Lion's Gift

Chapter 12

I go back to bed early in the morning and immediately fall asleep. I am jolted awake by the sounds of my parents getting ready for work at around five in the morning.

I sit confused for a moment, hazily remember having a puzzling dream, but I can only remember one thing with startling clarity: I was in some small room, standing in front of an unfamiliar bed, staring down at a very unusual feather, a feather about as long as from my shoulder to my fingertips that was half white and half black, separated by the vein in the middle and looking sharp enough to cut, strangely, but soft. The white part was very pure and glowed with an otherworldly light, and the black part, though darker, was just as pure and glowed with the same otherworldly light but as if it was made of shadows. Tied to the base of a feather was a simple note and written on it was one word: soon.

I brush off the dream as I usually have strange nightmares of otherworldly creatures and foreign places. This dream was not a completely unwanted distraction from my regular dreams.

I faintly hear the sounds of a small breakfast being made downstairs. Dad has some kind of business meeting with the mayor and mom has to run out of town for quite a bit of work as she is both a businesswoman and a neurosurgeon. I feel remarkably well rested despite my lack of sleep, so I quickly stand up and do some stretches before opening the curtains and stepping out onto by balcony.

The sunlight feels warm against my skin and I breathe in deeply, savoring the moment. The air smells like the fragrant roses outside, I can hear birds chirping and singing their songs, and even though my eyes are closed I can see the brightness of the sunlight behind my eyelids. My mouth tastes faintly like mint from my toothpaste, and I feel a slight breeze play across my skin with warmth from the sunrise.

The start of the day feels so peaceful, but I know everything can only go downhill or stay the same from here. With my luck, it'll go downhill pretty quickly.

After one last mournful moment, I finally go back inside and turn away from the windows, walking into my closet. I put away my extravagant jewelry before choosing a simple polished platinum ring with Raji engraved in the back and plain sterling silver hoop earrings with black diamonds. I keep my necklace on and take my hair out of the crown I slept in.

I comb through it for fifteen minutes, harshly dragging one of my sturdiest combs from my scalp to my knee-length hair. My hair is two handfuls thick and it goes down to my knees, flowing and soft, and my arm gets a little weary afterward from all the tangles in my long curly hair. I push the hair back, feeling that it is finally silky as usual, and braid it loosely before wrapping the braid into a bun.

I grab my phone and look at the last text Belle sent me, asking me to wear normal clothing.

I groan, Belle seems adamant today. Usually she never asks me something so unusual. Oh well, what harm will it do? I mean, technically I am going to senior year since I am out of junior year, so I'm not breaking any promises, and it will only be me and Belle. Besides, now that I don't have to hide myself anymore, I need to build up my confidence.

I look at my section of swimwear. Some of it is for my swimming practice, some of it is just bikinis that I have just in case. Just in case for what, I have no idea. I look at the middle of the rack and find a white one-piece bikini. It has one shoulder strap and wraps around my chest before having the left side of my stomach open and the right side covered. Then it wraps on the bottom like a bikini bottom. It isn't as revealing as a two-piece, but it isn't as sturdy as my swimming practice gear, so it'll do.

I take that and my towel before taking my shower and putting the swimwear on, which hugs my body just enough, but not so tightly that it is like a second skin. It doesn't seem right to be wearing swimwear when not swimming or at the beach, so I decide to put a sundress on top.