8later towards the evening, Paul n Pendragon made their way to his half-sister's home8
Pendragon; 8was shaking badly8
Paul: 8held his hand8 Its gonna be OK, Mordred. She's still ur sister. Its not the end of the world
Pendragon; 8didn't look convinced8
Paul: Look. We're just there to visit. If they don't welcome us, then its fine, n we'll leave. Alright?
Pendragon; 8nods8
Paul: 8looks at the address again8 It should be dwn this corner... 8looked up n ard8 Ah, right there!
Pendragon; 8looked up8
8it was a dingy apartment within the backalleys of the Liver District, some kind of rent-controlled apartment for lower-class ppl8
Pendragon; 8snarled, grpping his fist8
Paul: 8squeezed his hand8 It's alright. We should be expecting this. C'mon, lets go
Pendragon; 8followed9
Paul: 8went to the set of doorbells n rang the one according to the address8
Voice: Yes?
Paul: Is this the Rosalinda residence?
Voice: Who wants to knw?
Pendragon; 8shook8
Paul: I'm Paul. I'm here with Mordred Pendragon. We...just wanna talk
Pendragon; 8stiffened8
8a vry long pause later before the door buzzed open8
Paul: So far, so good. C'mon 8takes Pendragon's hand n went inside8
Pendragon; 8slowly went in8
Paul: 8made his way upstairs to the floor indicated in the address n knocked8
Pendragon; 8bit his tongue8
8the door opened, revealing a middle aged woman roughly close to her 60s, n seems to be a regular red blood cell8
Paul: Ms Rosalinda?
Rosalinda: Yes. Wat do u want?
Pendragon; 8gulped8
Paul: May we come in? I'd like to speak to u n ur daughter Penelope
Rosalinda: 8considered them for a moment before letting them in8
Pendragon; 8was froze in place8
Paul: 8nudged him a little n took his hand, guiding him indoors8
Rosalinda: Would u want some tea?
Pendragon; 8kept silent8
Paul: 8nudged him n whispered8 C'mon, say something
Pendragon; 8was tongue-tied8
Paul: 8sighed8 Tea will be fine, thank u
Rosalinda: 8nodded n left to the kitchen8
Paul: 8sat with Pendragon at the living room8 C'mon, Mordred. Get a grip
Pendragon; 8whispered8 Easy for you to say
Paul: 8whispered bk8 I knw its a little awkward meeting ur father's first wife, bt its best if u wanna leave a good impression. We need her to open up to us
Pendragon; 8was really unsure8
Rosalinda: 8comes with tea n cakes, setting them on the table, then pours them the drink quietly8
Paul: So...I think u might hv an idea why we're here
Rosalinda; 8nodded8
Pendragon; 8stiffened8
Paul: So...u were married to Mordred's dad bk then?
Rosalinda: Yeah, for abt 5 yrs, before he up n left me for ur mother
Pendragon; 8winced n bit his lip8
Paul: So...u care to let us knw a bit abt ur story there?
Rosalinda: Wat's to tell? We were young n stupid. We had a family wen neither of us were reli ready
Pendragon; 8narrowed his eyes8
Paul: Why dont u start frm the beginning?
Rosalinda: 8sighed n sat dwn8 Well Mordred's father n I were high school sweethearts. We were inseparable. Bt we were young n stupid n full of dreams. I dreamt of being a dancer, he dreamt of scoring it big in the corporate world. We thought being married n investing our lives in our career wouldn't be too big of a deal. Then I became pregnant, bt my pregnancy had complications, n it deteriorated my health so badly I could no longer dance anymore. Mordred's father continued to soar into the corporate world n earned enough money to let me live comfortably, bt then he met Mordred's mom, who is equally as rich n powerful n served his means of success well to him. He had an affair with him n got her knocked up, n decided to divorce me, kick me out of the house with Penelope n married her instead. I've been living here evr since, surviving on being a dance teacher by day n laundry store shift lady by night. End of story
Pendragon; 8felt sick to his stomach8
Paul: I-I'm sorry to hear tht
Rosalinda: Don't blame urself, kiddo 8turns to Pendragon8 Its not ur fault. I knw u. I've visited a few times to ur house wen u were younger, bt u prolly don't remember me. I came sometimes to ask for money if I couldnt afford to pay for Penelope's expenses, bt other than tht, I just stay away frm the family. U've grown to be a fine boy tho, thank goodness u didn't hv ur father's personality, tho u look almost like him wen we were still high school sweethearts
Pendragon; 8blushed8
Paul: So abt the will, I'm sure Mr Grooves has called u or ur daughter abt it...
Rosalinda: Ah yes, tht. So...he reli is dead, huh?
Pendragon; 8nods
Rosalinda; 8sighed8 I was afraid of this
Paul: Wat do u mean?
Pendragon; 8looked at her8
Rosalinda: 8got up n gestured them to follow her8
Pendragon; 8stood up with Paul n followed her8
Rosalinda: 8led her to wat looked like a bedroom n opened the door8
Paul: 8looked in n gasped as he saw a red blood she-cell just like Rosalinda, only with the Pendragon trademark hair, lying in bed covered in black patches, evidence of smog infection8 Is tht...?
Rosalinda: Yes, my little girl Penelope
Pendragon; 8felt sick8 The smog?
Rosalinda: 8nodded8 N it pains me to admit it bt...I think Penelope killed ur parents
Pendragon; 8looked at her8
Rosalinda: Penelope had always had this silent rage ovr ur parents, evn tho she wouldn't admit it to me face to face. One day I stumbled upon her diary n the content was more than just an innocent ranting abt an angry teen. She had intent to kill, she wanted ur parents dead for letting us suffer such a fate n such abandonment. I just nvr thought she'd actually do it
Paul: Until she came home like this
Rosalinda: 8nodded8 I thought she just got unlucky n didnt outrun the smog, bt it was more than just accidental exposure. Docs said she had been exposed quite a considerable time. Then recently Grooves called n told me abt the cause of death of Mordred's parents, n I put two n two together...
Pendragon; 8gripped his fist8
Rosalinda: Pls don't expose her. She doesnt hv enough time left, I just want her to pass on in peace. We don't need the money or the inheritance anymore. I don't need it anymore. Its all urs. All I ask is...to keep this a secret
Paul: I don't knw... 8looked at Pendragon8
Pendragon; 8walked over to the young hybrid, kneeling next to her8
Penelope: 8opened her eyes a little wen she heard his footsteps. She was abt 5 yrs older than her, bt her physique looked almost like she was 10 yrs younger than her younger half-brother8
Pendragon; 8gently took her hand8
Penelope: 8coughed a bit8 Y-You...
Pendragon; Easy now
Penelope: U...shouldn't be here...
Pendragon; 8looked at her in sarrow8
Penelope: Ur father...abadoned us...Ur mother...ruined us...They...deserve to die...
Rosalinda: Enough, Penny
Pendragon; They did, they've hurt many including you, your mother as well as my fiancée n I
Penelope: Ur...not angry...at me...?
Pendragon; Never
Penelope: 8sobbed a little before coughing8
Paul: 8smiled a little8 Dont worry. Ur secret is safe with us
Pendragon; 8stroked her hair8
Penelope: I...I just...was so angry... Tht night...I snuck into the house... Not sure if its just me, bt there's... "something" in the house helping me... I waited for the smog to show up...then opened all the windows dwnstairs to... I knew I should've gotten out of there, bt I wanted to stay...n watch...I wanted to make sure...they're dead... 8coughed again8
Pendragon; Don't talk save your strength
Penelope: Docs said...I dont hv long...bt...I dont care...It was...worth it...
Paul: 8went to the other side n took her other hand8 We're reli sorry for wat the Pendragons did to u. Rest assure everything will right itself in the end
Pendragon; 8gave her hand a small squeeze8
Paul: We'll make sure u won't be alone wen the time comes 8stroke her hair8
Penelope: 8let out a small smile8
Rosalinda: 8smiled as well8
Pendragon; I wish I'd known sooner, I could have helped you both
Rosalinda: Its alright. Its not ur fault. Ur parents kept u in the dark. Its all on them
Pendragon; 8sighed sadly8
Paul: Wat r u going to do now?
Rosalinda: I dunno. I'll prolly just wait it out with my little girl till her last moments, n then...well, we'll see wat happens frm there...
Pendragon; There must be something we can do
Rosalinda: 8shook her head8 I'm old, child. There's nothing more an old lady needs than to be comfortable in her own lifestyle. Its alright. U live the life u deserve. I dont need the money. U hv a family to raise as well 8gently touches Paul's middle8
Paul: 8blinked8 H-Huh...?
Pendragon; 8looked at his mate to be8
Paul: 8shook his head n shrugged, no idea wat she was talking abt8
Rosalinda: I can tell frm experience, luv. U are with child
Paul: W-What?? 8blushed8
Pendragon; 8looked at her8
Rosalinda: 8smiled8 May I? 8gently raises Paul's shirt n revealed the tiny ball in the young cell's middle8
Pendragon; 8looked at Paul8
Paul: I didn't... I... 8realized something8 Ooh... That... 8blushed*
Pendragon; 8tilted his head8
Paul: I think we shouldn't discuss this here...
Rosalinda: U'll hv a while to catch up. We'll be fine here. N pls help me tell Mr Grooves tht my Penelope can't come
Paul: *nodded8 We will
Pendragon; 8stroked Penelope's hair gently8
Penelope: 8had went bk to sleep8
Paul: 8takes Pendragon's hand8 Come, Mordred. We'll come bk another time
Pendragon; 8stood up8
Rosalinda: Take care, kiddo 8kissed Pendragon's forehead8
Pendragon; 8gave her a small sad smile8
Paul: 8gives her a hug n left the house8
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