FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

6) Community Service and Kidnappings

I stood beside Thanatos not daring to look at him.

Instead of worrying about my brother I focused on the blue ruffled dress I was wearing with the simple work shoes and a lace necklace with a black stone in the middle.

"...so Alexandra, you will get the north of the Clan and Thanatos, you will get the south." Said our father frowning slightly as he liked at Thanatos.

I looked up to see what Father was looking at and immediately regretted it. Thanatos was glaring at me, his blue-green eyes slightly darker than what they usually were.

He was wearing a light blue shirt and dark brown pants with leather boots. His short hair was brushed so it was sticking up and leaning slightly to one side.

I looked back down at my dress and clicked my heal on the stone floor.

"Well," My father clasped his hands together trying his best to break the tension in the room. "You better get started."

Gaius put his hand on my shoulder and led me away as Robert practically dragged Thanatos outside. He was still staring at me.

~~~~~~~~~~

I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my dirty hand. I have been to seven houses so far and wasn't even half finished.

I had cleaned the Westons' and the Niles' houses. I washed the Pertersons' clothes, milked the Duvonts' cows, and babysat for Lucy Wild. I helped Mr. and Mrs. Carver bake for five kids, and right now I'm finishing up working in the garden with little Riley.

I looked over down the isle of houses and just barely saw Thanatos chopping wood for old Mrs. Adelaide.

He seemed to sense me staring at him and looked up at me with glowing eyes. I frowned at being caught and he smirked and went back to chopping.

~~~~~~~~~~

I jumped in the buggy and instantly laid down. My dress was muddy and torn in places and my feet had blisters on them. My nails were caked with dirt and who knows what else. The roses in my hair had long fallen out and my hair was disheveled.

I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. Someone stepped into the buggy but I didn't look up. I was too tired to see who was sitting in front of me.

"You look like a duckling that got tossed into a boar pit." Chuckled Thanatos.

I jumped up in my seat and stared wide eyed at my brother sitting before me.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up and his tanned skin was covered in beads of sweat, but what I noticed most was the gleaming silver  knife being tossed back and forth in Thanatos' hands and a light sparkle in his eyes.

I opened my mouth to scream but Thanatos interrupted me.

"Don't even think about it Alexandra. I wouldn't want to do something I'd regret," I pushed my back against the seat and stared at him like he was insane-which he was.

"S-so you admit that you don't want to k-kill me?" I faked a smile and grasped the ruffles of my skirt in my shaking hands.

He smirked. "No, I just don't want to have to kill whoever tried to come to your rescue."

I gasp and hold my hand to my mouth not believing that he would kill anyone in our clan just to get to me.

"You wouldn't!" I whispered, my voice cracking as I did.