I frowned laying back on the grass. Was there even a point trying to resist? My mother would have her way anyway. She always did somehow. But this was utterly ridiculous! My birth was nothing to celebrate. I was of no high rank. In fact I was probably ranked very low in society just above the slaves. My mother's choice of profession had damned her children to live ridiculed by others.
Closing my eyes I nestled closer to the ground. The tall grass all but hid me. Inhaling the warm fall Italian air I relaxed a little. This was my sanctuary. My escape from the rest of the world. I had happened upon it a couple years ago while playing with my older brother Ezra. The meadow stayed beautiful despite the season. Wildflowers sprinkled across it in the spring. The hot summers never dried the lively green grass that blanketed the field. Though leaves and flowers died in fall this place kept its beauty.
Today I was escaping the birthday party my mother had planned for me. Fifteen wasn't really that significant of a year. All it meant was that I was edging closer to the one thing I dreaded. Adulthood. With adulthood came responsibilities, not that I was lazy or anything I'd just rather spend my days exploring rather than cooking for a husband.
Just thinking of that word caused me to shudder. Husband. Ugh another thing I disliked. If I had a choice in the matter I'd never marry. Ever. I was too free spirited to be tamed and to stubborn to take orders from a man. Maybe that has something to do with the father I never knew.
Sighing I raised myself up. Why not get it over with? It might not be too bad. Maybe I'd even have fun. I snorted. Fun at a party of my mother's?! Like that would ever happen.
I didn't live too far from the field, still I walked as slow as possible trying to stall the inevitable. However I was entering my home in a matter of minutes. The house wasn't anything spectacular. Not too large not too small made of a pain stone with a brown tiled roof. I slid in quietly hoping to sneak to the room I shared with my young sister before my mother would notice my absence.
"KYRA!" Too late.
I paused in the hall as my mother approached me. She was a tiny woman that held on to part of the good looks she'd once had when she was younger. Her hair once shiny dark waves like my own was short and somewhat limp. The curvaceous body she once boasted was now pudgy after birthing three children. All that remained was her startling light green eyes. The same mesmerizing eyes my brother and I have.
Her lined face was full of anger as she moved towards me. She wasn't happy about my tardiness as I figured.
"Good evening mother." I greeted smiling broadly. Maybe she'd give into my smile as she typically did.
" Yes. Evening Kyra." She growled stressing the word.
"Lost track of time." I shrugged not daring to look at her eyes. "Sorry."
Surprisingly she sighed instead of going into a rant like she always did when she was angered.
"Just get ready daughter." My mother ordered. "The party begins in an hour and it would be a shame if the birthday girl wasn't prepared."
I was off the hook! Yes! I sped down the hall to my room to put a distance between myself and my mother just in case her mood changed.
"Ready Aria as well!"
I found my little sister in our room playing on the floor with a stuffed dolly. She was an adorable little five year old. Springy curls, large brown eyes, and cute dimples. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. Aria sprinted over to hug my legs. I pat her soft her gently.
"I haven't been gone that long young one." I chuckled prying her off me. She was very close to me because I took care of her for the most part. Mother always had clients to handle so we were left here alone often. Most people in our village believe she is my child.
"Liar!" She proclaimed latching onto me again. "You was gone forever!"
"Well I'm here now aren't I?'
I pulled her off me once more and crossed the room to my wardrobe. I didn't have many garments so it was easy to notice the new lavender stola that was hanging there. This caused me to frown. There are better things she can spend her money on than me. I laid the dress aside on my bed then fished through Aria's side of the wardrobe for something suitable for her.
I turned to her smiling. "Want to help choose something to wear for tonight?"
She beamed and raced over to me. I knew exactly which one she'd select. It was her favorite possession though I hadn't a clue why. My old pink hand-me-down toga was overused and due to be thrown away. She eagerly discarded the plain tunic she was wearing and smiled widely as I dressed her.
Aria giggled and twirled out of the room to show my mother no doubt. I was left alone with the new garment. I sighed as I slid it on wondering how much mother had spent on it. It was honestly lovely on me I thought looking in the mirror. The pale lavender complimented my tan skin well. That was one thing my mother was good at. Selecting clothes.
I sat down at my vanity and began to run a brush through my tangled waist length hair. My hair tended to tangle easily and was a hassle to care for but my mother forbade me from chopping it off. Reminded her too much of her own hair. After a painful while I had finished, tying the top section of hair back with a simple sliver barrette. I decided to skip on cosmetics. Too much of a hassle and I truly wasn't aiming to drawing any unnecessary attention to myself tonight.
"Knock. Knock." A deep voice said. I turned to see my brother leaning in the doorway.
"Are you ready yet?" He demanded." I can't stand Momma's bitching anymore."
Laughing I walked over to him. Ezra was a tall handsome man with a slightly muscular built. He made all the girls around swoon yet at nineteen he wasn't looking to marry. He was always too concerned with the family. 'Protecting the only important women in his life was his duty' he always said. I was grateful to have his protection but wished at the same time that he'd do something for himself for once.
"People have begun to arrive sister." Ezra announced. "Aren't you just trembling with excitement?"
My eyes narrowed at his teasing as I followed him to our large living space. He wasn't lying. Several people were already here. None I knew by name, didn't spend much time socializing with villagers. What I did know though was that all of them were single males. This caused an alarm to go off in my head.
"What is this?" I snarled at Ezra through my teeth.
Anger crossed his face briefly before answering. "Momma believes you are old enough to begin finding a husband. What type of party do you think this is? Not purely to celebrate your birth. More like a chance for single males to mingle with you."
I examined each man standing in front of me. All were not to my liking. Too tall, too wide, too short, too hairy. I refused to partake in this. To be offered to these hungry animals as if I was just a slab of meat. However before I could storm off my brother gave my arm a firm squeeze.
"Just endure tonight." He advised. "Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to let one of these guys sling you over their shoulder and carry you away into the night. I'm here for you Kyra."
Damn him. He has always been able to make people bend to his will. That ability was so strong that people often gossiped about it wondering if he was participating in witchcraft.
"Fine." I hissed. "But if one of them as much as looks at me funny I'm out of here."
Too late for that. These men were already silently appraising me. One of them strode over smugly and offered his hand to me.
"Would you care to dance beautiful?"
"No." I said curtly. That was the first of many no's I said tonight. Ezra was right the majority of the partygoers were single males. I ducked and dived and hid from them the best I could all night reminding myself to kill my mother once this ordeal was complete.
At last after what seemed like hours people began to leave. I eagerly helped to usher people out thanking them for their presence. Finally! Relief washed over me as the last person left. Or so I'd thought. I went to search my brother so we could joke about the party but instead found my mother conversing with a lanky blond man. I angrily strode over to them to tell this guy that the party was over. As I neared them I caught the words they were saying.
"Mm. Yes that is a nice offer." My mother considered. "However…I just don't see her coming around. Kyra's…different."
The man snorted derisively. "She'll come around trust me."
His voice had a menace to it that made my skin crawl. He was revolting. Not appealing at all to the eye and he smiled pungent of alcohol.
"I still don't know Arrian." My mother said unsurely. "I need to discuss it with her first."
Just then he noticed me and smirked.
"Well here she is right now! Hey honey how'd you like to be my wife?"
The man's boldness surprised me. Anger now flushed through me.
"How about no?" I coldly replied.
He laughed drunkenly grasping my arm. " You're a feisty one. I like it."
Before I could protest Ezra was there. With one hand he yanked the man away and shoved him towards the exit.
"Get out." He growled shoving him out the door. He followed the man till he was a little ways down the street with me cautiously following.
"You'll regret this." The man snarled. "'Specially you gorgeous."
I shuddered in terror at his threat. What did he intend to do I mused watching him disappear.
"Come on." Ezra said placing an arm on my shoulder gently nudging me towards home.
I looked back one last time before entering my home to see if Arrian was really gone. My eyes met the darkness of the night. No Arrian. And then I saw it, a set of blood red eyes looking deeply into my own. They belonged to the most handsome man I had ever seen. He was pale with inky black shoulder length hair. He smiled before vanishing into thin air.