Counting Crows

VI; ONE FOR SORROW

April 18th, 117 AS

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I stare at his grave. Perseus Crawford, it read, May the wild crows guide him to peace.

I placed down the bouquet of white roses. The purity of the white contrasted sharply against the aging gray of his tombstone and yellow-green color of the dying grass.

The roses would die within the week, and I'd be back with more. It was out of habit, even though I wish it wasn't.

Every week at three in the afternoon, I'm in the graveyard, visiting my beloved brother.

"Goodbye, brother." I stuff my hands in my pocket. Even though it was a lovely spring day, I couldn't stay and talk to him. I had to attend Eris Verity's choosing.

Choosings are important events in Arachmoor, you pick the person you will "marry". Marriage isn't the same in Arachmoor as it is in the books I've read. Marriage isn't a promise to always love someone. Marriage is a partnership, your only duty to each other is to have children. Most of the time it does turn into love, but in my parent's case it only turned into hate.

As I walk down the path I spot a crow. A single crow. It cawed at me and I scoffed. Pests, that's what crows were. My family loves the crows, but I hate them. No matter where I went there were always crows. Crawford's curse of birds and clairvoyance was much better than the Madlock gift to hear and speak to the dead.

The crow keeps following me as I continue into town. Only one crow, sorrow was soon to befall. It might be wrong though, I was never good at remembering the meanings of the crows. I didn't care about anything after Percy died.

I haven't cared about anything since he died.

"Leave me alone," I tell the crow as I stare it down. It cawed at me and flew away. A warning. It was nothing, it was always nothing. It was just a stupid legend.

I cross the bridge that leads into town.

"Good afternoon, Corbin." Kalonice Golding says. I bow slightly in her direction and tip my hat off to greet her. She curtsies. I look back up at Kalonice, her white eye was covered by her golden hair. It was her Uncle, he hated that she was a mutt. I don't know why he dragged her away from me. He hates her.

"And good afternoon to you, Kalonice." I watch as she hides her face behind her fan. "Are you going to the cemetery?" I ask her as I look off into the river.

"Yes. How is it today?"

"Positively dreary, as always." She laughs behind her fan. "Will I see you at Eris' choosing?"

"Certainly." I kiss her hand, there's a buzz in my lips as I stand upright. She smiles and we walk our separate ways. I hear the clicking of her heels getting fainter as I stride into town.

The smile drops from my face. I was barely living at this point. There was nothing that I was waiting for, except the icy embrace of death. This town doesn't help. People stare at you while you grieve your brother.

But, besides the people, Arachmoor is a quaint little town. No one leaves, and no one enters. The wild woods that surround us make sure that no one can harm us again.

There is a quiet hush into the air that sends shivers down your spine in the colder months. The metallic taste of blood is almost always in the air. When the wind blows you can hear the whine of the lost souls, forever traveling through this desolate town.

I pass by a few more people, getting things for Eris' Choosing. They nod their heads as I stroll through town.

They're scared of me. I attract the crows and no one wants to be by me.