Post by HerWhisperIsTheLucifer on May 21, 2015 15:45:17 GMT -5
If Only…
It was a rather extravagant and luxurious mansion, one that belonged to the oldest living member of the Krave family, 87 year old Bethany Krave. Bethany had been disabled in her life by going blind in one eye and deaf in her right ear and, just one short month ago, had found out she was dying. She had known this for a long time and also knew that the fateful trip to the doctor’s would only tell her what she already knew. The doctor, trying to be as gentle as possible when telling her, said in a soft tone, “Madame, I see this problem frequently in the elderly, particularly women. It is just something that happens to people of your age, and it is not something you should feel bad or devastated about…” She interrupted him by grabbing her purse and standing, her head held high in the air. “My good doctor, if you are trying to tell me that my body is failing me and I am dying, I already know such things.”
The doctor, who’s name was George Bridgette, blinked in bewilderment, for he had never seen the old woman act in such a way before. “Y-Yes madame… You are a strong woman and have the right attitude towards this.”
Bethany nodded, her nose still in the air in an ignorant fashion, “Of course I do. I always have the right attitude towards everything. When I lost my sister to cancer twenty five years ago, I did not weep. When my husband simply passed from old age twenty two years ago, I did not cry. When I lost my young niece to a murderer by the name of Markus Waldstein twenty years ago, I did not sob. I will most certainly do none of those things today, sir. I have held it out this far and I will continue to do so.”
Doctor Bridgette blinked again. “Right… Well, because of your current condition, you need someone to take care of you at home. Do you have anyone who can and will do this?”
The elderly, frail woman looked up at the ceiling and thought this over before nodding. “Yes, I reckon that I do.”
“And who might that be?”
“My great niece, if that is what you want to call her. Lizzy Lu, the daughter of the niece I lost so long ago.” And so our story begins.
“Aunt Betty,” Twenty year old Lizzy shouted once she stepped foot into the mansion, “Where are you?”
“Aunt Betty” was the name given to old Bethany Krave by her great niece as a sign of affection. “In here, darling!” She could hardly yell, but she did her best to answer the apple of her eye. Lizzy followed the sound of her dying aunt’s voice, looking into the parlor. She saw her great aunt sitting in a huge chair, her head resting against the back of it as if she had had the most tiring day of her life, when it was only eight o’clock in the morning. She knew the chair Bethany now sat in had belonged to the great uncle who had passed away only two years before she was born. “Hello, Aunt Betty. How are you feeling today? Any worse or better?” Bethany stayed silent and said nothing to this.
Lizzy blinked, taking out the picnic basket she used to carry food to her most beloved aunt. “I brought you some of my blueberry scones I know you like so much to celebrate the new year. I can’t believe it’s almost 1973 already.”
“It’ll be twenty one years since your birth… And your parents’ deaths.”
Lizzy paused for a moment, her eyes staring at the pale blue wallpaper of the parlor, before setting a blueberry scone on a plate for her aunt. “Yes, that is right… But don’t think about that now. Eat.” She tried to hand Aunt Betty the scone, but she politely declined. “No… No, thank you. It is impolite to tell a story with your mouth full.” “Huh?”
“Sit down, child,” She patted the seat across from her, “I am going to tell you the story of your parents and how they were murdered by the hands of the ones they trusted, all when you were just an infant.”
“My… Parents? Why this all of a sudden?”
Lizzy quickly shut her mouth when her gaze fell onto her aunt, looking so frail and exhausted in her rather big chair. As she gently held her hand, she understood. “Alright auntie,” She hadn’t called her that since she was a very young girl, but she remembered what happiness it brought her, “Tell me about the people I have only been able to dream of. Make them a reality for me.”
Aunt Betty let a soft but sad smile curl her lips up as she began to talk quietly.
It was a sunny but cold morning on November 15th, 1952 in London, England. A young, pretty soul awoke in her bed, yawning and sighing to herself. She lived in the same mansion that this story was being told in, but today was the day she would be leaving her home for a month with her aunt.
She belonged to the illustrious Krave family, one of the wealthiest families in all of England. There was a gentle knock on her door and her maid, Vivian called to her through the door. “Miss Senna, you must get up now! Your aunt is waiting!” Vivian was an old woman about the same age as her aunt, if not a few years older. She had little patience for anything anymore, though perhaps she never had any patience ever in her life. She had grown up in a poor household with a brother who was always off in his own little world, a mother who was scared of her own shadow, and a drunk of a father who enjoyed beating his family for fun. Much to her annoyance, her mother refused to stand up to him, and this eventually led to her death when the usual, nightly beating went too far. Her father, thank God, died of alcohol poisoning.
By the age of thirteen, young, orphaned Vivian parted ways with her brother and never saw him again, living a strong and independent life. At the age of fifty she applied for the position of maid at the Krave Manor and was hired. That was nearly seventeen years ago.
Senna, the young lady who had just woken up, stood and opened the door, causing Vivian’s eyes to widen. “My God… You aren’t even dressed yet! Hurry up, girl, hurry up! You know how cross your aunt gets sometimes when things don’t go her way… I would prefer not to face her wrath today, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes yes, I know, Vivian. I would never make you face such a thing by yourself.” She quickly threw on a soft, baby blue dress along with a white button up sweater and white scarf. She grabbed black high heels and put them on over her white, unnoticeable tights. “How do I look, Vivian?”
“Fine, fine… Now go before your aunt gets upset with me! I mean… Us.”
Senna nodded and grabbed her beautiful fur coat before running down the grand and beautiful staircase that led to all of the rooms upstairs. As she reached the last step, she realized that she had not done her hair and turned around to go back, only to see Vivian behind her. “Walk,” She said, a brush in her hands, “Turn around and walk.” Senna did so, Vivian brushing her hair and putting it in a bun with a pretty blue ribbon. “There. Should be acceptable for your aunt, and if she doesn’t like it, she can kiss my sharries.” Vivian did not believe in cursing and had never done so in her life before, despite growing up the way she did. It was because of this that she substituted words in place of the curse word or made up her own. Senna giggled like a schoolgirl, despite having graduated two years ago, and hugged Vivian. “Oh Vivi… Sometimes I love you.” The maid looked at her and cocked her right eyebrow, “Only sometimes?”
Both women smile, but Vivian’s fades as she sees Senna’s aunt, Bethany. “Vivian,” She sighs, frowning and frustrated, “Please stop distracting Senna so we can go.” “Yes, Miss… I apologize sincerely, Miss.” She bowed, causing Senna to giggle again. Just a minute ago, her loyal maid had acted so tough when speaking of her aunt… Now look at her. Practically cowering in fear at the sight of her. “You’re silly, Vivi.”
Her maid rolled her eyes at her playfully, “Oh hush now and go get into the car.”
Senna did so, but not before hugging her dear friend with a lovely smile on her face. “I’ll see you in a month, okay? Stay out of trouble.”
“I will do my best.”
With that, Bethany Krave pulled her young niece outside and into their Rolls-Royce car, which sped off as soon as the doors were shut. “Oh, Aunt Bethany… Why must I spend a month in that stuffy, old Lu Manor? I do not care about the grudge between our two families, I shouldn’t have to go! I’ll be twenty by the time we get back…”
“Senna, this is a very serious matter, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t treat it like a joke. You need to attend this little… Get together because you are part of the younger Krave generation. It is essential for you to understand how important this Grudge is.”
She nearly laughed at this, “Aunt Bethany, you can’t be serious. This Grudge itself is a joke! It started so long ago…”
“Which is exactly why we are going to resolve it now. This has gone on long enough, and you will help make the Great Grudge disappear into thin air.”
“But I don’t want any part of this… The Grudge is between you elders, I have nothing to do with it!”
“I bet you don’t even know how the Great Grudge started.”
“Oh, Aunt Bethany… Please not this again.”
The head of the Krave family sat up straight as she began to tell the story of how two families came to hate each other to death. “Back in 1765, two boys from different families met while walking the streets of London and became great friends. Their names were Sebastian Krave and Sylvester Lu. For many years, the two enjoyed and looked forward to each other’s company… That is, until the Revolutionary War broke out in America. Both boys, now turned men, went to fight… But Sebastian fought for America while Sylvester fought for Britain. Both men accused the other of being traitors and the two families have been raging ever since.”
“Oh come on, Aunt Bethany… That was nearly two hundred years ago! Our families have kept a grudge for that long?”
“Yes… Some have even forgotten how the Grudge initially started.”
“Then there is no point in carrying it on. Can’t we just forgive, forget, and let this go?”
“That is what we’re doing, dearest. We are leaving our most beloved home for a month to resolve this issue. You will help us do so.”
She sighs and nods tiredly, “Yes, Aunt Bethany. Whatever you say, Aunt Bethany.”
“Good girl. Now sit back, relax, and wait patiently for us to get to the Lu Manor.”
Senna leaned her head back against the seat, her minty green eyes watching the various buildings zoom by as the Rolls-Royce drove her towards her death.
Lu Manor was a grand, old looking mansion that had been built back in 1777, When Sylvester Lu returned home from the war. He had built the manor when his French wife, Angelique had gotten pregnant and the two were just starting their lives together.
The paved driveway was in the shape of a circle. In the center of it, a beautiful fountain made out of marble streamed crystal clear water, surrounded by white rose bushes. The manor itself was made entirely of brick and was three stories high. Senna chuckled a bit at this. The manor that she called home was four stories, and she often thought that it was too small… How funny this all seemed to her. The windows shone and reflected light beautifully, making the manor look rather magnificent in all of it’s glory.
As the Rolls-Royce slowed to a halt in front of the crimson front door of the Lu Manor, Senna let out a deep and long sigh. What awaited her here, she did not know. Perhaps she would befriend one of the Lu’s and show everyone else how stupid this Grudge was…? This was highly unlikely, for her aunt would not approve of such a thing… It was idiotic, really.
It seemed that everyone, no matter which family they belonged to, wanted to resolve the conflict, yet no one was willing to take the first leap of action. Senna came to the conclusion that she had to be the one to do it, no matter what… And she would not disappoint.
Climbing out of the car, Senna noticed that the front door had been opened by an elderly, African American maid who looked about as happy as she did. She briefly wondered about this woman, but her thoughts were interrupted by her aunt getting out of the car and falling. She quickly caught her, beating the gentleman of a driver to it. “Oh auntie… You must learn to be careful.”
“I have already learned to do so, Senna, but it is my damn age catching up to me!”
The maid, who had been in the doorway just a few seconds ago, was now at old Bethany’s side, offering a hand to her. “No no,” Bethany said, standing up and brushing off her dress, “I’m fine.”
“Are you certain, miss? That could have been a nasty fall if your young travel partner hadn’t caught you.”
“I’m alright, really… Please just… Show us to our rooms.”
The maid did so, Showing them upstairs to the West hallway and to the last two doors. “Every member of the Krave family will be in the West and South halls. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just holler.”
“Will do, dear, will do.” Bethany always called someone who was younger than her “dear,” even if it was only a year younger. She was a peculiar old woman like that.
“Am I allowed to rest now, Aunt Bethany? Or do we have an event to go to right away?”
“Oh, go to sleep and quit your torturous whining. I’ll wake you for dinner.”
She nods and goes into her room after hugging her, “Thank you, auntie.”
Four hours went by before Bethany woke her young niece from her beauty sleep at exactly five o’clock. “Dinner time, dearest. Wake up and be down in the dining room in five minutes.” She left the room, Senna still a bit dazed by her aunt’s sudden touch. After about three minutes, she was finally awake enough to get up, put her sweater on and start to make her way to the dining room… But there was only one problem: She had no idea where it was.
She assumed that, like the Krave Manor, the room for dining in was on the first floor, for that was the only sensible place. Why make the servants walk up the stairs with your food just because you were simply too ignorant to put it on the bottom floor? It was a cruel thing to do as an employer.
Finding herself lost, for the manor was bigger than it looked, she decided to follow a man she knew was a Lu due to the fact that she had never seen him before. She followed him down quite a few stairs and onto the first floor, but was displeased to see another young man greet the one she was following. “Hey Lesperance,” He said, slapping him on his back playfully, “I see you have a pretty little friend following you. Please do, if you don’t mind, introduce me to her.”
The man she had been following, whose name appeared to be Lesperance, turned and met her gaze, causing her to blush slightly and speak shyly. “I… I didn’t mean to bother you. I was just… Wondering where the dining room is.”
Lesperance was about to say something when his friend spoke up, “Well, we don’t know either. We haven’t ever been here before.”
“But… You’re Lus, are you not?”
“Lesperance is, but I’m not. The name is Markus Waldstein,” He held his hand out to her, “Holocaust survivor, and a damn good looking one at that. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, um…” She took his hand and gently shook it, “The pleasure is mine. My name is Senna Krave.”
“I’m Lesperance Lu,” The other man said shyly, “Hi.”
Senna nodded to the both of them, “Well, since neither of us know where the dining room is, let’s go and get lost together.”
Markus grinned a rather devilish and mischievous grin, “I love the sound of that, my dear.”
“Oh lay off, Markus,” Lesperance shoved him aside playfully, “She is a Krave and will not mingle with the likes of a Waldstein.”
“Oh right, but she’ll mingle with a Lu? You two are supposed to act as enemies towards each other from the time you are born to the time of your death.”
Senna sighs, “The Grudge does not matter to me. It’s quite idiotic. I shouldn’t even have to be here…”
“I agree,” Markus and Lesperance say in unison, causing Senna to giggle. She found that when a guy had a best friend that he could not be separated from cute. She held her arms out to them, “Well then… Let’s go.”
Lesperance took her hand gently and almost got lost in how soft her skin was, sighing happily, which caused Markus to push them along and chuckle to himself. It would be ten minutes before they actually found the dining room.
All at once, the heads of those at the table shot up once they heard the door opening. The three stood there with all eyes on them, suddenly being very aware of the differences in their family names. Bethany stood angrily, shaking the table slightly so you could see her soup swaying in her bowl. “Senna Faisal Krave,” She shouted, approaching her terrified niece, “What the hell are you doing with a Lu?!”
“Well… I thought that the purpose of this trip was to resolve the grudge, so… I’m resolving it.”
“You get away from them right now before I disown you!”
Stunned, Senna now realized what a hypocrite her aunt was… But she had to obey like a dog obeying its master, for she was still a Krave and wanted to remain one for the entirety of her life.
“Y-Yes, auntie… It will not happen again, auntie.”
Markus scoffs lightly, “This horrible woman is your aunt? My my, I’ve heard stories about Bethany Krave… Your life must be a living hell.”
Bethany smirks at him, seemingly unbothered by his insults, “You are not a Lu… Who are you?”
Markus lets a slight, cocky grin appear on his lips as he bows, “Markus Waldstein at your service, milady.”
She slaps him as hard as she could, which causes his eyes to widen and a hand go up to the reddening spot on his cheek. “You… You hit me…” “And for a good reason, too. You must learn to speak with respect towards a Krave, especially when you belong to a low class family like Waldstein.”
“You hit me…” Markus began to whimper, causing Lesperance to nearly throw himself onto his friend in order to embrace him. “It’s okay, Markus… It’s alright. You’re out of there now and you never have to go back.”
Bethany blinks, a bored expression on her face. “What’s wrong with him?”
“When Markus was ten, he was taken to Auschwitz. He witnessed many horrors there, including the death of his parents and sister. That’s why we took him in; Because he had no one to go to… Except a brother, but he was separated from him when the camp was liberated and hasn’t seen him since.”
“I fail to see how my slapping him has brought back memories of such a place.”
“It was the last thing his father ever did to him.” Markus whimpers but Lesperance pays this no mind, “His parents were being led away to the gas chambers but at the age of ten you don’t really understand things like that. He wanted to go with them, unaware of the fate that awaited them there, and…” “He slapped me,” Markus finished, “On my right cheek… I know he was trying to protect me, but… I never saw him again.”
“Well… As much as I want to feel sorry for you, I am afraid that I am unable to.”
“I’m not asking for your sympathy… I don’t want anything from you, you wretched hag. Whatever you could offer me would be filled with dust and cobwebs… Kind of like your-”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Lesperance leads him away, “You must learn to hold your tongue, my dear friend.”
As they exited the dining room, their dinner left untouched, Senna wondered about them… Lesperance especially.
After dinner, no one stayed around to talk… They all went to their rooms immediately. Senna suspected that the conversation between Lesperance, Markus, and her dear Aunt Bethany had put everyone on edge. She slowly began to make her way back to her room… If she could even find it again. “Let’s see… It was the East hall right…? Yes, that must surely be it!”
She was, admittedly, a little sad that her aunt hadn’t stayed to walk her to her room, though she could understand. Bethany was still fuming from the insults she had both given and received and it was best not to be around her when she was angry.
As she walked to what she thought was her room, her thoughts began to take over her mind. She wondered many things, and some of them would prove to be fatal. She went to the last door on the East hall and opened it, though she realized almost instantly that the room before her wasn’t hers. First off, this room had a bathroom attached to it and she could hear the shower running. On the bed, Lesperance lay shirtless, his gaze going from the gold and crimson ceiling to her. “Oh… Hey, Senna. Do you need something?”
“Oh, no… I’m sorry, I just got lost.”
He chuckles and slowly stands, walking towards her. She couldn’t help but drop her gaze to his pelvis, which had the desired “V” carved into it. She was at a loss for words as he spoke to her, “You and your getting lost.” “This is only the second time.” “And that is one too many. The Lu’s are in the East and North halls… Surely you knew that?” She suddenly remembers the African American maid’s words: “All members of the Krave family are in the South and West halls. If you need anything, just holler.” “Oh god… I’m so sorry, Lesperance! I promise to make it up to you somehow.”
“No need for that,” He blushed gently, “Just… Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Somehow, she felt he longed for her to accidentally stumble upon his room again.
“Yes, sir.”
Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open and there stood Markus, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. While speaking to Lesperance, Senna hadn’t noticed that the shower had shut off. “Hey, have you seen my pants? I can’t-” He stopped once he saw Senna, who shrieked and averted her eyes. “Well, hello there.” “I-I was just leaving…!” She began to quickly walk away, but ran into the African American maid from before. “Oh, hello, Miss Senna. I heard something so I thought I’d come check here… Why are you in the Lu section of the manor?”
“I got lost…” She hung her head in shame.
“Oh… Well, that is alright. Where were you trying to go?”
She sighs gently, “My room. Oh, please don’t tell my aunt about this… She’ll be so furious.”
“I understand, Miss. Come on now, let me take you back to your room.” She began to lead her away and Senna muttered a “Thank you” as she looked back at Lesperance, her stomach churning inside of her.
They eventually reached her room on the other side of the manor, Senna feeling sorry that she had made the elderly woman walk all that way. Then again, she was a maid and was probably used to it. “Here you are, dear. Have a good night, milady.” “Wait…!”
She stopped and looked at her curiously, “Yes? What is it?”
“I just… Realized that I don’t know your name.”
“Oh, I see… It’s Lo.”
“Lo… Beautiful name. So simple and so gorgeous at the same time.”
She smiles and nods. “Now if that is all, Miss… Goodnight.”
“Lo, there is something else I wanted to ask you before you left…”
“Alright… Ask away.”
“Tell me about Lesperance Lu. I mean… Who is he?”
“Well… Sir Lesperance was born twenty years ago in Angelique Manor, which is where he currently lives. His mother left his father when he was three, so he has very little memory of her. He is third in line for taking control of the Lu family, behind his father and grandfather. He has been friends with Markus Waldstein ever since the boy left Auschwitz. They rely on each other for strength, friendship, and attention. Without each other, neither boy would be noticed. Lesperance’s father is always too busy to notice his son and his grandfather lives here, so he hardly ever gets to see him. As you learned at dinner, Markus has no living relatives except his brother, but he has no idea where he is. That is why the two always stay together.”
“Hmm… You seem to sympathize with them.”
“Miss Senna, I delivered Sir Lesperance because the doctor couldn’t make it in time. I raised and took care of him, as is the custom with wealthy families. Leave the babies and children to the maid… Typical. I held him in my arms as he cried over the loss of his mother, trying desperately to comfort him. I gave markus a warm welcome when the Lu family took him in and I watched the two grow up together without any love or attention, except for what they could give each other. So yes… I do sympathize with them, for I consider them both my own sons.”
“If you did all of that, why are you here? If they still currently live in Angelique Manor, you shouldn’t be here at the Lu Manor.”
She looked away for a brief moment before looking back to her, “I was transferred here two years ago to take care of his dying grandfather… I’m still adjusting.”
“Oh, I’m sorry… It must be so hard for you.”
“It is, but… My job is not to complain, so… I’ll leave you to the rest of your evening.”
“Thank you, Lo. If you ever need anything… Just holler.” She winks, causing a big smile to appear on Lo’s lips. She bowed and spoke to her politely, “Goodnight, Miss Senna.” She walked away from her slowly, causing her old joints great pain. Senna went into her room and gently closed the door, putting her back to it and letting out a long, heavy sigh. The seed of love had been planted inside of her when she first laid eyes on Lesperance… Now she felt it begin to sprout.
The next morning she awoke to birds chirping and sun shining through her window. It had already been one day since she left her home for Lu Manor.
She laid in her bed for a good ten minutes, admiring the beauty of her room, then got up and put on a pink dress with a black belt at the waist. It showed off her figure well, and she added a pink bow to her long, sandy blonde hair and black heels to her petite feet. She looked at her figure in the mirror first then her gaze drifted to her door. She half expected Vivian to knock her gentle, yet demanding knock. She knew this would not happen, so she went down to the diningroom. Markus was there, along with a Krave and three silent Lu’s. She decided to sit between the Krave, who she recognized as her cousin Vanessa, and Lesperance’s dear friend. “Hello,” She said quietly to Markus as Lo brought her some German pancakes. Markus nodded and threw her a side glance, “Good morning, beautiful.” She paid his constant flirting no mind as she began to eat her breakfast.
“Did you sleep well?” Markus asked between bites, “I hope images of my body didn’t interrupt your dreams.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry… My dreams were body-free, thank you very much.”
“Aww,” He sounded playfully disappointed, “Alright then.”
She didn’t speak to him until half of her pancake was in her belly and the others, who had previously been sitting at the table, were gone. “So,” She asked casually, “Where is Lesperance?”
“Taking a shower. He should be down any minute.” He was about to take another bite when he suddenly froze, “Was it images of Lesperance’s body that filled your dreams last night?”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t really remember my dreams…”
Markus chuckles, “Could be anything then.”
As if he were summoned by the mere mention of his name, Lesperance strolled in. “Hello, you two. Is breakfast any good this morning?”
“Oh yes,” Senna smiles, “It’s delightful.”
He nodded, pleased, and took a seat to the left of Senna, making her in the middle of the two boys. “Well, dearest Senna… Do you have any plans later today? Markus and I were going to go down to Lu Lake if you wanted to join us… It’s only a ten minute walk.”
“Alright, that sounds fine. What time?”
“Well… Now, if it’s alright with you.”
She nods, “But if I do have something planned and I miss it, Aunt Bethany will be very cross with me.”
“Oh, to Hell with your aunt,” Markus stood, “She’s a bloody tyrant. You can dodge her for a day, can’t you?”
Senna looked at her syrup coated plate and nodded, “Yes, I suppose so. Just let me go and change into my flats. Heels aren’t exactly the ideal shoe for long walks.” Excusing herself, she began to make her way back to her room. She made sure to tiptoe passed Bethany’s room, feeling that it was better that she didn’t have to face her at all. Grabbing her black flats, which had a bow near the toe of the shoe, she began to hear her aunt's door open, causing her to freeze. She waited five uneventful minutes before deciding that it was okay to continue on. For a brief moment, she wondered if her aunt had seen Markus and Lesperance and questioned them or, worse, argued with them about the other night. Eventually, she built up the courage to run down to the dining room and was relieved to see that only Lesperance lingered there. Curiously, she asks, “Where has Markus gone?” “He went up to the room to fetch his coat. He’ll meet us in the gardens in a few minutes.”
She nods, “Let’s go, then.”
Lesperance stood and offered an arm to her, causing her to blush slightly as she locked their arms together. If my aunt was to see, or anyone else for that matter… She began to walk with him to the gardens, growing more and more aware of the red color her face had become. She remembered what she had promised herself when she had first arrived at Lu Manor…. She had to be the one to take the first leap, for no one else would. This thought caused her to smile softly.
When they finally did arrive at the garden, Markus was already there, waiting impatiently. “Well, well, well… Look at that.” He chuckles, “Lessy and Senna. Which do you like better? Lenna or Sensperance?” “Oh, cut it out!” Lesperance went to go and punch his friend’s arm playfully, but Markus stopped him. “Come, come now, little Lessy… Let’s not keep the young lady waiting. She desires to see Lu Lake, not us fight.”
Lesperance said nothing as he glared at Markus and pulled Senna along, their arms still locked together. Just as they both had said, it took them ten minutes to reach the beautiful, sparkling lake. “Wow… It’s so pretty!” The two young men smiled at each other, for both of them found the girl to be extremely charming, especially when her eyes gleamed with such happiness they themselves never had the pleasure to experience. “I wish I had brought my bathing suit,” Senna pouted, “I did not know there would be an opportunity to swim.” She sat on the edge of the lake, slipping her shoes off and soaking her feet in the cool water.
“Ah, well… That’s alright.” Lesperance smiled, “We can just sit here together and watch the waters flow.”
Markus scoffs lightly, “She can sit with me. Not you.”
“Oh, give me a break! A little Waldstein like you could never hope to be with a Krave!” He flicks his dear friend’s nose and, in return, was tackled by him. The two rolled around like a pair of two playful lion cubs as Senna watched. Eventually, they both ended up on their backs, laughing the whole thing off like they always did. She giggles and gently pokes the waters of Lu Lake with her big toe, watching the ripples grow. She didn’t know it yet, but the ripples would soon symbolize the events after her death. Lesperance was the first to stand, stretching and popping his back quietly. “I think I am going to go back to fetch my bathing suit… The water is too tempting to resist.” “Go ahead. Markus and I will be here.”
As Lesperance began to make his way back to the manor and Markus got closer to her, Senna’s thoughts took over her mind, invading like Napoleon's army. Why did Lessy constantly fill her thoughts and dreams? Why did he never fail at making her feel warm on the inside? Was he even capable of failing at anything? Why did she find herself blushing at his every word? It occurred to her that, if given the chance, she would answer his every beck and call, obey his every command… But why? Her thoughts were interrupted by Markus gently nudging her arm.
“You’re both bloody fools, you and Lessy. Going swimming in the middle of November… What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, it is a relatively warm day for it being the middle of November.”
Markus didn’t even seem to hear her. “Oh, yes, yes… Bloody fools indeed. First you fall in love and now this.” He shook his head in disappointment and dismay, as if he thought that she had potential for so much more.
Senna gripped his shoulder tightly, though not enough to hurt him. “Wait… What do you mean ‘fall in love?’”
“Well, I cannot speak for you, but…” He sighed tiredly, as if the whole thing was just exhausting to him, and laid back on the grass, his hands up and under his head, “...Lesperance has surely taken a liking to you. If I couldn’t tell from the looks he throws you or the way he acts around you, it wouldn’t matter, seeing as how he confessed to me last night. ‘Man, that Krave girl sure is something else...’ At first I just nodded at almost everything he said, only half listening. I started to really pay attention once he said my name in a serious tone. ‘Markus, you’re a good friend, aren’t you? I can trust you?’ Of course I nodded, what else could I do? ‘...Well, I think that I am in love with Senna.’”
By this point, Senna’s hand had shot up to her mouth and her eyes were wide. Markus continued on, but she did not hear him. “You’re… How…? That’s impossible.”
“I wish it was, my innocent young one, I wish it was. What future would have if…? Oh, please do be reasonable, my lovely, and do not fall in love with him back.”
Before Senna could speak, she saw Lesperance approaching. “I decided against swimming. Who does such a thing in the middle of November?”
After that day at the lake, Senna had changed and Bethany noticed. She’d walk around more graceful than before, like a swan, speak in a softer, ladylike tone, and would be caught singing all the time. Bethany kept a close, gestapo-like eye on her young niece. Senna did not seem to notice this, causing her own destruction.
A week after the lake, there was an angry-sounding knock on Senna’s door. She hadn’t been awake for very long, but she already had bright eyes and a polite, gentle voice. “Oh hello Lo,” She said as she opened the door, “What brings you here?”
The African American maid stormed in, throwing her arms in the air. “I cannot and will not tolerate your aunt! How dare she…?”
“What did she do now?”
“She accused me of… Changing you. Ha! The nerve of her… Like I could ever change you! I did not drug you like that crazy old bat thinks… I have barely even touched you! She’s a disgusting woman! Vial! Horrid! Pathetic!”
“Oh Lo… I’m so sorry. I’ll go and speak with her if that is what you want.”
“No,” She snapped, then quickly calmed down, “No. I do not wish her to be cross with you too. She truly is a wretched woman, just like Sir Markus said… Wretched!”
“She has her good moments, I promise you!”
“Well… I have yet to see them, then.”
She sighs gently, “Well… Is breakfast ready yet, Lo?”
“Just about. I’d start making my way down to the dining room if I were you.”
“Why?”
“Just… In case.”
Senna obeyed the lovable maid gladly, watching her own feet as she made her way downstairs. She was surprised when Lo had stayed behind instead of following her. Almost immediately after stepping foot into the dining room, she lost her appetite. Lesperance was there, sitting in his preferred spot. However, when his eyes fell upon her, he stood quickly and smiled. “Milady.”
“Hello Lesperance.” She felt her cheeks flood with a reddish color as she put her hands behind her back, looking away.
“You’re early.”
“Lo told me to come down here. Said breakfast is almost ready.”
“It’s not. Has another… Half hour, at least.”
“Well then. What are you doing down here so early?”
“I um…” He cleared his throat, “Wanted to speak to you, actually.”
Of course. This was all a little plan between him and Lo. “...Alright.” He pulled a chair out for her causing her to smile, sit down, and give a quiet “Thank you.” Her stomach was aflutter with butterflies, her heart beating fast, her throat becoming dry, her face going hot. We’re alone, she thought, Oh god, we’re alone…
“Well, uh… You see…” He gulped, “You are a very beautiful woman, Senna.”
“Thank you.”
“So beautiful, in fact, that I… I…”
“You what? Spit it out.” She already knew.
“I think I am in love with you.”
Despite her knowing this, she still felt a sudden, pleasant rush within her. “I… I’m in love with you too.”
He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little bit, “Good… Good.”
They looked at each other for a while, saying nothing, still holding soft and gentle smiles. Both noticed each other’s lips at the same time. Both longed to feel the softness of them against their own. Both longed for each other.
The First Whisper. The First Kiss. The Deadliest of all Deadly Sins.
“So,” Bethany said, setting down her cup of earl grey tea, “You’ve grown distant these past couple of weeks.”
Senna set her cup down as well, eyes fixed on her aunt, “Distant? What ever do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, young lady. Don’t you play dumb with me.”
Senna refrained from saying anything, busying her mouth with the warm, delicious embrace of her tea that Lo had so politely served her. Seeing this, Aunt Bethany looked to the side, noticing the white roses of the manor’s beautiful garden. “Ahh… How those remind me of your uncle.”
“Why do they remind you of him?”
“On our wedding day, my bouquet was made up entirely of white roses. It was a very white wedding… In fact, I highly doubt any other color was even mentioned by our most beloved guests.”
“I want my wedding to be a white one, too.”
“Oh? And just who are you planning to marry?”
“Well… I don’t really have anyone in mind yet. I’ll find the right man eventually.”
She eyes her, “Perhaps you already have.”
“What? Oh, Aunt Bethany, that’s absurd!”
“No, everything that comes out of your mouth is absurd! Who is it, Senna? Which son of a bitch has caught the eye of my young, innocent flower?”
“No one, auntie! I-”
“Is it someone here? Hmm? Is it… Is it a damned Lu?
She felt her blood turn to ice as her body became a freezing blizzard. Did she know? She’d have to play this very carefully.
“Now why would I ever enter such a disaster-prone relationship? Honestly, do you think I am that stupid?”
“I do not know what you are capable of, nor do I know how your mind works. I do know that you are indeed hiding something from me. I may not know what it is yet, but I assure you, my darling, that I will soon find out.”
“Excuse me,” Senna stood, “I do not desire to be insulted any longer. Good day to you!”
Bethany went to stop her, but Senna pulled away with such ferocity and anger that it scared even her aunt. Once inside, she knew she had succeeded. Bethany would not follow her, which gave her the green light. Also, she had noticed Lo watching nearby and had faith that she would keep her aunt distracted.
As soon as Lesperance opened his door, she practically fell into his arms, ignoring the fact that Markus was watching from the bed. “Senna, what…? What’s wrong? Oh, Senna, why the tears? I’ll go and get you a handkerchief…”
“No,” She begged, “Please don’t go anywhere! Please stay with me. Oh… She knows, Lesperance! My bloody aunt knows!”
“I told you!” Markus snaps, “You damned idiots! I warned you of the consequences! Now look at you… Afraid to look at your own shadows!”
Senna kept her head down, sobbing gently to Lesperance, who was holding her as tightly as the universe would allow. “Stop it, Markus. You’re scaring her.”
“Hmph! Apparently not enough. This wasn’t ever supposed to happen… You two were just supposed to stay safe!”
“We’ll be fine, though we appreciate your concern.”
“I shouldn’t have blown up at her like that.” The two boys look at Senna, “I need to go apologize, to reassure her…”
“That’s bloody suicide!” Markus sat up, “Think of her as an American battleship and you a Kamikaze pilot. If you ignore her, you’ll be hated… Alive, but despised. If you take the dive she’ll have you in her clutches and you’ll never return again.”
She frowned slightly, “I know… I…” She sighed, “I have to do something. She’ll disown me if I do not.”
Lesperance took her gently by the hands, “Would that be so bad? I mean… If you didn't hold the name you do, we could be together without shame.”
“You don’t seem to understand,” She stood, “To give up my name would be to give up… Everything. All I’ve ever worked for, all the things I have fought for… Gone. I cannot do that, no matter how much I love you.” She went to the door, but was stopped by Lessy’s voice.
“Where are you going, my love?”
“To bed.”
“Are you insane?!” As much as Lo loved the young thing, she could not agree with her decision. “You will not tell your aunt!”
“It is wrong to keep such things from an elderly woman like herself!”
“Oh, it was wrong to fall in love with Sir Lesperance in the first place! You two were born enemies and, if your aunt had her way, would die enemies! My point is that she’ll kill you. She has enough crazy in her eyes to do so…”
“She’s been through a lot, I… I don’t know, I just feel bad for her.”
“Well, take my advice and don’t. I didn’t know it was possible to feel bad for such an evil creature… She lives to keep you two apart. That is the reason she was put on this earth. You must not let her do such a thing.”
“I can’t…”
“Can’t what, Senna?”
Both girls froze and turned to see Bethany in the doorway, hands on her hips, scowl on her face, fury in her eyes.
“Oh hello Miss Bethany,” Lo bows, “We did not see you there.”
“Get out. I’ll deal with you later.”
“Oh, Miss Bethany… If you would just listen to reason-”
“No, you listen to me!” She was now mere inches away from the maid’s face, an angry smirk carved onto her lips, “I will have you lynched for what you are doing. Or, better yet, send you to Jackson, Mississippi and have them do it for me. They aren’t as kindhearted or gentle as I am.”
“Oh, to Hell with you,” Lo pushed the old woman away and spat in her face, causing an audible gasp to escape from Senna’s lips, “I will gladly die if you let them be together! They deserve each other, not your scorn!”
Bethany grabbed Lo’s arm tightly and twisted it backwards until she heard the satisfying snap, “You’re pathetic and so easy to break. I’m sure that, once everyone else learns that you helped a love affair form between two sworn enemies, they won’t hesitate in killing you.”
“Kill me if it is what you truly desire! I’ve lived a satisfying life!”
Bethany throws poor Lo out and slams the door, turning back to face Senna. “Ha… Haha. Darling.” She folded her hands in front of her in a sinister way, “Has Lesperance lived a satisfying life too?”
The next night, a maid by the name of Rachel came and informed Senna that she and her aunt would be leaving in the morning, nearly two weeks early. Senna waited an hour before dashing over to Lesperance’s room. She knocked on the door furiously, and when Markus answered she barely gave him time to speak.
“Get out. I need to see Lesperance.”
“This is my room too.”
“Now!!”
Markus rolled his eyes and took a cigarette from his pocket, lazily resting it on his lips, “Alright, fine… But you owe me for this!” He began to sluggishly walk down the hall.
Lesperance pulled her in by the arm, “What’s wrong? You sounded scared…”
“I had to see you… I’m sorry.” She hugged him tenderly, her arms wrapping around him in a loving way. “My aunt threatened Lo last night.”
“I know. She came and told me.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“Just that… As long as we could love each other, that’s all that matters. She didn’t seem scared or frightened… She seemed… At peace.”
“Probably because she won’t have to experience the shit storm this will surely become…”
“I do not like it when your soft, delicate lips speak such dirty words.”
“Aren’t you the least bit worried?”
“Of course I am. I could lose you…” He strokes her cheek gently with his thumb, “I do not know how I could ever live without you. You’re too important to me…” He kissed her lips once and went over to lock the door.
“What are you doing, Lessy?”
“Well, we wouldn’t want Markus to walk in and see, now would we?”
An hour later, Senna laid on her bare back, Lesperance sleeping next to her. “What a risky move…” She whispered to herself. Part of her wanted to cry and the other part of her wanted to cling onto Lesperance and never let go, like a sloth clings to a tree. It had hurt, like all first times do, and bled. It still ached and was sore, as was expected, and Senna briefly wondered if it was really worth it. He hadn’t pulled out, and she knew what disastrous mistake could possibly await her now. “Bloody Hell…” She covered her face with the blanket, “Please God, don’t let this become more than it needs to be…”
Snow. First warm November days and then so much snow that no one could go anywhere.
Bethany stood in the main room, scowling at the pretty white snow. “Dammit… Snowed in. What now? If I allow her to stay, Lesperance will take her away from me…” Her eyes traveled around the room, taking in her surroundings as she thought. She saw the various posters of old ancestors, one of Sylvester and Angelique Lu themselves. There was another of their child, Mary and their son William, who passed away at age thirty six. Then there was William’s twin boys, Eric and Stephen. She noticed that all the Lu’s had icy green eyes, which had originally come from Angelique. She noticed they all had a very defined jaw line. She began to form a story based on the backgrounds of paintings and the faces of the painted. Slowly, she began to understand her enemy… That is, until she heard a door close, which distracted her and halted the process of understanding entirely.
Lesperance was standing now, dressing himself as Senna used his bathroom. She was pacing, biting her lip nervously. This wasn’t supposed to happen. What would she do? Who would she tell other than Lessy? Leaning against the cream colored wall, she slid down to the floor.
“Senna,” Lesperance knocked on the door, “Are you alright in there?”
She didn’t answer.
He sighs, “Look, Markus is growing impatient. I cannot keep him waiting forever.”
Running her fingers along the tile floor, Senna began to sweat. She was scared, horrified even. Would Lesperance leave her the moment he found out? What about her aunt? What would she do? “Oh come on now,” She whispered to herself, “You know that some good could come out of this. Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but… This baby could be the end of the Great Grudge.”
“Senna.” She could tell by the tone in his voice that he was getting impatient now himself.
She stood and slowly opened the door, clinging onto the skirt of her white nightgown tightly. Lessy smiled sweetly, “Ahh, there you are... I was beginning to think that you left me.”
“No, I could never leave you. Not now anyways…”
“What do you mean?”
She hugged him tightly and buried her face in his shoulder. For some odd reason, She couldn’t look him in the eyes. “I’m pregnant…” She felt his breathing change suddenly and his heartbeat speed up. She prayed it was from happiness instead of horror.
Markus suddenly burst through the door, his arms crossed. “Alright, what the hell?! I’m stuck without a room for the night because you two are horny?! Real nice, you two, real nice!”
“Markus, please. Now is not the time.”
“Oh… Oh really?! And why is that, my dear Lessy?!”
“Because…” He made Senna face Markus and put an arm around her. Hot tears began to stream down her face, which caused Markus’s facial expression to soften instantly. “Oh… Oh I see… Lessy, Senna… I… What will we do?”
Senna’s whimpers became audible as Lesperance rubbed her back, “We don’t know, But we’ll think of something.”
Lo stood near the window, watching the snowfall, “Well,” She says as she turns back to Senna, who was lying face up on her bed looking at the ceiling, “Just when I’m about to leave, things get interesting.”
“I’m sorry, Lo…”
“Don’t be. I just wish I could be here to deliver the baby… I brought Sir Lesperance into this world, only fitting I do so with his child too.”
“Well you could come back in nine months, right? You could deliver it then.”
“Yes, I suppose I could… Just seems so tiring, especially for an old woman like me.”
“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t be pregnant right now. This shouldn’t have even happened.”
“Miss Senna.” Lo sat on the edge of her bed, “Don’t you ever wish this baby away. It could be the thing you never knew you wanted.”
“But… With our families…”
“May I tell you a story, honey?”
“Sure, I guess… If you think it’ll make me feel better.”
“Well… Back when I was still a young thing, I’d say in my early twenties, I met a man. A very kind, loving man who knew how to treat me good. His name was Charles, though he let me call him Charlie. We were together a long time… About five years. We were fixing to get married. He was the only man I could have ever wanted.”
“So? What happened to him, Lo? Why are you telling me this?”
Lo only smiled sweetly and went on, “About eleven months before our wedding, I got pregnant. I knew my mother, God rest her soul, would never approve of me having a bun in the oven before I was married, so I wasn’t too excited about it. Charlie, on the other hand, was ecstatic. He bought so many baby clothes it’d make your head spin. He made a crib and painted it pink. He was really hoping for a little girl. He’d sing to it once I started to show some. He loved to run his hand over my belly, trying to get it to kick. In a way, that baby made our relationship stronger. Once we found out it was a girl, we decided to name her Sage. Charlie loved her and she wasn’t even born yet. I, on the other hand, still wasn’t too sure… She had caused my mother to think me a whore, after all.”
“However, once I went into labor, things changed. I began to fully understand for the first time that I was going to be a mother, have a family… In the middle of all the pain, I was happy. I was in labor for twenty hours because of our little Sage, but I didn’t mind.”
“That is very sweet, Lo. Where is Sage now? Doe she live with Charlie?”
“No, not exactly… She doesn’t really live anywhere.”
“Huh?”
“See… The pain I endured for twenty hours didn’t matter. Sage was a stillborn. It left me devastated and totally wrecked Charlie’s mind. After so many months of hating Sage for tearing my mother and I apart, I realized it wasn’t her fault. It was mine. In wishing for my baby girl to never be born, I killed her, and I still believe that to this day. Holding her, my cold little baby, made me realize that she was the thing I had never realized I wanted.”
Lo was in tears now, “Look, all I’m saying is for you to love this baby while you still can. Be its mama. Nurture it while you still have it.”
Senna nods, looking down at her hands, “Lo, what happened with Charlie?”
“Oh… He turned into a drunk. Would come home and beat me senseless. I called the wedding off. Haven’t seen him since.”
“And your mother?”
“Haven’t spoken to her in forty years. She died ten years ago and I went to her funeral but I didn’t stay long. People could hardly remember who I even was.”
“Did you ever actually get married?”
“No. Once word got around that I couldn’t have kids, my marriage options pretty much ran out. No one wanted a woman who couldn’t give them a family. But you, Miss Senna…” She took her hand gently, “You can give Sir Lesperance the family he has always wanted. He loves you, I know he does…”
“And I love him.”
“So take him and run. With me. Markus can come too. None of us belong here. I just want what is best for you.”
“I can’t do that, Lo. My aunt needs me. If she loses me, then she loses everything. Please try and understand…”
“Your aunt will keep you prisoner if she finds out about your baby. You know that. She’d kill Sir Lesperance. Please, Miss Senna… Be smart about this.”
She paused for a moment, “I am. I know what I am doing, Lo. You can see yourself out.”
Aunt Bethany stared at her niece, eyes wide. “You ungrateful whore…”
“Please try to understand, Auntie. I love him. I want to have this baby with him.”
“Over my dead body!” She jumped up and slapped Senna, “I’ll kill him… I’ll kill you both!!”
“Alright… Auntie… I think that you need to go lay down. Think about this some. Make some good decisions.”
“I could say the same to you.”
She gave her puppy dog eyes, “Please, Auntie?”
“Oh alright, fine… Just don’t look at me like that again!” Senna had a maid escort her aunt up to her room and began to go to Lesperance’s. She knocked on the door gently and waited.
“Yes?” Markus called from the other side of the door.
“It’s me. Open up.”
Lesperance opened the door and Markus growled as he slipped a shirt on. “You always come when I am half naked.”
“Sorry, Markus... “ She looked to Lesperance, “Is Lo gone?”
“Yes. Left just an hour ago. Wished us the best of luck and said she’d be back to deliver the baby.”
“Okay, good.” She laid down and looked at Markus, who sighed tiredly.
“Let me guess… You want me to leave for the night. You and Lessy do deserve your alone time, after all.”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I do mind, but I’ll do it… This is the last time, though!”
“I understand, Markus. Thank you.”
Once Markus had exited the room and shut the door behind him, the two were all over each other.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” Lesperance says, wrapping his arms around her waist, “What shall we call it?”
“Isn’t it a little too early to be thinking about names?”
“No such thing as ‘too early,’ my dear.”
“Alright, well for a girl, I’ve always liked the name Audrey.”
“Really? I’ve taken a liking to Lizzy…”
“Mmm…” She thought for a moment, “What about for a boy?”
“Markus. I promised him I’d name my first born son after him.”
“Alright. Markus it is.”
He smiled some, “Well… I suppose I cannot put up a fight with the girl’s name then. Audrey. I like it.”
Senna felt a sudden surge of happiness and cuddled him, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Morning quickly came. The young couple was awakened by a loud, angry knock on the door and the sound of Bethany shouting to them. “Open this bloody door! Give me my niece back!!” It all happened in a flash: Lesperance grabbing Senna, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips, throwing her inside the wardrobe, him struggling with her witch of an aunt… Then the gunshot.
Senna’s heart dropped, as did the body. “No,” She said after five minutes had passed, “Oh god no… Please don’t let it be…” She slowly pushed open the wardrobe doors and felt her knees give way, “Why…?”
Lesperance was lying on his back, a pool of blood forming around him in all directions. His eyes were open, frozen in his last moments. Wide and filled with tears. In a last, desperate minute, She shook him and let her tears fall onto his body. “Lesperance… Let’s go… Markus needs you… I need you. So much.” She stared down at him, her thoughts just a giant and messy knot in her mind. It was strange… As soon as the saddening reality of the situation hit her - that he was dead and was never coming back - her tears dried up and she could no longer cry. She could no longer speak. She could no longer move.
She couldn’t do anything.
The love of her life was gone. Their baby would grow up fatherless. What would she do? She’d never love anyone ever again. She promised herself that. It’d be like Lo and Charlie.
Suddenly, she saw a young boy’s handsome face. She saw his shy eyes. His hair was a light brunette, his eyes the color of caramel. Jewish eyes. He was guided through a magnificent manor, probably bigger than any other building he had been in. He was told to sit and wait in the main room, which he did obediently. Like a dog. He had learned such behavior while at Auschwitz. After a few moments, a young Lesperance walked in, smiled, and shook his hand. “Hello,” He said in a polite tone, “My name is Lesperance Evan Lu. It is nice to meet you.” “I’m Markus. Markus Alexander Waldstein. The pleasure is all mine.” That single, short moment spawned a lifelong friendship that was built off of loyalty, love, and loneliness.
How would Markus react?
He would, of course, be devastated, but she worried it’d go much further than devastation. He might go insane, maybe even go into a murderous state. For Markus, who had known and loved Lessy for several years, it was more of a possibility than not. “Bloody Hell…” While deep in thought, she hadn’t noticed him enter the room.
“Markus, let’s sit down, okay? Just take it easy…”
He did neither. He stood there, fists clenched at his sides so hard they were turning white, and there was death in his eyes. He looked like a statue, standing so frightfully still. “Please…” Senna pleaded with him.
Of course she understood. he had just lost a friend and someone very close to him, but so had she. It was the same way she felt about her mother. Bethany probably felt the same way when she lost her husband, as did Lo when she lost her baby. Everyone had experienced some sort of loss in their lives… Though she believed that, out of everyone in the world, Markus had felt it the worst. If the tears would have found their way to her eyes, she would have wept for him.
“I know she is your aunt and everything, but…” Markus looked up at her, “...Fuck that bitch.”
“No, Markus. No.”
“Yes!” He screamed back to her, his face going red, “I could tell that she was an evil witch just by looking at her, but her actions have proved it to me! How you have lived with her for so long, I will never know!”
He ran over to the nightstand and pulled out a dagger, “O.W.” carved into the blade of it. “This was my father’s… I promised him I wouldn’t use it on another person, but... “ he traced over the blade with his long, thin fingers, “...I guess I said ‘I promise’ with a mouthful of lies.”
Her eyes widened and she ran after Markus, who was now out the door and down the hall. She pursued him for what felt like forever until Bethany stepped out of a corner and kicked the back of his knees, causing him to collapse.
Senna stopped running and put her hands over her mouth, feeling her heart pound against her chest. “Aunt Bethany… How could you…?” She had tears in her eyes, the feeling of betrayal hitting her again like a bag of bricks.
“I had to, darling. He was going to take you away from me. I’ve already lost the love of my life and I refuse to lose you too. Besides, he was a Lu. You and him couldn’t be together even if you tried. Your families would tear you two apart without a second thought.”
“You certainly did…” She walked over and helped Markus up, never breaking eye contact with her aunt, “No can be truly happy in life. I have learned that in just the short time I’ve been here. We’re all too lost to be happy. It’s as if the world despises the very beings it created…”
“You still have me.” Bethany flashed a crazed smile before turning around and walking away.
Markus, who had stayed quiet the whole time, now let out a battlecry and tackled the old, frail woman. “You killed him!! The only person I had left in this world is dead because of you! How about I give you a taste of your own fucking medicine?!” He put the blade of the dagger against her throat, causing Senna to panic and try to pry him off. “Markus, stop! If you do this, you’ll be no better than her!” “Get the fuck off of me!” He elbowed her in the stomach, causing her to fall to the ground along with him. Bethany lifted her hand up and touched her cheek gently, pulling it away to look at the blood that now coated it. He had sliced open her cheek. “You son of a bitch.” “Aunt Bethany,” Senna pleaded with her, “If I leave this place forever and go back home with you, will you stop this?! Will things be peaceful again?!”
Bethany stared at her young niece for a long while before nodding, “Yes. Yes, then I could be happy again.”
“Okay,” She whimpered sadly, “Then let me go and get my things so we can leave.”
Bethany allowed her to do so, letting Markus go with her as well. “Don’t leave me…” Was all he could say to Senna. “I’m sorry,” She said in reply, “I have to go. To keep you safe.” As she was throwing her various dresses and shoes into her suitcase, she paused for a moment and looked at him. “Markus… I think I may have a plan. Firstly, do you think you could tell Lo that I have been relocated to my previous home? She promised to deliver our baby. You’d come with her too, naturally. Do you think you could do that for me?” He nodded, causing her to smile, “Splendid.” When she revealed the rest of her plan to him, he thought her an insane, mad woman… An insane, mad woman who also happened to be a genius.
Months passed. After Lesperance’s funeral, Senna returned home. She looked at her maid Vivian, who she had once loved and adored, with disappointment and disgust. She wasn’t Lo, and nothing could ever replace her.
She didn’t love her own home anymore, she loved Lu Manor. It may have been more plain and simple, but she didn’t care. It was where she had met the love of her life.
Nine months had now came and went, and Senna lay on her bed, in labor. Her contractions were three minutes apart and she was doing the breathing exercises that Vivian had taught her. Where are they? She thought to herself, They called just an hour ago… They should be here by now. I don’t want to go through this alone anymore. Clutching the bed sheets as hard as she could and ripping them, she clenched her teeth together in order to prevent her from screaming… If her aunt heard her scream, it was all over for them.
After a few agonizing minutes that felt like forever, her window opened and Lo crawled in, followed by Markus.
“It’s about damn time,” Senna in between gasps and breaths, “She’s coming and she’s coming fast. She wants out now.”
Lo nodded and grabbed the bowl full of warm water Senna had brought in earlier, along with the towels. They had waited for so long, and now… The moment was finally here. “Okay, Senna,” Lo said gently, “Push.”
Time and space had stopped. As Senna held her precious baby girl in her arms, nothing else seemed to matter. She was finally here. She had a full head of beautiful brunette hair, which she had inherited from her deceased father. Her eyes were that of a Lu: A gorgeous minty green. It seemed that she had gotten everything from Lesperance, except for her nose. She certainly had Senna’s nose. “She sure is a pretty little thing.” Lo smiles.
Markus grinned for the first time in months, “She looks just like him…”
“What are you going to name her, Senna?”
The new mother looked down at her baby girl, a soft and gentle smile on her face. What would she name her? Audrey? No, that didn’t seem right… But she knew what did. “Lizzy.” She whispers as she hugged the baby lovingly, “My little Lizzy Lu…”
The next morning, they crept downstairs and to the dining room, Senna clinging onto Lizzy tightly. “Remember,” She says quietly, “Keep your distance but make sure she sees you.” Lo and Markus nod, understanding what they had to do. They push open the dining room door to see Bethany eating her lonely morning omelette. No one else was in the room. When the elderly woman saw them, her heart skipped a beat. “You bloody…” She stopped once she saw the baby in Senna’s arms. “Oh… My God…”
“Your second niece, auntie.” For a minute, Senna could see happiness in Bethany’s eyes, but it all vanished away once she realized what was happening. “Give me the baby.”
“Her name is Lizzy Lu,” Senna says loudly, tears in her eyes, “Isn’t she beautiful? She looks just like her father… The father she will never get to meet because you killed him.”
“Give me the damned baby!”
“Not a chance. At least… Not yet.”
Bethany stood angrily and they all scrambled. They ran through the house and out the front door, crawling into the Rolls-Royce they had waiting for them in the front. Bethany followed them until the car zoomed off, causing her to growl in anger. “Lu Manor,” She screams, “They are going to Lu Manor!!” She crawled into the family’s second car and chased them the whole time.
Panting. Hearts pounding. A baby crying. As she ran through Lu Manor, Senna felt free. She was alive, even if her life was about to come to an end. She yelled and screamed, getting the attention of all the Lu’s in the manor. Thinking her an intruder, which she technically was, they all chased after her, trying to catch her. Markus and Lo had separated from her, as she had told them to, causing a sad smile to form on her lips. She would soon be able to see Lesperance again.
She led them on a wild chase, which eventually ended ended at Lu Lake. The surrounding forestry smelled lovely as she turned around and faced the crowd that had so ruthlessly pursued her. Her aunt stepped forward impatiently, “Stop this now, Senna. You are being childish.”
“No. You all are! This Grudge has gone on long enough… No more. Maybe if you realize that this Grudge has and will continue to spill blood, you’ll all stop!” She held her crying daughter to her chest, “My name is Senna Krave, and I don’t ask you to remember me. I don’t ask you to remember how this all happened. I just ask you all to forgive each other… To put everything behind you. Let there be light to shine down on our two families once again. Let my blood spill.” She kissed the top of the baby’s head, “I leave Lizzy to you, Aunt Bethany. Raise her right in my place, for I won’t be able to…”
“No, Senna!” The old woman started running at her niece, “Please don’t do this to us!”
The gunshot was fired. It hit Senna just behind her temple, going through her skull and brain, killing her instantly. She fell on her back to not hurt Lizzy, who was still held snug in her arms. Blood streamed out of young Senna’s head. Everyone looked over to see Markus drop the gun, tears in his eyes as he spoke. “Forgive me, Senna… Forgive me, Lesperance… Forgive me, Lizzy… No… Forgive me, God!” Bethany swayed at his words and fell to the ground, losing consciousness. All she saw around her was pitch black darkness.
Bethany Krave sat in her oversized chair, tapping her knee gently and sobbing. Lizzy looked horrified as she held her aunt’s hand, trying to comprehend what had been said. “My mother…”
“Yes.” She nodded, “Your mother truly was an amazing person. She knew how to end the Great Grudge… She also knew that she had to sacrifice her life in order to do so. She wasn’t scared, I know she wasn’t… I could see it in her eyes.”
Lizzy had her hand over her mouth and was holding back tears, “And… My father.”
“Your father died so she could realize what she had to do.”
“My God…” She leaned forwards and covered her eyes with her hands, “Auntie…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” She leaned her head back, “I know.”
Lizzy looked back up at her dying aunt, sniffling. “It’s okay, auntie. I still love you. You’re all I have left in this world…”
Bethany smiled her last smile, “Just like your mother.”
“How did you know all of that, though?”
She handed Lizzy a journal, “Your mother’s diary. It is a rather good read, if I do say so myself…”
She threw her arms around her aunt, “Thank you so much… For telling me all of that.”
“I had to. You had a right to know once you were old enough to understand, Lizzy… How bad of a person I really was.”
For a while, the two women, one old and one young, were silent. Then, Bethany nudged a small piece of paper into Lizzy’s hand. “That is Markus Waldstein’s current address. I figured you’d want to talk to him… I’m sure he'd love to meet you…”
Lizzy’s heart ached as she looked at the paper. Yes, her aunt was right that she wanted to meet her father’s best friend and mother’s murderer… But there was another reason Bethany wanted her to meet Markus: Aunt Betty wouldn’t be around forever. In fact, she had only mere minutes left. She knew that if the Jewish man saw the daughter of his old friends, he would surely take her in… She was the last piece of Lesperance the world still held in its hands.
“Alright auntie,” Lizzy kissed her forehead, “I’ll go to him. I’ll live with him. I’ll try to be happy, even though I won’t have you anymore.” She embraced her tightly and didn’t let go until her aunt’s breathing stopped completely. Even then, she clung onto her for a few more minutes.
Standing and drawing in a quivering breath, Lizzy looked at her mother’s diary, then the paper with the address on it. She grabbed her coat gently and looked around the room. Her mother had undoubtedly once stood here. This brought a smile to her face as she walked out, going to meet the man her parents so dearly loved… And going to meet her new life.
-End- If Only…
It was a rather extravagant and luxurious mansion, one that belonged to the oldest living member of the Krave family, 87 year old Bethany Krave. Bethany had been disabled in her life by going blind in one eye and deaf in her right ear and, just one short month ago, had found out she was dying. She had known this for a long time and also knew that the fateful trip to the doctor’s would only tell her what she already knew. The doctor, trying to be as gentle as possible when telling her, said in a soft tone, “Madame, I see this problem frequently in the elderly, particularly women. It is just something that happens to people of your age, and it is not something you should feel bad or devastated about…” She interrupted him by grabbing her purse and standing, her head held high in the air. “My good doctor, if you are trying to tell me that my body is failing me and I am dying, I already know such things.”
The doctor, who’s name was George Bridgette, blinked in bewilderment, for he had never seen the old woman act in such a way before. “Y-Yes madame… You are a strong woman and have the right attitude towards this.”
Bethany nodded, her nose still in the air in an ignorant fashion, “Of course I do. I always have the right attitude towards everything. When I lost my sister to cancer twenty five years ago, I did not weep. When my husband simply passed from old age twenty two years ago, I did not cry. When I lost my young niece to a murderer by the name of Markus Waldstein twenty years ago, I did not sob. I will most certainly do none of those things today, sir. I have held it out this far and I will continue to do so.”
Doctor Bridgette blinked again. “Right… Well, because of your current condition, you need someone to take care of you at home. Do you have anyone who can and will do this?”
The elderly, frail woman looked up at the ceiling and thought this over before nodding. “Yes, I reckon that I do.”
“And who might that be?”
“My great niece, if that is what you want to call her. Lizzy Lu, the daughter of the niece I lost so long ago.” And so our story begins.
“Aunt Betty,” Twenty year old Lizzy shouted once she stepped foot into the mansion, “Where are you?”
“Aunt Betty” was the name given to old Bethany Krave by her great niece as a sign of affection. “In here, darling!” She could hardly yell, but she did her best to answer the apple of her eye. Lizzy followed the sound of her dying aunt’s voice, looking into the parlor. She saw her great aunt sitting in a huge chair, her head resting against the back of it as if she had had the most tiring day of her life, when it was only eight o’clock in the morning. She knew the chair Bethany now sat in had belonged to the great uncle who had passed away only two years before she was born. “Hello, Aunt Betty. How are you feeling today? Any worse or better?” Bethany stayed silent and said nothing to this.
Lizzy blinked, taking out the picnic basket she used to carry food to her most beloved aunt. “I brought you some of my blueberry scones I know you like so much to celebrate the new year. I can’t believe it’s almost 1973 already.”
“It’ll be twenty one years since your birth… And your parents’ deaths.”
Lizzy paused for a moment, her eyes staring at the pale blue wallpaper of the parlor, before setting a blueberry scone on a plate for her aunt. “Yes, that is right… But don’t think about that now. Eat.” She tried to hand Aunt Betty the scone, but she politely declined. “No… No, thank you. It is impolite to tell a story with your mouth full.” “Huh?”
“Sit down, child,” She patted the seat across from her, “I am going to tell you the story of your parents and how they were murdered by the hands of the ones they trusted, all when you were just an infant.”
“My… Parents? Why this all of a sudden?”
Lizzy quickly shut her mouth when her gaze fell onto her aunt, looking so frail and exhausted in her rather big chair. As she gently held her hand, she understood. “Alright auntie,” She hadn’t called her that since she was a very young girl, but she remembered what happiness it brought her, “Tell me about the people I have only been able to dream of. Make them a reality for me.”
Aunt Betty let a soft but sad smile curl her lips up as she began to talk quietly.
It was a sunny but cold morning on November 15th, 1952 in London, England. A young, pretty soul awoke in her bed, yawning and sighing to herself. She lived in the same mansion that this story was being told in, but today was the day she would be leaving her home for a month with her aunt.
She belonged to the illustrious Krave family, one of the wealthiest families in all of England. There was a gentle knock on her door and her maid, Vivian called to her through the door. “Miss Senna, you must get up now! Your aunt is waiting!” Vivian was an old woman about the same age as her aunt, if not a few years older. She had little patience for anything anymore, though perhaps she never had any patience ever in her life. She had grown up in a poor household with a brother who was always off in his own little world, a mother who was scared of her own shadow, and a drunk of a father who enjoyed beating his family for fun. Much to her annoyance, her mother refused to stand up to him, and this eventually led to her death when the usual, nightly beating went too far. Her father, thank God, died of alcohol poisoning.
By the age of thirteen, young, orphaned Vivian parted ways with her brother and never saw him again, living a strong and independent life. At the age of fifty she applied for the position of maid at the Krave Manor and was hired. That was nearly seventeen years ago.
Senna, the young lady who had just woken up, stood and opened the door, causing Vivian’s eyes to widen. “My God… You aren’t even dressed yet! Hurry up, girl, hurry up! You know how cross your aunt gets sometimes when things don’t go her way… I would prefer not to face her wrath today, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes yes, I know, Vivian. I would never make you face such a thing by yourself.” She quickly threw on a soft, baby blue dress along with a white button up sweater and white scarf. She grabbed black high heels and put them on over her white, unnoticeable tights. “How do I look, Vivian?”
“Fine, fine… Now go before your aunt gets upset with me! I mean… Us.”
Senna nodded and grabbed her beautiful fur coat before running down the grand and beautiful staircase that led to all of the rooms upstairs. As she reached the last step, she realized that she had not done her hair and turned around to go back, only to see Vivian behind her. “Walk,” She said, a brush in her hands, “Turn around and walk.” Senna did so, Vivian brushing her hair and putting it in a bun with a pretty blue ribbon. “There. Should be acceptable for your aunt, and if she doesn’t like it, she can kiss my sharries.” Vivian did not believe in cursing and had never done so in her life before, despite growing up the way she did. It was because of this that she substituted words in place of the curse word or made up her own. Senna giggled like a schoolgirl, despite having graduated two years ago, and hugged Vivian. “Oh Vivi… Sometimes I love you.” The maid looked at her and cocked her right eyebrow, “Only sometimes?”
Both women smile, but Vivian’s fades as she sees Senna’s aunt, Bethany. “Vivian,” She sighs, frowning and frustrated, “Please stop distracting Senna so we can go.” “Yes, Miss… I apologize sincerely, Miss.” She bowed, causing Senna to giggle again. Just a minute ago, her loyal maid had acted so tough when speaking of her aunt… Now look at her. Practically cowering in fear at the sight of her. “You’re silly, Vivi.”
Her maid rolled her eyes at her playfully, “Oh hush now and go get into the car.”
Senna did so, but not before hugging her dear friend with a lovely smile on her face. “I’ll see you in a month, okay? Stay out of trouble.”
“I will do my best.”
With that, Bethany Krave pulled her young niece outside and into their Rolls-Royce car, which sped off as soon as the doors were shut. “Oh, Aunt Bethany… Why must I spend a month in that stuffy, old Lu Manor? I do not care about the grudge between our two families, I shouldn’t have to go! I’ll be twenty by the time we get back…”
“Senna, this is a very serious matter, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t treat it like a joke. You need to attend this little… Get together because you are part of the younger Krave generation. It is essential for you to understand how important this Grudge is.”
She nearly laughed at this, “Aunt Bethany, you can’t be serious. This Grudge itself is a joke! It started so long ago…”
“Which is exactly why we are going to resolve it now. This has gone on long enough, and you will help make the Great Grudge disappear into thin air.”
“But I don’t want any part of this… The Grudge is between you elders, I have nothing to do with it!”
“I bet you don’t even know how the Great Grudge started.”
“Oh, Aunt Bethany… Please not this again.”
The head of the Krave family sat up straight as she began to tell the story of how two families came to hate each other to death. “Back in 1765, two boys from different families met while walking the streets of London and became great friends. Their names were Sebastian Krave and Sylvester Lu. For many years, the two enjoyed and looked forward to each other’s company… That is, until the Revolutionary War broke out in America. Both boys, now turned men, went to fight… But Sebastian fought for America while Sylvester fought for Britain. Both men accused the other of being traitors and the two families have been raging ever since.”
“Oh come on, Aunt Bethany… That was nearly two hundred years ago! Our families have kept a grudge for that long?”
“Yes… Some have even forgotten how the Grudge initially started.”
“Then there is no point in carrying it on. Can’t we just forgive, forget, and let this go?”
“That is what we’re doing, dearest. We are leaving our most beloved home for a month to resolve this issue. You will help us do so.”
She sighs and nods tiredly, “Yes, Aunt Bethany. Whatever you say, Aunt Bethany.”
“Good girl. Now sit back, relax, and wait patiently for us to get to the Lu Manor.”
Senna leaned her head back against the seat, her minty green eyes watching the various buildings zoom by as the Rolls-Royce drove her towards her death.
Lu Manor was a grand, old looking mansion that had been built back in 1777, When Sylvester Lu returned home from the war. He had built the manor when his French wife, Angelique had gotten pregnant and the two were just starting their lives together.
The paved driveway was in the shape of a circle. In the center of it, a beautiful fountain made out of marble streamed crystal clear water, surrounded by white rose bushes. The manor itself was made entirely of brick and was three stories high. Senna chuckled a bit at this. The manor that she called home was four stories, and she often thought that it was too small… How funny this all seemed to her. The windows shone and reflected light beautifully, making the manor look rather magnificent in all of it’s glory.
As the Rolls-Royce slowed to a halt in front of the crimson front door of the Lu Manor, Senna let out a deep and long sigh. What awaited her here, she did not know. Perhaps she would befriend one of the Lu’s and show everyone else how stupid this Grudge was…? This was highly unlikely, for her aunt would not approve of such a thing… It was idiotic, really.
It seemed that everyone, no matter which family they belonged to, wanted to resolve the conflict, yet no one was willing to take the first leap of action. Senna came to the conclusion that she had to be the one to do it, no matter what… And she would not disappoint.
Climbing out of the car, Senna noticed that the front door had been opened by an elderly, African American maid who looked about as happy as she did. She briefly wondered about this woman, but her thoughts were interrupted by her aunt getting out of the car and falling. She quickly caught her, beating the gentleman of a driver to it. “Oh auntie… You must learn to be careful.”
“I have already learned to do so, Senna, but it is my damn age catching up to me!”
The maid, who had been in the doorway just a few seconds ago, was now at old Bethany’s side, offering a hand to her. “No no,” Bethany said, standing up and brushing off her dress, “I’m fine.”
“Are you certain, miss? That could have been a nasty fall if your young travel partner hadn’t caught you.”
“I’m alright, really… Please just… Show us to our rooms.”
The maid did so, Showing them upstairs to the West hallway and to the last two doors. “Every member of the Krave family will be in the West and South halls. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just holler.”
“Will do, dear, will do.” Bethany always called someone who was younger than her “dear,” even if it was only a year younger. She was a peculiar old woman like that.
“Am I allowed to rest now, Aunt Bethany? Or do we have an event to go to right away?”
“Oh, go to sleep and quit your torturous whining. I’ll wake you for dinner.”
She nods and goes into her room after hugging her, “Thank you, auntie.”
Four hours went by before Bethany woke her young niece from her beauty sleep at exactly five o’clock. “Dinner time, dearest. Wake up and be down in the dining room in five minutes.” She left the room, Senna still a bit dazed by her aunt’s sudden touch. After about three minutes, she was finally awake enough to get up, put her sweater on and start to make her way to the dining room… But there was only one problem: She had no idea where it was.
She assumed that, like the Krave Manor, the room for dining in was on the first floor, for that was the only sensible place. Why make the servants walk up the stairs with your food just because you were simply too ignorant to put it on the bottom floor? It was a cruel thing to do as an employer.
Finding herself lost, for the manor was bigger than it looked, she decided to follow a man she knew was a Lu due to the fact that she had never seen him before. She followed him down quite a few stairs and onto the first floor, but was displeased to see another young man greet the one she was following. “Hey Lesperance,” He said, slapping him on his back playfully, “I see you have a pretty little friend following you. Please do, if you don’t mind, introduce me to her.”
The man she had been following, whose name appeared to be Lesperance, turned and met her gaze, causing her to blush slightly and speak shyly. “I… I didn’t mean to bother you. I was just… Wondering where the dining room is.”
Lesperance was about to say something when his friend spoke up, “Well, we don’t know either. We haven’t ever been here before.”
“But… You’re Lus, are you not?”
“Lesperance is, but I’m not. The name is Markus Waldstein,” He held his hand out to her, “Holocaust survivor, and a damn good looking one at that. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, um…” She took his hand and gently shook it, “The pleasure is mine. My name is Senna Krave.”
“I’m Lesperance Lu,” The other man said shyly, “Hi.”
Senna nodded to the both of them, “Well, since neither of us know where the dining room is, let’s go and get lost together.”
Markus grinned a rather devilish and mischievous grin, “I love the sound of that, my dear.”
“Oh lay off, Markus,” Lesperance shoved him aside playfully, “She is a Krave and will not mingle with the likes of a Waldstein.”
“Oh right, but she’ll mingle with a Lu? You two are supposed to act as enemies towards each other from the time you are born to the time of your death.”
Senna sighs, “The Grudge does not matter to me. It’s quite idiotic. I shouldn’t even have to be here…”
“I agree,” Markus and Lesperance say in unison, causing Senna to giggle. She found that when a guy had a best friend that he could not be separated from cute. She held her arms out to them, “Well then… Let’s go.”
Lesperance took her hand gently and almost got lost in how soft her skin was, sighing happily, which caused Markus to push them along and chuckle to himself. It would be ten minutes before they actually found the dining room.
All at once, the heads of those at the table shot up once they heard the door opening. The three stood there with all eyes on them, suddenly being very aware of the differences in their family names. Bethany stood angrily, shaking the table slightly so you could see her soup swaying in her bowl. “Senna Faisal Krave,” She shouted, approaching her terrified niece, “What the hell are you doing with a Lu?!”
“Well… I thought that the purpose of this trip was to resolve the grudge, so… I’m resolving it.”
“You get away from them right now before I disown you!”
Stunned, Senna now realized what a hypocrite her aunt was… But she had to obey like a dog obeying its master, for she was still a Krave and wanted to remain one for the entirety of her life.
“Y-Yes, auntie… It will not happen again, auntie.”
Markus scoffs lightly, “This horrible woman is your aunt? My my, I’ve heard stories about Bethany Krave… Your life must be a living hell.”
Bethany smirks at him, seemingly unbothered by his insults, “You are not a Lu… Who are you?”
Markus lets a slight, cocky grin appear on his lips as he bows, “Markus Waldstein at your service, milady.”
She slaps him as hard as she could, which causes his eyes to widen and a hand go up to the reddening spot on his cheek. “You… You hit me…” “And for a good reason, too. You must learn to speak with respect towards a Krave, especially when you belong to a low class family like Waldstein.”
“You hit me…” Markus began to whimper, causing Lesperance to nearly throw himself onto his friend in order to embrace him. “It’s okay, Markus… It’s alright. You’re out of there now and you never have to go back.”
Bethany blinks, a bored expression on her face. “What’s wrong with him?”
“When Markus was ten, he was taken to Auschwitz. He witnessed many horrors there, including the death of his parents and sister. That’s why we took him in; Because he had no one to go to… Except a brother, but he was separated from him when the camp was liberated and hasn’t seen him since.”
“I fail to see how my slapping him has brought back memories of such a place.”
“It was the last thing his father ever did to him.” Markus whimpers but Lesperance pays this no mind, “His parents were being led away to the gas chambers but at the age of ten you don’t really understand things like that. He wanted to go with them, unaware of the fate that awaited them there, and…” “He slapped me,” Markus finished, “On my right cheek… I know he was trying to protect me, but… I never saw him again.”
“Well… As much as I want to feel sorry for you, I am afraid that I am unable to.”
“I’m not asking for your sympathy… I don’t want anything from you, you wretched hag. Whatever you could offer me would be filled with dust and cobwebs… Kind of like your-”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Lesperance leads him away, “You must learn to hold your tongue, my dear friend.”
As they exited the dining room, their dinner left untouched, Senna wondered about them… Lesperance especially.
After dinner, no one stayed around to talk… They all went to their rooms immediately. Senna suspected that the conversation between Lesperance, Markus, and her dear Aunt Bethany had put everyone on edge. She slowly began to make her way back to her room… If she could even find it again. “Let’s see… It was the East hall right…? Yes, that must surely be it!”
She was, admittedly, a little sad that her aunt hadn’t stayed to walk her to her room, though she could understand. Bethany was still fuming from the insults she had both given and received and it was best not to be around her when she was angry.
As she walked to what she thought was her room, her thoughts began to take over her mind. She wondered many things, and some of them would prove to be fatal. She went to the last door on the East hall and opened it, though she realized almost instantly that the room before her wasn’t hers. First off, this room had a bathroom attached to it and she could hear the shower running. On the bed, Lesperance lay shirtless, his gaze going from the gold and crimson ceiling to her. “Oh… Hey, Senna. Do you need something?”
“Oh, no… I’m sorry, I just got lost.”
He chuckles and slowly stands, walking towards her. She couldn’t help but drop her gaze to his pelvis, which had the desired “V” carved into it. She was at a loss for words as he spoke to her, “You and your getting lost.” “This is only the second time.” “And that is one too many. The Lu’s are in the East and North halls… Surely you knew that?” She suddenly remembers the African American maid’s words: “All members of the Krave family are in the South and West halls. If you need anything, just holler.” “Oh god… I’m so sorry, Lesperance! I promise to make it up to you somehow.”
“No need for that,” He blushed gently, “Just… Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Somehow, she felt he longed for her to accidentally stumble upon his room again.
“Yes, sir.”
Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open and there stood Markus, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. While speaking to Lesperance, Senna hadn’t noticed that the shower had shut off. “Hey, have you seen my pants? I can’t-” He stopped once he saw Senna, who shrieked and averted her eyes. “Well, hello there.” “I-I was just leaving…!” She began to quickly walk away, but ran into the African American maid from before. “Oh, hello, Miss Senna. I heard something so I thought I’d come check here… Why are you in the Lu section of the manor?”
“I got lost…” She hung her head in shame.
“Oh… Well, that is alright. Where were you trying to go?”
She sighs gently, “My room. Oh, please don’t tell my aunt about this… She’ll be so furious.”
“I understand, Miss. Come on now, let me take you back to your room.” She began to lead her away and Senna muttered a “Thank you” as she looked back at Lesperance, her stomach churning inside of her.
They eventually reached her room on the other side of the manor, Senna feeling sorry that she had made the elderly woman walk all that way. Then again, she was a maid and was probably used to it. “Here you are, dear. Have a good night, milady.” “Wait…!”
She stopped and looked at her curiously, “Yes? What is it?”
“I just… Realized that I don’t know your name.”
“Oh, I see… It’s Lo.”
“Lo… Beautiful name. So simple and so gorgeous at the same time.”
She smiles and nods. “Now if that is all, Miss… Goodnight.”
“Lo, there is something else I wanted to ask you before you left…”
“Alright… Ask away.”
“Tell me about Lesperance Lu. I mean… Who is he?”
“Well… Sir Lesperance was born twenty years ago in Angelique Manor, which is where he currently lives. His mother left his father when he was three, so he has very little memory of her. He is third in line for taking control of the Lu family, behind his father and grandfather. He has been friends with Markus Waldstein ever since the boy left Auschwitz. They rely on each other for strength, friendship, and attention. Without each other, neither boy would be noticed. Lesperance’s father is always too busy to notice his son and his grandfather lives here, so he hardly ever gets to see him. As you learned at dinner, Markus has no living relatives except his brother, but he has no idea where he is. That is why the two always stay together.”
“Hmm… You seem to sympathize with them.”
“Miss Senna, I delivered Sir Lesperance because the doctor couldn’t make it in time. I raised and took care of him, as is the custom with wealthy families. Leave the babies and children to the maid… Typical. I held him in my arms as he cried over the loss of his mother, trying desperately to comfort him. I gave markus a warm welcome when the Lu family took him in and I watched the two grow up together without any love or attention, except for what they could give each other. So yes… I do sympathize with them, for I consider them both my own sons.”
“If you did all of that, why are you here? If they still currently live in Angelique Manor, you shouldn’t be here at the Lu Manor.”
She looked away for a brief moment before looking back to her, “I was transferred here two years ago to take care of his dying grandfather… I’m still adjusting.”
“Oh, I’m sorry… It must be so hard for you.”
“It is, but… My job is not to complain, so… I’ll leave you to the rest of your evening.”
“Thank you, Lo. If you ever need anything… Just holler.” She winks, causing a big smile to appear on Lo’s lips. She bowed and spoke to her politely, “Goodnight, Miss Senna.” She walked away from her slowly, causing her old joints great pain. Senna went into her room and gently closed the door, putting her back to it and letting out a long, heavy sigh. The seed of love had been planted inside of her when she first laid eyes on Lesperance… Now she felt it begin to sprout.
The next morning she awoke to birds chirping and sun shining through her window. It had already been one day since she left her home for Lu Manor.
She laid in her bed for a good ten minutes, admiring the beauty of her room, then got up and put on a pink dress with a black belt at the waist. It showed off her figure well, and she added a pink bow to her long, sandy blonde hair and black heels to her petite feet. She looked at her figure in the mirror first then her gaze drifted to her door. She half expected Vivian to knock her gentle, yet demanding knock. She knew this would not happen, so she went down to the diningroom. Markus was there, along with a Krave and three silent Lu’s. She decided to sit between the Krave, who she recognized as her cousin Vanessa, and Lesperance’s dear friend. “Hello,” She said quietly to Markus as Lo brought her some German pancakes. Markus nodded and threw her a side glance, “Good morning, beautiful.” She paid his constant flirting no mind as she began to eat her breakfast.
“Did you sleep well?” Markus asked between bites, “I hope images of my body didn’t interrupt your dreams.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry… My dreams were body-free, thank you very much.”
“Aww,” He sounded playfully disappointed, “Alright then.”
She didn’t speak to him until half of her pancake was in her belly and the others, who had previously been sitting at the table, were gone. “So,” She asked casually, “Where is Lesperance?”
“Taking a shower. He should be down any minute.” He was about to take another bite when he suddenly froze, “Was it images of Lesperance’s body that filled your dreams last night?”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t really remember my dreams…”
Markus chuckles, “Could be anything then.”
As if he were summoned by the mere mention of his name, Lesperance strolled in. “Hello, you two. Is breakfast any good this morning?”
“Oh yes,” Senna smiles, “It’s delightful.”
He nodded, pleased, and took a seat to the left of Senna, making her in the middle of the two boys. “Well, dearest Senna… Do you have any plans later today? Markus and I were going to go down to Lu Lake if you wanted to join us… It’s only a ten minute walk.”
“Alright, that sounds fine. What time?”
“Well… Now, if it’s alright with you.”
She nods, “But if I do have something planned and I miss it, Aunt Bethany will be very cross with me.”
“Oh, to Hell with your aunt,” Markus stood, “She’s a bloody tyrant. You can dodge her for a day, can’t you?”
Senna looked at her syrup coated plate and nodded, “Yes, I suppose so. Just let me go and change into my flats. Heels aren’t exactly the ideal shoe for long walks.” Excusing herself, she began to make her way back to her room. She made sure to tiptoe passed Bethany’s room, feeling that it was better that she didn’t have to face her at all. Grabbing her black flats, which had a bow near the toe of the shoe, she began to hear her aunt's door open, causing her to freeze. She waited five uneventful minutes before deciding that it was okay to continue on. For a brief moment, she wondered if her aunt had seen Markus and Lesperance and questioned them or, worse, argued with them about the other night. Eventually, she built up the courage to run down to the dining room and was relieved to see that only Lesperance lingered there. Curiously, she asks, “Where has Markus gone?” “He went up to the room to fetch his coat. He’ll meet us in the gardens in a few minutes.”
She nods, “Let’s go, then.”
Lesperance stood and offered an arm to her, causing her to blush slightly as she locked their arms together. If my aunt was to see, or anyone else for that matter… She began to walk with him to the gardens, growing more and more aware of the red color her face had become. She remembered what she had promised herself when she had first arrived at Lu Manor…. She had to be the one to take the first leap, for no one else would. This thought caused her to smile softly.
When they finally did arrive at the garden, Markus was already there, waiting impatiently. “Well, well, well… Look at that.” He chuckles, “Lessy and Senna. Which do you like better? Lenna or Sensperance?” “Oh, cut it out!” Lesperance went to go and punch his friend’s arm playfully, but Markus stopped him. “Come, come now, little Lessy… Let’s not keep the young lady waiting. She desires to see Lu Lake, not us fight.”
Lesperance said nothing as he glared at Markus and pulled Senna along, their arms still locked together. Just as they both had said, it took them ten minutes to reach the beautiful, sparkling lake. “Wow… It’s so pretty!” The two young men smiled at each other, for both of them found the girl to be extremely charming, especially when her eyes gleamed with such happiness they themselves never had the pleasure to experience. “I wish I had brought my bathing suit,” Senna pouted, “I did not know there would be an opportunity to swim.” She sat on the edge of the lake, slipping her shoes off and soaking her feet in the cool water.
“Ah, well… That’s alright.” Lesperance smiled, “We can just sit here together and watch the waters flow.”
Markus scoffs lightly, “She can sit with me. Not you.”
“Oh, give me a break! A little Waldstein like you could never hope to be with a Krave!” He flicks his dear friend’s nose and, in return, was tackled by him. The two rolled around like a pair of two playful lion cubs as Senna watched. Eventually, they both ended up on their backs, laughing the whole thing off like they always did. She giggles and gently pokes the waters of Lu Lake with her big toe, watching the ripples grow. She didn’t know it yet, but the ripples would soon symbolize the events after her death. Lesperance was the first to stand, stretching and popping his back quietly. “I think I am going to go back to fetch my bathing suit… The water is too tempting to resist.” “Go ahead. Markus and I will be here.”
As Lesperance began to make his way back to the manor and Markus got closer to her, Senna’s thoughts took over her mind, invading like Napoleon's army. Why did Lessy constantly fill her thoughts and dreams? Why did he never fail at making her feel warm on the inside? Was he even capable of failing at anything? Why did she find herself blushing at his every word? It occurred to her that, if given the chance, she would answer his every beck and call, obey his every command… But why? Her thoughts were interrupted by Markus gently nudging her arm.
“You’re both bloody fools, you and Lessy. Going swimming in the middle of November… What’s wrong with you?”
“Well, it is a relatively warm day for it being the middle of November.”
Markus didn’t even seem to hear her. “Oh, yes, yes… Bloody fools indeed. First you fall in love and now this.” He shook his head in disappointment and dismay, as if he thought that she had potential for so much more.
Senna gripped his shoulder tightly, though not enough to hurt him. “Wait… What do you mean ‘fall in love?’”
“Well, I cannot speak for you, but…” He sighed tiredly, as if the whole thing was just exhausting to him, and laid back on the grass, his hands up and under his head, “...Lesperance has surely taken a liking to you. If I couldn’t tell from the looks he throws you or the way he acts around you, it wouldn’t matter, seeing as how he confessed to me last night. ‘Man, that Krave girl sure is something else...’ At first I just nodded at almost everything he said, only half listening. I started to really pay attention once he said my name in a serious tone. ‘Markus, you’re a good friend, aren’t you? I can trust you?’ Of course I nodded, what else could I do? ‘...Well, I think that I am in love with Senna.’”
By this point, Senna’s hand had shot up to her mouth and her eyes were wide. Markus continued on, but she did not hear him. “You’re… How…? That’s impossible.”
“I wish it was, my innocent young one, I wish it was. What future would have if…? Oh, please do be reasonable, my lovely, and do not fall in love with him back.”
Before Senna could speak, she saw Lesperance approaching. “I decided against swimming. Who does such a thing in the middle of November?”
After that day at the lake, Senna had changed and Bethany noticed. She’d walk around more graceful than before, like a swan, speak in a softer, ladylike tone, and would be caught singing all the time. Bethany kept a close, gestapo-like eye on her young niece. Senna did not seem to notice this, causing her own destruction.
A week after the lake, there was an angry-sounding knock on Senna’s door. She hadn’t been awake for very long, but she already had bright eyes and a polite, gentle voice. “Oh hello Lo,” She said as she opened the door, “What brings you here?”
The African American maid stormed in, throwing her arms in the air. “I cannot and will not tolerate your aunt! How dare she…?”
“What did she do now?”
“She accused me of… Changing you. Ha! The nerve of her… Like I could ever change you! I did not drug you like that crazy old bat thinks… I have barely even touched you! She’s a disgusting woman! Vial! Horrid! Pathetic!”
“Oh Lo… I’m so sorry. I’ll go and speak with her if that is what you want.”
“No,” She snapped, then quickly calmed down, “No. I do not wish her to be cross with you too. She truly is a wretched woman, just like Sir Markus said… Wretched!”
“She has her good moments, I promise you!”
“Well… I have yet to see them, then.”
She sighs gently, “Well… Is breakfast ready yet, Lo?”
“Just about. I’d start making my way down to the dining room if I were you.”
“Why?”
“Just… In case.”
Senna obeyed the lovable maid gladly, watching her own feet as she made her way downstairs. She was surprised when Lo had stayed behind instead of following her. Almost immediately after stepping foot into the dining room, she lost her appetite. Lesperance was there, sitting in his preferred spot. However, when his eyes fell upon her, he stood quickly and smiled. “Milady.”
“Hello Lesperance.” She felt her cheeks flood with a reddish color as she put her hands behind her back, looking away.
“You’re early.”
“Lo told me to come down here. Said breakfast is almost ready.”
“It’s not. Has another… Half hour, at least.”
“Well then. What are you doing down here so early?”
“I um…” He cleared his throat, “Wanted to speak to you, actually.”
Of course. This was all a little plan between him and Lo. “...Alright.” He pulled a chair out for her causing her to smile, sit down, and give a quiet “Thank you.” Her stomach was aflutter with butterflies, her heart beating fast, her throat becoming dry, her face going hot. We’re alone, she thought, Oh god, we’re alone…
“Well, uh… You see…” He gulped, “You are a very beautiful woman, Senna.”
“Thank you.”
“So beautiful, in fact, that I… I…”
“You what? Spit it out.” She already knew.
“I think I am in love with you.”
Despite her knowing this, she still felt a sudden, pleasant rush within her. “I… I’m in love with you too.”
He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little bit, “Good… Good.”
They looked at each other for a while, saying nothing, still holding soft and gentle smiles. Both noticed each other’s lips at the same time. Both longed to feel the softness of them against their own. Both longed for each other.
The First Whisper. The First Kiss. The Deadliest of all Deadly Sins.
“So,” Bethany said, setting down her cup of earl grey tea, “You’ve grown distant these past couple of weeks.”
Senna set her cup down as well, eyes fixed on her aunt, “Distant? What ever do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, young lady. Don’t you play dumb with me.”
Senna refrained from saying anything, busying her mouth with the warm, delicious embrace of her tea that Lo had so politely served her. Seeing this, Aunt Bethany looked to the side, noticing the white roses of the manor’s beautiful garden. “Ahh… How those remind me of your uncle.”
“Why do they remind you of him?”
“On our wedding day, my bouquet was made up entirely of white roses. It was a very white wedding… In fact, I highly doubt any other color was even mentioned by our most beloved guests.”
“I want my wedding to be a white one, too.”
“Oh? And just who are you planning to marry?”
“Well… I don’t really have anyone in mind yet. I’ll find the right man eventually.”
She eyes her, “Perhaps you already have.”
“What? Oh, Aunt Bethany, that’s absurd!”
“No, everything that comes out of your mouth is absurd! Who is it, Senna? Which son of a bitch has caught the eye of my young, innocent flower?”
“No one, auntie! I-”
“Is it someone here? Hmm? Is it… Is it a damned Lu?
She felt her blood turn to ice as her body became a freezing blizzard. Did she know? She’d have to play this very carefully.
“Now why would I ever enter such a disaster-prone relationship? Honestly, do you think I am that stupid?”
“I do not know what you are capable of, nor do I know how your mind works. I do know that you are indeed hiding something from me. I may not know what it is yet, but I assure you, my darling, that I will soon find out.”
“Excuse me,” Senna stood, “I do not desire to be insulted any longer. Good day to you!”
Bethany went to stop her, but Senna pulled away with such ferocity and anger that it scared even her aunt. Once inside, she knew she had succeeded. Bethany would not follow her, which gave her the green light. Also, she had noticed Lo watching nearby and had faith that she would keep her aunt distracted.
As soon as Lesperance opened his door, she practically fell into his arms, ignoring the fact that Markus was watching from the bed. “Senna, what…? What’s wrong? Oh, Senna, why the tears? I’ll go and get you a handkerchief…”
“No,” She begged, “Please don’t go anywhere! Please stay with me. Oh… She knows, Lesperance! My bloody aunt knows!”
“I told you!” Markus snaps, “You damned idiots! I warned you of the consequences! Now look at you… Afraid to look at your own shadows!”
Senna kept her head down, sobbing gently to Lesperance, who was holding her as tightly as the universe would allow. “Stop it, Markus. You’re scaring her.”
“Hmph! Apparently not enough. This wasn’t ever supposed to happen… You two were just supposed to stay safe!”
“We’ll be fine, though we appreciate your concern.”
“I shouldn’t have blown up at her like that.” The two boys look at Senna, “I need to go apologize, to reassure her…”
“That’s bloody suicide!” Markus sat up, “Think of her as an American battleship and you a Kamikaze pilot. If you ignore her, you’ll be hated… Alive, but despised. If you take the dive she’ll have you in her clutches and you’ll never return again.”
She frowned slightly, “I know… I…” She sighed, “I have to do something. She’ll disown me if I do not.”
Lesperance took her gently by the hands, “Would that be so bad? I mean… If you didn't hold the name you do, we could be together without shame.”
“You don’t seem to understand,” She stood, “To give up my name would be to give up… Everything. All I’ve ever worked for, all the things I have fought for… Gone. I cannot do that, no matter how much I love you.” She went to the door, but was stopped by Lessy’s voice.
“Where are you going, my love?”
“To bed.”
“Are you insane?!” As much as Lo loved the young thing, she could not agree with her decision. “You will not tell your aunt!”
“It is wrong to keep such things from an elderly woman like herself!”
“Oh, it was wrong to fall in love with Sir Lesperance in the first place! You two were born enemies and, if your aunt had her way, would die enemies! My point is that she’ll kill you. She has enough crazy in her eyes to do so…”
“She’s been through a lot, I… I don’t know, I just feel bad for her.”
“Well, take my advice and don’t. I didn’t know it was possible to feel bad for such an evil creature… She lives to keep you two apart. That is the reason she was put on this earth. You must not let her do such a thing.”
“I can’t…”
“Can’t what, Senna?”
Both girls froze and turned to see Bethany in the doorway, hands on her hips, scowl on her face, fury in her eyes.
“Oh hello Miss Bethany,” Lo bows, “We did not see you there.”
“Get out. I’ll deal with you later.”
“Oh, Miss Bethany… If you would just listen to reason-”
“No, you listen to me!” She was now mere inches away from the maid’s face, an angry smirk carved onto her lips, “I will have you lynched for what you are doing. Or, better yet, send you to Jackson, Mississippi and have them do it for me. They aren’t as kindhearted or gentle as I am.”
“Oh, to Hell with you,” Lo pushed the old woman away and spat in her face, causing an audible gasp to escape from Senna’s lips, “I will gladly die if you let them be together! They deserve each other, not your scorn!”
Bethany grabbed Lo’s arm tightly and twisted it backwards until she heard the satisfying snap, “You’re pathetic and so easy to break. I’m sure that, once everyone else learns that you helped a love affair form between two sworn enemies, they won’t hesitate in killing you.”
“Kill me if it is what you truly desire! I’ve lived a satisfying life!”
Bethany throws poor Lo out and slams the door, turning back to face Senna. “Ha… Haha. Darling.” She folded her hands in front of her in a sinister way, “Has Lesperance lived a satisfying life too?”
The next night, a maid by the name of Rachel came and informed Senna that she and her aunt would be leaving in the morning, nearly two weeks early. Senna waited an hour before dashing over to Lesperance’s room. She knocked on the door furiously, and when Markus answered she barely gave him time to speak.
“Get out. I need to see Lesperance.”
“This is my room too.”
“Now!!”
Markus rolled his eyes and took a cigarette from his pocket, lazily resting it on his lips, “Alright, fine… But you owe me for this!” He began to sluggishly walk down the hall.
Lesperance pulled her in by the arm, “What’s wrong? You sounded scared…”
“I had to see you… I’m sorry.” She hugged him tenderly, her arms wrapping around him in a loving way. “My aunt threatened Lo last night.”
“I know. She came and told me.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“Just that… As long as we could love each other, that’s all that matters. She didn’t seem scared or frightened… She seemed… At peace.”
“Probably because she won’t have to experience the shit storm this will surely become…”
“I do not like it when your soft, delicate lips speak such dirty words.”
“Aren’t you the least bit worried?”
“Of course I am. I could lose you…” He strokes her cheek gently with his thumb, “I do not know how I could ever live without you. You’re too important to me…” He kissed her lips once and went over to lock the door.
“What are you doing, Lessy?”
“Well, we wouldn’t want Markus to walk in and see, now would we?”
An hour later, Senna laid on her bare back, Lesperance sleeping next to her. “What a risky move…” She whispered to herself. Part of her wanted to cry and the other part of her wanted to cling onto Lesperance and never let go, like a sloth clings to a tree. It had hurt, like all first times do, and bled. It still ached and was sore, as was expected, and Senna briefly wondered if it was really worth it. He hadn’t pulled out, and she knew what disastrous mistake could possibly await her now. “Bloody Hell…” She covered her face with the blanket, “Please God, don’t let this become more than it needs to be…”
Snow. First warm November days and then so much snow that no one could go anywhere.
Bethany stood in the main room, scowling at the pretty white snow. “Dammit… Snowed in. What now? If I allow her to stay, Lesperance will take her away from me…” Her eyes traveled around the room, taking in her surroundings as she thought. She saw the various posters of old ancestors, one of Sylvester and Angelique Lu themselves. There was another of their child, Mary and their son William, who passed away at age thirty six. Then there was William’s twin boys, Eric and Stephen. She noticed that all the Lu’s had icy green eyes, which had originally come from Angelique. She noticed they all had a very defined jaw line. She began to form a story based on the backgrounds of paintings and the faces of the painted. Slowly, she began to understand her enemy… That is, until she heard a door close, which distracted her and halted the process of understanding entirely.
Lesperance was standing now, dressing himself as Senna used his bathroom. She was pacing, biting her lip nervously. This wasn’t supposed to happen. What would she do? Who would she tell other than Lessy? Leaning against the cream colored wall, she slid down to the floor.
“Senna,” Lesperance knocked on the door, “Are you alright in there?”
She didn’t answer.
He sighs, “Look, Markus is growing impatient. I cannot keep him waiting forever.”
Running her fingers along the tile floor, Senna began to sweat. She was scared, horrified even. Would Lesperance leave her the moment he found out? What about her aunt? What would she do? “Oh come on now,” She whispered to herself, “You know that some good could come out of this. Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but… This baby could be the end of the Great Grudge.”
“Senna.” She could tell by the tone in his voice that he was getting impatient now himself.
She stood and slowly opened the door, clinging onto the skirt of her white nightgown tightly. Lessy smiled sweetly, “Ahh, there you are... I was beginning to think that you left me.”
“No, I could never leave you. Not now anyways…”
“What do you mean?”
She hugged him tightly and buried her face in his shoulder. For some odd reason, She couldn’t look him in the eyes. “I’m pregnant…” She felt his breathing change suddenly and his heartbeat speed up. She prayed it was from happiness instead of horror.
Markus suddenly burst through the door, his arms crossed. “Alright, what the hell?! I’m stuck without a room for the night because you two are horny?! Real nice, you two, real nice!”
“Markus, please. Now is not the time.”
“Oh… Oh really?! And why is that, my dear Lessy?!”
“Because…” He made Senna face Markus and put an arm around her. Hot tears began to stream down her face, which caused Markus’s facial expression to soften instantly. “Oh… Oh I see… Lessy, Senna… I… What will we do?”
Senna’s whimpers became audible as Lesperance rubbed her back, “We don’t know, But we’ll think of something.”
Lo stood near the window, watching the snowfall, “Well,” She says as she turns back to Senna, who was lying face up on her bed looking at the ceiling, “Just when I’m about to leave, things get interesting.”
“I’m sorry, Lo…”
“Don’t be. I just wish I could be here to deliver the baby… I brought Sir Lesperance into this world, only fitting I do so with his child too.”
“Well you could come back in nine months, right? You could deliver it then.”
“Yes, I suppose I could… Just seems so tiring, especially for an old woman like me.”
“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t be pregnant right now. This shouldn’t have even happened.”
“Miss Senna.” Lo sat on the edge of her bed, “Don’t you ever wish this baby away. It could be the thing you never knew you wanted.”
“But… With our families…”
“May I tell you a story, honey?”
“Sure, I guess… If you think it’ll make me feel better.”
“Well… Back when I was still a young thing, I’d say in my early twenties, I met a man. A very kind, loving man who knew how to treat me good. His name was Charles, though he let me call him Charlie. We were together a long time… About five years. We were fixing to get married. He was the only man I could have ever wanted.”
“So? What happened to him, Lo? Why are you telling me this?”
Lo only smiled sweetly and went on, “About eleven months before our wedding, I got pregnant. I knew my mother, God rest her soul, would never approve of me having a bun in the oven before I was married, so I wasn’t too excited about it. Charlie, on the other hand, was ecstatic. He bought so many baby clothes it’d make your head spin. He made a crib and painted it pink. He was really hoping for a little girl. He’d sing to it once I started to show some. He loved to run his hand over my belly, trying to get it to kick. In a way, that baby made our relationship stronger. Once we found out it was a girl, we decided to name her Sage. Charlie loved her and she wasn’t even born yet. I, on the other hand, still wasn’t too sure… She had caused my mother to think me a whore, after all.”
“However, once I went into labor, things changed. I began to fully understand for the first time that I was going to be a mother, have a family… In the middle of all the pain, I was happy. I was in labor for twenty hours because of our little Sage, but I didn’t mind.”
“That is very sweet, Lo. Where is Sage now? Doe she live with Charlie?”
“No, not exactly… She doesn’t really live anywhere.”
“Huh?”
“See… The pain I endured for twenty hours didn’t matter. Sage was a stillborn. It left me devastated and totally wrecked Charlie’s mind. After so many months of hating Sage for tearing my mother and I apart, I realized it wasn’t her fault. It was mine. In wishing for my baby girl to never be born, I killed her, and I still believe that to this day. Holding her, my cold little baby, made me realize that she was the thing I had never realized I wanted.”
Lo was in tears now, “Look, all I’m saying is for you to love this baby while you still can. Be its mama. Nurture it while you still have it.”
Senna nods, looking down at her hands, “Lo, what happened with Charlie?”
“Oh… He turned into a drunk. Would come home and beat me senseless. I called the wedding off. Haven’t seen him since.”
“And your mother?”
“Haven’t spoken to her in forty years. She died ten years ago and I went to her funeral but I didn’t stay long. People could hardly remember who I even was.”
“Did you ever actually get married?”
“No. Once word got around that I couldn’t have kids, my marriage options pretty much ran out. No one wanted a woman who couldn’t give them a family. But you, Miss Senna…” She took her hand gently, “You can give Sir Lesperance the family he has always wanted. He loves you, I know he does…”
“And I love him.”
“So take him and run. With me. Markus can come too. None of us belong here. I just want what is best for you.”
“I can’t do that, Lo. My aunt needs me. If she loses me, then she loses everything. Please try and understand…”
“Your aunt will keep you prisoner if she finds out about your baby. You know that. She’d kill Sir Lesperance. Please, Miss Senna… Be smart about this.”
She paused for a moment, “I am. I know what I am doing, Lo. You can see yourself out.”
Aunt Bethany stared at her niece, eyes wide. “You ungrateful whore…”
“Please try to understand, Auntie. I love him. I want to have this baby with him.”
“Over my dead body!” She jumped up and slapped Senna, “I’ll kill him… I’ll kill you both!!”
“Alright… Auntie… I think that you need to go lay down. Think about this some. Make some good decisions.”
“I could say the same to you.”
She gave her puppy dog eyes, “Please, Auntie?”
“Oh alright, fine… Just don’t look at me like that again!” Senna had a maid escort her aunt up to her room and began to go to Lesperance’s. She knocked on the door gently and waited.
“Yes?” Markus called from the other side of the door.
“It’s me. Open up.”
Lesperance opened the door and Markus growled as he slipped a shirt on. “You always come when I am half naked.”
“Sorry, Markus... “ She looked to Lesperance, “Is Lo gone?”
“Yes. Left just an hour ago. Wished us the best of luck and said she’d be back to deliver the baby.”
“Okay, good.” She laid down and looked at Markus, who sighed tiredly.
“Let me guess… You want me to leave for the night. You and Lessy do deserve your alone time, after all.”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, I do mind, but I’ll do it… This is the last time, though!”
“I understand, Markus. Thank you.”
Once Markus had exited the room and shut the door behind him, the two were all over each other.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” Lesperance says, wrapping his arms around her waist, “What shall we call it?”
“Isn’t it a little too early to be thinking about names?”
“No such thing as ‘too early,’ my dear.”
“Alright, well for a girl, I’ve always liked the name Audrey.”
“Really? I’ve taken a liking to Lizzy…”
“Mmm…” She thought for a moment, “What about for a boy?”
“Markus. I promised him I’d name my first born son after him.”
“Alright. Markus it is.”
He smiled some, “Well… I suppose I cannot put up a fight with the girl’s name then. Audrey. I like it.”
Senna felt a sudden surge of happiness and cuddled him, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Morning quickly came. The young couple was awakened by a loud, angry knock on the door and the sound of Bethany shouting to them. “Open this bloody door! Give me my niece back!!” It all happened in a flash: Lesperance grabbing Senna, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips, throwing her inside the wardrobe, him struggling with her witch of an aunt… Then the gunshot.
Senna’s heart dropped, as did the body. “No,” She said after five minutes had passed, “Oh god no… Please don’t let it be…” She slowly pushed open the wardrobe doors and felt her knees give way, “Why…?”
Lesperance was lying on his back, a pool of blood forming around him in all directions. His eyes were open, frozen in his last moments. Wide and filled with tears. In a last, desperate minute, She shook him and let her tears fall onto his body. “Lesperance… Let’s go… Markus needs you… I need you. So much.” She stared down at him, her thoughts just a giant and messy knot in her mind. It was strange… As soon as the saddening reality of the situation hit her - that he was dead and was never coming back - her tears dried up and she could no longer cry. She could no longer speak. She could no longer move.
She couldn’t do anything.
The love of her life was gone. Their baby would grow up fatherless. What would she do? She’d never love anyone ever again. She promised herself that. It’d be like Lo and Charlie.
Suddenly, she saw a young boy’s handsome face. She saw his shy eyes. His hair was a light brunette, his eyes the color of caramel. Jewish eyes. He was guided through a magnificent manor, probably bigger than any other building he had been in. He was told to sit and wait in the main room, which he did obediently. Like a dog. He had learned such behavior while at Auschwitz. After a few moments, a young Lesperance walked in, smiled, and shook his hand. “Hello,” He said in a polite tone, “My name is Lesperance Evan Lu. It is nice to meet you.” “I’m Markus. Markus Alexander Waldstein. The pleasure is all mine.” That single, short moment spawned a lifelong friendship that was built off of loyalty, love, and loneliness.
How would Markus react?
He would, of course, be devastated, but she worried it’d go much further than devastation. He might go insane, maybe even go into a murderous state. For Markus, who had known and loved Lessy for several years, it was more of a possibility than not. “Bloody Hell…” While deep in thought, she hadn’t noticed him enter the room.
“Markus, let’s sit down, okay? Just take it easy…”
He did neither. He stood there, fists clenched at his sides so hard they were turning white, and there was death in his eyes. He looked like a statue, standing so frightfully still. “Please…” Senna pleaded with him.
Of course she understood. he had just lost a friend and someone very close to him, but so had she. It was the same way she felt about her mother. Bethany probably felt the same way when she lost her husband, as did Lo when she lost her baby. Everyone had experienced some sort of loss in their lives… Though she believed that, out of everyone in the world, Markus had felt it the worst. If the tears would have found their way to her eyes, she would have wept for him.
“I know she is your aunt and everything, but…” Markus looked up at her, “...Fuck that bitch.”
“No, Markus. No.”
“Yes!” He screamed back to her, his face going red, “I could tell that she was an evil witch just by looking at her, but her actions have proved it to me! How you have lived with her for so long, I will never know!”
He ran over to the nightstand and pulled out a dagger, “O.W.” carved into the blade of it. “This was my father’s… I promised him I wouldn’t use it on another person, but... “ he traced over the blade with his long, thin fingers, “...I guess I said ‘I promise’ with a mouthful of lies.”
Her eyes widened and she ran after Markus, who was now out the door and down the hall. She pursued him for what felt like forever until Bethany stepped out of a corner and kicked the back of his knees, causing him to collapse.
Senna stopped running and put her hands over her mouth, feeling her heart pound against her chest. “Aunt Bethany… How could you…?” She had tears in her eyes, the feeling of betrayal hitting her again like a bag of bricks.
“I had to, darling. He was going to take you away from me. I’ve already lost the love of my life and I refuse to lose you too. Besides, he was a Lu. You and him couldn’t be together even if you tried. Your families would tear you two apart without a second thought.”
“You certainly did…” She walked over and helped Markus up, never breaking eye contact with her aunt, “No can be truly happy in life. I have learned that in just the short time I’ve been here. We’re all too lost to be happy. It’s as if the world despises the very beings it created…”
“You still have me.” Bethany flashed a crazed smile before turning around and walking away.
Markus, who had stayed quiet the whole time, now let out a battlecry and tackled the old, frail woman. “You killed him!! The only person I had left in this world is dead because of you! How about I give you a taste of your own fucking medicine?!” He put the blade of the dagger against her throat, causing Senna to panic and try to pry him off. “Markus, stop! If you do this, you’ll be no better than her!” “Get the fuck off of me!” He elbowed her in the stomach, causing her to fall to the ground along with him. Bethany lifted her hand up and touched her cheek gently, pulling it away to look at the blood that now coated it. He had sliced open her cheek. “You son of a bitch.” “Aunt Bethany,” Senna pleaded with her, “If I leave this place forever and go back home with you, will you stop this?! Will things be peaceful again?!”
Bethany stared at her young niece for a long while before nodding, “Yes. Yes, then I could be happy again.”
“Okay,” She whimpered sadly, “Then let me go and get my things so we can leave.”
Bethany allowed her to do so, letting Markus go with her as well. “Don’t leave me…” Was all he could say to Senna. “I’m sorry,” She said in reply, “I have to go. To keep you safe.” As she was throwing her various dresses and shoes into her suitcase, she paused for a moment and looked at him. “Markus… I think I may have a plan. Firstly, do you think you could tell Lo that I have been relocated to my previous home? She promised to deliver our baby. You’d come with her too, naturally. Do you think you could do that for me?” He nodded, causing her to smile, “Splendid.” When she revealed the rest of her plan to him, he thought her an insane, mad woman… An insane, mad woman who also happened to be a genius.
Months passed. After Lesperance’s funeral, Senna returned home. She looked at her maid Vivian, who she had once loved and adored, with disappointment and disgust. She wasn’t Lo, and nothing could ever replace her.
She didn’t love her own home anymore, she loved Lu Manor. It may have been more plain and simple, but she didn’t care. It was where she had met the love of her life.
Nine months had now came and went, and Senna lay on her bed, in labor. Her contractions were three minutes apart and she was doing the breathing exercises that Vivian had taught her. Where are they? She thought to herself, They called just an hour ago… They should be here by now. I don’t want to go through this alone anymore. Clutching the bed sheets as hard as she could and ripping them, she clenched her teeth together in order to prevent her from screaming… If her aunt heard her scream, it was all over for them.
After a few agonizing minutes that felt like forever, her window opened and Lo crawled in, followed by Markus.
“It’s about damn time,” Senna in between gasps and breaths, “She’s coming and she’s coming fast. She wants out now.”
Lo nodded and grabbed the bowl full of warm water Senna had brought in earlier, along with the towels. They had waited for so long, and now… The moment was finally here. “Okay, Senna,” Lo said gently, “Push.”
Time and space had stopped. As Senna held her precious baby girl in her arms, nothing else seemed to matter. She was finally here. She had a full head of beautiful brunette hair, which she had inherited from her deceased father. Her eyes were that of a Lu: A gorgeous minty green. It seemed that she had gotten everything from Lesperance, except for her nose. She certainly had Senna’s nose. “She sure is a pretty little thing.” Lo smiles.
Markus grinned for the first time in months, “She looks just like him…”
“What are you going to name her, Senna?”
The new mother looked down at her baby girl, a soft and gentle smile on her face. What would she name her? Audrey? No, that didn’t seem right… But she knew what did. “Lizzy.” She whispers as she hugged the baby lovingly, “My little Lizzy Lu…”
The next morning, they crept downstairs and to the dining room, Senna clinging onto Lizzy tightly. “Remember,” She says quietly, “Keep your distance but make sure she sees you.” Lo and Markus nod, understanding what they had to do. They push open the dining room door to see Bethany eating her lonely morning omelette. No one else was in the room. When the elderly woman saw them, her heart skipped a beat. “You bloody…” She stopped once she saw the baby in Senna’s arms. “Oh… My God…”
“Your second niece, auntie.” For a minute, Senna could see happiness in Bethany’s eyes, but it all vanished away once she realized what was happening. “Give me the baby.”
“Her name is Lizzy Lu,” Senna says loudly, tears in her eyes, “Isn’t she beautiful? She looks just like her father… The father she will never get to meet because you killed him.”
“Give me the damned baby!”
“Not a chance. At least… Not yet.”
Bethany stood angrily and they all scrambled. They ran through the house and out the front door, crawling into the Rolls-Royce they had waiting for them in the front. Bethany followed them until the car zoomed off, causing her to growl in anger. “Lu Manor,” She screams, “They are going to Lu Manor!!” She crawled into the family’s second car and chased them the whole time.
Panting. Hearts pounding. A baby crying. As she ran through Lu Manor, Senna felt free. She was alive, even if her life was about to come to an end. She yelled and screamed, getting the attention of all the Lu’s in the manor. Thinking her an intruder, which she technically was, they all chased after her, trying to catch her. Markus and Lo had separated from her, as she had told them to, causing a sad smile to form on her lips. She would soon be able to see Lesperance again.
She led them on a wild chase, which eventually ended ended at Lu Lake. The surrounding forestry smelled lovely as she turned around and faced the crowd that had so ruthlessly pursued her. Her aunt stepped forward impatiently, “Stop this now, Senna. You are being childish.”
“No. You all are! This Grudge has gone on long enough… No more. Maybe if you realize that this Grudge has and will continue to spill blood, you’ll all stop!” She held her crying daughter to her chest, “My name is Senna Krave, and I don’t ask you to remember me. I don’t ask you to remember how this all happened. I just ask you all to forgive each other… To put everything behind you. Let there be light to shine down on our two families once again. Let my blood spill.” She kissed the top of the baby’s head, “I leave Lizzy to you, Aunt Bethany. Raise her right in my place, for I won’t be able to…”
“No, Senna!” The old woman started running at her niece, “Please don’t do this to us!”
The gunshot was fired. It hit Senna just behind her temple, going through her skull and brain, killing her instantly. She fell on her back to not hurt Lizzy, who was still held snug in her arms. Blood streamed out of young Senna’s head. Everyone looked over to see Markus drop the gun, tears in his eyes as he spoke. “Forgive me, Senna… Forgive me, Lesperance… Forgive me, Lizzy… No… Forgive me, God!” Bethany swayed at his words and fell to the ground, losing consciousness. All she saw around her was pitch black darkness.
Bethany Krave sat in her oversized chair, tapping her knee gently and sobbing. Lizzy looked horrified as she held her aunt’s hand, trying to comprehend what had been said. “My mother…”
“Yes.” She nodded, “Your mother truly was an amazing person. She knew how to end the Great Grudge… She also knew that she had to sacrifice her life in order to do so. She wasn’t scared, I know she wasn’t… I could see it in her eyes.”
Lizzy had her hand over her mouth and was holding back tears, “And… My father.”
“Your father died so she could realize what she had to do.”
“My God…” She leaned forwards and covered her eyes with her hands, “Auntie…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” She leaned her head back, “I know.”
Lizzy looked back up at her dying aunt, sniffling. “It’s okay, auntie. I still love you. You’re all I have left in this world…”
Bethany smiled her last smile, “Just like your mother.”
“How did you know all of that, though?”
She handed Lizzy a journal, “Your mother’s diary. It is a rather good read, if I do say so myself…”
She threw her arms around her aunt, “Thank you so much… For telling me all of that.”
“I had to. You had a right to know once you were old enough to understand, Lizzy… How bad of a person I really was.”
For a while, the two women, one old and one young, were silent. Then, Bethany nudged a small piece of paper into Lizzy’s hand. “That is Markus Waldstein’s current address. I figured you’d want to talk to him… I’m sure he'd love to meet you…”
Lizzy’s heart ached as she looked at the paper. Yes, her aunt was right that she wanted to meet her father’s best friend and mother’s murderer… But there was another reason Bethany wanted her to meet Markus: Aunt Betty wouldn’t be around forever. In fact, she had only mere minutes left. She knew that if the Jewish man saw the daughter of his old friends, he would surely take her in… She was the last piece of Lesperance the world still held in its hands.
“Alright auntie,” Lizzy kissed her forehead, “I’ll go to him. I’ll live with him. I’ll try to be happy, even though I won’t have you anymore.” She embraced her tightly and didn’t let go until her aunt’s breathing stopped completely. Even then, she clung onto her for a few more minutes.
Standing and drawing in a quivering breath, Lizzy looked at her mother’s diary, then the paper with the address on it. She grabbed her coat gently and looked around the room. Her mother had undoubtedly once stood here. This brought a smile to her face as she walked out, going to meet the man her parents so dearly loved… And going to meet her new life.
-End- If Only…
