CHAPTER 2

Days later, carmilla found herself on a plane , flying back to her Los Angeles, her home town. Her emotions were a jumbled mess, and she tried to distract herself by going over the details of her brother's death.

Her father had not said what happened. She knows that she will have to wait until she gets home to find out what really happened.

As she got off the plane, she is greeted by their families chauffeur. He ushers her into the car, and they drove towards the family estate. The familiar sights and sounds of her childhood brought back a flood of memories. But this time, there was an underlying sense of sadness that hung in the air.

As she pulls up to the front gates of the estate, she sighted her father waiting for her. Despite their unhealthy relationship, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for her father. 

He opens the car door for her, and they began to Walk towards the front door in silence. 

“ Carmilla, I know that we have not been seeing eye to eye, but I need to support this family by staying strong”. Her father spoke with a tone that she had never heard from him before.

“ Your mom is a mess too. So try to understand her if she act or speak otherwise. Julian's death has hit us hard and we need you more than ever”. 

Carmilla was taken aback by her father's words. There is no doubt that he doesn't love her, but he has never expressed it in such a vulnerable manner. 

She nodded, understanding the weight of his words. Together, they entered the house and carmilla is greeted by the servants.

Her eyes began scanning the ornate walls, filled with portrait of her ancestors she never felt any connection with except for her grandfather. As she scanned through her big family's photo, she discovers her absence. She wasn't surprised but she didn't know it would reach this peak. Still staring at the photo, her dad walks up to her.

“ I had your personal photo framed and transferred to your room, I didn't want your mom throwing it away”. He whispered behind her.

“ Who would have known, that after all this year's she still despises me”. She said, as she turns to face her dad.

“ No…no, which parent would hate their just because of a decision that child makes”. “ She just needs time. She was better than this until your brother's death. Trust me, she will come around”. He answered, with his two hands sofly placed on her shoulder.

“ Still playing the role of a caring father huh”. Mrs. Hunt interrupted as she walks up to where they were standing.

Meeting her daughter after years made her more furious at her. 

“ Just like how you decided years ago to leave the family, I decided to also remove your face from this family”. She said angrily, with a stern look at her daughter.

“ Honey, you need to stop this. I understand you, but also try to understand the child. She just got home”. He said with a gentle voice.

“ No one told her to come back. Or did she come back to laugh at our faces. She should go back to wherever she came from”.

She replied while facing her husband.

Carmilla not being surprised by the drama that is going on right now, stood there like a statue.

“ Am I really not part of this family?, I just wanted to live my life the way I wanted it”. She said as tears rolls down her cheek.

“ I wanted to breath out of this suffocating house. Did I do something bad?”. She added as she stares at her mom waiting for answers.

The room began quiet for some time, with her mom staring intensively at carmilla not knowing what to do with her.

“ No one is going anywhere. Together we will make arrangement for Julian's burial.”. He spoke firmly.

“ Carmilla go get some rest. If you need anything ask the servants”. He said 

As he carries his wife's hand and led them into their room, while carmilla helps herself to her room.

*******

As the days passed, the funeral preparation began. Carmilla finds herself trying to navigate through the awkwardness that fills the house. Her mom and dad barely speak to each other as the grief kept pushing them apart.

And to crown it all, carmilla felt like an outsider, unsure of her place in her own family. It is during one of their discussions about the burial that carmilla saw the different side of her parents.

“ I want a the burial of my son to be remembered. I want it lavish and extravagant, this way it will fit his social status and ours”. She said busy with the steak in front of her.

“ why will you want something like that. We will be going for a small and intimate ceremony for our son”. He retaliated with his words.

Carmilla sat silently at the dining table, listening to them argue back and forth, each one wanting things other way. She never understood her mother's needs to put on a show for the world to see. It not like they are a perfect family.

“ Excuse me”, carmilla finally spoke up, with her voice quiet yet firm.

Both her parents turns to look at her, surprised by her sudden interruption.

“ I think instead of focusing on the size or extravagance of the funeral, which I know my brother will care less about. We should focus more on honoring him and his memories. He wouldn't have want you two to fight over this”. She advised.

Later continues to eat as her father nods in agreement.

“ She is right, We shouldn't be fighting over this. We are old enough to know what right for the family”.

Mrs. Hunt continues eating without looking at her husband.

“ Okay. You two can plan that memorable burial for Julian. As his mom, I'll do what right to make it a memorable one”.

“ Let see how the ceremony goes”.