136 Ophelia Is Innocent
Ten years ago, House Eves
"Quick, bring the rouge! We must make her younger."
Ophelia blinked in confusion at the sight of the maids rushing to dress her older sister, Roselind. She could see the tremble of her elegant sister, who always wore a haughty smile on her face. Self-assured, confident that the world belonged to her. Ophelia wished that was her. Even now, her grandmother's canning from last night stung her backside. She hugged her stuffed toy tighter in fear.
"I already have enough rouge," Roselind sighed in dismay. She twisted a ring on her finger, careful to ignore the sharp ends of the diamond.
"No, make her older! Looking like a child won't stop those greedy barbarians," came the harsh voice of Matriarch Eves.
Ophelia nervously swallowed, wondering what was the cause of this madness early in the morning. Just last week, Roselind woke up with blood on her sheets, and a horrified scream led to this hysteria. Every day seemed to build up to this moment. "You must be so happy!" Lady Eves snapped toward Ophelia. "You get to sit there like a spoiled little brat, whilst your sister is being sent to her death!"
"Enough, Rose-Anne," Lord Eves scowled. "It is not Ophelia's fault her sister bled this early." "You always take her side, Arnold, it is not fair," Lady Eves huffed, crossing her arm and shoving the maids aside to tie Roselind's hair herself. These maids were useless! "This is the Decade Tribute Ceremony we are talking about."
Lord Eves frowned. "I am well aware of the dangers this could pose for our sweet Roselind, but there is nothing we can do to save her from this fate. All of the human families must make this sacrifice."
Lady Eves's lips trembled. "I know, Arnold, I just wished… I just…"
'You wished it was me instead,' Ophelia realized, her grip loosening on her doll. Her grandfather had gifted this to her. "I just wished it would've been a few years later," Lady Eves sighed. "I barely had enough time with Roselind."
"You've had more times with Roselind than Selene ever did," Lord Eves dryly commented, strolling to his youngest granddaughter. "And poor Ophelia never had time with her mother."
There it was again. The sourness of her grandmother's face. And the grimness of her grandfather's gaze. Selene Eves.
A woman Ophelia had only heard whispers of. She was smart enough to know that the woman Selene was her mother, but that was all there was to it. Her father never spoke of her mother. And the subject was never brought up to him. Only within the comfort of the Matriarch and Patriarch did the name come up.
"Ophelia is innocent," Lord Eves reminded his wife, bending to kiss her fondly on the cheeks. "Did you sleep well, darling girl?"
Ophelia didn't dare to say she barely slept a wink. Her bottom was burning from yesterday's punishment and she couldn't lay on her back without squirming in discomfort. When she tried to sleep on her side, it still hurt. When she laid on her stomach, she felt like emptying her belly.
"Did you have a good trip yesterday, Grandpa?" Ophelia timidly asked.
"Yes, and look what I got you!" Lord Eves grinned, revealing his hidden hand. An intricate silver cape tangled from his arm, woven with expensive pearls and shimmered under the candlelight.
"How pretty," Ophelia whispered, running her hand across the soft, satin material.
"A silver cape for my silver coin," Lord Eves teased, tapping her on her nose. His favorite nickname for her. "You must wear this at all times and keep the hood up at the ceremony. Is that clear, darling girl?"
Ophelia nodded in confusion, wondering why she still had to go if Roselind was already going to be presented. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Roselind's deep scowl and her grandmother's disapproving glare. "And where is Roselind's cape?" Lady Eves said.
"Ah, in the carriage," Lord Eves dismissively responded whilst helping his dear granddaughter into the clothing. He stepped back with a grin, proud of his taste. "You look as pretty as a princess in a winter wonderland!"
Ophelia hesitatingly smiled up at him. She loved this cape immediately, for it blended with her silver hair, and hopefully, people wouldn't notice her oddities for it…
"Don't tell me, you're actually bringing her, Arnold?" Lady Eves frowned at the sight of the two of them. She could see her husband's blatant favoritism clear as day. "I've locked her beyond these walls long enough," Lord Eves muttered whilst rubbing his chest. He grunted, feeling tightness and pain. "The world will find out about her existence soon enough. When that happens, I'd rather have control over the situation."
Roselind released a pained laughter, capturing everyone's attention immediately. "As if humans would ever have control."
- - - - -
Roselind was as obedient as she was omniscient. She was smart and socially adept, always aware of her surroundings, yet wise enough to know to keep her mouth shut. Seldom did she disobey her grandparents or father. Not that the latter cared, he barely showed her the time of day.
Roselind didn't blame her father, Aaron for his lack of attention. She blamed Ophelia. Her spoiled little sister. Ophelia had their grandfather and father eating out of the palm of her hands. Anything Ophelia wanted, she got. Anytime Ophelia cried, she got what she deserved. That was why Roselind didn't bat an eye when their grandmother punished her yesterday. Someone ought to keep that spoiled brat on a leash.
It was unfair.
Roselind glowered upon Ophelia. Why did their father love Ophelia more than Roselind? Ophelia was a murderer, after all! She was the reason their mother died during childbirth. She was the reason their father seldom smiled at the mention of their mother's name.
Ophelia was a catalyst to House Eve's demise.
"Try to mind your manners today, Ophelia," Lady Eves sniped, despising the fact that Ophelia sat directly in front of Lord Eves who favorably grinned at the little girl. He offered her treats and candy throughout the entire journey, but never once batted an eye to Roselind.
Lady Eves abhorred his favoritism. Why couldn't he spare the same attention to Roselind, who was always eager to please him? "Rosie, don't be scared," Ophelia whispered to her older sister, wrapping her arms around Roselind's trembling form. "I'm here with you."
"I'm not scared," Roselind sharply said, frowning, but she couldn't keep her shaking at bay. They were approaching the center of the Decade Tribute Ceremony now, where all the human girls would be presented like serfs for auction. Her eyes watered, her face paling when she could see the beasts in the distance. Every ten years, humans from the most prominent families must send their daughters to this heinous ceremony. It was a cruel reminder to the humans that they were at the bottom of the food chain. This was a punishment for the war between humans, werewolves, and vampires. The ceremony was created as a treaty and a way of honoring the ancestors that came before them.
A warning to never repeat the war ever again.
"You're just a girl," Lord Eves reassured her whilst keeping his eyes focused forward. He refused to be teary-eyed like the other stupid patriarchs. The more emotions he showed, the more the cruel beasts would toy with them. "You will not be chosen, I promise you this. You're far too young, anyone can see that."
Roselind swallowed whilst biting her tongue. She knew if she spoke, her fear would get the best of her.
"It's okay," Ophelia continued with a warm smile at her sister. "Easy for you to say," Roselind snapped. "You're not the one being offered like meat too—"
"Roselind." Lord Eves shot her a warning glower. They were nearing the vampires and werewolves soon. Their supernatural hearing would've gutted Roselind from the inside out at her insults.
"They look just like us, Grandpa," Ophelia said to her grandfather. He tightly gripped her shoulders, pressing her to his side protectively. A warning, almost, that she wasn't up for the picking. Not that any of them wouldn't know. Ophelia sported an innocent pink dress the color of peonies. Roselind was in all white, like all of the other frightened girls bidding goodbye to their parents. 12:37
Ophelia sported an innocent pink dress the color of peonies. Roselind was in all white, like all of the other frightened girls bidding goodbye to their parents. "They do look like humans, darling girl," Lord Eves agreed with a firm nod. Ophelia wasn't wrong.
In the distance, the werewolves and vampires kept to their kind, rarely speaking to each other. All three species hated each other with every bone in their body. Even the werewolves despised the vampires and vice versa. But at times, they tolerated each other's presence when humans were present. The werewolves and vampires were a force to be reckoned with. From their larger tent and armies of people to their towering stature, every part of them oozed brutality. They spoke in low whispers, snickering when one of the girls would burst into tears, or commenting which was the most delectable. Which seemed like a cryer. Which girl's ancestors insulted their own. "Stick close to me, and remember," Lord Eves warned Ophelia, grabbing ahold of her wrist. "You must keep your hood on at all times. Do not draw attention to yourself."
"Hmph, as if she'll behave," Lady Eves scoffed from beside Roselind.
Roselind bit her bottom lips and ignored her grandmother. "Aren't we going to our family tent?"
"Do you hear me, Ophelia?" Lord Eves ignored his other granddaughter. He leaned into Ophelia's face, growing solemn by the second, despite the aching pain in his chest.
"Yes, Grandpa," Ophelia responded reassuringly, not sure why he was so frightened. Neither she nor Roselind attended the ceremony before, as none of them had bled up until now. Time of the month, her grandmother cried out in grief. Whatever that meant.
"Good girl," Lord Eves murmured, taking her hand and immediately escorting her in the direction of their tent. He couldn't just leave her home alone today, not after he heard of who was going to be in attendance.
"Are you alright?" Lady Eves asked her husband when she noticed his quick cough and hand on his lungs. His lips had turned blue slightly, pupils dilated. She worried it was his heart problem.
"I'm fine," Lord Eves responded, walking faster and shifting his restrictive tie.
"Wait for us, Arnold," Lady Eves sighed, taking hold of Roselind's hand and quickly pulling the girl after the duo. She hated the sight of them together more than the beasts gathered in front of him. Like a spit in her face, Arnold always took Ophelia's side. As if the ruinous girl deserves any of it!
Lady Eves didn't hate Ophelia for what she did to Selene. Lady Eves was ecstatic when the smear of their honorable family was finally dead! It was what Ophelia stood for— the spitting image of her wanton mother. "Who are you looking for, Arnold?" Lady Eves asked her husband when she noticed his insistent gaze out of the tent. He hadn't spared Roselind a single glance all morning.
"An old friend of mine," Lord Eves murmured in response, continuing to scan the area. "Ah, there he is! Come with me, Rose-Anne, quick!"
Lord Eves reached his elbow for his wife to take. Lady Eves frowned in confusion. "What about the girls—"
"Girls," Lord Eves warned. "Stay in this tent, no matter what!"
Then, Lord Eves stormed out of the tent with his wife in tow. He was quick with his movements, wasting no time the second he spotted the enormous man amongst his people. It wasn't that hard to see him, for everyone quickly parted like the red sea and hurriedly went to greet him.
"You're shaking, Rosie," Ophelia whispered to Roselidn who gritted her teeth.
"Shut up, no I'm not!" Roselind growled, shoving Ophelia out of her way. She wanted to see who her grandfather was eager to meet. "My lady, you must—"
"I know!" Roselind snapped at the maids in charge of them, careful to keep her face concealed. "Ugh, look at House Wyne's daughter, so googly-eye to be selected by one of those heinous beasts."
Ophelia smiled up at Roselind. "I hope you marry someone who will treat you well."
PAK!
Ophelia gasped, flying to the floor. Roselind had roughly smacked her across the face with enough force for tears to gather within seconds. None of the maids moved. They knew better than that. "How dare you," Roselind spat out. "How dare you curse your own sister!"
Ophelia touched her cheeks, the burning sensation shooking straight to her. Even worse, she felt something wet and knew it was not her tears. She shakingly glanced at her fingertips, finding a strange silver liquid. In confusion, she rubbed her face, wondering what it could be.
"You deserve that cut on your face, you venomous snake!" Roselind snarled, storming out of the tent, despite scratching Ophelia's cheeks with her ring. She was disgusted by the sight of Ophelia's blood, spilling out like liquid silver.
"My lady, wait!" The maids cried out, running after Roselind.
"N-no, don't leave me alone!" Ophelia begged, frightened to be all by herself in this enormous tent. She ran out, a crying mess, her vision blurry. Fat, hot tears slid down her face, and she was beginning to trip in an attempt to catch up with her sister.
"Wait for me, Rosie!" Ophelia pleaded, as her tears mixed with the blood on her face. She ran for her older sister, not realizing the growls that surfaced and the bloodshot eyes that snapped in her direction.
Immediately, Ophelia Eves had everyone's attention. Chaos erupted within seconds. All hell broke loose.
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