A wornout carriage rattled along the cobblestone street heading towards Stolz, its occupants were ensconced in silence so profound, it was almost deafening. The passengers,Treyton, Yuki and Jacek were lost in their own world inside the still-aired carriage.
To one side, Treyton sat with a visibly tensed appearance. The air about him was stern and extremely disturbed. The hunky man's eyes were narrowed as he stared at the darkening clouds through the carriage's window. His jaw was tightly clenched and his lips were pressed into a thin line. Treyton's expression simultaneously revealed and masked his anxiety and wearines.
Across from him, a pensive Jacek leaned back, his gaze cast downward as he was lost in thought. With his brows knitted and his lips pursed, Jacek seemed to be wrestling with a weighty dilemma. His mind was all else but in the carriage.
Between them, Yuki sat in a stiff posture, her vacant eyes darted around the carriage, her gaze settled on anything and everything except the thought that persistently lingered in her mind. She busied herself with playing with the drug she took from her godfather's, to apply on Treyton's wounds. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she twisted the tap of the medicine's container severally, allowing her mind to blank out the unpleasant thoughts that sort to consume her.
Yuki's lips pressed into a tight line, she seemed to be biting back words, or perhaps emotions as her jaws clenched in a determined effort to keep her thoughts at bay. Her eyes flashed with a hint of desperation, as if she knew that surrendering to her thoughts would lead her down a depressing path.
When Yuki's wandering eyes fell on Jacek, as if clinging to some hope that he would have a way to distract her from herself like he always did, she was surprised to find him deep in his own thought. No wonder the ride was so quiet!
Yuki immediately snapped back to reality and clutched her brother's hand. He flinched; his preoccupied face morphed to curiosity as he regarded her.
Jacek eyed Yuki's hand on his that exuded nothing but affection and concern before looking back at her face once more.
"Is something bothering you, Jacek?" Yuki asked in a low, concerned tone.
Treyton's countenance softened when Yuki's voice reached him, it was as if when she broke the silence, she broke his anxiety along with it.
Treyton tore his gaze from outside and glanced at Yuki from the corner of his eyes. Her concern for Jacek was etched on her face and in her voice. His heart clenched at the thought that she have never looked at him in the same way, not even when he was injured.
Jacek raised his free hand and stroked his sister's face. He did it so tenderly, one would assume he was trying to brush off the uneasiness of her expression.
"Nothing is bothering me. I was only thinking of trivial things, pay it no mind," Jacek declared, his face revealing his unsettled state of mind.
Despite her doubts and curiosity, Yuki observed Jacek briefly before nodding her head in concession.
The only moments Jacek did not give her his attention were in her dreams, because in reality, Jacek rarely ever missed her unstable moods. Still, once in a while, her brother would unconsciously dawdle in his own thoughts and not notice it when she was apparently stressed.
One of her worst fears was that, a day would come that Jacek would be fed up with her and distance himself. She feared that a day would come when Jacek no longer wanted to be beside her and would no longer concern himself with her. He was the only one that truly cared for her. The only one she believed, loved her unconditionally.
When the three arrived at Stolz, and on the Adlerian compound, Mrs. Adlerian was awaiting them outside. Her eyes lit up immediately she laid them on her son and daughter. She fixed her slipping shawl, marched to meet her daughter and embrace her.
"Are you alright, Yuki? I kept getting a foul feeling that you might have been in danger since earlier. Assure me you are fine, dearest," Mrs. Adlerian demanded with a face shrouded in concern and fear.
Yuki's eyes which possessed a hint of dejection, brightened when she beheld her mother's loving gaze. "Sorry," Yuki apologized sincerely. Sorry I thought Jacek was the sole person that loved me unconditionally, mother, I almost forgot about you. "I am fine, mother. I am completely fine."
Mrs. Adlerian cupped her daughter's face between her hands and stared into her eyes, she beheld nothing but honesty. "I am relieved…"
"You may have forgotten, mother, but I am here to remind you that you have another child. I could use a warm, motherly welcome as well," Jacek interrupted the doting mother-daughter reunion.
"Shit…" Treyton cussed under his breath.
As soon as she heard Jacek's words, Mrs. Adlerian's face twitched before a calm smile crept on her face.
"Yuki, dear, can you go inside first, I want to have a little chat with the boys," Mrs. Adlerian requested while stroking Yuki's face affectionately.
"As you wish, mother," Yuki said politely and made her way towards the house. She glanced at Jacek and threw him a small smile, one that expressed more of her condolences towards him than her fondness of him.
Jacek tilted his head in utter confusion. His eyes left Yuki's departing frame and rested on his mother smiling face as she watched Yuki leave. Jacek frowned slightly when he notice how his mother seemed angry for some reason but wore such a kind smile on her face.
"You are so fucking dense at times; do you know that?" Treyton whispered to Jacek, his eyes lingering on Mrs. Adlerian's sweet countenance.
"What…"
Jacek cut himself off when he saw how swiftly his mother's smile fell as soon as Yuki entered the house. The expression that replaced the warm one, was an expression he was more than familiar with.
Mrs. Adlerian slowly turned to the men, her hand on her waist and a reprimanding look on her face.
"What were you both thinking!" she yelled. "Sir Athaulfe, I believe I remember you saying it was dangerous for Yuki to go out. If someone…" she threw a menacing glare at Jacek before continuing, "was to act so recklessly, I did not except you to act like that as well," she chided.
Jacek did not dare to say a word, he knew how much madder his mother would become if he dared to exchange words with her or make excuses.
"I deeply regret disappointing you, and even exposing Ms. Adlerian to danger. I have no words to express how sorry I am for being so thoughtless."
Treyton's tone, manners and sincerity was taken well by Mrs. Adlerian. Still, the sight of Jacek made her annoyed all over again. "And what have you to say for yourself?" she casted her gaze to Jacek.
Jacek gulped dryly. "I apologize for exposing my sister to any potential danger. This will not repeat itself," he promised without a hint of dishonesty.
"It better not!" Mrs. Adlerian pronounced and turned towards the house.
After the youngsters bathed, they joined Mrs. Adlerian to have dinner. The air about the dining table was a tranquil one.
"Say, Jacek, what do you think of Mrs. Shinche's eldest daughter?" Mrs. Adlerian questioned after swallowing a spoonful of soup. She lifted her eyes from her bowl to look at her unusually quiet son.
Jacek raised a brow, his face a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Do you mean Ms. Lilith?"
Yuki and Treyton concentrated on their meals while the entirety of their attention were fixed on Jacek and Mrs. Adlerian's conversation.
"Is that her name? I don't know. I speak of her seamstress daughter, the beautiful brunette," Mrs. Adlerian elaborated.
"Mm, that is Ms. Lilith. What of her, mother?" Jacek asked, his brows furrowed.
Mrs. Adlerian put her spoon down and wiped the corners of her mouth. She gazed at Jacek with a somber guise. "I wanted to know what you thought of her, as a woman."
Yuki glimpsed at her mother and then Jacek, she took a small bite of meat, her eyes still darting between the mother and son. She was fully aware where the conversation was going and where it would end. Normally, she took interest in watching and listening to her mother and brother bicker about his love life, but that night was different. She did not see herself enjoying such trifling topics. She was mentally exhausted and believed she needed to rest.
After partially clearing her plate, Yuki stood, "I will retire to bed early today; I am exhausted," she announced.
"Oh, alright. I already made the bed."
Mrs. Adlerian looked up at Yuki and told her.
Jacek also looked at her, except, he looked more betrayed than curious. He clearly perceived her early retirement as an act of escape and leaving him to his frustrating fate.
Yuki rendered an encouraging smile to her brother before turning and leaving him to his fate.
After washing the dishes she used, Yuki left the kitchen and headed to her mother's room. As soon as she entered the room, she strode straight to the bed and collapsed into it.
Yuki lay motionless on the bed, her body stretched out in a straight line as her face was pressed into a pillow. She stared blankly into the darkness; her gaze unfocused while her mind raced with thoughts that refused to quiet. Her breathing was slow and deliberate, as if she was willing to relax and to let go of the tension that held her body rigid.
Yuki could faintly hear heated conversations from outside the room, yet, all she paid mind to was the soft hum of the night outside. That distant whisper that seemed to lull her closer to sleep. Yet, her mind remained alert, her thoughts swirled in a chaotic mix of worries, fears and dreams.
Unconsciously, Yuki's lips parted, and out of her mouth emerged a hushed, "Kaithenn Valthanae."
Just like a spell, as soon as the name left her mouth, Yuki's eyes shut voluntarily, ushering her into her long-awaited dreamland.