EMELIAThe anticipated moment is here, party moment. As Disney tunes burst through my dance studio where the children's portion of Halloween is being held, I can't help but smile a little more. I wasn't planning on hosting a kids Halloween party but I realized most of my associates have children, and so do my siblings. Grace helped me plan the party, while Aurora, Deborah and Sienna dedicated their hearts to making the children's party memorable. The kids get to go trick or treating around the block with supervision of one grown-up per four kids or a slightly older child. “Emelia, hi.” Estelle calls out once again, for the sixth time since she arrived which is one too many times than I would like to associate with her. “Yes, how can I help you Estelle?”“I came to check in on the children and Layla wasn't happy to see me.” she signs to her costume. The cheerleader costume she has on now stained with chocolate. “I need to clean up.”“Err, sure. You know the bathroom I showed you earl
CAELUMHangovers the night after Halloween are next level for me, my head feels like shit, heavy shit. My eyes flicker open, falling shut every time I try to study my surroundings. Turning to my side I groan in annoyance, my eyes feel nearly as heavy as my head. My weary eyes flicker open, as I prop myself up, that's when I note some things, one I'm not alone and two, I'm naked. My nakedness doesn't startle me but when I see Scarlett next to me. She must be drunk to, but- my mind takes a pause, backtracking what I just saw.Naked, Scarlett.Scarlett? naked? Shit! No, no.I messed up, I must have really fucked up last night. My God, Aurora is not going to like this. How the hell did I end up with Scarlett? I remember being so drunk after the after-party at Eva's home and Cassian or was it Bishop telling me we had to leave. I can't discern who it was but that's not an issue right now, the issue is that I slept with Scarlett. No, no, I couldn't have, maybe she's naked because she was ver
CASSIANI'm waiting in the car outside Caelum's house with the company driver when he rushes to the car, hardly dressed and nervous. My gaze falls from his shirtless chest to the pants and gucci slides on his feet. “We have a policy about dress code.” I tell him.“I know.” he sighs, “Just give me a minute and ill be down.”“Are you doing alright?” I scan him, this isn't like him. He would have hit me with some banter after my comment on dress code.He nods, running his hand through his hair. “No, I did something. Something I don't consciously reckon but.. Umm, I'll tell you in the car.” he tells, stepping back. “five minutes!” he yells, looking over his shoulder as he enters the house once more.His behavior this morning is not like him but I put a pin on it for now, I have my suspicions, it could only either work or Aurora. Those are the only things that ever stress Caelum out, aside from those two? Nothing phases him to a state of mental disorientation. I shift my attention back to
AURORAThe fourth box of yellow roses I've received today is sitting on my coffee table, staring at me, taunting me, and honestly, the scent is becoming nauseating to me. I can't stand to look at the damn flowers, Caelum thinks he's trying to do right with them but he's merely reminding me of the problem I won't face. I cried when he left my apartment and after I was done, I thought back to it. He says he cheated but no he didn't, if anything he cheats on Scarlett with me and yet I'm infuriated.At least I've gotten a break today, he said he had some work to do and I've not heard from him since morning but the flowers keep on coming, and well, at least they come with chocolates. Olivia and I are binge watching her favorite series, while Layla plays with Everleah in her room.“Try this one,” Olivia extends her hand, offering me a piece of chocolate. “It tastes like those blue cheap drinks we used to pretend were hard liquor.”I take the chocolate and nod, spitting it out after tasting
EMELIA AGE EIGHTEENI have one job, teach the beginner dancer. And two rules, one; see nothing, hear nothing even if I've seen it and number two; don't get subjective with the girls. Yet somehow, I manage to break the rules and go out of my job inscription. My brother's friend Ryker found me this job, maybe that's why I never get in trouble for wandering in places I'm not to be in or worse, getting friendly with the girls.There's a new girl here, I'm used to them having new girls but something about this one worries me a lot. I was on tour with some dancers up until two weeks ago, that's when I noticed her. I was told she's been here for five months now, and they've not been able to break her in. They're extensively training and torturing her in bdsm, she's easily become a favorite for masochistic men. Not only because she cries and protests, but because she's pretty, very pretty. Even with the bruises and dry tangled up hair you can tell she's beautiful.She wasn't thrown into my cl
EMELIAI've never been this scared of anything in my life, not knowing what to expect has me on the edge. I'm suffocating, hardly breathing as I wait in the hospital for my brother. My mother and sisters are hysterically crying, Bishop is pacing around with his phone and I'm quivering in Ryker's arms.Cassian appears, making us all her off our seats. Behind him a stretcher comes, and I don't need to look closer to know it's my brother on it. “Emilio.” I nearly scream, wiggling out of Ryler's hold. I scramble to the stretcher, alongside my mother and Sienna. Caelum is hardly conscious, struggling to keep his eyes open yet he smirks at me. “Hey, don't be a cry baby.” he tells Sienna.“My brave son, who did this to you?” mom asks.“It's for a good cause.” he coughs, blood sputtering out his mouth. I can't breathe, the lump in my throat grows bigger now, and when he looks at me, I break. I cry harder, unable to control my sobs. His hand squeezes mine and he coughs once more, “If I don't m
AURORAThe nurse overdosed Caelum.Well, I don't know but his heart is still beating but half of me fears I've lost him. I've lost Caelum once before and I don't want to lose him ever again, the anguish I feel when he's not with me is too much to bare and now, sitting here on the bed beside Caelum, I can't help but bleed my heart out at the thought of losing him. I've lost a part of him, a part of me and that's more than enough, I want none of it gone again. I've visited the hospital chapel twice already, I've said every prayer I could think of, all faith I've ever hard hangs on to Caelum's life. I've begged him, cried to him, and if God does hear my cries, let him heal Caelum. I have no complaints from all the times I cried out to him but this once, I want an answer clear as day.Cassian is hovering me like I'm the patient, and it makes me worry more so. Everyone else left already, the doctor said only one person could stay and Scarlett saw it fit for that person to be her. I couldn'
CAELUMThe hospital chose to keep me under observation under mom's request. I stayed to ease her worries, if not I would be back to work, or tinkering weak for Aurora's attention.“I love you.” I whisper to her, watching her sleep on the bed. It's been two days, I get minor headaches and my arm right hurts, I've been told to not overwork it but it's my favorite of late, I am both left and right handed but my right touched Aurora better. She came over as soon as she dropped Layla off at school, we had been talking nearly all night so I know she hardly slept. Looking at her now I feel contend, like I have my old Aurora back.The bed was swapped out for a bigger one by the physician because every time Aurora walks in, I want her laying next to me. The door to hospital room opens, revealing my sister on the other end, with a bouquet of flowers. “Hey,” she faintly smile, walking past me to set the flowers in a vase. “From mom.” she tells me, her gaze shifting to Aurora on the bed. I see a