Chapter I
Most will tell you that family is the key to happiness. I mean that makes sense, right? The first people you’re ever supposed to love are your parents. They’re meant to hold you, care for you, and teach you the ways of the world.
Despite this nothing really stands out to me about this moment. This was supposed to be my night. I was going to finally show Mother that everything is fine. That she doesn’t need to keep sneaking those dreaded looks of concern my way every time she thinks I’m not looking. As if she believes I’ll disappear from view without her knowing.
Blood drips from the jaw in front of me adding another drop to the gallons of maroon that coat the forest floor. The form of my brother edges closer and if not for the painful pin pricks of coldness numbing me in place I’d be running away. Instead I let him put his boney fingers up to cup my face. It does nothing to hide the bodies littered about on the ground.
Yeah. This has definitely been my night.
Leaning back on the heels of my hands I enjoy the feel of the wind tousling my hair. For once freed the curly strands are of my constricting bun. The grainy sand of the beach digs into my skin but I push past the sensation in favor of enjoying the peace. It’s a rare thing to be able to sit back and let the silence of nature calm my nerves.
Mother has been pushing me to be more involved in the coven now that my Picking is close approaching. Not that she asked my opinion about that. I resist the urge to wrap my dirt-ridden hands around my snow, white dress. Mostly due to Mother’s constant reminders that I am obligated to represent the family name with grace. Richters are refined and obligated to showcase that to the world.
Being from a family renowned for never having a Dark witch sounds fun, but in reality it’s exhausting. Always expected to present myself in such a way and it’s getting harder and harder to keep up that mask.
“Still brooding I see,” a silky voice glides into the air. She completely blocks out the lullaby of the crashing waves have become. How rude.
“I don’t brood,” I responded, slipping my eyelids shut. Here’s to hoping that’ll deter her from bothering me too much. Not that this tactic has ever gone in my favor before. But as they humans say, “Try and if you shall fail, force your way through.” Or something of that sort.
“Oh, my mistake, sulking.”
“No-”
“Pouting.”
“Excuse-”
“Mulling about.”
“Mal-”
“Melting the last of your brain matter with thought.”
“Are you done?”
“I was merely naming everything that could explain you not gracing my presence, with a lovely grin plastered on those cheeks,” Mals declares. Her long tresses hang above my head as she leans over blocking my sunlight. Not that there is much of that left.
Heaving out a sigh, I watch the sun get closer to setting. The feeling of time escaping sinks deep into my stomach.
“Everything’s going to change after today,” I whisper. The words slip past my lips before I can process them, though it hardly makes them any less true.
“Oh, c’mon that’s not true. It’s just like Gram always says: Change is scary but necessary,” she reassures me or at least attempts to. She sinks into the sand and wraps her arms around me. I bite my lip to force myself not to melt into her embrace. Just like old times.
“Unless I’m a Dark witch,” I state, pulling away from her.
“Even if you’re a Dark witch.” She must not appreciate the scoff I let out at that statement. “I’m serious, Rora.” My attention snaps to her face. Honey eyes are bare of the amusement that always shines in them.
“I know your fam’ can be a bunch of hard-asses but no matter what I know that they’ll support you. Just like them, my fam’ will be there for me seeing as we all know this bad bitch at least going Neutral.” I give her one last bump with my shoulder refusing to give into giggling at her nonsense.
“Still...”
“Still nothing. It’s an irrational fear, that’s what that is, born from thin air.” Turning my head I give in to the urge to hide in her arms. My nose bumps into her collarbone and I take in her cinnamon scent that always lingers about her. Whether it’s purely her or a by-product of magic I can never quite tell for sure.
“Yeah I’m sure you’re right.”
My world tilts and a whine escapes me as the soft blankets of my bed hit my back. Mr Bear is brought up to my chest and that mostly fixes my problem. Glancing up I see the dark figure of Raven sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed. Holding Mr Bear tight with one hand and reaching the other up hoping I’ll be close to my brother’s warmth once more.
Unfortunately he shakes his head.
“Not tonight Rora,” he softly tells me. Grabbing his hand with mine I groan faintly into it protesting at the unfairness of the world. I press my fingertips into his skin with feather-like pressure. Running my digits along his, tracing all the rough patches and scars littering each patch of flesh.
Raven slips his hand away. He then starts to brush his fingers through my curls. Going slow and separating each knot with care. Unlike Mama who likes to rake a brush through uncaring as she rips whole knots out. Each time my hair breaks a utensil meant to tame my hair I see it as another hard battle won.
“Today’s special, remember? I get to become an official member of the coven.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll complete my Picking then be back to you before breakfast I bet.”
“Picking?”
“Eh, it’s a grown up thing, something you won’t have to worry about for a very long time.”
“Does that mean you’re a grown up?” That doesn’t sound right. Big brother is big brother not a yucky grown-up.
“Oh no, I must be. Whatever will we do?” His purple eyes glow in the darkness of my room making the dancing stars on the ceiling all the more pretty. A kiss is pressed into my hair and I lean into the arms wrapped around me. “I’ll see you in the morning okay.”
“Good-bye Raven,” I whisper to his back.
