The Forgotten Sin (Purifiers Book 1)

by Mika B. Coit

  "I am going to do what we have come here to do." He said after a while before storming off into the crowd.

  "Aah... wait Kazuki..." Iliana started about to follow him but was stopped when a hand grabbed her arm.

  "Iliana..."

  Iliana turned round quickly. It was Chloe, Claire and Victoria.

  "Ooh... hey!" Iliana said. "Whoa!... You girls look amazing!"

  All three of them wore full length gowns. Claire wore a dark purple strapless mermaid dress, her bodice was covered in sequences and her diamond collar necklace just made her sparkle under the lights that flooded the room. Victoria wore an off the shoulder fitted laced black dress accompanied with three quarter length laced sleeves. A thin sparkly black belt wrapped round her small waist and in one hand held a small laced black clutch bag. Chloe wore a maroon halter neck dress, a thick laced belt wrapped round her waist and formed a huge bow behind her. The chiffon skirt waved delicately when she moved like a satin cloth being blown in the light breeze.

  "So do you... you look gorgeous!" Chloe said still holding her hand and raising it for a better look at her dress.

  "Thanks."

  "I cannot believe you were talking to Lord Baddesley and Lucas. When I shook Lord Baddesley’s hand earlier I thought I was going to faint. They are like the top A-listers in the City and so very cool, do you not agree?" Victoria said excitedly. "What were you lot talking about?"

  "Umm... just... er... introducing each other, that was all." Iliana stuttered then realised that no one apart from the Purifiers knows the other side of Lucas and Lord Baddesley.

  "It looked rather serious but anyway, I cannot believe you invited Kazuki." Claire said. "No wonder why you did not tell us who you were going with... So are you starting to like him now? Oh wait... are you two dating?"

  "It is not like that at all... no way!" Iliana quickly replied trying to come up with a good reason. As it was Father Benjamin’s great idea to bring him. "I had to bring someone!" Was all Iliana could come up with.

  "Yeah, I heard a few girls asked Kazuki to be their invitee but he refused. We now know why." Victoria added. "He looks drop dead gorgeous... and so is Lucas."

  "If you girls had invited Kazuki would your parents disapprove?" Iliana asked wondering if the girl’s parents would have acted the same way Mother did.

  "Most definitely... but he is still on the rich list even though he is way down the bottom and plus totally hot, so they might give in after a while." Victoria replied. "But for those at the top of the rich list hate him because his Father married a scullery maid from Lord Baddesley’s mansion some years ago. That still left a bad taste in people’s mouths! Apparently, Lord Baddesley has no memory of it... strange though... I swear I heard from somewhere that the Williams’s and the Baddesley’s were acquainted somehow."

  "Really?..."

  "Goodness Victoria... I did not even know that!" Claire said. "Where on earth do you get these information from?... You are like a walking book of gossiping knowledge!"

  "Well... you know... I do have my sources." Victoria jokingly replied.

  Iliana looked around the room trying to see whether Kazuki was nearby. After hearing what Victoria said made her feel sorry for him.

  "Anyway... changing the subject, shall we go and have a drink? I am gasping here." Claire said looking a little flustered.

  "Sure!... Where is your little brother anyway?" Chloe asked.

  "Who cares... probably chatting up some girls."

  "Is he not only twelve years of age?" Victoria questioned.

  "Yes... he likes to ogle girls, it was the only reason why he came... Such an embarrassing creep of a brother."

  The girls laughed as they made their way to the drink table. Being with her friends made Iliana feel so much calmer and more like a normal teenaged girl. Her worries drifted to the back of her head and she began to enjoy herself, a smile stretched across her face. But her smile soon faded when she saw Mother walking towards them with a face like thunder.

  "Uh-oh... looks like you are going to have a thrashing from your Mother!" Chloe whispered before taking a quick swig at her lemonade.

  "Great!..." Iliana said sarcastically under her breath.

  "I hope you do not mind if I steal Iliana away from you for a while." Mother said politely though as if through gritted teeth.

  The girls nodded and as Mother led Iliana away, they gave her an encouraging smile. Mother took her to the opposite end of the hall from the entrance where it was much quieter and Mother forced Iliana to lean back against the white pillar. Mother stood in front of her with her hands on her hips. Looking into her fiery eyes Iliana knew the Mother that laid a hand on her cheek with so much love and kindness from earlier this evening was gone.

  "You have embarrassed me tonight in front of Lord Baddesley by bringing that commoner with you!" Mother hissed.

  "He is not a commoner Mother..." Iliana started.

  "He is within the rich side... did you think because he is good-looking you might get away with it?" Mother interrupted pointing her finger at Iliana.

  "For goodness sake Mother!... I do not care whether he is the poorest man in the city I would have still invited him... And I do not care about these ranks that you keep going on about!" Iliana said firmly not really knowing why she was defending Kazuki but for some unknown reason she could not stop herself.

  "Do not use such tone with me young lady!" Mother snarled. "From now on you shall do what I say and stay away from commoners like him. Those girls that you hang around with... will do for now, but I will find better ones for you to gather with!"

  Iliana looked at her Mother in shock, her heart aching with anger. Already knowing that Mother’s inner demon was controlling her mind and quickly taking over her soul Iliana could not help herself from what she was going to say next, and knew that it would only make things worse.

  "I will do no such things... because the kind and thoughtful Mother I once knew and loved would never say such resentful things. I do not know who you are anymore!" Iliana said to her.

  Mother’s eyes darkened completely for a moment, but before Mother could say or do anything Iliana turned her back, lifted the bottom part of her dress up to stop herself from tripping and stormed off towards the open doors near to them. Mother growled under her breath before striding the opposite direction. Neither of them were aware of the presence that stood behind the pillar which Iliana had her back against and heard their full conversation.

  After rushing down the long corridor for a good five minutes Iliana stopped. She let go of her dress and rested her back against the wall then sighed deeply. Iliana started to feel a little guilty for what she said to Mother, she had never spoken to her like that before. Even though it was the inner demon that was doing all the talking, Iliana felt as if she should chosen her words better. As Iliana tried to decide whether she should go back and make it up with Mother or not she suddenly heard voices coming from somewhere nearby.

  Looking around Iliana saw an opening which led to another corridor. She poked her head round and saw two figures, one was slightly more rounder and shorter while the other was taller and slimmer. They had their backs to her and were making their way down the other end of the corridor. They were wearing the same long black cloaks with a pointed hood that she found in Mother’s bag. The figures turned the corner and disappeared, gathering the bottom of her dress Iliana followed.

  After following them for awhile through which seemed like a labyrinth of corridors, the two figures stopped in front of large double doors. Hiding behind the opening of the corridor Iliana watched them open the doors by turning the two big door knobs. Once they disappeared inside and closed the doors behind them Iliana rushed as fast as she could with the heeled evening shoes she was wearing and stood by the doors. Hoping and praying the two figures had moved away from the door Iliana twisted the door knob slowly and pushed one of doors open. Poking her head through first, she looked around but the two figures were not to be seen, in fac
t no one was around.

  Suddenly someone stood behind her and a hand covered her mouth and nose. With her heart racing inside her chest she was pushed hurriedly inside the room and the door was closed gently without a sound. Squirming around and trying to pull away from whoever was behind her was forced to stop by a tighter grip round her mouth and a ‘shhh’ in her ear. The sound of shuffling and muttering passing by from the other side of the door made Iliana quieten down. After awhile the hand that gripped round her mouth loosened, which gave Iliana the chance to grab the hand, duck and throw the arm over her head. Then quickly turned round, twisting the arm.

  "Kazuki?.." Iliana whispered realising who it was then released his arm quickly.

  Kazuki stood up wincing from the pain in his arm but then after hearing footsteps nearby he grabbed Iliana close to him. Standing against one of the black marble pillars which stood either sides of the door, Kazuki hid with Iliana’s back to him and his hand over her mouth again. The two hooded figures entered the large marbled room.

  "What are you doing?" Asked a deep male voice.

  "I was sure I heard something." Another male voice answered in a slight husky tone.

  After a few seconds of silence the one with a deep voice said.

  "There is nothing there you idiot... you are wasting time. We need to get the room ready, come on!"

  "I am sure I heard something!" The other voice said.

  "Yeah, yeah..."

  Their footsteps faded and in the near distance, the sound of a door closing echoed. Iliana then whipped Kazuki’s hand away from her mouth.

  "How long were you following me for?" She questioned after turning and facing him.

  "Since I saw you storming out of the lounge. I thought something was wrong as you were in such a hurry!" Kazuki replied stretching his arm where Iliana had twisted it.

  "Oh, I... had to get away from there for a bit." Iliana said, she had for a moment forgotten about that incident. "Err... sorry about your arm."

  "Yeah... I forgot you learned how to defend yourself."

  "What is this place anyway?" Iliana asked looking around.

  "Beats me!" Kazuki answered.

  Both of them surveyed the room. It was completely made out of black marble and apart from the fire lit lanterns that hung in a line on either side of the walls there were no furnishings. One end of the room was a dead end while the other end had an opening which lead into a long corridor.

  "Those two men must have went down here!" Iliana said poking her head round the corner of the opening.

  "Thanks for pointing out the obvious... for a moment there I thought they went through the wall!" Kazuki exclaimed sarcastically standing behind her.

  Iliana whipped round to face him.

  "Really?... What made you think that?... Did you find some secret opening or something?" Iliana asked then slapping her hand on the walls around her, expecting a secret door to open.

  Kazuki looked at her as if she was the village idiot.

  "You are either seriously gullible or really thick... or both!" He muttered passing Iliana and making his way down the corridor.

  Iliana tilted her head to one side slightly confused.

  "I do not understand... err... hey wait!"

  Ignoring Iliana’s confusion Kazuki led the way down the black marbled corridor and passed several empty rooms with the doors wide open. Looking side to side as she followed Kazuki, something inside a room caught Iliana’s eye. She stopped and stepped back until she was standing in front of the opening to the large room.

  It too was made of black marble like the corridor and the rest of the other rooms. But with a slight difference, it was much larger. It was almost half the size of the hall where the party was being held and contained a lot more furnishings. Fire lit lanterns that hung on the walls flickered warm and welcoming light all around. At the centre of the room standing in a perfect circle were solid gold coloured high back chairs which was evenly spaced out between one another. In the middle of the circle of chairs was a solid round table completely made out of black marble. Kazuki suddenly appeared behind Iliana making her jump.

  "I do wish you would stop suddenly appearing behind me like that!" She whispered turning round.

  Ignoring her comment Kazuki passed Iliana and entered the room.

  "And I wish you would stop ignoring me!" She muttered under her breath as she followed him.

  They both passed through the gap in between the circle of chairs and stood in front of the table. Iliana then realised the table was standing at the centre of a circle with a star in the middle of it which was engraved on the marble floor. With other symbolic signs etched around the outer circle.

  "I have seen these signs from somewhere before!" Kazuki said pointing at the engravings.

  A sign etched on the side of the table caught Iliana’s eye as she was just about to speak to Kazuki, she bent down and touched the open wings of the bird. But as soon as she did sudden flashes of light appeared before her. The sound of shrill screams rung in her ears. Flames and figures flashed in her eyes and Iliana’s body went cold. It was when a warm touch on her arm brought her back to normal. Iliana found herself sitting on the floor, her dress spread out untidily around her and Kazuki kneeled next to her with a hand on her arm.

  "What on earth is going on with you?... You were like this when Lord Baddesley shook your hand!" He said lifting his hand off her arm.

  "I-I do not know... I keep f-feeling cold... th-there was screaming in my ears... and-and flashes of light... and fire... I!" Iliana began to explain unable to properly form her sentences.

  "Hey, hey, calm down!" Kazuki said laying his hand on her shoulder and forcing her to look at him in the eye.

  Just gazing into his familiar eyes for a moment Iliana felt so much calmer and after taking a deep breath she was able to explain properly.

  "For some reason I keep hearing blood curdling screams in my ears, just like in my dreams I used to get. I have not heard or seen them in my dreams for awhile, but I have experienced it twice in one night without being asleep. But not just that, I keep seeing fire and dark figures. I also get so cold and feel like my soul is ripped from my body and thrown into a world of darkness!" Iliana informed laying a hand on her chest. "Something is not right as if... something is out of balance... And I am starting to believe that Lord Baddesley and Lucas has something to do with it."

  "Well, after seeing this room, it definitely rings a lot of warning bells... and there are all ringing in their direction. I am going to take some pictures of this room and these signs for Father Benjamin. I am sure he knows what they mean." Kazuki said standing up and taking out his mobile from his trouser pocket.

  After taking the evidence they needed Kazuki and Iliana made their way out of the room. But just as they stepped out the corridor the door at the end opened and the two hooded figures came out with their heads down. Kazuki pushed Iliana quickly back into the room and slammed her back against the wall causing Iliana to squeal out in pain, but Kazuki covered her mouth. The two figures looked up the corridor, the thinner man with the husky voice elbowed the other.

  "I told you... there is something or someone out there."

  "Yeah, I heard them too... Come on, let’s get them. If it is those damn kids running around and snogging their faces off in one of these rooms again I will throw them out!" The plumper man said loudly that it echoed down the corridor.

  After hearing that comment an idea struck in Kazuki’s mind.

  "Do as I say!" He whispered before taking his hand off her mouth.

  Kazuki leant his elbow and arm on the wall where Iliana had her back against then leaned really close to Iliana with his head tilted to one side.

  "W-what are you doing?" Iliana whispered as Kazuki’s face was just inches away.

  "Trust me, this is our way out without being found out the real reasons why we are here. Now tilt your head to your right." Kazuki replied in low whisper.

  "Why?" Iliana asked automatically ti
lting her head without realising.

  A smile stretched across Kazuki’s face as Iliana just noticed what she had done. His body was so close she could smell his fresh scented cologne which made her feel as if she was in a trance. His crystal deep blue eyes that looked down into her’s sparkled like the turquoise lagoons in the exotic beaches of the Bora Bora island, where Iliana went on holiday once with her parents when she was younger. Her heart raced hard in her chest and all her worries were clouded over by different feelings that she had never felt for him before. But strangely these feelings felt somewhat familiar. Iliana’s lips was just centimetres away from Kazuki’s, for a second she had a mighty urge to press her lips on his but a loud and deep voice behind Kazuki shouted, stopping her from doing so.

  "For monkeys sakes!... How many times do I have to keep telling you kids to stop snogging around in places where you shouldn’t be in?"

  Kazuki whipped round as the man grabbed his shoulder.

  "Seriously!... Would you just leave us alone... we were just having a moment!" He said firmly sounding quite convincing.

  "We will give you a moment in a minute Prince Charming if you don’t shut it!... This is a warning... if I ever see you and Miss Beauty Queen in these rooms again I will get Lord Baddesley to ban you from coming to this mansion in the future!"

  Whilst Kazuki was arguing with the two men Iliana placed her fingers on her lips. Her heart still pounding and her knees felt weak, she was lucky she was leaning on the wall otherwise she would have collapsed.

  ‘What is wrong with me?... Why do I suddenly have such feelings?... Why did I want to kiss him?’

  These questions swam around in her head as the two hooded men dragged them both out of the room and directed them back to the party.

  *** Chapter 6 ***

  The events of Lord Baddesley’s big party for Lucas’s return home was the main gossip within the school and the rest of the city. Even well after a week had past. Chloe, Victoria and Claire also talked a lot about it too, it was the main topic in their lunch breaks.