❝ the beginning of a downfall ❞

the ticking of the old grandfather clock within the room gives a sense of time. the rustle of papers as the sound of the quill presses against the page. the curtains are pulled back and light pours into the room. encasing the area the light hits with a pleasant warmth. the ticking of the clock is something that begins to blur for me. for once in the household it's quiet-

"ICARUS!"

the loud bang of the doors being thrown open is not uncommon. it was needlessly noisy within the house now. I take back how it was for once quiet. my eyes raise to look towards the only person who would do such a thing. that only person being my younger sister.

"Aretha stop throwing the doors open. you'll hit someone eventually or break something. you might even break the door off its hinges." it's bluntly stated as Aretha purses her lower lip.

"it'll be fine. anyways- what do you think you're doing so early in the morning? it's only nine!" her strides are long and graceful as she comes over.

I can only offer her a shrug as I set the quill in the ink. my hands fold over each other as my chin rests on it. it's not hard to determine that we were siblings. we had the same silvery white hair, the same azure eyes, the same tanned skin. it's no joke to say we're basically what the other would look as the other gender. we were identical yet we weren't twins.

"and your point is? you know you should be awake before nine." I didn't see what the problem was. wake up at five, do my exercise, shower and get ready, then do my work. she was supposed to be awake at around six as well. always slept in.

"hush now. my point is how can you not realize it's time for breakfast?"

her arms cross under her chest as she gives me a hard stare. there's a moment of silence as I feel myself begin to grin at her. placing a hand over my mouth as I looked away. there's a warm feeling that tickles my heart knowing how she worried. the palm of my hand against my lips pulls away when I look at her again. giving her a smile as the chair scraped against the wooden floor.

"this is no snickering matter." " yes, it is a snickering matter. seeing how concerned you are for me."

a wave of my hands, the tips of my fingers glide against the table wood. standing before her with arms crossed now. her stare grows sharper enough for chills to anyone's spine. a tickle on the back of my neck. smack. a harsh hit to my arm before I hit her back. before I even know it we're hitting each other and hissing through our teeth.

"aretha you little shit stop- I'm going to fucking shove my foot up your ass."

"try me you fucking shit fit. I'll make your foot go up your ass so far it comes out of your mouth!"

the scoff is loud as I smack her hand away and hit her side lightly. getting a sharp jab in the abdomen from her. there's almost a point I got to hit her forehead until a someone clears their throat. attention immediately snapping towards the door as we halt.  stopping our motion of hitting each other as we do. there's a disapproving look from our nanny, medea. shoving each other aside as we rush to straighten up.

"you two- you're both grown adults now! you've debuted into society and you still act so childishly? and watch your mouths my word!"

medea had been caring for us since we were children. it's safe to say she was a mother to us. she took care of us like a mother and had our trust. despite her being rather kind and sweet. she was more than frightening when she was angered. an woman who looks too young for her age with midnight black colored hair holding her white shawl. her stare makes even a grown arrogant man apologise if called out by her.

she meant everything to us as family. she had been the one either of us had confided to. wept our pain to her and let us rely on her.

"sorry, medea." the words join together from Aretha and I. when medea turns her back to us after the scolding. making sure to remind us to hurry down for breakfast before it's cold. I let a snicker escape past me when I look at my sister. unable to contain our own laughter once she was gone. left laughing at each other for our antics and getting scolded. she hits my arm before going to head downstairs. a pinch to her side when her back is turned to me.

something felt restless then and I don't know why. it felt like a turning storm of angered violence. a cry of agony from somewhere warning me. it shouldn't be anything to worry about maybe? I doubt that it's something to not worry about. something might happen but could I ruin today just for it to be nothing? a twitching feeling in my heart as I followed along behind Aretha. Whatever it was I wouldn't know.

"come on! hurry up slow poke or your breakfast is mine!" she calls back to me with a beaming grin. a smug look believing she would get ahead of me. a monstrous appetite she had, one we had to keep fed. my lips pull into a joking snarl as I glare at her. a warning to not even think about touching my food.

"if you touch my food I really will shove my foot up your ass." her scoffing roll before she picks up her pace. gradually finding myself picking up haste to follow right after her. knowing her she would take my food if given the chance. could say the same for me because hey, you snooze you lose.

she laughs out before we end up racing towards the stairs. yelling in laughter as we go to shove the other off balance. aiming to be the first one down the stairs and into the dining room. a gaining chance as I shove past with a loud laugh when I glance back. she seems more determined to catch me off guard and best me to it. Grasping at the guardrails of the stairs before I pull myself upon it. sliding down quickly ready to brace for the turn that either gets me down or throws me to the wall.

"agH! ICARUS!" The yell from her before she hits to the rail as well right after me. sliding quickly before I stumble off to the floor once down. "incoming!" a heavy weight hits me and the floor comes into contact. she squirms atop of me laughing at the scene. having slammed right into me and onto the ground.

"aretha- get your fucking ass off me!" I bat her side to push her off. the struggle as we hiss and threaten each other before I shove her off. staggering up and looking down at her with a grin. "sucks to be you, your food is mine." sticking my tongue out at her before I feel myself bolt. the hammering of my heart and the adrenaline that pumps my veins.

her yelling as I hear her slip around to get up. the stomping of our feet within the manor echo loudly. dashing past servants and staff within the hallways. dodging out of our ways when we come by. the sliding halt that causes me to grip the doorframe when I nearly slide past. pushing myself forward to get in before she caught up.

her shrieking yell before I turn and she launches at me. slamming into me as we go rolling and tumbling on the wooden floor. loud groaning of pain as we split to shudder on the ground for a moment. "my brain is spinning- I see three of the chandelier." she whines in irritation as her hands press against her face. rolling around onto her knees as she groans. the pounding feeling in the back of my skull. the nausea of disorientation as I stumble up.

"everything hurts, especially my ass because of you." I nudge her side with my foot where and merely swats at my leg. she pushes her hair back to give me a glare before holding her arms out to me. hands extended towards me as she let her eyes narrow further. "pick me up and be a good big brother." "why should I?" "because, you love me and I'm you're adorable little sister." "adorable? you're a goblin."

despite that I did love this goblin little sister. even though she's a pain in the ass all the time. "my mature older brother acting like a child now that I'm here." she seems to be rather proud of that. don't know why but she's too proud of it. grasping her hands as I drag her to stand up. pulling her along before putting her in her seat.

nothing about it was too important. believe me, basic childish things among siblings at the table. sometimes flicking something at each other. kicking each other under the table. mocking each other and then getting scolded. it was fine. raising the spoon to my mouth as I watch her wolf down her breakfast. no matter how many times I warn her to eat slowly before she chokes, she doesn't care. maybe she does but she refuses to like the pain she is.

"you two should remember the knighting ceremony is today." medea commented from her seat at the table. a loud choking when something went down the wrong one. coughing to the side as my face burned. "when did you get there?" the bewilderment as Aretha takes her time to calm down as well. not even prepared to have that happen as she coughs. she rolls her eyes at us while she waits for us to finish.

once sure we were finished choking and coughing our lungs out. she spoke up again while beginning to get ready to eat. "if you're done dying now, you should get ready soon for the knighting ceremony." if you're done- listen I love medea but she really just went for our throats. patting my chest I raise my eyes to her now. feeling a sudden rush of emotion go through me the more I consider.

today was the knighting ceremony. the ceremony where we would officially become knights and get put somewhere. after years of working our asses off we finally made it.

"your parents would be proud of you. though not prouder than I am of you two." she offers her smile and I offer her one in return. "well, enough chit chat! you two better hurry up and eat before it's time to go." a hushed agreement as I witness the goblin of my sister eat more. beaming knowing that she would become a knight very soon.

"Etha, remember once you're done eating clean up. make sure to go wear your uniform as well." a nagging voice of a reminder as she gives me a look. she doesn't argue however and only nods. with a small smile I looked back to my food and finished eating. giving a quiet thank you to medea for breakfast before heading off to get ready. I needed to find the cloak, the jacket, gloves, and more. instructors always especially strict graduation days.

the creak of the stairs as I jog upstairs. hands gliding against the guardrail questioning what else I needed. not aware of what was to come and that graduation wouldn't happen. no, for something else would take place and cause shock. the start of this bitter hell but a path for my own life.

the cold graze against the back of my neck chills me to the bone. I didn't know why it happened whenever something was to occur. but, it's saved me countless of times.

aaaaa! that was chapter one and I hoped you liked it! 2000+ words in total and I'm rather proud of it! thanks for reading and leave what you thought about it it something! make sure to vote, comment, and more! thanks and see you maybe next monday(?)