章 19: CHAPTER XVIII

Celestine could only gape in shock, looking at the apologetic faces of her sisters.

"We're very sorry, Mama, but, we're leaving the house." They all said in unison, bowing their heads in courtesy.

She opened her mouth, only to close it again. Her chest felt tight and her heart beat rapidly.

"B-But why?"

Her head turned towards the direction of the small, quivering voice. It was Nesryn.

One of their sisters moved and closed the gap between her and Nesryn. Smiling sadly, she said, "I'm sorry, little sister, it's just that…we need to move on…with our lives."

Nesryn frowned, "Can't you do that with us?" She asked, not giving up.

However, their sister only shook her head. "Unfortunately…with all that's happening right now, I'm afraid that…we just can't."

Celestine swallowed, looking at the pitiful expression of her sister. Nesryn was the one who was expressing what she wanted to say—what her other sisters wanted to say.

"It's alright, Layla." Tanith said with a small smile. "I understand." She added, walking towards Nesryn, comforting her by running her hand down her back.

"Shh. Come on, my child." Tanith hushed, "Don't cry." She continued, but with that, Nesryn burst into tears.

"But why? Why do they have to leave?" She asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

Tanith looked torn, looking back and forth at her daughters. Finally, she sighed, "It's for the best." She answered curtly.

Nesryn moved away from Tanith, shaking her head. She looked at her sisters then at their mother, "That! That's what all of you are good at! You stay with all the glory, yet, leave when you have nothing to receive!" She screamed, before running upstairs, "All of you are just ungrateful bitches!" She shouted. After that, a loud slam echoed all throughout the house, it was her door.

All of them fell silent at once. Nesryn's voice, ringing in their ears.

The sisters bowed down, affected by what they have heard. But then again, what can they do? They needed to survive, and for now, leaving was the best choice.

Tanith cleared her throat and looked at her daughters. She eyed Odette, nodding her head, which their eldest responded to with another nod.

"Come along now." Odette said, looking at her sisters who decided to stay.

Celestine followed, walking small steps.

"I won't stop you all from going…" Her mother's voice slowly faded out as she stepped out of the room. She looked ahead, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"It's not like this was the first time that we have seen our sisters leaving." Sandra said, shaking her head, pertaining to Nesryn's earlier behavior.

"She's like that every single time." Delancey noted, looking far away as if remembering all of the events in the past.

"That's true…" Lirah added, agreeing.

Celestine frowned, listening to her sisters who seem unaffected. She wanted to talk back but kept her lips pursed, she knew that it would bring her nothing.

"What she said was true though." Analise remarked, earning their other sister's agreement.

"Let's just go back to the stall. We need to switch our shifts. Meira and the others must be tired."Odette said, cutting through the chattering of their sisters. She looked at the quiet Celestine in the corner, "Do you wanna join us? It's alright if you wish to rest…" She trailed off.

Celestine shook her head and forced herself to smile, "No…I'll join." She answered, and with that, they all wore their cloaks and went ahead towards their store.

"Any customers?" Celestine asked, throwing her gaze upon the neatly folded fabrics in the table of their stall before meeting her sight with Meira's.

"Nothing. We haven't had any for the past four hours." Meira answered shaking her head, looking at the other stalls that were flocked by people.

Although the answer did not come as a surprise, Celestine still couldn't help but show a disappointed face at the expected answer.

Noticing the long faces of her younger sisters, Odette went near them, comforting them by rubbing their backs. "We'll take over." She announced, looking at Meira and their three other sisters who were tending the stall since earlier. "Go home and rest." She added, smiling encouragingly.

Letting out a small smile, Celestine nodded her head, "Thank you." She replied, short but sincere.

She looked at the gradually darkening sky and the falling snow. The atmosphere seemed to match perfectly with her numbing heart.

After exchanging their shifts and bidding each goodbye, they all walked silently back to their house, not one of them uttering a single word.

They were tired, maybe not physically, but mentally.

Welcomed by her sister's who prepared their last supper, Celestine and her family ate in silence, the tension, however, was evident in the heavy air.

"Your sisters will be leaving tomorrow." Tanith announced to those who were new with the news. Earning various reactions, Celestine shook her head.

She started counting in her head, looking at each of her sisters who filled the large dining table, 'One, two, three, four,…' She looked down as she finished, 'Thirty-five, huh?' She asked herself, shaking her head in pure disbelief. She sighed and stood up, with a small smile, she bid her goodbyes and went straight to her room.

Wanting to cleanse herself from all the bad thoughts, she hopped into the bathroom, and prepared herself a warm bath, dressing up in a neat white sleeping attire afterward.

Combing her wet hair, she looked at herself in the mirror, slightly discouraged.

Indeed, it was not the first time that they have witnessed their sisters leaving the family, but this, this was the first time they will be leaving in such a large group, and for a different reason at that.

Most commonly, their sisters will be leaving happily, ready to settle down after they have found love, but now, they were leaving simply because they were not earning enough.

She was hurt, but she can understand her sisters. They were still young, and unlike their elder sisters, they were still yet to find what they were looking for. They needed to do something, and in the end, this was the most fitting to do. Like what her sister said, they have to move on.

"All of you are just ungrateful bitches!"

Nesryn's words rang in her mind. She smirked. Her sister really does have the nerve, but despite her behavior, what she's saying was true—always true.

Come to think of it, Nesryn has never lied before.

Sighing, she laid down on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.

What could they be doing wrong?

At first, she knew that it was only understandable for them to have some sort of crisis because of their sudden change of profession, but then again, during their first days, all was great, then it turned into something that was tolerable, but now this? They were starting to gain nothing—which was quite impossible.

Maylea is a city that is frequented by tourists, yet, for the past few days, their sales have been incredibly low, almost to the ground. They have yet to pay their fabric supplier. If this keeps up, in no time, they'll be drowned in debt. The tax for their house is also big, given that it is in the middle of a commercial area.

This was something that she, nor her sisters, have ever experienced.

All of their lives, they were used to being surrounded by people, providing the utmost care and entertainment to their customers. There has never been a day that is colored black and white during the eighteen years that she has seen the House of Amora running. Never did she thought that a day will come where she will have to worry about their expenses.

She can only curse the current situation.

Why?

Why must it be now? Is it because they were trying to do--to be something new?

Maybe…just maybe…they have made the wrong choice?

Celestine shut her eyes tightly, forcing herself to let go of all of her negative thoughts…

Maybe they made the wrong choice…

Maybe this wasn't just the right path…

Maybe they were still suited to be courtesans, after all…

-------•🌜🌹👑🌹🌛•---------

"Why do you want to be a courtesan?" Tanith, her mother, asked her.

She looked around, taking in the wonderful sight that if not for her being used to, has surely overwhelmed her already. "Because!" She answered with a huge grin on her face, her eyes shined in glee.

"Because?" Tanith questioned further, raising her brow.

She pouted. Not wanting to elaborate her answer any further, she smiled and went running towards her mother, "Because I love Mama and my sisters!" She answered, saying the first thing that has come to her mind.

Tanith chuckled, kneeling down to return her hug before finally pinching her cheeks, "You're just so adorable!" She said, smiling from ear to ear.

"And I'm also very pretty." She added, remembering what her sisters told her, "Very pretty." She smirked, repeating the last bit.

"Don't be so full of yourself, young lady." Her mother said, laughing at her as she pouted, "But it was older sisters who told me that! Surely, they're not lying. Lying is bad after all, right, Mama?" She said, using her sisters and her mother's words.

"You know, Mama. That night, after seeing what happened to my older sister, I did something bad." She confessed, looking down before looking up to her mother again, with a beaming smile on her lips. "Thankfully, there was a boy who saved me. I'm sincerely grateful to him." She continued, smiling as she remembered the last event.

Though she was indeed scared, somehow, that boy who looked about the same age as her was able to give her security, just like how she felt when she was together with her family.

She looked once again towards her mother, wanting to talk more about the events that have happened to her. However, it seems like she has never heard anything about her last statement, the amusement on her mother's face immediately vanished, "T-That's right… Lying is bad." She answered, stuttering, "I-I'm sorry…" She trailed off.

Noticing the change in her mother's expression, Celestine frowned, "Is there something wrong, Mama?" She asked, concerned. Pressing her palms up to her mother's cheeks, she smiled, "It's okay, Mama, I forgive you." She said, nodding her head encouragingly.

Tanith made a faint smile, and moved her slightly shaking hand to her daughter's cheek, "Always remember, Celestine, you are my child, alright?"

-------•🌜🌹👑🌹🌛•---------

A soft knock on the door instantly made Celestine open her eyes. With a slight stagger, she made her way towards the door, rubbing her eyes as she welcomed her mother who gave her a warm smile.

Noticing her attire, Tanith frowned to herself, "It seems like you're already sleeping…I'm sorry for disturbing you." She apologized with a gentle voice.

Celestine was flabbergasted and swiftly looked outside her window. She resisted the urge to flick herself in the forehead as she saw the moon, soaring up high into the sky. For how long was she asleep?

She shook her head, alarmed, "No! No, Mama! I was just… tired, that's all." She answered, stuttering as she let out an awkward laugh. This was not the time to add to her mother's problems.

However, one of Tanith's brow raised. She knew her daughter all too well, and it was evident that she was hiding something, but then, she knew that she will never be able to make her say what it is, thus, she could only sigh.

Celestine I, after all, as stubborn as a mule.

"C-Come in, Mama." Celestine chuckled nervously as she stood by the side of her door, providing a way for her mother to come inside the room.

The first thing that Tanith noticed was the white cloak that seems to glisten as it was illuminated by the lamp by her daughter's bed.

Once again, a frown has surfaced on her face. She recognized the fabric, it was the one that her daughter has brought home after her disappearance but aside from that, it was awfully familiar.

Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she knew that pattern…

"Is there a problem, Mama?" Celestine asked, noticing the change in her mother's expression.

After hearing her daughter's question, Tanith's face immediately changes into a smile as she shook her head. She sat by the edge of the bed and patted it, urging Celestine to sit beside her, which she did, resting her head against her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Mama?" Celestine asked, concerned.

"Of course, I am, dear child." Tanith answered, stroking her damp hair.

They both sighed in unison as silence enveloped the room.

Celestine opened her mouth, only to close it again, hesitating whether to ask.

"What is it?" Tanith questioned, immediately guessing what's on her daughter's mind.

Celestine gathered all of the courage that she could muster and heaved a long sigh before breathing in."Mama, do you think that we're only suited to be courtesans?" She asked. "I-I'm starting to think that maybe…just maybe… we're not suited to have anything other than what we had before?"

Tanith swallowed and looked up to the bright moon outside, heaving a sigh.

She looked at her daughter's glossy eyes. "You don't share the same fate as us, Celestine."

Celestine frowned and moved away from her mother's embrace to meet her eyes but no, she was looking away. Once again, an eerie feeling surfaced at her heart. It was just like that time… at that time when her mother did the unspeakable…

"Wh-What do you mean, Mama?" She asked, stuttering.

She was anxious. Despite the cold weather, she was lightly sweating, and her heart was beating like she has run miles—erratic.

"Well…" Tanith began. She moved her sight away from the moon and into her daughter, "You're still young, dear child." She said, "You have so much more to achieve…so much more��"

Tanith moved towards her and held her hands, she smiled, "Don't worry about us, alright? If you have something to do…don't be afraid to do so." She said, lightly pinching her nose, easing her anxiousness.

"I won't stop you all from going…"

Celestine could feel the building tears in her eyes.

Why was their mother so understanding? She wondered, is her real mother the same too? Will she be as kind and caring as their mother is?

Obviously, the answer is no.

She inwardly shook her head. Of course not, otherwise, she would not even be an orphan. Thankfully, the heavens have granted her such a great mother.

"Thank you, Mama." She replied, smiling sincerely. She moved back again to hug her mother who returned her hug.

Hearing her mother's words lifted up her gloomy heart, now in delight.

"Don't worry too much, my child. Alright? After all, I do have a plan." Tanith said with a lopsided smile, earning a look of curiosity from her daughter.

"What is it, Mama?" Celestine asked, hopeful.

Letting out a small, hearty chuckle, Tanith smiled, "Well, you could say that it may or may not involve the Capital?" She said, ending her sentence with a question.

Celestine nodded her head repeatedly, now having the same smile as her mother.

"But for now, let's try to keep it a secret." Tanith continued.

"Alright, Mama. I'm looking forward to it." Celestine agreed, with a huge smile.

After a while of conversing about various topics, Tanith looked out the window, noticing that it was already quite deep in the night. Patting her daughter's back, she smiled, "Very well, I shall retire." She said, standing up.

Celestine nodded her head in understanding and also stood up to escort her mother by the door.

"You look wonderful, my child." Tanith said with a gentle, encouraging smile, making Celestine's cheeks heat up.

Just before she could make any reply, her mother left, leaving her alone in her room but this time, she was not feeling sad, rather, she felt refreshed, energized.

Closing the door behind her, Celestine could clearly feel her burning cheeks. Biting her lip, she once again walked towards the mirror and looked at herself, this time, with a satisfied smile.

Despite what happened this day, and for the past week—which she kept as a secret, her mother told her not to worry—and now they even had a secret!

Perhaps, she even knew what and where she has been going, and now, indirectly gave her permission to go. Her mother's assurance and compliment gave her confidence.

She'll go. One more time.

She picked up the cloak on her bedside table and smiled, remembering her last encounter with Desidevious.

He failed to return to their meeting place and it made her sad. However, she chose to hold on to his words, thus, she kept on hoping, going every night, looking far ahead in anticipation.

But this time will be the last time.

Desidevious is the Emperor.

One in the lands can never reach those who are in the heavens.

But, for one last time...

She looked out of the window, noticing that it was the exact time that they have promised before.

Hastily, she wore the cloak, it's wonderful white fabric perfectly complementing her white robe. She exhaled, determined, and with one last look at herself, made her way towards her door and outside the house.

The cool wind sent shivers down her spine but it did not bother her, for, in fact, she was happy, and alas, she arrived just by the entrance of the forest. She swallowed and excitedly fixed her clothing before strutting inside.

This time, her journey was not in vain. Perhaps, there's still a chance?

She smiled, in evident glee as she saw and recognized a figure that was waiting by the lakeside.

"Desidevious!"