My hands are dripping with the weight of my sins.

I long to wash them away.

They have touched the ones who have left us.

For a paradise of unspeakable beauty.

I long to wash them away.

So I may hold my flower, so my flower will flourish.

But on one hand, I hold the heart of Regret.

In the other is the broken blade.

—𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘴

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Ambrosia woke up to the commotion that was going on outside of her bedroom. She drowsily removed herself from the comfort of her sheets to investigate. Ambrosia took a quick shower and put on a dark brown romper on before sliding into her sandals.

Ambrosia walked downstairs while fixing her long kinky hair into a bun as she peered into the living room.

She saw her shrunken father and her sister sitting on the antique couch surrounded by her family members.

"It's been so long, brother-in-law," Tania said.

Ambrosia's father looked at her and nodded with his gentle smile.

Ivy turned to the older women and scowled.

"Why are you here, Tania?"

Tania froze at her question and blinked repeatedly. She let out a short breath and spoke, in a strained voice.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I mean, you aren't related to my grandmother...."Ivy stated grabbing her bags and watching Tania carefully.

Tania did not flinch at her harsh tone, but only cocked her head to the side.

"Well, my sister, your mother, and I were very close to grandma Hill and so I decided to respectfully say goodbye.'

Ivy opened her mouth to say something more, however, her father put a hand on her shoulder in a warning manner.

Ivy got up and quietly went up the stairs, passing Ambrosia and only giving her a fleeting glance.

Ambrosia walked into the room and greeted her father with a hug. He picked his things up and walked with her to get his room sorted out.

"I am sorry about Ivy before," her father spoke solemnly.

Ambrosia shook her head and played a smile.

"She is just angry, all the years you stayed away..."

They walked into a large room a few doors down from her own room. Ambrosia opened the curtains of the window to bring light into the room. Her father set his things down and adjusted his jacket.

"It's fine dad, she has every right to be upset up me" Ambrosia mumbled looking at him.

Her father scratched his grey hair and wheezed, his brown orbs sinking into her. Ambrosia could see the years of struggle and pain flicker.

"I am sorry for being so mean to you, your mother just wanted you to be....more, and when she passed you just-"

"It's okay dad, everything's okay," Ambrosia said.

She smiled and left his room with her head down.

Why did he have to bring things like that up at this time?

She wasn't in the mood to circle around her teenage years.

Ambrosia bumped into someone while contemplating and stumbled back. She looked up and made contact with Elias' tired glassy eyes.

"Sorry about that," Elias murmured. He peered around a stack of boxes that he was carrying. His dark scruffy hair was pulled up into a small ponytail and sweat lined his brow.

Elias seemed to darken a shade in the realization that he had bumped into Ambrosia.

"It's fine," Ambrosia replied, "do you need help?"

"Nah, these boxes are too heavy for you anyway" Elias chuckled fixing them in his arms.

Ambrosia grinned at his comment and grabbed a box from his large stack, to her surprise it was pretty heavy and she wobbled to the side.

"Be careful, follow me," Elias said.

Ambrosia carefully followed the tall young man down the stairs and outside the house to a large white van. She placed the box down in relief, she looked at Elia's who had already put his three boxes in the van.

"What's in the boxes?" Ambrosia asked.

"My mother said, it was some antique furniture that needed to be sent to the warehouse."

Elias turned to face her and wiped his forehead with his shirt. Ambrosia couldn't help but stare. His shirt rose revealing the core of his brawny body. Ambrosia's eyes lingered her face heating up until his shirt came down like a curtain.

Elias has caught her staring and Ambrosia knew it. He smirked his demeanor changing completely.

"Is there something wrong?" he said teasingly.

"Nope."

Ambrosia looked away as if he was losing her attention. This side of him was annoyingly hot. Elias laughed softly and walked back into the house calling back.

"If you want something just ask for it, flower."

What?

Did he just assume that I wanted him?!

Flower?

Ambrosia ran after him and caught up to his stride.

"You called me flower?" Ambrosia said to get his recognition again.

"Sorry, you know Ambrosia's a flower...I just got your name mixed up," Elias explained.

"Oh."

Ambrosia sped up in front of him and crossed her arms.

"Anyway, no one ever said I wanted you."

"Are you sure?"Elias said huskily. His voice got closer to her.

Ambrosia wandered into another living room near the back of the house and glanced over he shoulder.

He wasn't there.

Ambrosia looked forward and was face to face with Elias.

She backed up running into a shelf, a few things fell, however, Elias caught them with swiftly and put them back.

His eyes rolled over her body and snapped back to hers. Ambrosia's breath was heavy just from the way he looked at her.

Elias looked at her like a beast examining a thick piece of meat, with such a need and a desire.

"Do I make you nervous?" Elias questioned his minty breath tickling her nose.

"No," Ambrosia said through a wavering voice.

Damn it.

Elias snickered at the weakness in her voice. He leaned closer and moved his lips to her ear, he took in a deep breath of her scent.

"What do you want from me?"

"I don't..I-I.."

For some reason, Ambrosia couldn't bring herself to say that she didn't want anything from him.

Was she lying to herself?

"What?" Elias' voice, so close, shook her bones with his deep range. Although they weren't even touching, her body felt tingles as if their skin was touching.

"What is it flower?" Elias stressed his voice as he asked and moved his head back.

"Nothing, I don't want you" Ambrosia finally forced out of her.

Elias rolled his eyes and took a step back letting his hair down from the small ponytail and running his hands through it. He looked at Ambrosia with a look of disappointment but it melted into a gentle smile.

"You called me flower again" Ambrosia pointed out sliding to the side.

"I did, didn't I," Elias said.

His answer surprised Ambrosia a little and she looked up at him. He winked and walked out of the living. Ambrosia went to go after him.

His mysterious attitude changes were something to be explored.

But her sister caught her.

Ivy crossed her arms and scoffed.

"Who is that?"

"Mrs. Henway's son," Ambrosia said a little breathlessly.

"You like him, huh."

"What, no!"

Ivy rolled her eyes and walked away. Amborisa walked with her.

"Can we talk about...our relationship?" she asked.

Ivy said nothing and went into the kitchen.

Ambrosia followed her and spoke.

"I am really sorry okay, I should have been involved with you..."

"Whatever Ambrosia, I'm just here with you because of grandma, I don't care what you do," Ivy said coldly grabbing a bottle of water and walking out.

Ambrosia leaned against the counter and sighed.

Why did she have to be so difficult?

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The night came faster than Ambrosia would have hoped. She had not seen Elias the rest of the day and that dampened her mood.

She didn't wish to go to sleep in her room and she was hoping that he would be in the library to talk. But she only found Mrs. Henway in there reading.

Ambrosia returned to her room and it was the paranoia of the room that roamed her mind that eventually put her to sleep.

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!!