Casters [Extraordinary Series 1: Ongoing]

4.30 ✡ Last Day

7:15 AM
Vivienne's POV

    I have been awake for a couple of hours now. Despite the bed wishing to devour my existence and the angel of dreams calling my soul, I couldn't sleep. Today was the last day I get to lay on this cozy bed in this familiar room – my bedroom. I was supposed to be looking for potential universities today. Yes, I still would. But as it turns out, I would be looking for those universities in France.
    Of course, I was not ecstatic when I got the news of the sudden move last night. They did not even explain the whys of the situation, let alone give me a chance to process the whole thing. All I knew was the move is happening tomorrow.
    "Vivienne Alarie! I have been calling for you for the past 30 minutes! Wake up!"
    The stern voice of my aunt rang in my ears. Well, I guess it was time to face reality. I got out of bed and cleaned up, preparing for the day ahead.
    Aunt Grace was the older sister of my mother, who passed away alongside my father during the fire that took place 10 years ago. Since my father wanted my sister and I to stay here, Aunt Grace lived with us. I was the middle child among the Alarie siblings, followed by my sister, Genevieve. Her eccentric personality goes through the roof and I could not keep up with her. Elias is our older brother and he was not living with us. He already moved to France with Aunt Grace's brother, our uncle, after the incident... which is a bit upsetting, to be honest. We used to have an unbreakable bond that even our parents were astonished with how much we had each other's backs. Ever since he left, Gen and I never got to communicate with him which, of course, affected the relationship we had with him.
    After freshening up, I went downstairs to the dining room. The smell of Aunt Grace’s tomato soup and garlic toast filled the air. Gen was nowhere to be seen and I was hungry. As I entered the room, Aunt Grace was sitting there – drinking her cup of tea while reading the morning paper. I guess this time, I could not mask my upset expression. "What's wrong dear?" Aunt Grace asked. I crossed my arms, expressing dismay. She dropped the papers to meet my gaze. “Well?” she asked curiously.
    "Why didn’t you tell me earlier that we were going to move to France?” I asked, frowning as I took a portion of the food. “And France for University?” I sat on the table across from her and let out a sigh.
    Aunt Grace softly chuckled, as if this untimely decision was not a big of a deal. “Well, besides the university, it is time we come home to the family,” she said as she poured me a glass of orange juice. I huffed softly, still not understanding the significance. I knew this was more than just ‘family’. All I wanted to know was the reason for this whole thing and no one was telling me anything. I took a slightly aggressive bite from the bread, chewing it with disappointment.
    I could see Aunt Grace study my look as she sighed quietly. "Elias is already waiting for you back home." She says in attempts to brighten up my mood, but with no success. Sure, she can try to use the unmaintained bond with my brother, but it wouldn’t affect me as much as she think it would.
    Receiving no response from me, she went on to grab her iron cane that was standing beside the kitchen door. The same iron cane that has been with her since before I was born. It had a figure of a snake circling around the staff, its eyes made of emerald stone. I do wonder why she needed her cane. After all, she was walking just fine.
    Suddenly, Gen ran into the room with a huge grin on her face. She sat beside me at the dining table. "Are we going to live in France? For good?" she asked, her little feet swinging above the ground as she grabbed herself a plate of breakfast. My aunt could only smile and nod. My eyes rolled while her smile beamed as she celebrated this in her seat. Her enthusiasm was nauseous. Gen and I were only four years apart, but I could never understand her. They said it was good to have a sister as it was like having a best friend who was in your own flesh and blood. But I knew we were two different people, and we rarely and barely agreed on the same thing.
    I continue to eat with my eyes never leaving Gen – who, despite being thirteen years old, still looks like a child. She is yet to have a drastic change once puberty knocks on her door. Unlike my brother and I who, in Aunt Grace's perspective, followed after my mother and have the height of the Alarie's. But my father’s family would say otherwise, claiming that Eli took after our father.
    "I couldn't just leave my life abruptly, Aunt Grace," I protested, finally breaking the silence. "And I love it here." I slumped back in my seat. Gen continued to eat while listening to the conversation.
    Aunt Grace reached out to me, her hands trying to comfort my own. "I know,” she said softly, “and I completely understand that. No one wants to leave their lives behind.” I met her gaze as she tucked my hair behind my ear. “But as you are approaching college, it is important that you grow outside the box. University is not as fun as they paint it out to be. Life is different in the real world, and it will surely hit you like a train if you don’t put yourself out there.”
    I bit the insides of my cheeks as I continued to listen disapprovingly to her. But damn it, I knew she was right. “You spent your whole life growing up here. A change of scenery will help you. Besides, Elias and your Uncle Raven have been dying to see you.”
    "But can you at least tell me why?" I asked once again. Aunt Grace pursed her lips in hesitation. She withdrew her hand and said, "Let's put it this way – it is an important family matter."
    Here we go again with the vague answers. Vague and constantly changing. Something wasn’t right and I intend to find out.
    "Then why can't we just stay for the summer and come back?" I asked. Was I being stubborn? I think I was. It was hard not to be one when the family you trust is keeping something from you. When Aunt Grace didn't respond, I sighed in defeat.
    Finally nodding without further resistance, I said with a soft tone, “I understand, Aunt Grace.”
    "Hello!" I turned my head to the direction it came from and softly smiled. Gen greeted a bird chirping on the windowsill.
    Gen has always been so pure-hearted and kind. That was our contrast – she has always been the soft, gentle, kind girl while I was the one with issues; anger, to be specific. I have my own set of virtues but patience was absolutely not one of them. Yet, at times like this, I was thankful for Gen... even if we were different people.
    "Well!” Aunt Grace suddenly said, catching my attention. I turned to her. “I suppose it is time to pack our stuff."