1850 out countryside London, England
In the house of Pandera, Lady Izabella Clare Pandera sat in a chair in the parlor. Today is the day of sorrow for the whole of parliament. For the Lady's mother and grandmother had the passed on to heaven. In the parlor set dozens of Pandera's relatives with their ebony clothing. Their faces were grim, and the air of the room was gloomy. Women took their handkerchiefs wiping their swollen red eyes. The men just sat in silence with their heads bowed.
For a while, the room has filled the sound of sniffs. As for Bella, this day, locked in her memory. She tries to remember the moments spent with both of her loved ones who had passed on. Her mother had become ill after her father left them for a harlot. Indeed, that whore had left a repugnant taste in her mouth.
Although that happened when she was eleven, Bella had been proud of her family, for the Pandera family was a wealthy yet honorable one. Her grandmother had cancer, and it took the life out of the poor soul.
"My child we must get going so you can have a proper rest," said Aunt Quinzy in a melancholy tone breaking the dull silence.
"I understand, all of you may leave if you wish," responded Bella did not turn away from the window.
"Please accept our condolences. We understand your losses," replied all.
Bella heard footsteps down the hall and quickly disappeared. She gave a long sigh after everyone had left. All they want is my father's precious wealth. My mother gave me the responsibility of protecting that box in father's study room.
"My Lady would you like some hot tea to warm you inner cord?" questioned a butler breaking her thoughts.
"Yes, Alex I would appreciate it. Bring the tea into my father's study," replied Bella.
"As you wish me, Lady."
Bella got up from her seat and walked out of the parlor. She arrives at the study reaching her right hand to open the solid wood door. She steps inside and scans the large room. The room looked the same as the day when her father left. All of the wooden bookshelves covered with dust. Bella took her glove hand put it over her mouth.
"Alex, please clean up this filthy room!" exclaimed Bella.
"Right away Miss," answered Alex taking a dust mop and wiping the dust off the bookshelves.
"Thank you, Alex."
She walks towards her father's beloved walnut desk. Oh, the happier times memories of the time spent in this study with her father. She remembered when she was a little girl her father would pick her up and set her on his knees. He would take one of his favorite books off the bookshelf. His husky voice would tell the story.
Bella set herself in her father's chair. She leans back in the presidency, and a long sigh escapes her lips. Alex brought her tea in and handed it to her to drink. She picked up the cup and brought it to her mouth. Then she quickly pulls the cup away from her.
"OH! Hot!!"
"I am so sorry I forgot to warn you. it's hot," exclaims Alex taking the cup from her hand.
"Gee thanks for the late warning," said Bella in a sarcastic tone.
" I'm sorry again Miss."
"Well, forget it ok, just go bring me my father's treasure."
"As you wish."
While Alex was gone, Bella went through the pile of papers on the desk. Some documents were about old news. Others were the people who had business with father. On the bottom of the pill was father's family history. Bella pondered over Why was father looking at the family history? What was he searching for in the family record?
She put the paper aside and waited for Alex to come back. To her dismay, however, he did not come back. She stood up from her seat and yell the words.
"Alex!"
No answers, Bella step out from behind the desk and slowly walked toward the open door. She glances in both direction in hopes to find Alex, but there was no sign of him anywhere. Where in the world is he? He was supposed to be here already. I better check on him to make sure he is okay.
Bella quickly ran towards the master bedroom When she arrived there was glass everywhere on the floor.
"Alex are you Alright? called out Bella in concern tone of voice.
No reply came this time either. Bella quickly storms into the room. To her horror, Alex was on the floor bleeding. She rushed to him.
"Alex! What happened?"
"Miss you must run away with the treasure," said Alex weakly.
"Who did this to you? We must take you to a doctor now!" responded Bella, trying, to lift him up but fail to do so.
"There is no time for me. Someone stab me while I was getting the box."
"You must not talk, or you will bleed more" replied Bella who was putting pressure on the open wound.
Alex grabbed her bloody hand and put a small box in it.
"Now do as I say for once in your life! Leave this place and burn it!" ordered Alex coughing.
She got up to her feet and ran out of the room with tears in her eyes. Bella ran fast as far as her legs could carry her but unfortunately for her bad luck was there. She moved to her father's study and panicking grab the most important book of her father's bedside the tiny box itself.
She knew that time is running out for her to escape the mansion. A loud sound came from the front entrance. Bella quickly moved towards the back door with her things. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and her lungs scream for air. Knowing there no time to stop or look back Bella ordered her legs to keep moving. The sounds of feets marching near Bella hid behind the nearest room.
Bella appears over the doorway to make sure no one was around. After few seconds of waiting, she quietly seeks to the back door. Once she was outside Bella began to run towards the main road without even a glance back.
Her feet were on running; it didn't matter what was happening behind her back. After several minutes of endless running, Bella stops herself to some air into her fire up lungs. She let her eyes wandered toward the sky.
The heavens seem to want to shed tears of sorrow for me. Bella's mind was in too much of pondering to notice people running towards the mansion.
"Miss you better get away from here quickly!" a man yelled breaking her thoughts.
"What is wrong?" asked Bella with a worry some tone.
"There is a fire at one of the mansion! The fire is quickly spreading towards the field."
Bella wasted no time in thought; she gathers her thing as fast as her hands could reach. She ran away from the blazing field as quickly as her legs would allow. As soon she felt that she was at a safe distance from danger Bella looked back toward the area of the fire.
People ran back and forth from the well to the burning house and the area. The once bright blue sky now was engulfed in black smoke. Bella covered her mouth with her sleeves. In her mind, she knew whose house was on fire. Bella let her eyes closed for a few minutes. She thought Poor Alex; May God rest his soul.
What will happen to Bella? Continued ........
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