Chapter 2

For the past 3 years Marisol had been the one to wake up first. Before Racqein and Orfen got up in the mornings she would make them breakfast and lunch. After they left for work, she would clean Cruxion’s shrine and their living space in the back, she’d count the measly offerings at the shrine altar, she’d make little trinkets made of scraps and polished junk to sell as amulets of the shrine’s ‘god’, and when the sun started to set she would prepare dinner so that it would be ready when her brothers came home.

It was routine, the same thing everyday. The only differences were what she cooked and the people who came to the shrine; or walked by without a second glance. Marisol liked this routine. It was safe and comfortable and she understood her purpose.

And Racqein wanted to ruin that.

Marisol stared at her older brother, unmoving, as he continued to calmly eat the porridge she got up 2 hours ago to make him.

“Cruxion wants to rescue the princess,” he said, “so I’m going away for a while.”

Just like that he shattered her safe routine. Because without him it’d be pointless, worthless.

“Why would you do something so dangerous just because Cruxion asked you too?” Marisol finally gathered her thoughts enough to ask.

Racqein slowly lowered his spoon and looked up at her. At home he didn’t wear his eyepatch and Cruxion seemed to be keeping quiet so he was able to fix her with both of his warm, gold eyes, “don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Marisol snorted, “yeah, right. I think you’ve already hit your head cause I can’t see why else you’d agree to that. How are you supposed to find and rescue the second princess?”

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Racqein’s left eye glowed purple for a second and then he answered, “Cruxion said he’ll take care of that.”

“With your body!”

“To be fair...” Orfen interrupted, pushing his empty bowl away, “ everyone knows where Princess Eleisiya is... that third prince of Chasorik kidnapped her for rejecting him, they’re just not saying it because they’re scared of starting a war. And we’ve seen what Cruxion can do with Racqein’s body, he’ll be fine.”

Marisol slammed her hands down on the table, wincing when it hurt a little, “a few drunk thugs is different than... than armed guards!”

Racqein sighed and pushed his half eaten bowl to Orfen. “I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing this because Cruxion won’t shut up if I don’t.”

Marisol slumped a little in her seat and pouted, “Why does Cruxion care so much anyways. He didn’t care when the eldest princess disappeared.”

Racqein’s eye flashed purple once more, “he said she ran away so that’s different.”

“And how does he know that?” Marisol shot back.

Racqein shrugged.

The clatter of a spoon being dropped into an empty bowl interrupted them as Orfen finished Racqein’s bowl. Orfen rubbed his stomach and burped. Then said, “I think we should go... If we bring back the princess, then they’ll probably give us a reward!”

“We?” Racqein raised an eyebrow.

“Of course, I’m going with you!” Orfen leaned across the table towards Racqein, “I’m not going to miss Cruxion kicking ass. Besides, cats make great scouts!” he waggled his eyebrows and the cat ears atop his head twitched.

Racqein hesitated for a while then sighed, “fine.”

Marisol jumped to her feet, her chair falling to the ground behind her. “I’m going to! You’re not going to leave me behind!”

“Marisol... It’ll be too dangerous-”

“No! Either we all go or none of us will!”

Racqein stared at her for what felt like 10 minutes. His eye flashed and glowed as he debated with Cruxion. Finally, he sighed, “fine.”