Eclipse

Chapter 1

Fine shards of pottery peppered my father’s face. He didn't even flinch as the plate shattered. He simply brushed the splinters from his beard before fixing Mam with a hate-filled stare.

"Are you done?" Dah asked.

"You're throwing me out of my home, you sack of dung. I haven't even begun!" Mam spat.

"You spend every astral eclipse in that shrine. Don't pretend I'm putting you out. I told you I couldn't go to Maggie's tonight."

"You're not using that profane thing on my house," Mam snarled.

Dah snorted, "You're the demon worshiper." Another dish shattered. I covered my ears trying to block out Mam's scream.

"I am not leaving," Dah said calmly, head high. "No matter what kind of fit you throw, Khyber will protect me. Lyr'eris won't."

Her eyes glazed over in fury. "Khyber's not welcome in my home."

"He’s your king!" Dah yelled. "Damnation, Molly. You're not the only one that lives here."

I slipped out the front. Their fights had escalated ever since Evans' death. It felt like a part of Dah had died with him. He spent more and more time at Aunt Maggie's working the fields or collecting his stupid peat out in Cran Braugh. I knew he was searching for the thing that killed Evan and Fran. So many people had disappeared. I doubted there was a household in Raiders Watch that hadn't experienced a loss. If his restless searching gave just one family peace, Dah might finally find his own. The selfish prick. He was so wrapped in his own pain he’d forgotten I even existed. Mam was right. Dah was too broken to be part of this family.

I wish they'd both just die and leave me in peace. Maybe then I could finally find someone to love, or at least someone who wouldn't yell.

I was careful to skip the second step; the creak would alert Mam that I was sneaking off. Inside, another dish broke. Lyr'eris, save me from cleaning up that mess.

Dust billowed around my feet as I rounded the house. I took the dipper from the edge of the rain barrel and had a drink. A crash from inside made me slosh water down my chin. I danced back before it could dribble on my dress. Ramming lucky.

Perhaps Lyr’eris would finally bless me with her frozen fire. Her shrine was in the back corner of the yard. My breath misted as I crossed the threshold. The shrine was humble, only four strides across, but her presence had sanctified every rusty nail. The altar sat at one end. I pressed my palm to the unnaturally smooth stone, and a chill sank into my joints. "Lyr'eris, fill me with your frozen fire, banish my weakness, my pain." A deep ache crept up my arm. "Please, lady, give me strength." My palm sizzled; I snatched it away. Mam was right, Lyr'eris had condemned me to be chattel in the afterlife.

I needed to clear my head. The shed rattled as I slammed the door. I hopped the fence and slunk in-between the potato mounds. If I got mud on my dress again... I'd be careful this time.

I made for the old pine on the border of our property. Sudden movement made me jump. The neighbor’s chocolate lab lay in the dirt, a bear trap latched onto her front leg. She whimpered and lethargically wagged her tail.

"Lacey!" I cried. Lyr'eris, I'd almost stepped right on her. Lacey's tail thumped against the earth, even that seemed too much effort for her. I hiked my dress around my waist. It'd take hours of scrubbing and brushing if I got blood on it. I'd never be able to get it back to its original color. Mam would know.

The ground was muddy, her fur was caked with clots. Gods. How long had she been out here? Her brown eyes were full of confusion and pain. I looked around for help, but if I hadn't heard Lacey barking, nobody would hear me.

 The trap had bit deep, but the bone didn't appear to be broken. "Shhhh. It'll be okay." I tucked the folds of my dress in-between my stomach and thighs and cautiously stroked her head. She leaned in closing her eyes.

"Hold still." I wrapped my fingers around the trap and strained. "Lyr'eris, give me the strength to help this one survive." My thin arms shook and the hinge gave a rusty squeal. But I was too weak and my arms failed. Lacey whimpered as the trap’s full force clamped on her leg.

I rushed over to the old pine and picked up a fallen branch. Lacey's eyes had glazed over by the time I returned. Her breaths came in shallow pants. I caressed her face, she nuzzled into the touch. "Help!" I yelled.

I examined the trap. There was a release mechanism, a foot pedal. It sank into the soft earth.

"Sorry, sorry, but I have to open it." I shoved the branch in-between the jaws. The metal protested horribly. Then, suddenly, it clicked. I knelt, pried it open, and slid Lacey's leg out. Her tail thumped against the potato mound. She sighed and seemed to go to sleep. I placed a hand on her ribs. She'd stopped breathing.