The Mystic Academy

Chapter 2

(Urania's POV)

I brushed off Mateo's comments. I knew he was harder to impress and he only acted nice to me when we were alone. He always tried to show off to others, if that meant I was the target to help his popularity, I didn't mind. I knew one day he would realize how he acted was wrong, I could wait till then. We finished dinner with small talk, my parents giving me concerned looks.

I could tell how people felt and what they were thinking, something I could do that no one knew about. I didn't find the nerve to tell them. I heard about how I was going to die soon, that no matter what my mother did, she couldn't find a solution for me. I heard how I was nothing special, I had no counterparts like my siblings or cousins and I grew slower and weaker than any human. I was a mystery to them, one they could predict wouldn't live past twenty. Mother and father hated letting me out of sight, even refused to let me go to school. Well, that was until I snuck out and enrolled myself, passing tests no one else my age could. I was smart, no that was an understatement, I was a rare intelligent breed, a freak of nature.

Mother was thinking about a school, something she is worried about but also excited to do. It seemed she was going to allow all of us to go. Interesting. She was also worried about the doctor's latest report. My bones were slowly deteriorating and causing my growth to take a turn for the worst. They weren't sure if twenty was a still accurate age of death. It seemed my body was predicting eighteen now. Her worries were eating her alive, closing herself off to the ones she loved and I wasn't sure what would happen to her if she lost me.

Father was relieved mother finally caved in over the schooling. I wonder what this school would be about. Would I learn more than I ever did? Will there still be bullying? Would I excel there like I do here? Father also seemed concerned about Mateo and his behavior, not knowing how to get through to him about family always sticking together. I wish they wouldn't worry of fight over me. As the doctors said, they weren't sure I would be here much longer anyways. Father also seemed worried about mother, as if they were disconnected and losing the ability to keep their mate bond intact. Mother needed to stop neglecting others for me, she had more to her life than just me. I was only a small part in a big world.

Uriel and Umbrielle were worried about passing their exams tomorrow, as they tried to keep conversation going to stay distracted from all the studying they would need to crunch in tonight. Do you want to know another interesting fact no one knows about me? I am able to send the information in my mind into others, as if sharing knowledge. No one knows it came from me, they always just thought they always knew it. You know the whole nerves got the better of me, now I remember.

Mateo was worried about his image at school and how it was unfair that our parents always made him respect me. He wished I just wasn't around anymore and I couldn't blame him. I looked frail and weak, a walking corpse if you must say. I was hideous, I felt out of place, almost as if death was walking with his hand on my shoulder. Valentino was worried about what his twin said. He was trying to come up with ways to make me feel better and reassure me nothing he said was true. He was such a sweet little boy, one that would always defend his family before anyone else. The thing was, I didn't want my family fighting or arguing over me. One day I would be gone and at that time they would all need each other to make it through.

"Mother, Father, may I be excused?" I asked politely. I probably should have waited until Uriel was finished talking but it was to late to go back now. I fidgeted nervously within my seat, knowing I was about to be lectured when I saw the frowns on their faces.

"Urania, you didn't eat a thing. All I have seen you do is push food around on your plate. Your plate is still full and you have not brought your utensils to your mouth once. Do you think you should be excused when you have not eaten?" Father asked incredulously, not believing what I was asking him. I wasn't sure why he was so surprised, this was an every day reoccurrence. Either I sat at the table, waiting till everyone was done before clearing my still full plate or I asked to be excused with a still full plate. Why did they always have to act like this was a big deal?

"I am full father. I do not wish to eat anymore." I told him calmly, squaring my shoulders against the possible rage I may encounter.

"Do I need to call the doctor Urania? Do you not feel well? Go take a rest and I will be up shortly with the doctor." Mother said with worry as she took off towards the door. She had mind link and here she was running around like a lunatic who didn't know how to contact the doctor. She was going to worry herself to her grave over me.

"This is an everyday occurrence. The doctor comes every time and every time you are all told I am fine. With the health issues I have it is harder for me to eat. I take a essential drink in the morning, eat a fruit for lunch and then can't hold down anymore food. Is that not why the doctor has me on those supplement pills and shots? I still come to dinner to spend time with my family and catch up with all of you. It seems you are all on a busy schedule apart from breakfast and dinner. I apologize for ruining our meal." I told them apologetically, hoping they would worry less after my little speech. Without waiting for a response I pushed my chair back, exiting the dinning area as I made my way back towards my room.

As soon as my door shut behind me, I slid against the wall, falling on my butt. I buried my head into my knees, allowing the tears to freely flow in a silent manner. I didn't want anyone to worry or come looking because they heard my wails. I wasn't in pain just... a random flower forgotten on the wall. I was the sickly child, the one no one wanted to play around, the one everyone had to defend, the one left out and now the one who felt alone even with everyone surrounding me. I felt like I was in a world were I was invisible, nothing was seen but my medical issues and the ticking time bomb above my head. I wanted to be free, happy, normal.

I heard the doctor outside my room, telling my mother how she needed to calm down. I wasn't eating but the prescribed regiment was enough for me to survive on. Baby steps was the only progress they needed to see. A few months ago I wouldn't even drink the morning shake or eat the afternoon fruit, that was the baby steps she was referring too. Doctor Julian seemed to be able to handle new subjects, her testing skills were extensive but always producing results for her, even if they were bad. She was someone who always knew how to calm mother down and handle her cold demeanor she displayed in front of everyone but her children and father, it seemed.

"May we come in Urania?" Doctor Julian asked sweetly but one second of reading her mind I knew she didn't want to be here. She felt me not eating was causing my decaying to increase and speed up faster than her first prediction. Truth was, she never knew what I was, still doesn't and her guessing games just keep producing news she is afraid to tell my parents. Scared one day it will cause her death, I didn't blame her.

"No, I would like to be left alone. I will see you all in the morning, good night." I told them dismissively, not wanting to feel the anxiety coming off the doctor anymore or the desperation pouring off my mother to receive good news. Bringing the doctor in was never good news, couldn't she see that?

I needed rest but I dreaded the pains I always awoken too. I climbed into bed, not bothering to change my clothes. I was exhausted, something that occurred more often than not. I closed my eyes, begging my body not to fight the sleep even though we knew the end results. I wasn't sure why I woke up in pain every time I slept, but I also wouldn't dare bring it up. Mother would worry for no reason and the doctor wouldn't be able to tell me why it was happening either.

I drifted off into the darkness, as I felt my frail body being lifted into the air. Wind soared around me, nipping at my skin. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or this was really happening to me. I quickly tried to pry my eyes open, it took longer than I would have liked. As my eyes blinked against the darkness I took in the smell of the forest, the feel of a giant mans arms squeezing my body against theirs, the wind nipping my skin in a painful manor and a hard buckle jabbing into my hip. I knew that would leave a bruise tomorrow.

Without even thinking or trying to figure out what was fully happening, I screamed at the top of my lungs. I felt my weak voice echo around the forest, seeming to bounce of the trees and ricocheted right back to me. Was anyone even hearing my pleas? Before I could dread the outcome of this horrifying event, the man knocked my head against a tree. My vision blurred, as the screams died out within my throat. I felt my eyes flutter shut as I tried to fight against it but I knew it was a losing battle.

I was losing consciousness and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. All I could do was send a silent pray to the Moon Goddess before the darkness fully consumed me.