Ashes of the Past

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.