Sad angel.

SABINE.

Too tired, with less than three hours of sleep, again I have to get started on work. Florence posted the list of duties on the servants' group chat last night and I am left in charge of this mysterious young master's suite. He is a young master so it is not easy work. It is in no way easy work, but there is nothing I can do about it.

Bowing to the older madam as she walked by on my way to the washing room with bed linens she stops by my side and wordlessly urges me to do the same.

"How are you liking the house?" She asks.

"It's way too big and grand for my sensibilities Ma'am, it seems surreal and I am still having a hard time believing that people actually live here," I reply honestly and I can hear her laugh, it wasn't a usual laugh, it wasn't unusual either it was just different. I couldn't tell what it meant, I didn't like that. "Did I say something wrong, miss?"

"No, you are just the first person that hasn't worshiped this house like the heavens. I like that." She stated, and just like that she began to walk away. I wasn't sure what she meant because it seemed I too was worshiping the house just now.

I moved on as well, heading to the washroom. By the time I got back to his room, it was already almost noon, I still had enough time, I had to be done by four o'clock. Perhaps that was why I made a foolish mistake.

ISABELLE

I will just come out and say it, as absurd as it must sound I was reborn. I don't know if I should be happy or sad about the current development of things. In my past life I was murdered by the man I was engaged to, well it wasn't like he was a villain or anything if that was how I would describe things then I definitely deserved what I had going on. But if I was reborn then that means I was somehow wronged right? I must have not been that bad if I was given a second chance and not that I am unhappy or anything but couldn't they have taken me a little further back in time? I should have at least woken up a few years before now when my parents were still alive.

Even if it was today two years ago, I would have stopped them from going out that night. I wouldn't have been such a whiny brat, accepted the present they bought me instead of requesting more, and then they wouldn't have died in that car crash. Now two years later I am standing in all black performing a memorial ceremony for the best parents in the world. This is my second life and I still failed my sister.

"It's my fault they are dead" I mutter, reaching forward to place my hand on my sister's shaky shoulders. "In this life and the last I couldn't save them, I'm sorry Marianne, I'm so sorry."

Her slender hands reach up to mine and she wraps her hand around mine and pulls me to herself. I bend beside her and kneel as I hug her. "Stop saying that, you didn't drive the car that ran into them. They didn't have to go out that night but they did. Remember their loving sacrifices, not the details of what happened. Stop apologizing."

"It's time to go girls, Isabelle you have to go to college so let's go." My aunt says behind us. Shooting daggers out of my eyes at her I stand straight.

"Aren't you too eager to leave your own brother's memorial? Tell me are you no longer scared that people will see you for the snake you really are?" Her fists tighten by her side and she steps forward, closer to me.

"Why? Will you slap me here as well? In front of all these people?" I goad her, gesturing to the small crowd that also came to pay my parents' respects. "Go ahead, I'm eager to see what the press would have to say about it." The shocked expression on her face is well placed. In my past life, I never had the guts to say anything like this to her, in fact, I could barely ever look her in the eyes. I trusted this bitch, feared her. But I would be the biggest fake in the world if I got a second chance and I could spare a smile at this woman. She's even worse than the person that got me killed, she's the reason I was killed, she's the reason I did all those horrible things, the reason Marianne had to die. But not this time, I wouldn't let her have her way this time. I intend on protecting everything that is dear to me. Everything.

ASHER

Its' been sixteen years since I last saw these streets, to think I was only just a child when I left my home. And now I am returning as an adult, just the way they wanted. It's leaving such a bitter taste in my mouth, it makes me wonder what part of my life is mine to control?

"Is there anywhere you would like to visit sir?" The driver asked, noticing my stiff expression he expatiated "there is still some time left before dinner."

"Even if I wanted to stop I wouldn't know where?" I say, "I was always in the apex as a child and I left before I could have any fun anywhere. I spent all those years in another country." His expression mirrors mine. Looking out the window I see a girl in black hanbok staring at the streets with such fiery eyes and tear-stained cheeks her brown hair moving in the direction of the wind leaving temporary but soft caresses across her beautiful and extremely soft features. She looks like an angel too unreal for the earth, a sad angel I wonder who she lost.

Nodding awkwardly he replies "ah yes… then I'll drive you to the apex."

Home.

Nothing had changed yet everything felt so foreign to me. Could I call this place home? Possibly not, there were no fond memories here after she died, the only person that made this home was no longer here. Perhaps it was good that I spent all those years abroad. As I got out of the car my father, he looks older, well so do I, and stepmother stand outside to welcome me. I am quite surprised the entourage wasn't larger.

With large steps my father heads up to me and grabs my hand, he doesn't know I hate being touched, how could he apart from the fact that we shared the same blood we were basically strangers. "Welcome home my son!" He looks happy, I wonder what the happy occasion was.

It got uncomfortable so I pulled away "thank you." I replied, looking over at the woman behind him.

"You are early, I thought you would have liked to see the city, how much it had changed." Ah… so that why the driver suggested that? Does she really think giving me the freedom now… would suddenly make me a well-parented child? What kind of parents gives their child to a whole other country to raise and expect them to turn out well?

"I wouldn't notice even if it had." I reply curtly, "I'm tired." I say quickly when I see my father reaching for me again.

"Go rest, your room must be ready now." She gestures.

"Yes, you should go rest." My father adds and without hesitation, I walk inside. Everything is still the same so it wasn't difficult to find the way to my suite, but I did not expect to find a woman in my bed, this was an unexpected welcome. So I am left wondering, was this planned? Or was it a mistake? Either way, I am curious.