Secrets yearn for attention as much as our egos do.

They yearn to find you and reveal themselves to those you love.

I am the monster they want me to be, they made me to be.

There are so many wounds embedded in my brain.

But if I find a way I will tell you.

So you may brush me once more with your soft hands.

Touch my cheek as I strain to hold my head out of the water.

Kiss me once more.

-- | Elias |

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Ambrosia walked through the passage leading from back porch to the dining room. She then turned and made her way into the kitchen, the words of her recent conversation still floated around in her mind.

Ambrosia grabbed a glass and poured water from a pitcher resting on the counter. A figure moved into the side of her vision catching Ambrosia's attention. She watched as two men walked into the kitchen.

Both men were dressed in fitted black suits that were trimmed with ornate detail, one stood taller than the other and looked considerably older. His nose crooked at the bridge as if it was permanently broken.

His blonde hair was slicked back adding a dangerous look with his sunken blue eyes gave as they studied the frozen girl.

The shorter man beside him was a bit thinner and looked in his early thirties, his cheeks hollow allowing for Ambrosia to find the distinct scar running from his lip to his eye.

Ambrosia took a step back and looked back and forth at the two strangers.

The blue eyed man smiled and looked over to his companion.

"Looks like we've found one."

"A worker or a cook? " the shorter man asked.

What the hell?!

Ambrosia gripped her glass.

"Who are you, what are you doing in my house?!"

"Aww, looks like she's a little lost..." the blonde man chuckled and reached to touch Ambrosia's hair.

Ambrosia slapped his hand away from her and hissed.

"What the hell, don't touch me!"

Confusion and anger filled the air around Ambrosia and she placed her glass down keeping her eyes on the men who only laughed and mocked her lack of understanding.

"You really should work on selling your services, love," the shorter man said jokingly. This statement only heightened Ambrosia's anger.

Before Ambrosia could spew a fresh set of curses Tania's husband, Chris walked into the kitchen. His large light brown hands clapping to grab everyone's attention.

"Ahhh, gentleman, I'm quite sorry for the hold up-"

Chris noticed Ambrosia near the corner of the kitchen and cleared his throat.

"Ambrosia..."

All eyes were on Ambrosia.

"Who are these men, Chris?" Ambrosia asked hotly.

"Clients of Mrs. Henway-"

"Clients, doesn't she have an office?" Ambrosia spat. "Why are they here?"

Chris laughed apologetically at the two men who had stiffened there posture at Ambrosia's tone of voice.

"Please excuse my niece, she is very curious," he said.

"Seems like Miss Ambrosia doesn't know much about grandma," the shorter man said lowly.

What...Grandma Hill?

Ambrosia turned and quickly walked out the other side of the kitchen. Her fists were clenched as she made her way through the large hallway and across the front entrance of the house into the west wing area.

Ambrosia knocked hard on the oak doors of the private study.

"Come in."

Ambrosia opened the door and stepped in to face Tania and Ivy who sat near an open window. Ivy was looking out of the window and turned to greet Ambrosia with a blank expression.

"Tania, what the hell do you think you and Mrs. Henway are doing?"

Tania got up as her name was called and gracefully walked around Ambrosia to close the door.

"What do you mean darling?"

Ambrosia pointed her finger at Tania and growled.

"Don't you play that crap with me, bringing business-clients into the house!"

"She doesn't live her, you don't live here!"

Tania winced at the statement and giggled her discontentment off while returning to her seat beside Ivy.

"Oh darling, we are a family-"

"No!" both girl cried in unison.

"Your not our mother Tania!" Ivy yelled.

Tania's smile fell flat and she gritted her teeth.

"I know damn well I'm not your mother, Ivy, but I am older than you and I have the upper hand!"

Ivy and Tania stared at each other for a moment before breaking away with disgust masking both of their faces.

"You need to leave Tania," Ambrosia spoke sharply.

Tania shook her head.

"While your father is so very ill, I couldn't."

"He is getting better..." Ivy spoke up.

Ambrosia nodded in agreement and walked towards her Aunt with a new found strength.

"And I am not the little girl you once knew Tania Evans, i am a grown woman believe or not, and if i have to call the police to get your ass out of here I will!"

Tania busted out in laughter, her short black bangs bouncing as she fell back into her seat.

She wiped a tear from her eye and brushed it on her yellow pencil skirt before fixing her blouse.

"Oh Ambrosia, you think you know it all don't you," Tania chuckled.

Ivy looked at Ambrosia with a hint of worry.

"How much did your father tell you about Grandma Hill, huh?"

Tania questioned looking at Ambrosia then to Ivy. Her hands were now neatly clasped together awaiting and answer that never came.

"Nothing right," Tania sighed with a sinister smile, " not surprising...he always wanted too maintain a good image."

Ambrosia stood silently all her anger that was once bubbling off her soul was now settling to the bottom of her like sand in the sea.

"However, secrets yearn for attention as much as our egos do, haha," Tania continued.

"Grandma Hill had a few dark pits in her rise to fame and fortune and that her manifesto of no shortcuts to big bucks was as fake as this family."

Ambrosia's throat was dry , she couldn't manage to cough words of protest to her pompous aunt like she used too. She looked over to Ivy in hopes she could punch back with her snappy attitude.

But strangely enough Ivy was silently staring back out the window, her eyebrows knitted together as if she...knew.

Was all of this true.

Was grandma, the foundation to us all, a gateway to more lies?

"Y-you're lying." Ambrosia croaked.

Tania stood up and ran her finger along her gold necklace.

"Am I Ambrosia?"

"Or are you lying, about your reason to be here, to support your father...mourn your grandmother!" Tania laughed.

"Why are you here, my beautiful niece?" Tania questioned.

A question that plucked each hair on Ambrosia's arm up and sent a cold tap down her spine.

"I could ask you the same," Ambrosia replied.

"Oh honey, Isn't it obvious, I know your smarter than that!"

Ambrosia shifted in her spot as her heart dropped into her stomach.

"But you, are you here for your money?" Tania scoffed.

"You already have it given to you through the old crow's Will, now leave...or are you here to bond with your father and sister?"

The skinny woman threw her hands up mockingly and rolled her eyes before regaining her overbearing composure.

"Or to fuck a psych patient, hm?"

Ambrosia's eye snapped up.

What, Elias?

Tania nudged Ivy who squirmed away from her and glared at Ambrosia.

Ambrosia could feel the hollowness that began to separate Ivy and her at that moment. If only Ambrosia had time to apologize to make it up without being here in this mess.

Tania broke the silence with her piercing laugh and claps of joy.

"Oh I know you can tell the boy is a little off Ambrosia, a little crazy."

"Shut up, Tania," Ambrosia murmured. He heart began to race. The annoyance that was stifled within her was getting too hard to control.

This bitch.

Tania came forward and brushed Ambrosia hair with her manicured hand.

"What, can't stand the truth?"

Ambrosia grabbed Tania's wrist and Tania's free hand came crashing down along the right side of Ambrosia's face.

Ambrosia stumbled to the side in shock she held her cheek.

She slowly uncurled herself and lunged towards her Aunt grabbing at her short hair and forcing her back against the wall beside Ivy who was staring awe struck at Ambrosia's force in action.

"You stupid bitch!" Ambrosia screamed thrusting her hand onto her Aunt's head with each word.

"Don't you ever hit me and don't you ever hit my fucking sister!"

Tania screamed back and pulled at Ambrosia digging and swiping her nails every way she could. Through this method the woman was able to scratch up Ambrosia cheek and neck causing her to pull away.

Ambrosia stumbled like an animal her kinky hair pulled in different directions and her shirt torn on the sides. She breathed heavy and touched her face which stung from the fresh scrapes.

Tania shielded herself behind the small couch within the study.

"Get out, both of you."

Ambrosia stood for a moment thinking whether to lunge again or actually leave, the tension between them was thick and heavy with hate. The two women adjusted themselves and stood silently as if nothing happened.

The door to the study swung open and Chris came in with the two other men. Chris glanced at Ambrosia and before he could advance Ivy got up and bolted through the men.

Ambrosia walked out of the room avoiding the perverted glances from the visitors as the gawked at her torn top.

Ambrosia moved back into the front entrance and climbed slowly up the stairs as she walked up a small figure slowly got out of the door down the hall.

The door that belonged to her father's room.

Ambrosia recognized the figure to be the housekeeper Ivy had pushed a few weeks back, the one Tania had hired.

The chubby woman was carrying a silver platter holding a small teacup, a mini kettle, and a plate of half eaten cookies. She quietly made her way to the stairs and stopped in front of Ambrosia.

"Hello," Ambrosia said softly. The woman smiled brightly as if it were a prize that she was acknowledged.

"Hello Miss."

"Oh your face..."

Ambrosia cut her off without hesitation.

"Is there tea in that kettle?"

The little woman turned around and nodded.

"What kind?" Ambrosia asked.

"Oh, I'm not sure ma'm, I don't make the tea in the morning...it smells like earl grey but there is something almost metallic about it..." the housekeeper replied.

A dark feeling draped itself over Ambrosia's shoulders and tightened itself around her. A feeling of dread only to be released by a single answer.

"And who makes the tea in the morning?

"Mrs. Henway-"

"Throw that tea out right now!"

Ambrosia bolted up the remainder of the stairs and ran to her father's door.

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