Dusk&Death :.Chapter.: 1

1: Rich Children

Edward sat still, his black, leather chair that stood taller than his own thin body. His pale, bony legs were crossed, his hand supporting his head as he drifted through his thoughts, bored. The sunlight came in through the large window behind the desk, reflecting off of his shaggy, dark hair and lightening the dark, dusty study.
His teenage sister, Elizabeth, stood by the window, looking out onto the garden. Roses of white and red were spread among the bushes, orange trees and cherry blossoms shaded the stone walkway. A beauty any gardener would be proud of held no concern for the young woman, however. “Eddy, you’re nine, and neither I nor your brother could sustain living in this house, let alone the staff. Nor could we legally live without mother or father, we need to find a foster home.”
The boy grimaced with disgust, shamed by his loss. “You’re sad, Elizabeth.”
Little Edward, his sister Elizabeth, and his teen brother, James, were the children of two millionaire business owners who died in an accident only a week ago. Having no close relatives, James was sent to study the family’s history and search for anyone in the family who could foster the trio. The young girl and spoiled boy were left in the large house to mourn and say goodbye to the butlers, maids, chefs and gardeners. Edward, however, was done mourning and saying goodbye. All that was left was to pack up his stuff and be forced out of his home and into the world that disgusted him so.
“I do wish you wouldn’t be so rude,” said the blond Elizabeth, a sigh slumping her down into a seat beside the window. Her gaze was fixed outside the window, still, the rays of sunlight heating her pale cheeks and brightening the book-filled study.
No longer shaded by the tall, young girl, Edward shuddered and raised his thin hand to block the rising sun. Brooding angrily and silently, the Gothic boy breathed softly out of his clenched teeth.
Still consumed by her own thoughts, Elizabeth shifted her face, turning around in her seat, and looked at her baby brother. “Who do you suppose we’ll be living with?”
The young Edward stood from his tall chair and looked out the window, gazing onto the castle-like property. His emotions twisted, anger and hatred devoured all the happiness inside him. Everything was lost. His parents, his home, the only people he ever knew besides his siblings. Only sick feelings were left in the child. “I hope it’s nothing too horrendous,” he mumbled, suppressing his emotions.
A sigh slumped Elizabeth again, sinking her down into her seat. “We’ll survive, Eddy,” she whispered, her breath brushing against her pink lips.
However, that wasn’t good enough for the spoiled young boy. With his chin high, he pulled his vest down, flattening the small creases. Without a word, Edward marched out of the room, leaving his mourning sister alone in the study. There was nothing more for the young gentleman to say. Rather, there were things he needed to prepare.
~~
The trio sat in a grand room with white, sparkling tiles to make up the floor and spotless walls to make up the room. Night shone in through the open window behind the dark-haired James, who sat at the head of the table. Pastel curtains blew in the soft, cold breeze, touching the back of the young boy’s blazer.
Elizabeth played with her soup and spoon, dolefully. Her mind was distant. Her thoughts were elsewhere in the silent sulking of the room. The only sound in the large dining room was the slapping of her spoon against the finely prepared food and James’ scraping of his spoon against the bottom of the porcelain bowl.
With a soft, distant voice, James snapped from his silence and mused to his siblings sorrowfully. “This will be our last dinner here.”
Holding back tears, Elizabeth choked to get her hoarse whisper across, sobering from her awake dreaming. “You said there was only one person left…are you sure of this?”
The dark-haired teen set his spoon against the rim of his soup bowl, wiping his mouth. “I checked a day’s worth of different sources, even the newspapers. We, and our third cousin, are the last of the Hill family.
A deep hatred sprouted in the orphan’s heart as young Edward slammed down a cup with a grimace, splashing the cider onto the table. “You do realize how common our family’s name is, yes? Is it not possible you were informed of the wrong Hill family?”
Unable to tolerate his brother’s short remarks, James took a deep breath and looked over to his sister. “No, Edward, it’s more complicated than that. Regardless, I talked to the man and even saw a picture of him with our mother.”
The twisted grimace on the young boy’s face dropped into a spoiled pout. “Regardless. I’m done here, and shall go upstairs to take a bath. Have Clark clean up my dishes.” Turning to leave, the young Edward threw up his hand and let his legs carry him away from his family. There was nothing more to say, nothing more to bicker about. No matter how much he disliked it or fought against it, he was going to leave. That was that. The last thing the hateful boy heard from the table as he walked away was a soft, repressed sob from his sister. Still, it wasn’t enough to make him turn back and apologize. The damage had been done.
Stripped and in the steaming water of his bath, the young boy let his mind drift. His heart tore with rage as he dwelled on the thought of leaving the mansion. Glaring at the wall of the sparkling bathroom, Edward sunk back into the water he sat in. Bubbles floated to the surface as he breathed out of his clenched teeth. “Fuck it all,” he murmured under the water. His siblings weren’t the only ones compelled by the memories of their past. Edward, himself, hadn’t been able to grasp the idea of being anywhere else, just as his older brother and sister. How could he be? He was nine, not sixteen or seventeen like his siblings, his mind was still set on selfish pleasures and bound to childish and meaningless desires. Even having realized that, he still couldn’t find the strength and maturity to move on. Rather, he found the frustration and aggravation to get up and out of the bath water.
With tightened muscles and bashing fists, the young boy tossed on his black bathrobe and stepped to the sink to brush his teeth. Toothbrush in hand, he looked up to the fogged mirror, just barely making out the sight of change. “Wha-…” he whispered to himself, baffled. Curious, Edward wiped away the steam and got closer to his reflection, tossing his toothbrush to the counter. The image of Edward, short and black-haired, watched him in return with wide, unusual eyes. Well that can’t be…he thought. Deep in consideration, the wet, puzzled boy touched his hand to his chin, looking away from the mirror and down to the white tiles of the bathroom. Must be the mirror, he concluded, stepping out the door of the bathroom that took him to his dark blue bedroom.
A large bookshelf full of fat books and a large collection of CDs sat against the wall, opposite of the window, blowing in cool air. A large, black, king-size bed sat pushed against the wall beside the window, the dark sheets perfectly neat and pressed. Edward tore off the black robe as bitter breezes nipped at his skin, sending shivers up and down his spine as he tossed it in the hamper beside the dresser parallel to the bed. Shaking, the young boy scavenged through his large, black dresser compartments, in search for a pair of silk pajamas. After an unbearably cold, long moment, young Edward’s hand finally touched the soft satin fabric. With a sigh of relief, the grimacing child pulled the clothes out of the tightly packed dresser and rested it on the floor next to his still dripping feet. Carefully, Edward pulled on a pair of white boxers. Wiping his body dry with a towel from on top of the dresser, he pulled on the black pajama leggings and tugged his arms through the sleeves of the shirt, buttoning it up slowly.
Slowly, he stepped over to the window. The gentle breeze had developed into a bitter, cold wind, blowing back Edward’s dark, shoulder-length hair as he glared out onto the garden, distastefully. With a raise of his chin and a look of pitiless hate, the young boy shut the window and pulled the drapes over the sight of the garden. “Stupid garden,” he mumbled, sitting on his bed with his arms folded across his chest. The boy’s eyelids drooped down, sleepily as he lay back in the feathery bed, a sigh brushing against his pink lips. He turned over, laying on his stomach, and closed his eyes. Before slipping into unconsciousness, Edward tugged on the black sheets, pulling them out from underneath his small, thin self and over his half-asleep body. Draped in warm, delicate sheets, he let his eyelids fall, slowly drifting asleep.
Edward’s rustic eyes dazedly opened to the darkness of his bedroom. Night continued to pour in through the window, the drapes having fallen back into place. A full moon hung in the starry sky, glistening over the garden and sending rays of vanilla light into the dark, quiet room. The young, sleepy boy stirred quietly in his bed, turning to his side and shifting his gaze across the room in examination. His gaze, however, froze in a hugging hold by the stare of a pair of mysterious, yellow eyes that shone in the darkness. Like cat eyes, they were mystical in a dark, ominous kind of way as they narrowed at the attention. Captivated, Edward found himself unable to locate his arms and legs as he lay limp in bed.
The menacing being crawled out from the shadows and into the moonlight that seeped in through the window, revealing a long, rotting body that crawled on all fours like a dog. The creature’s lips curled over its large, yellow teeth in an evil smirk. Its yellow, cat-like eyes stayed focus on Edward as a deep growl emitted from its rumbling chest.
The fear-struck boy shut his wet eyes tightly, recoiling into his body in a stiff ball. His mouth opened to make a sound, but only his trembling, uneven breath could be heard in the darkness. The boy’s long, thin fingers twitched under the dark covers, in search. Before a move could be made, the room felt to have shifted. Edward opened his rustic eyes, examining the empty room. The strain on his body had lifted, all fear replaced by confusion and relief. Freed from the anxiety, the young child’s eye lids drooped down as he fell into deep sleep.
~~
Sunlight poured in through the window, heating the pale Edward’s cheeks. Birds chirped a tune in the garden, welcoming the day. The room, brightened by the daylight, was empty of creatures and stalkers, leaving Edward in his lonesome. The window beside the head of the boy’s bed was opened wide, letting in a cool fall breeze. The thin, black curtains swayed in the small gust of fresh air, touching the young boy’s hand that hung off the edge of the large mattress.
With a sigh, Edward threw off the dark sheets. His body lay stiff on his bed, unmoving, as his thoughts caught up with him. A deep groan ripped through him as he turned over on his stomach, looking for the energy to rise from his bed. Finally, he tossed his thin, silk-draped legs over the edge of the bed, thrusting his torso up from the comfort and warmth of the mattress. His eyes, foggy and sleep-driven, searched around the room with suspicion. “What a surreptitious dream,” he murmured, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Another sigh brushed his pink lips, question and curiosity left swelling in his mind.
Downstairs, Elizabeth and James towed bag among bag down the long room leading to the front door. Elizabeth carried pale colored bags, smaller bags under each arm and wheeled suitcases tugged by both hands. James struggled with dark blue bags that stood tall and stacked.
"Mr. Jasper Hill," James said calmly, a small, empty smile on his face. Edward wasn't the only one suffering. It had only been a week since their parents had passed away, only a few days since the funeral. But of course, the young child was blind. "The man lives on a private property, just outside of a small town in Colorado. It's just him and his wife," James went on, answering unasked questions. "I believe her name is Ophelia or something of the sort."

Elizabeth gave a small smile as she gave her brother a helping hand, taking two of the bags stuffed under her brother's arm. "I'd hate to be a burden, are you positive there will be room for the three of us?"
"Oh yes!" James replied, getting better hold on his luggage. "He mentioned two spare rooms, and he insisted on us taking them." Carefully, the young, dark-haired man set down his bags and shook the black mop of hair out of his eyes.

Elizabeth set down all her bags, shaking her weak arm. "Yes," she started, flattening her dark curls. "Perhaps that will only enrage poor Eddy some more, having to share a bedroom."
A sigh brushed James' full lips. "The boy's had everything handed to him,"
"Hopefully this will work as a wake-up call. Is the boy even sad about mother and father?"

James turned to his sister, his dark eyes wide with surprise by her hateful words. "Eliz! How could you?"
Elizabeth paid no attention to her older brother, her gaze stuck on the white, spotless tile that made up the floor.

Back upstairs, Edward stood at the edge of his bed, rifling through his clothes and dresser drawers. The boy, draped with black shorts, a white blouse, and black sweater, knew his way through the sea of gothic clothes and dark accessories. It was part of him to be dressed in fancy, hundred-dollar, gothic outfits. However, the boy would never agree to say the style was anything more than that - a style. Once the boy stored his attire in bag among bag, young Edward stepped by the window, the breeze still blowing into the dark room. The boy’s hair blew behind him as his gaze fixed on the garden. The beautiful scene from the garden, the birds that flew around and sang lullabies, the trees that rustled in the wind, they all built the tiny child with frustration. His thin body shook as he shut his eyes tightly, his fist bashing against the wall. "Damn it all to Hell!"