Morning Diamond

At First Sight

“Overbearing, pigheaded, egotistical…..”

“Heard that.”

”……son of a monkey’s butt.” Claire complained as she stomped up the stairs. How could they be so unnaturally stubborn? Her anger built with every step.

“Heard that, too!”

“And another thing, STOP ordering me around, I am not a child anymore!” She yelled back down the stairs. “You’re both lucky I am not eighteen or I would move out. TONIGHT!”

“You’re right, Sweetheart, we’ll think about it, OK?” Keith yelled back up at her. She almost smiled as she stormed into her bedroom. At least he could think practically and reasonably sometimes.

“Yeah, thought about it and the answer is still NO!” Mark yelled. She slammed her bedroom door and glared at it with the ferocity of a she-wolf. Leave it to Mark to cast a shadow on any hope Keith might offer. She heard a shuffling downstairs. Fighting was how all major--and most minor--decisions were made in their household. If Keith won the fight he gained control of what would happen tonight.

“I hope Keith kicks your butt!” She yelled, through the closed door. All her life her brothers had treated her like some weakling who needed coddling and they smothered her with their over-protective natures. What did they think the years of training in martial arts, fencing, and archery did for her? Did it leave her completely incapable to protecting herself? She thought not. She was more capable of defending herself against any unwanted advances than anyone she knew. This was ridiculous.

The laws in all regions of Tyrell protected women. Even without her training, she doubted any man would dare mess with her. The consequences would be horrific. Women were cherished in Tyrell and very few people would dare hurt a female for fear of losing the offending appendage.

With this knowledge what- may she ask- was so wrong with her going on a date?

She needed to put her foot down! “Seriously, the way they are acting you’d think I had asked to go traipsing across the country. All I want is to go out for one evening with a nice guy. There is nothing wrong with that; is there?” She looked at her tattered old teddy bear and knew he wouldn’t offer any answers. She threw herself onto her bed with a sigh.

“This is not fair!” Moments later she flipped onto her back and tucked her hands under her head. “Why are they so against me having any fun? What’s so wrong with being a normal person, dating normal people? It’s almost as if they think every person in this world is out to snatch me away to some hideous fate.” Again, her teddy only stared at her with dark button eyes stitched into his brown fur. She stood and moved to her small window.

Outside the sun shone brightly, its rays grazed across the lawn and warmed her. The view was amazing. She stuck her head out the opened pane to enjoy the fresh air. The light breeze lifted the scent of the mowed lawn to her window. She breathed it in deeply; nothing compared to the smell of newly cut grass.

Their yard was massive. It surrounded their home on each side. Her brothers had put only a select few bushes in the landscaping; rose bushes she had insisted on. It gave the grounds an open, smooth look with a touch of color. She loved it. She pulled herself back into her room and turned. Looking around her bedroom she thought of the many previous ones she had lived in during her life. Of them all, this was her favorite. She leaned against the window seat to appreciate her surroundings.

She had talked her brothers into painting the walls a deep red. The color stood out against the white trimming around the doors and window. She loved the effect so much she had painted all her furniture the same snowy color. In the corner, her small bed was draped with a white comforter with red sheets and red pillow shams. She sighed in frustration. Normally being in her room cheered her, but today she wanted to be anywhere but in this house! Claire threw herself across her bed once more and used her pillow to muffle her frustrated scream.

Claire was only months away from her eighteenth birthday and because of her brothers she had never been on a date, never had a true friend, and had never lived in the same place longer than a year or so. If her stubborn brothers didn’t give her a bit of freedom soon, her next home would be in the county prison for a double homicide! She pulled her face from her pillow and turned to her side, tucking the pillow under her head. Two sets of identical eyes stared at her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared back at them.

The photo had been taken when she was four years old. Mark and Keith held her between them as they posed outside a red brick courthouse. The photo captured the joy they all felt. It was the day her twin brothers were granted full custody of their little sister.

They were good men, kind and always giving her everything she ever wanted-except freedom. Claire could not remember a day in her life without the two brutes in it.

She was only a child when her brother’s took her from the foster life she had known. They immediately put her into fencing and archery classes. She excelled, and had enjoyed every moment of it. When she was six they put her into martial arts. How many instructors had she had? She’d lost count over the years.

She had loved moving when she was younger. New surroundings intrigued her. A new room she could do anything with. Most importantly she loved the shock she could inflict. The look on her new instructor’s face- when the tiny ‘new girl’ could fight at a higher level than their older students- filled her with pride.

That was before she was old enough to realize that every time she moved she left behind the possibility of making lasting friendships. When she was young it didn’t matter. Her brothers were her world. She didn’t need anyone else. However, as she grew she craved a connection with people her own age. “I won!” Mark’s triumphant call boiled her blood.

“This is bull and you know it!” She yelled. Mike was the first guy with enough guts to stick around after meeting the intense mule-headed twins. Most guys looked at the size of the two annoying; pea brained brutes- with their sneering faces and bulging biceps- and ran the other direction.

Mark and Keith looked dangerous, both tall with broad shoulders. They stood firm, confident, and poised. They looked ready for a fight all the time. Their dark blue eyes and calculating expressions, sized up a person in minutes while assessing every weakness. With their shaved heads and large stature, they reflected the perfect persona of danger.

Mike was different; he was every bit as tall as either of her brothers, although slightly slimmer and looked as carefree as the wind. His eyes were light and sparkled with laughter and mischief. With a full head of wonderfully dark hair, he was every school girl’s dream come true; tall, dark hair, grey eyes and devilishly handsome.

Mike was everything masculine. He walked with pride and radiated confidence. Claire had no doubt he could match her brother’s stare downs without batting an eye. He showed no fear and- although he disliked confrontation- it was plain that he could and would hold his own in any conflict. He was kind and gentle, easily the most loving person she had ever met. She thought it would be the most wonderful thing in all of Tyrell to have him love her. Her only problem would be convincing her brothers Mike was worthy of their sister, but how could she do that if they never gave the younger man a chance?

Her brother’s had hated him the moment they saw him. Yeah, so he was little older than she, that was no excuse for her brothers’ unreasonable attitudes. After all, what was a lousy eight year difference anyway? Especially if it was true love. She sighed.

Claire had met Mike during her first week of school. She walked through the carnival grounds with the twins flanking her on either side, as usual. Mark and Keith wanted to go on the monstrous spinning rides, but they always made Claire sick. She told them to go have their thrills while she looked through the stands of crafts. They all went to look at the booths. She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but enjoy their company when they donned toy knight helmets and started sparring with giant foam swords. Familiar words drew in a crowd of spectators as the two men played out one of Claire’s favorite childhood stories.

Mark played the hero, Keith the villainous wretch. Both battled valiantly against one another; determined to destroy the other before death knocked on their door. Mark fought for the people, Keith fought for dominion over them.

Mark raised his sword high to bring it down on Keith, but Keith easily jumped from the blade and quickly grabbed a small wooden knife from the table booth. He flung it at Mark.

The wood knife hit Mark and fell to the ground with a clunk. Mark dropped his sword and put on the most humorous show, dancing around like a wounded baboon. “The Coward! He cheated me out of my victory,” he cried out as he hopped around. Many of the children giggled at the theatrics. Mark moaned and whined until Keith stepped up to him.

“Victory is mine, Peasant!” A loud bout of exaggerated evil laughter boomed from his mouth. He stepped forward and sliced his foam sword under Mark’s arm. Mark’s eyes widened as he clamped the sword down, securing it to his side. He turned to Claire.

“My daughter will avenge me,” he stated before dropping to the ground; coming to a very noisy and dramatic end. That was Claire’s cue. She ran to Mark’s side and pulled the sword free.

“Scoundrel, you will die for this!” She cried and charged Keith. He easily picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He laughed while he hauled her away from Mark’s body.

“A peasant’s daughter? You are no match for me.” Claire kicked wildly in the air, laughing. When Keith finally put her down she swung around to face him. Smiling she smacked his backside with the soft edge of her foam sword when he went to retrieve the one Mark had dropped.

Approving laughter exploded from the crowd. She smiled and twirled the sword in her hands, challenging him to duel with her. “You’ll pay for that, wench,” Keith stated merrily. From the corner of her eye she saw Mark sit up to watch the battle. What a battle it was.

Claire met her brother blow for blow. Using her small size to move quickly and strike hard. Many times she fought against laughter as the crowd cheered her on. She strategically managed to get in several well aimed hits as Keith moved around her. She smiled. This was what life with her brothers had always been like- a series of games; battles to be fought and won. Whether sparring, wrestling, or her brothers fighting it out, life continued to be one exciting match after another. The thrill of the fight filled her.

Claire moved to dodge his blow and struck low. He should have seen that coming. He doubled over her sword and made an unnatural squealing sound. The surrounding children giggled. Claire slid her sword from his middle and triumphantly walked around her brother to place her foot on his rump. With quick push Keith jerked forward and planted himself on the ground. Claire stepped closer and placed one foot on the middle of his back then raised her sword high. “My people, you are free,” she yelled. She was rewarded with an eruption of cheers and applause. That’s when she saw him.

He stood back, separated from the crowd watching their theatrical show with interest. He stared at her; his mouth slightly curved in a half smile, amusement sparkling in his eyes. She met his gaze and could not help the shivers that raced down her spine. When he pushed away from the tree and stalked towards her, anticipation filled her. Her heart began to race and her breath quickened. He looked like a dream in a loose black t-shirt and holey faded jeans. She watched him gracefully move through the crowd until he finally stood before her. A smile played on his lips as he offered his hand. Her breath caught.