Chapter 37

The conversation ended and the two separated to their respective rooms. When Aurora entered Arianna was sitting up while waiting for her. "What did Brandon want?" Arianna dropped as soon as Aurora opened the door. "Chill out girl, you should at least let me enter into the room". "Uhm, sorry I just thought it must be something important for him to come to the room and not wait till tomorrow". "Nope, nothing important, he came to give my takeout to me, I left in the car earlier". " By the way why were you in such an haste earlier, you even left your takeout and aunt said you didn't acknowledge her either, she was quite angry?" "Well, sorry I was feeling drowsy and I needed to pee too, so I just waltzed off, peed and laid down on the bed, today has been as exhausting as it was fun". "Yeah, I know right". Arianna said hesitantly. "Something else you want to ask?" "Nope not at all". "I asked cause you're still sitting up like that looking at me like that and you're still staring like that". Aurora said looking rather confusedly at Ari. "Well, I think all that tiredness wore off already, so I'm not too sleepy anymore". "Me too especially since Brandon handed over my takeout bag, what do we do?" "Movies?" "Nice choice, I'll go get us yoghurts downstairs, the cola is probably warm right now". "I'll set up here". "Okay". Aurora picks up the two cola from the takeout bags on the floor and heads downstairs to fetch them yoghurts and stumbled into her mom . "Mom". "Now you know you have a mother in this house, what did you think I was when you waltzed by me without a greeting". "I'm sorry ma'am, I was pressed". "Telling lies now aren't we". "Well it's either the lies or nothing right now mom, why are you keeping your back to me, cause I lied?" "Nope, not exactly, I just really think the sight out this window is better than looking at your face". "Or you think hiding your tears from me is better than me wiping them". "I..... I know i didn't say that so it's invalid, are you a mind reader now missus". Mrs Salvatore stuttered knowing Aurora caught her already but she still didn't want to admit what the girl already knew to her, hearing it stated blankly would just add to the pain, It was better for her to leave a one percent probability. "Mom I hope you know it's okay to cry and let the sobs out, it's okay to enjoy a bear hug from your child, it's okay to blow your nose out on my precious checkered shirt". Aurora said hoping the last part would do something to cheer the mood. "That wasn't in the least bit convincing, you want me to blow my nose out on it so you can come ask me for money everytime right?" Mrs Salvatore said finally turning to face Aurora after wiping her face dry. "Not exactly but somewhere along the line". Aurora said and they both laughed it out. The laugh didn't reach her mom's eyes just like they didn't reach hers, it was so glaring from her eyes that she had bawled, they had only left her fifteen minutes yet it looked like two different persons right now, this woman who looked exhausted and on the brink of death wasn't her mom at all. Mother and daughters stared at each other eye to eye, they seemed to be studying each other, Elena wondering how much Aurora had figured out from her face, and Aurora following the year trickles that had dried on her mom's face, the disheveled hair that told her how much her mom had pulled them out in a bit to muffle the sobs, and then she noticed it, finger prints on her mom's cheek, they were still so red and swollen. When they returned her mom had let her hair down which was weird but her anger had made her disregard it but now she saw clearly and her eyes burned with hot tears. Elena saw the sudden change in her daughter's face and eyes, she had been trying to mask her emotions while looking at her earlier but Elena knew she had seen the everything, but this look was different, rage, burning anger, "Damn it the prints are still on my face". Mrs Salvatore swore under her breaths and hurriedly let the hair down to cover her face but it was too late Aurora had seen them and there was no unseeing now. "Brandon!". Aurora shouted so loud, her mom flinched. "Aurora I can explain...." Mrs Salvatore stuttered looking for an excuse a lie but her head was empty, if Brandon comes down then it's all over. "I seek no explanation mom, I am no dummy neither a fool". "Aurora what's wrong you shouted so much". Arianna said hurrying down the stairs. "Arianna you will go back upstairs, while I and Brandon have a chat with my mom". Aurora said sternly noticing Brandon behind Arianna. "What's the matter Aurora". Brandon asked. "Go upstairs Ari". "Okay". Arianna said and turned. "Brandon, help mom pack her hair up, I'll switch the lights on". Aurora said and turned to switch the lights. "What's going on". " Mom needs help packing her hair up, you know how much she hates having them down all over her face. Then it occurred to Brandon when they returned, his mom's hair was down and over one side of her face. Brandon moved closer and kneeled before his mom and carefully picked her hair up, gently packing them together so he didn't hurt her scalp while fearing what lurked beneath get hair, then he saw it, what she had been hiding. One, two, three, four lines, so close together, that motherf**king son of a gun must have, God just the thought and he was finding it hard to breathe. "He did this didn't he"? Brandon asked and regardless of how he tried to control it and errant tear found it's way down his cheek. THE VEIL ON THE DARK