Thicker than Water

Chapter Eleven

"You look really pretty with your hair like this," Marissa said as she twisted my hair into a braid.  She took a pin off the dresser and pinned back a long strand that wouldn't go into the braid.  She fixed my bangs to where they hung in my face neatly.  It was rather unusual for me to be doing my hair to this extent, but she insisted on it.

Margo, who was sitting on the stool by me, was watching Marissa's hands closely.  "Mommy," she said and pointed to a strand that escaped.  Marissa sighed and pinned the strand.  I smiled at the bond her and Margo shared, the one all the children shared with Marissa actually.  It was something I could never relate to seeing as my mother didn't care to bond with me when I was growing up.  In fact, she used me plenty of times to convince men to marry her.  She used to be abusive until I was able to shove her away from me.  I had been thirteen when I finally had had enough.  Yet after everything she had done, I loved her still.

Marisol comes in and looks at my hair.  "Mom, can you do me next," she asked as she fiddled with her own dark hair.  "Miss Rose, you have very pretty hair.  It's so red..."  She moves to stand on the other side of me next to her sister.  She pulls a few strands free from the braid.  "Mom, let some hang to frame her face.  It'll make her eyes more noticeable."  Marisol looks at my face.  "Are your eyes violet purple?  That's so cool."

"Sis, let mommy concentrate," Margo said.  She tilts her head and points to a something on my neck.  "What's that?" 

I reached up and touched my neck, feeling a cool metal beneath my fingers.  Marissa stopped doing my hair and I glanced down at it.  A silver dragon wrapped around a flat red stone.  I picked it up and admired it.  The dragon had amazing detail for it's size, reminding me of the statue and fountain from before.  The dragon's eyes were closed as if it were sleeping.  I glanced up at Marissa who simply shrugged.  I looked back down and said, "Maybe my brother put it on me."

"Aw, that's so sweet," Marisol said and picked up the dragon.  "You should thank him when we're done."  I blushed at the thought but nodded.  Marissa had been the first to tell me about us leaving this early in the morning.  She also had apparently seen me sleeping on the swing with Haden, who hadn't been asleep yet.  He had simply let me sleep.  She knew exactly what my brother and I were now.  And I was unable to convince her otherwise. 

Luigi brought over the cloak I had worn when I arrived the other day.  Marissa let me stand and I pulled it on.  She moved the braid to drape over my shoulder.  "There you go," she muttered then smiled at me.  "I'll met you guys downstairs after I get the kids ready."

I nodded and waved to the kids before leaving her room.  In the hallway, I took a deep breath then ventured down the hall to the stairs.  Haden was waiting for me at the bottom step.  He tilted his head as he looked at me.  His expression grew mischievous and he held out a hand to me.  I came down the stairs and stopped on the one before his.  On the step, I was almost at his eye level.

"Your hair looks nice," he complimented.  Then he looked down at the pendant around my neck for a moment and the corners of his smile twitched.  I tucked it back into my shirt and pecked him on the lips.  He smiled again.  "You ready then?"

I was about to come down the last step when he picked me up and set me down on the ground floor.  I glared at him and punched him lightly on the chest.  He simply laughed at me.  "You're so mean," I told him and he grinned.  He stroked my cheek and was about to kiss me when Sam's voice interrupted.  He stepped away quickly as Sam entered the room. 

"Hey, Rosie," Sam said brightly and strode over to me.  He hugged me tightly and I gasped for air.  "You look a lot healthier than when we met!"  He let me go and I took several deep breaths.  His hand held my chin and he looked at Mt face closely.  I grew flustered and tired to move out of his hold.  He laughed and put a hand on my shoulder.  "You seem a little disappointed...."