Chapter Three

FEBRUARY 

She woke up scared—heart pounding in its cage. Her breath came in struggled gasps and every muscle ached in her taut body. It was evident she had a hangover. Mouth drier than the desert—Raven could feel a wave of nausea threatening to drown her. Her blurry vision became clearer as she rubbed her burning eyes.

"It was definitely a dream,"she whispered.

Glimpsing around, she realized she wasn't in her room. Widening her eyes in disbelief, she blinked slowly.

It was her room.

Still confused, she blinked once more.

It was her old room. 

Jumping from her bed in total shock, she tried recalling the previous night's events.

Wracking her brain, she got up from her king sized bed and began pacing round the room to clear her disoriented mind.

Was she crazy? 

Was she still hallucinating?

"FOCUS RAVEN."

Mind still in disarray. The mysterious voice somewhat relieved her.

Reaching for her phone—it was always next to her bedside clock. She stopped and withdrew her hand. The photograph of her father held her gaze. Touching it before going to sleep was a ritual. It was always faced towards her, towards the bed. 

Remembering her father, she returned her focus to the phone.

February fourth.

The voice had taken her to the day before her father's death-the  murder she was prepared to stop.

Why did it take her to the day before her father's death?

It was all a mystery.

Studying her old room—it looked small and immensely simple. The four walls that meant the world to her was looking antique and unwelcoming—memories flooded through her mind as she studied her surroundings. 

She didn't return to the house after accepting Simeon's offer. 

Neither did she attend her father's funeral.

Her eyes suddenly lit up after hearing her father's voice—opening the brown door in anticipation. She ran swiftly to his mini office.

Everything looked pretty much the same, except it was smaller than she remembered. An entire wall of shelving displayed his books and a family portrait was next to it.

Her eyes came in contact with his almond grey eyes. Her eyelids got heavy and tears trickled down her cheeks.

He had appeared in her dreams countless times but it felt real this time.

Embracing him tightly, she shut her eyes, perceiving the satisfying scent of coffee on his shirt. She always had a thing for coffee.

Nothing else mattered at that moment. It was both of them against the world.

Fred Steel didn't understand why Raven was emotional. He knew they had a fight the previous day, she was his little princess. He hated seeing her cry.

"Why the tears princess? Because I yelled at you last night?" His soothing voice lingered in her brain, she longed to hear it.

Raven couldn't remember the origin of their argument. She stayed mute for a while still embracing him tightly.  

Struggling to recall why her father had yelled at her, she adjusted her nightcap. In a flash, memories poured in. Her father had set her up on a date. The idea of a blind date gave her an unsettling feeling. At that moment, she didn't care about details anymore. All she wanted was to make him smile.

  "I promise to show up for the date dad. I hate fighting with you."

 "He's a good guy princess, I would not set you up with just anyone." He was making a good point. She was twenty when he tried to set up the date.

"I love you dad."

"Me too." Kissing her forehead, Fred adjusted his glasses. 

Hand in hand, they proceeded to the living room. Eyeing the hallway, memories streamed through her mind—with features of a marble floor freshly waxed. The spotlights in the ceiling reminded her of the sky. Memories of running through the hall, seeking for attention lingered through her mind. It was smaller than she remembered.

 Journey to the living room was fast. Raven found her way to the kitchen, her head was still banging and aching. Mrs. Potts-the family's trusted cook came into view.

"Morning miss," Potts sang, with a smile on her face that highlighted her Mellon brown eyes, waiting for her usual hug from Raven. To her despair, Raven nodded her head in reply.

Bathed in soothing shades of blue and pale green. The kitchen opened directly into a dreamy breakfast room, detailed with a scenic wallpaper set into the board-and-batten architectural details. The kitchen gave access to views across the large garden. She and Mrs Potts occasionally sat quietly, watching the landscape. Drinking some water, Raven dashed out of the kitchen—going straight to her father. 

The sight of her mother and sisters came in view as she arrived into the living room, it was too late to turn, she wasn't ready to face any of them.

Avoiding her mother's burning gaze, she brushed the tip of her hair. The tension brought a wave of heat to her body.

"Hello sister...since you've clearly lost your manners." The snotty voice of Louisiana echoed in her ears. 

Raven was the youngest amongst her two sisters. Louisiana, her eldest sister always had her thing going, she payed her no attention—at least that was what she believed. Secrets bloomed around her. 

Tessa, her middle sister used to pay her some attention. They drifted apart without realizing it, things changed for some reason unknown to her.

"Hello."

"Raven," her mother, Veronica Steel appeared shaky, her blood boiled as her voice echoed in and out of her ears. All she wanted was to spend time with her father. 

"Come with me.” She said in a commanding tone—without waiting for her daughter's protest-she walked forward, signaling to follow her lead.

Raven looked over at her father. His warm look melted her heart. Deciding to act properly, she followed behind, mostly because she was curious to find out what she wanted.

Arriving in a private room in the mansion—the journey was a long one. It was a huge house—she eyed the house like a lost stranger in a palace.

Veronica peeped around confirming no one was close by, she walked over to her daughter, lowering her head. 

Raising it, their  blue eyes connected. Raven could see a glimpse of fear in her eyes.

 "What do you want!" 

"I know you’re mad at me. I’m sorry...” 

She was sick and tired of hearing her mother apologize. Memories swirled through her brain—her head throbbed as the image of her mother with another man ran through her mind.

He was one of her father's partners.

Deja vu was happening. Her mother had given her a million reasons why she shouldn’t tell on her—the very next day, Fred was found dead-right next to her. 

"Mad?! What do you mean mad! You know nothing about my feelings! I despise you Veronica Steel!”

The hatred burning within her was overbearing. Her mother's tears made her body crawl in disgust.

"Things aren't the same with your father anymore.” There was always an excuse for every mistake.

"Doesn't justify your infidelity!" She snapped—attempting to leave the room. The door was jammed,!she pushed against it fiercely, eager to leave the room. 

The door opened with force—heart pumping in rage. Her legs carried her as fast as possible-preventing her from running into the maids or her sisters. 

Shutting her eyes, she reached for the door, entering into her room. Her breath came in gasps. Breathing in and out, she opened her eyes slowly. A blurry vision of her sister came into view. 

Tessa was sprawling on her bed—clearly awaiting her arrival.

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Thanks for reading.