CHAPTER SEVEN
“Aeras, my dear,” their father started as they sat down for breakfast.
Aeras looked up at their father with a bright smile Thalassa could not find so early in the morning. But- somehow, her sister always managed to be so cheery. “What is it, papa?”
“You’re turning six and twenty soon, my dear child,” he continued. “What would you like for your birthday?”
It hadn’t taken Aeras a moment to answer as her mother filled her plates with food. “Nothing, papa. To be with my family is enough of a gift for me,”
Mr. Haskell was not the bit shock at his daughter’s answer for Aeras had always been like that. She had asked for nothing. She was quite the humble lady that no one could have hated even during the time where their name had taken a stain- a stain that even now, they could not remove.
Suddenly, Thalassa perked up and Aeras turned to her, awaiting whatever her sister was going to say. And when a devilish smile graced the younger one’s lip, Aeras suddenly felt afraid to hear what it was.
“Papa?” Thalassa called and her father quickly turned to her with a loving smile. “Why don’t we throw a ball for Aeras’s celebration?”
Mr. Haskell could not hide his shock at his younger daughter’s suggestion for mingling with the crowd was not something Thalassa would do if she had a choice. But- since she suggested it, Mr. Haskell decided to humor her.
Mrs. Haskell quickly agreed to the idea, expressing her excitement in finally welcoming people in their home once more for the last ball they had hosted was many years ago.
Aeras let out a relief sigh as Thalassa’s suggestion seemed normal enough for a celebration. But- when she looked up at her sister once more, she knew the younger one was not done still as the smile never left her lips.
And when she opened her mouth to speak, Aeras did not know what to feel.
“And we should also invite the prince, do you not think so, mamma?” Thalassa suggested innocently but Aeras had heard the hint her sister was throwing.
And their mother, unsuspecting of Thalassa’s main objective, agreed wholeheartedly. Aeras turned to her, wide-eyed that she did not even suspect her sister a bit. The youngest Haskell gave her sister a winning smile across the table- a smile that lit up her face and brought out her childish charms.
“It will also be a good chance to rekindle your friendship with him, dear Aeras,” their father added which earned a shock from Thalassa. She raised her brow in silent question to Aeras before she turned to their father and voiced it out.
Their father chuckled as he remembered Thalassa had no idea about Aeras and the prince. So, he started his tale. The Haskells and the royalties were close family friends. Aeras, as the only child of the Haskells at the time, was always with Prince Nicholas who was separated from his cousins.
So, the two had quickly bonded with each other. And the adult could not have denied that the two were quite connected. The prince would often get in trouble for running out of the palace just to play with Aeras.
But- after years of friendship, the Haskells were forced to hide away when Thalassa was born for she was no ordinary child. She would get sick when under the sun and she found comfort from things people would normally be afraid off.
“I was the reason?” Thalassa asked in shock before she turned to her sister and apologized sincerely.
Aeras gave her a warm smile that lit up the room. “There is no need to apologize, my dear sister. I may have lost a friend but I have gained a family. And that is all that matters to me, Thalassa,”
“Then!” Thalassa exclaimed. “We must really invite the prince to the ball,”
The three laughed at her but Thalassa had witnessed the faint redness of her sister’s cheeks. And the decision to invite the royalties was agreed upon with no arguments. A ball at the Haskell Manor was going to be the talk of the town- for after all, the family had isolated themselves for years.
And now- that they were willingly opening their doors, people would be dying to receive an invitation. Not only to celebrate Aeras’s birthday but also to see the youngest daughter that tainted the prestigious and reputable name of the Haskells.
~oOo~
The ten-years old Thalassa ran around the forest; enjoying the day as the sun hid behind some dark clouds. It was rare for her to be out in the open while the sun was still up in its throne. So, she planned to enjoy it to the best.
She laughed as birds tweeted around her. The sound of leaves rustling in the branches of the tree as the wind blew was music to her ears. The grasses danced around her feet as she closed her eyes and let nature take over her body.
But- suddenly, the peacefulness Thalassa had with nature was disrupted by a shrill voice that commanded her to stop. Opening her eyes, the little child turned around to see Penny glaring at her. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she stomped her left foot irritated-ly at the younger child.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I do not want to be out here! This place is scary!” Penny shrieked.
Thalassa furrowed her brows at the older child. She had not asked Penny to come out with her. To be honest, she had liked it more when she was alone. So, why was she blaming her?
“But- I did not ask you to come with me,” she reasoned but Penny only rolled her eyes at her.
Then, she uncrossed her arms and walked towards Thalassa in a predatory manner. But- her lack of knowledge about the deadly arts failed her as Thalassa, who knew so much about it, did not noticed that the older one was trying to be scary.
“You may not have but your parents did. And it’s your entire fault! You are a freak for wanting to be out here!”
Thalassa gasped as Penny called her a freak. She was not. She knew she was not. Aeras told her she was not. Her father and mother told her she was not. Yet- here was one person, a person she did not even know well, was calling her a freak.
Without a word, Thalassa jumped towards the older child and started to strike her. Penny’s eyes grew in shock and fear as she felt Thalassa’s anger. So, she raised her hands to shield herself and closed her eyes to wait for the coming pain.
But- moments passed when nothing happened. So, she opened her eyes and saw Thalassa frozen in her state. Her hand raised as she prepared to attack but somehow- she managed to stop herself from doing so. She knew Aeras would not have liked it if she found out she had hurt someone.
“Do not call me a freak,” she warned in clipped tone before she ran away from the only person who brought out the bad in her.
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