The Future

The loud noise of the windows breaking woke up the guards that are in a deep naps. The sounds are coming from the room of the known lady of the De' Pandora's. Their hearts skipped a beat as they rush towards the lady's chamber, only to witness her taking a bath.. with the blood of those who dared to lay their hands on her.

"Rats came out from the window so I welcomed them wholeheartedly," said by the lady with a soft smile on her face. Her silk and beautiful nightgown is now painted with blood but for her... "This is art."

"Our lady, we are in wrong! Please punish us for not being able to serve you with our lives!" the knights kneeled down in forgiveness.

The lady chuckled, "Do you think I needed help from you?"

They gulped hard when they heard how she threw a dead and cold body on the balcony.

"I do not need your apologies. Get out of my sight."

In a blink of an eye, the knights vanished like a wind that passed by. With her powerful words, anyone who dare to oppose would meet a painful ending, hence in just a single word, everyone obey.

She's been living under the guidance of their Mother, the Duke of Garmien, nothing can scare her except from her Mother's disappointed face.

She could kill anyone who have the intention to bring their family down.

She grew up to be like this.

She grew up to kill.

Having different assassins that visits every night are not a big deal at all, after all this is the path she have chosen.

This is her fate.

"Astrid Nycola De' Pandora."

She looked up to face her brother, Rossius Nyxron De' Pandora, who are smirking widely at her with a stain of blood on his cheeks. They are currently resting on the library before their trainer comes.

"I heard from the knights that your guests visited you again last night? How was it?"

Astrid closed the book she was reading. "Boring as usual." She took a deep sigh and glared at him, "Your manners went on a vacation?"

He whistled teasingly, "Perhaps they took a stroll to the garden, 'sister'."

She smiled sweetly. "Tell them to go back before I kick you out of the house."

Astrid's ears were filled by Ross's laughter and all she could do is to stay silent to restrain herself from hurting her own brother.

The lunch came soon after their sword training. The two of them fixed their selves first before going to the main hall of the manor to wait for their other siblings to come. This kind of set up isn't new, this has been decided the very first time they stepped their foot inside the house.

Minutes later, familiar faces started to appear one by one.

On a black ruffle shirt with silver pins, a man with a middle length black hair stood the tallest among them all, owning a pair of black eyes, he shows a blank face in front of Astrid and Ross. He is Raoul Niccollo De' Pandora, the first child.

Standing beside him is a woman wearing a white dress with golden pins partnered with a mini hat that has a long net that almost covering half of her face. Just like Raoul, she has this pitch black hair and black eyes. She's smiling widely but Astrid could see her true color. She is Aesha Naevorra De' Pandora, the manipulative and two-faced girl.

'Even her bangs looks evil.' Ross thought.

Clinging on Aesha's arms, a boy with a black teddy bear shyly hid himself behind his sister. He also had the same features just like his siblings, wearing a white puffy shirt and black shorts. He is Sevirus Noelle De' Pandora, the most innocent yet dangerous among them because he likes studying poisons.

And last but not the least, with his hands crossed above his chest, mischievous smile and infamous pair of red blooded eyes. The scariest man appear beside Raoul. Wearing a silk ruffle shirt partnered with black shorts, high and white socks with an embroidered pattern of the family's crest. He is the wicked son who punish people for fun, manipulate his siblings for experiment and doing his best to become the heir. He is Rashido Nicholov De' Pandora, the second son.

Ross smirked out of panic when he met Rashido's eyes.

"I think I will be killed tonight, sister," he whispered to Astrid.

"By whom?"

"The devil, Rashido..."

Astrid laughed, "He is no devil, more like a fool."

It is given that when the children from the east wing and the west wing arrived at the main hall of the manor, it is to be in line as they enter the dining hall all together.

The west wing are where the chambers and area of the blood line are located. This is where Raoul and others are staying. While the east wing are where Astrid and Ross's chambers are located, the place for the unofficial children.

The smiling face of Duke Astera De' Pandora welcomed them as soon as they arrived at the dining hall. Wearing her signature uniform that is showing her rank on the society with golden pins and crest.

"You may now seat," she ordered.

Raoul and his siblings sat on the right row while Astrid and Ross sat on the left. Just by looking at their features, people can immediately point out that they're not related by blood.

While the Duke and her children owns dark black color of eyes and hair aside from Rashido who got his red eyes from their Father, the two; Astrid and Ross owns platinum blonde and golden eyes. Astrid has a short hair that almost as short as Ross' hair that sometimes the reason why they are mistaken as twins when in fact, Astrid is three year older than Ross. They just look so alike as if they're one.

The table is full of delicious foods that surely can not be seen in an ordinary house. Astrid and Raoul focused on their foods while on the other hand, Aesha open a certain topic for the Duke to notice her.

"I have already mastered the cycle of Mana, Mother."

Duke Astera stopped from eating to congratulate her. Astrid just shrugged her shoulders. She knows that their Mother are not really interested on what Aesha's saying but she still acknowledge her daughter which Astrid found so heart touching.

"How's your night, Astrid dear? From what I have heard, you welcomed some uninvited guests last night?"

She stopped from her tracks and immediately answered the Duke, "Yes, Mother."

The Duke chuckled, "You even threw the bodies on the balcony?"

She hid her smile, "Yes, Mother. I am so sorry for the one who will clean the garden, I did them so messy."

The hall was filled with the Duke's laughs. "I really like that side of you, Astrid! That's how you, my children, should welcome uninvited guests at night!"

Astrid felt a warmth sensation deep inside her, making her smile a little. Ross smirked and teasingly pinched her cheeks.

"Such a naughty girl," he said.

She teasingly slapped his hands. "Don't annoy me, Ross."

While the two of them seem to enjoy the moment, Aesha and Raoul glared at them with so much hatred, thinking that the likes of them are nothing but a piece of trash that their Mother kindly picked up on the streets.

As soon as the Lunch ended, Aesha along with her other siblings waited for them at the East wing's entrance.

"How dare that bitch!" Aesha clenched her fist as she smiled angrily. "I will wipe that smile on her face and make her kiss my foot--"

"How scary, Esha..." said by Rashido, cutting Aesha's words. "Are those words of bravery? or words coming from a scared kitten who got insecure?"

Aesha shockingly gazed at his direction. "Shut your mouth, Rashid!"

But instead of feeling threatened, he smirked. "How pitiful, my poor little sister."

She was about to fight Rashido when Raoul stopped her.

"We are sibling by blood, we should be helping each other."

"Hmph!"

Raoul shook his head, "C'mon, Esha. We are here to punish those filthy rats, not to fight each other."

Finally, Astrid and Ross showed up on the right time. They're currently talking about something when their smile faded away when they saw their other siblings.

"Looks like you hit a sore spot, sister."

"Should I be sorry?"

"Huh? Why?"

She chuckled, "Yeah.. why would I?"

They faced Raoul and Aesha's hatred with a huge fake smile.

"Brother Raoul and Sister Aesha... what brought you here--"

"DON'T CALL ME YOUR SISTER!" Aesha shouted that made the maids stopped and stare at them for a moment. "I HAVE NO SISTER! YOU FILTHY THING!"

Astrid covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh.. how sad, sister. Here I am thinking that we are bonded enough--"

"You're nothing but a bitch in this house! Mother just picked you up on the streets! Begging your life--"

"Oh, so what if we were like that?" Astrid said back.

"What?!"

Raoul held Aesha's shoulder, "That's enough, Esha." He then glared at Astrid, "And for you, rat. Don't create a scene in front of Mother just to get her attention. Know your place here."

"We already know though," answered by Ross. "Then the main point of this nonsense is because Mother noticed my sister's capability? Have you not realize how immature you sound right now, brother?"

Raoul flinched. "How dare you talk back!"

Ross hands went up, "Of course we wouldn't dare! But please mind you, you're right in front of our territory."

Aesha gulped. "YOU'RE SO FILTHY! SO DIRTY!" She took out her wand and pointed it on Ross' face and was about to use magic when Astrid kicked her hand, the force made her lean on Raoul, she then winced in pain.

"HOW DARE YOU?!--"

"Have you not learned anything other than 'How dare you'?" Ross asked teasingly that anger Aesha more.

Astrid patted Raoul's shoulder, "Please protect sister's neck all the time. We may not know, what if someone split her into two?"

"You little sh*t..."

Astrid took a deep sigh, "We surrender. You're right."

"Ha, now you admit that you're nothing but filthy rats!".

"You're right that we were filthy, we were dirty but it doesn't make you clean, sister. You can still recycle your attitude though, you're not helpless. Trash can be use in a better and new way, y' know?"

They left with a satisfied smile, meanwhile Raoul and Astrid were left dumbfounded.

"ARGH!"

Different from his siblings, Rashid giggled. "She's really interesting.." he whispered.

In the house of the De' Pandora family. There are four children who are directly belongs to the bloodline.

But years ago... Duke Astera adopted two children she found in the streets. They are Astrid and Ross who are abandoned by their own parents. As soon as they entered the household, they showed potential than are more worth than those who are carrying a noble blood.

Since then... De' Pandoras never united as one.

They are just sharing the same goal...

"To win over the battle of succession."