Aldric Kensington's Pov.

After getting a call from Reuben about urgently coming to a club, me, Ezekiel and Zephyrus are on our way to go to the same club. Reuben didn't tell me the reason yet.

I swear this kid gets into trouble all the time. After taking care of a shipment which was a result of our deal with French Mafia, I just wanted to go back home and tuck my baby sister into bed.

I have already missed nine years of her life; I don't want to miss more. I want to relish every moment with her.

We reached the club which is casting neon lights everywhere. I looked at the bar where my three youngest brothers are sitting.

"Why the hell you called us here?" Zephyrus asked. He also wanted to see our sister and just sleep for the night. But this idiot will not admit it to anyone.

"Well, I just wanted you guys to see the actual face of the very sister you care a lot about." Reuben replied.

"Don't beat around the bush. Just come to the main point." I said.

"The sister you think is so innocent, is now drinking and dancing with random strangers in the middle of the night."

"What exactly do you want to say Reuben? Say clearly." Ezekiel said, now getting irritated.

Even my patience is thinning.

"Look ahead," Royce said.

We stared ahead only to be shocked. My sister is there dancing with a masked guy.

Athaliah Kensington's Pov.

I am staring into the eyes that have clouded my mind since I killed Rafael. We haven't spoken a word yet. I was confused why he would be here. One thing about Scythe is that he will no longer be present in places where he has no motive. We were dancing or more like he was forcing me to dance with him. I decided to break the silence,

"Who are you?"

"You forgot me very soon, Purple."

His voice. So hypnotic. So captivating. Like it was the light of my darkness. The medicine to my wounds.

Composing myself, I spoke,

"Sorry, do I know you?"

I cannot let him know that I am Cicada. My identity is hidden for the underworld. And I have no plans to reveal my face and identity to a merciless killer like Scythe.

Yet.

"This conversation about you knowing me is for another day. Tonight, I am here to merely rely on a message to you."

"Which is?"

"With grins and gleams, they all appear bright, Yet in their smiles, there hides a fright. Beneath the cheer, a truth does creep, A secret so dark, it's hard to keep. Look close at each, they wear a mask, For in this place, no truth will last."

Before I could decipher what he was saying, I heard someone calling my name. I turned towards that voice to see the Kensington brothers coming in my direction.

When I turned back towards Scythe, he was gone.

"Can I ask what are you doing here sweetheart?" Ezekiel asked.

"What every teenager does. Enjoying myself."

"Yeah, or more like throwing yourself at every other man."

"He asked about me not the things you do Reuben."

I saw Kaelen and Royce controlling their laughter.

"It's midnight." Said Aldric.

"So, I am not Cinderella who has to return home by midnight."

"Who was the guy earlier?" asked Zephyrus.

"I don't know. Another random person I was dancing with. And you interrogating me in the middle of the dance floor is sacring other guys from dancing with me. So, if you guys excuse me."

I left the dance floor and went to the bar where I ordered another non-alcoholic drink. I was about to take my first sip when the glass was snatched from my hands by Royce.

"I thought you said you don't drink." He sniffed my drink.

Seriously.

"I didn't lie. Also, can you guys leave me alone. I want to have some fun."

"You were supposed to be in bed by now." Aldric said.

"I was getting bored."

"Guys, it's okay. She just wants to have some fun. We will have fun together." Said Kaelen excitedly.

I am not liking where this is going. This was to piss them off. Not for them to join me.

"Fine, do as your wish. We will also join you here." Aldric declared.

All the Kensington Brothers sat on the stool beside bar ordering light drink for themselves.

This is not where it was supposed to go. But as I am already here, I am not backing out.

I gulped my Virgin piña colada and left for the dance floor. I will show them what I can actually do to piss them off. I went to DJ to request a song.

Th song 'Sad Girlz Luv Money' started playing.

I danced to the sensual rhythm of the music, my body flowing with a smooth, hypnotic grace. My movements are slow and deliberate, each sway and shift of my hips in perfect harmony with the deep, melodic beats. My hands move with subtle elegance, gliding through the air and tracing the curves of my body, accentuating my movements.

Suddenly, I was interrupted by someone. That someone was Reuben who grabbed my forearm and dragged me out of the club.

Fuck. He grabbed my wounded arm. His fingers tightening around my forearm with a grip that seemed stronger than necessary. His touch felt invasive.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Reuben didn't seem to hear the anger and pain in my voice. He continued dragging me outside in the car and drove away.

The whole ride was silent. Anger, frustration and resentment hung in the car. When we reached the Kensington mansion, Reuben again held my arm and dragged me to the living room. His fingers dug into the injury, and I couldn't hold back a gasp of discomfort. The hurt was too much, and without thinking, I jerked my arm away, my face contorting with a sharp pain. The motion was quick, almost desperate, as I stepped back, cradling my arm against my chest. Reuben looked momentarily taken aback, his grip loosening just as I pulled away.

"Do not fucking touch me ever again." I said, emphasizing each word coming out of my mouth. The syllables pronounced more forcefully, almost spat out, with little patience for any interruptions.

The other Kensington brothers also came to the living room and stood beside us.

"What were you doing in the club? Every eye was on you. Do you not feel ashamed?" said Reuben.

The words hung in the air, sharp and accusing.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong, Reuben. I was just dancing."

"Like that. Do you not care what people think?"

"I don't. I was just enjoying myself. If anyone has any problem, they can straight come to me. I will show them how much importance I give to their useless shit opinions."

"You cannot enjoy your life after you destroyed ours." Reuben said.

That was it. I lost my temper.

"I didn't destroy your life. If anything, you guys destroyed my life."

"You think sending you to a boarding school destroyed your life? You were away from the sheer sadness that was in this house. You didn't see our brothers getting distanced from each other. You didn't see the happiness slipping away from our house. You were not here to see the mess you created after killing our mom."

"Reuben, that's enough." Aldric intervened.

"Huh! That's all?" I asked, my voice filled with pain, anger and disbelief.

"That's all you are asking?" This time Kaelen spoke.

I thought he wanted to make amendments. Doesn't seem like it.

"Athaliah, after you were gone, nothing was like close to joy in this house. I don't blame you for mother's demise, but this fact cannot be overlooked that our family broke apart."

"Kaelen is right. The house felt quieter, emptier," said Royce.

I scoffed.

"You guys at least had each other. Not comforting your own brothers was your fault. Not mine. And you seriously think sending me away to that boarding school was some kind of solution? It wasn't. It destroyed me. I was just a kid, and you took me away from everything I knew. You guys took me away from home, from family, and you left me to face it all alone. Every day was a struggle—being away from the ones who were supposed to protect me. You took my life and turned it upside down. And the best part is, you never even cared"

The rhythm of my words is erratic, precise and deliberate. Each of my words is like a weapon, aimed at making the brothers understand my fury. My tone cracked slightly in the end, struggling to contain the anger beneath the surface.

"Athaliah, I know sending you to a boarding school was wrong. But don't disregard our emotions as well. We were like empty shells with two of most important ladies of our life gone." Ezekiel joined this good for nothing conversation.

"Let me ask you guys something. Did you, for once, in these nine years, feel like you cannot see tomorrow's sunrise? Did you guys ever feel like you need to be careful even while breathing because one fucking mistake and you are punished."

I paused to take a long breath and continued, "Did you feel like every time you speak up, it feels like it only makes things worse? Like you are trapped somewhere where there is no one to help you? Did you ever feel the raw fear of what will happen next?"

At this time, I was feeling like I am about to have a panic attack, "Did you ever feel like killing yourself?"

There was silence in the room. No one spoke or uttered a single sound. The weight of my words finally dawned upon them.

"I did. Since the past nine years. So, don't give me your pathetic excuses of being broken apart. Because what you guys felt in these years, is nothing compared to what I have endured in the last nine years."

With that said, I turned my heels to go upstairs in my room. I stopped at the second step of the stairs and turned around to say,

"And Reuben, the place where I was sent was not a boarding school."

Then I sped up to my room and closed the gate. I fell on my knees to even my breathing. Everything felt overwhelming, like the world is closing in around me. My breath caught in my throat, shallow and quick, as I can't draw in enough air. My chest tightens, making each breath feel like a struggle. A sense of suffocation gripped me—this invisible weight pressing down, suffocating.

The room seems to spin. The walls feel closer, the air thicker. It's hard to focus, hard to think clearly. Thoughts race through my mind in chaotic bursts.

I can't breathe; I can't handle this.

Everything feels distant, yet too real all at once. My body is flooded with adrenaline, but there's nowhere for it to go, and I feel trapped in my own skin.

My vision blurs, and it's like I can't hold onto anything anymore. I want to scream, to shout for help, but the words won't come. All I can do is hold on, my body fighting itself as I try to make sense of the chaos swirling inside me.

The voices are back.

"You killed our mother."

"Just a little more pain, lavender."

"You deserve this."

"You are the reason she died."

"You know lavender, you can never escape from us."

"Just a little more pain, then you will be numb to it."

"She killed our mother. She is mentally sick."

I can't bear it anymore. I tried to stand, and in the process, I knocked on a flower vase. It's pieces shattered on the ground. I again fell on my knees and grabbed a piece of broken vase and held it in my hand.

Tightly.

I need to get ahold of myself. The broken piece of the vase cut my skin deeply. Blood is oozing out of my hand.

"Don't fight it lavender. You can never win from me."

I saw him standing in front of me. His hands were in his pockets, and he was smiling seeing me.

No. This can't be happening. He can't find me.

———🌸———

Here is the next part guys.

I am really sorry for the delay, I am dealing with some issues.

I hope you guys understand.

Please comment and tell me how you like it so far.

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