Odette: The mysterious woman

She was a mysterious lady who didn't even know much about herself. One day, she believed she was going to lose her voice, she was going to forget her name and she was going to lose all her power, her hair would stop glittering.

The faint voice that was always whispering in her head would be gone forever. But the question she always asked herself was 'Am I going to lose everything the same way I lost my mother?'

Her long hair kept gleaming whenever she sang. She was born with magic, her melodious voice was something everyone was envious of. Her face wasn't revealed to the world, and there was a secret behind her hair and eyes which she never told anyone.

She was Odette, she had a stepsister whom she loved most. Her name was Kendra. Kendra also had a sister whose name is Kennedy. They were sisters and they lived together.

She was afraid to make a choice because every choice led to a mistake.

Her life was like a dream. Her world was crushing, fading away like a shadow but she only believed that one day she was going to find her. The one that knew who she was and where she came from.

Odette ribboned her long hair, putting on a black hoodie and covered her face with a facemask. She was set to go out like she always did every midnight.

"O...de...tte." Called the strange voice.

She heard her faint voice and she was coming to her. She glanced around her room before strolling toward the window.

"Come out. You have to show yourself to the world that you're the chosen one. You're my goddess." She heard the strange voice praising her. She had been the only one hearing the voice. She didn't know what the woman looked like or what she was. Only her voice could be heard and she never showed herself to her.

She laced up her boots and jumped out through the window. She shutted her windows before exiting the mansion. After the death of her beloved father, the mansion became hers. Her assets include shares in the company and every mansion her late father owned. She became a billionaire right from her birth. No one would know unless she told me.

She walked along the road. It was dark and empty but none of these frightened her as she headed to the route that led to the woods.

"Hey freeze.." One of the two men that saw her walking into the wood ordered huskily.

She halted and turned around to catch a glimpse of the person.

"Come here little bitch. You little slut." The other man uttered seductively while walking toward her.

She hadn't said anything. She didn't want to hurt anyone either.

"Remove your mask. Let me see your pretty face." He extended his hand to touch her. She raised her gaze and stared at the man before her.

"I don't wanna paint this road so leave now before I change my mind." She uttered solemnly. Her calm beautiful voice made them gasp.

"Wow! The voice... Is... Um." He stuttered as he looked at his partner.

"Let's take her down dude." His partner said in a husky snarl.

"Your voice should be gone." She said as she infused magic power in her words.

"What kind of ruse are you..." he couldn't finish his statement as something caught in his throat. He looked at Odette frighteningly, begging her to stop torturing her. She did the same to the other man.

"You should leave now. Your voice would be back but your ears aren't going to hear a sound because you heard my voice." She muttered.

She didn't spare them a second glance as she headed on. She covered her hair with the hood.

That was Odette. Her words were spells.

She stopped in front of the daisy flower, it was luminous at night. Odette would sing for the flower to gloss. When it was awakened, she would hear the strange voice again.

She believed that her voice lit up all birds souls in the woods. Including dying flowers. She removed the ribbon and let her hair down.. Immediately she started singing, her hair gleamed and fairies came out. They swirled around her while some laid on her hair.

She continued singing with the most perfect voice ever heard. It awakened the spirit of the forest. Animals came out and watched her with their calmness.

"Good, my daughter. You ease the pain I'm feeling now." Said the strange one.

She stopped singing and looked around the woods. She couldn't find where the strange voice was coming from. Perhaps she was hiding somewhere. Was she avoiding her?

"Please show yourself." Odette knew no matter how hard she tried the strange woman would never come to her.

"I'm cursed. I'm on a spell. I can't free my soul but you're the only one that can ease my pain. Go home now." She whispered. It was agony not knowing how to free the woman from her grief.

She rose to her feet and glanced around the woods. "Please where are you? I want to help you." With concern, she said.

"You can't and if you do you will never have your voice again. You'll lose everything. Go home now odette" She protested.

"It's 11 years now. Please let me help. I want to free your soul. Will you keep shutting me out? I want to free your soul from the spell."

The strange voice kept mute. She was going to ignore her like she always did.

Odette didn't know her name. She didn't know who she was. It all happened when she was 10 years of age. She couldn't forget the day she called her name, Odette. She made her come to the woods everyday and sang for her but she never revealed herself.

She sighed in despair and went back home. She glanced at the clock on the far wall. She walked to her bed. She unlaced the boots and dropped them at the edge. She got on the bed and covered her body with the duvet.

"GOOD MORNING ODETTE." Kendra shouted as knocked on the door. Odette groaned inside as she tried to cover her ears with the pillows. "Open this damn door, Odette." Kendra knocked three times and waited.

"Didn't I tell you that the next time you wake me up I will have you executed? Odette yelled from inside as she got down from the bed. She dragged her feet up to the door.

"Open the door, Odette."

"Quit knocking. I'm about to open it." She opened it and Kendra rushed inside. She was holding a brush and flower pins.

"You should take a quick shower. I'm already late for school." She muttered. She angled a chair and sat on it.

If there was anything Odette didn't like doing, it was brushing her hair.

She hissed loudly before dragging her feet to the bathroom. In ten minutes, she stepped out in a bathrobe.

"Your eyes change," Kendra noticed. Odette lifted a brow perplexingly.

"Has they changed again? Irish or green? She enquired as she sat on the stool facing the mirror. She stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Nope. It's blue with a little bitty black. You may use contact lenses if you don't like them." She said,

"All right."

"Come on,sing." She hesitated before singing while Kendra brushed her hair and braided it.

"Ta-da! Odette,you love it?" Kendra interjected her thoughts.

"I need your help." Odette finally said the words that had caught in her throat.

"Really? Do you need my help? I can't believe it." Kendra jabbered foolishly.

"Can you help me get the Pearl pin from your Mom?" She requested in a low tone.

"I can't. It's impossible Odette. You know mom hates me,she won't allow me to step inside even just for a second.." Her face fell with disappointment.

"Okay." She mumbled. "You're late for school in a hurry. Kennedy is waiting for you." She stood up and pushed her out. She locked the door and returned to the stool.

She had to figure how a way to get her pearl pin from Sharon, her stepmother.

Kendra knew there was something Odette was keeping from her but she intended to find out about her own. She wondered what the hairpin was and why she cherished it most.

They stepped down from the car. She waved at Kennedy who ignored her as if she wasn't with her. She huffed and stomped to the class.

"Crazy cheerleader is here." Mia shouted,gesturing to everyone to make way.

"Make way for your Queen." Genevieve added. The whole students glanced at the entrance. Kendra wasn't surprised. She had the craziest human beings as friends.

"What again Mia,Genevieve?" She pouted her lips.

"No, girlfriend." They burst into delighted laughter with their gaze fixed on Kendra. She knew they had talked behind her back.

"Where is Laura?" She ignored their mockery laughter and asked about their other friend.

"You haven't heard?" Mia narrowed her eyes on her.

"The news that trends on the students group chat for two consecutive hours..." Genevieve looked into Kendra's eyes to be sure she wasn't trying to make fools out of them.

"I don't know anything. I haven't heard anything."

"That Fred broke up with her. The couple broke up. Jeez! Kendra, can you believe that Laura doesn't come to school because she doesn't want to see Fred." Genevieve said.

"Really? I'm just wondering why he sent a letter to me."

"Who?"

"Fred of course. The last time I told you that Fred is just using Laura for his reputation in school you never believe me." Kendra added knowingly.

"How in hell do you want us to believe you when you are a liar. You kept saying that there is someone out there who has a voice that is worth listening to than Darlene's voice. Whenever we ask about the lady you come up with excuses." Mia uttered surly.

"Such a lady doesn't exist Mia. It's just a cook up story." Genevieve said with a nonchalant shrug.

"Really? You really think I'm lying?" Kendra asked.

"We are not thinking Kendra, we know that you're lying." Mia snapped.

"If you are not then prove it."

"Then let's make a deal." She said before she could control herself. She wouldn't hesitate to prove them wrong.

Kennedy stomped into their classroom. "Kendra." She called out.

"Your psycho sister is here. We gotta go now." Mia and Genevieve moved away from Kendra before Kennedy could reach the desk.

"Psychopath." Kendra mumbled underneath.

"Kendra, where is the tape?" Kendra frowned her lips.

"What tape? Odette didn't sing and I can't force her to sing for me. She knows I'm a cheerleader not a singer. If you really want to join the contest, use your voice idiot." She snapped at her annoyingly.

"Since you ain't ready to help,I'm gonna talk to mom." She said and left their classroom.

Kendra gasped. She didn't want Odette to sing for her elder sister and if Sharon was involved there was no way out of it she had to sing. Not now that she had something to threaten Odette with.

SHARON LOOKED AT the mirror and laughed devilishly. There was a devilish look of mischief in her eyes. She picked the pin and kept it inside a box. She put it beside the standing mirror. She covered the mirror.

She kept wondering how she was able to survived all the torture.

"Daisy, I'm coming for you. This time I'm gonna kill you." She mumbled and exited the dark room when she had shut the vision in the mirror.

Diamond stars was a school for artists, famous vocalists and exquisitely talented musicians. They built young teenagers, they brought out the talents in them. Everyone had special abilities and talents, none of them should be wasted. The famous Winston families were well known in Los Angeles. They family owned Winston highschool, music industry and many companies.

Winston had only two children, Abel Winston and Kyle Winston. Kyle Winston was known for his special talent, he was an eminent vocalist. He made a great band with his members, Timothy, Owen, Scott, Harry and Raymond. Kyle was more like an introvert among them but whenever he was with his band members, he could be mistaken for an extroverted person.

They all had their closest friends. Timothy and Kyle had been friends since childhood and their friendship was strong that on one could come between them.

It hurt when the one you called your best friend kept a secret. Kyle would have let the matter go but why would he keep what happened to his sister away from him. Timothy thought it was the best thing to do since Kyle's parents didn't want to tell him either, and it almost led to the destruction of their friendship.

Timothy wasn't ready to give up on it, he would continue to beg him till he finally found a way to let it go.

"I still can't believe Kyle and I have to fight over the same issue. I knew it, it's all my fault but he has to forgive me. But wait, if I haven't asked Abel to stay that night maybe she won't have got herself into trouble." Timothy said miserably. "Even if he forgives me, I won't forgive myself. It isn't his parent fault that they hide the truth away from him." He added.

One thing about him was that he was hot-tempered. He would avoid everyone when he lost control of himself, he had the problem since he was a kid. He knew what he could and to avoid it, he'd distanced himself from everyone. It was four months that he had left Los Angeles for Iceland. Timothy wondered what was going on with him. He wanted the old Kyle back, his best friend not the new grumpy buddy.

"Hey Tim, any hope yet?" Raymond asked as he walked into the living room.

"Not yet. He hasn't made up his mind." He replied with a long sigh.

"When are you going to stop doing that, huh? It wasn't your fault that she's dumb. I'm pretty sure someone is behind it." Harry snapped. He was getting pissed off. Everyone knew it was never Timothy's fault but he failed to admit it.

"Really? If it wasn't my fault then whose fault? He calls me his friend but I betray him. He has every right to be mad at me. I should have told him from the beginning. I sincerely regret what I did"

"If you don't ask her to stay back that night, believe me she will. She badly wanted to see Kyle that day and that was the reason why she slept over. But I'm curious about what she saw in the woods." Scott said. His voice sounded like a female's. It would be hard to choose between his voice and Kyle's voice.

"We all have to talk to him and beg him to come back. I miss him like crazy. I hope he reunites with his parents too. Seriously, they really hurt him by keeping away from the truth about what happened to his sister." Owen mumbled, putting the earphone on his head.

"Have you heard any news from Davis about the voice contest? Timothy steered the conversation.

"Not really. The contest is still going on." Said Harry.

"Oh, okay.

"Davis said we should come to the studio tomorrow." Raymond divulged and rose. "I gotta prepare for that." He said then left.

"Such a good manager. Seriously, I don't want the break to end." Scott whined. Harry glanced over at him, he shook his head when their eyes met. He was getting bored of the break. They had been doing nothing for the last two months.

"Me too." Owen mumbled and Harry shot him a playful glare.

ODETTE REMOVED THE pins that kendra had used to hold her hair together. She returned them back into the box and kept it inside the drawers.

She scurried on the bed then looked up. Everyday, every second she always thought her power would soon fade away. She felt different everyday but there was something she couldn't decipher, what was the strange connection she had with the woman. She wanted to help her but she kept telling her she was going to lose her voice.

The door to her room slid open and Sharon ambled inside. " Odette. " She called out. Odette remained calm in the bed without moving. "Odette."

"Sharon, where are your manners?" She sat up, looking infuriated. She hated it when Sharon banged inside her room without knocking. She glared at her and clenched her fist in the bed.

"Calm down Odette. I'm here for a deal not to fight." She said innocently.

She rolled her eyes at her, she knew Sharon was faking it again.

"I wonder why you're still alive. How I wish I could end your life right now." She said, staring at her sternly.

"Remember, I'm still your stepmother. I have answers to your thousand questions." She smirked.

Odette deliberately spared her for a reason, she didn't have to kill her.

"Stepmother or maid? You brute! You killed my parents. You enchanted my dad because you wanted him to marry you. Trust me once I get what I want I'll vanquish you, Sharon." She seethed as she leaped to her feet.

"Try to think of it, Odette. I get rid of your mother, do you think I can't get rid of you also?" She asked with a mischievous smirk. Odette looked at her face and she wished she could drag her out of her room before she did something crazy.

"You think it's gonna happen? So gross. Well, good luck... Sharon." Sharon knew her power wouldn't work on Odette. Her magic was useless no matter how hard she tried.

She hesitated "I'm not here for that, Odette. I want you to help Kennedy. She wants to participate in a voice contest and you will be the one to sing. If you sing I'm going to return your pearl pin to you."

With a chuckle she gazed at her face unbelievably. "Are you serious?" She nodded.

" yes."

"Why don't you shoot your shot and beg me to sing? I know you won't give me that pin but once I get my pin back, Sharon, you're in trouble." She walked up to the door. She opened it wide and gestured to her to leave her room. "Leave my room... Now."

"I don't care about what you're gonna do." Sharon snarled.

"You know your spell or magic has no effect on me. Think big, think big, Sharon." Odette said solemnly.

"I wonder why you haven't lost your power yet after all the tricks but you keep getting more powerful." She mumbled but she heard her.

"Are you curious? Why don't you use another trick Sharon?." Furious, cursing underneath, Sharon strolled toward the door.

"I swear I'm not gonna force you to sing, you will come to me and beg for mercy." She whispered to her and strolled out of the room.

"Trick? What trick is she talking about? Odette asked herself as she sat on the stool facing the mirror.

Sometimes she thought she was a witch because only witches possess such a mysterious power. Eyes change, hair glow, see through someone, put someone on a spell and do what others couldn't. She had told herself she was never a prophecy.

SHARON HAD HURRIED to the room. She lifted the long scarf off the mirror. She sat on the chair and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Suddenly Daisy appeared in the mirror. She seemed to have cried because her eyes were red. Furiously, she struggled with the chains.

"Sharon, leave Odette alone. If anything happens to her I will never forgive you. Fight me and leave her alone. " she yelled as she tried to break through the strong chains. It was futile, the spell Sharon had cast on the chains was strong and her own power had become weak.

"Calm down Daisy. It's 19 years that I've enchanted you but you're still alive. How? Don't tell me that you haven't lost your power yet?" Sharon uttered calmly as she picked the box where she had kept the Pearl pin.

She brought the pin out and put it inside a steel bowl. She took a knife and cut her hand, she allowed the blood to drop in the bowl. She dipped the pearl pin inside the cup. She added a green potion and returned the small bottle to where she took it from. She raised Odette's brush and removed a strand of her hair then dipped it inside the bowl. She recited spells till it started burning. The blaze of fire lit up the room. She was performing the ritual to torment Daisy and to kill her. Daisy started feeling pain as the chains became red as fire.

"Aha. Stop it, you're hurting me, Sharon." Daisy groaned as she was shaking. Sharon recited more spells till her hair turned gray.

Daisy stopped groaning. When Sharon sensed the room was hushed she glanced over the mirror. Daisy isn't moving anymore and her head is down.

"Dead end." Sharon laughed evilly.

Daisy lifted her head slowly. "You think you can get rid of me by keeping doing this? Of course not Sharon, even if you use Odette's hair you won't still get rid of me. Sharon leave my daughter alone and face me instead." She yelled.

"How? You can't live Daisy... who the hell are you?" She was getting perplexed. She couldn't kill her no matter how she tried.

"I know that is the question you've been dying to ask but I'm not gonna answer that question. " she said.

"W-what?" She widened her eyes when Daisy shut the vision.

" Come back, Daisy. " She shouted furiously but Daisy never showed up. She had gone.

"Gosh!." She clenched her fist and almost hit the mirror. She stopped half way when she remembered that it was her only way to see Daisy. Her only way to communicate with her.

"I have to do something. Daisy, you can't be alive." She wandered the room for a minute before stomping out. It would be hazardous if she let Daisy live. She would figure out what the problem was and put an end to everything.

She entered her room and brought out the book of elders in the drawer.

"Why can't I get rid of her? Why?" She paced around the room ponderously. She turned the next page and her eyes beamed when she saw something exhilarating.

"I need Odette's voice. " She told herself.

Seven months ago, when Kyle went for a concert in Thailand. Abel called him and said that she had something important to tell him that day. Kyle thought he would be able to make it that day since the flight duration was that long, he'd be able to make it home the next day after the concert.

Unfortunately, they were something urgent that Kyle had to attend to. He called to tell Abel to return home that he wouldn't make it home so she should leave the mansion. She wasn't with the phone when Kyle called. He decided and called Timothy to tell Abel that he wouldn't be able to make it that day and he should tell her to leave the mansion. He would come visit her instead.

When Timothy arrived at the mansion, Abel happened to be the one keeping Harry's company since Scott, Owen and Raymond had left for the concert with Kyle. It was just him and Harry. He forgot to tell her to return home.

In the night, Abel retired to Kyle's room because she thought Kyle was still coming. Suddenly she heard a melodic voice singing. The voice awoke her. She was curious that she walked out even though she was twelve years old but she isn't afraid of the dark. She sneaked out of the mansion using the back door. She walked deep in the woods and followed where the faint voice was coming from.

There was a lady standing all alone in the woods singing marvelously. The lady stopped when she heard some footsteps coming from behind. Abel pushed the leaves that were blocking her from seeing the lady. She successfully pushed it aside and Odette came to her view. Abel saw how her hair glittering so bright.

The glimmer of Odette's hair caused Abel to scream out frighteningly that she ended up hitting her head on a small rock beside a tree. She thought she saw a spirit, she was startled. Blood squirted on her dress. She groaned till she blacked out. Odette hastened to her side. She used her magic power to heal the wound.

Abel stopped bleeding from the head. Odette was about to walk away when she remembered that Abel saw her and she might have revealed what she saw in the woods. What if they look for her? . She casted a spell on her and walked away hurriedly.

The next day. Abel was found in the woods, sleeping peacefully. The bodyguards helped her back to the mansion. The woods weren't far from the main mansion. Timothy drove her to the hospital and informed Mr Winston.

Abel was still unconscious for hours and she was still breathing. When she eventually woke up ,she didn't remember anything that she saw in the woods, not even what happened to her. She had also lost her voice. She couldn't speak but she could hear what others said.

By the time Kyle arrived, Mr Winston ordered everyone never to mention anything to him. They didn't tell him what happened to Abel. When he enquired about her they informed she had gone back to her boarding school.

They didn't tell him the truth for two months. Timothy couldn't hold back the truth anymore so he told him everything that happened. Kyle felt betrayed and disappointed that his sister had been hospitalized for a month and Tim never told him about it.

His parents tried to explain everything but he refused to listen. All he wanted was his sister. He visited her in the hospital. How heartrending he was when she couldn't speak. He left disappointedly.

*******

The car skidded to halt in the car park. He stayed two more minutes in the car before stepping out. He was persuaded by his sister to return home. He wouldn't listen to anyone else but Abel.

Kyle found it hard to believe that his sister would never be able to talk again. She was the only one he had and the only one that he could never get mad at because she understood him more than anyone else.

He had vowed to do anything to bring her voice back and the one behind it must pay.

He stepped out of the car. Timothy walked toward him and engulfed him into a warm embrace.

"Welcome back, Kyle. I thought you ain't coming back." He said, still hugging him.

"Don't be absurd, Tim. It wasn't your fault, it's mine instead that I broke the promise. I believe that my sister will be fine." He was uncertain. They disengaged from the hug.

"Oh my gosh! Our runaway celebrity is back." Owen ambled over and patted his shoulder.

"Owen." Kyle mumbled.

"Hello buddy. Welcome back." They hugged Kyle as if he had been gone for ten years.

"I hope you enjoyed your break without me? Scott said and pecked his cheek.

"Hey, Scott. You ain't his girlfriend, stop seducing him." Timothy blurted out.

"Shut up, Tim!" He snapped jokingly.

"I'm glad you're back Kyle." Tim mumbled. Kyle resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His mind was at ease. He had told himself, he didn't have to worry about anything. His sister would be fine.

"Let's just forget about everything." He said solemnly. "Ray, has Davis told you anything about the contestants?" He inquired as they made their way inside the elegant mansion.

"Davis informed me that some of the voice contestants had uploaded their records so we all have to check them out and decide together." Raymond said.

"Whatever I don't care about the voice winner, I'm pretty sure we're still gonna end up with Q-band." Kyle said with a prick of disappointment.

"Yes, I know that Darlene is the best and no one can ever compete with her." Harry muttered.

"I need to see Abel today. I missed her like crazy. Sorry, I got to go. I promise to be back soon."

He hadn't stayed long before deciding to see his sister. The other members couldn't tell him to wait. They had many things to tell him but Kyle wanted to see his sister, there was no way he'd allowed anything to delay him.

"All right." Tim muttered eventually.

"You must return to the mansion. I have a lot to tell you." Scott said after him. He glanced back and shot them a smile.

"Sure." He headed out.

KENDRA HAD MADE up her mind to ask Odette to sing. She didn't want to lose the deal and the only way to win the deal was to get any of Odette's records. Kendra knew where she kept all the tape records but she wouldn't intrude her privacy behind her. She respected Odette a lot. She made her way towards her door but Kennedy stopped her.

"What's the matter, Kennedy? Kendra frowned her lips.

Kennedy rested her back on the wall and looked at Kendra with a calm, steady gaze. "Nothing. But come to think of it, kendra. I'm your real sister, once Odette gets what she wants she'll send us out of this house. You know what that means? We will be homeless. Come to me and let's work together so that we can end everything at once." Kennedy said as she walked toward Kendra and patted her shoulder.

"Believe me Kendra,this is our only chance. Let's help mom and fight this battle together." Kennedy added. Kendra stared at her and grinned.

'What a Swizz?!'

"That was a great speech. Thumb up sister." she displayed with her thumb. "But I'm sorry not sorry. Odette is my sister and I can't betray her for another sister. If you do something stupid and Odette finds out, I will not plead on your behalf. She is my birth mother and I never liked her decisions. Kennedy, I don't want to have anything to do with you. Stay away from us if you're not ready to change." Kendra sputtered.

"Really? Are you going to turn your mom down and help a stranger?

"If they're talking about a stranger then it's you. You've changed a lot, you're not my sister anymore. This is not who you are, Kennedy. Don't let mom use you. Come to your senses before it's too late." Kendra said and opened Odette's door. She entered and yanked the door at Kennedy's face.

Odette heard both of them squabbling even though she was sleeping but she could hear from far away. That was one of her secrets she never told anyone.

"Odette." Kendra called out. She sat beside her and caressed her face. "Odette, wake up." Kendra whispered in her ear.

"What's the matter, kendra? She mumbled in her sleep. She rubbed a finger against her eyes. She sat up leisurely.

"I want something from you." She uttered quietly. "Please help your silly sister,she has to win." She clasped her hands. She was making puppy eyes, she knew it was the only way to get Odette to do what she wanted.

"Ah. What do you want this time? I hope you ain't going to tell me to silence someone for you." Odette looked at her as she pouted her lips.

"May I have one of your records, the one dad made before he died? Please I badly need one and I promise to return once I'm back from school tomorrow. Please Odette." Kendra pleaded.

Odette couldn't say anything for a while. She wanted to ask Kendra why she needed a tape record.

"Kendra, I can't." She brawled.

"Please don't do this to me, Odette. If you don't help your sister she may lose her title as a cheerleader to a friend." Kendra said.

If she was able to win the deal. Genevieve was gonna break up with her new boyfriend and Mia had to cut her eight inches hair length to five inches. Laura refused to be part of the deal because she believed that Kendra was saying nothing but the truth. Though she hadn't met Odette before, she knew Kendra wouldn't lie to them. "Please Odette." Kendra said.

"All right. Stop whining already." She was annoying Odette by doing that.

Odette stood and walked up to her drawer. She brought out a tape and handed it to kendra. Odette would never refuse her stepsister. She loved her and Kendra had been the only one that stood by her side.

"Here, you have this."

Kendra jumped on her enthusiastically. "Thank you, Odette. Now I have to show them what you've got. not a loser." She muttered to herself and walked out. She returned to her room and kept it inside her backpack. She stalked out to get something from the kitchen. She didn't notice Kennedy had been waiting for her to get the tape record.

She sneaked into her room and stole the tape. She wrapped it with her dress and exited her room. "This is my only chance to win the contest." She mumbled underneath as she smirked mischievously.

She kept tape inside her backpack and locked the door. She had got what she wanted. She didn't need her mother to help her with anything. No one would be able to stop her, not even Odette because she was going to use the tape for the contest. She was sure she'd be chosen if she used Odette's voice.

She had decided to summit the record tomorrow. If she made it she wouldn't care if her mother's plans failed. She didn't care about anyone but herself. She wanted to use Sharon to get what she wanted, she didn't need her anymore. She had accomplished her mission.

THE DRIVE SKIDDED the car to a halt in the custom garage. Kyle alighted from the car and walked inside ignoring all the bodyguards and maids as they bowed a little. He met his dad in the living room but he wanted to ignore him and checked Abel's room. Mr Winston cleared his throat. "Are you still mad at me?"

"Of course not dad. Just that I'm in a hurry right now." He lied. Mr Winston noticed that but he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Obviously he was still mad at them.

"You're here for Abel right? She went out with your Mom." He said and gestured to him to sit. He sat on a sofa and faced him.

"I'm glad you're back, son. We're sorry for everything. We just don't want you to be worried about your sister's well -being." Winston said but Kyle never said a word to his father after that.

Abel and her mom walked in. They were surprised to see Kyle. Abel rushed to him and hugged him. "I missed you Abel." He mumbled and pecked her forehead. He ruffled her hair playfully.

"Son." His mom welcomed him into a warm embrace. "How have you been?"

"Good, mom."

"I'm happy to see you Kyle." Anel wrote it in the scrap paper she was holding.

"Same here sweetie. How are you doing?

"I'm fine. Because you're here now so I'm good. She grinned and grabbed his hand.

Kyle was still disappointed. Nothing had worked for his sister. Her voice was really gone.