Darker I rise

Chapter 3The Sickness

I arrive at my father's office at 2 as Maid Hecate told me to. My father is at the window smiling, I can only tell he's smiling because I can see the reflection. I don't even know why we have windows, the only view we get is of the cave system we call home.

"Your late Kasdeya." He spins on his heel to look at me. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting Father, Maid Hecate just sent me."

The smile he wore earlier fades into a frown. That's when I decided that frowns suit Father better than smiles. "Next time try for once to do something on your own Kasdeya!" He spits out my name as he folds his hands behind him. "Let's get going, we're late, and that's so we can keep them waiting to make an entrance, and for fun. Hopefully, you learn how and when to arrive."

This time a wicked, evil smile replaces his frown. I stand taller, but on the inside, I cower. My head gets lighter, and my mouth gets dry, my vision blurred, and my hands go numb. No, not again, I silently scream at myself to work properly, but that only makes it worse. On top of the other symptoms, my legs wobble and I start to lose my hearing. I slowly crumple to the floor.

All I see is the outline of Father standing there, and if I try hard I can hear him softly, "Hecate said that you had it under control. Nevertheless, it just means that we will arrive later, which is never a bad thing. GUARDS!!!"

He walks out of his study as guards rush in and carry me to the infirmary. On the way there I passed out.

When I wake all I see is Maid Hecate, holding my hand, my eyes keep blurring "Maid... Hecate?" I say although it's barely a whisper.

"Hush, here drink this, it's medicine." she hands me a small bottle with the cork off already, "I already packed a few bottles of the medicine in your suitcase." I drink the medicine and immediately go to the entrance hall.

I find my suitcase, run to it and without a pause grab it and run straight through the doors to the cave system outside. I see Father waiting in the HoverCar, there aren't any HoverCars here, so it must be the transport that all of the leaders use to go to the meeting point in a secret spot in Skiyten.

I run towards the arrow tip shaped vessel and at the door on the side. I see the Fire clan leaders waiting next to him and they look angry. Guess I was asleep for a while. I swing in the door as I press the close button as I collapse onto the seat next to it.

I see a boy, my age, from the Fire clan glaring at me. I can tell he's a Fire clan member because of his clothing, he is wearing the traditional Fire clan clothing, a red dress-like outfit, with a black metal sash that secretly holds bullets for a pistol hidden in the straps of his boots. So whoever wears it will be able to fight the skirt is short, and there is a small slit in the side. The only difference about the men and women's outfits is the golden bracelet, the women wear it around the wrist, while the men wear it around their biceps. I've done a lot of reading about the four other clan's customs.

Under his intimidating stare, the most I could manage was a sheepish smile and a "Hello..." He kept staring at me as if willing me to say more, "What else?" he says boredly as he plays with a dagger he got from a table nearby. "Oh, right, where are my manners, I'm sorry for being late!" I say hurriedly and as politely as I can manage.

"How polite for an Illusion tribe member." A voice from my left says it's not rude, but curious. I jump as I look in his direction, a boy from the Wind clan. He is wearing a shirt with long sleeves that barely shows his hands, the shirt is cut off by a belt with the Royal Wind family's crest on it. His pants are flowy like his shirt. His shoes are just cloth that's wrapped around his foot.

As soon as I look in Father's direction I see him talking to the tribal leaders, he gives me a death stare and I feel the color drain from my face. "No wonder he never brings you around, you're skittish." The way the fire boy calls Father he makes me shudder. He's half right about one thing, I'm skittish, I'm only skittish when Father's around and after Susto sickness episodes.

It means that I have fear and stress-induced episodes each one longer than the last, after a few years I grow weaker, until death. There's, sadly, no cure.

At that, Father looks infuriated, "Kasdeya, honor the family name." He walks towards me, I look down at the ground, "Yes Father, I'll do my best." he grabs my chin and yanks it up so hard I hear a crack, "Your best is better than this." he lets go of my chin just to punch my arm and send me sprawling to the floor. My vision blurs, and my mouth goes dry.

"Come with me Kasdeya," He grabs my arm and yanks me to my feet forcefully, "we have much to discuss." I follow him down a hallway to a room that looks to be a mini apartment, but I can't soak in the details before I collapse on the bed.