Will there be a place for me to rest?

My hands roam around the soft and puffy material of the couch. I immediately know that this isn't my home. I blink my eyes a couple of times before adjusting them to the stream of sunlight pouring through the wide cracks of the curtains.

I slowly sit up with a hand to my forehead to find a damp cloth, and it drops to my lap.

"How are you feeling?"

I turn to the door next to a flatscreen TV. Jace stands, with a clean white jumper that has red print on it. He looks like had just woken, with his disheveled ash blonde hair falling in all the right places, and a sheepish smile on his face.

"I don't think I'm dying." He chuckles, and the magical sound makes my heart flutter, causing me to smile along with him.

"I'm glad..." He says, with a lop-sided smile.

"I-I don't know if the others told you yet-"

He takes a step before swiftly cutting me off. "I know," He says softly.

I nod. "Where were you yesterday?" His eyes dim down to a copper colour but is still vibrant in its own way. He scratches the nape of his neck and I stand up.

"You don't have to tell me," I say, sensing his discomfort.

His eyebrow raises slightly and he doesn't reply but leads me to the kitchen instead, with a marble kitchen island and fancy electronics such as a coffee maker, some high-brand looking microwave, dishwasher, ect... I follow quietly, with my damp clothes still annoyingly clinging onto my skin like leeches.

He leans behind the counter and gestures to the small plate of omelette and bacon in front-which I have to admit is barely enough.

But I'm grateful nonetheless, that they even got food for me at all.

"Kai saved you some before he headed out with Eli." Jace nods to the plate with a small smile. "Dig in."

I muster a nervous chuckle, not realising how hungry I was until now as my stomach growls monstrously. I can see Jace's eyes light up in amusement as he presses his lips to suppress a string of laughter. "That-that wasn’t me," I mutter.

I climb onto the stool, and basically just shove the food down my throat. I moan in delight, as I engulf the whole thing in one go. My eyes fleet up to where Jace has a huge grin on his face. "How can a small girl like you eat so much?"

My cheeks heat up in embarrassment, and I shrug.

"Because she's barely a girl."

My head turns to Grayson who had just waltzed in and straight to the fridge. He takes out an orange juice bottle and pours it into a tall glass on the counter in front of me, beside Jace. He has bags under his eyes, and his dark hair is also dishevelled. His dark grey shirt is thin that outlines his abs and pecks, making me shake my head slightly in disappointment.

All them good looks for nothing…

"She has no fear. Sleeping under the same roof as four other guys, she's got more guts than you J." Grayson addresses Jace, and I don't miss the sarcasm in his voice.

I roll my eyes, but I'm not too annoyed. After all, if I'm not wrong, I'm sure it was Grayson who put that cloth on my forehead.

Fragments of memories come flashing back of him staying, checking my temperature, his hand on my heated cheek in the night and silvery light on his pale skin, making him look more tired.

This boy may have well nursed me back to health.

Jace ignores Grayson, and hands me a T-shirt on the counter. "Here, put this on."

I hesitantly take the shirt. It's still freezing cold in what I'm wearing. I lower my head and nod gratefully. "Thanks.... I'm sorry again for just coming so unexpectedly yesterday..."

Grayson scoffs but tosses me something. My eyes widen as my brain last second, deciphers what it is and I catch my phone that does a 360 through the air. I gasp, and glare at Grayson who has that smirk again on his face. "I would have literally ended you, if this broke."

"You braved a storm just to come here, I assume your reflexes must at least be this good right?" His face turns cold again so suddenly, that I don't even expect it. "Your phone was blowing up last night."

I widen my eyes in realisation. I stayed overnight so dad must be worried sick. I fumble to unlock my phone and already a tonne of notifications come flooding in.

Blair: You’re a bitch you know that? Where are you? I had to cover your ass last night when your father called.

Blair: How can you not tell me your mother came back.

I frown and view that 20 miss calls from dad, and like 50 from an unknown number that I assume is Mom’s.

I assume Blair visited last night or something.

"Is your father suspicious?" My eyes slowly drift back to Grayson as I force myself to snap out of my slight haze of panic. "No one finds out, okay?" His voice is noticeably hard and I can feel Jace edging closer to Grayson with a tight grip on his shoulder.

"Gray, calm down... She won't tell anyone," Jace says lowly. Even though he's saying it quietly, there is something tense in his voice.

"I still don't trust you." Grayson shakes Jace's grip off and proceeds to harden his glare at me. I suppress the urge to roll my eyes, as they're basically the only words he would utter to me every time his face shows up.

But my mind keeps wandering back to last night, where he helped me. Where his voice was soft and I felt safe.

"I think you're already starting to..." He narrows his eyes at me, and I shrug, after climbing down the tall stool. "I'll be going..."

Jace escorts me down the hallway while Grayson hangs in the back as we near the door. "I just want to say thanks again... For you know, letting me stay and stuff."

Jace smirks, and leans closer where I can smell his fresh scent, like he had bathed in mint. "You know what this place is called?"

I raise my brows and shake my head. “It’s our safe-house,” He explains. “Which means you can come anytime if you feel like you’re in danger.” I smile, and throw the oversized top he gave me earlier over my wet ones.

Warmth rushes to my cheeks along with my body, as his scent becomes more prominent. Jace gazes at me with a look I can't decipher but it makes me feel fuzzy and the warmth reaches within.

Suddenly, something blocks my vision and a thick piece of garment is thrown at my face. The fabric is soft and I catch it between my fingers.

My head whips, along with Jace's to Grayson at the end of the hallway.

"If you stain it, I'll kill you."

I look down at the jumper he's given me and smile. Jace raises his brows slightly, and a semi frown appears on his face. I can't figure out what he's thinking and the feeling when he had his mask on comes rushing back, and it's like he's back to being the unreadable Healer.

My attention goes back to Grayson who's now turning around to go back inside. My eyes linger on his back, as I grip the jumper tighter, feeling a sense of relief wash over me at his sudden kindness.

It’s not such a long trip back to my home but I’m already having my ears blown by my mother before I could even take a proper shower.

"That was unacceptable!" I cross my arms and blankly stare at the black screen of the TV as my mother is pacing back and forth with sharpened blood red nails to match her deadly mood.

Dad is seated on one of the arm chairs with a placid expression. It makes me mad that he isn't even speaking up, not even yelling at me or anything but letting this woman who has been gone for so long, teach me.

"Where were you yesterday?" She hisses, as she stops pacing. Her sharp gaze landed on me and I uncross my arms and stand up to face her.

"I was at Blair’s." She looks away a bit but I catch the faltering flash of weakness that passes her features.

"Who-who is that?"

I smirk. "You see, if you were here for these past six years, you'd know." I begin distancing myself from her. "We're done here right? I need a shower." I roll my eyes, but she speaks up.

"No. We're not done here yet." I turn around slowly, to see her expression calming but the sense of upper hand is lost from me as she begins to compose herself again, and possess that look of indifference. "Your father and I need to discuss something with you."

I glance at Dad who just gives me a curt nod, and gestures me to comply. I grit my teeth and take a seat again.

"What do you want?" I can’t help bitterness from lacing my tone.

"You know..." She takes a seat on the other chair, and crosses her legs neatly like she was meeting the damn queen. "After yesterday, I realise you need this much more than I originally thought you would.... So I'm giving you this week to get your things ready and-"

"Wait, wait, wait! Hold up!" I cry. "Are you putting me in rehab?" I begin to hyperventilate and I jump out of my seat.

"No, Arden...." Dad says gently. His warm and soft eyes eases my fear and I hesitantly sit down again.

"Then what?"

Dad sighs and rubs his forehead. "You're going to stay with your mother for a few months...."

This. This was far worse than any rehab.

At this moment, I can feel my whole world crumbling, the pieces shattering before my eyes like that book cover of Demien.

Why are you doing this to me?" I ask, my voice finally cracking. My heart is constricting me, and my mother is making me feel suffocated.

Dad suddenly sniffs, and I realise he's on the brink of crying. "Just a few months honey."

I shake my head, as I bite my lips to suppress my sobs. Mother narrows her eyes at me, and gives a look of disapproval. "Arden, Klaus and I have moved near the city for his job so you won't be too far from here. It will just be for a few months. There's honestly no point in making a big deal out of this."

"Why?"

"I've seen your math report cards and your way of life here okay? It's what's best for you. I can provide more for-"

"Mirae!" Dad's booming yell only causes my mother to flinch momentarily, but she shoots him a pointed look and carries on like nothing has happened while Dad and I clench our fist in fury.

"Dad has done more for me than you can ever do for me in a million years..." I say through gritted teeth.

She huffs a frustrated sigh and flicks her raven locks behind her shoulders. "I'm giving you a week, Arden... Klaus and the kids would love to have you over."

"I don't care about your new fucking family," I hiss. Her face burns red at my profanity and she narrows her eyes even further.

"There’s gotta be a better reason for this. Don’t you dare follow me." I stomp up the stairs into my room and make sure the whole house can feel my fury as I slam the door shut.

I crash into my bed and my tears are wiped off messily by the covers. I curse at myself for wasting my tears on her.

Only Joon is worth crying and yearning for.

Not long after, a light knock can be heard on the door, and Gran enters, who is the last person I'd expect.

"Arden...." Gran smiles slightly, and even so, the edges of her eyes crinkle like paper.

"Do you want this?" I sniff, but I guess all my tears are gone now from yesterday.

Grams takes a seat on the edge of my bed, causing the covers to dip to the left.

"Of course not..." She breathes out tiredly, as she stares off into space. Even though her eyes aren't focused on anything, it seems like she is looking at something.

A distant memory.

"Why do I have to do this? Does Dad want me gone or something..." Even though it sounds so ridiculous, I had to ask. With this, Grams attention snaps back to me, and her eyes are hard.

"Your father loves you. I love you." She makes sure her words are empathised clearly, and she takes my hands into hers. "Your father just doesn't want himself and you to live with regrets. He doesn't want you to go through life with doubts and 'what if's'." She pauses, and brushes a stray string of hair stuck on my tear stained face.

"He doesn't want you to live without seeing your little sister..."

I open my mouth a fraction, taking in this new information. “I-I have a sister?” I look away momentarily and scoff at thin air, finally realising why my mother had fled all those years ago.

She was pregnant with another man’s baby.

"Why-why didn’t she tell me before then?” I ask. This all seemed preposterous and I became even more spiteful as the thought of my mother happily raising another child, when her other was dead, and another one, broken.

“She was scared at how you’d react. Rightfully so.”

“Why should I care?" I ask hesitantly, my voice small.

"No matter what, Arden.... She's your blood. It will be just for a few months. I was against this in the beginning but... Honey, you need this." I can't help but just snuggle up to her side, and take in her cinnamon scent. "You know I only want the best for you."

I can only nod. Even though this idea of moving out of here still seems ridiculous and preposterous, for the first time, I am giving it a second thought.

The next two days, Blair finally decides to show up, with immediately crossed arms and narrowed eyes at my doorway.

“I-I’m sorry for bailing last time and for not texting-”

“Shut it.”

I purse my lips but all she does is grab my wrist unexpectedly and hauls me outside the house into the front yard.

“Blair, I get your mad but-”

She puts up her phone to my face.

I squinted to make out my mother's figure in a headline read: YGM’s Klaus new secret lover revealed!!

She looked lavish with her hair pined up into an elegant bun with a beautiful white dress that hugged her thin body but accentuated her slight curves nicely. She is stepping out of a limousine with her hand slightly covering her face with maybe a security guard beside her.

My eyes go to the date the article was written.

It was only very recently… My mother had been off the grid for almost six years!

“Tell me you didn’t know,” Blair looks me dead in the eye, her hair still naturally curly, not straightened like it’s used to.

I shook my head, not being able to form words. I still haven’t gotten over the fact that I have a sister and now, I find out my mother married some rich CEO or something?

“B-Blair…” I can feel tears forming and Blair’s straightforwardness turns into concern as she scrunches up her face in confusion. “I-I have a sister…”

My hands grip the sides of her arms. “I’m leaving…”

She immediately pulls me in for a hug and we stand there for a while until I’ve started to stop sobbing.

“You know it’s not like you’re leaving the state or anything. You’re still going to Sevit.” We finally started packing my stuff into a carrier van my mother sent.

Blair lifts up my luggage with a grunt and then gives out a shriek as she drops it with a thud.

“Hey!” I drop the box I’m holding and go to her. “Are you okay?”

She holds up her hands with a pout. “I broke a nail,” She mumbles sadly. My eyes go to her chipped red nail that now stands out amongst her other perfectly manicured ones.

“Cry me a fucking river.”

Blair’s jaw drops at my insensitivities. “You should be nice to me you know,” She says, narrowing her almond eyes at me. “I covered your ass and you wouldn’t even tell me where you were yesterday.”

I hiss at her to shush when I hear my mother’s heels clacking on the wooden floors. “Why are you bringing the whole house Arden?” My mother complains, her tone clipped as she wipes away nonexistent sweat on her face and dabs a small blotting paper on her nose.

But her eyes lighten upon Blair’s presence. “You must be Blair Delacour. I’m Miss Mikailov. I’m a big fan of your mother.” She extends a hand, but Blair seems to be too surprised to move.

“I-I um really am familiar with you..” She gulps with her hands awkwardly on her waist. “I saw you… On the-”

My mother nods nonchalantly. “Ah yes! It’s old news now.” She brushes off.

Blair’s emerald eyes glint with admiration as she smooths out her cream coloured skirt and plasters on a charming smile she would give at her makeup events. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

My mother gives her a firm shake, “I’m so glad to find out that my daughter has made such a wonderful and beneficial friend.”

I can’t help but cringe at the word ‘beneficial’, like she’s happy I’ve been able to make friends with someone that of high status, considering my level.

“Well Blair, please help Arden bring her whole room to the moving vans for me will you? I’m sorry to have you come on such a surprisingly hot day,” My mother says, but something in her tone is almost artificial, and I don’t miss her biting remark towards me.

“That’s okay, I’m happy to help!” Bonnie chirps.

My head whips to face Bonnie as soon as my mother is outside, talking to her chauffeur.

Blair whips her head back to me. “What do you want to know?” I swallow thickly, scared of what more wonderful surprise awaits. “Do you have any idea how famous they are?”

I look at her bewilderingly and shrug. “Do you think I care?”

I roll my eyes before picking up a box of my textbooks, ready to go outside to haul it into the van but Blair stops me by snatching the box out of my hands and setting it on the table again with a slam. “You should care, Arden. The press will be all over you if they found out. It’s all hush, hush for now but when the paparazzi finds out that the Mikailov’s are in fact at Eastern Lights, you’ll be in the spotlight too!”

I look at her crazed and intense emerald orbs that are swirling with excitement. “Why are they so popular?” I ask.

Blair facepalms, her curls going astray from her high bun from the exaggerated and animated responses from her. “Ivan Mikailov is set to be the youngest, most richest guy on earth real fucking soon after he takes over his father’s business. He’s literally only twenty-one and already has everything a grown-as adult can only dream of having.”

Blair pauses hesitantly before continuing. “He’s also hot as fuck.”

“Oh. There it is,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes. I am about to exit this conversation when Blair again pulls me back with a tight grip.

“Then there’s Irisa Mikailov, the rebel of the family. There’s no magazine she hasn’t been on, and no actors she hasn’t shagged. Rumour has it that the family’s gone off the grid intentionally after she drunk drove into a diner, completely wasted and high off her ass,” Blair gossips, almost like she’s a show host.

I shake her grip away in chagrin, and she only stares at me in confusion. “You know what? I don’t care anymore.” I exclaim sternly.

“I can’t believe Klaus has a secret love child, they sure kept the secret well,” Blair holds an unreadable expression on her face, puckering her glossy lips in deep thought.

“Are you going to help me or not?” I pick up the box again and shove it under Blair’s nose. She seems to snap out of her reverie as her unfocused eyes become clear again and she looks up to me in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you don’t even know your own family Arden.”

“They’re not my family!” I growl.

Blair only nods timidly as she finally picks up the box I had just set down a million times and carries out to the van.

I take the remaining boxes too, lifting them under the sweltering heat of the blaring sun. I’m confused at the sudden change in weather and am surprised by how much I actually despise the heat.

When everything is set, and my arms begin to feel sore and tired, I am about to head back in with Bonnie to have a refreshing drink but my Mother calls me back.

“What are you doing Arden?” She shouts from the car.

I furrow my brows in confusion and Bonnie also turns back hesitantly with crossed arms. “We’re going back inside…” My words drift away into thin air as she begins to narrow her eyes at me.

“We’re leaving now, Arden. Get in the car.” I can’t comprehend her words and my feet stay planted on the ground despite the jarring nudges from Blair to my ribs. I can see my mother charging at me with conviction in her eyes, but it’s like I’m in some kind of daze because I cannot react.

“Arden. We need to make it back for dinner.” My mother’s tight grip on my arm, snaps me back into reality, and I shake my head frantically.

“No. I need to say goodbye to Grams and Dad. They’re not home yet!” I rip her hands off of me and march back into the house with Bonnie trailing behind me, her footsteps uneven and rushed.

“Ar-Arden h-hold up!” Blair clings onto my arm, but I feel her hold on me weaken as my mother comes into view before me, blocking my way upstairs.

“Arden, we have to leave now. Please listen to me,” Even though her tone is still authoritative, there is slight pleading in the way her eyes bore into mine. “Klaus will feel disrespected if we don’t arrive on time.”

I want to say I don’t care about her new husband, but I know it will just end up with her scolding me again. “There better be a whole three course meal when I get there.”

I walk off before she can comment on my attitude but I can still see her gritting her teeth and holding back her explosive temper. I give a little wave to Blair as I slip into the car, making eye contact with her, trying to convey to her my thought through my eyes.

Sorry about that.

Blair nods.

Call me.

My mother bids Blair a quick farewell and then swiftly sits on the passenger seat. The chauffeur gets on too, and starts the car.

"So you're just taking me there?" I ask coldly. I keep my head straight on the windshield and avoid the prying eyes of my mother from the front seat in the mirror.

"I know how emotional it will get, and we honestly don't have time for that, Arden.... I'm not asking you to live with me forever, but just to give this a try again-"

"I can't even say bye to my father and grams?"

Mother sighs, but doesn't answer like she's already sick of me. I scoff, and glare at the windows to the side as we begin to drive off to god-knows-where.

I begin to doze off, no longer keeping track of the street signs, or count the minutes or estimating the distance. I don't even realise that we've stopped until she calls me.

"Arden, we’re here."

I rub the sleep out of my eyes, before they begin to adjust to my surroundings. I peer from the windows that cannot fit the full view of the large white mansion before me.

She proceeds to open the the door to my seat, and I shudder as the wind blows through harshly. "You can leave your things in the car, it will be transferred into your room soon."

I hop out, my eyes still wandering around my new environment. My eyes go straight to the spacious front garden full of white and blood red roses, the stench quite overwhelming to me as I begin to start sneezing.

“It’s okay, I can take my own luggage,” I say just as three ladies with maid uniforms rush out, and what I presume is a butler also walks out to greet my mother.

“No-no, we are late.” Before I can even respond, I am dragged by her past the rose garden, and escorted by her butler who seems to be suppressing a stressed out expression that seeps into his features now and then. But he remains silent, his legs moving at an intense speed.

I finally am able to notice how rushed this all is. It seems like only 5 minutes ago I was going to curl up on my couch at home and watch TV, yet now I’m about to have dinner with strangers in this gigantic mansion. The fact that I’m nearly tripping as I’m hauled by my mother makes me realise how desperate my mother is to make it to dinner on time.

I’m left wondering why everyone, including the maids and butler is stressing over our untimely arrival.

This makes me curious as to what kind of people I’m going to meet.

We climb the many, many marble steps to the double doors that seem heavy with intricate and antique curves engraved. The heavy door opens for us and we all dash in.

I haven’t even had the time to take in the giant chandelier above me, before being whisked away into a room.

I thought I’m about to face my new family, but I faced myself instead, as I looked into the mirror before me.

My mother ushers me further into the wide room in what seems to be a large walk-in closet and three female assistants surround me with a serious expression. They look to my mother for orders, and I look to her for an explanation.

“What the heck?” I ask. I take in the many designer clothes around me, hang neatly in the many clothing racks and some beautiful outfits are even displayed in glass cases around the room.

My mother shakes her head disapprovingly, while I hold a bewildered expression. “You need to make a good first impression.” Her eyes scan up and down my outfit for the day: a street branded hoodie that is the most expensive thing in my closet, paired with simple jeans and worn out converse sneakers.

“What are we meeting the fucking queen or something?”

Mom sends me a deadly look as she narrows her eyes at me. “That kind of language is not welcome here. It took a lot for me to convince Klaus for you to stay.”

“I never asked for this,” I say through gritted teeth.

She takes a step closer to me, her face structures hard as she continues to stare me down seriously. “Arden, whether you like or not. You are my daughter, and as your mother, I will do everything in power to make you the best.”

I furrow my brows in total confusion. Even though I can feel rage coursing through me at her evolutionary claim as my ‘mother’, I am more confused at her strange and scary sense of determination than anything.

I feel she’s trying to pick up the gem she threw away and desperately trying to make it precious again.

____

Um do I sense some second-lead syndrome.... A love triangle perhaps?

Ahem! So what do you expect from what we've heard of Arden's 'new' family?