Beautifully Broken

04 | Double Stars

Chapter 4 :

The light from outside pours into the unblinded window causing me to wake up from my dreamless sleep.

Wow, I never thought I'd ever say that.

I lazily roll out of the covers that still want to bind me to my bed. But I know my worth and I don't feel welcome in a strangers lone bed. I shrug on my clothes from last night before trotting downstairs.

There I see Chase, Jackson and an unfamiliar lady, probably around the age of 25, sitting together and chatting over morning coffee. Chase's emerald eyes are the first to notice me.

"Brella," he says my name like he's not sure what to think, but a smirk plays on his lips to cover his confusion. I must look like I just awoke from a trash can.

"Bree," I hiss. I walk over to them silently debating what to say. I want to tell them that I want to go home... The only problem is that I don't exactly have a home.

Unless you count the Abyss. Which I definitely don't want to go back to. 

Or Valencia where I stayed until I was six. Maybe I could go back? Or maybe they would disgrace me because of what Leondro did? Honestly, I don't even think I'd even have the guts to face Leondro after he betrayed his own daughter like that.

"Bree," the other woman's frail voice shakes me out of thoughts. "I have something to tell you."

"You wanna start by actually giving me your name?" I smile a petty smile that's secretly filled with annoyance.

"Jocelyn Cairstairs," she pauses but I keep my hazel eyes fixed on her. "Your mothers sister."

I try my best to maintain my eyebrows from not shooting up and for my jaw to not drop to the ground. Even though her strawberry blonde hair isn't in any way similar to Chepi's black hair, her dark chocolatey eyes nearly mirror hers perfectly.

My mouth opens but I'm lost for words.

"I know it's hard-"

When she speaks I finally find my voice. "You expect my to believe you?" I merely laugh in all their faces.

She's going to turn out just like Chepi.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I focus on her eyes intensely so I won't have to see the demons mocking faces. Jocelyn doesn't speak, instead she lifts up the sleeves on her left wrist and shows me the mark of the Ritchers.

Right below her left thumb lies a small double star. The same mark Chepi has and her mother has, Twyla Ritcher. However, I was thankfully left out and I don't bare the same marking.

Instead I'm left with a birth mark in the shape of a crescent moon under my right ear. Usually it's covered with my long caramel colored hair.

"Okay," I still stare at it in mock disbelief. "Maybe I believe you."

She smiles a non teeth smile and I'm not sure if it's a real or fake one. The corners of her eyes wrinkle up when she smiles, it's something my eyes don't do.

"Why are you here?" I don't try at all to hide to discomfort in my small voice.

Jocelyn looks at Jackson which makes my eyes trail toward him. "Well since we found you a relative, you can stay with her."

I roll my eyes: "I thought you wanted me to help you find the demon thing?"

Jacksons pale blue eyes light up. "Of course! Jocelyn just lives next door."

"Oh," I cross my arms because I think my words must've misled him. "I'm still not helping you."

Jacksons eyes droop but he doesn't say anything in respond. Chase gracefully gets up from his seat and nudges at my arm. "C'mon Brealla, we're taking you shopping."