[Modern time, twentieth century]
Laughter and music filled the house, the lights blinking at the people danced and drink in celebration.
Tonight was Elena Hart's seventeenth birthday, the night she would finally inherit everything her late parents left behind.
And tonight, she was going to confess her love.
In the quiet dressing room, Elena lifted the velvet box in her trembling hands. The ring inside glittered under the light and her heart fluttered.
She was going to take a bold step and propose to Declan Rivers, for four years now, she has been in love with him.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she whispered, nerves shaking her voice.
Clara Hart, her cousin, stood beside her with a gentle smile. "Of course" she said sweetly, resting a hand on Elena's shoulder.
"He'll be touched. You have loved him so long, it's about time he knows"
Relief softened Elena anxious eyes. Clara always knew how to reassure her. If one didn't know better, they would have thought the two were sisters.
With a deep breath, Elena smoothed the skirt of her pink dress and stepped out into the glittering hall. Clara trailed behind, her eyes gleaming.
Her gaze searched and then... there. Declan, surrounded by his friends, tall and handsome, the one she had cherished in her heart.
Clutching the box, Elena hurried toward him. Her cheeks burned, her heart pounded. "Declan"
He turned, his smile stiff and practiced. The smile he always gave her.
She glanced back at Clara, who signaled the D.J to cut off the music and a single spotlight dropped on Elena and Declan.
The room hushed, all gazes turned to them.
Swallowing hard, Elena held out the ring box, her voice trembling. "Declan... I love you" she chuckled nervously, too excited.
"Will you..."
Declan's expression shattered into fury instantly.
"What the hell are you doing?" his voice cracked through the silence, sharp and angry. "Have you lost your mind?"
Elena froze, her breath caught in her throat. The words she had rehearsed, the courage she had built, all crumbled.
"I...I.." she stammered, tears pricking her eyes. She clutch to the box in her hands and Declan's eyes caught it.
"A ring?" his face contorted with pure horror. He hissed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Gosh, Elena, You really are crazy "he chuckled angrily.
Her voice quivered. "Declan, I thought..."
She managed to look into his gaze but it was filled with disgust, different from how he had always stared at her.
"You thought wrong!" his voice thundered, sharp enough to cut through her chest. His friends smirked behind him, openly laughing.
"Do you know how pathetic this is? Chasing after me like a lost puppy for years, and now trying to propose to me? In front of everyone?"
Laughter erupted. Elena's vision blurred with tears as the crowd's mocking eyes pierced into her.
"Declan, please..." she reached out instinctively, but he jerked back as if her touch was poison.
"You told me... you kissed me..." Elena was distorted, stunned by his reaction. He has always treated her kind, promising to always be there for her.
Has she really misunderstood that? The gentle kisses on her forehead?
"Whatever I did meant nothing" his voice was cold. "The only reason I pretended to be nice to you was for Clara's sake. She asked with me to" he answered truthfully.
Elena's s chest tightened, her expression turned paler. It seemed like a nightmare playing in front of her.
"Everyone knows I don't want you, Elena" Declan declared to her, his eyes burning with disgust. "Everyone except you"
Laughter erupted again, their whispers loud enough for her to hear.
'She really thought Declan liked her? What a fool'
'Who would want someone so dumb as her?"
The words hit Elena hard and harsh. Her stomach twisted violently, she turned desperately to the crowd, faces she had known all her life, smiling, mocking, pitying her.
At that moment, she felt stupid. They must have mocked her like this behind her back too. Everyone seemed to be aware, only she was living in her little fantasy.
Clara stepped forward at that moment, Elena's eyes dashed to her for help, a feel of relief and reliance leapt in her heart.
But she stood beside Declan instead and the two kissed right in front of her eyes.
Elena's heart stopped.
"Sorry, Elena. I just need to make you see it. Declan has always been mine" Clara turned to her as she wipe the lipstick stain from his lips.
Elena's legs weakened. Her hand clutched her dress as her heart shattered, blood pounding in her ears. "You two..."
Clara's gaze flickered with false pity, but her smile didn't waver. "I tried to warn you not to embarrass yourself tonight, but..." she shrugged, feigning helplessness. "... you insisted"
The room tilted. Elena stumbled backward, tears streaking her face. She collided with the pool's edge, arms flailing, then with a splash, she fell in.
Gasps filled the air, followed by mocking chuckles.
The cold water closed over her, and her gown clung heavy against her skin dragging her down. She kicked frantically, coughing and choking, her hair plastered against her face.
"Elena!" Clara's voice pierced through, dripping with false concern. She knelt by the pool, her hand snared Elena's throat as she claws upward.
Clara's grip tightened, her smile curled into disdain. "You really are a fool" she hissed, low enough for only Evelyn's ears.
"The only reason I kept you close was for your inheritance. After tonight, everything will be mine"
Elena froze, horror ripped through her heart, with a strangled sob, she shoved Clara's hand away and scrambled out of the pool.
She could hear the laughters and insults as she stumbled toward her car. With trembling hands, she grabbed the car door and got in.
Tears blurred her vision as she ignite driving out of the estate gates, her body still frighten by what just happened.
Before she could turn to the road, a rope whipped suddenly around her throat, yanking her backward. Elena gagged as her hands immediately let go of the wheel, clawing desperately at the cord biting into her skin instead.
"Go live in hell with your parents" a cold voice hissed against her ear.
In a moment, the wheel spun loose and the car veered off the road, smashing through the barrier.
Elena's scream was swallowed by the night as the car plunged into the river below. She was thrown out of the car into the water, her hands up in surrender to death. Her tears flowed in that painful moment, regret burning in her chest.
In the last moment, all Elena could think of was her parents and how she has failed them. The betrayal flashed through her heart and she prayed in her heart for vengeance.
And in the last moment, as she floated down in to the water, her eyes caught another, floating below her, like she has been existing there for more than a century.
Their eyes met and Selene stared at the child in front of her.
"Who are you?" her voice asked in a whisper, fierce.
"Avenge me" Elena's trembling hands reached forward reach out her hand, drawn by an formidable force.
"In return, you will have everything that is mine" Elena offered, her voice filled with determination,
Selene's pale hand lifted. "I promise you" their hands clasped at that moment.
A pulse of light burst between them, shattering the water into blackness.