Chapter 7- My Carnation

Athena’s life remained the same; she would come home and care for her brother, and all the days stress dissipated when she saw him. Her life had only two things, school and her brother. She wanted to give him everything her parents would’ve given them if they were alive. She took him to birthdays and parties as much as she could. She had given him everything in her power, as the girl did not want her brother to miss anything. She had given him all his love and more if she had.

And just like that, 12 years of her life went by. In all these years, she had grown used to Blanche’s taunts, no matter how harsh they were, sometimes Blanche did step out of the line and humiliated her, but Athena had no choice other than to bear it. She questioned many times why a person would hate another person so much.

Sophie’s attitude and nasty remarks were salt in the wound. Sophie became a successful singer who turned exceptionally beautiful with age, and with the support of her family, she was nearly unstoppable. Blanche got her seat as she wished. The board saw Blanche taking in Athena and Cleon as her children after their parent’s death. She presented it as her case and unanimously won against all the other women: this bough the Dubois fame and more money.

Blanche somehow started loving Cleon. Athena wasn’t sure what had happened, but just as if a switch flipped, Blanche started taking an interest in Cleon’s life; the family would take him to dinners and picnics, and soon Cleon became a Dubois family member while Athena was kept at a distance just as many years of her life. She got used to it; she was happy Cleon got a mother’s love.

Years passed by, and her life remained the same. She worked in the house during the day and would tutor little kids in violin and cello at night. She needed money for herself and Cleon if Blanche shifted gears. She didn’t trust those people. This might have sounded cliché to her, but Cleon is her son, and she would do anything to protect him. Besides, she cannot forget the things her mother taught her, her mother loved music and enjoyed playing violin, and this was her way of honoring her.

Claudia had been a constant pillar in Athena’s life. She wasn’t her mother, but she was close to it. She still missed her parents, but the pain wasn’t fresh anymore; it was dull. As her age increased, the dull ache of her parent’s death weighed down on her soul, pulling her under the ocean of despair, and drowning her in it. She hasn’t learned how to swim, but she did learn how to come out when she was close to drowning.

Tristan and Narcissa became her soulmates. They would help her when needed. Sophie, her and Narcissa joined the same school. Sophie purposefully followed her wherever Athena went. She declared this unspoken war on Athena, which went right by the girl’s head. She never focused on it.

She had never seen Azazel after the party that night. From what she had heard, she understood he had moved to another country for higher education and business training.

She only heard about him when Sophie drooled over his pictures in tabloids or when Narcissa mentioned him. Azazel soon became a prominent figure, taking over his father’s business and the business world by storm. He became an incredible-looking guy and a humanitarian running a charity and school; all three Black siblings had incredible genes and could give GQ and Vogue models a run for their money.

Just as Blanche wished, the Blacks and Dubois made a pact to marry Sophie and Azazel once they were of age. Athena remembered that night the wedding was announced. She was setting plates when Rupert came running, beaming in happiness. “Honey, Charles promised Sophie would be wed to Azazel; our princess will be queen real soon” these were his exact words. Queen of what exactly? Athena had no clue. She remembered Claudia’s comment as well, “a match made in hell,” she commented, making Athena laugh.

They celebrated all night long, and the wedding news broke in the media, “Famous business magnate Azazel Black to be engaged to Sophie Dubois, their love story is worth knowing,” these were the headings everywhere.

Since that day, Sophie made it her job to taunt Athena using Azazel’s name. Athena had no understanding of why. Athena kept her distance from her family; she would only talk when necessary, do the chores she was meant to do, and quietly retire to her room.

Cleon became a hot-headed teenager; he had a huge fan following as he was always associated with the Dubois name while Athena was still in the shadows, and very few people knew that she existed. Athena was thrilled because she knew Cleon would get great opportunities and reach heights if he hung out with the elites. That is what she wanted for him, a successful life.

“Hey, sis,” Cleon punched Athena’s arm in playfulness.

“Toro,” Athena jumped into his arms.

“I’ve missed you” she hugged him tight. “So much,” she hugged him so tighter.

“Woah, sis, I have only been gone for a month,” he returned the hug, but she felt a little distant; he had been on a world tour with Arthur and his friends. As usual, nobody bothered to ask her. It wasn’t like she would’ve gone even if they did.

“Do you want to go out tonight? We can go to that Italian restaurant I was talking about”. She proposed to him as it had been a long since they’d spent their evenings together. Cleon’s expression changed instantly.

“Some other time, Thena. I have practice today; maybe next week?” he didn’t even wait for her answer; he just left her there, running off into his room.

She sighed, watching his retreating back, “wow, talk about ignorance” Claudia saw Athena’s droopy face.

“I…” she couldn’t even finish her sentence when Sophie jumped in.

“Maybe he started to see her for what she is, a murderer, goody two shoes, and a whore,” she taunted Athena. As usual, Athena ignored Sophie; she never understood why Sophie hated her so much; she understood why Blanche did, but Sophie? Athena had no clue why.

Blanche’s firm belief that Athena was the cause of her sister’s death grew with her age, the girl mostly stayed out of everyone’s way, but they didn’t seem to let it go.

“You must stand up for yourself, Thena; the more you ignore, the more they will taunt you. Cleon seems to offer no help in this matter," Claudia knew a change when she saw one.

Athena sighed, “Don’t worry, Miss. Claudia. He is just a teenager trying to adapt to things, I am sure it is just a phase. He is not old enough to understand things. Besides, his matches are more important than hanging out with me; that is how he builds a reputation, right?” she convinced herself and Claudia.

“I was going out with Narcissa anyways” Athena smiled and walked into her room to get ready. Her room looked the same way it did 12 years ago; she kept it the same. This was her, symbolically telling herself where she came from and that she would always be an unwanted guest in that house.

As a cue, her phone rang, “Thena, are you ready?” Narcissa asked.

“Yes, Cissy. I am”, she responded, putting that last coat of lipstick on her lips.

“Don’t come; I will come pick you up,” she stated, driving, and Athena agreed.

In minutes, Narcissa stepped into the mansion. She entered and found Blanche on the couch, “Cissy,” Blanche chirped, getting up, and Narcissa rolled her eyes in annoyance. She hated them as they taunted Athena.

“Sophie didn’t tell me you were coming. What brought you here,” she tried to hug her when Cissy stopped her.

“I am here for Thena, aunt” Cissy didn’t want to hug Blanche.

Blanche clenching her jaw didn’t go unnoticed by Narcissa. The girl loved provoking Sophie and Blanche.

"How is my son-in-law doing, by the way?” Blanche changed the topic from Athena to Azazel, and she would rather talk about water heaters and pipes than about Athena.

“He is fine,” Narcissa tried going up the stairs, but Blanche wouldn’t let her leave.

“Oh, I am sure my Sophie took good care of him last time she was there,” Blanche winked, making Cissy want to punch her in the face, but she resisted. She smiled politely and walked up the steps.

“This bitch,” she mumbled to Blanche’s back under her breath.

She entered her room to find Athena all ready. “I think I threw up in my mouth,” Cissy rubbed her throat.

“Why?” Athena smiled.

"Because of your bitchy aunt, she asked about Sophie and Zae’s private life. Who does that?” she buckled the necklace that Athena was struggling with.

Athena gave no reply. She never commented anything about the Dubois or the Blacks. It was none of her business. Narcissa didn’t pressure her further, knowing Athena was uncomfortable with this discussion.

“My, you look hot,” Narcissa hugged Athena, and soon they left to meet their friends.

They entered an expensive restaurant, “I don’t think this is the right place, Cissy,” Athena stopped before going in.

“Come on, Thena. We have been friends for so long. Did you think I will take you to some other place on your birthday, besides a girl only turns 21 once, and she should make most out of it,” she smiled, and Athena returned that smile.

“I don’t think I have dressed appropriately,” she felt self-conscious about her appearance. Living in a high-society house comes with its disadvantages being taunted for looking plain and simple is one of those.

“This is our place, Thena, and nobody dares to say a word against you,” Cissy coaxed Athena, and she agreed. Soon, a group of her friends joined.

Tristan was one of them, “Happy birthday Thena,” he kissed Athena on her cheek. "

Thank you, Tris,” she politely responded with a smile.

“Man, that smile could cause wars” Tris complimented, and Cissy chimed in.

“You do know she is taken, right?”

“Relax, Cissy. I was only complimenting her, besides. It is true,” he winked, “I am more into Blondes, you know?” he guided Athena to sit. She wanted to enjoy her birthday, but Cleon forgetting it made her sad. Nobody is to blame, she never told anyone when her birthday was, not that she felt it was necessary, but somehow Cissy and Tris found it out and celebrated it. She had a blast feeling a little light. They reached home, dropping her off. She entered her room and sighed.

She picked up her mother’s photo and started narrating her day to her, “Happy birthday to me, mom,” she smiled. “I know you want to wish me, but the distance cannot be wiped; I cannot hear your words, I cannot feel it, it Is a pain, isn’t it, mother? Hope you are wishing me a happy birthday” she brought her picture to her bed, and she settled on it, narrating the incidents of her life.

“Toro is becoming a stellar player, mom. I guess he will be a quarterback or something soon”, she chuckled. She didn’t know much about football and was never invited to her brother’s games. She would watch them like everyone else. Did she feel bad about it? Of course, she did, but there is only one thing she can do, she can hope that her brother won’t break her heart like the rest of the world because the day she loses her brother is the day she will bid goodbye to the world.

“Your sister loves him a little more now; she is giving him all the opportunities he can get; this is what I wanted for him, mom” Athena touched her mother’s face with her tender fingers. “He doesn’t know what happened, dad. He is lucky. But I am not; I miss you both terribly” she hugged the frame closer to her chest and stared into the void.

This had been her routine for a few years, narrating her day to the picture. She would look like a strong kid from the outside, but from the inside, she was all broken, waiting for love. She hoped that maybe someday she would get the love she was longing for.

The girl knew her parents would never return, but she never stopped wishing, every night, every day, every shooting star that fell to the earth, every 11:11 on her clock, all of it. It was her way of keeping her hope alive, but the girl didn’t know that hope is a cruel, cruel thing. It wraps around your heart like an electric fence, shocking you whenever your wish doesn’t come true.

She was about to fall asleep when Griffin, the head security guard, knocked on her door. “This is for you,” he handed it over to her.

“For me?” she was surprised that she even got a gift.

“If it isn’t for you, I wouldn’t have given it to you now, would I?” he responded harshly, handing it to her. But Athena’s focus was on the present. Nobody ever sends gifts to this place, especially not to her. Who would this be?

She sat on the bed and opened the package, “Happy 21st, my little peony. I hope I will get to see you soon, and when I do……….,” there was a note written, but the message was incomplete, she put the letter on the side and opened the package, there was a beautiful bouquet of roses, and lily of the valley, and Brugmansia, another note was attached to it.

“Just like these flowers, I want you to bloom every day. I have waited all my life to send this gift to you, and now that I did, I can’t wait to see you enjoy them” she wasn’t sure how to react to the gift. “Who are these flowers from?” she smelled them. They smelt heavenly. “Maybe Tris?” she wondered. She knew the guy loved playing games and was a different man for being immaculately attractive and rich, just like his brother. He is a famous figure who is all over the tabloids with millions of women followers. He likes to play pranks but doesn’t reveal them. She didn’t think much about it, as she knew no one else could really harm her. She is neither a prominent figure nor do people know she exists. She put them in a vase beside her bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.

…………………..

“Did you deliver the flowers?” a person was talking on the phone.

“Yes, I did,” a man replied courteously to his boss.

“Did she take them?” the person asked in delight. “I think she did,” the other person responded.

“Think, or yes? I need an affirmative answer,” the person yelled.

“She did,” he gulped, responding.

“You sure,” they asked again.

“Yes. I am”, he responded.

“Okay, send those pictures of her today, the one’s from the restaurant,” the person licked their lips, and before the following words left their mouth, his phone dinged with a multitude of pictures.

The person hung up the call, “You are the most beautiful flower of them all, my little carnation. I can’t wait to devour you whole. When I do., I will make sure I enjoy it to the fullest,” the person traced her neck down to her cleavage moaning in delight.

“I will get to you, Thena. I wish I could take you into my arms right now, but I am afraid that the time isn’t right my little rat, but everything will work out in our favor. Soon, my little dove, I will make you mine, and when I do, you better be prepared because the things I will do to you, you cannot imagine in your wildest dreams. I will enjoy breaking you piece by piece, little by little, and enjoy you whole” they kissed her picture, licking the screen, laughing manically.