Shadows of the Vale

Chapter Four

*****

The Sterling mansion stood draped in black. Although the faces inside were not grieving, mourning banners hung rigidly against the walls. Elara walked alone through the gates, her footsteps echoing over stone. The weight of death was oppressive and heavy in the air.

Beneath the canopy of white lily flowers was Robin Sterling's coffin.As the priests chanted the old rituals, their voices rose through the waves.

Elara stood on the precipice, clenching her fists.  Her father's pale face carved into stillness in the coffin.  She reached forward, fingers trembling, and brushed his cold hand.

“Papa…” The whisper broke her.

Tears burned her cheeks. The chanting blurred. The world tilted for a brief moment. Then—

“Elara.”

Her name echoed through the air, faint as a breath.

Her eyes widened. She looked down.

Robin’s lips had not moved. His outline was woven with translucent golden light, and his spirit glistened. His once-charming eyes had turned urgent.

The ghost whispering to her was audible to her alone. "Listen."  “My death was no accident. Ariana…”

Her breath caught. “No—”

“She wanted this. She crushed me. Poison in the wine. Trust no one. Not even blood.”

Elara’s heart thundered. Tears blurred her sight. “Papa, don’t leave me.”

The spirit’s form flickered, fading. “The fire will guide you. Survive, Elara. Survive for me.”

Then he was gone.

 Her knees gave way, but she pushed herself to her feet.The priests finished their chant. Ariana stepped forward, face smooth, crocodile tears painted. She placed a single lily on the coffin. “May your soul rest in peace, dear husband.”

 Felicia used a lace handkerchief to wipe her eyes while Jackson smirked, boredom plain.

Elara’s fists curled. Fire churned within her chest. Poison. She killed him.

---

Later, she returned to her old room through the familiar stairs. She froze as  she opened the door.

Her mother’s belongings. The jewelry box, the music stand, the silk shawl—gone.

Instead, cardboard boxes sat piled in the corner, lids half-open. She rushed forward, yanking one apart. Dresses. Old photographs. Books. Her mother’s life was crammed into trash.

"No…" She screamed  falling  to her knees, clutching a torn scarf.  "She cannot…"

“Well, well.”

Ariana stood at the doorway, Felicia at her side. Both wore smug smiles.

“You should thank me,” Ariana said smoothly. “Cleaning this space of ghosts does you good.”

Elara’s grief snapped into fury surging to her feet, fire flashing in her eyes. “How dare you touch her things!”

Felicia laughed. “They’re just rags. No one cares about some dead woman anymore.”

Elara lunged, shoving Felicia hard. Felicia stumbled into the hall, shrieking. Ariana caught her, eyes narrowing.

“You ungrateful brat,” Ariana hissed. “You forget whose roof you stand beneath.”

“This was my mother’s house before it was yours!” Elara shouted. “You poison, you thief—”

Ariana’s hand shot forward, striking Elara across the cheek. The crack echoed.

Pain bloomed, Elara, however, did not cry. With blazing defiance, she lifted her chin.

"I am aware of what you did to him," she muttered.“I know.”

For the first time, Ariana’s eyes flickered. Then her smile returned, cold. “Careful, child. Words like that can bury you.”

Felicia sneered. “Better watch your back, little sister.”

Elara’s breathing quickened, rage shaking her. She would have struck again—

“Enough.”

A heavy voice cut through. Robin's older brother, Jason Vale, walked confidently into the hallway. His eyes blazed with authority despite his broad frame and silver hair that was streaked with age.

“Jason—” Ariana began.

“Silence.” His glare silenced even her. He turned to Elara. “Do not waste your strength fighting shadows. The law must play its course.”

“She threw my mother’s things away—”

“Patience, child.” Jason’s hand rested firm on her shoulder. “Until the estate is divided, Ariana holds control. But not forever. Robin’s will still speaks.”

Ariana’s lips tightened, but she said nothing.

Elara swallowed her fury, though fire still seared her chest. Jason’s words rang hollow. Patience? Against murder?

---

The boardroom was occupied by men and women in fitted suits who were whispering to one another on their seats as the smoke of cigarettes lit through the air from some of them. Ariana sat at the head, veil lifted just enough to reveal her smooth smile. Jackson lounged beside her, arrogance radiating.

Elara sat across, Jason at her side. She gripped her skirt tight, forcing her voice steady.

One by one, board members raised their hands.

“Ariana Sterling secures guardianship.”

“Jackson Sterling, named heir of Robin Sterling’s business assets.”

Elara’s stomach dropped. “What?”

The head official adjusted his glasses. “As Robin’s only adult son, Jackson inherits controlling shares. As for you, Miss Sterling—you will receive inheritance upon reaching legal age.”

Laughter rippled faintly. Felicia smirked behind her mother’s shoulder.

Elara shot to her feet. “That’s theft! He wanted me to inherit—”

Ariana’s gaze cut sharp as a knife. “Sit down, child.”

Jason rose as well, voice firm. “This is irregular. Robin’s will must be read—”

“It has been,” Ariana interrupted smoothly. “And the board has confirmed. Jackson stands as the rightful heir.”

Jason’s jaw clenched.

Elara’s heart thundered. She looked around the room, searching for one sympathetic face, but saw only eyes averted, hands greased with Ariana’s money.

“Corruption,” she whispered. “You bribed them.”

Ariana tilted her head, smiling venomously. “Careful, Elara. You wouldn’t want people to think grief has unhinged you.”

Jackson leaned forward, smirking. “Face it, sister. You lost.”

The gavel struck. The meeting ended. Ariana rose gracefully, gathering her papers.

“Come, children,” she said. “We have much to celebrate.”

Elara stood frozen, rage swallowing grief whole.

Jason touched her arm. “Patience,” he urged again. “The law turns slow, but it turns.”

She shook him off. “The law belongs to her now.”

---

That night, she stood once more in her hollowed room. Boxes remained, shadows heavy. She pressed her forehead to the window, watching Ariana’s carriage lights fade into the distance.

Her father’s voice echoed in memory. Poison. Trust no one.

Her hands curled into fists. She could not wait for laws. Could not beg for scraps.

If Ariana ruled through poison and lies, then Elara would rise through fire and vengeance.

The academy gates closed behind her two days later. Whispers followed her return, but she no longer heard them. Her grief had carved her sharper.

She walked into Roverthhood not as prey, not as outcast—

but as the daughter of Robin Sterling, the forgotten heir.

And in her silence, vengeance took root.

---