CHAINS OF OUR BLOOD

Met Roark

No matter how vile, we are cursed to always love our family... We may deny it, bury it, forget it.. But the sad truth will prevail...

"Roark baby, wait for us!"

I know my sister. She pretends all the time, I know that when we're alone is the only time I see the girl she buries with all that coat of sweetness and ice. And that is very seldom. As mother makes sure that we are using each of our waking hours being productive. I love her. But she really needs to stop treating everyone the way mother treats us. Like something to use. I was tempted to ignore her just this time but when I heared panic in her voice I just can't. I did say I love her, flaws and all.

"Okay Meredith, but be nice. Our cousin is new in Trinity."

"It's okay Roark, I think it was my fault. I sat on her place in English 12. I'm like her. I hate disruptions in my daily routine. OCD obviously runs in the family. So, Edith, shall we call a truce?"

And obviously pretending well runs in the family too, I sighed inside. Hoping all these pretense will stop.

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"Yes Ika, a truce."

I shook hands with a worm. I mentally cringed, but, I knew I lost the battle. And I know a strategic retreat is never cowardly. It is just wise. I sensed my body relax a notch. I have time to plan Icky Ika's total demise later, right now I just want to make sure my brother doesn't see me in a bad light. Oh, my Achilles feet. I would totally lose it if Roark hates me. I need to keep it together for now, even if it galls me to have Faith witness my retreat.

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I kept my mouth sewn shut. I knew if I open them, my pent up laughter will get out! I took a minute to calm my rejoicing mind. 

"So, let's eat! I am really famished."

I kept my poker face. Knowing that the tension of the group earlier assured that the whole student body watched us. Trinity School is very exclusive. There only about 900 something students admitted here, and that is from K-12! 

"You really need to act more like a princess you are Faith, dearie, Princess Lisbeth would be so shocked to hear you sound so excited with food."

Seriously, I thought the no jabs era would be able to last until school's done! But her royal harpy is back. 

"Oh well, I would never do that at court. I know full well how a princess must behave Mer. Unlike you and Duchess Aurelia, Mama and I are the ones still invited to go to court. "

Hah! Take that you, spawn of she-demon! Unlike her mother, who is a daughter of the youngest princess, my mother is the daughter of the present queen. So, even when she married a commoner she retained her position as a princess. I know how that upsets Meredith, me being called Princess Fainwyn by her mother. And the fact that they are seldom remembered at court functions where as my mother and I are always invited.

"Yes, Faith. I know, and I know all those embarrassing incidents you put Princess Lisbeth through. "

Yes, my mother is always invited. But that doesn't mean I was. She just loves me so much that she would never leave for anywhere without having me along. Knowing that, her loving mother lets me tag along with her. And there were always incidents in which the queen would insult me, that I would always respond with gusto. It was always hell. But I would never let Meredith know that.

"You know me Mer. I just love to tick off Queen Ingrid, but she forgives me everytime. She dotes on me you know."

That was a blatant lie, but Meredith will never know. The queen was not stupid, she needs good public opinion so she regularly sends presents on birthdays and appropriate occasions. Keeping the pretense that she's okay with her daughter marrying a commoner. A penniless artist at that! But as far as Meredith was concerned, I have a doting grandmother. While hers were gargoyles. 

"Yes, you're the lucky one. Let's get you something to eat before you go berserk."

The rest of lunch time proceeded without any momentous comments, just the usual sarcasm, and Roark was silent once again. Then I noticed, wow, Monica is now in our circle. She gives good quips, and even with her being the goth, I think she has an unblemished heart. Good. And because I like her, I will protect her to make sure that that heart stays the same. I resolved, not realizing I gained an Achilles heel.

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Hmmmmn, a princess who loves to eat. And who isn't as stiff as a corset. Hmmmn, that is unheard of. I thought everyone who are princesses are like the Wife. But I decided that Princess Faith is more my type of princess. And with her retorts to Edith, I really can't refer to her as the Daughter anymore, I'll be seeing her everyday and I might accidentally call her that. So Edith it shall be, but wait, with Edith's propensity for putting down a person by shortening names, I don't think she'll call Faith her real name, princess or not. 

"Faith, may I ask what's your real name?"

"It's Princess Fainwyn to you, you've got no royal blood to just call her by name."

Hah! I expected her royal snarkiness to say something like that that I took no offense, but I actually felt a smile creeping into my frown when Fainwyn answered...

"Nope, you may call me Fainwyn, or Thruja, or even Faith. We are now friends, after all, a family of my dearest friend Mer, is my friend."

Thruja, I like that name. She looks it. 

"I shall call you Thruja if that pleases you."

"Oh, you sound more like a princess than Mer and I!"

"Speak for yourself Faith.'

Hah! Judging with Edith's reaction, I knew Thruja was goading her. I wonder if I let myself open up my senses and reach out to their auras. I reached out to Roark's aura earlier and it was like seeing  rainbows, I see rainbows too you know, just shades of grey, and yes, rainbows, because Roark may be very quite, but his aura isn't, he doesn't pretend. I wondered about Thruja and Edith's auras but held myself close. It never does anything good to reach out dark auras, I know,  even Thruja's aura earlier was dark. Edith, I'm sure is like her mother's, it explains a lot why I was so down and afraid when they came to visit. For the Wife's aura is the darkest I have ever encountered. Edith looks so much like her, I don't want to judge but really, who could blame me?

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I noticed Meredith calm down. And I decided not to discomfit her. They resumed their usual cattiness and I was right with Monica, she is nice but she can hold her own wih this two. No need to worry for now. There will be a time for reckoning later. I need to get to the bottom of Faith and Meredith's fight. It is time. I don't know why, but I know the time is ripe for me to help them. I shall enlist Monica's help.

They're sisters after all.