Chapter 1 - A Friendly Dinner
My hair is gracefully pinned into a high bun, a few loose strands framing my face. It's an ancient tradition for the Sarsco House to wear scarlet, the color of power according to the books on our shelves. My brother is next to me, a scarlet suit with golden buttons speaking for itself. I've always admired the way he manages to stand so tall next to all of his siblings while having such a serious illness that makes his heart incredibly weak. That's the only piece of information every single doctor manages to tell us about his illness.
My grandfather rises from his seat at the dining table, startling everyone in the process. My grandmother protests immediately and grabs his strong, veiny arms, desperately trying to get the attention off of my grandfather. He ignores her pleas and fully straightens his body, making him the tallest person in the room. If anyone wasn't intimidated by his presence before, they sure will be now.
I remember the countless stories he has told me before tucking me in. Most of them were about the Feral War and how I'm the one to lead the Riders after him. My favorite is the story about the different Protectors: the Riders, the Hunters, the Soldiers, and the Supernatural. The Protectors have fought with each other from the moment the first black waters were spotted in the East. There have been rumors and myths about other Protectors out there, but my grandfather has always told me not to believe in them. Most of the humans that are still alive try to make up stories so that they'll be free to roam the earth again. It usually doesn't work, but their stories are magnificent. Some humans are so good at making music, dancing, painting or telling stories that we have them as entertainers for parties or get- together's. I've never met a human before.
'Silence,' my grandfather demands, making the ones unable to handle the sudden clasp of dominance shudder in submission. I stand a little taller, remembering the words my aunt used to tell me. Never obey orders, unless it's a life or death situation. My siblings don't show any signs of weakness either, making my chest puff a little with pride. I know pride is a deadly emotion. I've seen it mislead good people, drive them to madness, but I can't help it.
'There have been rumors about my kind for many years,' he states, making me frown in disappointment. Why would he bring this up when all of the founders are finally in our home? 'I never thought they would get this far.'
The crowd mumbles a bit, making my grandfather slam his fist down on the dining table. '
'Silence!' He shouts, causing a little kid to cry out in fear. Once everyone is quiet again, my grandfather continues.
'I don't like it when my heir is disrespected in any way. Aspen Sarsco is powerful, as is her horse. She may not join us at the chapel every Thursday and she may not show off her horse as every other Sarsco, but that doesn't make her any less of a founder. If I hear another bad word about Aspen, I will find the source and they won't like the consequences of running their mouth,' He states, making every word sound like a calm threat. His words never leave my mind as a few people on the dining table turn a few shades redder. I never knew about these rumors.
The younger childeren are forced to leave the room and head back to their home when the real reason we have this dinner begins.
