5 Event 4 Starting Truth

I decided to have the vacation after Christmas and maybe delay it 'till spring. Before Isabella went back to New Zealand, she gave me the book which that strange old man gave to her. She insisted so I just accepted.

Aniston went with Andros back to Paris because the de Arcif family is dying to meet her. Being left behind with only Calina and the maids, I felt like there is really no one around but me. Calina is always going out since the day she lost her husband and being with her makes you look like an invisible wall. But in my situation, I have long been used to it.

When I was out at the park, I met and had a bit of conversation with Seven's friend, Aldrin Kalmer, who was coincidentally spending his free time there.

"Well, you do look identical to Araselaine", he commented.

"Really, is that so? It's just surprising to be have someone look exactly like me, it's as if I am looking at my reflection in the mirror but the difference is, there's no mirror", I said.

"I am sorry, did I make you feel uneasy?", he asked.

"No, you didn't", I assured him, "I'm perfectly fine."

"Glad to hear that."

I guess he felt something that is making me uncomfortable so he changed the topic and we were in time discussing about books and literature. I was glad to have a talk with him and for a while, I felt fine.

A week after that encounter, Seven and I decided to go on with my vacation plan. We happened to run over Aldrin at the airport. After some greetings and a very short talk, Seven excused us and went on. I failed to ask where we are going and was lost in my thoughts to even notice, only to find out that we landed in China. Seven was the one who decided that.

While on a walk, we were invited inside a home by a fine and kind-looking woman. Xuan, her name, is living with her husband and two children. She happen to have her aged father live with them. Langsheur, the old man's name, was strangely looking at me with fear and a shock look in his face. I wondered what in the world made him behaved like that. Xuan apologized for that and asked her father what is wrong but her father did not respond.

"What is wrong?", I asked.

"I don't know", she answered, "I'll just have to ask him again, I guess."

She said something to her father using their Chinese language and looked at me.

"He said that you are a ghost", Xuan said, "I'm glad to know how to speak and understand your language and he is the one who taught me", she added and turned to her father and said something in Chinese.

Langsheur then looks at me and speaks in English; it is quite strange, hearing him speak.

"Forgive me, then", he said directing it to me, "I thought you came back from the dead."

"Why would you think that, may I ask?"

"When I was in my younger years and still living in those times when we used to believe in walking demons and other forces of evil, I came to be acquainted to one of them", he explained, "She is like a goddess that came down to earth but such beauty was believed to be evil, the witches on that time regarded her as a cold-blooded creature that drinks blood, ones they called "vampires" in the West", he added, "she does look like you, your face, your features and your voice" – he paused for a while to catch his breath – "but you don't have the strange aura she has, an aura close to darkness."

"What happened to her?", Seven asked.

"The old women together with the witches planned to kill and burn her but nobody really knew what happened to her because she disappeared without a trace", he answered, "and we are led to believe that they killed her and got rid of her for us not to remember how fearsome those times that she brought us."

"What's her name?", Seven asked again and this time, in my stead.

"Lishan", he answered, "She told me her name and said that she's not human nor a demon, she's not even a cold blood or something we thought about her, and that she died a long time ago but have been restored by time" – he sighed – "that was all and she disappeared the next day after that", he added, "I don't know why she said those to me and not to someone else", he shared, "but I admit that I took a liking of her just like all the others who praised her unearthly beauty."

We did further asked about it and thanked them for their kindness and left. Oh crap! I thought this vacation can be a getaway from those head-cracking mysteries but here we are knowing that another look-alike of mine existed (if ever what the old man said is true) and heard such a freaky story related to her.

What's with those women? I can't come to an idea and I felt like breaking, I don't know what to think. For a while I thought I caught a glimpse of some kind and came to a point that I must ask them. Seven insisted for us to stay at least for a day; seeing him like that, looking tired made me agree because he did so much for me and a little favor like this can do.

The very next day after that, we returned home. Seven commented me by saying that I look sleepless and appearing to be more cadaverous than ever; instead of having that fine ivory pigment. I just gave him a smile and said I am just fine and he has nothing to worry about.

Arriving at the Lelash mansion, I found Calina and Aniston sitting facing the fireplace, it just came to me like a flash and I confronted them.

"Do you know someone named Corselle Alcerfin, Calina?", I asked.

"Maybe", she answered, "Why?"

"What do you know about her?", I asked instead.

"Just that she is a friend of Madame Morslen in her younger years."

"Did you ever see a picture of her?"

"Spring, what is so interesting with that person? You – "

"Just answer me!", I interrupted, starting to feel irritated.

"Yes, I have seen a picture of her", she said, "Spring, what is your problem?", she continued, irritated too, and before I ask anything, she added, "Don't ask me why she damn looks like you!"

"Does she really have the same necklace like mine?"

"Spring!", Calina said with an authority in her voice, "Yes, she had", she added, "My! Did something happen in China that you are acting strange?"

"Honestly, YES!", I answered, "And this time, I happen to be acquainted to someone who told me that I resembled some kind of a demon in his time! He even thought that I am a ghost!"

"My, what's – "

"Who gave me this necklace?"

Calina did not answer and Aniston stopped writing and was looking at her, with a strange look on her face that is somehow not like her usuals.

"Calina", Aniston said.

Calina did not stir and instead stared at the burning log in the fireplace. I wonder what is wrong but I have this unpleasant feeling like Aniston is about to reveal a secret.

"Tell her", Aniston said.

"What is she supposed to tell me?", I asked, "Is there something I really need to know because I think there really is."

"Spring, you have an unclear childhood memories, right?", she started, "It's because – "

"Aniston, STOP IT!", Calina said harshly.

"But she needs to know!", Aniston argued, "All these years we've keep from her, she has the right to know and we are responsible for telling her the truth."

"FINE!", Calina said, "You're not a Lelash, Spring, because you were only adopted by Aunt Lesa, ten years ago", she paused, "you look so innocent and youthful, like you always have been."

"What do you mean?", I asked, stricken.

"You look just the way you are now from the time we set eyes on you, the time when Aunt Lesa adopted you, your memories are blank so she gave you new memories through hypnosis, you were given memories that were not really yours", she answered, "and we can't blame her because she had always wanted a child on her own, she thought you were the answer to her prayers", she look at Aniston and continued, "we never found out why you have not change physically or why you never age, your birthday was just invented" – she breathe in and said, "that necklace have been with you since, we don't know who gave that and we never minded it."

"We're sorry, Spring, for hiding this from you", Aniston said.

"It's been worrying me ever since Bella showed us the picture of that Melranne woman who looks exactly like you", Calina said.

"Is that the reason why you don't like me, just because I am not a Lelash by blood?", I asked.

"It's not like that, Aunt Lesa made me promise not to tell you anything and ever since that day, I was afraid to be alone with you because I might slip and tell you the truth", Calina answered.

I gave a fake laugh and looked at the fire. What's going on? I think I'm going to get crazy. What are my cousins saying? Cousins? Did they not just tell that I am not a true Lelash? This is so horrible!!!

"I am a freak!", I shrieked, "A demon? A bloodsucker? Immortal? This is crazy!!!", I fell on my knees and cried, feeling weak and tired.