Chapter Four Tresia

Sliding out of bed and running into the bathroom, without turning on the light, I undress and climb in the shower. Turning the shower on as hot as I can stand, I feel my muscles begin to relax. I forgot to pee first, and I’m not getting out, so, I pee in the shower. I can’t be the only one in the world that does it.

Before I finish my shower, I smell coffee and food. Both of those please me greatly right now. Although, to be honest, nothing would please me more than to slap the shit out of the back of my brother’s head, asshole. I hope his mate kicks his ass.

My dad’s knocking on the bathroom door is a jackhammer to my head. “Tresia, are you alright? How are you feeling? Do you want some breakfast? When you finish showering and dressing, there’s a couple of the Elders arriving to check on you and have words with your brother.” Dad is also so matter of fact when something bad happens. It’s as if he has a button to switch off his emotions.

Refraining from rolling my eyes is hard, but my head hurts, and I don’t want to hear my imaginary dramatic orchestra blaring in my head. I’ve never had a hangover before and I’m sure as fuck not happy about having one now. “Give me a few minutes dad, I’ve got an evil headache from an unwanted hangover. Misha needs to stay away from me and I’m serious.”

Finishing my shower, drying off and getting dressed takes another thirty minutes. Opening the bathroom door, tossing my dirty towel and clothes into the laundry chute. Walking down the short hallway and into the kitchen, I don’t make eye contact with anyone and head straight to the coffee pot.

“Misha, do you have something you want to say to your sister?”

I refuse to turn around and give that immature, overgrown man-child a single ounce of my attention. Especially sense I haven’t had any coffee yet. Him suddenly sticking his fucking face in mine, while bending his body around me is going to get him hurt at this point. Why is it hard for people to remember, ‘No talkie before Coffee’. I really do need to put that on a t-shirt, a hoodie, and maybe a coffee mug.

“For the love of the Gods Misha, back the fuck up and get out of my face before you wear this coffee. I need coffee, food, Tylenol and for you to get out of my sight. I can’t believe you’d stoop to such a childish level. It’s beyond disgusting. I hope no one was badly harmed by this. You’re so immature and think that shit is funny. You realize you did this to your own future mate? I can see by the shock taking over your face, you didn’t. Well, you're a dumbass, I hope like hell the Veil Deities see fit to send your ass to the Veil Warden Academy.”

A noise causes me to look around the kitchen and then into the dining room. That’s when I realize that we’re not alone. Other parents are sitting at our dinner table. The Elders are here, and no one looks happy. Misha’s thrown a wet blanket on Mate Day. He’s the polar opposite of me and is the literal definition of thoughtless spontaneity.

“I believe Tresia has come up with the perfect punishment. Misha should be held accountable for what he’s done. Tresia, two of the single ladies, had to stay in the Hospital for dehydration and monitoring. Other than those two, everyone else appears to be fine. The parents that you see over there,” when the Elders turn and points at the parents, I see anger on their faces and I completely understand, “are as angry as you and your parents concerning Misha’s misconduct. I’m taking your idea and making it his reality.”

Oh, holy shit. Pretty sure Misha just lost all color in his face. How is it that a person can look shocked and betrayed when they’re suffering the consequences of their own actions? Rhetorical question, but I mean, come on.

“You can’t do this. I’m meeting my life mate today. This is my life we’re talking about.” Misha’s panic is clear in his voice and his body language.

“A life you should have thought about when you childishly decided to cause harm to people by your actions. Did you really think you’d walk away from this with a slap on the hand and a warning? Well, here’s your reality check and I’m going to cash it as I write it;

‘Misha David Michaels, you are hereby and forever stripped of your ability to mate. You are sentenced to a lifetime as a Veil Warden. You will report to the Veil Warden Academy before this day’s festivities begin. Anyone eligible to be your mate has already verbally rejected you. You are alone. May others learn from your story, because that’s all you are now, a memory.’”

No one in the house moves a muscle. A pin dropping would shatter the overwhelming silence. What the hell just happened? Mom drops to the floor, bringing everyone out of the weird trance we were in and that’s when I see it, or rather, don’t see it. What I don’t see any more is my brother.

“Where did he go? Did one of you do something to him?” My heart is racing and I’m breathing as though I’ve just finished a marathon.

“Tresia, no one did anything, your brother has been taken to the Veil Warden Academy. Once his sentencing was over, a signal was sent to Academy Collectors. It only takes moments for them to collect a person. The only way to see Misha again, is to cross the Veil.”