Nicole's eyes gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting away . The snow lion they call her kind, a label that commanded reverence and awe. The most rare living creature on earth , Nicole knew she was a treasure but that feeling died the moment her parents died, little did she know, her life was about to take a drastic turn.
Living with her uncle's family felt like living in hell.
'They took everything from me when my parents died, they treated me like an unwanted thing they could just use about.
I regretted the day those guardian officers came over few days after my parents death, and making my dad's most trusted assistant to be my guardian and stupidly of me for accepting that request because I thought uncle Rowan was the person I believed him to be before dad's death.
My dad was an alpha and my mom is his wife..... while me, I'm the unique one in the family maybe the whole City.
This realm consist of the Humans and the Linxs. The Linxs are not nearly similar to the snow lions but the only characteristic they aquire is the ability to change to their normal lion form and back. I should probably tell you more about snow lions....... Well, we are acient kind's that existed before the begining of the Linxs and humans but disappeared one day to the reason no body knows of according to the myth my mama always told me when I was little, she mentioned the only Clue the ancestors could get was that they all disappeared after the first greatest war of all time and since then my kind stopped existing.
When I was born, The news about the alpha producing a snow lion went wild... people where thinking how did such a epic rear gift be given to a heartless linx and even a bloody alpha...some thought he had to sacrifice something while others thought it was a mistake while others say maybe he adopted me..... anyways I didn't see my papa as a heartless person, mama told me that since the day I was born, my papa seem to change for good, he must have saw me as a gift and miracle in his life even though I was a girl. And things like that bothered mama so much because I am a female, because if she birthed a male instead she would be taken more seriously in her marriage and in-laws home.
Wondering why I didn't stay with my dad's family? Well it's because of the love papa had for me and he couldn't take his family complains anymore so he had to shun and cut off ties with them for I and mama sake.
Since then I thought more of uncle Rowan family as my own family. I remembered those times mama and auntie galenna would always hang out with each other when papa and uncle Rowan go out on business deals. While I, Orion and Lyra would play in the garden non stop, sometimes their elder sister Elara would join but now! I wonder what changed! What did I do to then to deserve pain and beating from the ones I call family. They all hated me so much!
Auntie galenna now calls me bad luck, Elara would call me a witch from hell and Lyra says she hated me from the beginning.
Uncle Rowan wouldn't say a word to his family backlash towards me but added it and say "I was working under your father like a slave without any say and given peanuts to compasate for it while he lived In a mansion like this but now am the one in charge, don't expect things to get better Nicole but just accept your fate".
Their words and treatment always makes me crumble and wish papa and mama should just take me with them!
It's funny how am still alive seeing the numerous scars on my body! And the hard labour I undergo .... Auntie galenna would say to me "I would make you work so much just the way my husband did so that you can have a deserving death like your parents".
Actually with my reports of being a snow lion, am only allowed to live in cold weathers and have stress less activities. But look at me now, I'm a freaking working machine...
It's said that the Linxs are the highest in this realm followed by the snow lions and then the humans.
Talking of humans, Andy, the only friend I have in this whole entire world, her mother selena who is a medical nurse, she comes time to time to check up on me and my health.
Since then first ever stunt auntie galenna and Elara pulled against my life eight weeks after my parents died, I was fourteen at that time.
"*{Two years ago}*"
Elara walking into the kitchen and dragged me by my Dread lock forcefully.
" How dare you not answer me when I am calling you" she shouted while still dragging my Dread.
" I swear I didn't hear you sis Elara" I pleaded with all my heart because it felt like my hair is gonna come out of my head soon.
Few minutes ago, Elara was on the dinning eating her brunch when she called my name.
I acted like i didn't hear it and continued washing the plates her and her siblings ate with, this people don't give me food, and I haven't eaten anything throughout last night till then and they is food stuffs packed in this house but I was ordered not to touch anything or else they would beat the living hell out of me. I was still surprised how I had the strength anyways.
" Nicole!" Elara still calling my name repeatedly.
I wasn't just in the mood for her right now because I know what she might call me for is practically useless like always.
_Now to the present_
" You lier, I called you loud enough for even if a deaf person was to be in this house, they will also hear me "". She was still hanking my hair hard and I tried to remove her grip from my hair but to no avail.
" Am sorry... Am so sorry...." I stuttered with tears already in my eyes.
" Sorry for your self, you little creap, who do you expect to clear up the dinning after am done eating? " She questioned me with narrow eyes.
' _of course it's to'_ I yelled in my mind.
" You are suppose to be vigilant and not letting me strain my voice, are you so stupid not to understand simple instructions?"" Elara Said.
Just when she about to remove her grip from my hair that's when her mother came in.
" What's all the commotion in this house?" Auntie galenna questioned .
" It's this stupid thing you see here mother, I was shouting and shouting her name to come please take this plates to the kitchen for washing but could you believe she had the audacity not to respond to my calls and now she's fringing innocence, I'm guessing that if she could do this to me, she would also do to you mother!"
I Know am gonna receive something wonderful after this that would leave a mark. Before I could think again, I felt the sharpest and hottest slap across my face by auntie galenna which made me to stumble backwards and hitting a bowl of water to the ground. Auntie galenna was already charging towards me with full speed and me trying to look for the most safest route to escape continued to move backwards till I slipped and Lost my balance completely leading me to fall flat to the ground and my head mistakenly hitted on the counter tile, I fell unconscious immediately and the only thing I could remember was being taken to the hospital.
after few weeks later in the hospital, the guardian officers came to visit me on the sick bay I was on and asked numerous questions to my aunt and uncle relating how I ended up here.
My mind was already full of hope that I would be free soon from this evil family but my dreams shattered once more when I heard auntie galenna say
" She was playing with my last baby Lyra and I told them to stop before they could get injured... right Honey..."
Uncle Rowan was just nodding like as if he cared so much! Wait, so no wonder Lyra is in the hospital, she's here to defend her parents.
The guardian officers only just looked at Lyra and believed easily!
_Ahhhhh_ I was already freaking out already, what about me, won't they hear my side of the story.
" So what caused miss Nicole Alan head injury?" One of the officers asked with a serious face.
" Well...well...the children went near the kitchen and unfortunately there was spilled water on the floor...uhmmm....I Did not know that water got there and.....and ..... Lyra and Nicole went near the kitchen but fortunately for Lyra stopped and noticed the spilled water and my baby daughter Lyra told this nicole about it but she didn't listen and she went to continue playing in the kitchen and before I knew it I heard she slipt and fell officers"" she said shadily.
_Lier!!_
" Hmmmm, me ark , where you there when all this happened?" . The second officer asked.
" Officer I was at work and it was only my wife and children that was home"" he continued "' Nicole and Lyra, how many times have I told you children to not play around dangerous areas and listen to your elders, now see nicole, look how you made I and your auntie look like we don't care and as if we are careless with our children! Haven't we tryed enough for you, we have loved you endlessly for you not to be disheartened about your parents death, but it seem you just don't value our efforts"". He said carrying his angry face as usual and words sounding caring.
I was just dumfounded with all the drama that is unfolding through my eyes.
" Calm down mr ark, we understand your concern on how much you and your family care so much about miss Alan and we appreciate you for that but please miss Alan, we would also need to hear what you too have to say about this'' the first officer said.
_Thank God_
"" Uhmmm officer, is there any need for that at all since we have told you all that has happened...if you May ask Nicole, she may not really understand what she did wrong...." Auntie galenna said in haste.
" Miss Alan, please let's hear you out" the first officer said ignoring all that was said by auntie galenna.
"" Uhmmm officers, I, ... actually how I got this injury on my head was by au...."
I couldn't finish immediately because I was still recovering and my words were slow. Suddenly a loud scream and crying was heard by a familiar voice.
Lyra,was seen with a bloody finger. _How_ !!
She was just right here and everyone too, or is she too small to be noticed! She's freaking twelve!
"Lyra what happened, how did you slit your finger , how many times have I told you not to play with Sharp objects"" auntie galenna said.
With all the drama that was going on and the distractions , in between I was threatened not to say anything by uncle Rowan, he told me to not say anything that would endanger my life even more.
Who am I kidding, uncle Rowan now runs my dad's business and properties. The house I live in may be mine hundred percent but if uncle Rowan and his family was to leave, I would be Left Alone I that house and my life is in even more danger.
I guess the person who made that wise but foolish words was right.
' __keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer'_
*Back to the present*
After all those events happened, the guardian officer commanded that they should get me a personal nurse to take care of my health and since then my life living here was still hoping because I hope to see them every once time in a week.
" Hey Nicole, where is your mind? I was asking whether you are going to celebrate your sixteenth birthday?" Andy asked with all full manner of excitement.
" But andy I can't" I responded curtly because I definitely know that it was impossible to celebrate my birthday ever again not to talk of the fact that am still under this prison roof.
"" But nicole... your birthday is in the next few days and you said you don't want to celebrate it one bit, it's not fair"" andy complained.
At the moment, I was in my room with andy,or should I say in the Attic store room with andy. Andy's mom is down stairs with Auntie galenna to ask whether she could take food to me because today is my check up day.
" Oh and also nicole, I have this assignment that really gives me a headache"" andy said bringing her bag and taking out her book for me to her with her work.
And also before I forget, my other favorite thing I love doing is solving problems, like maths!.
Anytime I say such, andy thinks that my brain is too over bearing, she's like, who the butt like solving maths anyways.
Just in time after a few minutes I was done with the assignment for andy and we continued our talk..... Well it's not much of our talk since it's mostly andy talking.
Since I was told countless times that my voice should never be heard in this house by auntie galenna because she was too irritated with my presence. I can now easily go days without talking.... Am just so silent and invisible totally.
" So nicole, one of mom's patient says she's going to a new launching across the city and there would be paparazzi and famous people coming there, just hearing it alone gets me so excited" andy said .
I just responded to her with a nod.
Immediately andy's mom walked into the room with a plate of food in her hands smiling brightly at me before she sat on the floor with us.
" Hello sweetie, how are you today? How are you feeling today? ... Before we start, I need you to eat something okay...." She said with her always soft voice.
Andy's mom knows me too well, she asked how am doing, well for sure I can't answer such questions of hers.
" Okay ma, I will eat'" I said solemnly.
" Mom can't nicole and I go out to the main City? My class mates are really talking about how big shots are gonna be there.." andy continue whining to her mother.
" Andy , please don't bother me with such things, and am pretty sure non of your class mates too would be there."" Andy's mom said.
" Well _durrrrrr_ I know, that's the whole point, if I go and come back with feed back I would be so popular and even the teachers would notice me." She pleaded.
" What should be mostly noticed about you should be your grades you silly girl."
I just watched how the mother and daughter related with each other and it brought a peace to my heart seeing this moment, just like how I and mama too relate.
" And anyways nicole can't go, she would never be let out of the house andy, so please understand" auntie Selena said.
" I understand mom, buh, this house is so suffercating for her with her auntie galenna and those three dumb mosters" she rolled her eyes before continuing " mom what if...."....
She came closer to her mom's hear and whispered the remaining words to her and her mom's expression change from calm to shock, I couldn't read out what she said.
" But andy, that's so gonna put her into trouble if they find out" aunt Selena said.
" But mom, trust me, it's gonna work"
" I hope so" Selena said.
_What's going on!_
Aunt Selena and andy reveal their plans to me instantly and as much as I tryed to bother my self, it didn't just bother me..... The rest of the check up was done and after spending some time with them, they finally took their leave home.
As I said before, they didn't disclose their plans with me not until my next check up! We were all in the Attic as usual. When andy finally brought out the idea to me in a pleading puppy face.
" But what if aunt galenna finds out?" I said looking at both their faces.
" I Know sweetheart, but.. we May not be able to help out of your situation in anyway but at least your birthday is Tommorow and we don't like that you would be here without anyone of us and the feeling of depression striking In you."" Aunt Selena said with a soft voice.
" But auntie, I don't really care much about my birthday anymore" I said with my overly quiet voice.
" Hmmmm, you may have already accepted your sad reality but sometimes look at the brighter side of things, okay".
That night I couldn't sleep at all, i was just turning fro and tro on the clothing on the floor. My mind was not at all .... I took out one of my Mom's favourite necklace which I adorned so much because she gave it to me few days before my fourteen birthday not as a gift but as an exchange present because I was unwilling to seat down calmly to lock my Dread, so she gave me the necklace to sit down and stop playing for the next few more minutes.
I love staring at this necklace because of how it was designed and how it's half moon is structured , with the little shinning Stars on the chain.
When I asked my mama on how i got my Dread, since her and papa don't have it, she would just respond and say " don't you know you are the most special of us all, of course you have to be unique".
That's mama trying to say In her own language that _she has no idea_ why.
Now that she's gone forever, all that rang of her is just in my memories and this recent issue am in.
Auntie Selena and Andy wants me to sneak out tommorow night which is my birthday to go and have the opportunity to view the city.
I know that if I get caught, I'm not only gonna be half dead but also be buried alive.
I would have rejected this idea but I too wanna see what has changed in the out side world.