9.
1885 Words
The sun had just risen when Arabella found herself outside, in the inner courtyard of the castle, stifling profuse yawns.
She had only slept an hour before being rudely awakened, to prepare for departure.
A really bad start of the day and the leaden sky, that was just starting to lighten towards the horizon, didn't promise a better continuation.
Stifling another yawn, Arabella rubbed her bare arms, feeling herself shiver in the chilly early morning air.
Instantly stiffening as she sensed Theor's presence behind her, Arabella then turned to give him a rather dry look.
"It’s your brother’s.." commented he, handing her a sweatshirt, which she accepted without comments, before turning away from him again, trying to ignore his presence.
Arabella put on the sweatshirt and as she zipped it up, she felt like yawning again.
She really needed to catch up on a few hours of sleep and recover from the mental tiredness that had been haunting her for a few days, before it started affecting her days.
She wouldn't have bothered if she hadn't been leaving for the Black Crow.
It wasn't the first time her fears had taken over her reason and it probably wouldn't be the last either.
Until it would be time to shift and decide what to do with the rest of her life.
That morning, however, when she had joined the others outside, Arabella had caught no particular smell in the air and had felt no different than usual, except for her tiredness.
She therefore thought that maybe she was really wrong.
About shifting soon.
But one way or another, right now she couldn't afford the weakness to give in to her remotest fears.
Though her father hadn't waved when she'd greeted him earlier, Arabella feared that he might change his mind about Ilyan Wayward and force her to accept his advances.
And besides her father, Ilyan himself worried her.
He had told her that he didn't intend to accept her refusal, and the idea of meeting him in a few hours was worrying Arabella a lot.
“Good morning!” Smiling brighter than the faint sun just rising to the east, Celestia joined them in the courtyard, energy bubbling from every pore.
Followed by two maids, each of them pushing a huge black suitcase.
“Did I miss something? How long are you going to stay at the Black Crow?” asked Arabella as her sister joined her, after greeting the others.
"You'll be grateful to me in a day or two, you'll see." Replied Celestia, with a mysterious smile, continuing to exude positive energy all around her.
Arabella found herself frowning but she was too tired to start thinking about the meaning of those words and in any case confronting Celestia, on any subject, was never a good idea.
Especially not when her sister was in such a disgustingly good mood.
In contrast to her, she felt rather tired and about to fall asleep somewhere nearby.
"It's quite chilly this morning, isn't it?" commented Celestia, shivering in her elegant, short-sleeved travel gown. "I should have brought a sweater, but I really hoped that the weather would hold for at least another couple of weeks." Added her sister sighing, after glancing at the leaden sky, of a dark gray.
Arabella didn't answered, she just nodded without paying Celestia any particular attention, intent on trying to avoid yawning profusely, again.
However, this did not prevented her sister from launching into a very boring monologue about the imminent arrival of autumn and the end of summer, which significantly worsened her already unhappy mood.
Arabella forced herself to tolerate her useless chatter as she craned her neck towards the back of the castle, to see what was delaying their departure.
Then she remembered it, when she saw a sedan backing, to park along the cobbled path that led toward the exit.
And she found herself holding back an irritated sigh.
At least Natasha wasn't in the company of her parents that would be joining them in a day or two.
For her part, however, the girl was unable to go for a couple of days without Gabriel, which meant that she would have to put up with the girl insipid presence for the entire week she would be spending at the Black Crow.
Arabella really felt sorry for her brother, even if he seemed happy to have found his mate in the princess of Almerix, she pitied him and not a little.
Natasha Brestwood wasn't exactly the sweetest and prettiest girl in the kingdom and Gabriel deserved much better but unfortunately the Moon had decided otherwise.
"Alpha Roderick, Beta Landon…" With a smile that rivaled Celestia's in brilliance, Natasha gave her father and Beta Landon an exaggerated curtsey, as she walked over to greet them respectfully and exchange some idle chat.
In the presence of Gabriel and her father, Natasha was always very lovely, all sweet smiles and innocent looks, far from when she spent her time spreading poison on some victim, in the company of her best friends, Liliana Houville and Solange Harcort.
Arabella detested all three of them and many others of their company, and they also hardly tolerated her but fearing to provoke her wrath, had always been more or less respectful towards her.
Because everyone in the kingdom knew that Arabella didn't hesitate to respond in kind, whenever she was giving some comments she didn't liked.
Provoking her was never a good idea, even a gleeful goose like Natasha Brestwood was aware of it.
In fact, the look that the girl gave her, when she approached to greet her and Celestia, was carefully neutral.
Unlike the beaming smile the girl flashed at her sister.
Arabella limited herself to nodding in response, trying not to give weight to her annoying closeness, while Natasha was meanwhile telling Celestia the latest news regarding their common friends.
"And you should have seen his expression, I swear it quite was hilarious, not to mention that Simon had already told him almost everything.."
Judging by the amount of words that came out of the girl's mouth, in the space of a few moments, one would have thought that the two hadn't seen each other for months, instead of just a few days.
Arabella moved away imperceptibly, trying hard to ignore their annoying chatter, and checked the time.
It was nearly seven now, they should have been on their way by then.
Getting to the Black Crow would have taken at least a day, if not more.
Considering the security measures to be taken, the weather that was rapidly deteriorating and all the checkpoints they would have to pass.
Most of the Alphas in the realm would be attending Dragan's coronation ceremony as the Black Crow's new Alpha, and the packs had planned accordingly.
From the Black Moon to reach the Black Crow they would have had to cross the boundaries of at least two packs, the Sioggard and the Crescent Moon with no doubt, and perhaps even the Silver Horn.
It would depend on which road they would take.
In any case, the journey was going to be long and uncomfortable, and Arabella wasn't really happy at the prospect.
"Slept little?" asked amused Gabriel, catching her just as she was stifling yet another yawn.
"Why, it shows?" replied sarcastically Arabella.
"We're almost ready to leave." informed her Gabriel, with a sympathetic smile. “By the way, are you traveling with us?”
"I wouldn't want to get in the way between you and your sweet half." promptly refused Arabella. "But Celestia will be more than happy to entertain your little heart until the arrival at the Black Crow, they certainly have plenty of topics to discuss." suggested caustically, with a suggestive look at her sister and Natasha, still intent on chatting as if there were no tomorrow .
“Did you say something?” asked Celestia, hearing her name.
“I was saying that you will certainly have fun on the trip, with Gabriel and Natasha.”
“I thought we were traveling together?” replied her sister, surprised.
"I wouldn't be of much company today." Commented Arabella with decision, even if the alternative was to travel with Logan or her father.
"As you prefer." Nodded Gabriel, knowing she and Natasha didn’t liked each other much, and thank goodness as soon as her brother had finished speaking, the five SUVs that would take them to the Black Crow, arrived.
Logan found himself frowning in surprise as Arabella approached the last car in line, ready to get in.
In fact, usually, when they all had to go somewhere together, Arabella traveled in the same car as Celestia, even if their relationship wasn't exactly all love and roses.
But today she wasn't really in the mood to tolerate her sister's frantic chatter, Arabella needed to sleep and then Logan never tried to force her into conversation, like Gabriel and Dragan.
Even that morning, her brother limited himself to opening the door for her, smiling and she thanked him in a low voice.
Before turning to give Theor a cold but resigned look.
Of course he joined them and got into the car with them because in spite of herself, wherever she went, Arabella couldn't get rid of his annoying presence.
Theor was like a cursed shadow that followed her everywhere, harassing her.
"At least sit in the front." asked him Arabella, but obviously it was as if she had spoken to the wind.
Smiling in amusement, accustomed to their arguments, Logan was kind enough to sit next to her in the back seat, so as to act as a barrier between them.
Holding back an exasperated sigh, Arabella stifled a yawn and buckled her seat belt as one of the Black Moon warriors got behind the wheel and started the car.
It began to rain immediately as the first car, with part of their escort on board, left the castle gates, leading the car procession.
“Tired?” asked Logan, catching her weary expression as Arabella tried to find a comfortable position.
“I haven't been able to sleep much last night.” Admitted she, still writhing in the confined space, unable to find her place.
"My shoulder is free if you want." Offered Logan, kindly.
"If you don't mind." Accepted Arabella, after hesitating for a few seconds, but Logan only smiled back at her so she cuddled up next to him, resting her head on his left shoulder and closed her eyes ready to fall asleep.
Even though it usually made her uncomfortable being too close to her brothers and spending more than a few hours in their company.
Because every time she always ended up thinking about the moment when she would selfishly abandon them.
And then, growing up, Arabella had done everything to distance herself from her family and prevent her brothers from spoiling and protecting her, as they had done with Celestia.
But Logan had never blamed her, and even though she felt vaguely uncomfortable being so close to him, he was still her brother.
Despite her many worries, in fact, tired as she was and leaning comfortably against Logan, sleep was not long in coming.
While outside the rain intensified and the noise gently rocked her rest.
- Writer
