Embracing The Moon

Chapter 3

 I woke up early and just quietly starred at the ceiling of the still dark room. Taking a quick look at the clock and seeing that it was only 4 in the morning made me want to go back to sleep but instead I got up and went and changed into sports gear before stretching and wandering downstairs quietly.

I stilled on the third stair from the bottom when I heard it creek under my weight and made a mental note but I heard the still soft breathing from Caine. Instead of going straight to the backdoor like I planed I caught sight of something white sticking out of the box that my brother had failed to unpack.

Instead of going out the door I cautiously looked around for any signs of Caine before grabbing the piece of paper. I’d never seen it before, since I tried to avoid this box as much as possible and I could wait till it got shoved back in some dark and forgotten corner once again.

The logical part of my brain was telling me that there was no harm in reading a letter but the furious beating in my chest was telling me I was going to be in a world of shock. I turned on the light in the living room and I let my eyes drift to the paper.

I should have listed the furious beating in my chest.

My heart stopped at the achingly familiar hand writing of Abel and I had to force myself to not throw the damned white sheet from myself but I realized that I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t read the letter, not at this moment in time. Instead of putting it back in the box like a smart cookie, I retraced my steps to my room; careful to avoid the third step and placed the letter beneath a loose floorboard.

I stepped back and breathed through my mouth, ever mindful of the quiet snores from down the hall and snuck back outside. Needing to feel the ground beneath the soles of my trainers and the wind in my long hair, I needed to feel free. Like the earth wasn’t shattering beneath me very being.

Caine was keeping things from me. The last family I could rely on was slowly moving away from me and I didn’t know what to do, this was uncharted territory. My brother and I were always open and that didn’t change with age but things were changing now.

After an hour and a half of running around I finally admitted that even in the daylight I was lost but I had always managed to find my way back home. It was only a matter of time before I would have the sensation of Caine near me like a life raft but I didn’t know if I really wanted that safety precaution anymore.

The more that I ran the more I realized I  was ignoring the tugged, I wasn’t going home like I normally would but as much as I tried I couldn’t get the familiar feeling back. The sun beat down on my sensitive skin and was thankful for the trees that helped somewhat.

Too distracted in my own world I didn’t notice the giant tree in my way and I hit it full force but arms surrounded me before I could hit the ground. Slightly dazed I looked around as I waited for the world to right itself and I noticed that it wasn’t a tree that I ran into but a guy. I hoped trees wouldn’t have arms otherwise I’d question how hard I actually hit my head.

“Miss?” I looked to where the deep voice was coming from before I met dark forest green eyes. My world paused as I looked away from the amazing male creature and tried to make the world go full spin again as he peered at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t expect anyone out here. I would have paid attention otherwise.” I smiled embarrassedly and took a step away from the man. I tried not to stare at his Adonis like features or fix his disheveled honey blonde hair or run my hands over his muscular tanned skin.

“Don’t worry about it.” He said gruffly as I awkwardly tried to put more space between us. He was tall and I didn’t want to be crane my neck to thank him and I couldn’t stand the bare sight of his chest right in my face.   

I didn’t think it was socially acceptable to maul barely clothed strangers in the woods.

“You wouldn’t by chance know how I could get back to the academy would you?” I asked after my brief moment of stunned.

“You go there?” The male said and I caught a flash of apprehension in those haunting green eyes.

“I live in the Victorian house on the east side of campus, I just moved in yesterday.” I laughed a little, “I got a little turned around as you can see.” I held my hand out and waited for him to accept the hand shake as it was only polite, watching his facial expressions closely as I gauged if he was trust worthy or not. His eyes narrowed but he stuck his hand into mine and engulfed it and I jumped at the slight shock that ran up my arm at the contact.

“I’m Cecilia.” I added slightly breathless.

“Calum.” He didn’t release my hand until he spoke but I hardly noticed after the heartbreaking grin he sent my way.

I cleared my through, “It was nice meeting you but I should be getting back,” and like that I was off. Racing back to the direction of home and I couldn’t help but smile but I also felt off, like I was missing something big.

After another hour of breathless running I finally found my way back to the light blue Victorian house and I noticed movement from inside the house. I didn’t even venture up the stairs to know that I was in deep shit and a verbal bashing.

“Where the hell have you been?” Caine roared as he stepped out of the house and I saw the furious glint in his eye. “What the hell are you wearing?” He roared and I frowned slightly and looked down at the sports bra and shorts that had seemed like a better idea the more that I ran.

“Running?” I asked with a nervous smile that slowly wilted.