Embracing The Moon

Chapter 4

I could see the anger darkening in my brothers’ eyes and I couldn’t help but cringe inside. It had failed to dawn on me that I was beginning to burn until my brother pointed it out and I met his raging eyes calmly.

            “Get your ass in the house.” He finally growled at me but I saw his eyes softening at the sight of my sensitive flesh.

            “I thought I was going to get back before you woke up. Otherwise I would have left you a note.” I walked inside to go grab a water bottle from the fridge and noticed we needed to go shopping.

            “What was the hold up?” Caine asked as he watched me with a cool expression and leaned against the edge of the counter and I mirrored his action.

            “I got lost in the woods.” I took a swig of the water.

            “That’s unusual.” Caine eyed me with skeptical eyes but I noticed the relief there at seeing me back here.  

            “You thought I’d left.” I stated and couldn’t help the wounded expression cross my face as I saw him try to rein in his surprise. He couldn’t hide that he had thought I ran away and it hurt. His bazaar actions made sense now.

            “I knew you didn’t like the school and I just thought,” He took a step towards me and I hastily stepped out of reach. Caine’s hand hanging in the gap between us.

            “You thought I was just like Abel.” I felt the bitterness of the words in my mouth. Before he could jump in I felt the words clawing their way out but I didn’t raise my voice or cry, “I’m disappointed in you Caine.”

            “Cecilia-,” He began but I just closed my eyes and shook my head.

            “You know. You damn well know that I’d never do that, I couldn’t do that to anyone, especially not you. I thought you knew me better than that.” I felt the sting in my eyes and I turned away instead but I paused on the bottom stair. “I’m nothing like him.” I could almost see my brother flinch at the cold tone I used.

            Instead of waiting for a reply, I ran up the stairs steadily and closed my door softy and locked it. I slid down the length of the wood and I strained against the tears but the hurt of the doubt in Caine’s eyes just hurt so damn much. It melted my hardened exterior, leaving behind the vulnerable girl that wasn’t good enough.

            My eyes roamed over the floor board to where I had stashed that letter but I was filled with too much betrayal already for one day to even try and consider reading it yet. I heard the stealthy steps of my brother and I hugged my knees to my chest, hoping that he would just go away but I heard the heavy sigh and the quiet knock on the door.

            I didn’t move from my spot. My heavy heart weighed me down to the floor and I heard the sound of his forehead hitting the door softly.

            “Cecilia.” Caine pleaded and all I did was sit there silently, hoping like hell that he would go away and after an hour at my door pleading, did I finally hear his retreating footsteps and I couldn’t help but think that it would have just been better if I answered but it just hurt too much to think he was looked at me and saw him.