seven souls seven sins - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Natasha's pov:
I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder, then a little shake. My eyes flutter open and the sun beams into my cornea. I squint at the brightness whilst a warm hand rubs my back. I move my head from resting on the seatbelt to looking out the window. "We're here irmã bonita." Chase gently rubs me awake. I yawn and stretch my arms. I slept in the car?
"Looks like the sleepyhead is finally awake." Xander folds his arms and chuckles.
I playfully swat his arm. "It was just a little power nap." I defend myself. He smiles at my response. "You slept for two hours love." Xavier mentions. "2 HOURS?" I question in disbelief. My lips apart in shock. "You slept like a baby." Xander smirks at the thought. I subtly smile at his remark and roll my eyes.
"Attitude young lady." Chase calls out.
My gaze flicks to outside the window. We were parked outside a MEGA MANSION? Mega was an understatement. I spot multiple security guards roaming the grounds. Different plants of all shapes and sizes surround the property with flowers blooming left right and centre. I even manage to spot hydrangeas, my favourite flowers.
Wait a damn minute, where am I?
"Where are we?" I curiously ask Chase whose hand rests on the steering wheel. "Our cousin's place." He grins and begins to unbuckle his seatbelt. "We have cousins?" I question shocked to my core. The car goes dead silent. "You don't remember, do you?" Xavier rhetorically asks.
I shake my head negatively.
A pitiful look appears across their faces. "Don't worry." Chase assures and places a hand on my shoulder. "They were all dying to meet you again after they got wind of the news of your arrival." He explains. "They? As in plural?" I question for clarification. "They as in plural." Chase elucidates.
I nod to show my understanding.
"Let's get a move on I wanna see Aunty Anne again." Xander complains. "We have an Aunt?" I ask astoundingly. "The best Aunt in the world." Xavier establishes. We all get out of the car and Chase makes his way towards the main entrance of the house. He nods towards the two security guards out front and they bring out an interesting machine.
Huh what could this be.
Chase bends down and the machine scans his retina. Ooh! Leo had the same device at the entrance to his lab. An iris canner! I get excited as a red laser carefully examines Chase's eye. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Xavier admiring me with awe. I watch the laser disappear back into the contraption and the gigantic wooden doors open.
They creak out loud until they reach a halt.
My mouth drops open as I watch the automatic doors open themselves. If I thought that our house was cool, this house WAY COOLER. The interior is modern even though the exterior is built like a french chateau. "Tia! Ela está em casa!m(Aunty! She's home!)" Chase shouts into the endless corridor.
I hear footsteps make their way closer towards me.
On my left hand side, I spot a short tan woman reveal herself. Her dark curls mixed with her faint wrinkles make me think that this is the infamous Aunty Anne. She spots me and scurries towards me, as fast as her little legs can take her. The sound of her sandals clack against the cold marble floor.
"Ahh você está aqui linda garota! (Ahh you're here gorgeous girl!)" She bellows out loud in excitement.
She gives me the tightest hug ever, not wanting to let go. Maybe that's a common thing in this family. I get a whiff of her perfume which smells just like mango ice cream. She smells heavenly. She kisses my cheek and squeezes me so tight that I can barely breathe.
"You'll squeeze her to death." Chase tries to pull her away.
"But I miss her so much." She replies with her strong Brazilian accent pulling through her words. I melt into the hug. I hear more footsteps coming from the stairs. After what feels like forever, she breaks the embrace and I spot two girls and an old man standing in front of me.
They must be my cousins.
As soon as I let go of Aunty Anne, the two girls run up to me and squeal. "EEEEK!! I CANT BELIEVE UR BACK!" I'm a bit startled and we almost fall over. "Careful girls." The old man warns but this only encourages them to hug me tighter. "AHH YOU'RE ALL GROWN UP!" They exclaim rousingly after they pull away.
I plaster a smile on my face even though I don't even know who these two girls are.
I'm sure that people relate to me when it comes to long distant relatives.
I get to take a good look at the two girls after they break apart from me. They have tanned skin, golden brown eyes, brunette coloured hair and the warmest smile known to man. Their freckles gleam in the bright sun that shines down from the rooftop window.
They're literal angels.
They also look a bit older than me, also older than the twins in fact. I'm guessing that they're around their early twenties. The old man comes forward and gives me a soft pat on my back. "Good seein' ya Nat." He joyfully greets with his pruned hands. I softly smile back happily.
"She doesn't remember you all so make the introductions snappy." Xander explains in a hurry.
Aunty Anne gasps and her hand raises to her heart. "Oh my god, you poor thing." She sadly announces. The two girls cast a melancholy look on their face. "I missed you so much." Aunty Anne dives in for another squeeze. Although I can't say that I missed her too, I still bask in the moment.
I haven't felt true affection like this in a long time.
"Let's get you all sat down." The old man gestures towards a brown couch. We make our way towards the living room and we plop down on the couch whilst Aunty Anne and her supposed husband sit down in their individual reclining chairs. "You've grown up so much little one." The old man points out.
I smile at his heartfelt words.
The last time that they've probably seen me was when I was seven, almost a decade ago. "Without further ado, let me introduce myself. I'm your aunt but the boys mainly know me as Aunty Anne." She flashes a warm smile to me. Her hand lays down on her supposed husband's.
"This is your uncle, but yet again, the boys mainly know him as Uncle Joe." She elaborates.
"Nice to meet you both!" I greet. Her hand flies to her chest again. "Oh my god, your accent has vanished!" She exclaimed with shock laced within her vocal cords. This must be the first time that they've heard me speak since I was seven. "Yeah living in London has its effects." I elucidate.
"Goodness gracious, you used to have such a thick Brazilian accent." She recalls.
Key words, used to have. "Can you still speak Portuguese my dear?" Uncle Joe asks me with one hand wrapped around a glass of whiskey. "I can but I still have the English accent." I briefly summarise. He nods to show his understanding. "Girls why don't you introduce yourselves." The old man offers.
My gaze flicks towards the two stunning brunettes to my right.
"I'm Cassie, 24." The first one says. "Jasmine here, 26." The second one announces. They look like Victoria Secret supermodels. Their beauty is unmatched to anyone else's, even for their age. "You guys look like you're my age." I point out. They let out a giggle and Cassie even whacks her knee in laughter.
I guess they like my humour, even though I wasn't trying to be funny.
"Thank you Amor." They reply with my middle name. I like the nickname. "Girls why don't you take Nat to your rooms and the boys can stay down here." Uncle Joe offers. The two girls get up and I join them. I turn to face my brothers. I receive a 'gowan' look from Chase and a head nod from Xander.
Good to go.
I follow the two girls upstairs and they turn into a massive room. The girls are way taller than me, their genetics worked wonders. "Are you guys models?" I ask in awe. They both giggle away at my query. "Hahaha, I wish." Cassie responds sweetly. She smells of coconut.
If Brazil was a scent, she would be it.
We enter the room and the girls immediately pat down a spot beside them on the bed. I sit down on the fluffy mattress and sit in a crossed cross position. "Ugh C'mere love!" Jasmine exclaims and leans in like a tiger. Her along with Cassie pounce on me and wrap their arms around my small frame.
Their squeals engulf the atmosphere.
After what feels life forever, they let go with wide grins. "We've missed you so much Amor." Cassie admits. "Literally though, it was so hard not knowing if you were even alive or not." Jasmine confesses. "Wait what? Why didn't you guys just contact me." I shrug my shoulders with my eyes laced with confusion.
They both turn to face each other, giving each other a certain look.
They direct their gazes back towards me. "They didn't tell you?" Jasmine asks quietly in shock. "They didn't tell me what?" My eyes furrow in curiosity. Jasmine flicks a glance at Cassie. "Nobody was aloud to contact you, and I mean nobody." Cassie confirms. I'm taken aback.
WHAT?
My mouth gasps in disbelief. Cassie continues "It's true! Your father forbid anyone to contact you. My mother was obviously angry at her younger brother and they haven't spoken since." My eyes widen in realisation. "My father did that?" I rhetorically question, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, he did. I can't believe you didn't know." Jasmine's hand raises to her mouth.
"I thought that all these years, my biological family just hated my presence and wanted nothing to do with me." I look down to my palms. "Bu-But it was all him. It was all his fault that I left." I angrily stutter. Cassie covers her hand over mine to calm me down. "Trust me, he was an asshole." Jasmine looks me in the eye to try to change my mood.
Wait what. He WAS an asshole? As in the PAST?
"He's dead?" My face goes pale. Their eyes widen. Jasmine looks flabbergasted. Cassie's mouth drops wide open. "Oh my god, you didn't know." Jasmine gasps mainly to herself. I shake my head negatively. I can't even process the thought of my father dying. I had always wondered where he was.
Now I have my answer, even though it wasn't what I was expecting.
Now that I think about it, his death must be the reason why Vincent is my legal guardian. I never brought the topic of father up with my biological brothers before because they would usually go quiet when I mentioned him, now I understand why. I just wished that they didn't keep this huge secret from me.
I wonder what other secrets that they're keeping from me.
"I thought that they would've told you by now." Jasmine confesses. "Me too. It's such a big thing in my life and they've completely ignored the topic." I add whilst shaking my head in disappointment. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this." Cassie says in a defeated tone.
"I was bound to find out sooner rather than later, don't worry." I try to manage the situation responsibly.
Key word, tried. I haven't even process my feelings towards the situation yet, but that's for a good night time moment. I close my eyes to stop my emotions from pouring out of my eyes. Inhale, exhale. I let out a calming sigh and open my eyes again. I feel Cassie's soft hand gently rub over my leg.
"He was a dick anyways." Jasmine acknowledges.
Cassie and I both let out a chuckle at her words. "True that." I reply my gaze reaching their enchanting pupils. "Moving on.." Jasmine begins. I sense a small smile creeping up on Cassie's face. "Before you arrived, Vincent briefed us on everything that has happened during your stay so far." Jasmine explains.
I urge her to continue.
"He also mentioned the names Flynn and Seb in a disgusted tone. WE NEED DEETS ASAP." She announces in an excited voice. Awe shucks, I thought that Vincent was growing a soft spot for Flynn and Seb. I guess I was wrong by the looks of it. "There's really nothing much to say." I shrug my shoulders.
"Girl what do you mean NOTHING? Have you never gossiped before?" Cassie rhetorically questions.
"I've only gossiped to Flynn and Seb. Back in England, most of the girls didn't want to be my friend so I'm not that experienced." I shyly elaborate. "You've never had girl friends before?" Jasmine asks with her mouth agape. Cassie's eyes widen. I shake my head negatively in response.
"We can be your first." Cassie assures me kindly.
I flash a smirk at them. "Back to the topic of Flynn and Seb.." Jasmine restates with the corners of her mouth tilting upwards. "No no, it's not what you think." My eyes widen in realisation that they thought that I liked liked Seb and Flynn. Cassie arches a brow. "I don't like them like that. I like them platonically. They're my real brothers. They've always been there for me and they know me like the back of my hand." I smile as the memories replay in my mind.
Cassie and Jasmine make an "Ohhhhh." sound.
"Yeah, I just think of them as my brothers at the end of the day." I explain my relationship with them. "Awh that's so sweet! They seem so nice." Cassie cheerfully softens her eyes. "I'm so happy for you." Jasmine adds. I spot a slick grin appearing on her face. "Buttt, do you like like anyone? Like a little crush?" Jasmine winks at me.
My pupils dilate at the thought of him.
"Ahhh so there is a special someone." Cassie playfully nudges my shoulder. I smile at them whilst I daydream about him. "I don't know if he even likes me. We always bicker and insult each other and besides, my biological brothers hate his guts." The smile vanishes from my face. "Buttttt.." Jasmine urges me to continue.
"Buttttt..." I begin with the thought of his charming smile replying in my mind.
"He gives me butterflies in my stomach and he has the sweetest nickname for me. His charismatic words have an effect on me. He always smiles at me and remembers every little detail about me. I had to sneak out to meet up with him yesterday and we took a lovely walk in the park together. I spot him blushing at me sometimes too. He even let me borrow his hoodie and said QUOTE ON QUOTE 'My clothes look good on you.' He's such a sweetheart." I ramble on and on about him.
The girls squeal in excitement with grins plastered all over their faces.
"I'm so happy for you Amor! " Jasmine exclaims excitedly. "AHHH!! HES SOUNDS SO DREAMY!" Cassie says thrilled with my words. I smile at them. If this is what girlhood feels like, I want to bask in it forever. Before, I could never gossip like this to Seb or Flynn, but when I'm with these two..
The possibilities are endless.
"EEEK!! GIRL WE NEED DETAILS! IM TALKIN' ABOUT NAME, LOOKS, AGE ECT." Cassie pleads. I smile at the thought of his admirable bright smile. "He's tan and has piercing green eyes. He has thick dark brows with a brownish black hair colour. His smile is the nicest thing in the whole world, but his laugh is better. He has the cutest dimples that shows only when he's with me. And don't get me started on his body. He is 1'1ft taller than me.. " I fantasise about him.
Cassie interrupts me. "THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE OMG! IM SO HERE FOR ITTT!!"
She's such a girls girl. I continue "He has thick muscles and when he plays sport, his shirt clings to his abs and my mouth waters at the sight. He's the co-captain of the football team alongside Xavier. He's a year older than me at 17 and yea." I conclude. "Aren'tcha forgetting something?" Jasmine adds slyly.
"Like what?" I ask puzzled.
I didn't think that I could ramble about him any more. "His name silly!" Jasmine added. How did I forget that? "OMG YES! I BET THAT ITS DEFINITELY SUPER HOT!" Cassie nods her head electrified. "I don't know his full name but It's Nico Harper!" I smile. The girls pause their facial expressions.
Uh, what's going on?
My smile falters in confusion. The girls drop their jaw in shock. "NICO FREAKIN' HARPER?" Cassie asks for me to repeat. "Yeah him. Is there something wrong?" I reply back puzzled. "No wonder your brother's hate him so much." Jasmine puts two and two together and sighs in acknowledgment.
Wait what do they know that I don't?