His Petite Luna

Chapter 6 Decided to run away

ANA'S POV

Morning broke early and I was already awake before the sun rose. I started preparing breakfast for the family and by the time I was nearly done, Melissa woke and Leon too.

I said nothing to Leon and I heard Melissa telling him to help me set up the table. I still didn't talk to him and only talked to Melissa whenever she ask me a question.

By the time we finished breakfast, I found an excuse to leave.

"You're going somewhere?" asked Melissa as I was stepping out with the basket in my hands.

"Yes, I go return this basket to Sam's mother," I answered. Melissa nodded and looked at Leon who was sitting by the gate.

"Go with her, Leon," she said and before Leon could say something, I cut in.

"I know the way there. It's fine." I smiled and I did not wait for Leon.

The way to Sam's house would only take fifteen minutes and it was easier to manoeuvre the road in the daytime.

Sam's mother is a talkative woman. Her husband died, so she raised Sam alone. Maybe his mother only have one child, so she was friendly to me. When there was a good thing to eat, she always give me some.

The sun was not too hot on my skin as I walked down the pathway. I saw the villagers already busy with their farms and they waved their hands at me as I passed. I did the same. These villagers are nicer to me than Leon ever was. I don't mind him being mean, honestly. If he would just leave me alone and not try to dig up something about my true identity then I wouldn't mind his mean remarks and glares. He's a boy.

I am technically a girl but I am a grown-up woman in the body of a fourteen-year-old girl.

When I arrived at Sam's house, Sam greeted me.

His cheeks were pink because of the heat and he smiled as he took the basket from my hands.

"Ana! You should have just left this at your house," he said as he motioned me inside. I gave him a smile too.

"I can't possibly do that. Maybe your mother still uses this to store."

Sam's smile got wider. He's two years older than me and compared to the other boys in this village, Samuel is pretty decent.

"Where is your mother, by the way?"

I realized we were already walking in their yards.

"They went to the mountain. Are you planning to go to the mountains today? I could go with you," he beamed.

"I'm not yet sure. I think I should go home now--"

"Wait," he said as he stopped walking. Then much to my surprise, he started picking the cherries from the trees.

"My mom said you liked the cherries she gave you last night. Here are some more," he said as he continued to pick the cherries and placed them inside his basket.

"Sam, it's fine. Besides, aren't you going to sell these cherries--"

"It's alright, Ana. My family is thankful for what you've done. So consider this basket of cherries as my sign of thanks. We have a lot."

I smiled at him as he handed me the basket now full of cherries.

"I will eat them well, Sam. Thank you so much."

I saw how he smiled shyly and rubbed the back of his neck before he said, "I can deliver more cherries to the Sardothien house if you want me to."

"Oh no, Sam. That's too much trouble." I grinned at him.

His answering grin was enough to relieve the stress I have been feeling. At least someone around my age is kind to me around here.

"Anyway, I need to go now. See you, Sam. And thank you for these, again," I said.

"Let me walk you to the gate."

We walked in silence and when he opened the gate, I almost jumped when I saw Leon standing there, looking at the basket of cherries I was holding, at my smiling face, and then at Sam.

"I thought you were returning the basket?" he asked.

"I figured I should give her more cherries since she likes them," Sam answered and Leon just gave Sam a dismissing stare.

What the heck is his problem now? Is he going to start another fight with me this time?

But surprisingly, he didn't. He nodded in my direction and said, "Mother is worried you'd get lost so I followed you. Hurry and let's walk home. I still need to go to the county. I need to be back home before dinner."

Then his eyes went to Sam and I couldn't read the expression on his face. Is Leon hostile to everybody here?

I smiled at Sam before I said goodbye and started walking ahead of Leon.

***

LEON'S POV

She left without saying a word and I know she's still pissed. not that I care but I still haven't given up on my plan on revealing her true nature.

So I got up and mother gave me a startled look. Before she could ask me what was the matter, I started to go for the door.

"I'm following her," I announced.

"Don't scare her, Leon!" Mom yelled and I rolled my eyes.

"I won't."

The walk to Sam's house was tedious but Ana seemed to be enjoying the journey as she would occasionally wave to the villagers who were busy with farm work.

When she arrived at Sam's house, I walked slower and watched from the distance. Samuel greeted her and there is no denying the smile he was giving Ana. Even young boys here adore her. Am I the only one who could see that there is something strange about her?

I stood in front of the gate and waited for them to come out. Several minutes later, they did. Ana was smiling from ear to ear as Sam was saying something to her. The moment she saw me, her smile disappeared and Sam looked at me in wonder.

I told her that we should head back and she just waved goodbye to Sam before walking on ahead. I gave Sam a brief look--something that I usually use to terrify Ismael but he just gave me a confused look.

***

ANA'S POV

We arrived home in silence and Leon immediately went to prepare to go to the county. He placed the herbs in handmade baskets and tied them carefully.

"Do you need anything?" he asked and I blinked. I turned around to see if he was talking to someone else but it was just me.

"Were you talking to me?" I asked and I might have pissed him off again as he gave me another deadly look.

"What do you want me to buy?"

"I don't need anything--"

I don't know what I want for myself but before I could tell him that, Melissa suddenly appeared behind me and said, "Two sets of new clothes for him, Leon. She can't continue wearing my old clothes anymore."

I gaped at Melissa. I was fine wearing old clothes. Two sets of new clothes are too expensive. I was about to tell Leon to buy just one set when he has already walked off.

I felt Melissa squeezing my shoulder slightly. "Are you off to the mountain today?" she asked and I nodded.

Getting herbs from the mountain has become my easiest excuse to go there. In truth, I was also exploring the terrain, finding possible exit ways and other paths I could use in the future if ever I needed to escape.

Carla volunteered to come with me to the mountain and I didn't have the heart to decline especially since she looked bothered about something. I didn't dare ask and I let her come. Perhaps she needed some space.

By the time we get most of my herbs, she started telling me what was bothering her.

Turns out, it was about her husband, Caspian. The eldest son of Melissa. Being the eldest son of the Sardothien household, he was required to join the military. What was sadder is that he left even before Clari was born so they practically hadn't seen each other for almost 5 years. Clarisse is four years old now.

"I only have his letters. But even that stopped. I stopped receiving his letters and I couldn't help but wonder where he is now and what he was doing. It's killing me."

"The letters stopped coming?" I asked.

She nodded. "He used to send them every month. But now...I don't know how long ago has it been since we received a letter from him. I know this is killing Melissa too but she's better at hiding it than I am. Today is one of those days that I just couldn't take it."

I don't know what I could offer aside from words of comfort. That day, I stayed later in the mountains and we only left when Carla said she was ready to go home.

When we arrived home for dinner, Carla gave me a small squeeze on the arm. I think it was her way of saying her gratitude. I offered her a smile in return.

I started cooking in the kitchen and Clarisse offered to help but I told her to sort the fruits we got instead. She followed diligently and Ismael came to my side.

"Would you like to go to school with me, Ana?" he asked. I gave him a look.

"School?"

He nodded. "Brother wants you to go to school for at least two years just so you could gain some knowledge on bookkeeping and stuff."

Leonidas said it so I already know the motive behind it. He still hasn't given up on trying to expose me. Sending me to school so he could see what I can do.

I smiled at Ismael as I continued stirring the soup. "We don't have enough money, Ismael. You're going to the county school soon. When Clarisse is old enough, she'd go to school too. Leon--brother Leon goes to the academy as well. I began learning from my father when I was five years old, therefore I have the knowledge necessary for the work of a bookkeeper."

He chuckled at that.

I can't afford to owe more to this family by sending me to school. It's expensive and it's beyond their means. On the other hand, I have already finished school back in my world.

"If you change your mind and go to school with me, I can protect you, Ana," he said and slammed his fist on his chest a little too hard that he started coughing. I snorted and he gave me a sheepish grin.

"Protect who?"

Ismael and I jumped on our feet when Leon suddenly appeared behind us.

He walked inside the kitchen.

“I got you two sets of clothes. Try it.”

"But I'm cooking--"

"I'll do it," he said and took the ladle from my hand.

Slowly, I walked out of the kitchen with the clothes and went to the room.

The two sets of clothes are coarse dresses. One is blue, the other one is yellow. I change to the yellow one.

When I came out of the room, Melissa gasped as she looked at me. Suddenly, all their eyes are on me and I had the urge to go back inside my room and change back into Melissa's old clothes.

"Ana's so pretty! Uncle Leon, you're not seeing this!"

I started to get flustered but then I composed myself and smiled at them. When I walked back into the kitchen, Leon was struggling with the meal so I took the ladle from him and started to stir the soup.

Surprisingly, he let me. But I knew it would only be a matter of time before he starts his interrogation once again.

"Mother said you're from a prominent family. How many members?" he asked.

I knew it.

"Just the three of us. I am an only child."

"You don't have any siblings?"

Siblings, the image that my brother holding the sword in his hands that was covered in blood came into my mind. He even killed the parents, no mention me.

“No.” I shook my head. I swallowed hard and shook the thought of my brother.

"How did your parents die again?"

"Died as we were escaping the calamity. We met rogues on the road and they killed my parents. The guards too."

I didn't realize tears were brimming in my eyes as I said those. I heard him mumble a curse before he said, "This...This is your family now. My family has accepted you as their own. Stop crying."

I can tell he's not really good at words for comfort but it was better than his usual scowl.

"Where did you learn combat?"

So he saw that attempt I made to disarm him, huh?

"The guards taught me. For self-defence."

Leon nodded and I stared at the soup. I have made up a new life here in this small village with this good family. They have been so good to me but suddenly, the realization hit me like a tornado. I can't keep hiding in here. What if the killer will find me and kill everyone here too?

A plan formed inside my head. An escape plan. Tomorrow, I will escape and will leave this family. With the help of the space, I won't have to worry about food. Also, I have cash with me which I took from a dying stranger I cured once in the mountain before. I could keep my balance in the Moonbane pack for a while with a hundred bucks.. In fact, I have wads of cash in Moonbane pack cash currency, although I couldn't use them since where I am now, they use a different currency. And if I try to exchange it, my identity would be revealed right away.

Leon stopped asking me questions as though he was pretty satisfied with the information he got from me.

So I focused on preparing our meal for tonight, thinking of how I would escape tomorrow.