Chapter one, Introduction:
- Good morning, sweetheart.
It was a gentle voice which would sound those simple yet affectionate words.
Eventually they awoke a sleeping beauty with angelic facial features, a fair skinned, feeble body, dressed up in a darker shaded chiffon white nightgown and having short, raggedly cut strands of jade black hair which barely reached down her shoulders.
This damsel was lying in her bed with a sizzling hot temperature and in a “moribund” condition she would hoarsely mumble to herself and predicted that this must have been “it”. Shortly her parents would have to entomb their one and only daughter and she could just imagine the disappointment behind grieving faces as they probably would find it very disapproving that a simple fever could eradicate her completely, but… was there any use in trying to even stay alive?
Hiding under the quilt she had the very best intentions not to let the older woman detect her in such a weak state and ensured that everything was alright, but it was in vain. Her mother was a connoisseur of human nature and wouldn’t leave the room until the girl gave in and confessed that yes indeed she did feel feverish.
Several divergent thoughts occupied her brain meanwhile she sat up in the bed and sensed how fragile fingertips applied soft pressure against her forehead once the mother’s hand stroke it which caused her entire body to go limp. The psychological response turned into something hypersensitive and before the young lass could interfere with her actions a torrent of teardrops guttered down her cheeks.
- Hello there, my darling child, how are you feeling this wonderful morning?
Every time Rayn regarded this woman all she could notice was, well… first of all, her incomparable cogitations, opinions, personality and gorgeous appearance, especially according to those nearly breathtaking eyes,
that enchanted smile and those corkscrew curls.
It distinguished her from the rest of the people in the district and… even made her seem like a goddess, and… Rayn was supposed to be “her child”. How come? She could never meet up with this degree of perfection, and she knew that.
Besides… her father always wanted a boy, someone he could coach and train, a… individual who did not dread dirty hands, to experience a lot of hard work and above all… someone who could match up to the neighbor lads’ physical strength fairly, an impossible task for a “girl” like herself.
- Mom, I hate this! I’m feeling terrible right now and I’ve worked so hard not to act egotistically, and I also know from experience that when you’re feeling reduced in your condition it’s easier for you to be self-indulgent!
That’s why I didn’t want you to see me like this, and that’s why I told you that I felt okay even though... I’m not…
- Oh, Rayn…
The mother, even known as Rose, hesitated for a moment before a motherly smile featured her lips as she was raising Rayn’s chin, her gaze softened and she welcomed her into a warm, affectionate embrace which lasted for what seemed like a very long time, when the actual duration only was for a couple of seconds…
The raven didn’t resist at all, assuming that she had no right to interfere with her parent´s actions.
- Have we really been this strict towards you throughout the years? It scares me to realize that this is how you truly are reasoning with yourself… Precious, it’s alright to be favoring your own well-being preferably before others’ at times, and… it’s nothing you need to be ashamed of or disregard as important.
The most significant part is to always remember that, and listen carefully now…
The blonde pulled away for a second, tilting her head as she stared deeply into the irises of her daughter’s.
- If you don’t love yourself, no one else will ever be able to love or understand you. After all you have to live in her body till the day you’re hankering demise, so… why not make the most of it while you’re still at it?
Punctuating “her body” in her speech Rose placed her index finger just above Rayn’s belly button and started tickling her until a laughter slipped through the raven’s lips. She coughed in embarrassment and her face brightened up in a rosy tint. The mother’s smirk widened in a maintained way and before neither of them could comprehend the consequences of their actions they began to guffaw so hard that their lungs eventually hurt.
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- Hey, is my angel child feeling a little bit better now?
The mom was wondering as she sat up on the bedside.
- I guess…
Rayn admitted with a short nod.
- Rayn… I love you.
- I love you too, mom…
A cold breeze flitted in through the open window and Rayn knew exactly what was going to happen next…
Every night she had the same dream about her, no exceptions, and this had been going on for two weeks.
Her mother… the one and only she lost when she was very young. The breeze would not only consume the presence of warmth and kindness, but at the same time the whole scenario was dissolving...
Waking up in reality dark, deep bags under her twitching eyes were something that most people first espied. Yawning wearily she dragged herself out of bed and got dressed. Regarding her own reflection in the mirror the similarity of a zombie’s wasn’t very farfetched and in order to stir herself she washed her mug with ice cold water and then slapped her cheeks lightly.
Wandering out of the bathroom next-door to her bedroom she scheduled her day thoroughly and the initial objective to prioritize was a quick outdoor jogging and then a steady breakfast.
Today was a fine day… the sun was standing high on the bright blue sky and now and then frigid winds would fly by and cause strands of her short, briery, elaborated coiffure tied in an exalted tassel to whip her in the neck meanwhile she was running downhill a steep slope.
- Good morning, Miss Rayn.
- Good morning, Ronell Rayn.
A married woman was shooting daggers at her husband, although he didn’t seem to notice the expression in his wife´s upset face at first…
- Ronell Rayn? But Derek, are you insane? You cannot call a noble by her first name, it is madness!
I thought you knew better than that!
- But, Margret....!
Rayn overheard their discussion… It was rare for her to be greeted by others with her birth name, that’s for sure. Not even her father would utter those six letters in the combination of a given name during birth anymore,
and the reason behind it was unknown. She snorted… ironical, that’s what it was.
- Good morning to you two as well.
Avowal confirmed, she admired the chemistry between those two love birds… it appeared to be so genuine, even if vexation never is to treat with favor…
- Oh my…
The wife was responding to the damsel’s insouciant smile with an abashed facial expression…
- …Such a well behaved noble!
- Isn’t she?!
The husband concurred, probably relieved that he didn’t have to deal with her “bad side” furthermore.
Rayn kept her pace rhythmically and took a turn round the corner of the last house in a row of bungalows in order to get to a small marketplace where she stepped by just to buy some freshly baked bread and lingonberry juice from her favorite bakery store.
In the dining room in her huge villa back at home there would be a full breakfast table awaiting her,
served by their pantryman, but… he already knew her routines, even if the father favored a free ride for his precious daughter throughout her entire life where work wasn’t something to prioritize, not even to cook her own food. The waiter would dish everything up, then once his boss left for work he stored the refrigerated products and what do you think he does with the heated up dishes? Guessed right. Even a “flawless” place like Concrete Force secreted its shadows… the chaotic minds of the homeless´ were set on ease for a while when their starving stomachs got fed. Rayn loved Mr. Colton, he possessed such a humble soul.
Passing by a playground she couldn’t help but let the presence of a lone lad who was squatting down in the sand catch her attention… She leisurely strolled by, occupied a swing and started rocking it from side to side with her toes drilled down in the gravel containing ground. This was such a sumptuous viewpoint in the outskirts of town to the southeast… the green landscape below next to the flooding waterfall, it was really beautiful.
- Hey there.
She called out, waiting for a reaction from the younger boy.
He didn’t reply directly, just letting out a deep sigh… but eventually he muttered something she quite couldn’t perceive.
- What did you say? Mind repeating yourself?
She waited, but no response was given.
- Hey, what’s wrong?
The raven eyed his back with her sapphire blue eyes… something was clearly wrong with this guy, and she was going to find out what it was.
- Talk to me.
She crouched down next to him and grabbed his arm…
- H-hey-…
For a moment there he startled her. He was frowning, glaring back at her over his shoulder with crossed arms over his chest, and suddenly… his irises altered their tints.
- Huh?
With a stare their gazes met… several seconds passed and then… he was gone. It was just like… he never had been there to begin with.
“So strange…”
She thought to herself as she left the playground.
"Who was that person? It seems to me like… we have met before."
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(I really appreciate constructive criticism, so if you could spare a minute or two of your time, please leave a comment below and tell me what you think of the first chapter! Wink [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/wink.png] Stay tuned for future chapters! Very Happy [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/biggrin.png] )