Elisa stepped through the heavy oak doors of Shakestra Manor, her footsteps breaking the fog of silence that had spread throughout the house. The grand chandelier, which she once admired, now provided her with no sense of warmth or a feeling of being at home. The passing away of her father had taken away the charm of the manor she once proudly called home; what was left now was a stuffy, luxurious house with air thick enough to make the sanest person go mad. The once-beautiful and comfortable house was now a ghost of its past self.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a rather unwelcome voice from behind her, Orpheus, her cousin who was now her adopted brother "Aunt doesn't seem to be at home." Elisa felt her eyes automatically roll at his words. Of course, the woman wouldn't be at home; she probably had better things to do than greet her daughter back after months in a boarding school, let alone be waiting in the ghost of a manor to greet a mere adopted child.

"She never wastes her time on useless matter, wouldn't you know it well, being the so-called heir?" The bitter words slid from her mouth, Elisa knew she was being too harsh with the older boy but then again, if only his parents hadn't fucked up the potion, her dad would've been here, she'd at least have the title of heir of the family in her name, unlike the present where she was being pushed aside.

She took long paces towards the stairs and spoke, "I will be in my room, and I'd rather not have any disturbances from anyone." She carelessly signalled the house elves to move her trunk to her room as she made her way to her chamber of peace. Elisa knew she was being too cruel to Orpheus, but she could barely look at his eyes without rage, a reason she had made it a goal to avoid him in Hogwarts; he had ruined her picture-perfect life plan, and she wouldn't take it kindly..

Elisa's bed chambers were the only space that screamed 'Home' in the opulent Shakestra manor, while the room, too,o had its fair share of gloominess, it was the kind that comforted a kindred soul. From the sunlight falling on the room from the ceiling to the floor windows to the beautiful paintings hung on the wall, but the part that stole the heart? It was the four-poster bed, located at the center of the room, neatly done with pristine precision. The room looked just like how she had left it, untouched.

Elisa lay in her bed, observing the intricate carving on the ceiling, the ones customarily made to fit her liking, but even as she tried, the sense of admiration she once held for it just didn't return, nor did any of the feelings she used to feel remain anywhere in her heart. It had disappeared the very day the letter had been delivered to her by her mother's owl at Hogwarts, the letter that spoke of her father's demise as a mere accident that was a grim tragedy for the Shakestra.

The words rang in her head;

"While I tried to contemplate whether to tell you or not, but I must, your father passed away, potions accident, don't worry yourself out, I've got it all handled, just focus on your studies."

Those were the words of her mother, as if the loss of a father was just a simple thing that occured everyday in every child's life.

Just as her mind slowly got lost in its depths, a knock was heard as the door opened. Elisa's face changed to one of irritation as she realised who had walked in, Orpheus. "Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?" The words came out of her mouth rather sharply. She slowly got up, strands of her dyed brown hair falling in a rather perfect way on her face.

"I just wanted to speak to you," she heard him say, his voice as low as a whisper; it was as if he was thinking twice before every word. Elisa felt herself automatically roll her eyes. Out of anything she felt, it would never be sympathy towards him, for it was his parents who caused her father's demise.

"About?" Her voice was monotonous as she tilted her head as if too bored to speak. "About what's going on," he spoke, trying to hold eye contact with her, but Elisa didn't bother returning it. "I know you probably hate me after what happened, but I mean no harm. I've lost my parents, too." He added, his voice cracking.

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips, flat and bleak.

"Orpheus, leave me alone, I'm in no mood to talk to you because if I start, even I don't know what I'll end up saying." Elisa clenched her jaw, trying to control the rage rising in her, something she had thought was deeply buried in her.

Upon seeing Orpheus make no effort to leave, the thin string that had been controlling her emotions till now broke..

"You want to speak? Fine, let's speak? Which topic, though? Of how your parents' foolish mistake killed my father, or of how, without a second thought, you've been proclaimed heir? Something that was my birthright, which you stole." Her finger automatically pointed at him, eyes darkening, thousands of emotions yearned to escape, thousands of thoughts and words she had tried to control for months.

"Elisa, please," he requested, an unspoken plea to calm down.

"No! I won't stop now. You are nothing more than a charity case my mother has picked up. I don't know what has made her pick you as the heir, but I won't allow it." Elisa felt the corner of her eyes water, her palms folding into tight fists, tight enough for her nails to sear into her skin as she added, "You wanted to know what I think about you, right? I hate you, and I'll never stop, even if youre in the verge of death, I'd simply incendio-"

"Elisa Shakestra! What is this behavior?" A sharp, unyielding voice was heard.

Near the door, stood Catherine, tall and stern, her eyes glaring at her daughter as she spoke. "This is no way to treat Orpheus; he is legally considered your older brother, learn to respect him before I'm left with no choice but to discipline you into doing so." She took a step forward, and then another, until she was face to face with Elisa. Catherine had always been an imposing figure whose single command was enough to silence an entire room, but the thought of facing her wrath sent a shiver down Elisa's spine. The woman was unpredictable when angered, in worse cases, ruthless.

Elisa felt herself stumble back, and another, "Of course, you'll support him, no one in this household even cares about me anymore, at least not after dad." Finally, tears spilled through her eyes as she walked out of the room, shoving Orpheus aside.

To her, this was just the start of a miserable journey ahead at a hell called 'Home'...