30. A Sad Celebration

                                    

                                          
Our beginning. Today has been as perfect as the seventh day on earth. When God created everything he knew his creation was perfect and like that I knew today would be a once in a lifetime thing. For once, Mr. Black dropped the serious act and enjoyed himself. He was amazing. It was my birthday but we celebrated it as his. We went shopping, we went to the airport, we went to a funfair. A day with him is all I could ask for. 
                          
We drove up to my brothers' house. He stopped in front. “Before you go, princess.” he took something out of his pocket. “Happy birthday, Rosella.” he kissed my cheek and handed me a box. I opened it slowly. I wasn’t a fan of receiving gifts but this felt special, somehow. A golden necklace with his name was written on it. I looked up at him. “This way everyone knows who you belong too.” 
                          
“I’m not an object.” I smiled. “Thank you.” I kissed his cheek. He helped me put the necklace on. For a simple thing, it made me feel extremely special.
                          
We got out of the car. My brother’s manor wasn’t as big as the Black Manor but it has fairly enough space. So if we planned a surprise party those on the outside wouldn’t know about it but the party going on in the inside made sure everyone knew about it. Candice was loud. You heard her voice first. We stopped before going to the living room.
                          
I turned to him. “I won’t stay long, princess.” I nodded. I knew social gatherings weren’t his thing. “I’ll be back before you opened my gift.”
                          
“I know.” I smiled. “You probably wouldn’t even stay for your wedding reception.” I laughed. “You hate crowds.”
                          
He gave me a smirk. “I hate adolescent crowds.” He kissed my cheek and opened the door. 
                          
“Baby!.” Candice screamed and that was Mr. Black’s opportunity to disappear. “Welcome to life as a twenty-five-year-old.” I returned her hug.
                          
The rest of the night went with birthday greetings and hugs. The twins were here and Alison called me this morning apologizing for missing my birthday. Her gift should arrive in the week with my brother's gift. Most of my department workers were here and I was thankful for everything.
                          
No one stayed late because we were all due for work tomorrow. Candice passed out and woke up just to continued drinking. My alcoholic friend was the best host even though she was drunk she took care of everyone and the snacks.
                          
It was two-thirty in the morning and it was just my brothers, CJ, Candice, Matt and I. Mr. Black left sometime between eleven and twelve pm. He said he would return but I knew he wouldn’t. He is a busy man and I understood it.
                          
“God, I’m tired,” Candice said taking off her heels. She laid her head on August’s lap and her feet were thrown over the headpiece of the couch.
                          
“When do you plan to open the rest of the gifts?” August asked.
                          
“I don’t know. I’m so tired even my tired is tired.” I sigh. “I’ll do it now but I want to know, how you convinced the people to come.”
                          
“Open mine first,” August said. “And free drinks, who wouldn’t come?”
                          
“Me.” I smiled as he pulled his face.
                          
“Are you even my sister?” He said and that got us all laughing. “Let’s go to the next room.”
                          
I walked with Charles. Growing up with Charles made it easy to deal with Mr. Black. Charles is the head of the family but he was immature up until recently. He was childish but he was quiet. He spoke when spoken too and he had this aroma about him that told us he would be our leader.
                          
“Happy Birthday, Little sister.”
                          
I smiled. “Thank you.” he bent so that I could kiss his cheek. “Charlie, this morning, Riri approached me.” Immediately he went into defense mode. He dragged me to a different room. “Why you stressed? Ms. Maggie said it’s all good.”
                          
“Did she tell you?” I shook my head. He nodded. “Look, Riri was a factor before we came to L.A and when I met her she seemed fine until we got the drug department. Riri works with dad.”
                          
That’s when my world broke. His back, she said it. He found us. I knew he would, my brothers never knew the monster that called himself our father. He was and will always be the man that ruins my sweet dreams and turns them into nightmares. He was the source of all evil.
                          
“Since when?” I asked as I took a seat.
                          
“Since you left school.” I took a deep breath. I was seventeen so Lucifer had to be nineteen and he still kept the grudge, what did she do? What did he make her do? “Rose, he's working with the Russians and if the king finds out, it will mean war.”
                          
“She told me. She said that it would be better if I told no one because it would mean war.” I told Charles. “What am I suppose to do? I can’t lie.”
                          
He smiled. “Don’t lie, Lucifer has his queen and Little sis, it has to be you that tells him because if he finds out, you knew and kept quiet, you can forget about a career. He has the power to have the world shut you out.”
                          
“Won’t he go to war?” I questioned.
                          
“Yes but not immediately. He will protect you, that would be his main plan but if he finds out by someone else, anger will take over. He almost got himself killed twice because of your dates with Ben, imagine if it’s because you lied?”
                          
“What about Dad, Charles? I can’t go back. I just can’t.”
                          
“And you won’t. I will do my best to keep you safe, Rose. You are my baby sister, so do you think I would let him hurt you now that I have the manpower to prevent it?” he hugged me. “I love you, peanut”
                          
“I love you too.” I smiled at the nickname.
                          
We walked back to the room and they started opening the presents. I smiled at my family. That’s what they were. Family. Candice on the floor next to August with CJ next to him and Charlie sitting on the couch, along with Matthew. The new addition to my family was Hades and his brother walking towards me. He stood next to me by the door frame. This was family. The Bell family got bigger and I had to take action. I had to tell them. It was my birthday and it started on this day I might as well end it on this day. 
                          
“When did you come?” I asked Mr. Black.
                          
“A few minutes ago.” he kissed my cheek. 
                          
“Happy birthday, My Rose.” Candice came and placed a necklace around my neck. It was a best friend chain with her name on it. She lifted the other half and my name was on it. “I love you.”
                          
“I love you too.” I hugged her. Her necklace hanged just below Mr. Black’s name. It was beautiful and this was all more reason to tell them the truth. Candice went back to her place. “I have to tell you something.” he looked at me and we entered the room. I might as well tell everyone.
                          
“Sister,” Hades said with a huge smile. “Happy birthday.” he handed me a box.
                          
“Thank you.” I hugged him and opened the box. My relationship with Hades progressed to a brother and sister relationship. Lucifer didn’t trust me with him but after a few coffee dates, we were good. He accepted me as his in-law and I accepted him as my newly added brother. It was a charm bracelet of everything we did together. There were mini coffees, the beach, the mall, our video game battles, everything was in detail. “It's beautiful.” I hugged him again. I got more jewelry today than in a year. “Candice, Can you turn down the music?” 
                          
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” CJ asked.
                          
“Thank you for today.” I smiled. I went to take a seat but my butt never touched the seat. It landed on Mr. Black’s lap. “I wanted the twins here as well but seeing as they had to be somewhere I’ll tell all of you.”
                          
“On your birthday?” Hades asked. “Are you sure, Rosie? Candy, do you know of this?”
                          
Before Candice could talk, I spoke. “She doesn’t know, no one knows except me and some other people.” I smiled. “You guys are my family. Mi Familia, I swore to protect you and I can’t do that when you are all in the dark.” 
                          
This was my truth. This is when the past meets the present. This is the day I feared. This is the day, Rosella Bell finally told the ones around her the truth. This is where my life gets turned upside down.
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