Orchid

The Dela Vega Mansion was once filled with laughter and pure joy. Indeed, a perfect picturesque of a typical ideal family. My mom, Ariadne Blythe is a loving wife and hands-on mother. She loves to brush my almost white hair that fell under my tiny waist. At the age of seven, I know I'm truly blessed with everything I have.

Our oil painted faces were hung on the wall. From my great grandfather to their most precious gem, and that's me. The servants were treated with the highest form of respect. My mother taught me well, that respect should be earned. These people earned it as I reciprocate them the way they treated me.

However, in every family there's always conflict and oddness. Ariadne Blythe Guzman treasured me like her very own sapphire. On the other hand, my father, Karl Maximus Saitō Dela Vega is strict—having his highest principles and philosophies somehow made him hard to reach.

He strongly believes that he needs an heir rather than an heiress. His Japanese blood reigns, as he had seen me as a delicate flower.

I have mastered the art of façade since I was a kid. Every time he sees me, I need to act based on my gender. He rarely throws his gaze on me. I didn't know how it felt to have his warmth before I slept at night.

Only my mother sings and tells bedtime stories. She's the only person I can confide with. I am not allowed to play outside, unless it's my mom or a close family.

I thought everything will be fine when I grow older. As long as I understand the situation, I can compromise. My mother wants me to be girly, then so be it. My father wants me to learn how to defend myself, it's okay, really.

Whenever I see their faces filled with pride, I've felt that everything's okay. I'm feeling great, even better. I felt proud too, somehow. Until a huge twist happened.

My eight year-old self was scared when my mother left my side. A night before her birthday, her car crashed. It was the 13th of February, I'm supposed to be a jolly early birthday celebration was replaced by tears and agony.

Her majestic face can now only be seen through her pictures. Everything was distant in my memories. The oil paintings hung on the wall deserve more recognition.

As much as I was devastated with her tragic farewell, my father mourned shortly. He began to act like someone I don't know. His ever strict eyes turned into cold ones. He started to enroll me in different kinds of martial arts. He told me that self - defense is not enough. I need to be the toughest and greatest of them all, to stay from the top. So, I obliged.

I made myself as an A-class warrior equipped with exceptional wit and deduction. I've never been proud until I received my very first sword. But that didn't stop there, I did not think twice to enter the battlefield. From the façade that I used to practice, I finally found my purpose.

I got back home with a dog tag hanging from my neck. The coldness of the metal contrast from the warmth that's coming from the fire inside my heart. This is the moment I've been waiting for, I could finally see the pride beaming in his eyes. Or so I thought.

At the young age of 17, I was already a full-pledge soldier. My father didn't know about it, I wanted to surprise him. I've trained and fought hard at USMA, at West Point, N.Y. for my parent's consent, I've actually used the connection that one Dela Vega has.

I was so excited to show him my achievement. When I got a little closer to the dinning room, I heard voices and a series of laughter. It seems that someone is with my father and they're rather blissful with each other. I didn't mind it, and continued my excited stride towards the dining room where my father and his guests are.

I was clothed in military uniform, when his utensil dropped together with his smile. "Dad, I've made it!" I thought he'd welcome me in his arms, but instead it was his palm landed on my face. "I told you to be great, not to be a man! You're a lady, act like one!"

That's when I first met Alessandra and her mom Astra. She used to be my late mother's best friend, turns out they're into one another for a long time. Alessandra is also blonde. Right there, I presume that he is my father's. Looks like they've been doing it behind my mother's back.

They're all filthy, appalling and nauseating even. I can't believe them. I transformed myself for my disgusting father's approval. Everything I made myself into was not that worthy anymore. "Were the changes I've embraced were just useless pieces of shit?" The delicate flower was now a wild one. Just like the orchids blooming from the critical barks, I bloomed myself.

A familiar tone rang, it was from my personal phone. There are only less than ten people who can contact me through this. As I have read the name of the caller. A sudden lump on my throat appeared, so I cleared it before answering.

"Moshi moshi, Hime Dela Vega desu." [Hello, This is Hime Dela Vega speaking] "Ohayo Gozaimasu, Hime-sama." [Good Morning, Hime.]

"Nani wa?" [What] "Goshujin, Otou-sama ga, anata to okaa-sama oyobi desu." [The master, your father, he's been asking for you and his wife.]

"Kareni Itekure, watashi wa sugu ni tazu meru " [Tell him, I'll visit him soon.]

"Hime-sama wa, itsu ni naru?" [When will that be, Hime-sama?]

"Suguni" [Soon] I ended the call. I don't want to answer her. I'll visit whenever I want.

Just not now.. Not on this day, not on this date...

In less than an hour, my mom will turn forty-eight. Just like the holiday, she's that sweet and loving mother. Unfortunately, his husband. didn't even treasure her. Instead, he did abhorrent things which spawned an abominable creature that I need to call a sister, step-sister rather. Please note my fucking sarcasm. He betrayed us. I wonder if he really loved her.. us.

Alessandra is a few months older than me. All along they have been treacherous. The best friend and the husband fucking behind my mother's back.

Ever since I've met them, my blood would boil every second I see their face. Maybe my intuition is warning me for the endless possibilities, I'm never wrong.

I sensed some presence. One, two, three… there are two bitches lurking inside my vicinity. I know who they are.

I exhaled sharply and let my eyes close. I titled my head to the left, seconds later, a box of tissue came flying by. "Nice one, drama queen." I mentally rolled my eyes.

Another thing was thrown towards me and I caught it with my own hands. "Good thing you're still conscious." Gloria went inside wearing her white silky dress.

"You know we're here right?"

"I know, now vanish."

Every year these two bitches would join me on my most vulnerable night. They didn't proceed to disturb me, thank God for that, the maids are on their leave. Only the three of us are inside this mansion, and it's enough for me. The knowledge that they're here is already enough for me.

Moments later, I heard the doors to their own rooms closed. They know how unpredictable I can be when this day comes. One time, I nearly killed every person in my dungeon and that's against my protocol.

The numbness took over. I reached the pool area unconsciously. I felt myself slowly sinking at the 15 feet deep pool. It's fine though, I can hold my breath for 15 to 30 minutes max. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm a mermaid or a sea creature in my past life.

I don't feel any sign of suffocation. The water calms me down. "The water can be your friend or a foe. If you are afraid of it, then prepare to drown with all the fears inside your head."

I closed my eyes and let the darkness succumb me.

I feel someone pumping my chest. I can't even understand the vague words from familiar voices. "Is she dead?" "Right, that bitchy tone."

"Of course not, she's a mermaid in disguise, Anne." Gloria hissed. I slowly opened my eyes. It's still dark, I presume it's just two o'clock in the. morning. "Good morning."

"Really Hime? Good morning? You're so close to saying hello, Mommy. Again!." Anne can't help but to face-palm. Gloria raised her voice in response. "Anne!" She smiled apologetically to me. "I don't want anybody's pity." "What?, I'm just stating the fact here!" She's glaring at me. "Please tell me what stunts you're planning to do so that we can be prepared."

"Says the most unpredictable one, bitch you're much worse than me." Just like yours truly, Anne has episodes too. But I do think she's much worse. She's the masochist among us. She can hurt herself without minding the pain and scars she gets. Now she's making faces.

"Bitch be thankful , you already have Leo to comfort you." I continued.

"So? You want me to find you one?"

I only stared at her face. "I already got mine, Anne. But I'm afraid he'll be scared of me for sure." I wanted to tell them that but it seems that i can't. "If you're thinking about that guy-like Chua. He's a douchebag in disguise. I don't like him at all." Gloria's shaking her head. "Get up, I got some stress toys." This time my face lit up in excitement

"Poor captives, may your soul rest in peace in advance." Anne murmured before we marched towards my dungeon.

ANNE is singing while strumming her acoustic guitar. "Through the lows and the highs, I will stay by your side. There's no need for goodbyes, now I'm seeing the light." The sound of thorned whip and their woes are blending.

"When the sky turns gray and there's nothing to say. At the end of the day, I choose you." There's a great dissimilitude between her melodramatic song and the cries of pain resounding the room.

Lyra is running for her life. Jayden is playing with my cobras and vipers. Gloria is dancing interpretatively. She's like a ballet dancer in a bloody dungeon.

The dance and song number stopped when Anne's guitar string broke and I know Gloria's about to… "Who the fuck disrupted my fucking concentration?!"

"Well, there we go. She's gonna for sure throw a tantrum." I rolled my eyes at my not so sudden thought.

Literal seconds later, bullets are raining down from Gloria's gun. "Please, stop!" Lyra's cry was the most audible among all the noise. Her screeching sound is absolutely disturbing.

I throw an automatic syringe full of sedatives towards Gloria. Just like throwing a dart, it hit Gloria on her firing arm. "Bulls eye."

Looking at the aftermath of Gloria's tantrum. Alessandra and her friends are now unconscious. While Theo still can' move due to his heavy metal armor. Thank goodness, my pet snakes are okay though, they're now slithering towards me, leaving an exhausted Jayden.

"I think you had enough. Feeling better?" Anne asked me seconds after Gloria woke up from the effects of the sedative. A genuine smile was plastered on my face.

"Gloria, prepare your finest tea." She just smirked and tossed her gun somewhere. The gun was now broken after her stunt. "Aye, Aye!"