CHAPTER FIFTY-THREETriple post, woohoo!Alright, people, we're deviating to my usual writing style for this one!
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The next morning was a normal, quiet Tuesday morning. Elisabeth, Jimmy, Gustav, and Margrethe had already left for the day. Victoria was in her garden, and Tatiana was up in her painting studio. She's trying to perfect some brush strokes because my great great granddaughter is turning eighteen tomorrow morning, and she wants to paint the perfect portrait for her. I did my usual routine of cleaning the house, and then I went to get the mail. I knew that Margrethe had sent away to get some gems cut yesterday, so I figured that they were here.
I was about to close the mailbox when I noticed a letter rammed into the back, as if whoever put it there was in a hurry. I pulled it out, and noticed that, strangely, it didn't have our address written on it or any stamps. Instead, there was just a mess scrawl of handwriting that spelled out my name.
I went inside and opened it up, almost already knowing exactly what it was. My eyes scanned the small piece of lined paper that was contained inside, with a note that was most likely typed on a typewriting slapped across it instead of handwritten. At least it would be easier to understand this one.
Beatrix -
You know who this is from. I'm sorry about the burglar last night, but it was the only way I could safely get this to you.
If you see her again, tell her that I'm sorry I got her arrested.
My sources say that you're about halfway done. Please call me as soon as possible. I know you still have my number,
but just in case, it's written on the back of this note.
Regards,
G.M.I felt my heart try to drop and leap at the same time. Finally,
finally, she had contacted me...
I flipped the paper over just to refresh my memory, then set it down and picked up the phone. I had waited so long for this.
The phone on the other end felt like it was ringing forever as my heart beat itself mercilessly against my ribcage. It had been so long since I had last spoken to this woman, even longer since I had seen her. I could barely even remember her voice after all these years.
"Hello?" A voice asked once the phone finally picked up.
"Yes, hello, this is Beatrix Royale. I'm looking to speak with GM?"
"You're talkin' to her." She said.
"I see you got my message, Beatrix." G.M. stated. I could hear something rustling and other voices in the background.
"Yes, I got it..."
"How are things holdin' up over there?"
"Fine, fine...Margrethe turns eighteen tomorrow, Elisabeth is ready to eat Ambrosia..."
"How 'bout you? How are you doin'?"
I paused, thinking. I mean, I was happy because I was surrounded by my family. I was lucky enough to be a great-great grandmother and have my own big, fancy house after starting with nothing, but my husband was dead, I had to watch my descendent's spouses die, and I had the whole weight of my task topping off my family history on my shoulders.
"I see." G.M. said quietly. There was even more rustling, probably a bunch of papers being moved around. "You're almost halfway there, kiddo."
"I'm probably decades older than you by now." I said with a half laugh.
"Nah, you'll always be a kid to me." G.M. told me, also laughing. Suddenly, her tone got very serious. "Look, I've got some bad news."
"What?" I cried, my heart nearly stopping as it made a desperate attempt at freedom. "What do you mean bad news?!"
"I told you that everythin' was subject to change, Beatrix, but it isn't goin' to be the end of the world. It's goin' to be hard, but you're strong. You can take it." She told me in an attempt to help calm me down.
"What do I have to do?" I asked after several long moments of silence.
"That's my girl!" G.M. cheered through the phone. "Alright, to start, you just need to carry on as normal. Follow the rules and get eight generations living under one roof. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Okay, after that, it gets hard. It took me a long time figure this one out, but it's absolutely crucial to makin' your goal. If you want to-"
"I've come too far to turn back now!" I snapped.
"Alright, alright, keep your ponytail on..." G.M. mumbled. "You know how the Science Centre has found a way to bind a ghost to the physical world at all times instead of just nighttime? Well, to save your family, you gotta combine that with the Ambrosia you've been eatin'. Bring your husband and everyone else's husbands back and feed them Ambrosia. Then, you can carry on...but that's not the hard part."
"What's the hard part?" I asked. There was silence on the other end of the line.
"Beatrix..." She began. "Beatrix, you're going to have to die."
