Been a while since I posted something. Had this idea a long time ago, just started writing in it again. let me know what you think.
Chapter 1
The family is important in my culture. In my family, tradition is important. And according to tradition, girls aren’t important…
The sun crept through my window, brightening my room and reminding me of the work ahead. I groaned and turned over in my bed, burying my head deep into my pillow. I closed my eyes and listened to the world around me.
I could hear the sound of rushing water outside, my mother going about washing our clothes. My twin brother, Asoka, yelling at my younger sister, Katerina. Suddenly, the clash of skin against skin could be heard. Then, the yelling continued.
I pushed myself out of bed, letting my long, coffee brown hair fall into my face. I stood up and sunk into the carpet, it molding around me feet.
I shuffled out the door and into the kitchen. The bright yellow made my eyes hurt and I squinted, looking for the source of the yelling. I noticed Katerina and Asoka across from each other. Katerina’s mouth and face where scrunched up in anger, her emerald eyes showing fury and rage.
Asoka glared down at her, his silver eyes the only place he showed his anger. Her was yelling at her in Kaska, our peoples’ language. She continued to argue with him, then he slapped her hard.
The sound of the clash made me wince. It was a combination of shattering glass and the breaking of cement. Tears streamed down her face and she ran off, towards our mother and the outside.
I walked up behind him and put my pale hand on his broad shoulder. “You should be nicer to her,” I whispered, my voice almost musical.
He turned his head to look at me, his light brown hair covering one of his eyes just slightly. I noticed his eyes slightly soften. “She’s here to serve me,” He murmured and shook my hand off, walking over to our wooden table.
I sighed deeply, rolling my emerald eyes. “She isn’t here to serve you. Besides, she’s only eight. She’s still a child, Aso.”
He pulled out the oak chair and slumped into it. “I know she is Lala. But according to tradition, she should’ve started years ago. You started serving dad when you where four.”
I groaned in frustration. “Only because mom was sick.”
He looked over at me, his eyes hardening. “Still…” He paused, obviously thinking. “So, where’s my breakfast?”
I was getting tired of this. He was being so arrogant. I folded my arms across my chest. “Don’t know. And, I’m not making it.”
He scowled and stood up, sauntering over to me. He reached his arm out and wrapped his fingers around my throat.
My eyes widened in surprise as he pushed me to the wall. I winced, feeling bruises starting to form along my shoulder blades. I looked down at him and saw that his eyes were now gold with fury.
“What?” He demanded, pushing me further into the wall.
His fingers dug into my skin, cutting off my airflow. I gasped, trying to get air. He pressed me closer still, grinding me into the wall as if he was trying to crush me.
I closed my eyes; tears streaming down my face. It hurt to try and breathe. It felt like I was being crushed under tons of cement being flattened by a bulldozer.
Air rushed down my throat as he released me and I slumped to the floor at his feet. I gasped, taking in the sweet air.
“Breakfast. Now.”
I heard his heavy footfalls as he walked away from me. I lifted my head up and winced as the pain shot through my neck, pricking my like thousands of tiny needles.
I gritted my teeth and ignored the pain as best as I could. I stood up and took a step, staggering forward as a wave of nausea hit me. This was going to be a long day…
Hours later, I was looking at myself in the mirror. My ivory skin had reddish nail marks along the side of my neck and bruises starting to form. My back was covered in purplish welts. Along the hallow of my back and both shoulder blades where large, purple bruises.
I touched each bruise tenderly, wincing each time. I knew these would be here for a while. I went over to my bed and picked up my white silk gown. I pulled it on over my head and felt the soft fabric wrap around me. I then sunk into my bed. It was so comfortable. I laid my head down and fell asleep immediately.
Chapter 2
I awoke to the sound of soft murmuring. I felt heat against my eyes, so they stayed shut. I tried to shut out the buzzing around me, a small frown spreading across my thin lips. I shifted, though immediately regretted my decision. My body was still sore from the day before. A soft moan sounded in my throat and the buzzing stopped. I sighed in slight relief before I felt warmth on my cold shoulder.
My eyes flashed open, becoming golden in alarm. My entire body tensed as I saw someone touching me. More specifically, who. He was a man, about early twenties. His sandy blond hair was messy, like he had just gotten out of bed, but oddly attracting to me. His features were nicely shaped, as if an artisan had chiseled them. What pulled me in the most, were his magnificent pools. They were blue and sparkled like stars in the night sky.
His lips moved as if he was trying to speak to me, though I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I tilted my head and he stopped in mid sentence, realizing that he was confusing me. He frowned and his lips moved once more. He looked as if he was searching for something…
“English?”
I blinked in surprise, nodding slowly. A thin smile made it’s way across my face. “Yes,” I whispered my voice naturally musical.
“What is your name?”
“Lalaina.” I wasn’t sure if that was how it was said in English, but it was something I’d respond to.
The man’s eyes softened as he smiled, showing off pearly white teeth. “Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” I felt myself blush at this comment. “My name is James.”
We smiled at each other a moment longer, not saying anything. He didn’t have to, and I had nothing to say. He was the one who finally broke the silence.
“What happened to your neck?”
My hand went there instinctively, covering up the marks made by my elder brother.
