The Laurdy family was bound by a legacy written in folklore, sacred rituals, and culture. In the village of Bial, their word was not merely respected because it was what the people served. To the outside world, their ancient customs made them seem uncivilized, but for over a century, the clan had still believed in such a legacy. What the head of the family would say would become the absolute will of the people, making them the most trusted leaders in the village.
There was a lot of talk in town about things that the Laurdys believe do not even have a basis, and Kelly Buenavista was not the only one who had become a victim of such beliefs. The family will force a young woman to marry into the lineage, and there is no escape. From this day forward, Kelly will be part of this family. It is a family that she is going to despise in the future, not because of their beliefs nor because of her hatred, but because of the trap she cannot leave.
The Laurdy clan was immense, a sprawling dynasty known far and wide. The house of Laurdy has seven sons and five daughters, five daughters in law and four sons in law. With fifteen elderly from the lineage and thirty grandchildren from the direct family of Aiden, there are a lot of people in the family tree. Yet, they seemed to be respectful with each other, sharing an eerie perfection. This lineage is beauty and beast at the same time, and the family genes have been passed down to every offspring, giving them a unique body posture and eyes that stand out in the crowd.
Their eyes are dark blue and twinkle like a night sky under the moon. However, their gaze changes when their emotion surpasses human limits, and the dark blue eyes will start to shine like an ocean in the summertime.
Kelly Buenavista has not yet seen Aiden's eyes light up. His eyes are considered unique in the family's bloodline, though she doesn't know why. All she can see when she looks at Aiden is a gaze as dark as the sky when the moon is not present.
But it was the legends of the household that truly made Kelly shiver in fear. In the Laurdy family, there was one time that the lady of the house gave birth to twin daughters whose eyes are colorless, as white as a cloud. Because they possessed an extraordinary beauty, the people in the village believe that they were not humans, whispering that their father is enchanted and not human. It was widely believed that the twins were possessed.
The twins did not live for a long time, as they were only five when they died of unknown causes. The Laurdy family buried the twins in the backyard of the house, and they remain in the backyard today.
The candlelight flickered as Kelly sat alone in the grand hall. Her mind wandered to these chilling tales she had heard, the whispers that followed the Laurdy name like shadows. She barely noticed the footsteps approaching until a voice broke the silence.
"Kelly!"
"Oh, so you're resting here..."
She looked up to see the Mistress of the house standing before her, her dark blue eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"Yes, your Ladyship," Kelly replied, bowing her head.
The Mistress smiled. "Yes, my child..."
She paused, and Kelly felt a sudden spark of courage. "Can I ask a question?"
The Mistress's smile did not waver. "Of course."
Kelly hesitated for a moment. "Is it true that you have given birth to twins?"
The Mistress's expression remained calm. "Yes. And if people are saying about them being creepy and not humans, it is not true. They were a blessing, a luck. Our family believes that the twins have given us a fortune and luck, and that's why we have a bounty of harvest. We consider them as a blessing from gods. That's why we have buried them in the backyard to keep the fortune, blessing, and luck following in the family..."
She smiled, but Kelly could see a distinct shadow behind her eyes.
Kelly forced a smile to hide her dread. "Oh... I'm sorry if I have asked you about such a question, my Lady."
"It's fine..." The Mistress waved her hand dismissed. "And please talk to Aiden; he's sulking like a baby..."
Kelly blinked, caught off guard. "Is that why you're here, to tell me that?"
"Yes," Her Ladyship replied. "I'm just checking on you..."
She reached out and patted Kelly's shoulder before turning away. Her footsteps echoed through the hall until she disappeared into the corridor.
Kelly sat in absolute silence, the story of the twins lingering in her mind like a cold whisper. Trembling, she pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the solid shape of the locket beneath her dress.