The Art of Dying

“What’s wrong?” Zane asked as he looked at me with concern but I couldn’t take my eyes away from Mr. Mortis. My hand went to my necklace and Zane snapped his hand in front of my face making me stop my staring and look at him. “Hey, Del. What’s wrong?” He had a small frown on his face and was searching my eyes for the answer but I didn’t have any, I only had questions.

“Is there absolutely no way, that a human could have a baby with someone from ‘Ellithia’?” I asked.

“Well, if they are meant to be… I guess that’s possible, but it’s never happened before.” He said confused. “Why? What’s going on?”

“What’s Mr. Mortis’s first name, Zane?” I asked instead of answering his question.

“Heath. Why?” Oh, my, fucking, god! I quickly fumbled with my necklace, unclasped it and handed it to him. He looked at me, even more confused than before. “Uh… What am-I supposed to do with that?”

“Remember when I told you that the man inside that locket was my dad?” I asked him as I looked back to Mr. Mortis.

“Of, course… But what does that have to do with anything?” He asked puzzled by my actions.

“Look at the picture inside and tell me if that man looks familiar to you.” When he failed to answer me after a while I tore my gaze away from Mr. Mortis and looked at him. “Zane?” He looked gobsmacked.

“That’s Mr. Mortis clean shaven.” He said. “What are you doing with his picture in your locket?”

“That’s the picture of the man who got my mother pregnant at the end of her senior year of high school.” I said looking intently at him but his eyes stayed glued to the picture in my locket. “She went to ’Mortis Academy’ and the name of the man in that picture was Heath. She was told that he died in a car crash the night after he got her pregnant but something tells me he didn’t.” I then paused. “And I think I just found my dad.” I finished in a whisper.

“That’s a very good story and all,” Zane asked as he finally looked back up at me. “But how can you be sure that your mother told you the truth. Maybe she had a crush on Mr. Mortis and invented that story that he got her pregnant when instead it was someone else or a one night stand and she preferred to tell you that story instead.” I looked at him with a look that said: really? He then handed me back my locket.

“My mom never told me any story.” I said calmly. “She always said that she didn’t want to talk about my dad and that it was too painful to even think about it. The only time she said anything about my dad was when she gave me that locket and she said that the man inside was named Heath, that he was my father, that he died and that she never wanted to talk about it ever again. The rest, I read it in her journal of when she was in high school. Hell, I didn’t even know my dad’s full name until now. And her and Heath were best friends until the last day of school. When they became more but then she was told that he died and she went back to Montreal. So…” He seemed to think about it for a moment.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” He said with a mischievous smile. What? He pulled his chair and motioned for me to join him.

I went to follow him but then C.C. turned to me and asked: “Hey, where are you going?”

Before I could answer, Zane replied with a condescending smile: “We have something urgent that we need to talk to with your uncle.”

“In that case, I’m coming too.” She said and stood up also. Zane didn’t argue, he simply rolled his eyes. “I’ll be back in a sec.” C.C. whispered to Oliver and together we all walked towards Mr. Mortis’s chair.

He was talking with Trish but stopped and turned to the three of us as soon as we were beside him. Oh, man. What if I’m wrong? I would look so stupid. This wasn’t a good idea.

“Yes?” Mr. Mortis asked looking at the three of us. He looked at me for a second with a small look of confusion and something else before settling his gaze on C.C. “What can I do for you?” It was Zane that answered instead.

“Sir, we would like to talk to you in the other room about something important.” He said sounding serious. What if I’m wrong? What if I’m wrong!! Oh, gosh, Del calm down. Deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. Mr. Mortis got a small frown on his face.

He then leaned towards Trish and said: “If you’ll excuse me. This won’t be long.” He then stood up and motioned for us to lead the way. I began shaking slightly. I’m so nervous.

As if sensing my nerves Zane took my hand and whispered in my ear: “Calm down. Everything will be fine.” We reached the living room and Zane closed the door behind us.

Mr. Mortis stood before the three of us and smiled at me. “Hi, I’m Heath Alexander Mortis. I don’t think we’ve been introduced.” He held out his hand for me to shake. I changed my locket to my left hand and grabbed his hand and we shook.

“No, sir.” I said. “My name’s Delphine.”

“She’s my girlfriend.” Zane said.

“Nice to meet you Delphine.” Mr. Mortis said with a small laugh as he took his hand back. “Zane’s girlfriend.”

“Likewise.” I replied.

“Now, could someone tell me what this is about?” Mr. Mortis asked with smiling eyes.

“I would like to know, too.” C.C. said looking pointedly at Zane with her arms crossed but Zane just looked at me waiting for me to go on.

“Ok, well.” I began. “Um, this might seem strange, but um, did you know a girl named Maude Éléanore Valiquette? About sixteen years ago?” I asked. His smile vanished instantly.

“We’re done.” He said coldly and was about to walk out the door but then he paused and without turning around, he asked: “Why?” C.C. was looking at me questioningly but I didn’t look at her and instead kept my eyes on Mr. Mortis’s back.

“Well, she gave me this locket and…─” He whirled around in an instant and marched over to me. I froze, he looked really angry before his anger quickly turned to sorrow

“That’s impossible, she…” He paused and closed his eyes and it looked like what he had to say next was extremely painful. “She… she’s d-dead.” What but she’s not dead. I frowned and he opened back his eyes.

“She’s not dead.” I said softly. He laughed, a sad, disbelieving and desperate laugh. “She’s… my mom.” He stopped laughing abruptly.

“Is this some sort of sick joke?” He asked heatedly, looking intently at me. His angry stare suddenly soften and he backed away from me with a gasp. He sat down on one of the couches and stared at me with big disbelieving eyes.

C.C. sat next to him and looked at her uncle with concerned eyes while Zane draped an arm over my shoulder to give me his support. I quickly smiled my thanks to him before turning back to Mr. Mortis who was staring at the ground.

“Uncle Heath?” C.C. tentatively asked. He suddenly looked at me and a small smile formed on his face.

“You…” He began to say in a whisper as he looked at me but then he turned to face C.C. “She’s got her eyes.” He glanced back at me before he ended up staring the wall. It looked as if he was about to lose his mind. He had this crazy, hopeful, sad, but happy smile on his face and didn’t say a thing until C.C. talked.

“Uncle Heath, are you alright?” C.C. asked still with her concerned look but there was an uncertainty in there also and she seemed a little scared.

“She’s not dead. She’s not dead, she’s not, I didn’t kill her. She’s not dead.” Mr. Mortis whispered over and over again with deranged eyes. C.C. stood up and slowly backed away from the couch where she was sat next to her uncle.

She walked closer to Zane and I, and asked me in a whisper: “What is that all about?”

I hesitated for a second but then I muttered back to her: “I think that your uncle… is my dad.” She stepped away from me with an incredulous look upon her face that slowly broke into a grin.

“Oh my god that would be so amazing!” She exclaimed all in one breath before grabbing me in a hug and nudging Zane’s arm off my shoulder. Her uncle briefly looked at us with unfocused eyes before looking back to the wall. She was jumping up and down excitedly but then she looked confused. “Didn’t you say that your dad died before you were born?”

“That’s what she told me and what she wrote in her journal.” I answered looking at my dad with concern. It felt weird to think of him as my dad since I never grew up with one. The only paternal figure I had, growing up, was my grandfather… and he died.

“But then, why…─” There was a knock at the door, cutting C.C. off mid-question and Trish Mortis’s head popped in.

“I was just wondering…” She began but then when she saw her brother looking ‘as mad as a hatter’ on the couch, she threw open the door and ran over to him. “Oh my god, what happened?” She asked as she sat down next to him, looking at all of us with alarm, but then my dad (gosh, that feels weird) grabbed her hands and looked at her.

“She’s not dead, Trish. She’s not…” He said in the same disbelieving but happy tone. Trish took her hands back and looked at the three of us in horror.

“What did you do to him?” She stood and marched over to us. “What happened?” She asked in an angry whisper. Both C.C. and Zane looked at me and so I wordlessly handed my locket to Trish. “What’s this?” She asked confused. I took a deep breath and lowly answered her.

“The man in that locket is my dad.” She opened it and as she gazed at the picture I continued. “And when I asked Mr. Mortis if he knew my mother, he seemed angry but then… he just… freaked out.” Trish calmly handed me back my locket.

“You’re saying… that you are, Maude’s daughter?” She whispered my mom’s name even lower as she stared intently into my eyes. I simply nodded and she seemed to mull over something. She then asked: “How old are you?”

“I’ll be seventeen, on March 3rd.” Realization seemed to dawn on her face.

“So, he’s really your dad?” I nodded. “And Maude really isn’t dead?” She asked just for confirmation and again I just nodded. She then became angry. “That means Ellianna lied… That bitch! I’m going to kill her.”

“I’m with you aunt Trish.” C.C. said determined but before they could walk out, Zane blocked the doors. Who’s Ellianna? I know it’s the girl in my mom’s journal but…

“Let’s be rational about this.” He said in a calm tone.

“Zane, this matter does not concern you.” Trish said in a severe tone. “Now move out of the way or else I’ll make you.” She said threateningly with a deadly glare.

“Who’s Ellianna?” I asked.

Trish didn’t move but C.C. turned around and said: “Cruella De Vil.”

At the same time that Zane said: “Mrs. James.” He still kept his eyes on Trish as he answered me. Why would she do that? What could she possibly gain from all of this? From separating my parents? “Trish, I think you should stay with your brother. He doesn’t appear to be in his right mind at the moment.”

“And let that bitch get away with what she did to him? No way in hell!” Trish replied venomously. “Now, move.”

“I’ll go look for Mrs. James, you just stay with Mr. Mortis and I’ll bring her back.” He tried again to pacify her and this time she seemed to back down.

“Fine, but bring her back to me so that I can make her suffer for what she did to my brother.” With a huff, she then turned her back to Zane and headed back to Mr. Mortis. I heard her muttering under her breath: “I always knew there was something wrong with her.” Before I focused back on Zane.

“I’m going with you.” I said.

“I don’t think that’s…─” C.C. began to say but I cut her off.

“No, I’m going. I want to know why she did what she did. And you can either come with me or I’ll go alone but either way I’m going.” I said and then C.C. grabbed my hand.

She gave me a small encouraging smile. “Let’s go.” I smiled back at her and we both waited for Zane to move so that we could leave this room. He sighed and motioned for us to go first. As soon as we stepped out, we crossed Blake and Abbigail as they headed towards the living room.

“What’s going on?” Abbigail asked looking intently at Zane.

“You guys were taking an awful lot of time in there.” Blake said. I could feel him staring at me but at the moment I found the marble floor very interesting. “Is everything ok?” He asked.

“No, everything is NOT ok!” C.C. exclaimed. I looked up at her. “Your mother,” She said, pointing an accusing finger at Abbigail. “is the devil incarnated. And now she earned her title.” Abbigail looked lost and a little angry.

“Oh, yeah.” Abbigail said, crossing her arms and looked defiantly at C.C. “And what did she do this time that was so horrible, according to you?” C.C. looked at her with a heated glare. I’ve never seen her more pissed off than she did now.

“She ruined my uncle’s life!” She exclaimed almost hysterically. Abbigail rolled her eyes.

“Oh, not that again.” She said in a bored tone.

“She ruined my life too.” I said softly. “…And my mom’s.” Now both Blake and Abbigail were looking at me confused but I still continued to look at the floor. C.C. began rubbing my back soothingly for support and I smiled my thanks to her, she smiled back at me sympathetically.

“I don’t understand.” Blake said.

“Our moms knew each other in high school.” I said looking intently at Abbigail. “They were friends and it was your mom that told mine that my dad died in a car crash.”

“So…?” Abbigail said.

“Well my dad never died.” I said and then handed her my locket and she looked at the picture inside. “That’s my dad.” Shocked, she then handed my locket to Blake so he could see what I was talking about.

“But that’s impossible.” He whispered.

At the same time that Abbigail asked arrogantly: “And why would my mom do that?”

“I don’t know Abbigail.” C.C. said condescendingly. “That’s what we were going to find out before you showed up.”

“I’m sure this is all just a big misunderstanding.” Blake tried calmly.

“No, Blake!” C.C. said. “Aunt Trish said it was the ‘evil queen’s’ fault and I believe her. She was there. Now we got to go. Come on Del.” She dragged me away by my hand.

“Wait!” Abbigail exclaimed. C.C. rolled her eyes, let go of my hand and turned around to face her.

“What?” C.C. asked exasperated.

“I’m coming too.” Abbigail said and stepped forward. “If my mom did this, I think I have a right to know what her reasons were.”

“Fine, whatever.” C.C. said exasperated.

“I think someone should stay with Mr. Mortis.” Zane said before we could leave.

“Why what’s wrong with him?” Abbigail asked.

At the same time that Blake said: “I’ll stay.” I looked at Blake and he gave me a small encouraging smile. Now I feel even worse for what I said to him earlier. I returned his smile before C.C. ushered me away.

“Where are we going?” I asked to no one in particular.

“Her bedroom.” Abbigail answered. “She said she wasn’t feeling well before dinner.” Oh, ok. We walked down the stairs and Abbigail opened a door that was next to the entrance of the office where I died earlier that day. Seeing those trees on the wall gave me the chills and seeing this, Zane draped his arm over my shoulders for support.

“Thanks.” I muttered to him. He smiled at me and we entered the room. A sudden thought hit me: what if it was Ellianna that killed me today? She was the one who separated my parents, maybe she wanted to finish the job with me so that they never find out. Oh, my, god! I’m sure that’s it.

The walls inside the room were white with black trimmings. There was a chandelier hung high to the ceiling, illuminating the room. Black, antique looking furnitures were set against the walls and the king sized bed in the middle of the room had black beddings. On the bed was a note but no Ellianna.

Abbigail ran to it and snatched the note. She read its content and then crumbled on the bed. She dropped the note beside her on the bed and Zane was sitting by her, the next second. He held her as tears began to go down her face. “She’s gone.” Abbigail murmured. “She left. She left without me.” She looked so brokenhearted that I felt bad for her. I might not like her but I can’t help being empathetic towards her. “Why did she leave without me?” I wonder what the note says. She then turned to Zane and asked: “Did I do something wrong?” Zane kindly shook his head as C.C. headed towards the bed and snatched the note. “Then why did she leave me behind? I did everything she’s ever asked of me and now…” She wasn’t able to finish her sentence and clutched onto Zane tightly as she cried in his shirt. He rubbed her back soothingly and mumbled things to her that I couldn’t hear from this distance.

C.C. read the note then threw it on the ground furiously. “I can’t believe this! She just… Argh!” C.C. exclaimed furiously before stomping away angrily. I picked up the note from the ground and read it.

Heath,

I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us

but you’re not what I’m looking for anymore.

You can’t give me what I want and I am not the one, you want.

I did care about you, in a way though and that is why I’m giving you this warning:

Do not come after me or you will regret it.

Sincerely, Ellianna

That’s it? She left, just like that? What made her leave? This doesn’t make any sense. Zane was still comforting Abbigail and so I decided to leave the room. Still clutching the note in one hand and my locket in the other, I went out of the room and heard voices coming from the room next door. I approached and the metal trees embossed in the wall opened up, revealing C.C., Blake and Oliver.

I cautiously walked in and noticed that most of the weird paintings on the walls weren’t paintings anymore but broken mirrors with the edges stained with black soot. What’s up with that?

As I walked closer to the trio, I crumple the note and put it in one of the pockets of my blazer while I put my necklace in the other and I then saw that they were right next to the dry puddle of my blood. I shivered. It might not have been painful or terrorizing but dying is a traumatic experience and seeing the scene of the crime again… It gave me the chills.

“Are you alright?” C.C. asked with concern as she walked closer to me but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the dried blood on the floor.

“Yeah, it’s just…” I gesture towards all the blood and she grabbed my arm to drag me away. As she dragged me elsewhere, I had to look away from the blood and then we were out of the room.

“I need to ask you something important Del.” She looked really grave. I wonder what’s going on? Beside everything else, but she didn’t react that badly to the other situations before, so…

“Ok…” I said unsure.

“Did you do anything before you died? Anything at all?” She was looking at me very inquisitively. I thought about it for a second.

“Well, I entered the office, I looked around.” I replied as I remembered what happened. “There was this light coming from this sort of safe in the wall and then the needle on the top of the skull began to glow red.” She seemed alarmed at that.

“It’s not supposed to do that.” She said.

“Well, it did.” I said. “And the closer I approached, the brighter it got and...─”

“Please tell me you didn’t touch it.” She interrupted me in a pleading voice.

“Actually, I didn’t mean to but I did.” I said as I recalled my memory. “It was like a fascination, I don’t know why but I wanted to touch it.” I paused. “And then a little blood ran down my finger and onto the skull, who turned and opened the safe-thingy.” She closed her eyes and groaned.

“Oh, no. This isn’t happening.” She moaned.

“What?” I asked alarmed. “What’s happening?” Her eyes shot open and she had a dark look on her face.

“She took my uncle’s ring.” She said in a monotone. “And she freed the leaders of the ‘Sinx’ cult with it.” Oliver and Blake joined us then.

“We think she might have escaped to ‘Ellithia’ with the ring.” Blake said.

“Oh, she took the ring alright.” C.C. said without humor. “She freed the ‘Sinxes’ too and then I’m sure she escaped to ‘Ellithia’.”

“But that doesn’t make sense.” I said trying to wrap my head around all of that. “She wouldn’t have had the time to do all these things before I woke up as a ghost… And how do you know that she freed the ‘Sinxes’?” I didn’t see any jail and I’ve been with her pretty much the entire time.

“The paintings.” C.C. vaguely explained. “The ‘Sinxes’ were sentenced to spend eternity inside the mirrors that once they trap someone, it turns to a painting that reflects the soul of the person it trapped. That way if a criminal’s soul becomes pure he’ll be set free otherwise he’ll stay forever trapped.” That’s all fine and dandy, but why do they think that she grabbed the ring?

“But what does that have anything to do with the ring?” I asked.

“The ring is the key to set the ‘Sinxes’ free.” Blake said. “It’s the only way to set them free otherwise those prisons are unbreakable.”

“But why did she keep the ring?” It doesn’t make any sense. Ok, she freed people, but why keep the ring? “She’s not an angel of death, it can’t boost her… whatever powers. Right?”

“No, it doesn’t.” C.C. answered just as puzzled. “And even if she did find an angel of death to be on her side, which is doubtful by the way, it’ll have to be a Mortis or the ring won’t work. It’s made with the blood of our family, Del. And it won’t work on someone else.”

“But what if she took it, not because she was planning on giving it to someone, but just to even the odds.” Oliver said thoughtfully. “Because we all know that Mr. Mortis is invincible with that ring, but without it… He’s just like any other angel of death, which gives her better odds of winning, were there to ever be a battle of some kind.” Oh, my, gosh. But why? Why would she want to do that? This is all so much. I need to… I need to sit down. I made my way over to the stairs and sat down. Blake joined me and sat down next to me.

“Why would someone do something like that?” I mumbled to myself.

“Power.” Blake answered immediately. “People would do anything for either money, love or power. In her case, it’s power.” That’s sick. I looked at him beside me and he looked so sad that the guilt I felt over the harsh words I said to him, earlier, came back tenfold.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier.” I said looking down at lap. Blake took my hands in his, making me look at him. Damn, that spark. I looked into his deep blue eyes and felt that magnetism I always feel towards him. Why is the world so cruel? I can’t have him, so why keep torturing me?

“It’s fine.” He said softly. “I did… used to want to die but… not anymore. Not since…─” He was cut off by hurried footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Delphine? Oh, Delphine, hi.” It was Andrew Valastro, Trish’s husband. “Your father would like to see you.” This is so weird, thinking about my father in the present tense. Well, thinking he’s alive, period.

“Sure.” Blake let go of my hands and I stood up to follow Andrew. We walked in silence to the living room where Trish, C.C.’s grandpa, a lady that I’m presuming is C.C.’s grandma and Heath stood talking heatedly.

As Andrew and I walked in they quieted down and all turned to face us. This is intimidating. The lady, whom I didn’t know, got a small smile on her face and speed-walked over to me. She was wearing a long black dress, had long black hair and dark brown eyes.

Once she reached me, she observed me for a moment and then she enveloped me in a hug. I’m not very fond of hugs, with the exception of my mother, so this is kind of awkward ─for me, at least. I returned the hug awkwardly and then she pulled away, still with her smile on her face. This is getting weird, I thought as I returned her smile with a stiff one of my own.

“My name is Irene, dear.” She said as she held me at arms length. “But you can call me grandma.” As she said this she pulled me into another hug. Ok… Awkward.

“Um… ok. Nice to meet you... Grandma” I said as she held me against her.

“I think that’s enough, dear.” C.C.’s grandpa said. I guess he’s my grandpa too, now. Irene then stepped away only to be replaced by… my grandpa. He gave me a huge hug also. “And I’m your grandpa.” This is getting weird. I returned the hug but it was strange. I’m not used to this much hugging.

“Ok.” I said softly.

“Delphine?” Came the timid voice of my… father. Grandpa pulled away. He gave me one last smile before stepping back and revealed my father behind him. “I would like to talk to you, alone.” He said looking intently at me. I nodded. He seems back to normal now, which is good… “Follow me.” He said as he walked out of the room. I followed him and we walked back to where his office was. C.C. and Oliver weren’t there anymore as well as Blake.

Heath approached the embossed trees and they untangled themselves to let him go through. As he walked in he stopped and looked at the broken mirrors, on both sides of the walls, he then walked further in and saw the dried puddle of my blood on the ground. He hurried to the safe-thingy and pocked his finger on the skull. It opened and almost instantaneously, Heath slammed it back shut with anger.

“What happened here?” He exclaimed to no one in particular. But since I was the only one in the room I felt inclined to answer him.

“I got killed.” I said softly, he immediately whirled around and looked at me incredulously. “Sorry about the floor, by the way.” He slowly walked over to me.

“You… got, killed?” He asked unsure.

“C.C., Blake and Oliver think it was Ellianna, so that she could get the ring from the safe.” I said softly.

“But what were you doing in here?” He asked confused.

“I saw some light under the trees.” I said gesturing to the entrance. “And when I got closer the trees untangled themselves, so I walked in. And then I saw this light on the point of the needle and as I got closer it got brighter and brighter and when I touched it, the safe-thingy opened… and… then everything went black.”

“Illusions.” He muttered under her breath. “She tricked you, she must have recognized… her… in you and wanted to see if you truly were my daughter before doing anything rash but then your blood opened the safe, and she knew the truth was about to come out and so she had to act fast…” He then paused. “This is so strange. Having a daughter…”

“I know. I always thought that my father died in a car crash but…” I said with a small smile. He seemed to be considering something. “Anyway… what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” I asked.

“Oh? Ah, yes. Um… Your mother, is she…?” He didn’t finish his sentence but I knew what he was asking. Is she married or seeing someone?

“No. She’s not.” I said shaking my head. “She’s not seeing anyone.”

“Good, um, I mean… Um…─” He began but I cut him off.

“I know what you mean.” He smiled gratefully at me, then cleared his throat.

“Well, tell me more about you then…” He said as he motioned for me to take a seat in front of his desk as he leaned on it. “I missed so much. I want to know everything.”

“Only if you tell me about you too.” I said with a warm smile. He raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t your mother… ever talked to you… about me?” He asked confused.

“No.” He seemed sad as I said that. “She’s only ever talked about you once, she told me you died in a car crash, that your name was Heath and she gave me this locket.” I handed him the locket and he looked inside. “She then told me to never talk about you again, that it was too painful to even think about you.” He smiled a small smile at that and handed me back my locket.

“Deal.” He said.