Force of Nature

Chapter 3

The moon was full, bright and beautiful as it shone high in the sky. Maisri McDonald observed it fixatedly through a circular gap in the pine branches as she sat on the wooden floorboards outside her cell. She lifted the bottle of wine she had pilfered from the food store to her lips, taking a long swig. Numbness had become her friend. The bottle was nearly empty. Maybe that was why the moon seemed so pretty? Maisri had stopped feeling the Northern winters cold at the bottles half-way point. Now she just sat in the welcoming silence of the moonlight. She had always loved the night. At night, one could be anyone or anything.

The creaking of wood alerted her to another presence. After a couple of minutes, light footfalls became audible, steps that had been previously muffled against the damp, snow-covered wood. A smile spread itself across her face as she recognised the gait. Surreptitiously, she wiped her sweater across her face in a vain attempt to sober herself up.

"Maisri?" The soft feminine voice called. She leaned her head back against the hut, smiling softly.

"Over here, Rhea," Maisri called back.

The footfalls rounded the side of her hut and then she came into sight. A light, small and fair-haired young woman popped into view. Rhea McDonald. She came and sat next to Maisri, smoothing out her immaculately clean dress. She smiled at her innocently. The light of the moon shone down onto them, catching her golden blonde hair, illuminating it like a halo. She smiled at Maisri innocently. Apart from Maisri she was the last of the High Daughters to still be unmarried. And she was not short of male attention. He delicate features gave her an elf-like appearance. Her creamy skin was smooth and unblemished. Deep brown eyes bore straight to her light, untainted soul.

Maisri envied her.

Where Rhea was light, Maisri was shadow.

Rhea was the only one of the High Daughters who Maisri felt close too. On some unconscious level, she believed it was because Rhea felt guilt over Maisri's situation.

"I am guessing you heard," Maisri prompted. Rhea was not one to bring up such a delicate topic first.

"I am sorry Maisri," and the girl had the gall to look genuinely ashamed.

Maisri snorted taking another glug of the bottle. "Why are you apologising?"

Rhea glared at the bottle in Maisri's hand, "Father. He shouldn't have said it... he didn't mean it."

"Of course he meant it. Father doesn't use words unless he has too," Maisri ssnapped.

Rhea tensed at the tone and shook her head. "I think..." But Maisri cut her off. She didn't need to listen to any more excuses.

"Face it Rhea. I am his biggest regret. I know, you know it, the whole zone knows it. I'll never live up to his expectations. I'm not a boy, and he blames me for that. For making him look weak, making him look impotent and less of a man." Rhea shuffled closer to Masiri and put an arm around Maisri's shoulder pulling her into a tight hug, the unexpected action knocking the air out of Maisri's lungs. Before too long, Maisri pulled away, lifting the bottle to her lips again. "So how is the family?"

Rhea smiled, grateful for the subject change. "Father is as moody as ever, but they are all fine. Mother has been stressing out about Grace."

"Grace? What has she done now?"

Rhea sighed. "It isn't what she has done, more like what she hasn't done." This grabbed Maisri's attention. As if sensing her interest, Rhea carried on with more enthusiasm. "Well as you know, Eilidh, Grace and the twins, Liza and Lara, have all been married off now for years." Maisri nodded. "Well, all the others have had children, but Grace..." she trailed off.