A couple of notes---this chapter is very text heavy and not to many screenshots, but it's a good one. And an important one where you really get to know the girls and can pick who your favorite is, because there's an heir poll for this generation.
Second, as far as actual heir selection goes, this chapter has the family meeting, and the next chapter we'll find out who the heir is and the one after will be the heir's birthday and that person will take over as the narrator! So, enjoy these last few instances of hearing Giselle's voice.
1.10 -- The Baby GirlsAs much as they hated it, Camille, Maxime, and Allete inherited the collective nickname 'Baby Girls' as they got older. It was much easier to yell ' C'mere, Baby Girls' across the house than it was to say their names individually. That's not to say that I clumped all of the girls together as one person: in fact, my girls all had very different personalities. I loved each of them and their little idiosyncrasies. It was fascinating to peek in on them in their room to see how they interacted and treated each other, to see what each of them did in their most natural state. But more than anything, the way they interacted was absolutely priceless.
Maxime nearly tumbled off the bed in a fit of laughs the day her two sisters climbed on the bed and excitedly announced that they'd have a field trip to the Science lab soon, according to their school's website. "Ally, you're such a nerd! Only you would find the Science Lab cool."
Allete gasped a little, though she continued to jump. It was clear to see that her older sister had offended her just a little bit. Allete wasn't particularly outspoken. She liked her books, she liked learning about new things, and she liked to impart that knowledge on other people. So in her mind, a trip to the Science Lab must have been paradise "But think of all the cool stuff will see. They just put in a new Angelfish exhibit! You know that if you want to catch Deathfish, you have to use Angelfish, right? It's because they're sworn enemies in ancient Simitian myth! I read about it in a book at the Library. The Angelfish is actually a---"
Maxime let out mock snoring sound, "I don't want a history lesson on Saturday." Little Maxime could be compared to a diva, but her personality wasn't quite so severe. There was an air of bossiness to her, yes. Of the three of them, Maxime was 100% the 'leader', so to speak. And her sisters fell in line like little soldiers or groupies whenever the eldest triplet had a plan or something needed to be done. From cleaning the room, to setting up and organized morning bathroom schedule. Maxime had a very clear idea of what she wanted---ambitious, motivated, and all the while she poured over magazines and did her best to match the styles of the things she found to be beautiful.
Allete blew out a sigh, "I just thought it was interesting...."
"Mmm, I'm sure you did." Maxime laid on her stomach as her sisters finally stopped jumping. She looked at the youngest fo the three of them. Little Camille, draped in purple and white, her favorite colors and the only way the boys were able to tell her apart from the other girls. Camille smiled a bit.
"Why are you staring at me, Maxie?"
Camille was a sweet girl...and also quite sensitive. She always had been. As a toddler, she cried the most, slept the least, and made the most noise in her crib and high chair. And as much as I hate to admit to this now, the other girls were often a bit...well neglected so I could console Camille. Shawnee did have to work, and the boys did both have school, so I was on my own from time to time---it was as if she wouldn't be quieted by anyone but her mother. Growing up, I found she didn't improve but so much. While she no longer sits up crying in her bed or begs for food, she's easily offended by people. Especially her very forward older sister 'Maxie'
Maxie had an expression on her face that showed she wanted to say something, but she refrained and sat upright.
"Nothing."
Camille was a sensitive girl, but she certainly wasn't stupid. One thing I noticed was that she always knew when someone wanted to speak, wanted to do something, or was feeling a certain way. But the question that always remained was whether or not she was going to say anything about it. That day, she decided to remain quiet.
"Okay..." Was all she said as they looked at each other a while. A long moment of tense staring and Camille finally looked away, "I'm gonna go play with Cinnamon."
"No you're not!" Maxime grabbed her little sister's arm with a smile and motioned for Allete to join then, "We are gonna go play in the playhouse!"
"B-but it's cold outside!"
"I love the cold."
"But I don't! Maxie, I don't want to!" Camille yanked her hand away. I remember so clearly that day the annoyed look on Maxime's face when her sister protested. Camillle didn't often protest to what Maxime wanted to do, so when she did it always threw the young girl for a loop.
"Why?" Maxime laughed a little, masking her confusion, "C'mon, Cammy, you never play in the playhouse with Ally and me. You always stay inside with the dogs. We should go play together."
Camille shook her head fiercely, "I don't want to. I don't feel like it. If you keep asking, I'm telling Mommy that you're trying to make me do something I don't want to do."
"Why can't we have just one day when you don't go into super cry baby mode? I just want to play with BOTH of my sisters!"
Camille sniffled and held her hands to her chest, "I'm n-not...I'm not a cry baby!"
"Yes you are!" Maxime pointed at her sister, "You're crying now! Look, you're eyes are red. Sheesh, Camille, you're a baby! Go ahead, cry for Mommy! Tell her I just want to play with you and that makes me a really really bad sister."
And that's when 'Mommy' finally intervened. That particular day I had stood outside their door, poking my head in just to catch a glimpse of my girls and I watched the entire conversation from beginning to end. Seeing them argue with each other reminded to much of life at home. Life in Monte Vista when I was constantly at odds with my own family. My heart went out to my little Camille. I saw so much of myself in her---the youngest, the most sensitive, the outcast. At the time, when I was young and there was a question in the house of who was going to take on the responsibility of carrying on the family name, I was so confused and saddened to find no one thought I'd be any good. Looking back at myself and seeing my daughter act so similarly to me, I understood why. And that made my heart break.
"Hey!" I shouted, and the three girls' attention snapped to me, "Enough of this noise."
Maxime sucked her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest, "Sorry. Go ahead, Camille, tell Mommy what you wanted to say."
Camille bent her head low and sniffled, "I wasn't going to say anything..."
The eldest let out a groan of frustration and fell onto her bed, mouthing something about preferring to sleep over going outside. Allete sat beside her and just looked at me, shrugging slightly. Level-headed Allete. How that girl came from me baffled me. Looking at my girls, I realized that with them aging and coming more and more into their teenhood, it would soon be time for me to select who was going to be the heir. An age old tradition was a Matriarchy---a line of women at the head of the household, rather than men or a mix. I decided some time previously I would do that, but with three such...different girls, I didn't know how I was going to decide.
"Alright, girls. We're not arguing anymore today, we're not crying." I put my finger on the underside of Camille's chin and tilted her head up to face me. A tear had fallen and I leaned down and kissed the spot on her cheek where it had landed. She smiled a little and Maxime sat up, rolling her eyes. I turned my attention on her, "We're not forcing anyone to do what they don't want to do. Dakota's coming home from school soon and we need to get the house together for when he arrives."
Allete slid off the bed, "Dakota hates everyone. I don't wanna clean for him..." Her voice came out sad and whiny, and while I could understand her statement, it wasn't anything I could let go.
"Dakota is your brother. So whether you think he likes you or not, we're going to make the house nice, welcome him home and then we'll have a family meeting. Clear? Let's get to it."
The rest of that afternoon was spent wiping counters, making beds and cleaning up stray toys. It did take quite a bit of time to get everything in order, but eventually we finished. However, Dakota seemed to be running a little late. His predicted time of arrival came and went, and he didn't appear.
"Well...family meeting, everyone. Into the Living Room" I clapped my hands together as we all sat around the island in the kitchen, waiting for the boy who never came.
I knew I had a lot to tell them, and I had given some thought as to how I was going to say it, so I wasn't nervous about that. What I was concerned about, however, was how they were going to respond. But as I sat there, I knew there was no better way to find out than to just say it.
"Alright...it's about time I told you all the details of what I'm trying to build here. Or rather what we as a family are trying to build. A Legacy...a long line of strong, independent and successful Delacour family members to carry our good name on for years to come. In order to do that, I have to chose an heir."
The girls looked at me with rapt attention, Maxime looked much like a girl meeting a celebrity with her amazement, Allete had that inquisitive 'I'm learning' look on her face, and Camille just gazed at me with innocent amazement. The difference in their personalities made me smile a little as I continued.
"When I was growing up, I had a different last name. I've never told any of you about this, only your father knows." I looked to Shawnee adn he nodded. We'd since discussed what brought him back into my arms all those years ago, and it was that information that helped me fall back on more stable footing. I knew I had to keep an eye out for that genie and the woman who was normally with him. That woman I ran away from, "In reality, my last name is Morae. And I come from a Legacy too...the only thing is, when it came time to choose an heir, my mother chose my older sister over me. I wasn't the heir, so I didn't carry on the family name. For many years I had to live in the house with my sister and it wasn't fun...it wasn't pleasant. So I left where I came from, changed my name and came here. Started my own family."
I let out a small, slow breath and looked again to Shawnee who nodded affirmatively at me, instilling me with a bit more confidence, "There aren't a lot of people in the world who like people who come from the Morae family. If you went to Bridgeport or Sunset Valley or Monte Vista or anywhere in the world, even here in Appaloosa Plains, and said the name 'Morae', people would flinch and back away. And the reason for that is a woman named Isabelle Morae. She caused so much terror and death and destruction. She hurt many people...she was a powerful witch who managed to make herself stay alive a lot longer than normal people live."
Allete raised her hand and I motioned to her, "Yes?"
"Did she---Did---Did she umm..." The little girl began, always one to struggle when speaking in front of others, "Did she use magic to stay alive? How long did she stay alive for?"
"Isabelle stayed alive for hundreds of years. She was able to see the birth of her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, her great great grandchildren, her great great great grandchildren---and she was their leader. She was the head of the entire Morae family. She was the founder, just like I'm the founder of us, the Delacours. And she didn't use Magic. Not at first anyway, she used a potion called 'Young Again' that reverted her back to her Young Adulthood. Then she learned Alchemy and found another way to do it. In fact, guys...Isabelle is still alive today."
I saw then that Allete wanted to speak again, but the truth of Isabelle still being alive and wandering somewhere in the world seemed to have struck her silent. It struck her and the rest of the family stunned, and for good reason. A woman who could keep herself alive for so long and is known for being dangerous is somewhere out there. and each and everyone of them is related to her.
"Isabelle was there when I was born. My sister, your aunt in Sunset Valley, was...well...is the tenth generation heir of the Morae family. The TENTH. That just goes to show how long Isabelle's been alive for. And that makes Isabelle mine and your some number of 'greats' grandmother. Now here's the problem...she's out there somewhere. I ran away, but she found me. I don't think it's her plan to harm me personally but I don't know what her plan is. I don't know what she wants. But please, kids, promise me that if you ever EVER encounter her, you will run away. Death and misfortune follow Isabelle wherever she goes, and while whatever she may offer you seems great, it will always end poorly. I won't be around forever to protect you, and when you get older you'll be able to make your own decisions. And I strongly hope that you'll choose to stay away from her at all costs. It's the smartest thing you could ever do in your life. Are we clear?"
Everyone was stationary for a moment, then one by one they all started to shift and look at each other, then eventually, they nodded in aggreement.
"There's still a bit of time. I'm not selecting an heir today...I still haven't decided. But I don't want anyone being on their 'best behavior' or acting any differently than you normally do just to up your chances. Be yourself completely. That will bet he best thing you can do. Everyone clear?"
The general tone of the murmurs that followed was that of understanding. And with everything said and a decision on my hands, I dismissed the family and let them go about their business. A sigh left my lips and Shawnee rubbed my back gently, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek and whispering something about it being 'okay'. As far as the heir goes, I knew I wanted to choose one of the girls. They each had their own redeeming qualities, I just couldn't decide. And besides, as far as 'okay' went, I thought Shawnee would be the most concerned considering his son didn't come home when he was supposed to. And yet he seemed calm.
Until we got the letter.
"What's that?" I asked him as he came over.
Shawnee strode across the room and handed the envelope to me, "Letter from Dakota." His expression said clearly that he didn't want to open it. Whether he was frustrated that Dakota hadn't come home or he was frightened by what the letter would say, I couldn't tell. He just...didn't want to open the letter. Neither did I for that matter, but someone had to.
"Alright..." I opened the letter and held it up.
Dear Dad and Giselle,
When I first moved in to the house I told Giselle that I hated her.
That's not true, and I hope she'll forgive me for saying that. I don't hate
any of my siblings, and I don't hate my father for bringing any of them
into the world. What I hate is the situation, and the fact that my mother
died because of it. I happen to know who it was that killed her. I see the
murderer's face in my dreams on a day to day basis, and I will never forget
the sight of her standing next to the Reaper, smiling like they were old
friends. Something tells me that they were
Which brings me to the point of this letter. Coming home won't help me
feel any better about the situation, it'll only remind me of what happened
and how I was defenseless to stop it. I need to find Isabelle, the woman
who killed my mother. And if I can', I have to end her. And if I can't end her
I'll be more content dying myself and being able to see my mother again.
I know you'll think I'm stupid and naive for believing I could find and
stop her, and that's exactly why I'm not giving you the chance to stop me
By the time you get this letter, I'll already be gone from school, but
you'll never know where. You won't be able to find me until I've
found Isabelle.=======
PLEASE READ THIS SECTIONAlright, ladies and gentlemen, here is the poll. Let me explain how this works---this is mostly an opinion poll. I want you guys to vote and I'm going to keep the results hidden until the end and I just want to get a general idea of who you guys want to see as the heir.
This poll is not the deciding factor! It's more a way to help me finalize my decision and potentially swap my plot out I may or may not select according to the results of this poll.
Click here to Vote
