viii.
Cygnus Black I
Arcturus and I were always close. We were more than brothers. Though we were born a few years apart, it was as though we were twins. We shared a nursery when we were young, and grew up together. Misapinoa was never as close to Arcturus as I was, and who could blame her for it.
It was Jimbo, my brother-in-law, who told me what had happened to Misapinoa, about four years after the incident. While anger fuelled me for his violation of our sister, I couldn't bring myself to end his pitiful life. I tried to tell myself that it was because I wanted to leave the revenge to Misa, but the truth was far from the lie. Truthfully, I loved my brother too much. Even though he had committed a crime so disgusting and vile, I simply couldn't bring myself to hate him.
Instead, I kept Jimbo's story to myself, telling no one but my lovely wife, Ella. We were sitting in front of the fireplace when I explained the tale to Ella, and her face turned sheet white.
"Arcturus really did that?" she replied, her eyes wide and fearful. I nodded, and she returned her gaze to the fire.
Ella acted unusual for weeks after that, and never seemed able to look me directly in the eye. She became cold and distant, unable to make short conversation or remain in my presence for too long.
Even though I asked multiple times, Ella never had an answer for me. It was a secret I was never going to learn the root of.