Serena stumbled toward the front door, clutching her hair into bunches with her fists. Hot tears flowed down her round cheeks, her lip quivering as she struggled with each step. She looked like a drunkard, drunk on the loss and betrayal from just moments before. Her feet scraped along the floor as she approached the door. Her toes caught on the edge of the rug, and she stumbled forward and slammed her face into the hardwood door.
She groaned as she pushed herself off the surface. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress and sniffled. Her snot ran clear, and her mouth was sticky.
She flung herself into the yard, slamming the door behind her. She buried her face in her hands and heaved dry cries. She collapsed on the stone walkway, her knees scraping along their rough, cold surface.
"Why..." She sputtered in between the wails.
She knelt there, in the cold evening air until it turned into night, crying and asking herself why and how. The moon hid behind the dark clouds, leaving the world in the dark. As the night wore on, the cold set in. She shivered in her thin dress but refused to enter the house of her mate and source of pain. The man that had taken her in, coaxed her into a sense of security, finding herself and a new family, but all of it was a lie. Every smile he had ever given her, every flower and nice gesture was false, and every compliment riddled with lies. Lies, oh lies. That pathological liar.
She gritted her teeth at the thought of Atlas showing her the flower shed in the woods. The intimate moments she had hoped for, and some that came into reality, turned into a bitter taste in her mouth.
A warm hand pressed against her back and rubbed in comforting circles. Serena jerked her head up to find Venus sitting beside her. She wrapped her arms around Serena and pulled her close against her chest. Venus hugged Serena throughout the entire span of her tormented crying.
When the tears would not continue, Serena rubbed her puffy eyes and looked up at Venus.
"Thanks..." Serena mumbled almost incoherently.
Venus smiled and nodded.
"You're welcome. I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
Serena shoved Venus away, a look of disgust plastered on her face.
"Wait. You knew!" Serena spat, hurt by Venus' words.
Venus held out her hands and shook her head fervently.
"No, no, no. I found out last night. When you and Atlas came to the house, I told him that he needed to tell you. He shouldn't have lied in the first place and that you would never love him again." Venus blurted, leaving little room for a breath.
Serena slowly moved back toward Venus cautiously.
"Okay..." Serena eyed Venus. "Now, what do I do? I can't see your brother again. I will never look at him the same way." Tears began to flow again at the thought and mention of Atlas.
"Hey, I will help you." Venus pulled Serena's head into her lap. She fiddled with Serena's strands of loose hair. "I can get you out of here. I can take you back to your cabin, and we can go from there."
Serena's eyes flicked around her surroundings, searching for something, some sign.
She found none.
She nodded her head slowly, sniffing once more.
"Take me to my home." She said, determined.
"Okay." Venus stood up and held out a hand. Serena took it, and the two made their way to Venus' house.
She led Serena up the stairs and into the master bedroom that she had been in just a day before. Venus sifted through a closet and threw out a small duffle bag.
"I'll give you a few things, just in case your house has been completely ransacked."
Serena nodded and folded the clothes Venus tossed to the floor and bed. When Venus was satisfied with the clothing, she moved to the bathroom and began throwing toiletries at Serena. Serena caught many of the ones flying toward her face but dodged the ones that were a bit too sudden. She threw glares at Venus as she shoved the contents into the duffle.
Venus hopped out of the bathroom and zipped up the duffle bag.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Venus." Serena hugged Venus tightly.
"You're welcome. If you need anything, I will be there."
Serena nodded, and the two headed for the woods under the cover of the cloudy, night sky.
Venus led Serena down the lightly tread dirt path. The woods opened onto the shore of the lake. The water was dark and unmoving. Serena led Venus along the edge and up the rough walkway. The roots still stuck out of the packed dirt, and the pine boughs still covered most of the way.
"This is where you lived?" Venus whispered in Serena's ear.
Serena jumped at the sudden voice in her ear but nodded in reply.
"It was a vacation house that was passed down. We only came on the holidays. Most of the time my mom and I would join my dad here, especially around Christmas.
Venus nodded and looked over the cabin exterior.
It had seen better days but was still in good condition. The wood siding had a few rotten parts, and the paint was chipping off but was solid cedar. The windows were dark and glazed over from dust. Spiderwebs and all sorts of insects made their home in the nooks of the boards.
The two approached the screen door slowly. Venus flung an arm in front of Serena and shook her head.
"I'll go first." She whispered.
Serena nodded and stepped out of Venus' way.
The screen door squealed open as Venus pulled the handle. She winced at the cry that rang through the woods. Serena put a finger in front of her lips teasingly. Venus rolled her eyes and pushed the door open.
The hallway was dark and dirty, but just as Serena had left it months ago. The shoes were still by the doorway, and her suitcase was still by the front bedroom.
The two moved to the living room, slowly flipping on the lights. Venus and Serena squinted at the bright light. As their eyes adjusted, Serena took in the full of room. The couch was covered in blankets and pillows, as though someone had been sleeping there, waiting by the lake-facing window. The pile of wood that was normally neatly stacked was almost gone. A few little twigs and a handful of bark remained scattered by the fireplace. Ashes filled the hearth and puffed into a cloud as the wind blew past the chimney.
"This isn't right," Serena said cautiously.
"What do you mean?" Venus grabbed Serena's arm.
"Someone's been here."
Venus ran over to the fireplace and held her hands above the ashes.
A soft heat nipped at her fingertips.
She slowly turned to Serena, eyes wide.
"Someone has been here recently. We need to leave."
The two raced for the door, but a set of broad shoulders blocked the doorway. The dark figure stepped through the doorway, the boots on their feet thudding loudly down the hall with each step. Venus shoved Serena back into the living room, pushing her to the couch.
It was too late. The light was still on. As the figure stepped toward the light, the two women turned to see their potential attacker. Venus set her guard up and clenched her jaw tight.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"