I frowned uncertainly. "Who will be appointed my guardian, then?" I asked. Not that I felt I even needed a guardian, but hadn't being mine been the entire purpose of her visit? She had arrived far earlier than Frank, after all. And she was certainly one of the most tolerable relatives I had encounter so far - I didn't resent having her around. I didn't think I would really miss her, either, though. We certainly weren't close.

As for meeting new people... that wasn't safe. The second I exposed myself to such a risk, I was bound to be hurt, especially now that I had as much money as I did. Amanda wouldn't understand, of course. She hadn't been through what I had. Vivian, however, probably would - at least I would have her by my side again soon. I couldn't deny that I had become quite fond of her, and thought of her more like a little sister than like my niece. I had responded to her text, saying that I couldn't wait for her to return, so hopefully she understood my feelings.

"Well, I won't feel quite as safe without you," I said to Amanda, shrugging. "But I'm sure I'll get by. Just make sure to convince Nathan to take my side a bit more if another member of my family invades this place - it's bound to happen, after all. These people are as persistent as cockroaches, and twice as unpleasant."

" I'll still be there for you just not as close. Nathan won't be an issue and like I said you'll have Vivian to come rescue you from yourself. Oh I Know I said you needed space but we had a new development I guess Frank was pressuring some of the family and one of the family that's had it rough in her own way will be coming over. She isn't half bad she is just really sheltered I figured with her quietness you wouldn't even know she was here. Just until she gets on her feet. Shouldn't be more then a few months. She will be here in a few days she is traveling by truck. I told her not to bother you and if you say go then she will go. I did give her permission to use one of the garages for storage. She is a step aunt her name is Erica Arrighetti. She's not real family so that is one in the plus column for me. Also since she is not real family I trust her more then the others." Amanda scratches the side of her head and smiles at you.

"Truth be told being in a house with all this death makes me want to leave. But if things get weird tell Nathan, he will let me know. Most of the family doesn't want to spend the money they have on you. They will probably just wait till your about to turn 21 and they suck up to you. I'm going to taker a nap until my flight." She folds your arms and looks at the ground. "Take care of yourself." She says this in a quiet voice. Then without looking at you she walks away.

I wasn't particularly pleased to learn that some old lady was going to be living at my house, but I decided to just shrug it off. Hopefully, she wouldn't be too much of a problem to have around. And if she was, well...

No. I could only use the necklace on her if she was trying to ruin me. I didn't want to go through all that pain again if I could avoid it! Of course, according to Amanda, I could just tell her to go away and she would obey me... I didn't trust that, not for a second, but it was something that I would try before going to the necklace for help.

I couldn't really blame Amanda or wanting to get away from this place - there really were deaths here all the time. But, with her gone, I wouldn't have to worry about intrusions on my peace and quiet quite as much. I hadn't spent any time in the pool yet, and I had loved to swim as a child... perhaps I would give that a try once my bruises had faded.

I sighed, bored out of my mind and sick of watching TV. Uncertain what else to do, I retriever one of my stupid romance novels from my room, then made my way outside. I kicked off my shoes, rolled my dress up to my knees, then sat at the edge of the pool, feet in the lovely, cool water, and began to read.

The guards move nervously around you during there patrol. Nathan approached bringing a chair within six feet of you. "I just wanted to say Amanda thinks your a good person. She told me about your past and of the family for a kid to have survived all that and, well I just wanted to say for what its worth that I'm not faulting you for anything in the past. The world is a dark place and I've seen most of it. To be told that the darkness is here too makes me depressed too. It makes me question my own choices and I'm a grown man. So I hope we can let both our pasts slide and start fresh. I don't think the boss cares for this assignment but if he drops you for renewal I would like to put my name in the pot for possible replacement. I don't have a team but I have enough contacts that it wouldn't take more then a week at most and the exchange of emails to replace any losses. That's all I got. I'll let you be." He stands up waits for a few moment to hear any reply's then nods and returns the chair. Then he walks back and resumes his sentry duties.

As you look you can see the team leader standing in the pool house door way with folded arms. He smiles and shakes his head as he turns to head back into the pool house he runs a hand over the stubble on his head. The sky stays a light blue with intermittent white clouds.

Nathan's sympathy was unexpected, but not unwelcome. I was in desperate need of people I could trust, after all. Before he left, I made sure to express my gratitude; he had been arrested because of me, so I had expected him to hate me.

I hadn't the faintest clue what the team leader's display of disapproval was all about. Perhaps Nathan had already discussed his plans with his boss and had been judged a fool. It didn't really matter. As long as the team leader continued to do his job, he could think whatever he wanted to.

As dusky began to settle on my mansion, I returned to my house. My book had been rather unrealistic, just as disappointing as the other. Still, perhaps Amanda was right - I might benefit to meet more people. Corny though it was, romance was not unappealing to me.

Dinner was almost ready by the time I entered the house; I could smell the scent of something delicious the second I opened the front door. I licked my lips, just now realizing how hungry I was - and my cook was the best. He really did deserve a raise!

Dinner was delicious as it usually was. The wine was poured to add to the flavors cultivating your pallet. While doing the nightly ritual before going to bed you had looked in the bathroom mirror. You saw no visions of evil no apparitions of the dead coming to harm you. Instead you saw a vision of you. you felt empowered, After everything you had endured and been subjected to you were not only still alive but had recovered from your scars. The Eva before you was the definition of a survivor. You allowed yourself the luxury of a small smile.

Climbing into the large bed you turned off the lamp on the night stand and fell into a restful sleep. The sun woke you as it beamed into the room through the window. No change to the room the bruises on you were deep and a faded purple still visible. You dressed and walked to the smell of breakfast. As you turned the corner Vivian stood up and smiled at seeing you. She took steps toward you and looked like she had thought of a hug but then reconsidered. She raised a hand and waved at you. Putting her mic to her neck. "Morning Eva!" She stood there her hair was a little shorter and she wore a pair of sweat pants and sweat top.

Silly Vivian, to think she had to keep me at a distance! I closed the gap between us and hugged her, messing up her hair a bit as we parted. "You got a haircut!" I said, smiling at her! "I like it!"

I took a seat at the table and began telling her about how things he had while she was gone, though of course, she had already heard most of it. I left out all mention of the necklace, as planned. My long sleeves should ensure that my bruises remained hidden until they were gone. Hopefully, the necklace would remain as harmless as they were while it was hidden away.

"Amanda is leaving!" I said, unsure whether she was aware of that development. "And, apparently, some old lady is coming to live with us. I've been promised she won't be a hassle though... anyway, how have you been?"

Vivian hugs you back. As you leave the hug she smiles at you. "I will like it more when it grows out a little. I would rather Amanda not leave but she does have a life that cant just be dropped." When she hears you mention the old woman she reflexively laughs forgetting the mic she looks like a silent movie. Vivian recovers and puts the mic to her throat. "She is an ancient mid thirties." She pulls out her phone and shows you a picture of the aunt in law. She is not family and more Italian then American her English is getting better but she has trouble translating sarcasm. Lets eat I'm starved." (will add more RL calls)

Apparently, my step aunt wasn't as old as I had expected. I laughed at my mistake. It was a good thing I hadn't let Erica hear what I'd say - she was bound to become unfriendly if she did, and I could hardly blame her!

After we sat at the table and ate our fill of a variety of breakfast foods (all delicious, of course) I tilted my head and smiled at Vivian. "You know, I think we'll be alright even without Amanda here," I said, "As long as we each watch the other's back, we should be just fine!" I wasn't entirely certain where my sudden optimism had come from - perhaps it was born of relief to be rid of Frank and have the necklace sealed away. Regardless, I was going to run with it - having a positive outlook was rather refreshing compared to my former extreme paranoia!

Vivian looked at you then down at her plate. She use her phone ad after a moment you received a message from her. "Want to meet in your room I have to talk to you." The two of you finished the breakfast and as you walked her down the hall to your room Vivian became withdrawn. She had wrapped her arms around herself. Her eyes followed the hall carpet to your room. At the door she waited for you to open the door. As she enters and you close the door behind her Vivian speaks.

"I need you to kill my folks. I got emancipated but they wanted to use me." The tear swells in her eyes. "They wanted me, they wanted me to." Her voice trails as do the tears down her face. She wipes them away but others follow. "They wanted you. I said no." She rubs her arms and still looks in any direction but yours. She grabs the bottom of her sweat lifting it over her head and off. The undershirt covered her but you still see what happened. It hits you. You feel sick. She never came back with the guard, what Amanda really feared was the family and left. This family was around you like quicksand, and your lungs burned as it swallowed you. They had her punished for your defiance. The burns, the cuts, and the bruises; they showed you a tale not unlike your own. The real cherry was when she removed the wig from her head, you heard it. You heard the sound come from the only place you never suspected. You giggled. Vivian cried. She dropped to her knees and then fell to her side in a ball she cried as the world crushed her.

This... this was too much. They were going to die, all of them. No matter what the cost - even if it meant I died, too - this family was going to be reduced to ash. I had the perfect accomplice to aid me in this.

"I didn't mean to laugh, Vivian," I said, kneeling down next to her and gently putting my hands on her shoulders. Her wounds changed everything - all my previous plans were rendered obsolete. "The truth is, I got my necklace back," I admitted, "It has been causing me strange giggling the whole while I've had it, and it just did so again. But having the necklace also means I can grant your wish, and I'm going to. I will give this house a feast of blood of the likes it has never seen before. Your family will regret everything that they've ever done to you, and we'll finally be alone."

I had looked them up shortly after being saved from my kidnapping. A clan of assassins that would kill almost anyone for the right price. Well, $20 billion was likely to be enough, even if they did have to wait a couple of years to receive their pay. That sum of money would be a small price to pay to wipe out the filth I had the misfortune of calling my family. Best of all, if the assassins did all the dirty work, the necklace should not punish me so harshly - I would be wearing it, of course, but it would only be my backup plan.

Vivian grabs your arm. She shakes her scared and shaven head. Taking a minute to compose herself as best she can; Vivian puts the mic to her neck and says the words. As the tears raced to her jaw line. "I want to kill them. I want to use the necklace. I know them all. They didn't even bother to hide their smug faces please. I'll do anything. I want this more then I've wanted anything. If you wore it while I touched it then maybe... Maybe it will know. The mic fell from her throat but her lips made the word, "Please".

You felt the air around you compress and retract like the pressure from a heart beat. Over and again the invisible compressions hit you. Like falling into a body of water you could feel each time the difference was rhythmic just like a heart. Vivian followed you as you left the room. The closer you got to the necklace the harder the compressions hit you. As you passed the mirrors in the hall it was now now not just your image but the image of every woman who wore the necklace. They looked at you with pity. You had been cursed and hated, laughed at and scorned, but this pity drove through your emotional armor like a arrow. Your felt the moist drops race down your face as you saw them. You cried not out of fear or sadness. The pity they now looked at you with set a match to a body full of gas called hate. Your hate exploded as you cursed at those in the mirror and screamed at them! When the flash of rage was over, the seething hate remained. The mouths moved in unison even your image betrayed you. They joined in the silent words. "May you suffer." Infuriated you marched down the hall to the room with Vivian beside you. A flash of green shown under the door. You opened it. Your grand mother stood in the room, you walked through her. The safe had a green glow around the seems of the door. You don't remember using the code but the door opened to meet your hand. There it sat, in a small pile of ash that once was the envelope. It pulsed to the compressions around you with a dark green glow. You felt the hunger deep inside your chest. The need, it was pulling you, like the need to draw your next breath.

I put the necklace around my neck, doing my best to keep the images from the hallway out of my head. Those women were just memories; they didn't matter anymore, and their pity was meaningless. I wiped my tears away and turned to Vivian.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked softly, hoping she would reconsider. "I will go through a lot of pain for this, and you may, too. You look like you've had more than enough, and I know I have. If we kill them another way, all that could be avoided."

I didn't know why I was caving in to this plea - perhaps the way Vivian was behaving reminded me of myself. And all those gazes... I had a bad feeling, a feeling that scream at me that my end was coming, that everything I had been through so far would be nothing compared to the experience ahead of me. My only comfort was in the thought that once I had died, it would all be over. I would never have to suffer again! That bittersweet thought was all that remained to me. It felt surreal to consider that less than an hour ago, I had been optimistic about the future. That feeling had been nothing more than an illusion, a distraction to make me forget that the only thing that would be constant in my life was suffering.

Where... where was she? The girl who had been kidnapped all those years ago, who had died so soon afterward, only to be replaced with a frightened husk of what she once was. Why had she not reappeared after her ordeal was over? Perhaps she had moved on. Perhaps it was time for me to accept that.

"If you're going to go through with this, get it over with," I said, silently adding one last name to the list of those to be slaughtered: my own.

Vivian didn't hesitate as her hand covered the gem resting on your chest. She closed her eyes and smiled an evil smile. You felt cold. From the pit of your stomach like you drank a near freezing liquid and instead of your body warming the liquid the cold was spreading throughout your body radiating from the center. It was becoming painful. Vivian had her eyes closed but her smile was gone and her tears became tinted with red. Both of you fell to the floor. Awake but unable to move Vivian looked calm. She wasn't scared in the least.

The door opened a flood of Vivians swarmed into the room. They were unharmed looking and all had dark green eyes. Hands grabbed you. They dragged you to the wall. Copies of Vivian were filling the room you couldn't fight there were just too many. Vivian was on the floor as Eva entered the room. Vivians eyes grew wide. She could see this. Eva walked over to you and kissed your cheek. She then stood over Vivian like a skip in the film it was instant. You wore all black and heavy black boots. the silent screams and cries as she was kicked and beaten were horrible. You were unable to shut your eyes the silent screams allowed you to hear every cracked rib and solid thud. The Vivian copies smiled as you continued to kick her. Eva was vicious and stomped on her fingers you heard the break. More kicks not to her stomach but her chest and face. Her mouth spit out a gout of blood and she cried silently. More kicks continued her eye was swollen and her nose broke spraying blood that reached even you. It felt like hours until the scene vibrated. You awake on the floor the next day sun shining threw the window and Vivian was there beside you her face would need surgery. In a small puddle of blood from her head and face she opened her one good eye and with split and blood covered lips she smiled at you.

When I woke up, I found myself unharmed. But Vivian...

Vivian...

I couldn't look at her. I should have never allowed her to touch my necklace. And why was I still alive? I had ordered it to kill me!

"I'll go get help," I said faintly, "Don't tell them what happened, okay? We can say we were attacked, like everyone else in the family..."

Without awaiting a response, I dashed through the door and shut it behind me. "Someone - help!" I yelled, looking for the nearest guard. "Help! Vivian has been badly hurt!"

I directed the first guard I encountered back to grandmother's room, tears clouding my vision. If no one else had died after everything she had been through...

I told you to kill me! Do it! I cried mentally, pleading with the necklace. Surely it could at least grant me the solace of death! I could take any more of this... all this death...

The guards had done some triage on Vivian before they were able to move her. They used some towels and took her to the hospital. The team leader came out of the house and looked at you. He raised his eye brows and shook his head. Standing there as tow of his team left with Vivian he folded his large arms and watched the whole thing. Nathan had the day off you figured by the rotation you had become familiar with and as part of the security you had everyone's schedule.

The necklace didn't seem to care about your request or your death. The phone went off in your pocket letting you know that Vivians parents were dead. Then you saw a private plane had crashed and one after the next people of the family started to die. Some people of the law office for no apparent reason jumped to their deaths from the corner offices. Calls came in for the better part of the day even through lunch death after death.

You received a call from the hospital team that Vivian had to be revived three times. It would be wait and see but the doctors said the odds were bad. She had a lot of internal hemorrhaging and her eye was going to need major surgery. She had a collapsed lung and most of the bones in her face were broken. Her jaw would be wired shut. Vivian nose alone would need major reconstructive surgery. She would be eating out of tubes for the next couple of months. Vivian was to be in and out of surgery for the next three months if they could stop all the bleeding. The two guards would return to the house and had the hospital keep a vigilant eye on her.

As that call was over the bell rang for the gate. You walked over to the intercom. The camera was still being installed but the voice was working. A woman speaking a foreign language was talking then after a moment a thick Italian accecent. "Hello I'm Erica. Amanda said to expect me. Hello?" You buzzed her in after noticing you still had a lump in your throat from learning about Vivian. You tried to take deep breaths to calm down but the trauma and the power you unleashed was draining. The room started to spin and you felt weightless.

You awoke to the feel of your bed and the sight of Erica sitting in a chair neck to you. She smiled as your eyes met. "Eva? Eva you are all right now. Just rest. Amanda sent me. For now just rest." She put her hand on the side of the bed. You were exhausted and your eyes closed. Awaking to the smell of food and dinner on a tray brought to you by Erica. "Hope you're hungry. I had the cook make this special." Catching the look in your eyes she took the fork and ate a bite of the food. She smiled and shook her head. "Do not worry I'm not going to harm you."

I sat up and took a cautious bite of mashed potatoes, my eyes scarcely leaving Erica for a moment. Obviously, she hadn't died with the others - like Amanda said, she wasn't really family. With Vivian gone... no. I couldn't bear to think of her, how battered she had been, all the surgery she would have to go through. Just remembering made me feel sick; I took a long pause before taking the next bite, worried that if I ate too soon I would vomit.

Desperate to distract myself from the thought, I met Erica's eyes, holding her gaze for only a moment before looking away. "Sorry about earlier," I said, "I... things have been really rough around here lately. You're welcome to stay, but... but it might not be safe." I had no intention of telling her about the necklace, of course. The last thing I need was for one more person to think I was crazy. Besides, the house's track record was bad enough to warrant fear in its own right. I was surprised I hadn't been arrested yet. If I was truly the only surviving member of my family, I had to look incredibly suspicious.

Not feeling particularly eloquent, I muttered, "Lots of people have died here recently, so I wouldn't blame you if you left."

"Nonsense. I'm not going any where unless you wish it. I will stay if you need a more familiar face then I will get Amanda back here within the month." She stood up. "I know I'm not family but Amanda told me all about you and I couldn't stay away. I'm under a trust fund left by my dead husband so I don't have the obligations she does. I hope that we can get to know each other and if there is anything you need just ask. Now I'm going to give you time to eat and your space I'll be around the house if you feel like talking I'm in the west wing second story third door left. Ciao!" She left the room. Just as you got the text from Amanda.

"Are you ok? I just got word from Nathan about Vivian and now my phone is getting call after call of deaths. I cant be there for you right now but Erica should be. I'll call her to make sure she gets there. I've got to go I have more messages. Just wanted you to know that I am still a believer in you. I'll call by tomorrow."

Amanda had claimed to be a believer in me. That was one of the most foolish things she could have said. I should never have let Vivian touch that necklace. I had known what a bad idea it was from the moment she requested it. My ability to empathize with her hatred for her family had cost her her health.

Once I cleared off my health, I crept over to Vivian's room and found her sleeping pills. The more time I spent awake, the more I would be subjected to worry and guilt. Vivian would surely be able to acquire more pills at the hospital, so it would be fine if I took these. I needed them. In fact...

If you took too many of these, you died, right?

I returned to my room, bottle in hand and tears rolling down my cheeks. If the necklace wouldn't kill me, I'd have to do it myself. A quiet death in my bed - it was the best I could hope for.

Sobbing, I downed half the bottle.

You sleep.

You awake to find yourself sitting in a chair. You stand and look around the room. It is your room. There was some one in the bed. It was you. You had a ventilator and the necklace was on you. A couple of dozen acupuncture needles protruded from your body hooked to wires giving you small electric shocks. Tubes ran up into your arm and there were medical machines to the left and right of the bed. Vivian came in she had some scars and very short hair. She sat on the edge of the bed and read to you. Amanda came in after a while to place a hand on Vivians shoulder. The lips moved but they made no sound. Together they left the room. As they walked out Jamie and Elizabeth walked in.

"Its time we can talk now that you are ready to listen." Elizabeth had no smile and was in a black dress. Her hands hung at her side.

"You messed up good this time girl." Jamie shook her head and returned her eyes to your gaze. "Always about you. huh? Never thank god I survived a kidnapping. So lucky I have found a friend in Vivian. So luck I'm about to become the richest youngest heiress in the world. Woe is me."

"That's enough." Elizabeth raised a hand and Jamie stopped. "You have a right to some sorrow. It's your right to do with what you want with your life. Unfortunately the actions you just took have affected everything. In combination of the sleeping pills and all the death of half of my family you gave the necklace all the power it will need for a long while. Those that died left widows and orphans galore, causing a suffering wave that will empower the necklace for years. So munch sorrow it wont be long until the necklace takes you over and you and Jamie will be stuck here while it goes on a killing spree in the new Eva. I fear for the future. It would serve you right to leave you here to watch." Elizabeth folded her arms and her face grew dark.

"I can't let the necklace free and you have to fix this before the necklace gets even stronger. You are the only chance. Since you let Vivian touch the necklace you can talk to her in dreams. You have to get her to lock the necklace in the safe without putting it on or directly touching it." She continues to talk but you watch as she moves her lips without sound. Soon she fades and the glow from the bed catches your attention.