Dark hallways

Author's Pov

Augustine barged into his daughter's room and flunked the blanket off her body;

"Get up, I need a few drops of blood from your body"

Celine's eyes flung open in fear

"Father, you...you tried it yesterday" She tried to protest but he dragged her to his room not listening to any of it.

Getting into the room, he placed her beside a huge box where the soul of her mother was. Her father had trapped her soul into the box and even though it was obvious the soul didn't want to be there, he didn't care, all he wanted was his wife.

The box shook vigorously as Celine got close, tears streamed down her face as she watched her Father worshipped the devil's idol in his room and said things inaudibly and then, he turned to her with a really sharp knife ready to slit her lap when a deep voice filled the room

"There's no point in doing all this"

Augustine quickly bowed as he realised who it was.

Celine was puzzled, 'who was it?' then, her eyes met the idol her father worshipped earlier and noticed it was talking. In fear, she passed out hearing these last words;

"......in Kingdom Orandote"

***

Celine wondered why her father moved to Orandote but was too scared to ask. It wasn't as if she would miss any of her friends as she didn't have any. They lived in a deserted part of the countryside, a place which was forbidden by the King to step into. It was believed to be filled with unknown evil spirits. She was homeschooled all her life even before her mother died. Orandote was quiet and the people seemed nice to her, even her father. After arranging her room, she sat on her bed and stared around until she heard a knock on the door and her father gently asking her to get the door.

Celine sighed, not understanding the new behaviour of her father. She opened the door and her eyes met with a tall pretty girl with blue eyes and the most beautiful smile she had ever seen holding a chocolate cake.

"Hey, I'm your neighbor. It's nice to finally meet you" the pretty girl said beaming with smiles.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you too" Celine replied, faking a smile.

She was unsure of what her dad would do if he found her talking to the girl for too long.

"I'm Cleopatra by the way and I baked this cake for you as a welcome to the countryside gift and also want to invite you the birthday of the King's son"

Celine's smile dropped

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested...you see...my dad and...."

Her dad interrupts

"No, it's fine dear...just go and don't keep our neighbor standing outside...come on in" he said and continued "and I bought dresses your mother used to wear"

Celine looked extremely uncomfortable

What game was her dad playing? She thought.

She collected the cake..

"O...okay F...Fat...Father" she replied, somewhat scared.

She got to her room and changed into the dress her dad placed on her bed.

"It's as if he's gotten everything planned out" She muttered to herself as she packed her hair into a messy bun.

Celine walked out of the room and Cleopatra gasped.

"Wow, that is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen"

Celine blushed as it's been years someone complimented her

"Alright, you guys have fun, bye"

Cleopatra and Celine walked out of the house.

Celine's heart was pounding as she felt she's in trouble with her dad.

"Your dad is a really nice person" Cleopatra said, smiling.

Celine faked a smile as she was extremely worried.

"You can call me Cleo by the way and I forgot to ask, what's your name?"

"I'm Celine"

"Awww, you look pretty in that dress"

"Thank you" Celine simply said.

"You're not too much of a talker huh?" Cleo asked Celine who didn't reply.

The rest of the walk was quiet.

***

The palace was beautifully decorated as the King's first son was celebrating his birthday. Cleo tried to grab Celine's hand but she flinched.

"Common, I'm not going to hurt you... why are you so stiff?" Cleo asked getting pissed off.

"I'm...I'm...sorry .." Celine apologized.

"What's wrong with you? I tried warming up to you but it's not working. Don't you like me? You shouldn't allow your personal problems define who you are and if there really is any problem, you should try to share them with me" Cleo asked with concern.

Celine shook her head, she wouldn't understand.

Cleo sighed.

"Lemme introduce you to my other friends" She said and led Celine into the huge palace.

***

Augustine changed into an all black robe and placed two red coloured rings by the two sides of door. He walked to the box where his wife's soul was kept, muttered some words and opened it. The soul flew out agitated and tried to rush out of the room but a huge force stopped it and it went crashing down, the force was obviously planted by Augustine with the two red rings.

"There's no escape in the house, Martha"

Augustine's voice filled the room and he threw two weird looking ropes at her and she was suddenly tied to the chair behind her. She struggled but couldn't get out, she gazed at him as tears ran down her face.

Augustine only grunted and turned to the devil's idol and chanted for two minutes.

"Oh master, show me the vessel, who's the vessel that can be used to revive my wife"

A dark figure appeared and said;

"Your daughter's fate is tied with the vessel. Are you sure you need my help reviving your wife back?"

"Yes, yes...I'd do anything to get her back. I miss her alot"

" Try to find out who the vessel is and get back to me and listen, a strange spirit would hover around your daughter and disrupt your work. Try to get rid of it" The dark figure said.

" I will" Augustine replied

" Not allowing your daughter to make friends isn't the option. You wouldn't get to know the vessel that way" The dark figure said.

" How would I know if I've found the vessel?"Augustine asked.

" Initiate plan B" The dark figure said.

Augustine gasped.

" What if she turns evil?"

" I've been protecting you from evil spirits ever since the day you started worshipping me, why would I initiate plan B if she would later turn into an evil spirit? Do you doubt my powers?"

" I'm sorry Master" Augustine said and bowed.

" Much better" The dark figure said and turned to Martha, smirked and disappeared.

***

Celine felt left out as Cleo introduced her to her friends. She tried to figure out why her Dad left where they lived. However, she was relieved to leave the place.

"Whatever it is, it's definitely terrible" She muttered to herself.

"Did you say something?" Cleo asked Celine.

"No" Celine replied.

"Here's Mark and Rosanne. They're actually twins, Mark and Rosanne, this is Celine" Cleo introduced.

"Nice to meet you beautiful" Mark smiled and extended his hand for a handshake.

Celine sighed and accepted it and looked at him. She observed him and noticed how cute he is. Brown eyes, brown hair, his nose looked perfect . He's probably the cutest guy in the kingdom. Celine thought.

"Same here" Celine replied with a small smile.

"You should let go of her hand now Mark" Rosanne teased and greeted Celine.

"Uhm, excuse me... Gotta use the bathroom" Celine excused herself and left.

She actually lied, she was tired of being around people as she wasn't used to it and wanted some peace and quiet.