Neon's Curse

I've never known my mother. I know I never had a true connection to her, but I knew her. The last I remember of her was us walking around in front of our ranch. I was like two or three years old at that time. I can faintly remember her loud laugh, it always made my father smile. The way she swayed like the wind anytime my father sang the war love song. She has long flowing hair that she decorated with flowers from her garden. I loved life. Well, that was before she ran away and left me and my father. Father felt it more than I did. He married a second wife, but she didn't come alone. She came up with two nightmares. My stepbrothers, Killian and Gihon. They said a cloudy sky always brought misfortunes. We looked up every day, expecting a clear sky, counting it as a blessing. At least king Eros won’t attack today, thank the gods. Everybody hated him and blamed all our misfortunes on him. We were brought up to hate him and gradually nobody spoke his name, only in bad situations or to blame him or something. The king of Lalida was loved. However, he was afraid of King Eros, no doubt, but he knew how to rile up the youth in his favor and people were committed and in tune when it's a common enemy they are fighting. My stepfamily moved in immediately after my father married her, Lady Benedict. She was not very pleased when she heard my father had a little girl, and one he doted on. The first day we met, my father had told me to be on my best behavior so that I might win her favor. She had looked at me with disgust. I know I didn't look like my mother, who was beautiful and had a very nice figure, she didn’t need to rub it on my face that I was not to her taste. She shoved me aside and gave me a tight-lipped smile whenever my father was looking. I was introduced to her two sons, who would be my step. Killian did not say anything to me, the smile Gihon gave me made me shiver, like he had something up his sleeves. My father was a blacksmith, he was one of the best in the land. He was not always at home, so my step side had the luxury of treating me however they would. I used to report to my father, but he didn’t do anything about it. He would just promise me a few hours at the bookstore. I got accustomed to the mistreat. I was glad that my stepmother did not lay a hand on me. She delighted in adding to my work as a way to punish me. I became accustomed to the routine. I began getting my compensation by going to the bookstore the next day. Whenever I came back, she would accuse me of staining my sacred garments, but I did not correct her. If she found out where I was always going, she would prevent me. On one occasion, I sneaked out to the book store, Gihon saw me, he smiled and walked past me. I couldn’t concentrate on the book that was read, so I went home immediately after the excerpt was read. Lady Benedict did not say anything unusual to me, except calling me a w***e. Gihon had not told her. “You didn’t tell her,” I looked down, fiddling with my sleeves. He nodded, using a stick to turn the coal in the fireplace. “Why?”. Gihon was not the kind of person to do anything for you for free. Killian, you cannot tell, but Gihon had a very definite personality. Gihon smiled and walked towards me. I stood up straight not knowing what to expect. He stretched his hand out. “I need your money.” Of course, he would want something in return. I had saved 40 Rins to purchase a Neon book. There remained 30 Rins to complete the amount I needed. “I'll do your chores for you,” I tried to bargain. “You'll do it regardless.” True, but he didn't need to rub it in my face. “I need it to purchase something on my trip”, “I'll bring something for you.” I was never allowed to travel with them. My stepmother said that I would spread my shame to other villages and kingdoms. She would not like me to be a disgrace, not that I was not already to her… “Mother!!!” Gihon shouted all of a sudden. My heart raced. I rushed inside and immediately dug up my savings and gave it to him. I wished I would smack the smirk off his lips. Killian was by the trees and saw and heard all that went down. He just walked into the house without a word. I looked at his retreating figure and sighed. I didn't have any more money. The nightmares started when I was thirteen. The Crows were responsible for the dreams of all the people. Mother always prayed to the Crows for sweet dreams before kissing my forehead and tucking me in. I had a carving of the Crow on the table in my room. I always said a short prayer to the Crows before I slept. That night, I had angrily slept because Lady Benedict had shouted at me for what Killian did. I was at a wedding, my wedding. The man was faceless but I could feel him. Immediately we went in for a kiss, my heart was ripped out and I awoke. I woke up in a sweat. I went to the kitchen to take a cup of water and met Killian reading. “The gods, you scared me,” I held my chest. I almost passed out. The dream and the scare were not a good combination. “Sorry,” Killian did not raise his head from the scroll he was reading. “What's that?” I got closer and looked into what he was reading. “The Orb’s fate,” he said. He looked at me intently, and I stepped back. He hummed and continued reading. Weirdo. I went back into my room, making sure to pray to the Crow before sleeping. Killian and Gihon were taking a trip to the neighbouring kingdom the next day and I wanted to plead one more time if I could accompany them. I prayed to the Clove for good fortune.