A Step To Far

Cassie POV... There he was, chopping wood like nothing matters, like there´s not a worry in the world. His brown hair looked beautiful with all the different tones of color standing out under the sun. I could watch him all day long; except I was mad at him, furious. How could he act like nothing happened? He pressed his fingers to his eyes, cleaning his dusty skin, as he noticed my arrival. 'Aren't you going to say anything, Will?' I was the only one who called him by is full name, it was our thing, not anymore. 'What am I supposed to say? You are promised to my brother from now on. Julian's orders.' He said with disgust in his voice. I fought against the tears forming in my eyes as I remembered yesterday's kiss. Our first one, even though we had loved each other since we were little kids. Craving to be alone, I trudged back to the stone path I had come from. I contemplated the wind in the trees and the sound they made as I let the tears fall down my cheeks. How could this be happening! I tried to hold back the thought of dressing the ceremonial tunic. It was a blueish color with golden threads embroidered on the lapels. I felt like I was going to be sick, I couldn’t be mated with Ethan. He was my friend, but I didn't love him. In my tribe, as many others, there was an unwritten law, that the marked ones (those with special powers) should only be paired with one another to insure the tribe´s strength. I was the chieftain´s granddaughter, marked and next in line to the throne. I was to marry and mate the strongest member of the tribe, and since I was a woman, I wasn't going to lead the tribe. That would be my future husband's job; I only belonged at his side being supportive and giving him babies. Many women would be proud to do it. Me? I just wanted out. If I continued the stone path, it would lead me to the tribe´s compound. The compound was formed by a wooden wall, inside there were the people´s houses in the peripheric region and the market, food storage and a big building in the middle. The wall was always guarded by warriors. During the day most of the women, and some of the unmarked man would be on the farms surrounding the wall. The days remained the same for most of the tribe: breakfast on the big building in the center, we name it: the cookhouse, work, lunch, work, dinner, sleep. On the seven day of the week the morning work was replaced by a meeting with the chieftain discussing important matters like today, where my grandfather decided to announce I should marry Ethan. I could tell Ethan too wasn´t happy about it, but as good soldier he would follow his orders. I tried to use my power and move a stone next to me but as usually it only treble in response. ‘You are useless as always’ I said to myself. Going back to the compound wasn´t my first choice, but it was getting late and the people could start think I didn’t want the marriage, and that would be a scandal I couldn’t afford if I wanted their respect. ‘Hi, Cassie’ Aria was the sweetest little girl I have ever met and for no apparent reason she loved me. ‘Hi, what are you up?’ ‘Mom said you are going to get married to Ethan, it´s unfair you know, I loved him fist. But anyway. Can I be the one holding your gown? Please, please, please.’ I tried not laugh when I said, ‘I will tell you a little secret, I think he likes you more.’ She laughed and responded. ‘See you later?’. ‘Tell your mother I said hi.’ I yelled as Aria run to join the other kids. It was almost time for dinner, I could see people returning from their work and heading to the cookhouse, and the smell of food was starting to feel my noise. The kids continued playing with each other, losing their sense of time, there was such excitement in their eyes, that I could almost feel their joy, they played hide and seek with each other, I could see Aria´s black curled hair showing behind a big stone, and a big chubby red haired boy closing in on her, once he saw her she run giggling while he chase behind her, his round legs making so much noise as he run. Same of the other kids would change hideouts while the red head catcher was distracted. I could see myself doing the same thing a few years back, me, Will, Ethan and Maggie playing, we were always together. I remembered one time we were out in the woods and I somehow got hurt, they never left me. Still had the scar in my hip and could still hear Will apologizing nonstop, although it wasn´t his fault. Oh, Gods I was way too sentimental today. ‘Petey, time to go.’ A woman yelled to the red-haired kid. They all were starting to go home and saying goodbye to each other. ‘Hi’. I turn to face him. He had bright blues eyes. I thought of Will´s green ones and how different they wore from the one´s looking at me in this moment. ‘Hi Ethan’. ‘Can we talk?’ He asked, he seemed confuse, it was the first time I saw Ethan pace. ‘I know this whole situation must be hard for you too.’ I´ve started. ‘We always have been friends but marrying one another it´s next level s**t, but we have to decide between our own personal gain and what’s best for the tribe and despite being hard to admit, my grandfather does have a point on having us together. I want to be the leader this tribe needs, and I know this community means the world to you’ I couldn’t believe what I was about to say. ‘So, if you agree maybe we should go through with it.’ I try to read his expression. I can´t quite read his feelings, he seemed calm. Damn useless power… can´t control my telekinesis can´t control my empath connection… maybe leading wasn´t my destiny. ‘Cassie, if you are sure, I would be honored to be your mate, I know we will never have the kind of love between us that we wished we could have someday… but we can have friendship, respect. We can make this work. We can put the wellbeing of the tribe above us.’ He sounded so sure of this and felt that way too. I wish I could do the same. ‘Ok then it´s decided.’ I tried not to think of Will. ‘I hope they take well.’ He said as we walked to the cookhouse. I could sense a hit of pain. Maggie and Will meant everything to us, and this marriage could ruin our friendship. ‘I hope too.’ We looked at each other. Perhaps I can do this. I kept thinking. ‘We should go.’ Ethan said. We begun waking towards the cookhouse. *** As we arrived people looked at us and gossip between them. This wedding was a big event, even more when nothing interesting ever happen in Exa. I hated being the center of attention liked that, I wished I could just be like one of the unmarked, lead a simple life with simple pleasures and not be a trophy for the tribe, destiny not to rule Exa but to be always looked upon as symbol. I don’t how my grandma can take it. Ethan headed to a group of marked warriors who wore laughing at each other, they were muscled and had that hard look as they could face anything coming their way. They trained daily to protect us, there was no war for decades however same conflict was unraveling with the outcasts, the ones who didn’t belong to any tribe preferring the life of mercenaries. Julian admits they are a problem for us but that we have them controlled. My brother Caleb was waiting for me next to my grandma. ‘Hi honey, how are you?’ She asked. ‘Good. Where´s Julian?’ ‘Cassie, don´t start.’ My brother warned me. He knew how judgmental I could be, when it comes to my grandfather. The food was being placed at the tables; the people started to serve each other. There was a real feeling of companionship as you looked through the room, times like this one were the ones I really felt pride to belong to this tribe. My eyes darted to him the instant he got in, his green ones piercing throw me in the middle of the crowd, and it happened, those rare times where my powers really worked, and I felt everything around me, my chest tightened with the overload of emotions I had inside of me. There was excitement, sadness, frustration, happiness. My breath was shortening, I needed air. As I was getting up Julian pierce his hand in my shoulder burying me to the chair. I kept my eyes lock in William´s gaze, who was now worried realizing what was happening to me. I was marked, I had powers, and everyone knew, they just didn’t know what they were and that I couldn´t controlled them. My grandfather had tried to train me once however it ended badly and he only said, ‘If aren’t going to make me proud at least don’t embarrass me, no can know about this.’ Later in that day I destroyed a clearing of trees with the rage I felt. So, he and my grandma know I´m telekinetic only William, Caleb, Ethan and Maggie know I´m an empath too, and they all know I can´t control s**t. The shakes came, and I kept trying to grasp for air. I needed to focus on someone, anyone but I couldn’t see their faces they were all foggy, Caleb touches my hand and whispered, ‘Are you ok?’ He knew I wasn’t. ‘Look Will came to dinner today.’ He said trying to distract me. I looked at Will again and kept looking at him, his eyes had different kinds of green in them. I tried to be focused on that, repeating to myself what I saw in those eyes which were never going to be mine.