“Theo!” A painfully familiar voice shouts from the stairs.
“I’ll be done soon Rachel!” I squealed in surprise.
“I’ll wait for you down here!” she screamed up the stairs, her hands on the stairs. I look at her from the stairs nodding. Her pink eyes stared me down before she lost interest and sat back down, she quietly reorganised her brown hair. She never told me why she bothered organising her hair; she always somehow made it messy. The last time I suggested a hair band, she slapped me so I never asked again.
Rachel was like this; a walking dichotomy. One moment loud, disrespectful and completely incompetent, in the next moment: cold and precise, bordering on calculating. She was adept at snap decisions under fire, whilst completely evading the eyes of scouting parties and sentries. Her mother was no different, just more experienced and consistent.
I wasn’t halfway through sorting my closet which I’d bring to the academy when Rachel shouted impatiently, “Ready yet?”
“No, if you want me to finish quicker, come help!” I retorted loudly.
“Forget it!” she paused, “I don’t want to see your room before we go to the academy!”
I grimaced, I cleaned the room in case she offered help… well I could abandon some of my dear home. There wasn’t much left which I could bring with me to the academy, I would empty the food storage and hand out whatever we couldn’t finish or bring with me.
I looked at the two suitcases; alone I would struggle to bring a part of home with me. The suitcases were weathered red. Metal bands gave its hard wood exterior stability. Both of the bags signed neatly with my father’s name, Andreas T. Arcanas. I reached for the quill pen, dipping the blackened tip into the small jar of ink. The ink rippled outwards and I tapped the tip on the rim of the jar, removing excess ink and quickly signed above his name, Theodore Chrono. My father left me three things including the blade, which Mr Defargo gave me in my father’s place, I was given the quill pen as a parting gift and he left me my mother’s surname. He casually remarked his name would give me trouble if I assumed it.
I stared down the oak wood stairs where Rachel conveniently turned to face me, she smiled and stood herself up, “Done?”
“Yeah, I’m done.” I said as I firmly grasped the small leather handle of the suitcases as I shimmied down the stairs not wanting to break something before I left. “When do you want to go? I’ve got a few people to visit.”
“The latest coach leaves about five, I’d rather be there early though.”
“Fair enough.” I take a deep breath as I place the cases on the floor, “Want to come see the school?”
“Want to get rid of the food?” she said, “I don’t want you to waste it.” She grimaced as she saw the sheer volume of the food.
“I’ll give it to the lady next door.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it.” Rachel remarked sarcastically as she grabbed my luggage, “I’ll place this with my suitcases, want to meet at the base of the hill before we visit the school?”
“Sure, easy enough.” I reply as I carefully lift the wooden food storage case, “See you at three?” she flipped out a small pocket watch, its gold plated case was subject of awe whenever she showed me. “It’s two thirty,” she mumbled, quietly planning her trip and making a rough estimate of the time, “Sure, three at the base of the hill.” She continued, lifting the two cases and making a quick exit utilising the wide door to her advantage. I looked over at the living room, a solitary metallic key stood on the coffee table. I make a quick movement grabbing it and shoving it in my small coat pocket. The wooden food crate’s easy access handles revealed themselves after I slid it out of its small cool room situated in the centre of the house.
Shanon.C