04.

Olivia P.O.V

Blood was always around me.  My entire body trembled as the image of the dead man kept tormenting me. I was terrified by how heartless my parents could be. I wasn't surprised they did it because this wasn't the first time.

I had seen so many dead people throughout my childhood years, but I never got used to it. Everything I saw, it was always like the first time and I would go into a state of shock; cold feet, trembling hands... I guess that’s why I was referred to as weak because I was a witch yet afraid of death. This house was so big but yet it felt like a cage. The news was deceiving, there was nothing good and nice about my life, everybody thought it was a privilege to live my life, if only I was wicked enough to let them taste what they desired.

“Oliviaaaaa” Jane was literally screaming her lungs out.

I rolled over the bed to get my phone, I had forgotten I was on a call with my friends and dropped my phone.

“Im sorry,” my voice sounded dull and more tired than usual

“Baby girl what’s going on, you can talk to us” Mark said.

My friends were the best, they were literally one of the few good things in my life, although Jane most of the time could be a pain in the ass, it was impossible not to fall in love with her, under her tough skin she was caring and emotional. While Mark was literally the prince charming of any girl's life,  aside from his good looks, he was a sweetheart, caring, extremely lovable and a damn good gentleman. We had been friends for seven years and I knew all their secrets and they knew mine including me being a witch, but we were careful not to let my parents find out. If they did, they would find a way to get rid of them.

“ Let me guess” She paused, “Hell got loose at your palace, Princess Olivia?“

“ Oh brave and wise witch, how did you know?”  I mocked her and we all burst into laughter.

“But seriously what’s going on?” Mark inquired again. I sighed and began telling them everything that happened and how exhausting and frustrating every day in my  house was getting. “I'm tired, ” I announced.

“So so sorry you had to go through that” Mark spoke softly.

“I’m sorry for the man” Jane bluntly said “ and remind me to always bring gifts for—”

“For me” I chipped in excitedly. “No,” she deadpanned.” For your parents, I don't ever want to get on their bad side.” I let out a long hiss. “ I always feel caged you guys, I just want to leave here and never come back “

“Everything will be fine with time.” he comforted me.

“I know what you could do!!!” Jane screeched.

” we could go out and have fun, get drunk and forget this shitty day”

“ Your day was shitty?” I asked

“ I thought it was but when I listened to you, I understood that shitty has different levels and my own isn't even on level one”

“Very funny” I rolled my eyes. “I'm serious about the party. Who is in?”

“I guess it wouldn't hurt,” Mark said

“Ahhhhhhhh” She  screamed “ How about you, Olivia?”

“ I'm not allowed to leave, we are having a function”

“And yet you're on your bed” Jane questioned in disbelief. “Stop being a party pooper and by the way, you need this more than we do^.”

“I know, I know, I know,” I admitted, “but, I don't know”

“It's fine” Mark said

“I'm sorry, you guys,” I genuinely felt bad for saying no, but I had never snuck out and if I was caught on camera, the Dennis reputation would suffer and I might suffer with it.

We talked for some time, Jane didn't stop talking about the cute guy she met and Mark didn't stop acting so overprotective. The call finally ended and I tossed my phone away to the end of the bed and closed my eyes. I just wanted to sleep after this long day.

“Miss?”

The door was open, it was Maria, her eyes were teary and she looked like she was in shock. “Your presence has been requested. ” Her voice was low but somehow I could still hear what she was saying

“Are you okay?” I asked

“Yes” she smiled

I knew she was lying because I, particularly, grew up learning how to smile no matter what. I knew when someone was doing the same thing. I knew something was wrong but I didn't exactly know what was wrong and after seeing the death of the speaker, I couldn't help but imagine stupid death scenes in my head. I was scared for her  and I didn't know why but I knew when I sensed something evil, it always happened. I stood up from the bed in my pyjamas looking at the door to see what was still waiting for me.

“You can go.” She didn't leave

“ I said you can leave Maria ”

“Sorry.”

 She exited, she seemed confused and lost and this made me more scared about the bad feeling I was getting.

Ten minutes later, I was at the door of the staff room and the feeling was getting stronger, so strong that I smelt blood. Immediately I opened the door, I almost fell. On the floor lay Maria and all over her was blood. Standing in the middle of the room was my father.  “I thought I told you not to get too familiar with the maids” I looked at him, mortified.

Tears rushed down my face, “Why?”

“You question your father?” my mother spoke. I hadn't noticed that she was in the room, she lay on the bed, unbothered by what they did, they were ugly bloodsuckers, how could they be related to me

“She saw Andrew die” Dad answered

“The speaker?” I looked up to meet his eyes, and he nodded, “ So you killed her…” it took everything in me not to yell. He was moving towards me, and I stood up from Maria's corpse.

“You need to be strong, you're not like the humans, you don't have their heart, you're a witch, accept what you are and don't feel bad about it or apologise for it. They die because they are weak.” his hands were on my face and he looked like he was warning me. ” You can't afford to be weak,” he said firmly.

“No, you mean i should be a monster “

His eyes widened with surprise at what I said, I took his hands off my face and I heard my mother gasp in shock, I was done being a toy, done feeling incapable of doing anything, done being told what to eat, how to dress,  how to talk and how to live my life, I ran to my room searching my bed till I found my phone and dialled Jane’s number.

“Where is the party at?”

“Oh, the princess has finally come to her senses. Come to my house and we’ll go together….”

“Okay, I'm heading there now, expect me at ten.”

“Wait! I hope you’re okay…it’s quite unlike you to change your mind so quic—”

“I'm fine.” I said and hung up with a sigh. My heart thudded and I felt uneasy. The image of the speaker and Maria's corpses kept coming to me and I felt nauseous. I needed to get out of here before I ran mad, or worse, resigned to my fate and became like my parents. I shivered, that was the worst thing ever.

“Where do you think you're going?” thundered my mother from behind me. I didn't bother to wait to hear her following remarks, I ran up the stairs. Tears were pouring down my face as I ran, I didn't know how I was going to escape.

“Olivia, get back here!” shouted my father, don't make me angry, you have been warned. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, no matter what, I was his blood. At least that was one thing the Dennis family cherished. Their blood…or the blood they spilt.

Once I got to my room, I locked the door, leaning against it as my parents approached. They wouldn't come in without my permission, that was the only perk I enjoyed as a witch, if it meant anything. I walked to my window and looked down, the grounds of my parent's large estate stared back at me, heights didn't make me uncomfortable but  tonight was an exception. I closed my eyes and jumped down, thinking of nothing as I fell through the air. Perfect landing.

The lights from the hall  shone out to the garden and I could see the people inside. I looked through the windows for a while; dignitaries conversing with one another in a show of cordiality, fake smiles, gossip, networking and shift eyes—this was my world. Eventually, I spotted my parents descending from the stairs. I exhaled in relief, I had never tested my liberty like this. I turned away from the window and made my way towards the gate, half crouching, half running lest I be spotted by a guest.