Death is Only the Beginning

The Brats

Casey could hear the voices clearly as she headed downstairs. All of them sounded peeved at having to walk to the house, not impressed by it's looks at all or its quaintness. Great already she didn't like them and she hadn't even met them properly. She debated turning around and walking back to the room but in the end she walked down, good manners having been engrained in her since birth. 

"It's nothing but a bloody cabin" a nasally voice snapped extremely irritable and very self entitled."It was supposed to be a luxurious holiday home. Like hell."

"This is not what I expected" another declared with a loud huff and looking around with utter revulsion on their face. 

"I think we should leave, where the hell is everyone else? There should be a huge amount of people for this so called reunion. We better not have been given the wrong date" A third one hissed, their voice hushed and sounding quite frustrated. 

"Will you ladies calm down" a male voice said exasperated "I'm sure people are still coming. This place is great it's just not a mansion like you are used to. It's still big and there's plenty of room." He sounded fed up, Casey already feeling sympathy for the poor guy. It must be exhausting listening to the women complaining all the time. She was surprised though, having thought it was only women attending. She shrugged, Oh well what did it matter? Maybe he was a coordinator of some kind or administration person. Whoever it was she felt sorry for him putting up with what sounded like a bunch of teenagers having a tantrum. 

"Besides" the man added exasperatedly "that was the last ferry remember. You're all stuck here whether you like it or not so accept that and fuc*ing move on."

All of the people gathered at the door looked up as they heard Casey coming down the stairs, haughty expressions on their face as they took in her casual attire. The redhead's eyes lit up however as she gave a large smile and gestured to her suitcase sitting next to her "thank god" she trilled "they left someone to take care of us. Please take my suitcase upstairs" she ordered Casey haughtily as she halted at the base and stared at her incredulously.

Did the woman think she was some sort of maid or housekeeper? "I'm actually here for the same reason as you" she said softly as they stared in bewilderment. She'd be damned if they treated her like one the whole time she was here. 

"I've never met you" the redhead said bluntly as the others also shook their heads as well, curiousity in their eyes. 

"Sandra sent me in her place, to read the speech she was going to do" Casey said trailing off lamely as they glanced at each other. 

"Trust Sandra to not turn up.  I swear when I get my hands on her" the redhead snorted in disgust, shooting Casey a dirty look as she almost recoiled in shock. What was with this chick? Had she already formed some kind of judgement in regards to Casey already? Just because she wasn't the same as them? Well this was going to be a long week then wasn't it she thought sourly, her good mood slowly dissipitating with every annoying and derogatory comments they made in regards to the house. Couldn't they just enjoy it and be grateful to be surrounded in such beauty even if it had looked dismal at first, it was now growing on her. Although that could just be because she would much prefer to be outside than listening to these spoiled rich women. 

The man with black hair turned to her with an easy going smile, offering his hand to shake hers. "Don't mind her, she's grumpy from the long trip" he said "My name's Kenneth and that angry harpy and spitfire over here is Rihanna. Feel free to ignore her, she's always in a foul mood."

Rihanna gave a hurrumph, ignoring them both completely and rolling her eyes at his words, surprisingly not even bothering to insult her husband back or rebuke him. Strange thought Casey. Maybe rich people had very different relationships to normal people? 

"I'm Sandy" the other woman with brown hair and lovely eyes said extending her hand as well.

"I'm Candy" the black haired woman chimed in .

"I'm Casey" she introduced herself. She wasn't sure what to say as they all looked around awkwardly.

"We should go find our rooms" Sandy said quietly "I'm not sure if we are sharing or have separate rooms."

Rihanna rolled her eyes "I'm definitely not sharing thanks very much. Except with my husband Kenneth. You losers can share for all I care."

"The rooms are all assigned" Casey said confused "They all have names on them for you. I guess it's so that you all don't have to worry about picking one."

"Well that's handy" said Candy, grabbing the handle of her suitcase and easily taking it up the stairs, Sandy following behind her. 

Rihanna frowned down at hers as Kenneth swung his duffle bag over his shoulder. She gave a pout at her husband "Kenneth" she whined "my suitcase is too heavy to lift up, I can't break my nails, I just had them done! You said you would help me. "

"Not my problem. I told you to pack light and you chose not to listen" Kenneth said snarkily heading up the stairs two at a time and leaving his wife behind as Casey's mouth dropped open. Look's like there's trouble in paradise she thought a bit dismayed at them arguing the whole time they were here. She felt a bit like an interloper but it wasn't as though they were hiding their dislike for one another, being open even in front of a stranger like Casey. 

Rihanna looked at her hopefully and Casey gave a long suffering sigh. If it got this annoying woman away from her, then by all means she'd carry the damn suitcase. Was everyone this entitled when they were rich? 

"I'll take the suitcase up" she offered with a heavy sigh, already feeling irritable and out of sorts.

"Thankyou, be careful there's designer clothes in there and I don't want them to get damaged" Rihanna added, going smoothly up the stairs without a backwards glance. Casey scowled as she tried to lift the suitcase, no handle to drag it.

How the hell had she even got it here? Kenneth must have carried it because obviously Rihanna didn't look capable. It was heavy. Even Casey was struggling and she was used to lifting heavy things and using her arm muscles. She swore as she started up the steps, carefully trying to keep her balance. It was difficult considering the weight of the suitcase. It literally felt like she was carrying a huge pile of bricks. 

Damnit this was the last time she offered to help she thought sourly. Reaching the top she quickly located Rihanna and Kenneth's room, hesitating as she went to knock, raised voices from them both carrying through the closed door. 

"Christ Rihanna you're so damn bratty. In ten years you still haven't changed a damn bit. Still the self entitled princess who can't do anything for herself."

"You're complaining" Rihanna's voice was bitter now "we both know you only married me because I forced you to."

"You made sure of that when you blackmailed me into it, telling me that if I didn't you would spill our secret and get me put behind bars. Stop complaining about your actions. You should have known that I didn't care for you when you forced me so if you were expecting me to pretend everything was fine and make believe I had feelings for you, well then that's on you not me."

"I didn't have a choice, I needed you or I would have lost everything, can't you see that" she shrieked as Casey winced at the pitch of Rihanna's voice.

"You don't force someone you know and don't really actually give a damn about and make them  marry you.Especially for such a horrible and selfish reason. If it wasn't for what we did, I wouldn't be stuck with you right now" Kenneth's voice was tired, drained as though this was a common argument for them both."I lost everything that mattered to me because of you. So stop thinking that I'll stop hating you because I won't. I despise you for what you did and what you forced me to do. I despise you for everything that's happened in the last ten years. So shut up and stop testing my patience because I'm all out of it."

Casey left the suitcase outside their door and crept away to her own room. She was intrigued now, even as she felt guilty for eavesdropping. What secret did they possess? What was so bad that Kenneth had married Rihanna in order to stop her telling? It wasn't just about the money, as Kenneth said he would be long gone by now if he had a choice. What a miserable marriage, to be locked in with someone for life that you couldn't stand because you were afraid they would spill something about you. She was very curious now, her mind whirling around with different scenarios as she sat on the bed and opened a book to read. Casey wasn't exactly in the mood to explore right now and she wasn't exactly wanting to hang out with anyone, none of them particularly friendly or giving off a nice vibe to her at least. Ah well. Books were her go to and she could use some downtime anyway. Especially with the fight still going on in Rihanna and Kenneth's room. Their voices were still distinguishable even at the end of the doorway and even through the bedroom door that was firmly shut.