15. Teen Angst
FIFTEEN
teen angst
FIVE YEARS EARLIER…
Aelix
The flames of the fire pull away at the ends, fraying to release hot embers up into the night sky. The funeral ended hours ago and the only people left at our house are Dad’s friends, a few neighbors, and Uncle Corbain. Red wine stains their lips with each hefty drink they take. The few lingering faces look up at the stars with wide awe-filled eyes but I already know what they’re marveling about.
His roar shakes the ashen logs in the middle of the large brick pit, making the flames dance fearfully. The dragon cuts across the moonlight with a swooping dive that has a few of the men clapping and hollering with encouragement. I roll my eyes and hug Lila against my side, her sniffles coming out quieter now than they had earlier when they shoved the narrow body boat out into the frosty Verglas Ocean.
The two of us sit on the half a tree trunk that’s laying nearest to the fire. The warmth kisses our skin and our breaths come out in wafting white exhales in front of our faces.
I want to go in. I want to go to bed and pretend this day never happened.
“There’s my death dragon!” Uncle Corbain shouts with glossy red eyes, his drink held high in his hand like he’s toasting to my brother.
And the other’s follow suit. Cups are raised and someone mentions Nan’s name, but the tone is more joyous than sorrow ridden, isn’t it?
“Does the other one shift too or just the oldest?” A man with a long graying beard asks.
“They’re twins. Aelix was born first, actually,” my father tells one of his friends who he knew from his days at the academy.
“Oh,” the jerk says, his attention flicking to meet my glare before scurrying back to the drink in his hand.
“Aelix hasn’t shifted. Arcane does it enough for all of us anyway,” Dad says with a soft smile and the others chuckle and drink their drinks, but that one guy, he just can’t take a hint.
“Must be proud to have such a remarkable son!”
I roll my eyes again and shove off from the cold log.
“I’m headed in,” I whisper to Lila and she hugs her arms around herself, not answering or looking up at me at all. Her damp gaze stays focused on the flickering flames of the fire.
I want to hold her and tell her everything’s going to be okay.
But I don’t think it will be.
The shadows fall across me as I leave the meadow and stride toward the cottage. The fire light that always glowed late into the midnight hours from the bedroom on the end isn’t there tonight. The window is painted black with darkness. Because it was my Nan’s bedroom.
“Sorry your grandma croaked,” a harsh male voice mocks from the shadows.
Clawd’s big body steps closer and the moonlight barely reveals his pale features.
My teeth grind, but I ignore our shitty neighbor like I’ve been doing since the dawn of existence.
His mom and my mom were best friends. He was my friend too when we were younger. Now he’s only Arcane’s friend. Another stupid choice from my brother, if I’m being honest.
“My mom said I had to say that. I’m not really sorry,” he explains with an ugly smirk twisting his face.
I shove past him and he lets me. Thank the Goddess. I don’t have the energy to deal with him today, too.
“Mom says I have to be nicer to you now because your Nan was the only one who loved you. I think she was just the only one who remembered you existed most days, isn’t that right, Unable Aelix?”
Nails dig into my palm and my lashes close tightly. I take a slow breath through my nose and release it without punching my fist through his face.
With a steadier hand, I turn the worn metal knob of the back door and my boot is just on the threshold, so dang close to being home free from the world’s worst day ever.
Until he speaks just under his breath.
“How old is Lila now? Thirteen? Damn, Aelix. Think she knows what a blow job is yet?”
And then I’m swinging. I don’t even think about it. I—I didn’t mean to. I just did: my fist cracks across his nose so hard his cry rushes out before the blood even does.
“Daaaad!” he cries as he runs off toward the others. Everyone’s looking back at me now.
My knuckles are split on my right hand with a stinging pain I can’t shake off. I stand with the door open for several seconds before someone else shoulders their way in. He stops right in front of me. Arcane’s steely eyes hold mine. His gaze doesn’t wander to the scar on my face like most do. While others gawk at it, he avoids it like his life depends on it. He hates the reminder of his first shift. Hates that I’m a walking reminder of that day that changed everything.
My heart lurches like it wants to abandon me and return back to him.
My sweet Twin Flames , my mother’s melodious voice dances in my mind, but that sentiment is long gone between us.
Arcane peers back at the others. He’s shirtless from his flight, but luckily he’s wearing pants this time. I think.
Clawd’s dad holds a towel to his son’s nose, tilting the kid’s head back at an extreme angle while he yells at Dad about controlling the animals he calls kids.
“You punched him?” Arcane asks. “On Nan’s death day?” Narrowed, silver eyes glare down on me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Arcane hisses.
Then he pushes me out of the way and storms inside.