The Sacred Rhythm Of The Moors

Chapter 7

My lungs felt as if someone had reached out and flushed it out of every last bit of air by the time I reached Alice's. Klara failed to keep up with me and as anticipated, lost me within a minute or so. My head felt as if it had exploded and ringing in my ears didn't help. Not a single soul was visible when I stepped up on the front porch.

"Oh god," Klara said, as she hung her head down in disbelief.

The air had turned completely crispy by the time we returned.

"What?" I asked her as I placed my hands on my knees to keep myself from falling.

"This was one hell of a night," she said and looked up. "I think I will head back home, you'll be alright?"

I nodded. The dawn had almost creeped out of the dense woods where our parents were probably planning another blood rescue. My parents. The thought struck me as I recalled what else I had heard on my little rendezvous. I checked the front door and was relieved to find it just as I had left. I slowly opened it to avoid any creaking and failed miserably. My heart leaped a beat when I found Eva sitting beside the table rug and drinking something from a cup.

"Oh my god, Eva," I jumped at the sight of her. "You startled me. What are you doing out here?"

She narrowed her eyes as if it's her who should be asking the question. Of course it should be her.

"Where were you?" Her voice came out as a whisper.

"Just went outside for a stroll."

"Really?" She said sternly. "Went for a stroll in the woods?"

I found myself confused for a second and then it hit me. I looked down and found dry leaves and some broken branches jabbed on my cloak and the hem of my skirt. I was so driven with questions that I had completely forgotten my little sister had a hawk's eye. I looked at her with disbelief and a small smirk ran across her face. I had no other option left other than to tell her the truth.

"Do you recall how Alice and we heard a scream from the woods and then she left for rescue?" I asked as I walked across the table from her and set down my cloak.

"Yes."

"Well, I thought something was going on and I was curious to find out," I said casually. I looked at her and the casualty hadn't quite imprinted on her face. She kept her eyes focused on me for further explanation. I sighed in defeat. "Klara came. We were talking about that women. Suddenly, it hit me that both of you were sleeping so we could sneak into the woods to find out more about what's happening. You know me. It was all out of curiosity, really." I decided to leave out the part where we were questioning the authenticity of our parents. She doesn't need to know that.

"Okay. I believe you," she said in a quiet voice.

"Why are you awake?"

"I was thirsty so I got out of bed to get a glass of water when I saw that you weren't there. I figured you would do something like that though."

Soft strands of hair fell on her face as it gleamed under the first rays of sun. She was beautiful, just like our mother. There were no heavy bags under her eyes unlike me and her puckered lips gave away her innocence as much as her curious blue eyes. The dawn started to engulf us briskly as the songbirds welcomed a new day. Torn between my desire for respite and my curiosity to find answers to every question I had stored, I decided to take careful steps ahead.

"Come, let us go to bed before Alice sees us," I held out my hand for Eva. She got up quickly and entwined her fingers in mine. Her soft fingers traced the red skin above my wrist.

"You got hurt," she said genuinely concerned. "You need to be more careful, Aurora"

I smiled at her choice of words because yes, I had to be. She knew it well and I wasn't surprised.