Sanguine

Big Change

Such was the life of a Karnstein. But on one particular night, just a little after Mircalla had turned 10 years old, everything changed. And the family had been right in the middle of dinner when it happened. While Ferenc and Jusztina sat together at the far end of the table, discussing something between themselves, the other seven were scattered throughout the other seats lining the table, and they were causing mischief, as usual.

Mircalla was playing with Magdalena under the table. Margreta was busy seeing how many rolls she could stuff into her mouth at once. Maria was carving something into the underside of the table. Maximiliana was trying to make people out of her vegetables. And Matilda was stealing dessert. Then at one point, Mircalla popped back up into her seat to kick Magdalena, earning an indignant cry and a pinch to the ankle.

"Ouch!" Mircalla complained, trying to kick Magdalena again. But this time, she missed.

"Enough!" Marcia rumbled softly, eyes darting from her parents to her sisters. Their parents were oblivious, lost in their own conversation.

"I got it," Margreta replied, then she slid forward in her seat until she was in a slouched position. Then she proceeded to kick both Magdalena and Mircalla at the same time. That earned her... three indignant cries. Two from Mircalla and Magdalena, then one from Marcia.

"I told you, enough!" she snapped, but it was of little use. Maria and Matilda both laughed, which incited Margreta to look pleased with herself.

"Hey! I want in on the fun!" Maximiliana complained, then she lashed her foot out.

"Ouch!"

"Oooh, who did I get?"

"Me! You idiot!" Mircalla swatted Maximiliana's legs angrily, but this only earned a laugh from her and Maria. Then Maria kicked.

"God give me strength," Marcia sighed, burying her face in her hands.

"She kicked me first!" Mircalla whined when Marcia shot her another glare.

"No I didn't!" the accused sister, Maria, argued.

"I find that hard to believe!" Margreta snorted, knowing full well how aggressive Maria was.

"Shut up!" Maria snapped back, kicking Margreta.

"Oww!" she complained. Then she kicked back.

"Knock it off you guys!" Marcia warned again, kicking them both. Then she yanked her leg back with an angry shriek. Someone had actually bitten her! She looked down to see Magdalena's stupid face grinning at her. She scowled while the others all snorted. Mircalla was next.

"You bully!" her laughter stopped at once as she crawled under the table to have at Magdalena with her fists. That was when Matilda kicked Marcia, but tried to angle her foot so that the blow would be blamed on Margreta. It worked and Marcia gave her a death glare.

"I didn't do it that time!" the middle sister tried to protest.

"Yeah right!" Matilda rolled her eyes. That was when she kicked Margreta.

"Jerk!" Margreta drew back before kicking Matilda.

"Owww!" someone whined. Ok, so Margreta had not kicked Matilda. Instead, judging by the angry cry, it had been Mircalla.

"Oops," Margreta grinned sheepishly. Mircalla bit her. "OUCH!" Margreta's grin turned into a scowl and she kicked both Mircalla and Magdalena.

"Stop!" Marcia commanded, kicking again. Maria ended up getting hit and she made sure to kick back. Maximilian then hit Marcia's other leg.