Chapter 13
The big, grand Venter house in Alberton stood quietly under the evening sky. It looked exactly like the one in Kempton Park where Dave and Avina lived, almost like a copy. But this house, the older one, felt even colder, like deep shadows were part of its very stone. Its dark walls seemed to soak up all the light, and the perfect gardens, while neat, felt unfriendly, not warm at all. Inside, the thick window curtains were closed, keeping out the last bit of sunlight. The air felt heavy and still, with a faint, strange smell – not dusty, but something old and sharp, like old metal and dry plants.
In the fancy, very large sitting room, Elias Venter, Dave's father, sat by a big fireplace. The fire burned bright, but it didn't make the huge room feel warm. His wife, Lena, sat across from him, sitting very straight, her hands resting calmly in her lap. Both of them wore nice, dark clothes. Their faces were calm, almost impossible to read. They looked like statues made of ice.
"The girl is stronger than we thought," Lena said, her voice smooth and quiet, but with a hint of being annoyed. "The visions. The dreams. They keep happening."
Elias took a slow sip from his drink. "A small problem, my dear. We always knew she was sensitive. That's why we picked her. Her energy is pure, strong. It just needs more… handling. More time."
He watched the flames dance, his eyes showing no feelings. "The Kempton Park house does its job, but this one, our true special place, is where the hold becomes strong. The matching rooms, the connected energies. It confuses the spirit, makes the person weak. Makes them easier to… guide."
"But the sister," Lena continued, her eyes becoming sharper. "Ava. She gets in the way. She brings in outside help. Mr. Theron. He is a busybody. Someone who brings light, always trying to undo what is supposed to happen."
Elias looked a little annoyed. "A bother. But one we can control. David is keeping her in check. The 'special drinks' make sure Avina stays calm and obeys. Her memories are broken, as they should be. The first shock of changing her life, truly accepting her new way of living… it takes time for the old life to truly disappear."
Lena slowly nodded. "So, the story about a 'new husband' is taking hold? Even with her own parents?"
"Oh yes," Elias said, a cold, unkind smile touching his lips. "Their minds are… easy to guide. It's for the best. To stop any extra problems. They see what they are meant to see. Their memories are being changed to fit the new truth."
He stood up, walking to a part of the wall covered by a large, old cloth picture. The picture showed a dark, wide tree with roots that seemed to go down into a deep, empty space. He reached out and pushed a hidden spot on the wall behind it. With a soft click, a narrow, almost secret door opened, showing a dark hallway. The air from the hallway was colder, and it had more of that strange, metal and plant smell.
"Come," he said, his voice now strong and quiet. "It is time to get ready for the next part. The special room needs to be prepared. The connections must stay strong."
Lena stood up, following him without asking questions. They walked down the short, dark hall. The only sound was the soft scraping of their expensive shoes on the cold stone floor. The hallway ended at another heavy wooden door. It looked exactly like the one Avina feared in Kempton Park, and like the one Ava had briefly seen. This door also had a huge, very old iron lock.
Elias took a heavy, fancy key from his pocket. It was made of dark, old metal, looking as old as the house itself. He unlocked the door, and the click echoed in the heavy silence.
Inside, the room was dimly lit by one small, flickering lamp on a stone table in the middle. The walls were bare, the stone cold and rough. There were no windows, no comfortable things. Just a single, low platform in the middle, covered with dark cloth. On the table next to the lamp, there were bowls with dry herbs, small, sharp tools that shined dully, and a heavy book with a leather cover and strange symbols on it. This was the most important place for their "process." This was the special room, copied in both their houses, where the real, dark work was done.
"The energy from the other side," Elias quietly said, his voice almost sounding like he respected what he saw as he looked at the special items. "It flows through these paths. Avina's spirit, her true self, is very important for what we need to get soon. Our family line has kept this power strong for many, many years. It is our duty. Our promise."
"The special feeling in her family blood," Lena added, her eyes now shining with a cold, happy look as she stared at the platform. "Perfect. She is weak enough to be bent to our will, yet strong enough to handle the huge power that is needed. The old ones chose well."
Elias turned, his face showing no warmth at all. "Soon, the copies will be finished. Her own will, her very memories, will belong completely to us. And the energies will flow freely, making sure we have wealth, power, and our family name continues for many years to come."
He didn't speak of love, or family, or even of Avina's well-being. He spoke only of energy, family lines, duty, and control. Avina was just a tool. And the parents were the cold, planning masters of a dark, very old practice. They had no doubt, no sorrow. This was simply their life, their family power, and Avina was just the next sacrifice in their long, terrifying "process." The silence in the special room was heavy, filled with a dark, unseen force.
---End of chapter
What do you think will happen next, now that we've seen a glimpse behind the curtain of the Venter family's sinister operation?