The heat from the floor pushed its way through the metal bed frame, the plush feathers of the Kukooi, simmered underneath me, surrounded by soft fabrics as I dreamt about happier times. Why is the bed the most comfortable on days you need to get out of it… An endless roiling of emotion repeats again and again as I think of the council, a chamber that I once saw with more innocent eyes. As a place of protection for our city, now being seen as a place of corruption and pushing down of the people. I never got why my father didn't like me going there when I was younger.
I push myself over, rolling about until my wings come out from under my body, now wanting to ruffle any feathers. I kick the blankets down the bed and stretch out fully, my wings extending their full two meters on each side, just touching the edges of my room. Annoyance at my growth, that one day my wings might not be able to stretch as much. I alleviate the pressure and let them flop, the tips brushing against the warm carpet, bringing such momentary joy until I remember that once again… today has a purpose.
Sighing I push myself up fully onto my knees and make my way off the bed, only tripping slightly as I make my way to the dresser, pulling out the most formal dress I can find. In front of the mirror, I use a small brush to flatter any of the feathers around my face, the pink of my skin accentuating the slight pink and purples of my feathers, running from under my eyes up to the side of my face, covering my head from there, the feathers on my neck already seeming to be flat but making sure I go over them anyway, leaving me at the end to my body.
The skin on my stomach leaves much to be desired, thinking of my mother where the feathers covered her entirely, taking after my father's family of having more skin than feathers. Still… at least I got her coloring… I wouldn't give anything for it, my brother taking after my father's dark and stormy blues.
Finding a dress that fits perfectly I wander into the kitchen of our home, the light filtering through the window, showcasing what a beautiful day it is… despite knowing it won't be. At least not for me. On one of the chairs at the table, my brother sits, blissfully eating nuts, cultivated deep in the city. One such delicacy that our position affords. I pull the chair out gently and watch my brother, as mouthful after mouthful enters his body, relishing each bite. He stops eating as he finally notices me, with a grin he pushes the bowl over to me, barely a handful left. He shrugs and finishes off the rest.
I try to be coy and slowly bring up today's council meeting, coughing and clearing my throat as I do so, “Ahem… so… What are you going to be up to today? Cause you know I might be busy with uhh the council and then Keeper work…”
He looks down at the bowl before answering with a mutter, “... Just hanging out with friends I guess…” I nod before he continues, “Are you… are we not going to be Keepers anymore?” He looks up at me with… confusion? Fear? It’s hard to tell.
I try to smile and reach over, ruffling the feathers on his head. “Of course we are still going to be Keepers, you will start your training next year you know… why? Did someone say something..?” He shrugs and I trying to push for an answer, feeling something wrong. “Swift… did someone say something bad about our family again? Saying something about me not being Keeper fine. I get it. But you have all the rights as part of this lineage to become the next keeper!” I throw my hands wide in exaggeration and exhaustion… this not being the first time I had heard such things.
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He hesitates and looks up at me, then away, opening his mouth and then closing it before finally speaking. “What if… I didnt want to be the next Keeper..?” The words hung in the air as I felt my body fall back against the seat.
What if… why… I focus and look back at him, squirming in his chair, “Is… this what you want? Or words someone has put in your mouth? What would you do instead?”
He looks back down at the empty bowl before hesitatingly muttering, “maybe I could work in Administration, It sounds easy and fun…” Ad-administration? ADMINISTRATION?!
I look down at my brother, knowing exactly where this change of heart has come from, A knock at the door and the voice coming through instantly confirm my thoughts and my despair. “Hey, anyone home?! Important day and the clock is ticking!” The voice of Dawn-son, the self-professed most important person to roam the city.
Swift starts to get up but I pull him by the arm, setting him back in his seat, not wanting to look at him, for him to see the scorn in my eyes at such a thing, for someone of the Keeper family to be convinced by such a lowlife. The only reason Administration seeming ‘fun’ beacuse the son of the direct line not having to work a day in useless feather-brained life!
Reaching the door I slam it open, the metal of the house creaking in dismay at my treatment of it. “Dawn-son you are not welcome here!!” The sleezy lowlife of an Iscarian backing away, hands in the air, wings outstretched in defeat as he chuckles, agrivating to my ears.
He spits out the side of his mouth, watching me with a cocky grin, disgust in my heart. “Whaat is that anyway to treat an old friend? Besides, I thought you would want company for going to the council today haha”
I clench my fist, wanting nothing more than to smash it into his smug face, wishing we were just a bit closer to the edge so that he would at least fall off if I did. “Old friend? Is that what you would call a creepy pursuer? Maybe if you were that same sweet boy I knew 17 years ago, needing help to get the snot out your wing stubs. But now… hah your just a coward using daddy’s money and prestige as your own, addicted to that blue shit they make in the undergrounds and the sound of your own voice.” With every word I’ve stepped forward moving us further away from the house and my brother, throwing every sentence as good as fist into his face.
His arms still raised, the smug smile on his face turned into one of anger, the smell of the drug from his mouth as I feel the sharp sting of a hand across my face. Clutching at my cheek I laugh, with tears in my eyes I turn to him. “I’ve been slapped worse by a child, Pathetic as usual.” I spit onto the ground, blood taining the polished metal.
He steps forwards to strike me again before a voice behind us yells out. “Dawn-son?! What are you doing to my sister?!” My brothers words ring through the air in confusion. I dont dare to turn around, to have him see me in this state.
The wingslime of a man catches the response first, knowing my pride would not let him see this, “Hey Swift, you and your sister had some catching up to do, I’ll see you later yeah? And you… maybe I’ll see you in the council… try to play nice, I wouldnt want my future wingmate looking so scuffed haha.” He dashes off the side, not looking back at me, gritting my teeth in anger.
Yelling behind me I dash off after him, hearing the bell of sun coming from the middle of the island, “Stay away from him swift! Please. I will see you later today.” I leap off the sky ramp, extending my wings outwards, seeing the drop all the way to earth below me. As I glide recklessly to the middle of our city.