Bound By Sin And Blood

ALARIC'S POV There I was, sitting on the chair, looking across the window into the empty streets. The night sky was already settling in. Darkness was on the edge of swallowing everything. Snow fell like tiny grains of sand. I sat by the window, counting under my breath. Eight. Nine. Pause. Ten. I counted the ten measly pieces of gold in my hand and got lost in thought. These coins were meant for Avelina, but I had yet to raise the full amount needed. "You're counting again," Avelina said from the fireplace. She looked at me, unaware of what I was doing. I immediately slipped the coins into my palm. "Mind your business," I muttered. She did not know I had been saving. She did not know how hard I had been trying to raise the money. "You'll take me to the circus, won't you, Alaric?" she asked that night, her eyes glistening in the firelight. It was the third time she had said it that day. She kept reminding me that it was the final night before the traveling circus left town. "I told you, I don't care about circuses," I retorted, burying my thoughts in calculations I could not solve. Truth was, I did not know how I was going to raise the rest of the money. "Ehn, you don't have to care. I'll care for both of us. Just take me." Avelina did not care how the money came. I could not blame her. She was my younger sister. As the elder, it was my responsibility. "And with what money?" I asked her. My latest coins had come from running night errands. I remembered what Old Fred had said after giving me a beating for being stubborn. "I tell you, lad, stop coming out at night. The shadows eat their own." I had laughed through bloodied teeth despite the blows. The last errand I ran had paid me these ten coins. I had felt something that night , a shift in the air. The road had been too quiet. The building I delivered to had felt wrong. I had taken a package from one family and carried it to another house across town. Nothing had happened. Still, something had not felt safe. Yet I had returned with the coins. And now Fred had warned me not to go out again. How I was going to raise the rest of the money, I did not know. "You always find money," Avelina said matter of factly. "You disappear at night and come back with coins. Don't think I haven't noticed." She pouted at me. "Lower your voice," I told her. Mother's voice came from the stove, where a pot bubbled and steamed. "Lower your voice about what?" "Nothing, Mother," I said quickly, glaring at Avelina. "Alaric's hiding money again," she accused stylishly moving away from me. "No, I'm not," I replied. My mother looked at me and frowned. She could sense something was off, something I was trying hard to hide. "Alaric," she said softly, "I hope you're not starting to steal. I hope you're not robbing banks or taking from Old Fred's money." "No, Mom. It's nothing. Just coins from errands," I said quickly, trying to brush it aside. "Night errands," she corrected. "Again. I told you to stop that work. I told you it's not safe at night." "Work is work, Mom. We need the money. You know how we're faring here." She sighed deeply "Doesn't give enough reason to gamble away at night" Then she turned to Avelina. "And you, stop pouting at your brother. If he doesn't have the money, he doesn't have it. What do you expect him to do?" Avelina's face crumpled. She began slamming her foot against the floor, rubbing herself against the threadbare rug. "No, Mom! No! I want to go!" "There will be another circus," Mother said firmly. "We'll go when we can afford it. Your father will be home soon." But Avelina kept wailing. "No, Mom!" Mother ignored her tantrum and looked back at me. "Fred came by again today." Of course he did. "He said you were out past midnight. Again." "He worries too much," I replied. "He says the streets aren't safe." "The streets have never been safe," I said. "And I stopped. I told him I stopped. I'm not going out again." She studied my face. "You promise?" "I promise." Even as I said it, something tightened in my chest. The streets had never been safe, that was true. But lately… lately it felt different. There was something going on in the dark. Something even Fred didn't understand. Outside, his dog barked into the empty street. The sound gnawed at me, but I forced myself to ignore it. "I'm not scared," Avelina suddenly said. "If Alaric's there, I'm not scared of anything." "Don't say that," I snapped. "You're not even taking me anywhere," she shot back. "Enough, both of you," Mother said. "Wash your hands. Supper is almost ready." "After the circus?" Avelina asked hopefully. "We are not going to the circus," I said, glaring at her. "Oh? Or maybe you have coins hidden somewhere?" she muttered, hugging her knees. "You say it like it's law." Before I could respond, the door burst open. Cold air rushed in, swallowing the weak warmth of the fireplace. "Close the door before we all freeze!" I called, moving toward it. "Papa!" Avelina shrieked, running to him. Father laughed as she clung to his legs. He scooped her up and kissed her cheek. "Easy, easy, sunshine. You'll knock me over." "Henry, you're home early," Mother said from the stove, smiling. "I am," he replied, stepping fully inside and shutting the door. "And you won't believe the news I have." We all looked at him. Avelina giggled in his arms while he tickled her. "Well?" Mother asked. Father grinned, letting the silence root first in our minds. "I've been promoted." "Oh my God… ," Mom gasped The words Dad dropped into the room felt strange. Foreign. Like something not meant for our house. The spoon slipped from her hand and clattered loudly against the floor. Her hands were already dusted in flour. She gasped and pressed one to her mouth. Then she wiped both palms quickly against her apron before stepping toward him. "Promoted?" she asked. Her voice was barely steady. I stepped forward too. "Promoted? How?" Dad smiled, wide and proud. He pulled her into his arms. "No more tending horses," he said. "I've got the carriage reins now. I'm driving." "Driving?" Avelina repeated. "Like the fine drivers in town?" "Like the fine drivers," Dad said, kissing her cheek. "That's my girl." Mom grabbed his face in both hands as if checking whether he was serious. A tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it fast, but another followed. "Henry… truly?" "Truly," he said softly. "I'm an honest driver now. Bigger coin purse for this family." Avelina squealed and leapt down from his arms. She hugged him around the waist. I could already imagine it , her telling old Fred's daughter that her father was now one of the fine drivers. Dad raised a finger. "And that's not all." "You brought sweets?" Avelina asked immediately. "Better than sweets," he said. "Tonight, we celebrate. We're going to the circus." The room exploded. "Whoa! Dad, truly?" Avelina shouted, running in circles around the table. "Truly!" he laughed. Mom broke into full sobs now. Dad wiped her cheeks gently, but she couldn't stop the tears. She kept shaking her head like she still couldn't believe it. I stood there, watching him. Something about him looked different. Taller. Brighter. His pride became mine in that moment. A carriage driver. That wasn't something people like us just became. Avelina grabbed Mom's hands and started spinning her. "I told you! I told you we were going!" She pulled my arm too. Soon the three of us were turning in circles in that tiny room. Dad just stood there smiling. But I wasn't fully in it. I noticed something. Old Fred's dog started barking outside. Louder than usual. Dad's eyes flicked toward the window. Just for a second. Then he brushed it off. No one else saw it. But I did. Something twisted in my chest. A misalignment. A feeling I couldn't name. And who says something like that in the middle of joy? Who ruins a once in a lifetime moment? Barely had we ever known excitement like this. The last time the house felt this alive was when Avelina was born. Dad looked at me. "You don't look happy." "I am," I said, smiling. It felt stiff. "Then stop acting stiff," he said. "He's such a grumpy boy," Avelina added. "Let him be," Mom said. "He's thinking." "Thinking about what?" Dad asked. "Nothing," I said quickly. Then his face shifted slightly. "You've been out too much at night. Fred told me to warn you again." "Fred says a lot of s**t," I replied. "I've stopped." "The streets are changing, son," he said quietly. "Can we stop talking about the streets?" Avelina interrupted, dragging him back into our circle. "We're going to the circus!" Suddenly Mom gasped. "Clara, what happened?" Dad asked. "The stew," she said, rushing to the stove. "I almost let it burn." "Don't let it burn!" Avelina cried. "We have to eat first!" Dad laughed. "See? She even knows the order of things." "Of course," Avelina said proudly. "I can't go to the circus hungry while everyone else is eating." "We'll eat first," I said quietly. "And then we go," Dad added. "All of us." "All of us?" Avelina's eyes widened. "All of us." She started dancing again , wild, ridiculous moves that made no sense. Mom stirred the pot firmly. "Everyone sit. I'm serving soon." Dad looked at me. "Alaric. Shut that door tight. It's colder than usual tonight." I looked at the door. Then at the window. Then into the dark street beyond. "Yes, Dad," I said. "I noticed."