The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Fifteen · · · Dest (.3)

In a flurry, Roppy stood from her bed, arms crossed as she turned to look at man-boy across the room. "She almost killed her mother, Theo! And then she ran. The Rol Guard is still looking for her. Her father never turned her in...," Roppy glared at Dest, "and they put it off as an escape from grief. But I know, and she's not denying it."

"You were always angry," Roppy continued. "I saw it. That anger that boiled underneath your skin. The way that the word blue always made you calm. You mother always said that it was to help you with your fears, but I know better. It was for your anger. And, for your skin." Dest wanted to gasp again as her friend added, "I saw your skin. I saw it. At night when you slept. When your dreams were full of anger and fear. You would whisper the word blue unconsciously, your skin changing from its sky blue to black. It was monstrous, but I learned to accept it and didn't tell anybody. I now know I should have, but you didn't even know either, until now."

Theo took a step forward, stating, "I still don't understand."

Dest understood. She understood all of it. Ever since their first sleepover as children, Roppy had known when Dest didn't. As she thought, she felt a breath escape her body. She touched her skin, her fingers hovering over her bitten scar. Dest looked to her skin and flickered from black to blue just like it had when she almost killed her mother.

Theo understood now. He stumbled over the chair, knocking it on his side as he fell to the floor. Dest imagined Joeten perking up from the sound. Just as she thought, his knock sounded on the door to Roppy's room. He asked for his sister but no one answered this time.

"Don't look at me!" Dest screeched as she faced her back to them. She threw her hood over her head and held her arms to her chest. She didn't want to react badly again. She didn't want to hurt her two best friends.

"You did it to yourself!" Roppy screamed. She threw her book. It's gold cover hit the wall only ips away from Dest's head.

Dest heard Theo scramble to his feet, wrapping his arms around Roppy to stop her from attacking, as Joeten knocked again. "Stop it, Hops," he ordered, his voice level even though he just saw Dest's skin change color. Dest always loved that about him. What he lacked in fighting skills he made up for it in his calmness in dire situations.

"I won't!" she grunted. "I can't! This is her fault! All of it! I have night terrors now from her! Day terrors! I'll never be able to sleep again. That man came for you, Dest! No matter what he said, I knew he was only there for you. You both ruined me! It's all your fault!"

Dest could hear the way Roppy's voice cracked, threatening to cry, but she knew Roppy would never. Roppy never showed her vulnerable side, unless needed to or she couldn't help it, which was barely ever. If she wouldn't show it then, then she would absolutely not show it now.

Dest didn't want to listen anymore. She put her hands over her ears as she bent down in a curled position. "Please, stop," she begged, her voice barely audible over Roppy's screams.

"Just leave!" Roppy belted, her throat dry from screaming and screeching.

Dest looked back at Theo who was still holding Roppy, struggling against him. He gave Dest a quick nod and looked away. Dest felt like crying. Theo couldn't even look at her anymore.

She stumbled out of the window, falling on her shoulder. Pain soared through Dest's arm as she slowly got to her feet. Somehow, she was able to hear Joeten's worried cries from the other side of Roppy's doors.

Just as she was about to try and jump the backyard's fence, Roppy said one last thing, her voice graveled in disgust and terror, "And don't come back."