Seraphine

The sun was setting over Lake Matthew as I left the Sanctuary to go home. Priestess Maya wouldn’t shut up about the damn Lunar Festival today, as if I had anything to say to all the rich people showing up to catch a glimpse at the new Elysium bearer. Half of them would probably have marriage proposals for me, she had promised. Because yes, of course I want a bunch of rich men proposing to me just because I’ve been cursed with this power. I think I remember a few marriage proposals at the last Lunar Festival, and I was only eleven years old then.

Of course, the worst part about going to and from Sanctuary for Maya’s lessons each day wasn’t the lessons or her constant nagging, but Hector and Ty. My cousins, who got their daily jollies off of catching me and beating the shit out of me in an alley. I told my parents about it years ago when it started, but they didn’t really care. Mom didn’t say anything as usual, and Dad just asked why it was such a big deal if the bruises and cuts just healed after a few seconds anyway.

I reached out with my mind as I walked, waiting for the hateful thoughts of Hector and Ty. Honestly, if I could just give Hector this damn power I would. My life would be a whole lot less complicated, and maybe my mom would recognize my existence for once. Ever since I was born, she’s treated me like I’m already dead. I suppose I might as well be to her, Elysium broke her own childhood and destroyed her chances of living the life she wanted when I was “blessed” with the power at birth.

“Where’s that bitch, she should be around here somewhere…” Ah, there they are. Hector’s thoughts echoed in my mind as I ducked into an alley, letting the darkness hide me. I pulled on my jacket sleeves, trying to hide the glow of my hands in the shadows. “The blessed glow of Elysium runs through your veins,” Maya had explained it to me. Just another thing keeping me from hiding who I am, even if I need to hide.

I heard footsteps behind me, quickly followed by more thoughts from Hector; “Can’t miss her at night, she lights up like a damn Christmas tree.”

“There she is!” Hector’s real voice called out as he and Ty broke into a run. I sighed and started running too, even though these pursuits always end badly for me. Ty and Hector are faster and stronger than me, and they always catch up. Always. I’ve tried running straight from the Sanctuary to home, but that just makes me easier for them to find.

I weaved in and out of alleys, carefully avoiding the trash cans and crates between houses. After a few seconds, I looked back to see only Ty chasing me. They’ve done this before; one chases while the other goes around so they can corner me. Turning back around, I ran headfirst into Hector. Dammit. Just once, it would be nice to make it home without their daily beatings.

“Thought you were gonna get away today, huh?” Hector taunted as he pushed me into an alley, my wrists in a vice-like grip. I glared at him, refusing to speak.

“Oh come on, we like it when you beg,” Ty said, coming into the alley with a wicked grin on his face.

“Just get it over with, assholes,” I spat. Hector smiled and quickly jabbed his fist into my nose, slamming my head back against the wall. I tasted blood as the bones in my nose began to realign, but they were far from done with me. Ty brought his fist into my side, cracking my ribs and knocking the breath out of my lungs. I winced in pain, but didn’t cry out. Even if someone did hear me, nobody would help. Practically the entire town hates me, for the same reason Hector and Ty do. They know I don’t want my “gift”, and that so many others did, especially Hector. He was born a month after I was, and the way he sees it, I stole his birthright by being born with Elysium. Never mind that his grandfather had to die for me to be born with it, he just wanted the power for himself.

“Hey!” I heard Michael’s voice call into the alley as Hector and Ty hit me again.

“Aw, your little brother’s come to save you again, Sera,” Hector cooed.

“Don’t call me that!” I threatened, struggling against him and his brother. Michael pulled Ty off me and punched him, hard. At least he gets to feel that in the morning.

“Get OFF me,” I thought to Hector.

“Get out of my head, bitch!”

“Come on Hec, let’s go,” Ty said, scrambling away from Michael.

“Going to get you one day, you’ll see. Give you something you’ll never forget. Take everything from you like you did to me,” Hector thought as he and Ty walked away. His promise of a new threat sent chills down my spine.

“Are you ok, Sera?” Michael asked, helping me to my feet.

“Always, Mike. Thanks for coming for me, we’ve got to stop making a habit of this.” I grinned up at him. Even though he’s two years younger than me, he’s nearly a foot taller and significantly stronger. It was hard to breathe for the few minutes it took to walk home; the cracked ribs were taking a while to heal. The house smelled like potatoes and beans when we got inside, and my stomach growled with hunger.

“Don’t worry guys, Sera just has a broken nose, cracked ribs, and a dislocated jaw,” Mike shouted to the house when we were through the door. He resented the fact that my parents didn’t do anything to stop Hector and Ty, and liked to remind them when I came home injured. They didn’t respond to his patronizing; they never do.

“I’m going upstairs until dinner,” I thought to Michael.

“Are you sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine, Mike. Nothing they haven’t done before.” Upstairs in my bedroom, I took a hot shower and changed clothes. All of my injuries were healed by the time I went down for dinner.

“So Sera,” my father began, “what did you do at the Sanctuary today?”

“You mean other than get beaten by those assholes we call cousins?” Michael interjected, obviously still angry at them for ignoring me. He doesn’t understand that I’ve accepted their indifference.

“Sera are you healed?” Father asked. I nodded, not wanting to speak or look him in the eye. I suppose part of me is still angry with them after all.

“Good. See, Mike? She’s fine.”

“Doesn’t mean she didn’t feel it,” Mike grumbled. Father ignored him.

“Now, what were your lessons about today, Sera?” he prodded again. I sighed.

“There weren’t any lessons, just preparation for the Lunar Festival.”

“Really? She needed to teach you something you didn’t already know from the last one?”

“Preparation for marriage proposals, mostly,” I replied. God, I did not want to talk about this. Or anything else, for that matter. Couldn’t I just sit and eat with Mike in peace?

“Oh, well that’s good. Anyone we can expect? The guests at the festival are always rather rich,” his voice trailed off, as though he realized he was talking about his daughter and not some asset he owned.

“Dad, you’re not selling my sister off into marriage, for God’s sake. She’s 21 years old and this isn’t the dark ages. People don’t get married for money and power anymore,” Michael protested, his anger flaring again.

“Just something to think about,” Father muttered before immersing himself in the task of eating his dinner. Mother sat at the other end of the table, silent as always.

“Don’t worry, I’m not marrying anyone anytime soon, Mike,” I thought to him. He smirked from across the table.

“Good, I don’t trust anyone to take care of you anyway.”

“Oh please Mike, I can take care of myself!” Mike laughed at this, making our parents glare at him.

“Sera, Mike, what have we said about telepathy at the dinner table?” My father asked, getting angry.

“Well what’s the point of sharing the conversation if you two aren’t going to contribute to it anyway?” Michael retorted. My father slammed his fork down in protest.

“It’s fine, I’m done eating anyway,” I said as I quickly finished off my beans and took my plate into the kitchen. I went back up to my room and gazed out the window at the moonless night, feeling the familiar glow from Elysium’s symbol on the nape of my neck. It always gets restless this time of night, as if it longs to be in the sky. I’m sure if Elysium could talk, he would tell me he wanted to be a moon again.

“Hey,” Mike said as he came into my room.

“Hey yourself,” I replied, not looking away from the sky.

“Mom and Dad are the worst.”

“You really shouldn’t let them bother you,” I said. “That’s what I try to do most days. It’s not their fault their daughter is a freak.”

“You’re not a freak, Sera. You’ve been blessed.” I turned to look at him, my blue-green eyes glowing lightly in the dark room.

“Oh yeah? Tell that to the entire village that resents me for having Elysium, or to Hector and Ty who take it out on me every chance they get. It’s a curse, not a blessing.” Michael sighed.

“Are you sure you can handle them?” He asked.

“I don’t fight them because I don’t see the point, Mike. Nothing will change if I fight back.”

“How do you know?” He asked. After a moment of silence, he continued, “At the very least you can leave some bruises for them to think about.” I smiled at him, but my heart still felt heavy. I would be lucky to leave bruises on them, and it would probably just make them angry.