Forte's Past: chapter 1

Soon and soon enough, the carriage had stopped.

"Welcome to London, children." the driver told them.

"London?" each of the three siblings queried as they stepped outside to see the foggy streets.

London, England felt very different. They were all born and raised in France until now of course. Was this where they were expected to live? Braxton helped get the stuff out from the back which contained their personal belongings. He even got Charles's personal items and handed them to the small boy, expecting him to carry them. Braxton was the oldest, he was in charge of everyone, until they would get to their Uncle Avenant. Then he would be in charge of everyone.

"Where do we go now?" Charles wondered.

"Follow me, I know where we're going." Braxton snorted.

"Of course, you do..." Angelina rolled her eyes as green as a fresh lime.

Charles had a gut feeling this was going to be wrong, but he followed. Whenever he would speak up about something, no one would dare listen to him. The Forte siblings kept walking along the best they could and settled to their new altitudes of where their home was now. France was a little town and a quiet village, everyday like the one before, a little town full of little people. It felt like it took longer than a full sixty minutes.

"Braxton, admit it, you don't know where we're going." Angelina whined.

Charles followed his elder siblings as they were stopped in the horse-drawn carriage to their new legal guardian's home in England and far away from France. A girl, about his age, stood behind a man who was waiting for the Forte children. She had pretty forest green eyes, caramel-colored hair and was fair-skinned. She was wearing a simple, but clean blue dress.

Braxton came over to the man. "Excuse moi, but we are Madame Felicity's children, I'm Braxton, that girl is my sister, Angelina and that little mistake is our brother, Charles."

"We were told to be staying here until our mother gets better." Angelina added, fanning herself.

Charles shuffled his feet, a little shy.

The man nodded. "Come on in then." he says.

The girl went up to Charles. "Are you alright?" She asks him sweetly.

Charles blinked and looked to her. "I-I'm fine... Don't worry about me..." he said softly as he collected his things. "Just... Worried about my maman..."

The man led them in.

The girl helped him. "I understand, I'm sure your mama will get better." she says softly. She smiled gently.

Charles smiled back, he felt a little happy now.

Braxton and Angelina came in and put their things down.

"This place is tre magnifique," Angelina smiled as it seemed sophisticated for her tastes. "Better than that small cottage we lived in back home..."

"Thank you, I hope you will be happy here." the man says.

"I hope so too, monsieur." Angelina replied.

The man nodded. "You will have to share a room with my daughter." he tells Angelina.

Angelina looked slightly annoyed at that offer, but accepted. "Oui, monsieur."

The man looked. "We don't have your room quite prepared." he says.

The girl smiled. "My name is Lucy." she smiles.

"Lucy..." Charles half-smiled. "What a wonderful name..."

"Thank you." Lucy smiles happily.

Charles saw that Lucy had a sled to play in the snow with. "Oh, you have one of those?"

"Oh, yes... It's great fun... Maybe we can play one day when it snows." she smiles.

"I had one once..." Charles frowned. "Braxton and Angelina used it as firewood..."

Braxton and Angelina smirked back to their younger brother a bit wickedly. Lucy looked at them and scowled.

"It is so foggy outside..." Angelina sighed.

"London has fog, sœur," Braxton said to her. "We'll be fine until we're able to go back home."

Charles sat on a seat and took out some things that were given to him.

Lucy looked at Charles. "Would you like to play?" She asks him.

"Play what?" Charles asked quietly.

"A game, silly." Lucy smiles.

"Okay," Charles smiled. "What are we going to play?"

The siblings seemed surprised and taunting that someone wanted to play with the little boy.

"Oh, sweetie, you do not want to play with him," Angelina cackled. "He's just a little accident waiting to happen."

Lucy looked at them. "I don't believe that..." she says. She then smiled at him. "We can play any game you want." she says sweetly.

"Oh, I don't know if I know any games..." Charles shrugged, smiling.

Lucy gave a thought. She then had an idea. She had been given a tea play-set. "Would you play house with me?" She asks.

"Play house?" Charles tilted his head.

Lucy nodded. "It's where we pretend that we are a family somehow." she smiles.

"Um, alright, that does not sound too bad..." Charles smiled a little bit.

Lucy took his hand and pulled him to her small playroom. Charles followed, his dress shoes clicking against the floor. This house seemed to be a lot richer than their home back in France. Lucy smiled happily. She pulled out her small tea set when they got to the room.