Page 24 of Captured By Chaos


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And yet, nothing.

There was only so much hope one person could hold before going insane, and I was starting to reach my limit.

“Want a distraction?” She nudged me. “You’re off today, right?”

“Yes.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “What did you have in mind?”

***

Lea knew exactly what I needed when she made me drive us out to Nana Aggie’s house for the day. Apparently, they had been communicating via Falcon mail, planning to get me away for the day.

My hands clutched the cup of coffee that Nana had welcomed me with, sitting at the counter while I watched her and Lea attempt to cook lunch. I would’ve offered to help, but they had permanently banned me from the kitchen long ago when I had burned an entire pot of turkey meatball sauce they had worked two hours on.

I never complained; watching the two of them try and cook together was more entertaining anyway.

“Aggie, how many times will it take me coming here for you to finally go and get your knives sharpened?” Lea asked as she struggled to cut a cucumber for the citrus garden salad.

“Pah.” Aggie waved her hand, dropping a few herbs into the simmer soup on the stove. “Too much of a hassle.”

“I am a blacksmith! This is physically killing my soul,” Lea grumbled, her hazel green eyes widening, teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. “I gave you a list of local smithies with wonderful rates.”

“She even offered to sharpen them for you and have them done in a day,” I pointed out.

“You are not helping, young lady.” Aggie pointed her knife at me, a laugh playing on my lips at her frustrated scowl marring her usually gentle, sweet face.

I lifted my hands in innocence. “I’m just pointing out the facts.”

“My kitchen, my rules.” Aggie shook her head. “If I don’t want to part with my knives, then I don’t have to, and that’s all I have left to say.”

“I’m over this!” Lea dropped the knife, the metal clattering against the stone countertop before she headed for the back door.

“Adelaide! Where are you going?” Aggie scolded.

She stopped by the back door with a huff. “To find a decent rock so I can somewhat sharpen these pieces of dull metal you claim are proper knives.” And with that, she disappeared into the backyard.

“That girl hasn’t changed since she was a child.” Aggie shook her head, a smile playing on her lips as she continued to flit around the kitchen.

“Do you want her to?”

Aggie’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “Of course not.”

I let her continue on in silence, wandering away from the savory aromas and into the sitting room that took up the front room. Like every space, she had painted and decorated it herself, the light coral walls contrasting with the indigo couch and chairs. I stopped in front of the grey stone mantle, my heart heavy as I stared up at the painting that hung there: Caleb, Ollie and myself, smiling brightly.

To the Goddess, it was realistic. People were always shocked when they learned Aggie wasn’t an artist by trade, but had actually spent most of her professional life as a State Alchemist until she had retired about fifteen years ago, when my Papa had passed from a hunting accident. She was a genius both scientifically and artistically.

She had made us sit for the painting a week after I took my oath into the Guard, wanting to commemorate her final grandchild following our legacy. That was ten years ago, and this painting hadn’t moved from this spot since she finished it. I stood in the center, Ollie to my left with his arm slung over my shoulder and his mischievous grin playing on his angular face. Caleb stood at my right, holding my hand tightly, his head gently tilted close to mine. His posture was a bit more rigid than Ollie’s, but his smile burned brighter than the sun, his dirty blond hair falling slightly against his forehead.

I could never forget this moment; I had felt fortified and strong, like I could take on the world knowing my two big brothers would always be there to hold me up when I needed them. We had made a promise that day:Born by Blood. Bound by Loyalty.It had meant that even though we would find new family in our Faction, we would always remember where we started and would end—with each other. To solidify it, we each had it tattooed on ourselves, mine running along the length of my left bicep, blending in with my Moonlight tattoo.

Ollie had stayed true to that promise. Caleb had not.

It broke my heart every day, knowing that his love for me was conditional. When he was forced to make a decision between what I told him and what others said, he had chosen to turn his back on me, to believe the lies that were spread about what happened. He broke his loyalty to me to stay the perfect oldest child my father saw him as. He’d made his choice, and every day since I’ve had to live my life with that broken promise inked on my skin.

Yet, no matter how much I hurt from the betrayal, I still wished every day that Caleb would come back into my life. That I would have both of my brothers back, the way it was supposed to be.

A clattering from the kitchen pulled my attention back, Aggie bickering with Lea that she didn’t have to take the time to sharpen the knives when lunch was almost ready. I gave one last look at the painting, wiping away the stray tears that had escaped, before heading back into the kitchen to try and enjoy the day they were creating for me.

Chapter Thirteen

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