Castles & Curses

Chapter 9: Prologues

CHAPTER NINE

PROLOGUES

 

ARA POV

IN THE PAST

 

 

 

Hands clasped, Anrika and I stare down at the body of our sister in law.  We follow the blood trail to the bed.  The sight there has us both crying out.  Makenzie, our beloved brother, is on the bed, his head ripped completely from his neck.  My ears start to bleed at our combined banshee cry until something occurs to me.  Tearing my eyes from Makenzie I stop screaming as does Anrika as both of us speak at the same time.

“The babies.”  Both of us drop to our knees and peer under the bed to see two sets of eyes peering out at us.  Lai is covered in blood as she crouches over her two year old baby brother Garrett.  I stare into her pale blue eyes and see the ferocity of a warrior.  She growls at us and I know.  I glance at my sister her eyes mirroring my thoughts.

“Someone close did this.”  Both of us look to Lai as we speak together.

“Come to us young warrior and allow us to see who did this.  Give us your hand.”  We clasp our right hands and extend them palm up as Lai places her hand in ours.  We see much more than we bargain for.

………………..

Several hours later Anrika and I sit staring at each other across a now sterilized and empty room.  The babies curled around each other, asleep on the mattress.  Neither of us have yet to say a word so I break the silence.

“We’re fourteen; our shoulders shouldn’t have to bare this weight.”  Violet eyes stare into mine as both of us stay silent for a moment.  I squeeze my hands into fists as my sister stares at me blindly.

“We don’t know who has which fate but I can guess.  We have a few years Anrika.  We…we…”  My legs give way and I fall to my knees.  Immediately Anrika is there, her arms wrapped around me, as she puts her head next to mine.

“We were shown for a reason, sister mine.  We have to see this through.  We have to be strong.”  Fighting the sob back I nod.

“We sanitized the room but…”  I look over to the one and two year old on the bed asleep before continuing. 

“We’ll have to glamour them so they don’t remember us or Makenzie.”  Tears fall as I bow my head again and fight the urge to wail with sorrow.  A hand caresses my cheek and I meet my sister’s eyes.

“We have each other sister.”  My lip quivers as I nod.

“For now, sister.  Only for now.”

…………………….

“Karina?”   I turn to see Zac strolling towards me and I straighten my spine.

“Yes, brother?”  He tilts his head to the side a moment as if confused before he speaks again.  I can see the glamour fighting to work as he shakes his head.

“I…”  Pushing the glamour at him I hold out Garrett.  His hands grasp Garrett and I see the glamour come closer to settling into place as Lai pushes aside my dress to peer up at Zac.

“Uncle, that’s my brother.”  Zac looks down at her and holds out the hand that isn’t cuddling Garrett close.  Lai tilts her head copying his move from earlier before placing her hand in his.