Chapter 102: Back in time I

Elias’s POV (thirteen years old)

Mom and dad are on a trip to a different country, that means I’m in-charge of the household.

Dad says Mom is the president and I’m the little vice president of the family.

"Eli, let’s go play ball" my baby brother Kai says and I shake my head.

"No."

"But Damien is playing soccer outside, I want to play too" he whines and I brush his hand off my shirt.

Malachi is like a big baby every time. He ate some chocolate chip cookies earlier and now he’s staining my clothes.

"Go play" I say and move out of the way when he tries to grab me again.

"But I want you" he says.

"Stop being a baby, Malachi" I say and he pouts. My brother gives me a mean side eye before stomping away with his arms folded.

I know he’ll tell Damien I’m rude to him again and Damien will come for me.

Damien will tell me he’s the oldest in the house, he’ll scold me, and he’ll pinch my sides to make me apologize.

Mom said he can discipline me anytime I’m rude, but I don’t like it. I can’t let him catch me.

I told mom that I’ll read Pride and Prejudice before he gets back from his trip. We have a fun book club and I’m not in the mood for Damien’s rough play-fight.

To save myself, I walk to my mom and dad’s room.

Mom gave me the key and told me to use it whenever I like. He knows my brothers enjoy bothering and pranking me when all I want to do is to read in silence.

I reach for the handle and before I open it, I hear something crashing to the floor.

No one should be in my mom’s room, not even the cleaners or other maids. Mom always keeps the door locked.

I open the door, but when I barge in, I see the person’s shadow as they jump out the window, but the person is gone before I see anything else.

I look at the floor and find my dad’s watch on the floor; the person has broken it.

"Oh no" I whisper, picking it up and checking how much damage has been made. It’s a good thing I learned how to fix watches.

I need to tell someone about the invasion, and I need to fix the watch.

I’ll go get Julian since Uncle Silas is with mom and dad on the trip.

Cradling the watch, I leave the room. I hold the watch carefully since it’s dad’s favorite one.

"Elias?" Julian’s voice calls and I slowly turn around to look at him.

"Julian..." I start but his face grows dark.

"What are you doing?" he asks in a stern voice, and I open my hands to show him the watch.

"You broke your father’s watch?" he asks and I shake my head. "No, I went to my parents’ room and someone else was there" I explain quietly and he grabs my arms.

"You little thief. You snuck into Siren’s room to steal important things, didn’t you?" he asks as he shakes me with a force that makes my teeth clatter.

"NO" I yell.

"You brat, I always knew you were the most problematic. How could you do this to your hardworking parents?" he spits out with anger and my eyes widen.

Wait...my words are being twisted by Julian.

"I didn’t do it!" I cry out and he drags me down the hall.

"I want every single staff member of this house gathered immediately" he booms and I start to hyperventilate. I don’t like the noise, I don’t like the way he’s holding me, I don’t like this.

I didn’t damage my father’s watch. I didn’t sneak into my parents’ room to steal. And I was only going to fix the damage someone else made.

"LET ME GO! DAMIEN!" I yell my older brother’s name, but he’s not home. He’s playing soccer in the fields.

"Stand here, boy" Julian says and I stand in fear. Everyone in the house is gathered except my family.

"Which one of you was in the Siren and Darius’s room?" he asks in that booming voice, and they all share confused looks.

"Sir...I and these three were in the kitchen" one of the maids says.

"I’m stationed at the door with this guy" a guard says.

"I’m in the laundry room on duty, sir. My hands are still wet from my work" another maid says, holding her hands up.

"Elias?" Julian turns to me.

"Someone was in there" I insist. I know someone was there. Why won’t they believe me? Why would I make up a lie?

"What did you see when you saw the person?" Julian asks in a calmer voice, and I look at the floor, forcing myself to remember.

"I saw..."

Nothing. I saw nothing but I knew someone was there. I saw the person’s shadow, but I didn’t pay enough attention to details.

"What did you smell?" Julian asks, coming closer.

"I smelled..."

Nothing. My sense of smell is still weak; I haven’t presented yet and didn’t train my nose like Damien.

"So, you’re accusing an innocent person?" he asks when I give him no response.

"Someone was there" I say again in a weaker voice.

"Do you hear yourself, Elias Deus?" he asks and I start to cry. I am ashamed for crying like this, but I know what I’m saying.

"Go to your room, Elias. Your parents didn’t raise a useless brat. How can you be so much like your mother and be the most incompetent child?" he asks. I turn around and run out of the room.

I don’t stop running till I’m in my room and on my bed.

Why did Julian do something like this to me? He didn’t even bother to check the room. I hate people so much. I’ll never let anyone be my friend.

I wipe my angry tears off with the back of my hand.

I’ll never let this happen again. From now on, I’ll always pay attention to details. What if this happened to Kai or Damien? What if the person hurts them because I’m a careless boy?

"The Deus are back!" someone yells from outside the house and I sit up. My mom and dad are back. Julian might tell them I tried to steal.

They’ll be disappointed in me and I don’t want that. I run out of the room and down the hall with all my strength.

"Mom!" I call as I rush into my mom’s arms and he hugs me immediately.