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As many of you may or may not know, I am Australian... writing an American based book (good one, author. You really nailed it there.) Though, my editor (90shalsey ) is American so we try very hard to stick to American pronunciation , (e.g colour and color) but sometimes things do slip up. Some of you have commented in correction to spelling, but I'd like you to know 1/3 cases it's simply cultural. Enjoy xx

S O R E N

I hid behind the marble pillar, holding the gun next to my face, the cold metal touching my cheekbone ever so slightly. Holding my breath, I dared my lungs to breathe as someone moved in the shadows.

My heart thumped in my ears. I took a deep breath before sprinting along the hall. Turning around to shoot a maid straight between the eyes.

She screamed from the red and green powder that cascaded over her protective glasses and blue jumpsuit. The young girl huffed once before giving me a silly grin which gave a small smirk in reply.

Christmas morning was an act of war.
Everyone in the household, young or old, maid or mother, everyone grabbed a powdered gun, the house on full lockdown. The rules dusting around laser tag, if you're hit the you're out. Last one standing wins.

I ran through the silence, seeing Albert holding a gun at the end of the hall.

I hadn't talked to him since telling him I wasn't his blooded son, I could either run or hide. Though, I was sick of hiding. Hiding my thoughts, who I was—who I am.

Exposed in every angle, mentally and physically. Albert was looking around but hadn't glanced in my direction. He'd hear me if I moved, shooting without hesitation. If I stayed, I was a goner.

Raising my gun, I looked through the glass lens that glazed Albert over with red tinge. My finger hovered of the trigger, my breath hitching when he turned to look at me, Albert raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

"For the love of G--"A man cursed behind me, the butler dropped to the ground holding his man-goods, Christmas coloured wet dusting covering the crotch of the thin layered material.

Looking back to Albert, he nodded before sneaking off down the marble stairs, my mother nailed him straight in heart minutes later.

Leaning over the glossy railing, I watched Red and Sandra have a stand off. A smile tugging on my lips as Red dropped to his knees, arms wide open, eyes staring at her lovely.

"Win for us, babe." He yelled dramatically, words echoed the silent mansion, Sandra shot him without hesitation. He fell to the ground gripping his side that would surely have a bruise, she walked up to him, tilted his face off the ground and kissed him gently.

Then was she gone, gun held close to her cheek.

I crawled on my stomach into the kitchen through the living room connecting doors, only to see Colin eating a sandwich lazily on the black marbled bench.

He raised his gun without out hesitation and soullessly put his finger on the trigger. Without blinking he pulled the trigger, I rolled to one side to shoot him in the chest. The force pushed him off the bench and laughter erupted from behind me.

A girl was laughing, a laugh I didn't recognise.

"Thanks for the distraction," Sandra shot me in the butt.

-

We rarely had family over but this year it was only Alexander (Robin's best friend), Robin, Colin, Sandra, Red, Mom, Albert and myself. The staff served us pancakes with multiple toppings, the whole dining table glittering with sweets, dusted in whipped cream.

Every staff was covered in coloured dust, the dust hard to scrub off but made for a good story to tell.

For the first time in a long time I sat with everyone. Albert kissed mom on the cheek as he pulled her into a side hug watching us kids with a happy smile on his face.

Mom was laughing at Colin's bruise that I had given him from the close contact shot, of course he took off his shirt to "show" everyone.

Sandra was in tears of laughter from Red's colour covered body. Turns out a staff member hadn't know he'd been shot and shot him again, twice.

I looked at Sandra then to Albert, they both seemed happy. Looks like he'd accept her because it was Christmas.

Just one day my world was perfect, as perfect as a McKinin's world could be.

Presents were open, everyone laughed and it wasn't until the Christmas tree was as a bare as a newborn that Albert motioned me to follow him.

Mom had placed a hand on his wrist giving him a look, Red had watched me go and Colin gritted his teeth.

I followed him up the stairs and further into his office. He offered me to walk first into the death trap. Knowing this was inevitable, I walked.

He sat and I stood, if he were to lash out I would like the upper hand.

"Sit." He insisted again.

"I'm alright." Simple words that caused him to sigh, he leant back in his chair and looked up at me.

"I talked to your mother." He sat forward barely having time to relax from the last movement, "She told me everything."

Watching him lifelessly, "Getting a divorce?"

He paused and stared at me with interest, "No. It happened eighteen years ago. She was drunk with an old friend... got carried away."

I nodded like I knew all this as I slowly realised I was a mistake, "And how didn't you know I wasn't yours?"

"Well, you're mom and I. We were still--"

I held up a hand, "It's okay. Got it. Guess I'm lucky to have Mom's blue eyes, makes me somehow seem part of this family."

Albert looked tired as if he hadn't slept in years, "Soren, you need to know everything I've done is been out of love. I want you to have the best possible life filled with fortune, I was harsh sometimes but... I want you to understand that you will always be part of this family."

I stared at him hatred feeling my heart,"Is that what you told Precious?"

"Precious?"

"Oh my bad, don't you remember the second time mom cheated on you? Guess you didn't learn your lesson with me, you had to leave her for dead." My voice was at a yell, my figure finally towering over him.

He held up his hands, "Listen, we didn't stay because your mother was completely heart broken that it wouldn't--"

"IT?" My voice boomed around the study, my breathing becoming faster by each second, my chest hurt like a bitch.

"Wait, how do you know--" He stood up when I to took a threatening step forward— his voice this time calm, "Precious? Is that what you called her?"

I seethed at him, my fist clenched ready to strike him at any given moment.

"Well... your mother was completely heartbroken over... Precious. Yes, she cheated on me but I understood why. I wouldn't come home for months at a time. Our relationship was broken, sick at every turn but... we've change. Listen though, she couldn't bare to look at the child that she knew she'd get attached at one glance. I drove her home without anyone knowing we left. I paid an anonymous cheque of money for her burial, I tried, Soren." He looked at me with pleading eyes of forgiveness.

I let out a long sigh and peace filled my heart, "It's Christmas... can we just continue to be happy?"

J A Y

It was around midnight when I heard a tap tap on my window. Luckily all relative had found hotels to stay at otherwise or house would've been a nightmare sleeping arrangement wise.

I felt pregnant with how much food I'd eaten, or by how much abuela had forced me to eat.

I'd gone to see mom today, to give her a present. I had given her a necklace that held two hearts, she'd noticed Soren... maybe one day she'd wake up and notice the hearts, notice me too.

Rolling over I looked into the bright blue eyes of Soren McKinin. Father had installed a lock on my window so that we couldn't get robbed again, unlocking it I pulled the window open.

"Merry Christmas Jay," Soren kissed me.

He had gotten me a box of Mansion and Fleurs red roses. I had gotten him a brand new hoodie.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Can't believe we're at 320k, so, so, so amazing.

I'm going an Q & A at the end of this book. Have anything to ask? Ask here!

Might edit and put this on Amazon, what do you say?