A THIRST FOR BLOOD

01 | Mother knows best

Eris Sown

"Lower your head-"

"I don't understand why I should-"

I let out a deep breath. "You either lower your head or they will put it on a stick for everyone to see." I scolded Madeleine and once she finally lowered her head I found myself relaxing.

The strongest generals passed through the village. Returning back from a war no one expected them to win. The sound of their heavy feet crushing the freshly fallen snow made me open my eyes. I bit my bottom lip as a shiver went down my spine. I grip my shirt tightly as I look at the trail of blood they left behind them. Blood I knew didn't belong to them.

My sister nudges me in the side, pointing at the red-coated floor. My eyes go wide as I slap her hand away, pushing it back to her side. She scoffs rather loudly causing our mother to hit us both. It took a while before we were allowed to look up again. I rubbed my neck slowly and stretched my arms. My gaze still lingered in the direction they went.

From the village it's easy to see the palace where our king resides. While he lived lavishly we barely got by. Mother usually relies on the kindness of our neighbors, but kindness isn't guaranteed. It's only a matter of time before they grow tired of us. Only a fool will give away a part of their food for free.

"I swear I'm so tired of this." Madeleine shouts as she storms away from the scene. Takes her scarf off in annoyance. "Bow down, lower your head. Don't look at them. Don't point at them. Don't talk about them and especially do not ever offend the king." She slammed the door shut behind her once we entered our house. "Fuck the king."

My mother gasped loudly as she held her hand on her heart. Her eyes wide as she glanced at Madeleine in disbelief. She grabs a wooden stick. "You and that mouth of yours." She raises her hand ready to hit her but I quickly stand between the two.

"Mother, she is frustrated. She didn't mean to use such vulgar words." I try to defend my sister only for her to roll with her eyes and lock herself in our shared bedroom. I watch mother drop down to her knees in defeat. Her gaze glued on the floor as she took slow breathes.

I hunch down to her level. "Mom, are you alright?" She nodded her head yet the tears threatening to fall down betrayed her. "I don't know what to do. The factory cut people off again. If I lose this job we won't be able to get by even with the food Eleanor provides us with. So recompose herself quickly, wipe away the tears with the back of her hand.

"I...I can help." I said firmly, making my mother glance at me with raised eyebrows. "Yes, I think it's time I find a job a-"

"Absolutely not Eris." She objected immediately.

"Mother?" I called out to her in surprise, not expecting her to be so against it. "You're being unreasonable."

She doesn't answer, instead she shakes her head dismissing me. "Me wanting to protect you is unreasonable?" She questioned me with raised eyebrows.

"It's unsafe. You do not know the atrocities I have witnessed." Mother continued making me feel defeated.

"E-Estelle told me she could help me get a job at the palace mom. It's good pay, we need this." I argued hoping she would listen to me.

"Eris-" my heart sinks at the mention of my name. All the courage I gathered to bring this up was all in vain. "That's enough." She said barely above a whisper. Headed towards the kitchen leaving me in utter disbelief.

I admit, that hurt -much more than I had anticipated. Mother always gets the final word. I've never disobeyed her in my life, but this time was different. I didn't expect her to dismiss me. We needed more money to get by, agreeing was the most logical thing to do. Yet she refuses?