Chapter 4
1061 Words
I dreamed of orange eyes.
Cold water woke me with a splash.
"Get up!" The Luna said, standing in my doorway holding an empty mop bucket. "Today of all days! You have work to do!"
I sat up and rubbed the dirt-ridden water from my face.
"I am sorry Luna." I didn't realize it was so late.
"You need to get all the food prepped and ready to be cooked." She said, setting the bucket down on the dirty floor.
"I will begin the cooking and have everything ready for an early evening meal," I replied.
"No." She snapped. " You will prep and get everything ready, but Evelyn will be in charge of the cooking this evening. You will be attending this evening's celebrations. As a guest."
My head snapped up at the mention of my being invited as a guest.
"Luna," I hesitated. "Thank you, but I don't have anything to wear to such an event." I motioned toward a chair that held my 3 other outfits. They were all faded and stained: most definitely not suitable for a celebration.
"Not to worry. A dress has already been purchased for you and will be in your room once you finish your chores for the day." She stood arms crossed in the doorway. Maybe this is her way of apologizing for what happened with her son last night?
"Thank you, Luna!" I said, beaming at her.
"Oh don't thank me." She said, a calm smile in her voice. "You are not my guest."
"Then whose?" I asked.
"Bruxum has extended this invitation to you." She said with a dangerous sense of calm.
"Oh," I said, my smile retreating.
"And should you choose not to make an appearance, my husband, your Alpha, has deemed it would be a great show of disrespect."
"But..." I stammered.
"Easily put, if you do not join Bruxum this evening you will be cast out of our pack. And with no family to speak of, where will you go? You may play the part of the homeless wretch," she said, pointing to my shabby clothes. "I am sure that life would not suit you."
She turned on her heel and left.
Oh, Goddess. What have I gotten myself into?
All day I worried as I worked. Evelyn had been told she would be taking over the kitchen that evening but did not receive any more information.
"Meridae?" She said as I was salting the roast for the evening. "Why did the Luna instruct me to take over the kitchen duties this evening?"
"I got invited to the celebration," I said flatly.
"Well, that is wonderful!" She crooned.
It would have been wonderful to have been invited by anyone other than Bruxum. I knew that this evening was not a gift, but rather a punishment.
"No. It is not." I said. "I was invited by Bruxum."
Her face blanched.
"You will not be going. You are sick." She said forcefully.
"I have to go. The Luna told me I would be cast out of the clan if I did not appear by his side." I answered.
"Oh my." She put her hand to her mouth. "At least you will be in a room full of people. He wouldn't dare accost you!"
"I think that is the point. Bruxum is not stupid. He knows exactly what he is doing. All I know is he has a plan, something to get back at me for attacking him."
"You did not attack him. You defended yourself."
"It doesn't matter what I did or didn't do!" I yelled, slamming the container of spices on the table. " It never matters! There will always be someone bigger, with more power, who puts me in a place lower than I was before! I did nothing - yet my parents left, in the worst way possible! I was peeling apples and that- that monstrosity walked in here and threw my life against the wall. And now? Now I have to pay for someone else's actions again!" A tear slipped down my cheek and I hastily wiped it away.
Evelyn walked toward me, her arm outstretched. I shrugged off her incoming comfort and walked to the door.
"I am going outside for some air."
"But... you shouldn't be alone. What if..."
"What? He comes after me again? Go for it. At least I won't have to endure whatever torture he has planned for tonight." With that, I stalked out the door into the fresh cool autumn air.
My temper faded as soon as the sun caressed my skin. I looked down at my hands. There were cuts and scars mixed in with burn marks from my daydreams by the oven. These hands had not lived a life, they had been trapped in servitude. I was 20 years old. I had no grand plans for the future, but I intended to have a future.
I walked down the path and veered off into the woods. I needed a bath before I got dressed for what was sure to be my funeral. My last trip to the falls was ruined and today, I would have my peace. Even if it was only for a few minutes.
I made my way to the shallows instead of the falls. I was not in an adventurous mood and just wanted to sit in the sun-kissed water while I had the chance.
I stripped out of my clothes and took a tepid step into the water. It was cool for early Autumn, but I needed to feel the water's pressure on my skin. Not wanting to waste a moment, I dove in and swam out to the deepest part of the small lake. The water instantly tamed my curls, elongating them into the water so that they caressed the tops of my breast with every lapping wave.
I ducked my head under the water loving the feeling of being utterly surrounded. I allowed myself to sink into the depths, enjoying each second of silence. I kicked back to the surface, lungs gasping for fresh air.
Cinnamon and firewood.
The smell hit me like a rock. I turned, swirling my arms in the water to help me locate the person who belonged to that ever-alluring scent.
There, across the lake was a man. Not a man. A god. Swimming directly toward me.
- Writer
