The hollow Within

Sunlight streamed through the window. Diane turned over and snuggled more into her blankets, a small smile forming on her face, apparently contended with her slumber. She half opened her eyes, only for blue hair and a handsome face to come into view. Diane stared for a while, before snapping out of her daze. "Ugh, this is nearly driving me crazy! Why does he have to be so good looking!" She nearly exclaimed out loud. But she slowly removed her hands off the hair she was nearly yanking off. "That's strange, he would be in the office by now." She said. A naughty smirk trailed onto her face as she bent her face over him, her long hair trailing down her back like a water fall. "Diego, hey, wake up, it's morning." She said shaking him gently. Diego heard her, of course, and he felt that warm breath tickling his ear lobes. But his eyelids seemed unresponsive. "I will get up soon. Just give me some time." He mumbled, half sleepingly. "But you have a lot of work to do at the office." Diane persuaded. "Hugo and Theodore will handle it." Diego said, snuggling further into the bed. "Don't you feel bad handling your job over to others." She urged him. " They will be fine." He said. This whole time, his eyelids didn't even flicker, they remained tightly shut. Diane frowned. This wasn't the usual workaholic Diego she knew. She persisted to tease him, using a strand of her hair to tickle his ear. "Diane, stop." Diego said, attempting to flick the hair away. Diane was perplexed. The usual Diego won't miss an opportunity to annoy her. Feeling something amiss, she pressed her palm to his forehead. It was warm, warmer than usual. 'This guy, he doesn't tell anyone anything!' Diane pouted. 'At this rate he will be on the brink of death and no one would know!' She said. After re-confirming that he was indeed under the weather, she washed up and close the bedroom door as gently as possible, before heading downstairs.

 "Quickly, place those flower vases over there, yes..." Natasha was busy ordering the maiden servants here and there. "A little to the left, yes. Oy! What do you think you are doing?! Geez, can't you guys do anything properly!" Theodore yelled, as the chandelier came crashing down. "I will handle it.!" Leonia yelled, as she clicked her fingers, the chandelier returning back to its previous state of five seconds ago. The servants were busy apologizing profusely to Theodore. Diane was in a daze. "Huh?!" She exclaimed, after coming to her senses. "Aren't we all supposed to be having breakfast together?". She asked. Dorothy hurriedly ran past her. "Oh, good, you are awake." She said, as she ran past Diane. "Dorothy! What the heck is going on?! Hey?!" She yelled, as Dorothy ran up the steps hurriedly. "No time to explain, lady, it seems like the family has some important person visiting!" She replied without looking back. "Good morning Sis!" Leonia said, happily leaping into Diane's arms. "Oh, hey! Good morning, did you sleep well?" Diane said, patting Leonia's head. Ever since the whole kidnapping incident, their relationship seemingly got better and better. What others would call 'A blessing in Disguise' "Yup!" Leonia enthusiastically replied. "Um, what about Morris and Alice? Are they with you?" She asked. "They went to get some flowers." She said. "Um, can you tell me what is going on? Why is everyone so tensed and... apprehensive?" Diane asked, looking back at the overly chaotic scene. Theodore had both hands on his waist, yelling at the servants, Aunt Maria was screaming her voice hoarse, Uncle Regis was running around to and fro, and Natasha was busy acting like she was performing some sort of dance, demonstrating, waving her hands around like a windmill, while the maid servants, who were receiving the orders, nodded their heads anxiously like lizards. "Oh, right.." Leonia gave a little chuckle, glancing at Diane's astonished face. "Lucille Is coming today." She simply said, as if that was a good enough explanation. "Lucille?" Diane asked hesitatingly. The name sounded familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Oh, has brother never mentioned her to you?" She said, as she sat on the steps, Patting her little hand for Diane to sit next to her. "You and I both know that Brother of yours is overly secretive." Diane said, with a wink, as she sat down. "I can Barely remember what she looks like. It's been five years, afterall. I only remember how she looks like in portraits." Leonia said indignantly. "Wait, does she have fire element?" Diane asked. "Yes, How do you know?" Leonia asked slowly and with uncertainty. "I think Diego has mentioned her to me. She wrote a letter to him right?" She asked. "So you were aware!" Leonia asked, throwing Diane a punch with her small fist. "Hey! I only knew that she wrote a letter,.I don't know its contents." She said, rubbing her arm. Gosh, she might seem small, but her punches can move a mountain. "Well, it is just that person decided to visit on such short notice!" Leonia said, as she angrily waved her arms around. "She has turned our house into a zoo!" She cried out, pointing at the chaotic scene downstairs. Diane glanced back at the scene and couldn't help but feel mentally exhausted, even when she wasn't part of it. "Wait, Lucille Is coming today? Why didn't she state that in her letter?" A male voice asked from upstairs. Diane and Leonia looked to the top of the stairs, only to see Diego dressed in his usual formal office clothing, standing there. "Brother, Good morning!" Leonia said as she ran up the stairs, throwing herself at him without trying to restrain the impact. Diego swayed lightly. "Good morning, Lily." Diego said, patting her on the head. "Good morning, Diane." Diego said, as soon as Diane joined them. "Morning." Diane curtly replied. Leonia looked at the both of them, before asking: "Did you guys fight again?" "We did not." Both of then said simultaneously. "Leonia, didn't you feel something off about Diego, like how pale his face is, or how warm he feels?" Diane asked Leonia, with a wry smile plastered across her face. Leonia however said directly. "Brother, you should go to bed. Look, sister is worried for you. Just look at her face." Leonia said plainly, not even beating around the bush. "Huh. I see it. She is going to have a lot of wrinkles when she grows old." Diego teased. 'This guy!' Diane screamed inwardly. She felt like beating him to a pulp. "You, come with me. You are heading to bed, right now." She said, taking him by the hand, but Diego didn't even budge. She looked behind her, only to meet his unwavering gaze. "Lucille Is coming back to her homeland after so many years. How could I not welcome her?" He asked. Diane gritted her teeth. "Leonia, please, talk to your brother. If he breaks down, it's not going to be good for him and.." "What, aunt?! You need my help?! Coming!" Leonia suddenly interrupted, running down the flight of stairs. She clearly did not want to get caught up in this drama. "This girl.." Diane muttered, wondering where Leonia got such a blatant attitude from. She was about to continue her squabble with Diego, when Theodore ran up the stairs, his eyes shining like the stars at night. "She is Here! Lucille has arrived!" "Really?" Diego asked, his hand swiftly sliding out of Diane's. Diane couldn't tell why, but as she watched Diego's descending figure, she felt a sense of unease.