Beautiful Fate

5 - Just a little bit longer

Sitting pleasantly, a group of 13 were placed on a stage like show ponies, with many many eyes watching them from below. Some eyes were recognizable from school or birth family or social media or the news. But some were completely new faces that would remain absent forever more in the minds of the 13 children.

Killian was standing as though he were the host, along side his siblings Quinn, Julian, and Sydelle dressed in the most extravagant of traditional garments from their ethnic backgrounds. They stood out among their brothers and sisters as the somewhat 'leaders' of the zodiacs, for lack of a better word.

The crowd below them were in awe of the blessed children displayed before them, watching as they spoke to each other, watching as they sat down and laughed amongst each other, watching them ad if they were zoo animals trapped in a cage for human observation.

Killian could feel the discomfort of his siblings that were spread across the stage. He couldn't, however, decypher if their discomfort was because they were impatient of the chime that would ring 30 minutes before 9 o'clock, or if it derived from being watched by the eyes of many judgmental strangers.

He himself, by mind felt mostly indifferent, but by body and soul was elated at the chance of once again being able to greet his beloved. A sad truth it is that he had been waiting for 15 years for another opportunity to arise.

The clock would tick slowly. Unbearably slowly. The Anxiousness of his siblings was palpable and the excitement spread through the air like oxygen, breathing it in while breathing out the sadness that often trailed behind them day in and day out.

Killian turned to his sweet sister Hope, the youngest of them. The child was only seven and had probably never felt excitement like this in her cursed life. Had never felt the sadness go away before. His heart broke for the young child and his blood raged at the thought of Allegra thinking she had any right to do this to them. But of course, he would never be able to admit that none of them had the power to stop her. Not without the lord grant.

His eyes then trailed to Eden, Ashley and Xen. 15, 14 and 12. Young boys who just barely missed meeting Luna and Sol at birth. The all seemed to hide behind different masks all for the same fear. Allegra.

The woman had Eden driven into a corner where he protected himself with high, thick walls and a lot of smoke. His face always kept the same blank expression from his hiding spot in the shadows but his eyes spoke of pain, anger and fear.

Ashley, bless his soul, was born blind and Albino. Always roaming around in bandages flinching at every sound he heard. And he heard a lot. Allegra had taken an instant disliking to him when he was born, simply because he possessed the same Albino as Luna. Blood didn't often drip from the zodiacs skin where Allegra was involved, but Ashley was an exception to that. But Killian knew that not all those scars Allegra inflicted.

Xen, the youngest of the three, was quiet and kind, always hiding behind a smile, he was often a beacon of light to the zodiacs but no one was ever there to light up his day. And while Killian wish he could take that spot, he knew very well that only one could make the young boy smile with genuine happiness.

Killian -

Every thing was going smooth, nothing had really interrupted the banquet say and the clock was only so far away from chiming 8:30 and I was counting down the seconds. Next to me, the ever calm Julian was looking positively breathtaking with the most genuine smile I have seen on his face since the day he was born.
Next to him was his twin, Angelo. While Angelo had often been much more compliant with Allegra than I personally deem acceptable, I find it hard to hate my brother for simply trying to keep himself safe.

People were milking around, stopping to take a look at us and admire us every so often but no one spoke to us or tried to interrupt our thought processes. Truthfully this was the worst part of new years. Every year I feel strengthened on the days of new years but still the pre-banquet celebration seems to drain me of any energy that I could've possibly been granted. Its required that we sit there for 12 hours and spend 6 of those hours "entertaining" the guests. Its ridiculous and humiliating.

Thankfully though, we await just 40 minutes before we can leave and prepare to meet with Luna. My heart spikes at the idea of seeing him again after so long. And time flew freely in free spirit.

The guests had been dismissed and my siblings and I were guided towards our bedrooms to take baths and prepare ourselves mentally for seeing our Luna. While it would seem

"Killian" a soft and dainty voice calls. Sydney was standing next to her twin brother Sina on my right trying to get my attention.

Sydney and Sina aren't human and while none of the zodiacs are, they aren't simply zodiacs either. They are demons, a bit strange but it is how it is. Both of them are dressed in red traditional Singaporean Cheongsam that was far more decorated than any Cheongsam you would normally see. They both have tiny horns that blended in with their black hair and shockingly gold eyes that stood out magnificently against their snowy skins. Sina draws my attention towards him as he speaks in a very quite, deep and calming voice.

"Whats he like?" Sina asks.

Both their eyes glow for a second with an almost questioning fear and yet acceptance. They knew that our beloved was always in pain. But to them, Luna is also Allegras son, how different could they possibly be? And yet the acceptance and faith in their eyes also told me that they wouldn't care what Luna did to them. A natural trust.

"Imagine the kindest of souls, trapped in the most beautiful of bodies."