Embracing The Moon

Chapter 1

It was getting dark already and I knew that I should have went to the market earlier, but stubbornly refused too. Glancing at the walls of forest on either side of the broken cobble stone street, and trusted the eerie feeling in my gut. I felt eyes on me like heavy hands from the woods and I kept my careful strides, hyper aware of the way my dress felt against my thighs. I should at least worn pants.

My grip on the bag tighter and with determined steps walked home.

“Cecilia,” Caine called as I walked to the kitchen. “You should at least tell me when you’re about to wander out before dark.” He abolished as I raised an eyebrow before wordlessly unpacking the bag.

“I couldn’t go out during the day,” I shrugged. “The fridge was empty and I was beginning to starve.” I began fixing myself a sandwich before my brother took the butter knife and do it himself.

“I forgot to go shopping,” He apologized as I grabbed his mug and smelt it, quickly setting it down while making a face. I knew he’d be frustrated if he saw that, but I smile as I watched him cut the crust off.

I laughed and sat down on my usual perch at the windowsill as much as it drove my brother crazy. My eyes wandered lazily over his tall frame and his short dark hair, but it was always his eyes that caught me. They looked so much like my fathers, what I could remember of him at least; the sharp, deep blue that could cut. So unlike own weird shade of light blue almost white looking eyes that caught to many unwanted stares.

Caine was the only one ever to be able to surprise me. When he handed the acceptance letter to St. Raphael’s academy I looked at it with question before turning to look at him. I knew that this was not something I would find amusing in any shape or form, I had a bad feeling about venturing there. The feeling made me weary and I was taught to trust my gut.

“What is this?” I asked, hoping the answer was something different.

“They offered me a job,” Caine pulled off his wire rimmed glasses to clean them and stared at me, gaging my reaction as he just casually leaned against the kitchen counter. I leaned against the doorway to the kitchen and folded my arms and thought about the creepy school that I had seen on our way to this town. It was good hour away from the small town that I still had yet to call home.

The school was of monstrous proportions and was surrounded by creepy forest on a hill that over looked the town, anyone could easily get lost there and not be found ever again.

“I don’t really have a say in this, do I?” I asked quietly.

I watch as my brother gave a slow smile, and knew that tomorrow we were heading for the academy.

*                      *                      *

“You’re not still angry are you?” Caine asked as I stared wordlessly out the window and watched the green pass by. The sky was gray and threatened to rain and I couldn’t help but think that it matched my mood, anticipating the feelings wreaking havoc in my chest.

“I was never angry, Caine.” I reasoned as I finally turned to look at him. I could tell that my silence was worrying him, but I just didn’t have anything to say.

“You’re never this quiet.” He frowned and watched the road.

“There’s nothing to say.” I muttered and felt guilt stirring in my stomach. Caine had given up a lot for me and this family after our parents had been murdered. After our oldest brother hopped the boat and ran off the radar it was just the two of us and I loved it. There was never a dull moment in our lived but I did always think that things would have turned out differently if our parents would have lived or maybe Abel would have stuck around.

Caine and I didn’t run on what if’s though. We had a good life and we lived comfortably where ever we were but I felt never fading guilt. I had taken some of the best years from his life. Instead of giving me to the state, Caine and at the time, Abel; had taken care of me and watched over me when we were orphaned.

Angry as I was, I couldn’t hate our oldest brother for cutting all ties and running three years ago. Not many people could handle a teenage girl and the trauma of losing our parents, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop though.

“You always have a smartass comment, I don’t know who you think you’re kidding.” Caine grumbled and I smacked his arm.

“I wonder where I learned that from,” I paused before yelling the obvious, “Caine.” I accused jokingly and I watched a grin light up his face at our useless banter.

“I think you got that more from Abel.” Caine laughed but realized his blunder the second he spoke it but it was already out there and it was too late to take back. He knew that Abel was a sore spot for both of us and a subject neither one of us was willing to touch. I saw him take a deep breath, about to apologize.

“It fine,” Smiling even though it hurt to even think about him and I felt guilt come crawling back. I wanted to talk about this with Caine but the wound was still fresh and I was still tender towards the whole abandonment thing. Knowing that he wanted to talk about this but I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about the runner.

“Are you ready?” Caine asked and I took a deep breath, not knowing if he was referring to the Academy or Abel. Either way I didn’t want to state the obvious and sour my brothers’ mood anymore.

Instead of answering I reached over and turned up the radio and cranked it. “This is my favorite song,” And began belting out the lyrics which thoroughly distracted Caine as he began to tease me about my crappy singing skills.