Seduce Me ~ The Path To Forgiveness

Path Three, Step Eleven: Kindred Spirits

Only a week has passed yet the day of my fathers funeral is upon us. It seems like the time has passed much too quickly, the set date far too soon for many of the people I'm sure would love to attend to make it, but since Daniel is in charge of the arrangements it's out of my hands.

The sun is shining happily in the sky as I wake, the sweet sound of birds drifting through my slightly cracked window, just as wrongfully bright as the day I learned of my fathers passing. The funeral is in a few hours time so I spend extra time preparing for the day, shrouding myself in black to match the bleakness this day represents, and find the others have done the same as I enter the dining room, all of them quite the sight though Sam fidgets uncomfortably in his tight suit.

"Seriously, ya think he cares if I look nice?" Sam scoffs and James sighs, glancing over as I enter.

"Good morning, Miss." He smiles before turning back to his brother. "You're wearing it, this is not up for debate."

"Yeah, yeah. Alright mom." Sam rolls his eyes, doing his best to get comfortable in his seat as he glares. "Not a kid you know."

"Really? You could have fooled me." Erik smirks as I take a seat beside Damien, his fingers tangling with mine as he watches his brothers with amusement. "Matthew's being far more adult about this than you."

"Hey!" Matthew snaps indignantly, straightening up in his chair at the sound of his name. "That's because I am an adult!"

"Only in years." Erik scoffs and Matthew opens his mouth to argue, his glare as sharp as daggers, when James cuts into their heated conversation.

"Forgive me for not inquiring sooner, Miss, but is it truly alright for us to remain here?"

"A bizarre time for such a question." Erik muses, frowning over to his brother.

"I disagree. While William invited us to stay, as of yesterday the manor belongs to Miss Anderson. It would be presumptuous of us to assume the offer is extended."

David, my fathers lawyer, had made a visit yesterday bearing my fathers will. The manor, five million dollars held in a private account and several stocks and bonds had been left to my name. A few others were listed in his will, James and his brothers among them, but Daniels name was nowhere to be seen and the reminder makes my stomach twist, hoping he hasn't inquired about it yet.

'I would feel safer if you stayed.' I admit, my hands signing the words before I realize their implication. I vainly hope he interpretes my words innocently but I'm well aware he's seen the abundance of vicious scars that litter my body.

'Safer?' He signs out the letters slowly, pointedly, his probing gaze unwavering even as Sam snaps.

"Seriously? Can the people with voices use them?"

"You're being rude, Sam." Erik chides with a sigh, though the three left out of our silent exchange watch curiously.

Though I have no desire to lie to him, never having been good at it anyway, I find it difficult to bring my hands to sign out the truth, my gaze dropping to my lap as my free hand picks nervously at the hem of my sleeve. For a moment everything is still, my nerves only worsening as every eye in the room is trained on me, but a reassuring squeeze of my hand gives me a brief surge of courage. Pulling away from Damien, my hands move quickly before I have the chance to think about it too much.

'I'm branded by the Demon Lord.' I admit as I glance back up. His eyes widen just slightly, his skin shifting to a paler tone, as he slips off his glasses. He rubs the bridge of his nose with a sigh but it's not irritation I see in the twist of his lip, the way his eyes squeeze shut tightly, it's guilt.