Heritage
My Thirteenth Adoption

I woke up to the sound of phoenixescawing at the sunrise. It was stillfairly dim in my room but I still got up from my bed and walked over to mywardrobe to get dressed. My wardrobeonly had seven kimonos inside, one for each day of the week. I decided to wear my favourite light red onefor the day, wearing a white shirt and leggings underneath. Standing in front of the cracked mirror, Ibegan brushing my ebony hair, pinning it up into two buns like I did every day. The other girls in the beds slept on, huggingto their pillows and stuffed toys. Ipicked up my twin fans from my nightstand and quietly headed up to the roof ofthe orphanage, sitting crossed-legged with both fans open and lying spread outon either side of me. I closed my eyesand began meditating my dawn session as I normally did. I let myself smile a small smile as I feltthe gentle spring breeze and the scent of pine trees. The orphanage was rather secluded, in apeaceful and beautiful forest.

The children, the nuns and the monksthought my routine to be a bit odd for a ten year old child. They questioned once and I couldn’t give theman answer so they leave me alone. Itjust all happens automatically every day when I wake up. I don’t know why I have this routine, onlythat I must wake up at the crack of dawn every day and meditate until the sunhas fully come up. Then I must meditateagain in the middle of the day then at dusk, no questions or excuses. I’m not entirely sure why but it was justthis instinct. During the time betweenmy meditation sessions, I replace myself in the garden or somewhere deep in theforest, practicing katas with my fans. The children question what I do and I have to be honest, I have no ideawhat I’m doing or why I’m doing it. Idon’t remember anything of myself or my background before I found myself at theorphanage when I was five years old, burns covering my hands and face. All I could remember was my name andage.

The girls of my age all wear shirts,skirts and try putting make-up on themselves. They look at me with odd expressions whenever they see me in mykimonos. I too question myself to why Iwear such odd clothing but all I think about is how I arrived at the orphanagein a kimono. Perhaps before, I alwayswore a kimono instead of modern clothing? I often replace myself isolated from the other children because of mypeculiar behaviour and habits. Also, Idon’t really talk that much, even to the monks and nuns, I never talkfirst. Even if they do talk and ask me questions,I barely say more than three words for answers. I don’t know why I do, I want to talk but something just prevents mefrom saying detailed answers, as if I should only speak what people have askedfor instead of expanding the subject and beginning a conversation.

Girls have tried approaching me beforebut then left me alone when they found that we had little in common. They talked about people in magazines, theytalk about certain clothes and wondering what makes them look fat. I replace their topics of conversation ratherbizarre. They offered me their ownclothes to wear but I refused, I had the feeling that I wasn’t meant to wearclothes like miniskirts or shorts. Also,I wasn’t entirely comfortable in wearing something that would show a lot of mypale skin. That’s another thing thatpuzzles me, the girls wanting to spray their skin with fake tan lotions andlook completely unnatural. I personallythink having pale skin is nicer. Thegirls at the orphanage laughed and mocked me for my opinions but I didn’t feelhurt for some reason. As if I knew thatthey would say things like calling me a freak.

Despite my quiet, odd and seemingly coldpersonality, adults aspiring to be parents come and go and always take a glanceat me first. My first adoption happenedtwo weeks after I was confirmed an orphan or unwanted. The nuns and monks had sent out a notice,saying that I had been found in case I had gone missing but no-one came back toclaim me so I was put on the adoption list. They looked like such a sweet couple, they were both humans and theyadopted me five minutes after they saw me. They called me beautiful, cute, adorable and sweet, exactly what theywant their daughter to be. So they tookme in and brought me to a flat in Aurallion. I had my own bedroom, my own box of toys and lots of clothes. I was going to be staying for a week tosettle in and then I would go to school. We don’t go to school at the orphanage. Instead, we get tutored by the nuns and monks. I wasn’t sure how to feel, I’d never been toa school before and when they said I would meet lots of children, I got nervousthat I wouldn’t fit in.

I was only in their care for three daysuntil the first disaster happened. Iwoke up in the middle of the night and saw my whole room engulfed inflames. Immediately, I tried to get outof my bedroom but the door was stuck. Idon’t remember much else apart from I fell and everything went black. When I woke up, I was in the middle of theburnt rubble, burns covering my hands and face. The neighbours heard me crying and sent me to hospital to gettreated. I was soon sent back to theorphanage and it began to become a sort of cycle. I would get adopted, I would spend a few daysunder the couple’s care then something would happen that would send me back tothe orphanage. I’ve been adopted byhybrids, vampires, werewolves, even a harpy family adopted me. Apparently everyone wanted a beautiful elffor a daughter, despite their species. One way or the other, I would end up back at the orphanage. I quickly came to the conclusion that I wascursed.

I’m slightly upset to have been adoptedby different families but one way or another, something horrible wouldhappen. I never got hurt seriouslyenough to go to hospital for more than a week. But because of my first adoption, I have always been afraid offire. Even when the nuns want me to warmmyself up by the fireplace in the winter, I didn’t dare come as close as theother children. I still remember theheat of the flames burning my skin and the smoke choking me. Even if it’s a controlled fire, I was stillafraid from the memories that forever burned themselves into my mind.

Every morning when I’m meditating, Iwonder what disaster the next family will go through and how long I will haveto wait until I’m back at the orphanage. Will their house go up in flames? Will my new father die in a car crash and my new mother will startdrinking and abusing me? Will my newmother die in a bank robbery and my new father will be incapable in lookingafter me? Will the whole family die froma gas leak and I will survive because of my nightly sleepwalks outside? Will my new step-brother be locked up intothe mental asylum and my new parents say that they can’t look after me becausethings are just getting too much for them? Will my new step-sister commit suicide and my new father will place theblame on me and throw me out onto the streets?

Things began to change when I finishedmeditating and went downstairs to have breakfast with the other children.

“Zelda,” Sister Elizabeth called for mewith a warm and gracious smile when I helped the younger children stack thebowls and plates to wash “Come with me, there’s someone who wants to see you.”

Of course I was reluctant to see themand everyone in the room simply gave me a look, jealous about how I seemed tobe the first child to be seen to. Someof them had a sceptical look, as if wondering how long my next adoption wouldlast for. I followed her to her officeand was sat down in front of a young man, who looked to be in his latetwenties. He smiled down at me but Ididn’t return it. I always had a neutralface unless I lost control of my emotions. Another reason why people rarely approached me. To strangers, I could sit still long enoughfor them to think that I’m a doll or a puppet.

“This here is Zack,” Sister Elizabethsaid “It seems that he saw the notice about you and has come to claim you.”

I lifted my head and stared at him. I didn’t recognize him and he didn’t reallylook anything like me. Yes he had blackhair like me and his pale skin matched mine but I just felt that I didn’trelate to him. He smiled warmly at meand ruffled my hair. I flinched becausehis hand was so cold. Yes, his smile waswarm but his eyes and touch were so cold.

“It’s so nice to see you again after solong, Zelda,” he said as I unruffled the mess he made of my hair “I’m sorry Icouldn’t have picked you up sooner.” Istared at him silently and he chuckled. “Aw, don’t you recognize me? Isuppose I have changed a bit. I mustsay, you’ve grown up quite beautifully.”

I looked over at Sister Elizabeth andshe smiled at me.

“He says that he’s your older brother,”she explained “Apparently your parents perished in a house fire and he gotamnesia like you. However, he’srecovered from it and has come here to take you to your new home.”

“I’m going to take you to our parents’mansion in Aurallion,” Zack said “We’re going to be so happy together.”

I didn’t say anything as I normally did,just watching silently as Zack filled out the forms to take me into his careand then helping Sister Elizabeth pack my suitcase with my personal belongings. He began talking something about getting menew clothes or something, I didn’t really pay attention. I watched as Zack put my suitcase in the bootof his car and opening the front passenger door for me to climb in. I didn’t like cars but I didn’t complain. I never complained, it causes too muchtrouble. I got into the passenger seatand watched as the children gathered themselves by the doors and windows,watching me leave again. I saw some ofthe older children pulling out pieces of paper, writing down people’s bets onhow long I would last with Zack. Zackgot into the car with me and I gave a small wave as he started the engine anddrove off down the dirt path.

“So, Zelda,” Zack hummed with a warmsmile “What do you like to do in your free time?”

“…Meditate,” I said.

“Hm? Really? You meditate? I suppose that’s how you’re calm most of thetime. You must be prettydisciplined.” I didn’t respond. “So, what do you like to eat? I’ll cook you up something nice when we gethome.”

“…Anything.”

“Come on, you must have a favourite dishor something! What would you like forlunch when we get home?”

“…I don’t mind.”

That was how the conversation wouldgo. He would talk to me, I would givehim what he asked for and made no effort to expand into a conversation. I felt uneasy with him but maybe it was becauseI was in a car. I didn’t get carsick, Ijust don’t like travelling in them. Theysmelt horrible too, I wrinkled my nose discretely. Zack chattered and laughed and askedquestions while I just watched the scenery flow past us, feeling a little sad whenwe left the forest and I saw the all too familiar sight of Aurallion comingtowards us. I didn’t like Aurallion, toomany horrid smells and people who look at me whenever I pass them. I know elves never live in cities so I oftengot a sense of loneliness in the city. Whatdisturbed me was that the number of elves had been dropping for about a decadeand no-one knows why. I haven’t even metanother elf like me, someone who might be able to understand my habits. Personally, I blame humans for ruining natureby building their big ugly buildings and cutting down the forests that we livedin.

I also felt disturbed by Zack. He claims to be my older brother but hedoesn’t have pointed elf ears like me. Why didn’t Sister Elizabeth mention that to him after he claimed to bemy brother? What did this man want fromme? He could have easily adopted me ashis little sister without claiming to be my brother in blood but why did hewant me to think that he was my blood brother? I didn’t ask that question.

“Here we are,” Zack said cheerfully ashe drove into the richer area of Aurallion where the larger houses were.

I watched as he pulled out a remote andclicked it to open a couple of silver steel gates to a large whitemansion. I narrowed my eyes suspiciouslyas he drove up the drive and stopped the car in the garage, turning the engineoff. I didn’t move as awkward silencefilled the car and a large hand landed on my head, ruffling my hair roughly.

“Come on, let’s get your suitcase andtake you to your old room,” Zack smiled.

“Elves don’t live in cities,” I said andZack laughed.

“Zelda, what makes you think that?” heasked as we got out and he opened the boot to get my suitcase.

Even inside Zack’s car, I smelt thepollution from cars that were coming from the city. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and looked upat him. I kept silent as he led me outof the garage, carrying my suitcase for me. The marble stairs were colder than anything my bare feet has ever feltbefore and I refrained myself from flinching to avoid questions from Zack. He had marble floors too, I felt myselfshivering from my lack of shoes. Ilooked at the massive lobby, grimacing to myself when I saw that the stairswere made out of marble too. I then feltsomething ominous upstairs. I wasn’tsure what but I stopped shivering from just the cold marble beneath my feet.

“Oh, are you cold?” Zack frowned when hesaw me shivering and then saw my bare feet “Don’t you have shoes?”

“One pair,” I answered.

“Then why aren’t you wearing them?”

“I don’t wear shoes with kimonos.”

Zack laughed loudly and the next thing Iknow, he was giving me a piggyback ride upstairs and into my new room with wascarpeted thankfully. He sat me down onmy large double bed and placed the suitcase next to me.

“It’s so good to have you back home,little sis,” he said and ruffled my hair with a wide grin.

“You’re not my brother.”

He pulled away with a very shocked andhurt look.

“Why did you say that?” he asked.

“You don’t have elf ears like me,” Itwitched my pointed ears to emphasise my statement. Zack laughed.

“I got an operation to make them lookhuman to fit in with society,” he said feeling his own ears “I’ll have the sameto do you, don’t worry. Soon you’ll lookjust like a human and no-one will be making fun of you.”

“No.” Zack looked startled as I refused his offer. There was no way I’m going to have my earsmorphed into a human’s. I gave him afirm glare and he smiled. I’m not surewhy but he seemed a little bit frustrated behind that smile.

“Alright, but please hide your ears whenyou’re around someone else,” he said politely, although it felt more like acommand and I felt rather hurt. I noddedto say that I will hide my ears when I’m around someone else. I felt sad that I had to, why should Ipretend to be someone that I wasn’t? With a sigh, I looked down with a glum look.

“I don’t know why you adopted me,” Isaid softly “I just bring misfortune to everyone else.” Zack laughed again.

“Zelda, there’s no need to besuperstitious,” he said “Now come on, let’s unpack your suitcase.”

He helped me unpack my suitcase andcommented about my lack of modern clothes. I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder, feeling that ominousaura. It scared me, sent shivers up myspine and caused me a bit of paranoia. It scared me to the point where I went out of the bedroom to replace outwhere it was coming from. I climbedstairs and went down corridors, following the dark aura to an old door. I was going to open it but as soon as my handtouched the doorknob, Zack found me and grabbed my wrist.

“There you are!” he exclaimed anddragged me away “I was so worried about you! Come on, let’s make dinner.”

I didn’t say anything whilst I ate thehefty dinner he cooked for the both of us. I didn’t particularly like the greasy burgers or the oily chips with thetangy ketchup but I didn’t complain. Ijust prayed that my stomach wouldn’t churn from all the fatty acids I had toconsume to please Zack. I was afraid ofwhat his reaction would be if I didn’t accept these popular foods. I felt very ill afterwards. Maybe that was the reason I couldn’t sleepthat night. I lay in the cold doublebed, wondering why I had to have such a massive bed. My stomach was groaning from the unnaturalfood I had for dinner and I couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling from thatdoor that I had found. I tossed andturned but still I couldn’t replace any sleep. But whenever I closed my eyes, images of flames would arise in my mindand I would jolt awake again.

Then I found myself so frustrated bysleep evading me so much that I got up and put on my pale blue kimono, myfavourite red one was in the wash. Icarefully went up the stairs to the old door, following the aura whenever I gotlost. I carefully took the doorknob andturned it. It creaked open and I felt agush of cold air come at me and blow the candle out. I shivered from the cold, pulling my kimonocloser to me and I peered into the room. Cobwebs covered the place and I noticed that there were so many boxesstacked on top of one another. I slowlycame into the room, looking around curiously and running a finger along one boxto see how much dust I had collected. Itwas something I liked to do, I also drew pictures in dust as if to mark howdirty the place was.

“Zelda.”

I jumped at the sound of a woman’s voiceand turned around. I dropped my jaw inhorror when I saw a spirit of a middle-aged woman, wearing a kimono like mine,pointed elf ears like me and piercing violet eyes like I had, though they wererather hollow and tired. I felt myselfstiffen in shock as she hovered over me, pointing a wrinkled finger at me. She opened her jaw where I could see a blackabyss inside.

“Don’ttrust the man who adopted you,” shesaid and jabbed the rather cold and icy finger into me where it nearly touchedmy heart “He is not your brother. You must remember, Zelda. Remember your heritage. Don’t let him make you forget.”

I didn’t know what to do but myinstincts told me to run so I ran like the wind. The next thing I remember was waking up in mybed. I couldn’t forget about that womanI ran into and began wondering what she meant by letting Zack make me forgetthat I was an elf. I didn’t want to paymuch attention but it was still nagging at the back of my head. So that was how the thirteenth adoptionstarted.