ANATOMY OF A GIRL

december 13th, 1808

Location:
Cara'cius, Svet'dmai

Caius grew closer to Rebekka as the weeks passed, spending a vast majority of his time in her presence. In the past few weeks, they'd taken a dozen walks around the city and forest, ate lunch at enchanted cafés, and he'd even helped her at Ashenya on a few occasions.

He soon forgot what life was like before Rebekka, before Cara'cius and the eternal spell. It was then that he realised that he'd never felt anything quite like this for any one person. It was a strange feeling that tickled his stomach and brought shivers down his spine.

He'd woken late that day, making the decision to get ready hastily and surprise Rebekka at the shop. He made a stop in the kitchen for late breakfast, but was surprised by his mother's presence. He suddenly realised that he'd never seen his mother outside of these walls. He never quite considered what she did to keep herself busy, but the thought that she stayed in this house for weeks at a time brought a pain to his chest. This wasn't a life. Caius would almost call it imprisonment.

"Are you going to see your friend?" she asked with a smile, passing him a sandwich.

"Yes," he replied, returning the smile as best he could. He didn't want leave her alone, but he also couldn't bare to watch her flutter around the kitchen like a trapped butterfly. "Would you like to come for a walk?"

"Oh no," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I have much to do here."

Caius nodded. Was this his father's doing, or was this imprisonment her own decision?

He left the house quickly, leaving his mother to her own devices. He made his way toward the city's centre at a brisk pace, excited to see Rebekka once more — craving the way her eyes lit up, the way she smiled as if every minute was a dream.

Approaching the shop, he felt sparks run down his limbs, nerves on fire. He could hear laughter coming from within — a deep laugh he didn't recognize, and a faint, feminine one that he did. Once he'd stepped inside, he knew something was different. Almost wrong. His stomach pulsated against his diaphragm.

At the counter, Rebekka stood with a boy. A Half-Witch. Despite the discomfort festering inside him, he approached them nonetheless.

"Morning," he greeted.

Rebekka's eyes flew to him quickly, growing larger by the second.

"Oh, Caius, hello. How are you?" she said, smiling as though she was nervous.

"I am fine," he said flatly, looking toward the boy bluntly. He already disliked him.

"This is Demarko," she introduced, placing her hand on the boy's arm. "And Mark, this is Caius."

Demarko's eyes seem to widen slightly. He moved closer to Rebekka and whispered, "This fool? This is him?"

Caius cleared just throat. He felt rage rise up inside him like the tide. He wasn't sure if the boy had meant to whisper quite so loud with malicious intent, or was just incompetent. "Excuse me?" he prodded, balling his hands into fists.

"Oh, nothing." He shrugged, looking Caius up and down. "I just thought Caius Bane would be bigger, a bit stronger even, that is all."

"You know nothing of strength. Not if it looked you dead in the eyes."

"Really?" He taunted. "I believe a duel is in order."

A duel? It was a foolish thought, Caius knew. Reckless even. For him to participate, it would mean revealing himself — and thereby his family — to the witching world. There were but whispers of their powers, none knew for certain what they were fully capable of, and this simple duel would complicate matters immeasurably — perhaps even expose the Bane's and their limits. He knew that his father would so disapprove, and would undoubtedly punish him for it. He'd built an idealised life for them in Cara'cius, one that was nowhere near perfect but one that Halcyon had always dreamt of. And to see it be shattered by his son's wicked stupidity—