Attempting to have class with a whining and complaining four-year-old was growing from intolerable to near impossible as the seven teens and little girl gathered closely around a large solid cherry wood round table, the poppy red cinnamon scented candle flickering and slowly melting down to nothing, sending it’s sweet smelling wax into a puddle at the bottom of the pewter holder, into which young Roselei had just decided to poke her finger in.

            Screaming in a voice resembling that of dragging sharp fingernails across an old chalkboard she drew back violently, falling from her tall, straight backed chair. “AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! REILEY, REI PUSHED ME!!!” The little raven-haired girl sobbed uncontrollably, pointing at the shocked and accused teenager who instantly took to defending himself. Throwing his arm right back at the child yelping exactly as she had, “I did not! I was nowhere near her! Reiley she’s lying!”

            Shaking her head at this very immature outburst, from both her sister and Andreios, she rose from her chair, shuffling over to where Roselei was now lying on the dark-wood floor and pulled her roughly to her feet. Straightening her newly made black cotton dress carefully embroidered with red and blue roses she softly but firmly reprimanded her younger sister, staring in a very annoyed manner right into her big dark oval orbs. “Roselei, Rei didn’t push you. You put your finger into the wax exactly like I told you not to and you got burned sending you into this fit. Why did you lie and disobey not only me but Tristan, Leiam, AND Azera who told you the exact same thing?”

              Pouting something terrible because Reiley knew and had in no way given her room to lie again she turned on the waterworks and buried her head in her small pudgy hands mumbling while admitting, “I don’t wanna to do my lessons anymore! I’m tired and hungry and they’re just to hard!” She even stomped in place to prove her point.

Reiley sighed. She had been right. Roselei wasn’t old enough to start a full kindergarten schedule, just as she thought. Taking the girl by the shoulder she said, “You could have just said that silly. But can you give us ten more…” In the middle of her sentence was the moment when the candle stub decided to burn out, launching them all into complete darkness. “Reiley!” Roselei squealed. She was still caught in that afraid-of-the-dark, has-to-sleep-with-a-nightlight-or-she-freaks stage that many kids go through. Even Reiley hadn’t managed just yet to get over it. The boys burst out laughing, Leiam stating matter-of-factly, “Guess short stuff got her wish after all.” Azera giggled, rustling around for a new candle. “Yes, I guess she did. Lessons over.” 

Reiley instantly felt the boys stop shuffling around trying to find the door at the mention of “Lessons over.” 

“Oh, lord. Here we go again.” Elaina laughed and maneuvered her way to the sidewall where the other three girls were standing, handing Azera her translucent emerald lighter.  “FOOD!!!” Suddenly the guys didn’t feel the need for the candles and were instantly sprinting out of the doorway in the direction of the kitchen, amazingly enough now starving to death. Shaking their heads’ in confusion of the food frenzy the girls followed.

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            “Wow Elaina, where did you learn to cook like that?” Jake asked in awe of the absolutely amazing dinner he had just consumed.  Elaina and the girls burst out laughing.  Leiam turned to stare at the midnight haired teen beside him, his laughter written all over his ragged, tall appearance. “Oh, I dunno, the directions on the back of the bag might tell you something…”

“Seriously man, have you never had Ramen before?” Tristan added, tears of amusement sliding down from his dark chocolate eyes.  Jake looked embarrassed, his face turning a violent shade of scarlet.  “Umm…”

The table went silent of all of about two seconds, staring at him like he had grown three heads. And yet again, they burst out in gut-wrenching laughter.

            Jake looked as though he might die. “Alright you guys, it wasn’t that funny!” He barked. Elaina twisted to wrap her arms around her boyfriend’s neck. “Sorry to tell ya, but it really was…” Jake scowled playfully and bopped her upside the head. “Hey!” It was his turn to have the last laugh.

            Reiley turned from Tristan, who she was staring at, and glanced down to the toddler on her lap, smiling slightly as she yawned. “Hey Rei, what time is it?” Rei looked down at his silver Rolex. “10:45. Why?”

            Reiley groaned. “No wonder. All right ya’ll, time to clean up. Little miss thang over here needs to be put down.” After glancing over as well the rest of the clan agreed getting up bringing their dinnerware to the sink, disposing of extra noodles and deposited them into the chrome dishwasher.  After all of this was done they all departed to different parts of the house, in pairs all with the exception of Andreios, who was single seeing as there were no girls left.

            Reiley, carrying Roselei to her rather large and way too pink and frilly bedroom, Tristan following close behind having hold on Reiley’s free hand.

Fixing the pillows in the exact right order she tucked the five-year-old into bed, watching to make sure she was comfortable, extinguishing the pink beaded candle as she left. Tristan was waiting for her outside the door. “Well, seeing as neither of us are really tired, how bout’ we go and listen to Evanescence’s new concert?” Reiley smiled and rubbed her eyes. “Okay, but you might have to carry me. Maybe you’re faking tired, but I on the other hand don’t have to.” Tristan chuckled and lifted his girlfriend bridal style into his strong arms. Twining her small arms around his neck she laid her head on his chest. “Alrighty then, which way to the living room?”

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Leiam and Azera on the other hand were tangled up in eachother’s sweet embrace, enjoying the one night a month they had outside in the fresh air. It was the new moon and as a result there were no stars and when you live in a mansion in the middle of nowhere, that’s perfect.  “Leiam?” He looked down to her. “Yes my love?”

“Do you think we can grow out of this? The Porphyria I mean? I miss the sun, being able to watch movies…” Leiam burred his face into her neck tightening his arms around her waist and shoulders. “I don’t think so babe… There is no cure and there has never been a case where the patient has grown out of it. I  miss these things too, but there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m sorry…”

Azera slid her tanned delicate arms over his and leaned her head back against his chest. “I still think there’s hope. Nothing’s impossible. Just because it’s never happened before doesn’t mean that it won’t.” Leiam chuckled and furrowed his brow.  “Azera… what’s impossible is impossible. It just can’t happen. We were doomed to live in darkness from the day we were born to the day that we die. And even then we will be thrown into even more darkness! There is never going to be any light in our lives. You will come to accept that in time.” She turned to him furious. “I refuse to believe that! There is always hope. There will be light in our lives I just know it! You don’t know what you’re saying. Condemning us to a life away from others a life no one in their right mind would want to have. Are you saying I am never to be anything but a shadow in this world? I refuse to be a creature of the night for the rest of my life Leiam! You can’t possibly have accepted that kind of fate, it’s ludicrous!” Leiam’s eyes burned with fiery rage at the only person who once could never make him even the least bit annoyed. “Are you suggesting that I’m a liar Azera? That I don’t know what I am talking about? Hope Azera? There is no such thing. Now let’s move inside.” Violently taken aback, she followed him into the sunroom, drawing the heavy black curtains before the sun had begun to rise.

            As Leiam continued to shun her, Azera felt tears build behind her beautiful stormy blue gray eyes that threatened to fall any second. She waited for him to turn around and apologize for shouting at her so harshly, but he never did. All she saw for another hour was his bare back, black as night red and white tipped hair grazing over his strong squared jawbone. No longer able to take the cold shoulder that was thrown at her, ice cold crystallized tears slid down her cheeks and framed her face as she softly called his name. “Leiam?” She could have sworn he stopped in his relentless pacing for a fraction of a second but nonetheless, he kept on as if he hadn’t heard a word. Not ready to give up on him she tried again. “Leiam… Leiam please…” Thinking the desperation and love in her voice as she said this would stop him obviously had been worthless for he continued to ignore her.  She waited another twenty minutes before allowing herself to approach him timidly.

            In his stupor of anger, Leiam had not heard his beloved Azera move to draw near to him. All he could think about was how upset and angry, even betrayed he felt at her perceptions. All she was doing in her belief that everything would get better in time would be setting herself up for disappointment and hurts even he would not be able to heal or simply kiss away.

Why did she have to be like this? Why did she have to wrench his heart out and trample it as she did? The more she had dared to whisper his name the more enraged he became. I have to find a way out of here… He thought desperately, feeling his anger rising to uncontrollable levels. I have to distance myself before I hurt her more than I already have.  Finishing his thoughts and taking a few hasty steps toward the far door the sudden presence of a small delicate hand on his left shoulder scarred him to death. He snapped. With an echoing howl he whirled around with his arms out in a defensive position, sending the object that had touched him flying into the far opposite wall throwing the curtains open with just enough time for him to get away and hide so he could investigate closer.

            But an immediate shrill shriek of unbearable pain brought him back to his senses. Starring numbly at the writhing and boiling form of his girlfriend in the direct and blaring sunlight he dropped to his knees with his head in his hands as the unbearable sound continued and the unmistakable banging of flung open doors and female screams and men’s shocked shouts surrounded him. What have  I done?