[color=lightgray][center][h2][color=0072bc]Count Calbert Damian[/color] & [color=teal]Countess Liliane Damien [/color] & ???[/h2][/center]

[color=0072bc]Location:[/color] Damien Estate
[color=0072bc]Time:[/color] 6pm
[color=0072bc]Soundtrack:[/color][url=https://youtu.be/K8ml-0mG4LY?t=19]Click here[/url]
[sub][right]Please read: [@ReusableSword][@Heartfillia][@PapaOso][/right][/sub]
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[color=teal]"Honey, I'm home."[/color]

Calbert had lifted his head sharply, unburying his face from his trembling palms. The voice of his beloved wife was unmistakable, but he felt as if he had been dreaming. He had been sitting on the piano bench of his foyer for an hour now. No one had dared to disturb him. She was one of the last voices he had expected to hear in the silence as he had thought she was taking a carriage back to Montauppe. With a pounding heart, he turned towards the massive doors that creaked open loudly, revealing two female silhouettes standing against the starry night sky. Their outlines were bathed in the gentle glow of moonlight, casting an ethereal aura around them. Calbert's breath caught as he strained to make out their features, his heart racing with anticipation and fear of the unknown.

His heart skipped a beat as his gaze remained locked on the haunting presence behind Liliane, even as she stepped forward, her smile a beacon of light in the darkness, her face finally exposed to the warm flicker of the nearby candlelight.  For a moment, Calbert was momentarily distracted by the sight of his wife, but his eyes wandered back to the figure behind her.

It was then her beautiful face consumed his vision. A gentle hand fell on his cheek, tilting his face toward hers.[color=teal] “Calbert dear, “[/color]Liliane said softly. [color=teal]“Look at me.”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“Lily… Who’s with you?”[/color] His mouth felt dry as he had managed the question. The countess stroked his cheek, applying the slightest pressure to keep him from looking over her head. 

[color=teal]“We’ll get to that.”[/color]She said with a smile,[color=teal] “Talk to me first. I’ve heard a lot has happened today…”[/color] Her head tilted with curiosity as she considered her thoughts, [color=teal]“For example, you have a son and he has returned to you.”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“Yes.”[/color]Calbert confessed with a sigh,[color=0072bc] “I had a wife before you as we had once discussed. She had borne us a son but I never had the pleasure of meeting him… Now his mother has passed and he’s come to find me... I hope this doesn’t alarm you.”[/color] But as he had gazed down with his wife, he realized she had seemed rather pleasant in her demeanor. Liliane was no longer torn by grief as she had been this morning. She was calm and composed. His eyes trailed to look behind her once again but a feeling of dread filled his gut. 

Lily turned his face once more,[color=teal] “I think that’s wonderful. I always wanted a strong son that could protect our sweet girls. I do hope he’ll stay with us as I’m more than thrilled to meet him.”[/color] He found himself surprised, though he knew he shouldn’t have been. Liliane had rarely shown anger and she had always been on the understanding side.


[color=0072bc]“I’m glad… I suppose I’m curious to know him, but I wish that both of our…”[/color] His voice drew off softly and he could no longer ignore the presence in the doorway. This time, his wife moved her hand off his cheek. The being was motionless, their silhouette stark against the backdrop of the Damien home, reminiscent of a mannequin. Their fingers were interlocked in front of a black laced dress, and their pale skin reflected a ghostly sheen in the moonlight.

Calbert's mouth parted. His voice trembled as he spoke, barely able to form the words.[color=0072bc] "Is that... I-Is that-..."[/color] He took a hesitant step forward, desperate for a clearer view, but as he caught sight of her, his expression crumbled.

The figure shifted ever so slightly as Calbert approached. Not a single word was spoken, only the soft expulsion of air from their lungs. 

The moon shifted slowly, exposing more of what stood in the doorframe. Their eyes opened slowly as they came into view, revealing a pair of red orbs that seemed to lock on his. The moonlight exposed the details of the [url=i.imgur.com/8gtHx5v.jpg]gown[/url], made of black silks with intricately stitched lace that overlaid the fabric. A black corset with red thread embordering the bodice with ravens that were so carefully stitched into the design.

[color=teal]"We arrived home later than expected, but I hope this would have been worth the wait." [/color]Lilane smiled at her husband before looking at the woman beside her. She reached up and put a comforting hand on the figure's back.[color=teal] “ Go on, you can say hello,”[/color] The countess encouraged her with a smile.

The figure moved in reaction to the touch, flinching as if they were in some kind of pain but not enough that anyone would likely take notice. As the light slowly crept more over the figure, a set of pale red lips spread softly showing her teeth in a forced smile. A soft voice, almost like a whisper, broke the silence.

[color=DarkRed]“Good evening father,“[/color] The voice was vacant of any emotion. 

Her name subsequently left his lips in a breath. Calbert stepped forward with the expression of one who had seen a ghost. At that moment, the count thought he literally may have. He stepped forward and gradually moved his trembling hands toward her shoulders. There was hesitancy as if he were afraid she’d disintegrate underneath his fingertips.[color=0072bc] “...Is this real? … You’re really here?”[/color] He wore a countenance of mixed emotions, a smile tugging slowly at his lips.

Her face would be familiar but different. Her soft skin adorning a large gash that has scared over. The trail started from the top of her forehead down the bridge for her nose and fading out from under her eye. Her face seemed paled and empty, with her eyes void of any emotion or feeling. Her face was framed with long black locks that were curled loosely around her , laying over her shoulders and falling down the front of her bodice.


The eyes that had bore into his so steadily had been the eyes of a stranger. They stirred something deep within him, unsettling him like a worm wriggling in the dirt when she had spoken. When she had spoken, he had felt a surge of emotion that had driven him to pull her into a hug, a desperate attempt to hold on to the daughter he thought he had lost. His arms had wrapped around her in a gentle grip, but as he realized she wouldn’t crumble, the hug tightened. 

[color=0072bc]“My little girl.”[/color] He whispered finally.

[color=teal]“It’s okay. It’s still her.” [/color]Liliane’s warm voice was close as her hand fell on her husband’s back. 

Warm and long arms wrapped tightly around her thin frame, her body tensing at the touch as she stood still. Her arms pushed into her body more as he hugged her tighter, her breath being squeezed from her lungs. The touch was painful, like tiny needles being pricked all over her skin. She didn’t react or touch him back, she simply stood there. 

[color=DarkRed]“I am not feeling well,”[/color] She said, her voice raspy from the reaction to the pain. [color=DarkRed]“Would it be alright If I retire to my room?”[/color]

[color=teal]“Not at all dear.”[/color]Liliane replied with a smile meanwhile Calbert’s arms fell to his sides. 

She didn’t react or respond, she simply started to walk inside heading to where her feet were taking her, unsure if it was even the right direction. Her mind was so foggy her thoughts felt like distant memories that she could see but couldn’t reach. Her body seemed to know where to go, so she simply trusted in that fact.

[color=teal]“She doesn’t know.”[/color] She mouthed, positioned outside of her daughter's vision.

[color=0072bc]“Lily…”[/color]Calbert began then added softly[color=0072bc], “...We need to talk about this.”[/color]

Reaching for the handle to her room, her fingers gripped around the cold steel she turned and pushed inwards opening the door to her bedroom. 

Walking inside she simply continued towards a large chair, it had a high back with black fabrics and gold trim. A book was opened on the seat from the last page she had read. Lifting it up into her hands she sat in the chair and stared back at the door to her room. [/color]

[hider=She will rise again][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vZOvC1g.png[/img][/center][/hider]