Ghost Of Revenge

"Christabel, you need to come back home as soon as possible". Uncle Tobias said with a sigh through the phone.

My brows furrowed with confusion, why did he want me to go back home?. My semester wasn't even winding up and I had a lot to catch up to before my graduation.

"Uncle I can't. I'm at school you know that!". I exclaimed back as I placed my pen down on the book I was writing.

He sighed again, "Christabel, it's urgent and you have to be here".

"Uncle, what is so urgent that it needs my presence?. Can't you sort it out?". I questioned but he had hanged up on me already.

I gave out a sigh as I placed my phone down on the table beside my books. I felt exhausted and the whole of me just wanted to pass out.

I rubbed my eyes and let out a yawn as I stretched out releasing all of it in an exhale.

I really needed to rest but I had exams to write in a few weeks time. I had to study hard and make sure that I passed them.

I'm aware that money wasn't a problem in our family but I didn't want to depend on my Father's will. I wanted to build my own dynasty and make my own money, that's why I studied this hard.

Uncle Tobias was Father's elder brother and now that Father was no more, Mother wasn't herself anymore, he was the head of the family.

I believed that whatever he needed me for, he'd sort it out on his own.

Nonetheless, what if it was about Mother's condition?. I dropped my hands on the table with a small thud. If it was about Mother then I had to go back home.

I quickly got up and went to my room to pack up and also book a plane ticket to California where we lived.

I studied in Canada and Father had bought me this particular condo to live in instead of renting out an apartment and sharing it like the way other college students did.

The condo was close to school and my favorite coffee shop thus I had nothing to worry about as a student.

All of my bills were always taken care of, my allowance was always deposited in my account right on time even after Father's death. Let me just say that Father always made it as his priority that I lived comfortably. Hell, Mother and my Sister Clara were all well off as well.

After I packed up, I took a quick shower and dressed up .. In basic clothes; dark tight high waist jeans, a pinkish woolen crop-top which was long sleeved (it was like a sweater only that it wasn't a full sweater but it was fashionable) and gucci boots to go.

•••••

Upon arrival, I found my friend Veronica at the steps in front of our house. Her face lit up when she saw me. I got out of the cab, engulfing her in an embrace as the driver took my suitcase and duffel bag from the trunk.

I had already paid the cab driver so he left without further ado.

"Where's everyone?". I asked her as she took my suitcase while I carried the duffel bag inside.

"Everyone? Meaning?". She questioned. I stopped walking and turned to look at her, my brows furrowed with confusion.

"Veronica was that a joke? Well it wasn't funny!. I meant everyone like the house helps, my sister and Mom". I said as I walked up the stairs up to my room.

She followed behind and set the suitcase beside my bed.

"No one even came to pick me up at the airport. Is there any problem that you've not told me?". I asked as I opened my duffel bag.

"Christabel". Veronica called, causing me to pause from taking out my stuff from the bag and looked up at her.

There was sadness in her eyes and she looked uncomfortable.

"Christabel, why don't you wait for your Uncle Tobias?. He'll tell you all that you need to know". She paused and tried to smile.

By the way, wasn't it Uncle Tobias who called me to come back home?. I'm sure he had a good explanation of all of these!.

"I've got errands to run... See you around". She added as she reached for the door but stopped again and hesitantly looked at me, "Before I forget, I'm sorry for everything that has taken place. Only God knows the reason why this is happening to you". She left shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

What was she talking about?. I suddenly felt weak, my knees gave in to the weight of my body causing me to fall on my bed.

Why would Veronica say things like that?. What had gone wrong?. Was my Mother alright?. Uncle Tobias never told me anything, he had just instructed for me to come back home but he never stated the reason.

'Everything's just fine'. I tried to internally reassure myself. 'Clara is around and Uncle Tobias too so there is nothing wrong'.

My mind kept on thinking about Mother. Whether she was okay or not.

"What could possibly be wrong?". I asked myself out loud.

Just then, the door to my room opened. I looked up to see Clara standing on the doorway. Looking back at me straight in the eye and not bothering to break our gaze.

Clara was a blonde girl. Her hair which was almost golden was tied up in a neat ponytail, she was yellow skinned, had dark beautiful eyes, had a few freckles here and there on her face but she was still beautiful.

Clara was dressed in black trousers, a see-me-through black blouse, a matching coat on top which she hadn't really worn, it was just on top of her shoulders and black heels.

I stood up as she walked in the room. I noticed the white vase she was holding in her hands as she walked close to me.

The tension between us was thick, it worsened with the deafening silence present in the room which I had the urge to break but I didn't know what to say.

I broke the gaze and looked behind her where Uncle Tobias stood, he was dressed in black too.

What was with the black outfit today?. I didn't want to over think things.

I looked at her again. Now that she was a few meters away from me, I couldn't help but realize that something was off.

Particularly today, she looked rather pale, her eyes were swollen red. She had dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn't been sleeping well.

I knew I had dark circles as well. I hadn't been sleeping well due to studying for my exams.

Nonetheless, Clara looked far more worse and leaner than her usual.

"So you're back?". She asked, her eyes raking over me several times.

"Yes. Why didn't you guys pick me up at the airport?". I asked as I took some steps towards her.

"Don't come any close!". She spat.

I stopped and looked at her again, her eyes looking straight at me as if in warning.

I couldn't contour the exact expression her eyes held but Clara had never been this negative towards me.

"You wanted to be picked up, huh?. Don't you know your way home?". She remarked.

"I didn't mean for you to respond so rudely. You could have just kept quite if you didn't want to respond.. Anyways, where's Mother? Everyone?". I asked trying to dismiss her rudeness.

She kept quiet. Breaking our gaze, she looked away at nothing in particular and a tear streamed down her left cheek.

"Clara...". I called bit she didn't answer, I took a step towards her but she quickly took a step back, trying to maintain the distance between us.

The feeling stirring within me, sadness, fear, worry... I needed answers and she didn't want to talk to me.

"Clara.." I called again but she quickly turned and left my room, pushing Uncle away in the process.

I followed her.

She went into her room and shut the door at my face.

"Clara open the door let's talk". I tried talking softly as I knocked on the door.

'Perhaps I've hurt her unknowingly'. I thought to myself trying to remember what I could have done that had hurt her.

"Stop!. That won't make her open the door". Uncle Tobias said from behind me.

I turned to look at him. Worry lines etched deep on my forehead.

"Uncle? What's happening around here?". I questioned.

His hands were in his trouser pockets, his face held no expression whatsoever.

"First, you should get some rest. I'm sure you're tired from the flight and all that. I'll have someone prepare you something to eat". Hr answered.

It was clear enough that there was something indeed wrong and they didn't want to tell me.