Their Obsession Rose

Chapter 5 Rose: Fear of Loss

The Vicario is held once a year in the citadel of Vickry, the main village of Craig. The citizens of Kader has not once, been invited to this prestigious event which is only open and attended by the cream of the crop of Craig. The wild cards would be from the villages who are much more fortunate than our village. I thought the higher ups did not even know about our village because we have never had any visitors from the Vikry or Craig in general!

So you can guess how surprised we all were when we were woke up with the call of blaring loudspeakers calling on all the 18year olds of Kader to come attend the Vicario. It is compulsory! If a Kader 18 year, fails to attend, the whole village of Kader will be punished!

I drag myself out of bed to put my clothes on and go outside to see what all the commotion is all about. When I eventually get outside, our whole street is filled with the elite, knocking on everyone's door taking inventory who is staying at each house.

The chosen ones who participate in the Vicario studies their whole life to be ready for the selection of the 12, a group of 18 year olds who will move on to more riches than the cream of the crop of Craig! If you are picked as one of the 12th, your whole family is elevated to becoming the cream of the crop. It is a mystery where the 12 disappears too, but it is said that they start a life of excessive abundance and riches!Some even get picked to marry a High Lord!

The Vicario is broadcasted in our town square where we would normally watch what happens with the whole spectacle. After the broadcast we never hear of the twelve again until the next years Vicario! Surely this must be a hoax that our village must participate!

As I stand in our door, Father quickly push me back inside and close the door. "Rose, we do not have to give up your name. If we don't give up your name then they can't take you from me. "Farther says in a very soft strained voice. I can hear the anguish in his voice of the possibility of losing me, after the loss of mother. I gently stroke Father's cheek and give him a hug' I will never leave you Father' , I say in a strong firm voice. Wanting it to be true but also, more for my sake than his. I don't want Father to know how rattled I am by all the events of the past day.

It's been years since mother died, but my father is still mourning her passing. My mother, she was hardly a beauty but had a heart of gold. Everyone who knew her, loved and adored her, including me. Mother was kind and gracious to any one, no matter your station in life or appearance. She taught me that love comes within. That love is precious, the ultimate commodity and the building blocks for any relationship.

Although Mother passed away some years ago Farther still miss her tremendously! He worshipped the ground mother walked on, he pampered and adored her. She was his beginning and his end. Don't get me wrong Father had a temper that could ignite in an instant but upon mother's gentle touch it would diffuse instantly. Mother would dance with Farther on the beat of a melody that she would hum to and he would never refuse her. Their love for each other is the only measure of love I know, the only love I know in my small world, their love for each other is food for my soul and the foundation of my world.

As we are embracing each other I know I have to succeed in not attending the Vicario! A sudden hard nock rattles our harmonious moment. I hurriedly run to the shack, at the back of our home, while Father opens the door. I'm too scared to listen what is being said by the Elite. Instead I focus on Phoenix, my miracle bird who was burned to ash a day ago and now looks like it's going to recover. I lightly stroke Phoenix's feathers as I softly speak in a gentle tone to him. I get lost in my own world and after some time Father comes into the shed and tells me that the Elite is gone. I don't ask him what they spoke about as I continue to loose myself into nursing Phoenix back to health.

I think of the magical necklace and my fingers slowly trails to my tattoo. I'm too frighten to touch it and instead I draw I picture of the pendant. I study the tattoo in the mirror and see only now, the moon, star and sun is interlinked by a thin thread binding all three together.