Our Promise Vincenzo Garcia

Being in a huge castle doesn't mean you are really enjoying yourself.

Just because you have all you need, that does not mean you are really happy. It can mean you are trapped. That was the feeling I had now. I felt trapped.

Just because I am in a huge mansion, just because I have everything I want, people at my beck and call, didn't mean I have everything I wanted. My life was a mess and I wasn't free to do anything I wanted.

I was hit, slapped, beaten, degraded by the people I call my family. I so much wanted to leave this life.

"Are you listening to me, Anya?" Aunt Alina asked.

"Aunt, can you please leave me alone?" I scowled.

"Mom! Call me mom, Anya." Aunt Alina said, eyeing me.

I scoffed, "I have told you times without number, Aunt, anytime we are alone in this prison," I said referring to our house. "I will call you aunt because that is who you are. Only when we are in your so called parties or club or in front of uncle's associates will I call you Dad or Mom. Other than that, don't expect anything from me because you can't and will never be my Dad or Mom." I said seething.

"Anya!" Uncle Pietro yelled.

"What Uncle? I just said my piece." I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug.

"You will do as she said." He said, threatening me.

"I will do no such thing." I said, glaring at him.

"You will or you won't get to see Erik again." He said.

My eyes flooded with tears and my walls crumbled. Those words always have an effect on me. I would do absolutely anything if that meant I would get to see my brother.

Erik is the only person my Aunt and Uncle use to threaten me and it always worked every time.

I was separated from my brother when I was twelve and he was just six now, he is thirteen. I have been separated from him for seven years now. I can't sit back and watch Erik get hurt because of me.

I gritted my teeth with tears in my eyes, "Fine Mom, Dad. Happy?"

Aunt Alina smiled, "Yes, as long as you do what we want from you."

"Are you preparing for the event later on?" Uncle Pietro asked.

"I am not going, can't I even do that much?" I asked.

"Fine, I will cook up an excuse as to why you couldn't make it." Aunt said smiling.

I looked at my Aunt and felt so much hatred towards her. I couldn't understand how my Aunt was my Mother's twin. They had different personalities.

On the outside, they were so much alike that you couldn't even differentiate them but on the inside they were entirely two different people.

My Mom was good, kind and loved helping others same as Dad but this two people sitting in front of me are evil. They don't care about anything expect their fat faced daughter, Raisa.

I glared at them one last time and marched off to my room and met the ugly fat faced, Raisa on my bed. I couldn't understand how she did not get any of her parents look, she was so ugly.

"What are you doing here, Raisa?" I asked.

"Hey cousin." She said, chewing on her gum noisily.

"Just say what you want and get out of here." I told her.

"Anya..." She drawled.

"Calm down, Anya. Why the fuck are you getting angry?" she asked smiling. She knew exactly what was wrong.

Her parents used Erik one more time to get what they wanted from me and Raisa knew how much I hated it. I was always in a bitter mood after my argument with her

parents.

"What the fuck do you want, Raisa?" I asked angrily.

"Calm down, cousin. Mom and Dad always want the best for you. They wouldn't do anything to hurt you and..."

"Spare me the boring lecture and get out of my room." I felt like being alone but Raisa was making sure I don't do that.

"I am having a girl's night. Want to join?" She made no move to stand up.

I gave her a dirty look. "No thanks."

"You need to stop living a boring life, Anya."