The Zodiac Bond

Chapter 1: The Announcement

*Up-to-date revised & edited chapter

The fresh scent of French lavender swam in the air like molasses as Cancier Moone and her father sat silently at the dining room table. She couldn't remember the last time she had been alone in a room with him and yet she was in no desire to make any kind of conversation with him.

Cancier was certain that if she opened she mouth she would be sick all over the glass tabletop.

"It'll be your first time away from home, won't it?" he asked.

She couldn't even bring herself to look him, trying to pay attention to anything else as she fought the tightening in her throat and the stinging in her eyes.

A part of her couldn't understand why he was letting this happen. Sure, Cancier wasn't a welcome part of the family, only an illegitimate daughter, after all. But still. Shouldn't being his child count for something? She couldn't help what he did. His infidelity doesn't automatically mean she was less deserving of love than Nicole or Draya.

Then again, what does she know? Maybe this is exactly how the world works and she needs to just accept it and move on.

Cancier wasn't looking at him but she could feel his eyes burning a hole into the side of her head. She determinedly kept looking away. If she looked into his eyes, she couldn't be certain she wouldn't burst into tears or start yelling at him. Maybe he deserved it.

As used to this treatment as Cancier was, there was some part of her that was so hurt, so broken by what they were doing. It felt wrong. It felt like they shouldn't get to treat her this way. And yet, they do.

The sound of Christian Louboutin's heels clacking against the floor alerted Cancier to Draya's presence only seconds before the overwhelming floral scent of her perfume did. Cancier grit her teeth and fought the urge to spit at the brunette beauty smirking at her from the marble staircase.

"Arnold, dear, why don't you go make sure Cancier's cab is here while we check and make sure she has everything?"

No, she thought desperately. Cancier could feel the aggression radiating off Draya as if it was tangible. She didn't think she could handle a psychic attack right now. Don't leave me here with her, not even for two seconds.

But, of course, when has her dad ever paid attention to anything she said, aloud or otherwise.

"Of course, dear," he smiled, springing dutifully out of his chair to kiss Draya's smooth, porcelain cheek and glide out of the front door with only a vague wave to Cancier.

She didn't need to have her sixth sense to know what he was feeling as he left the room. Relief. Both at having Cancier out of the house and at being able to escape their awkward encounter.

All those years, Cancier always thought her dad was the one person in her corner, the one person who didn't hate her.

But was indifference and reluctant obligation really any better?

"Make sure you have everything, I don't want you to have to come back for anything," Draya drawled cooly, voice stripped of any warmth it held when Cancier's father was there.

Her true meaning was clear: This would be the last day that Cancier was stepping foot into the house without it being summer break. Then again, that was underestimating Draya. Her stepmother would probably still find an excuse to ship Cancier off for the summer as well.

"I have everything," Cancier said resolutely.

A second pair of footsteps came bouncing happily down the stairs as Nicole practically skipped down the steps and flounced into a seat at the table.