Masks

Chapter One - Julia

Escape your past or Dont dwell on the past. Forget it and move on. Isnt that what we always hear growing up? That we can just ignore any awfulness we have caused or endured and go forward? My father used to tell me we needed to make up for others pasts as well, if it either concerned or affected us. It is the only way to make peace Julia, make everyone forget, and more importantly, blur their visions. he insisted.

But I did not do any harm dawhy must it be me? I pushed. It is the only way cupcake; I can already see the bright future that awaits, the future you will bring.

But the future was not bright. In fact, after what Id done, there was no future for my people anymore. I had brought down chaos and caused a massive massacre. Lots of people died on that day, amongst them some of my dearest friends. Pride does awful things to a person. It is a lesson I will never forget, a reminder that will never cease to exist within me, for I was too proud to listen to sense, and save two powerful kingdoms, and a whole lot of people. Thoughts about it bothered me a lot more than they should lately, even on this day, four years later.

Julia, motek?

I jumped at that. Only two people used that term of endearment for me. Sweetheart.

I recognized her from the orchid perfume.

Her voice pulled me back, making me realize that I was still sitting in the middle of a bar, my drink clutched so hard in my hand my knuckles had gone surprisingly white.

The mirror I was gaping into had become clear after some time of readjustment. I looked at myself for a moment. My eyes travelled from my short, red-painted hair to my hazelnut eyes. How much I had changed this past year, and not only for cover. I had become tired -and not only the physical sort- in the past year. Being a runaway and having no real purpose was not delightful. But for the sake of Sylvia and my mother, I kept strong, hiding behind my appearance.

Girl you are dosing off more than I was in literature class, and that was incredibly often. I ended up having awful grades. Do not recommend. She sized me up head to toe then.

Seriously, are you well?

Im fine justthinking about it again

Ah. she clicked her tongue at that. Take a break Julia, for once. You are always overthinking, saying that they are chasing us and we mustnt rest. You ought to learn how to enjoy life.

She was there, Sylvia was there when it happened. Actually, we plotted it together. We were always scheming the two of us, thinking big. But you cant think of every possible aspect in a plan when you are thirteen, and that was what brought us here.

Im going to the bathroom really quick, here, hold my purse for me. And oh this guy has been checking you out all night in case you dont have eyes, which I doubt by the way.

She winked at me and nodded towards the man, but before I turned my head, I studied her.

Round shaped, all curvy and white as snow, hair the color of sunshine, and lips as red as the heart of a fire. Sylvia was like a magnet, boys, girls, every person that happened to be around, they always took a glance, always leaned in, longing for her, interested in discovering what lay under that beauty of hers. And of course, she did not pull away or deny anyone, it was a charm that came along with our properties, but I just knew I was not born with it in the first place. Us blood tamers were few but very much alike. In the land of Sengora everyone was born with a special ability, and it was not determined by genes, but from spirit and what lies in your soul, as it revealed itself at a different time for each person. Something about me though has always been off. My blood bending powers were always weak, despite the deadliness of the ability I possessed.