The woman pushed the card towards Arthur.
The older man took it, dread pooling in his gut.
When his eyes set on the name displayed on the certificate of recognition, he froze.
Julian stood to the side, his eyes wide, unable to come up with what to do next.
Catherine leaned over and snatched the card from her husband's grasp.
She went through it, and just like the older man, our eyes were wide as her mouth hung low.
Mister and Missus Blackwood, if you don't mind, we will be on our way. More communication will come later. The woman bowed towards the two. They didn't react, and not wanting to linger any further, she marched out, her two companions flanking her.
The backyard settled into an uncomfortable silence.
Catherine slowly turned towards Elias, her eyes watering.
"You, you were the one who. The words hung in her throat.
Damn, what do I do now? Julian gritted his teeth as his fists clenched.
I need to do something before this escalates further, but what? His mind was screaming.
You dare disobey me and go to the exam without my knowledge? All of a sudden, a harsh voice sounded as Arthur stepped forward, almost fuming.
Everyone was taken aback, and they stared in confusion. Julian smiled, seeing that the old man was still on his side.
Catherine's gaze snapped towards her husband but she didn't do anything to stop him.
Elias watched this with morbid fascination.
He just couldn't help but smile.
Are you lying to your family now? Arthur roared.
"When were you banned from sitting for the exam?" He continued.
Why would you go behind her back and sit for the exam without telling us?
But all this time, Elias remained impassive.
"I am speaking to you, brat! Answer me right now."
The crowd went silent as they stared at the man in disbelief. Arthur, realizing that he might have gone a bit too far, especially because he was in public, smiled apologetically towards the crowd.
I am sorry, everyone. But I think the party will have to come to an end.
Thank you for your attention, he said, beckoning for the crowd to leave.
But at that instant, Elias shot up.
He spread his hands out wide and smiled towards him.
You're just getting started! Where the hell are all of you going? He stated with conviction and as the words left his mouth, it was as if everyone had been struck and frozen by some cold air, as they remained standing at the positions, unable to move.
There now. Perfect! We can all watch the rest of the show together. The man's words dripped with malice as a dark grin twisted his lips.He turned his attention to Arthur. Now, old man, where were we?Like a magician unveiling his greatest illusion, Elias began to limp in a slow, deliberate circle around the frozen guests, his movements theatrical yet menacing."Elias, what are you doing?" Arthur roared, his voice cracking with barely contained fury."Oh, my dear, sweet father!" Elias grinned toward the older man, his eyes glittering with something unrecognizable—something that made Arthur's blood run cold.Catherine's face drained of color. She stepped forward, her hands trembling as she reached out. "Elias, dear, I know you're hurting. You must be angry because we prepared this party for you, brother, but we didn't remember you properly. I am so sorry, son." She moved closer, her fingers stretching toward him as if to offer comfort, but Elias jerked away violently.She froze mid-motion, one arm suspended in the air. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks."What is wrong?" Her voice broke on the last word."Did I do something wrong?" Silence answered her plea."Nobody touches me." The words emerged as a growl, something primal and raw vibrating beneath the surface."Brother." Julian stepped forward, his face a carefully constructed mask of concern and brotherly devotion. Every line of his expression had been practiced, perfected."It's all my fault!" He took several measured steps forward, each one calculated for maximum effect.Elias's gaze shifted toward him, watching with the detached fascination of a scientist observing an interesting specimen."I know you must hate me! Of course they are your biological parents. I'm just an adopted son—an outsider. I know you feel like I've stolen all the love you deserved. It's all my fault." Julian glanced toward Arthur and Catherine, and a barely perceptible smirk flickered across his lips.
"They're buying it, but it's not enough. I have to push further," he thought, his internal monologue at odds with his sorrowful expression.Julian took one final step, closing the distance until only inches separated him from Elias."I'm sorry, bro," he whispered, his voice breaking on cue.Then he dropped to his knees in a gesture of theatrical humility."What!" The crowd erupted in shocked disbelief, gasps and murmurs rippling through the room."Julian, stop this instant!" Arthur yelled, but his words came too late. Elias continued to watch Julian with detached curiosity, as if observing a particularly unconvincing performance."I know I didn't deserve any of this! I didn't deserve our parents' love. I didn't deserve to be the favored son. Please, I'm begging you—forgive me." Julian's shoulders shook with manufactured emotion.Elias remained motionless, his expression unreadable. He simply watched, waited."Oh, how touching," Elias finally remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm that cut through the room like a blade.Arthur's face darkened to a dangerous shade of crimson as he glared at his biological son. "You ungrateful brat! What is that supposed to mean?""Can't you be as reasonable as your brother?" The comparison hung in the air like an accusation.Elias laughed—a sound devoid of warmth or humor.
The laughter echoed through the ballroom, dark, uncanny, and ominous, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it."Oh! So I'm the one being unreasonable now, Mister Blackwood?" He emphasized the formal address, stripping away any pretense of familial connection."Watch your tone, boy," Arthur snapped, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscles jumped beneath his skin.The crowd shifted uneasily, their anxiety mounting as they witnessed the confrontation escalate. Whispered conversations died on lips as all eyes remained fixed on the unfolding drama."Everyone, once more, I must apologize, but you need to leave. Now." Arthur's command carried the weight of desperation masked as authority.The guests scrambled toward the exits, their earlier curiosity transformed into urgent need for escape. But then a voice rang out—cold, commanding, absolute—freezing them mid-flight."No one moves."The words fell like a whisper of death itself, drawing them into its dark artistry. Guests stopped as if their strings had been cut, glancing at one another with eyes wide in horror, their faces pale masks of fear.
"What is going on?" someone whispered urgently."Something is wrong. We need to go," another voice insisted, trembling slightly."What is happening?" a third person demanded, their pitch rising with each syllable.Their voices tumbled over one another—rushed, fearful, edged with a panic they could barely contain. Eyes darted toward the exits, then back to Arthur, searching his face for answers he clearly wasn't ready to give. Hands clutched at coat sleeves and handbags, knuckles white with tension. The air itself seemed to thicken with their collective dread, each person caught between the instinct to flee and the desperate need to understand what danger had suddenly materialized in their midst.