Beneath The Surface

Act 2 - Astaroth Nightingale

Normal text
Thinking
Onomatopoeia

Caitlyn's POV
Once the front door closed, Vi remarked, "Well... That was quick."

As usual, her cheeky comment ticked me off like no tomorrow.

I swiped her annoying hand away from my mouth, "Don't come at me with the 'that was quick' nonsense. Why did you let her go alone???"

Vi tapped her chin mockingly, "Ummm... Because she can??? We're not her parents. So who are we to stop her?"

I rubbed my temples in frustration, "But our job is to protect her."

"'Protect' her?"

Vi pointed at the front door in exasperation, "Cupcake, have you seen the crazy look in her eyes??? That's not the eyes of a weak damsel! She doesn't need protection. It's others that should be protected from her!"

I pursed my lips, clearly knowing the truth behind Vi's words but still not unwilling to shirk my responsibility like this, "But you already know how Luna made enemies with all the Council members. If any one of them were to find out she's alone—"

"If they find out and annoy her, we will be fishing their bodies up from the bottom of the ocean."

She patted my shoulder reassuringly, "Relax, Cait. She's strong. She can handle herself."

Strong... Physically, yes... But emotionally...

"Not with that look in her eyes..." I mumbled.

Not with that look of utter despair in her eyes. It has always been there ever since I first saw Luna. Her usual smiling face couldn't hide it at all. Even when she became a wealthy businesswoman with the Council at her beck and call, the depression never once left her eyes. Which was funny because most folks would revel at the position she was currently in now. Having both power and wealth in her hands. But not Luna. It's as if nothing she did mattered to her. She's just doing everything for the sake of it.

Vi sighed and smoothed out my furrowed brows, "Cait, you need to let her go. Let her figure things out. If she's in trouble, we will help her then. You can't keep babying and sheltering her like this."

My cheeks flushed at her rubbish words and I stuttered, "W-What?! I'm not babying her!"

An annoying smirk plastered across this cheeky girl's face as she continued teasing, "Oh yes you are, Mommy Caitlyn. Honestly, when you frown, you remind me of your mom. Always so uptight. Helicopter parenting 24/7. I guess it runs in the family."

"Shut up, Vi."

She whistled and sat beside me, lazing on the couch.

Speaking of crazy...

"By the way, how's your sister?"

Now it's Vi's turn to frown.

She rubbed the back of her head, "Powder? She's... fine, I guess. Getting all the help she needs. At least she's less insane than Luna now. That's a sign of improvement in my books."

The air was stiff and quiet. Because both of us were well aware of her sister's mental condition. It's been so warped by Silco and the shimmer in her bloodstream that she even attempted to destroy the Council. Literally. She fired a rocket at the building. If it weren't for Luna, death would have been all but guaranteed for everyone in that room. Including Mother...

After all that shenanigans simmered down, the Council members were in favour of executing Jinx. Fortunately, since Vi and I have already agreed to work for Luna, she intervened, saying that she would find a way to help that crazy girl. Normally, this wouldn't fly under those people's rule. However, the contract left them no choice but to obey the person who saved them. That's how much power this girl had. And yet, she still had that depressed look all the time...