Chapter 8[What's in the box?]

These 2 days passed by pretty quickly.I got a little better and spent most of my time in the art room staring at the painting.But something really annoyed me.

Rowan and grandpa were always around me.Yes, I know I fainted last time but I'm not a child.I am truly capable of taking care of myself and I don't need anyone monitoring me 24/7.

And again, something felt completely odd.I will never forget the look in their faces every time I got near the painting.It's not like the painting is going to eat me alive or something.

And not to forget the fact that they both often share weird glances and leave to have a private talk .Honestly, it's annoying me.Tommorow is my birthday and no one seems to be even a tiny bit happy or excited for it.

Not that I mind it too much but it doesn't feel like my usual birthdays.Something tells me that a big dark secret lurks behind all this.

We had our dinner, as always with the weird glances and no one even spoke a word.I was being constantly watched , me each and every move.

Please, it's not like I'm going to dissapear from here once I turn eighteen.They are really getting on my nerves.

That's it!

I quickly finished my food, walked to my room and shut the door tight.

*****

After Bella walked away from there, the three of them sat there in silence for a moment before Rowan broke it.

"I hate this.All of this.Yes, she is danger but you know what hurts more than that?The fact that she doesn't know anything about it!I'm gonna tell her!Right now!"

He almost got up from his seat but grandpa was quick to stop him.

"Rowan, yes...it's important for her to know everything.But before that, she has to be ready.WE have to be ready.You can't just go confront her and assume her to digest everything we say.She'll eventually learn the truth, one by one, slowly.That is the best for all of us."

And again, a deadly silence huddled them.

"Listen, I have an important work today.I'll have a word with her tonight and let me promise you,I will tell her the truth tommorow.But tonight, we have to keep her safe, safe under our watch.When the clock strikes twelve , that is when she turns eighteen.....we have to be extremely careful."

Rowan and grandma nodded slowly , mentally preparing themselves for what lies ahead.Grandpa got up and walked to and old closet in the hall.He opened it and took out an antique box.He blew the dust off the box while tapping the sides lightly.

Both Rowan and grandma were watching him silently.Grandpa walked upstairs to Bella's room before throwing a glance at his wife and grandson.

He took a deep breath and knocked her room door 3 times.

After a while, the door opened, revealing a puffy eyes Bella.seeing her in this state hurt his heart deeply.She had been crying.It happens every year.She cries a day before her birthday.

"May I enter?"

He asked her while she nodded slowly.The photograph that she clutched in her hands didn't go unnoticed by him.

"You had been crying."

He said while she looked up to face him, flashing him a sad smile.

"You say this every year and I give you the same answers."

She said as a tear slowly rolled down her cheeks.She looked at the photo in her hands and placed it in her grandfather's hands.He didn't even mind to take a look at it to know its content.

It would hurt his heart to see the picture of two beautiful siblings, holding hands and smiling at the camera .Because in the end, only one of them is alive.Only one of them is standing here before his eyes, losing the other half long ago.

"She would have turned eighteen with me if she was here."

The grandfather nodded sadly.

"She would have...Bella.But she's in a better place.She's up there, watching over you all the time"

He said while he bopped her nose slightly, earning a sad chuckle from Bella.

She took a deep breath and and talked.

"If only I was in her place and she was in mine.She would have lived, my sister would have lived to this day."

"Bella, dear, listen, everything happens for a reason.It was her time to leave, so she left.But honey, it's not your time yet!"He said sternly, snatching away the blade that Bella hid under the mattress.

He threw it away on the floor, earning a gasp from her.

She looked down in guilt as her grandfather held her chin upwards.He smiled and placed the box in front of her.She looked at the box confused.

"Happy Birthday Bella.This is something I waited eighteen years to give you."

He kissed her forehead and left the room while she looked down at the box.

She took a look at the box.It was an ancient looking wooden box with beautifully carved patterns on it.It had a small ledge at the front.She opened it and what the box held took her breath away.

It was a mesmerizing and unique key bedazzled with rhinestones and diamonds.

She stood there looking at the key in awe.What does this key open?

She slowly brushed her delicate fingers on the key and was too carried away to even notice that her grandpa had exited the room.

"But grandpa-"

She looked up expecting to see him but noticed that he wasn't there anymore.

"He left...."

She looked down at the key again.But why was she given a key?

But then, she noticed a wording engraved on the key, that caught her attention.

"Cryx"

What does it mean?What language is it?

But the word was strangely familiar to her.Where has she seen it?

Yes of course!!

She quickly ran from her room to her grandfather's art room.strangely it was already opened.She ran straight to the painting and read the label below the painting.

"Cryx"

The same word.What does it mean?She ran her fingers around the frame of the painting, trying to find something.And there, her fingers came in contact with a hole.A keyhole!!How come she never noticed the hole there before this?

She quickly took the key and pushed it into the hole and twisted it.

Click!

Her eyes widen at that sound.

Her mind was blank.She couldn't think of any possibilities of what the secret compartment could hold.She took a deep breath and pulled the frame of the painting, mentally preparing herself for the worst possible outcome.

Her eyes completely widen at the sight she saw before her eyes.