Chapter 9
I want you right here
Victor was walking down the grassy meadows that
surrounded the Eastern graveyards of Eden Kelsus. This
place was where the four founding families of Kelsus and
their descendants were buried. The place was divided into
four according to the number of the founding families of
Kelsus, with the Sinclairs taking the Eastern part of the land.
He had come to visit Charles that special day as he wanted
to share the news of his recent accomplishment, bringing
Nicholas to Kelsus .
After such a long time of bickering back and forth
Charles's dream had finally come true. Even though it didn't
happen in his lifetime, Charles always wanted for Nicholas
to visit the estate and see the beautiful lands of his ancestors.
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Charles always told Victor that one of his regrets was not
working hard enough to reach out to Nicholas and provide a
stable family throughout all those years and he understood
why his nephew hated and didn't want to see him. One day
Charles said something which really broke Victor.
He said that maybe it would be better if he was dead,
maybe then the last of Nicholas's burdens and pain would be
erased so that he would find true happiness. And maybe
after he's gone he will set foot in Kelsus and enjoy the place.
As Charles said those words Victor froze and his heart
was filled with so much sadness and grief, and even though
he said it in a joking manner those words tormented Victor
and he never forgot that feeling of hopelessness. Looking
back, he should have taken that as a sign of foreshadowing
what was about to come, because now everything was
unveiling as Charles had said. Back then he didn't see it that
way, instead of focusing on Charles he began to focus on
himself.
Victor began to question what would become of him if
Charles wasn't there. His identity and goals all revolved
around Charles, so hearing him ever so calmly speak of his
death switched something in his mind and at the same time
killed a lot of things.
That time he too was going through a mental and
emotional spiral and that was also the time Charles's health
began to decline. Hearing this from the butler after Charles's
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death only increased his helplessness and grief, and as time
went on it turned into regret and anger. All this time he was
thinking too much on what Charles said and how he could
try and help him, so much that he didn't see that what he
was protecting was slowly slipping from his hands.
And to date those words Charles said still broke Victor
so much. Instead of worrying what would happen if Charles
wasn't there he should have worked for a better future
where Charles was present.
As Victor was approaching the exit to the Eastern
graveyards he saw someone whom he never expected to
cross paths with in such a place. He was so taken aback that
he stopped walking and watched as the person proudly
strode through the grass with a large bouquet of flowers in
their hands.
"Beth...," Victor managed to say beneath his breath.
The serene and nostalgic atmosphere was quickly
replaced by anger and annoyance. He couldn't believe that
woman had the nerve to make an appearance at this place,
even brought flowers and was ever so high spirited as ever.
Victor didn't take his eyes off of her until she noticed him.
When Beth saw him, she stopped dead in her tracks and
the smile on her face quickly disappeared. They both just
looked at each other waiting for the other to make a move.
Beth's eyes darted about as she looked at the ground and the
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surroundings as if they were something to behold and had
never seen before, but that didn't help. No matter how many
times she blinked, Victor was still standing there. She knew
what was waiting for her ahead, so she took a deep breath
and continued walking until she reached where Victor was.
"Good day Victor, how are you?"
Beth tried to keep her tone as neutral as possible to not
stir up any unnecessary drama. But everything was blown
away when she saw Victor give her a smile she was forced
and unsatisfying. He didn't respond to her greeting but he
just nodded his head to her.
"I came here to visit...," Beth didn't get to finish her
sentence
"I didn't know they let rodents in here, I'm surprised
what happened to the security and pest control," said Victor
as he pretended to look around for someone, "it's a bad look
for the estate to have vermin lurking around here, you never
know what diseases they might bring in here."
Beth's smile immediately fell, her neutral and calm
demeanor evaporated and was replaced by shock and
disbelief.
Victor just mocked her presence in this place as if she
was a pest needing dire extermination. She didn't know what
to say after that which would possibly make them both walk
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away from each other peacefully. But it looks like that wasn't
happening.
"I don't think that's something nice to say in such a place.
We are all here because we lost a loved one."
Victor scoffed at her last sentence, "loved one? I don't
think you know what that means. I guess it's love as long as
it has a dollar sign on it, isn't it?"
"As if you aren't also living off the same way I did."
"How nice, that's actually a compliment coming from
you. If I'm leeching off of people I know I'm only learning
from you, the best to ever do it."
Beth's grip on the bouquet of flowers tightened with
each word that was being said to her. For a moment they
both went silent except for the birds chirping and probably
waiting for more drama to unfold for them. Beth on the other
hand was almost about to snap as her face was showing
nothing but disdain and anger, but she kept her composure.
"It doesn't matter what you say or call me Victor," she
raised her head high and took a step forward towards Victor,
"none of it is going to work because I'm not going
anywhere," she finished with a smug look on her face.
"Oh, you are ever so wrong if you think I don't want you
here," Victor took a step forward and this time they were
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much closer to each other, "I want you right here in my field
of sight where I can always see you."
With those last words Victor walked away leaving Beth
standing there alone. She wanted to throw the flowers on the
ground and trample on them to vent out her anger. But she
still decided to keep it together, there was no way Victor was
going to keep getting under her skin.
Henry was seated peacefully on a sofa in the living room
area of the secluded getaway cabin house located in the
mountains of Apacla, mountains that surrounded almost
half of Kelsus. From the cabin the view was very beautiful
especially in winter when it snowed, and it was more
refreshing in the hot summers because it offered cooler fresh
air. It was quiet and the perfect place to retire to after a long
working period.
Turning to the small table that was beside him, Henry
reached out for a tall glass which was there and took a sip of
the contents. He returned his focus to the book on his lap, he
picked it up and resumed reading.
However, not even a minute into reading the book
Henry heard the door being abruptly opened and a few
seconds later was shut with the force of a strong bull. He
heard some footsteps approaching where he was and soon
the tornado was in his presence. He took a deep breath and
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tried to divert his attention back to his book but the noise
and shuffles were preventing him from doing so.
No matter how much he tried to ignore him, Victor's
silent tantrum was as loud as ever. He came in stomping
aloud then began violently removing his gloves, scarf, shoes
and coat. There was no other sound besides clothes being
thrown on the sofa and the occasional angry huffs and
mumbles from Victor. His glasses weren't so fortunate as
they were thrown so far, they fell on the ground and broke
their frames. Henry didn't bother looking up as he didn't
want to get dragged into the tornado.
After he was done and had finally calmed down, Victor
turned to Henry who was about to take a sip of his drink.
Victor walked up to Henry, grabbed the glass from him and
took a sip.
"Damn, you have terrible taste," said Victor as he walked
away with the drink and sat down on another sofa. Henry
stood up from where he was and disappeared for a bit, and
when he came back he had another drink with him.
"Mind telling me what's happening with you today?"
said Henry as he sat back down.
Victor sighed as he threw his head back and pushed his
hair back which had gotten dishevelled during his silent
tantrum.
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"Heard Nicholas is looking for you. Probably wants your
head on a golden platter for the stunt you pulled on him.
That also explains why you are running away and dragging
me here with you," said Henry as flipped a page of his book.
Hearing what he said, Victor quickly snapped his head
up and looked towards Henry, "Dragged you? You were the
one who agreed to be dragged here by me,"
"I did because you placed that woman in my house,"
Henry quickly clapped back.
"It's for the plot, ok," said Victor, as threw his head in
his back again and covered his face with his hand. "Just look
for an appropriate time and burn the mansion while she's in
there," said Victor, "I'll even help you with loading up the
gasoline and the mourning process."
"I thought you wanted her alive rather than dead. Are
you tired of the game that you want to end already," said
Henry as he stopped reading and placed the book on his lap,
"and things were just about to get interesting. Soon the
letters will begin so just be patient."
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