LUNAR - The Low Dawn

Chapter One

"Can I wear these? You never do."

I turn around to see Domitia holding up my platinum beads. They twist and roll in her fingers, and it's obvious she wants them for the ceremony today.

"Whatever you want," I said.

My sister purses her lips, then slides on the bunk next to me. I can smell her overdone perfume, and feel the stiffness from all the hair set in her curls.

"You're nervous."

"How cliché," I say, rolling my eyes. "I am though."

"It'll be fine," she assures, like she does with everything. "All you're doing is getting your predetermined mate for like that you're going to breed with and live with for the rest of your life and taking off from the house and never seeing our parents again. Maybe you can set up the first colony on Pluto if you have time left over."

I laugh and hug my knees closer, not caring if the dress fabric gets rumpled. I'll be stuck with someone for life that I don't even know yet, so who cares what they think. I don't.

"I hope my mate's handsome...and charming...and sweet, and lovable, and..."

"And have genes that makes the government exterminate him and his family," I snap. "Then you get paired up with a different boy who's ignorant and smelly and the ugliest thing you've ever seen."

"You're cruel," Domitia mocks back. "Don't jinx yourself now, it may as well happen to you. Now, can I wear these or not?"

"I said whatever you want?"

"But is that a yes or a no?"

"A hesitant yes."

With a squeal, Domitia launched herself at me and squeezed me tightly.

"Thank you," she breathes. "I'll look beautiful tonight. Maybe my mate will think so too."

"Who cares what your mate thinks," I scoff. "Damn him for all I care."

"Shh! Don't!" Domitia shrieked, clapping her manicured nails over my mouth. "It's bad luck."

"How?" I answer, laughing, and batting her hands away.

Shrugging, Domitia slid off the bunk and headed towards the mirror for the seventh time that hour.

"I don't know," she said softly, suddenly serious. "I just feel it."

Breathing out heavily, Domitia began pawing through my tiny metal nightstand, pulling out a minuscule case of lip tint. Unscrewing the tiny cap, she swirled the tip of her pinky finger in the waxy disk and started spreading it over my lips.

"What are you doing?" I protest, trying to push her finger away.

"Making you not look like a total hopeless case for our mate ceremony tonight," she answered curtly. "You're going to be outshone if you just show up like this."

"I'm already outshines," I retorted. "Even by you, and that's saying something."

Domitia's cheeks flushed .

"I am beautiful," she announced, flinging her arms back. "And If I can make myself look that way, than I can make you look somewhat desirable."

"I don't want to look desirable. Why look that way? Men don't control us."

"It's not for your 'damned mate', Ourania. It's for you."

"And how?"

Licking her lips nervously, Domitia replaced the canister of lip tint and brought out a pale pink container of cheek powder and and some cream the exact color of my skin.

"This is to hide any signs of despair after you meet your mate," she joked. "Me? I'll need a lot more."

And deep down, I know she's right about everything.