Ashes of the Past

In a small apartment in Mocisa Colombia, a young woman sat in front of a mirror with a little girl by her side.

"Mascara". The older woman ordered, and the younger girl passed the mascara to her.. "So you are going to see your boyfriend again".

"What's his name"....

"Xavier Ravenmoor!" The little girl said in excitement, and the older woman laughed.

"Erynna you are being a little brat, when I was your age, I didn't know what a boyfriend was". She said amidst laughter.

"I'm not a little girl anymore Elena".

"I'm twelve years old now".

Erynna said proudly. Elena smiled and picked her sister up. She brushed her brown hair off her face, and chuckled. Erynna was just twelve years old, but she is so smart that one would think she is an adult in the body of a child.

That is one of the reasons why people are charmed by her beautiful face, her sweet smile,and her calm voice.

"I'm going to see Xavier tonight, we have a date planned".

"Be a good girl while I'm away ok?" She said as she hugged the little girl in her arms. Elena dropped her sister and smiled.

"Behave yourself little girl". She said and left.

A few hours later... The door of the apartment opened forcefully, and Elena barged in. Her clothes were all torn, and her body was shaking frantically.

"Erynna!" She called out urgently.

"What happened to you Elena?" Erynna asked immediately. She could see the visible dark spots on Elena's body.

"Look sweetie, some men are going to come and take me away".

"They might hurt me, but I don't want them to lay a finger on you".

"So I want you to hide, hide, and don't make a sound even if you see them taking me away!" Elena instructed.

Erynna nodded even though she didn't understand what was going on. Elena hid her inside a closet.

She knows her sister is afraid of darkness, so Elena created a small space for her to see some light. She wiped her tears, and gave Erynna one last look.

"I love you" she whispered, and immediately the door broke open.

Two giant-looking men walked into the room, and Elena started begging immediately.

"Look, I really don't have anything, just spare me please spare me!" She begged amidst sobs. The men's eyes darkened, and they approached her.

"Please have mercy on me!" Elena pleaded, and one of the men scoffed.

"Mercy?"

"We are in no place to grant you mercy, if you really want to plead for mercy, then you should go to the Ravenmoors". "Elena you should have known better than to mess with a Ravenmoor".

"You just got r*p*d by Xavier, but you'll still end up dying".

"That's what happens to anyone that goes against Vionessa Ravenmoor". The other man chipped in. "Please don't".....

Before Elena could finish her statement, one of the men hit her with a gun, and she fell unconscious. Blood trickled out of her head, and Erynna who was watching from the closet gasped.

"Let's leave her here".

One of the men suggested.

"No!"

"The boss ordered for her to be thrown in the bottom of the sea". The other man said. The two men carried Elena, and they left the room. Erynna, who was still hiding in the closet, couldn't move.

Her eyes were wide open, and was trying to understand what just happened. With shaky hands, Erynna opened the closet, and walked out. She looked at the floor, and saw her sister's blood.

The adrenaline began to wear off, and the pain of reality began to set in.

" Elena". Erynna whispered, and fell to her feet.

Her shoulders shook violently, and she cried. All her life, she has been with Elena. Their father died a few months after their mother took in, and their mother died a few minutes after giving birth to Erynna.

Ever since then, Elena has been both a father,a mother, and a sister to Erynna. And now she just watched those men murder, and take her sister away.

Erynna wiped her tears, and left the room. It was late in the night, and she wasn't wearing any thick clothing. Soon, she became cold as the night wind blew her brown hair.

Erynna shook violently, and hugged herself. But soon she couldn't take it anymore, and she passed out.

In a big hospital in the outskirts of Mocisa, a man in his late forties stood with a doctor.

"So how is she?" The man asked.

"Well she seemed to have passed out due to shock,and stress". "But overall, I think she'll be fine in no time". The doctor said and left. The man nodded, and looked at the girl in the hospital bed.

Erynna's eyes stirred open, and she looked around.

"Easy now". "You're safe". "Erynna you are in a hospital, and you'll be fine". The man said and held her little hand. Erynna nodded. She recognized the man before her. He is the uncle of her friends, and he knows Elena too.

"They killed her". Erynna suddenly said. "What?" The man asked.

"They killed her".

"They murdered her, and threw her in the ocean". She repeated.

"Who?" The man asked.

"The Ravenmoors". Erynna replied, and her eyes turned cold.

Her little hands gripped the sides of the blanket covering her. The man nodded, but he didn't say a word.

A few days later..... The man brought Erynna to his house, since she didn't have anyone else. But he noticed something strange about her.

Unlike the Erynna that he once knew, she wasn't the little girl who had beautiful and hopeful eyes.

Now her eyes were just dark, and filled with pain. She was like a shadow of her own self.

"What do you want, Erynna". The man suddenly asked her. Erynna's eyes darkened, and she spoke for the first time in days.

"I want them to pay".

"I want to make them pay for ruining my life". She said firmly, and the man nodded.

"I knew you would say that, so I have paved the way for you Erynna".

"From this day on, you are no longer Erynna Monte's".

"Your name is Valeria Rune".

"And you are going to get your revenge,that I promise you".

He said,and handed her some papers.

A few hours later, Erynna arrived at a place that she was waiting to see.

The Ravenmoors mansion.

The building stood tall, among the other mansions in the estate. Erynna clenched her fists, and her eyes darkened.

Her eyes mirrored the emotions in her. Pain, anger, and determination.

Those emotions now appeared in the eyes of the twenty-four years old Valeria Rune , who is making her way into the Ravenmoor mansion.

Valeria took a deep breath, and clutched her suitcase tightly. She has been preparing for this day for years, and it is finally here. The day that Valeria gets to begin her revenge.

The gates opened, and she walked in. The mansion looked elegant, the water fountain, green grasses below, they all spoke power. Valeria was ushered in by the butler Mr Robbins. She was familiar with him. Mr Robbins was a handsome man in his early sixties.

Despite being old, he still had a beautiful smile on his face.

"Welcome Valeria, I am so excited to work with you". Mr Robbins said, as he showed Valeria to her room. He was called upon, and he just gave Valeria the directions to her room. Valeria swallowed hard as she looked around.

The Ravenmoors are the only people she hates in the world, and now she is going to live with them under the same roof. The thought of that alone made her feel uneasy. Valeria was lost in thoughts, and she didn't know when she bumped into someone.

She felt a strong collision against a strong unfamiliar figure, and Valeria expected to fall. But something unexpected happened.

A pair of strong hands caught her before she could fall. From the feel of the hand on her waist, Valeria knew it was a man.

She opened her eyes gradually, and she frowned. The man in front of her looked like a model. His facial features were both masculine and feminine at the same time-making him look extraordinary.

"You must be the new maid". The man said as he removed his hand from her waist. Valeria nodded.

"I'm Dorian Ravenmoor". The man said, and Valeria's frown deepened. Hearing the name "Ravenmoor" awakened a deep rooted anger in her heart. Without saying a word, Valeria left, while Dorian stood there with a smile on his face.

Valeria opened the door to her room and pressed her back against it. Just a few minutes into her stay here, and she is already falling into the arms of a Ravenmoor. Her phone buzzed, and Valeria smiled. She answered the call, and her smile widened.

"Oh don't be dramatic guys".

"I just got here, and I'm going to blend in". "Oh this is going to be great!" She squealed joyfully.

Later that day.... Valeria was asked to help the chef, as she was resuming immediately. She helped with the cooking, and the serving.

The Ravenmoors were already seated at the dining table. Valeria was asked to bring a special meal for Vionessa. Valeria brought the soup, and she handed it over to Vionessa.

Vionessa took the soup without looking up, and when she did she froze.

Valeria froze too.

Vionessa Ravenmoor is the wife of the late Lorenzo Ravenmoor, and she is the matriarch of the Ravenmoors.

The soup slipped out of Vionessa's hand, and the plate broke. That made her snap back to reality, and Valeria breathed a sigh of relief.

"And what are you staring at?" Come and clean this mess, Vionessa ordered. Valeria nodded, and left.

Soon she came back with a broom to clean the mess, and Vionessa was gone. Her children were the ones eating now. After cleaning the mess, Valeria decided to make a good impression and asked if they needed anything.

"Yes, I would love it if you change from that skimpy dress, and wear clothes that are appropriate for maids".

Xavier said harshly. Valeria turned to him and sighed.

Of course it was him. If all the Ravenmoors were bad, then Xavier was evil. Valeria despises Xavier, and now hearing him talk like that made her furious. She gave him a challenging look, but he didn't see.

"Don't mind him, he's always grumpy". Selena said, as she wiped her lips. Valeria nodded, and for a moment her eyes met Dorian's.

Selena looked between them and gave her brother a strange look. Selena Ravenmoor is the only girl, and the last of the Ravenmoor children. She is known for being a beauty queen, and above all, she was polite and easygoing.

She left, and Valeria was left with Dorian. He also left, after giving her a look that made her uneasy.

The next day..... Preparations for the annual gala of the Ravenmoors was taking place in the mansion. Vionessa repeatedly said she wanted a beautiful ball. One to be much remembered.

She had so many plans, and so did Valeria. While they were making preparations for the annual ball, Valeria encountered Xavier again.

He just went jogging, and he was sweating all over. Xavier was wearing a pair of black sweatpants, and a black tank top that clutched his well refined abs.

Valeria saw him, and for a moment her eyes were flashed with something strange. "Are you done staring?"

Xavier asked, snapping her back to reality.

"What?"

"Are you done staring, or do you want to feel it too?" Xavier asked shamelessly, causing Valeria to frown. She cursed inwardly, and left before he would say anything else.

Inside her room... Valeria received a text from a familiar number.

"Tomorrow is going to be an unforgettable day for them". The text read. Valeria smiled proudly, and left the room.

Valeria woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. She was so excited to begin with her plans. She quickly changed out of her pajamas, and wore her uniform. Valeria approached the kitchen, and she heard strange sounds.

On getting there....

She saw a man, and a woman. She couldn't see the face of the man, because his back was facing her, but she could see the woman's face clearly. And from the looks of it, the woman was in the ninth cloud.

She made a coy sound that made the situation more awkward, and the man straightened up. It was Xavier. Valeria looked at him with a big frown on her face.

He wasn't wearing a shirt, so his chest was fully on display. He had a tattoo on his chest that made him look like a gangster.

"Prepare something for us". He ordered and left. Valeria cursed inwardly and began her chores. Less than thirty minutes later...

The hallway to the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma coming from the food that Valeria prepared. She loves cooking.

It made her feel calm, and that was exactly what she needed. Valeria noticed someone's gaze on her body, and she turned to see Dorian watching her with his arms crossed. He had a playful smile on his face.

"Good morning sir". Valeria greeted immediately.

"Good morning Valeria". Dorian replied and approached her. He looked at the food on the counter, and his eyes glimmered.

"Can I have a bite?" He asked-shocking Valeria. She nodded, and gave him some pancakes and rice.

Dorian took a bite, and his smile widened. "Wow you're not only beautiful, you're a great chef too". Dorian complimented and continued eating. Valeria smiled and put the dishes away. She could see the difference between Xavier and Dorian.

Unlike Xavier, Dorian was calm and easygoing. Meanwhile, Xavier stood at the door of the kitchen with a frown on his face. He didn't know why his brother was so good to the new maid, but he didn't have a good feeling about it.

A few hours later, the Ravenmoor mansion was transformed into something else.The stairs were decorated with beautiful white flowers, and the chandeliers were changed into shiny ones that reflected on the black tiles.

Guests from all over the continent were in attendance.The people in this party looked like gods and goddesses. Valeria spotted many TV stars, artists, and even politicians. The Ravenmoors came down in pairs. The lights were dimmed, and a circular light appeared on the entrance of the stairs.

Vionessa Ravenmoor came down with Xavier-they looked so much like the real villains in the family.Vionessa wore a red gown that poured down with her as she ascended the stairs.

She had a proud smile on her face.Xavier, on the other hand, was wearing a black suit with a red tie-obviously to match his mother.Dorian came down with Selena.

He looked so handsome in a gray suit.Dorian looked around like he was trying to spot someone; his eyes landed on Valeria, and he smiled.

She smiled back, and she felt someone walking towards her , Valeria turned, and saw Xavier looking at her with his hands in his pocket.

He had a smirk on his face-one that many girls would find cute or attractive.

"Are you done staring?"

he asked with a mockery clear in his tone. Valeria cleared her throat and asked.

"Is there anything you need sir?"

"He is like that with everyone".

He said calmly. Valeria frowned. "Dorian, he is nice to everyone."

"So don't think you are special". Xavier said while maintaining eye contact with her . This time she could feel the hostility coming from him. Well, it is safe to say that the feeling is mutual.

"Go get me a drink". Xavier ordered before I could say anything else. Valeria raised a brow.

"That's what the waiters are here for."He scoffed. "You are my maid, and I can order you to do anything I want, because I pay you".

"So go get me vodka."

Valeria poured the drink into the glass; her hand was gripping the glass tightly. Hell, she could see her knuckles turning white. Her phone chimed, and she saw a text from a familiar number:

"They have arrived."

Valeria smiled and took the drink to Xavier. He didn't even touch it; he just said something about a speech and left. She smiled consciously.

The main show is going to begin when they start their speech. Valeria just can't wait to see the look on their face when I start with them.

Vionessa clinked her glass with her ring, and the light dimmed. A circular light shone on her, and she smiled, revealing her gaping white teeth. Valeria scoffed.

This woman loved attention; well, she will be getting lots of it today.

Vionessa took a mic from Xavier and began her speech,Dear friends... Vionessa's words were cut short when she heard a gunshot.

She screamed, all the guests screamed, and the party turned into chaos. More gunshots were heard, and Dorian saw a red light on Selena's chest.

Without thinking, he grabbed her, and they fell together. Selena screamed, and so did Vionessa.

The terror in her eyes was so visible that one would notice from a mile away. Dorian groaned, and that gained Vionessa's attention.

He was wounded.

The bullet didn't hit him, but it grazed his arm and blood was oozing out. The gunshots continued, and on the big screen in the hall, a big sentence appeared.

"This is the beginning of your nightmare". Vionessa's eyes widened, and she cleaned her jaw. The gunshots died down, but the guests were all running away.

Xavier quickly called for a doctor; he helped Dorian sit, and he noticed that Selena also had a cut on her wrist. She was shaking frantically, and so was Vionessa.

Dorian and Xavier tried to hide their fear, but it was visible on their faces.

Valeria stood at the entrance. She watched as the Ravenmoors hid in fear. She enjoyed the sight, and she couldn't help but smile. Valeria felt a sense of fulfillment wash over her.

This is just the beginning, Ravenmoors; you will wish you never saw the light of day.

Vionessa paced around in her room. Her jaw was clenched tightly.

She gritted her teeth in anger; the glass in her hand was on the verge of breaking from her strong grasp.

"The doctor already attended to Dorian and Selena; they are sleeping now".

Xavier says as he pours himself a drink and sits down. Vionessa gulped down the whiskey in her glass.

"Who do you think is responsible for this?" Vionessa asked. Xavier sighed.

"We've got many enemies mom". He replied with his brow furrowed tightly. Vionessa scoffed.

"To hell with our enemies; none of them has ever pulled off something like this."

"They have always been too scared to do anything, but with this person, I think it's a new enemy,"Vionessa stated.

"A bold one". Xavier chipped in.

"This person wants to give us a real scare, and he did". Vionessa sighed; her eyes twinkled with determination and anger.

She was going to get to the bottom of the issue. Valeria stood at the door with a smile on her face. She just got started, and Vionessa is already losing her sleep.

"Game on." She whispered and left.

The next day, Vionessa came downstairs with dark circles under her eyes. It was obvious that she didn't sleep a wink. She ordered coffee, and Valeria prepared it.

Two men in black walked in, just as they were having breakfast.

"Good morning Miss Ravenmoor". They greeted her . Vionessa nodded and dropped her coffee. "What am I paying you for?" she asked. The men looked at themselves.

"To protect you and your family ma". They replied.

"And can you explain how me and my family were almost killed in our mansion during our annual gala?" she asked. Her voice was so loud that it echoed through the hallway.

"Do you know what that has done to our name, to my name?" She asked again, this time she slammed her fist on the table.I'm giving one last chance to make things right, so don't fail me."

"I want you to investigate the events of last night properly; I want you to pay attention to every little detail."

"And also, you'll have to hire new bodyguards for my children."The men nodded.

"And what are you still doing here?" She asked with her eyes almost bulging out of her face.

Meanwhile, upstairs Valeria was asked to take Dorian's food to him.

His right hand was now bandaged. Valeria knocked and walked in. Dorian sat on his bed with his hand on his hair.

His hair was messed up, and it covered almost half of his face. Valeria cleared her throat and asked, "Can I come in, sir?"

"Aren't you in?" He asked with a playful smirk. Valeria smiled; he was injured, but he still managed to look so hot. He was wearing a black tank top and blue shorts.

If not for the bandage in his right hand, one wouldn't know that he is injured. Valeria snapped out of her thoughts and dropped the tray on the bedstand .

"How are you, sir?" she asked.

"I'm doing better". Dorian replied. Valeria nodded. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand. Her breath hitched.

"I can't eat with my left hand". Dorian whispered. Valeria nodded and picked up the food. She started feeding him, but she avoided his gaze. Dorian smiled.

After feeding him, she packed up and was about to leave when she heard him speak. "Valeria, I would appreciate it if you stop calling me sir".

He said. Valeria nodded. She ran into Xavier on her way out. He shot her a hard glare, and she left.

Xavier walked into the room and saw Dorian smiling to himself. He scoffed.

"Please don't tell me you're smiling like that because of a maid. Dorian frowned.

"She's not"....

"Oh come on, she is-what do you want me to call her-a servant?"

Xavier asked with a grin. Dorian clenched his jaw; he was obviously upset, but Xavier wasn't done.

"I didn't know your standards were that low."

Valeria was passing Vionessa's room, and she heard her talking on the phone.

"Yh, we are alright; the kids suffered minor injuries, but they are fine now."She said calmly.

Valeria raised a brow.It was unlike her to smile like that. The person on the other end said something, and Vionessa chuckled.Valeria frowned.

She had to find out who this person is.

Valeria arrived in her room, and her phone rang.She smiled and answered the call.

"Did you like it?" the person on the other side asked.Valeria nodded.

"I just couldn't contain my joy when I saw the fear in their eyes". She replays the moment in her head, and her smile grows wider.

"When will they arrive?" She asked.

"Soon".

The other person replied.

***

Valeria looked in the mirror and smiled. She has dreamt of this moment.

The moment she have been preparing for all these years, and finally she is living it.