Wake of Darkness [1]

Chapter Twenty-Four

♕ Snow Fall ♕

That night felt colder than others. Even wearing two pair of coats, Sybilla couldn't stop her teeth from crashing against each other as she tried to warm herself up. Her eyes looked towards her father, whose boots where placed neatly next to the fire. He sat with his eyes closed next to it, a small smile on his face as he rubbed his feet together. Sybilla took a look towards the orange glow of the flames and desired to feel the heat close against her skin.

Her mother had been very clear that she was not to enter the living room until she returned, so, Sybilla stayed sitting on the hallway hearing the low cracking of fire and pretending to feel the flames close to her face. It felt silly not being used to the coldness by now. Lunar Bay had always been one of the coldest places in Regno. Second only to Blackstone itself. And she'd spend more cold nights sleeping under the sky than she could count.

"Stop being so loud! I'm trynna sleep here" Sybilla flinched away as she saw her father's eyes open and look towards her. "Go outside and wait for your mother!" Sybilla stood, watching as he rolled over to his side, groaning as he did so.

It took her a few seconds to cross the house and step out by the back entrance. Somehow finding the ice-cold breeze on her face more reassuring than the distant heat of the fire. She thought about going back to her room but there was no point. That had only brough her trouble before.

Trying to stay as warm as she could, Sybilla started walking around the house, making sure not to walk past the living room's window. The night was quiet, but the moon's brightness had not been the same since the end of the war. Not now than the sun became stronger and brighter as new days begun. Still, Sybilla stared up at the sky and thought it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

Sybilla took a deep breath, realizing her teeth had stopped chattering. As she closed her eyes to absorb how content she felt in that second, a single drop of water fell on her face. A thousand white feathers falling from the sky over her, covering her hair in snow. She looked down to the few strands of hair visible, her already white hair now slightly soaked as the snow increased. Sybilla laughed. Laying on the ground to watch as the snow fell around her. She'd always felt that snow was a gift the gods offered her, to remind her cold could be a blessing too.

"Sybilla!" Sybilla's smile fell from her face as she heard her mother's angry tone, rushing from inside the house. "There you are" Sybilla stood up, cleaning her clothes as best as she could before running towards her mother's extended hand.

As she was about to grab it, Sybilla saw her mother move her hand to smack the back of her head. She flinched as the back of her hand came in contact with her forehead, but no gasp came out of her mouth. It didn't surprise her anymore.

"I told you to behave" she whispered, grabbing her by her hair and guiding her inside. "We have guests." Her mother dragged her inside the house, and Sybilla focused her eyes on her feet, making sure she wouldn't trip. "You will not speak. Understood?"

"Yes mom" she whispered, brushing her hair with her hands as she let go of her tight grip.

Sybilla concentrated on her mother's back as the two of them walked towards the main door and stepped into the living room. The first thing Sybilla noticed was the guy with black piercing eyes watching her carefully as she tried to hide behind her mother.

He smiled, and kneeled, and Sybilla could've sworn she felt the room's temperature decrease. Sybilla stopped walking as she realized he intended to greet her, but her mom placed her hands on her shoulders pushing her forward.