Chapter 7

Shelly's PoV

I sighed. "Oh... that guy."

"You met him?" Zara said, blinking. 

"Yeah, Toren bumped into him and he started flirting with me. Creeped me out," I said. I shivered, thinking about his perverted smile. "I'm not working with him."

Zara chuckled. "I know. I don't like him either. Damien and him don't get along because of their history. I won't tell you the details. It's not my place to say. However, I was hoping you could try to win him over."

I wrinkled my nose and shivered. "I'd rather not."

She shook her head. "Not in the way you're thinking. I mean by talking to him, convincing him that Damien is the right choice."

"I don't even know if Damien is the right choice."

She sighed. "Maybe, but from working here for a while, I can assure you he is the least worst option. Just give him a chance. You'll see. But, for now, let's just get you settled in."

She led me to the closet and opened it. Inside were dozens of dresses and outfits.

"Wow," I said, looking at them. "Wait, how did you get my size?"

She smiled. "Damien has his ways."

I shivered. Damien was a bit creepy too.

"Alright, well, I'll go take a shower," I said, heading to the bathroom. "Hey, little bro, stay here and behave, okay?"

"Okay, sis!"

Zara waved. "Relax, I'll watch over him."

Smiling, I went to the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I didn't want to deal with a hyperactive little brother running around while I was showering. I turned on the water and stripped down, stepping under the warm spray. It was so soothing and relaxing. I couldn't remember the last time I had taken a hot shower like this. I let out a contented sigh and began to lather up my body with some scented soap.

As I washed, I thought about what Zara had said. Could I really trust Damien? He looked nice and all, but maybe that was just an act. And, could I really reform a family that had been around for centuries? It was a daunting task, and I didn't know if I was up to it. But, at least I had Toren. He was my rock. Without him, I would be lost.

"Lalala," I began singing, washing my hair. I had learned to sing from Mom. She was an amazing singer. She used to sing lullabies to Toren and me every night. I missed her so much.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I remembered her. I couldn't believe she was gone. She was the only one who truly understood me. She was always there for me. And now, she was gone. I sobbed quietly, the tears mingling with the water from the shower. She and Dad should be enjoying this too. Mom was the original inheritor. If they hadn't died, we would be living a much better life. If they hadn't died... if it wasn't for those Veyron de Luthaines... I gritted my teeth, rage and sadness mixing within me. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to find the killer and make him or her pay. But, I couldn't do that if I didn't know who they were.

I kept singing, my melody like that of somber rain in the middle of the night. I couldn't stop the tears. They just kept flowing down my cheeks. I tried to be strong for Toren, to be his protector and guardian, but sometimes it was just so hard. I felt like I was going to break down at any moment. I needed to be strong for both of us. I had to keep going.

"You sing well," a voice came from behind me.

I screamed and glanced at the wall, Damien's voice was coming from the other side. "Are the walls of this bathroom that thin?! Or was I just that loud?!"

I could hear him laughing. "A bit of both. That's part of why I picked this room for you two. I can keep an ear out just in case."

I blushed and crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling a chill. "Hey, that's an invasion of privacy!"

Damien hummed. "How so? It's not like I have cameras in your shower or something."

I blushed even more. "That's not the point! It's still wrong!"

Damien laughed again. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I just wanted to compliment you on your singing. It was beautiful."

I huffed. "Thanks, but please don't speak up while I'm in the shower again."

"Fine," Damien said. He cleared his throat. "Dino time! Dino roar! All the world fears my claws!" He sang a silly dino song, his voice so loud that the bathroom walls reverberated.

I snorted. "Seriously? What's with that song?"

"It's called 'Dinosaur Power'. I came up with it just now. Think Toren will like it?"

"Probably. But, I doubt it will win any awards"

Damien laughed. "That's okay. I'm not trying to be a singer. Just a dino lover."

I chuckled. He was a strange man, but he was growing on me. Maybe I could trust him, at least a little bit.

"Hey, Shelly," he suddenly said, his tone more serious. "If we do ever find who killed your parents, what will you do?"

I froze. That was a good question. What would I do? I wanted justice, but in what form? "I'm not sure. I want to bring them to justice, I suppose. But, how?"

Damien sighed. "That's the difficult part. The family has its own laws and traditions. We're not subject to regular legal authorities. So, it will be hard to bring someone to justice without evidence. And, if it's someone powerful, they will probably be able to get away with it. That is, unless one of us becomes the head of the family."

I bit my lip. That was true. If Damien became the head of the family, he could use his power to make sure the killer was brought to justice. But, was that enough? I wanted to do more than just punish the killer. I wanted to make them suffer. But, that would mean stooping to their level. I didn't want to be like them. I wanted to be better than that.

"I'm not sure," I said, after a long silence.

"Well, I'll leave you to think about it," Damien said. "Dino! Rawr! Claws of power! Teeth of doom! Dinosaur Power!" He started singing again, his voice echoing through the bathroom.

I laughed. "You're a dork."

He chuckled and continued singing, his voice growing fainter as he walked away.