around and held out my hand, which he took and helped me get out of the vehicle. I shook with fear, but kept telling myself that nothing worse could happen. This was as bad as it was going to get. But how could I fool myself? I knew very well I was a liar.

Metri and I walked hand in hand to the front door, which was white with lovely flowers of different kinds growing in pots on each side of it. I shut my eyes and swallowed my pride, expecting the worst. But, what I saw seemed surprisingly normal. Not many people, a few women, quite a few more men, all dressed up in their finest clothes. I felt underdressed next to them all. Many of the women carried around wine glasses filled to the brim with a dark red liquid. I refused to think of what it probably was. Many decorations were set up on the tables next to the…punch.

I was greeted first be the pregnant woman. She had surprisingly had time to change into a very beautiful cocktail dress. She had slightly frizzy shoulder length brown hair and very pale golden eyes. Her face was very pale, but powdered with bright red blush. "Welcome Ailee!" she smiled, obviously not shy of the fact I might faint from seeing the size of her fangs, "I’ve heard such things about you!" she had a thick accent. It sounded European. Transylvanian maybe?

"I’m Riata!" she said and smile again, "And this is Pheenix," she pointed to one side of her belly, then the other, "and Vynis." I looked once again at her dress and noticed that it was long sleeved and the sleeves were tied down with many colors of ribbon. I wanted to ask why, but I didn’t. Soon she saw one of her friends and ran to her excitedly. How could she be so happy? I was having trouble grasping the concept of anything seeming happy like this…

I was next met by a little girl, only six or seven years old. But she had a sad face…like a little girl who had to grow up far before her time. She had on a short polka dotted dress with buttons on the sleeves. A few were missing though, as if they’d been ripped off. She stared at me for a few moments then smiled a little bit and held her hand out to shake mine. "I am Dimien. Welcome home, Ailee." I released her hand and she skipped away. I didn’t know how many more people I could take meeting.

I searched for a place to hide out until the party ended. I finally decided on going into a room that appeared to be the entrance to a basement. The staircase was tall and steep, and in some places narrow. The room reminded me of a dungeon in a castle. It seemed like there was no way out. After almost loosing my footing once or twice, I made it to the bottom without injury.

When I stepped on solid ground I noticed a boy, about my age or maybe a little older, huddled in the corner. He was making strange, painful sounding noises, then sighing. It was a sound that made me think of when my father used to do drugs. He’d shoot them into his veins and make those strange sounds. He quit for me and mother, but she betrayed us anyway. I really missed him…

After a moment I recognized what looked like bat wings growing from his back. I gasped, and he pricked his ears, which were also like a bats. I wondered where I’d actually stumbled into, until he turned around. He looked completely normal, minus the obvious. He had short, messy, black hair that strayed in front of his face in places. His golden eyes were bright; piercing. Suddenly he shot into the air and the gusts his wings kicked up knocked me off my feet. "Who are you?!" he demanded.

"I’m sorry!" I squeaked and curled into a ball covering my head with my arms, "I’m new here! I didn’t think anyone was down here…" So much for hiding… "Don’t hurt me please!"

He laughed at me. For moments. Just laughed. "I’m sorry I startled you. You frightened me…I suppose I got defensive." He tucked his wings and ears back against him and floated somewhat gracefully to the cold stone floor. Him? Frightened? This was a backwards world… He walked up to me, still a heap on the floor, and stretched his arm out to help me up, "I’m Ithic. Pleasant to meet you!" he smiled and helped me back onto my feet. I nodded, but didn’t say anything about his bat-like features. I didn’t want him to get defensive again.

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and soon heard Metri’s voice, "Ailee!"

"She’s down here!" Ithic spoke for me.

"Well hurry up and get upstairs! Mesai’s here!"

Author's Note

I think this one is longer than the others. I hope you like!