The Fated One

Chapter 2 - Caraxyes

Caraxyes looked over at her sister, her sister looked back at her. Both trying to read the expression of the other. Caraxyes knew that her sister knew who her fated one was but was sworn to secrecy by her mother who relished in giving surprises. Her sister knew she was terrible at secrets and desperately wanted to tell Caraxyes who it was and what they were like. She could see her cheeks go red, almost as if to hold her own breath to stop herself spewing out a name. Caraxyes had already deduced that her fated one would be somebody from college, someone she potentially knew. Did they know? Or was it also custom in their family to keep secrets and hold strange family meetings in order to make it a happy surprise. She walked over to the wooden kitchen counter, pouring herself some breakfast whilst attempting to make more eye contact at her sister. Her sister looked down at her own cereal trying not to let out a smile or any distinguishing feature to give away who this person was.

Caraxyes sister was 16, two years younger but almost 4 inches taller. For as long as they could both remember they had each other, the love between them only blossomed with every year that went by. Her name was Adelaide, but after denouncing that name at the tender age of 5 she demanded everyone called her Addie which they did. Addie was tall with long golden hair that fell all the way down her back. Her eyes blue and sprightly with a kindness to her face that made her almost instantly likable. She was thin and seemed to glide through the air as if she was a feather. Graceful and kind, Addie was loved very much by her family, but nobody loved her more than her sister.

“Good morning, Addie, bit quiet today?”

“Don’t speak to me, I cannot even look at you right now” Addie replied with a smile

“Girls, stop, Caraxyes don’t spoil this surprise for yourself”

“Mum, we know the surprise is for you, I hate surprises”

“That’s not the point, it’s a wonderful family event and I won’t have you spoiling this for me…You, I mean you” she smiled

The girls both laughed,

Caraxyes sat herself down at the table, looking over to the door to hear the rumbling of the stairs.

“Here they come” her mother noted

As if there was an earthquake descending two boys came hurtling down the stairs towards the kitchen table. They threw themselves into the room whilst being completely intertwined with each other, pushing, shoving, and laughing.

“Boys that is enough, sit down”

The laughed as they found themselves a spot right next to Caraxyes

“So, are you married yet?”

“No Imo, I am not, and I don’t intend to be” Caraxyes said in defiance

“It’s not a wedding Imo, today is when she finds out who dad sold her off too”

“Jacob! That is not true now eat. I still have to save a shred of dignity in this day”

Imo and Jacob were the 13-year-old twins of the house. They were a force of nature apart and together. One gifted in fire and the other gifted in water. It was common for twins to have gifts that were oppositional. It was understood that it made their toddler years easier, where the powers were fairly uncontrollable, they at least had each other to dim the other.

Everyone but the youngest of the family were sat at the table. Caraxyes suddenly realised that it would soon be the moment she had been avoiding. Her mother started to speak.

“Now you are here, we can finally tell you who your fated one is”

“Can we not wait?” Caraxyes said with a hint of sarcasm. Caraxyes had already avoided this unfolding a few months ago, claiming she wasn’t ready and wanted to start college before having to come to terms with her entire life changing.

“No, not again. I have set up a meeting for you both, it is only curtesy that I tell you who it is beforehand. My mother didn’t tell me who my fated one was and look how that turned out”

The children looked visibly uncomfortable at that statement. The memories of their father started to come up, Imo’s cereal started bubbling over, unable to control his anger, water started dripping from the taps at an aggressive rate with Jacob feeling much the same. Their mother cast her hand over the table, a soft, thin veil covering the bowls and reaching the hands of the children. They lifted their head looking at her smile and felt back at ease. Caraxyes knew it was time.

“Ok, yes, ok, tell me”

“So, your fated one is Axis Temple, he’s a sweet boy and comes from a quite lovely family”

Addie spat out her cereal

“What? You didn’t tell me it was him?”

“No, I didn’t because I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret”

Addie smiled admitting to herself that it was entirely true. They all looked over to Caraxyes who looked frozen in time. Her skin turning pale, eyes completely glazed over. Her mother clicked her fingers Infront of her eyes. Yet she didn’t come back. Frozen in time.

Caraxyes opened her eyes, the world in front of her was not her own. Where had she gone? Why had she gone? She hadn’t done this in a long time. The last time she involuntarily transported like this was when her dad left, emotions too much to bear. She blinked and tried to make out the environment around her. It was dark, cold, stone floors, stone walls, grey, a lot of grey. There was a cloud of smoke above her, filling the entire top half of the room all the way up to the ceiling which looked as if it was a dark night’s sky rather than a roof.

“Why are you here?” a voice boomed across the room. Deep, authorities, intimidating.

Caraxyes stayed quiet. It was almost her belief that if she didn’t speak, she would be able to awaken herself back to her kitchen at home.

“Why are you here?” the voice roared again, causing her to wince as if it had been physically felt.

“I…I don’t know”

The mysterious voice sniggered “Well that’s helpful, isn’t it? I demand you leave immediately”

“Excuse me? I’m not sure who you think you are but do not speak to me like that. I’m sorry I’m here but trust me its through no fault of my own and if I had the choice, I absolutely wouldn’t be in the company of somebody who so rudely dismisses a person in need”

She felt the room grow darker, the clouds around her turned to black soot and fell to the floor. Unmasking the figure ahead of her. The figure who had so rudely spoken to her and commanded her as if she was nothing.

The figure grew closer, coming towards her as if he was floating above the floor. Dressed entirely in black with a mop of black hair to match. His skin like porcelain and eyes hardened and frightening. His face was cold and unchanging as he approached her. Caraxyes stood her ground and stayed firm, showing no fear although inside she felt as if her insides had twisted together.

He looked at her, in a way she had never been looked at before. His eyes softened, widening, was it disbelief? Was it anger? Was it pain? She wasn’t sure. His mouth opened slightly as he began to stumble over his words

“Its… it’s you”

Caraxyes took in a deep breath as he reached his long cold fingers towards her face, and within that moment. She disappeared, eyes opening back at her kitchen. Breathless and confused she looked around to see her family members over her.

“Cara? Are you okay?” asked Addie,

“That was just entirely unnecessary Cara, I know you’re not best pleased about the situation, but you didn’t need to transport yourself out of consciousness to avoid it now did you” her mother tutted.

The boys beside her almost in hysterics over their sister’s apparent attempt to ignore her future.

“I don’t know what happened there, I’m sorry”

“Did you even hear who I said?”

“Yes, its Axis. Thanks mum. I need to go”

“Wait, are you ok?” But Caraxyes was already gone before she could explain to her mother what had just happened and why it felt so terrifying yet enthralling.