Deception (Axyl, #1)

Chapter Two

My mother took out a small, black case, opening it. She stood up. Inside, I saw the powdery, sugar-like texture of the Axyl in a vial. She put it down on the polished wooden table next to my bed.

“Wait here, I’m going to go get the water for you,” she smiled.

I gazed into her concerned, warm eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, obviously,” I winked. Her lips tilted up showing her squared teeth. I smiled back. She walked out the door, leaving it ajar.

I loved my mother throughout the good and the bad. She was always there to catch me if I fell, both figuratively and literally.

I gazed at the Axyl longingly, wanting to be out of this bed. On average, the drug starts working almost instantly. 

I picked up the tube, studying it. The white grains sparkled in the light. I uncapped the deep purple lid and sniffed it in. The delicious smell overpowered my senses.

The door of the room was thrown open and my eyes snapped open. I saw an auburn-haired head in my peripheral vision, making its way closer. I turned my head. The caring, emerald eyes sparkled when Claus saw what I was holding. He snatched the vial from my grip, screwing the cap back on.

“You don’t need to get any more addicted to this stuff than you already are,” He stated, amusement flickering inside his eyes.

“Claus,” I gasped, my heart filling with want. He chuckled, leaning his face down to mine. His eyes surveyed me.

“Good to know you’re feeling better. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t know what I would do,” he said sternly. Wrapping his arms around my body, he pulled me toward his, squeezing. I breathed in his manly scent.

The door squeaked open again and my mother strolled in carrying a crystal glass of water. “Hello there, Claus,” she smiled. Claus returned it, walking to her.

                He held his arms out. “Nicole,” he said warmly and captured her in a hug. Once he was done, she came over to me and handed me the glass.

“Thank you, Mom,” I said graciously. I set the cup down on the table. I picked up the vial and sprinkled its content into the water, watching the grains float to the bottom like snowflakes. My mother gave me a spoon. I twirled it in the clear water. After I was done, I brought the cup to my lips, eager to taste the sweetness. It filled my mouth and warmed my throat as I swallowed. I drunk until the last drop entered my mouth. I wiped my lips as I brought the glass down to the counter, my body already feeling tremendously better. I smiled.

My feet hit the ice cold floor as I tried to get up sending even more shivers through me, consuming me.

“Socks, please?”

My mother walked around the bed, bending down to grab something. When she straightened, I saw a pair of polished, black dress shoes with socks shoved inside them hanging from her tanned fingers. She walked over to me and put them beside my body. Grabbing them and stuffing my feet inside, I saw a painting across the room. There were all sorts of colors; green, orange, yellow, pink, and purple. The lush verdant hills rolled off into the sunset as the sun shone bright. There are so few paintings of the world anymore, that I’ve basically seen all of them. When shape-shifters like me started coming out with our secret, the paintings had diminished already to almost the so few that we have today. The previous rulers of that time were afraid about the future people finding out how horrible the economy really was with its evils.

The sunlight drifting through the window on the other side of the room warmed my shivering body. I tied the black shoelaces. Claus bent down and held out his hand offering to help me up. I smiled up at him and accepted. My mother guided me through the door, her hand on the small of my back.

❖❖❖❖❖

When we reached my village, the inky darkness of the night surrounded us, wrapping us like a quilt. Our footsteps pounded and kicked at the dirt street as we climbed the hill that our house rested on.

It loomed over us as we walked closer. The mud-covered houses were holding themselves together.

“Is Father home yet?” I gulped. 

My mother turned her head toward mine, studying me. “No. He had to work late. Are you okay, Oceania? You’re looking a bit pale,” she stated.

I turned my head, hiding my flushing face. “No, Mom. Everything’s fine.” Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the doubt sparkling in her eyes. I continued shuffling my feet. I saw a movement to my left, a hand coming, clasping, and squeezing mine. I looked up to Claus, smiling and squeezing back. He was the only one that knew the secret that I had been hiding from everyone. I looked back down.

The white tiles of the sidewalk started to travel up as we lost the distance between us and our house. A golden glow shone through the windows. The gate creaked shut as we entered our front yard. A few purple flowers dotted the front of the house, splashing it with colors in front of our placidity. 

The front door creaked open and a black shadow slammed into my body with so much force it almost knocked me off of my feet.

“Oceania!” Ecal exclaimed in her high feminine voice. Her arms wrapped around me and started to squeeze hard. I couldn’t breathe.

“Ecal!” My voice strained. She loosened her grip immediately and lowered her brown eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Oceania. I’m just so happy you’re back.” She beamed.

 I grinned and let her pull me through the white front door, Claus and my mother strolling behind us. 

---

Okay, I lied. It wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be, mostly because of my short paragraphs. The story hasn't yet entered the exciting parts yet, but I'm thinking of having the exciting parts coming up in the next chapter. I'm going to warn you about the next chapter, though; it's going to have some somewhat disturbing things in it. c; 

I'm sorry about the late update, though. The editor that I asked hasn't even edited my chapter yet, and I asked them to last week. So, I asked another person to, but I'm going to see what the first editor has changed and edit this chapter even more than it already is. 

I've also been depressed lately, and stressed; some of which is because of personal issues. Tons of stuff has been put on top of me last week, but I might start writing chapter three this weekend. I hope you guys will like it!(:

So I'm going to put up goals for you guys. 15-20 more comments and 15-20 votes on this and chapter three is going to be put up!(: You can do it! 

Pleasee vote, comment, and SHARE this story to your friends. c; It would mean the world to me.