Welcome to November's photo flash fiction. I really love the pic this month and I hope you enjoy what I did with it. The whole scene kind of popped into my head.
The lake
looked dark and sullen, just like my mood. I pulled the hooded sweater tighter
around me and stared out at the water. Low clouds hung in the sky and my senses
told me it would rain, soon. Great, I could predict the weather. Go me. It
certainly didn’t help the situation I found myself in. Telling someone it would
soon rain, wasn’t going to solve the problem.
The problem,
which happened to be the large mountain looming across the lake, and, truly,
that wasn’t the problem. No, my family was the problem. Members of said family
did stupid shit and expected someone, namely me, to get them out of the problem
that they, themselves, had created.
I had two
choices. I could tell my idiot brother to get himself out of his latest
situation, which would probably lead to his death. Or, I could take on the job
to save his worthless ass and, maybe, die in the bargain. Yeah, neither option
was looking real good. Though, if I had to choose, I’d certainly pick me over
him any day.
“Raisa.”
I turned to
watch my mother pick her way across the leaf strewn ground in her three inch
heels. I forced myself not to move, when all I really wanted to do was turn and
walk away. At one time, I’d convinced myself that she loved me and just couldn’t
show it. I knew that was a lie. She loved herself and my brother. Really
half-brother, since she’d screwed around on my father and gotten pregnant.
“Georgi is
scared,” she said. “You have to help him.”
No please,
no asking, just an order as if she truly believed I would fall into line. I
should fall into line.
“His problem
isn’t my problem,” I said. “I warned him about getting involved with the Semenov
family, but he didn’t listen. Instead, he not only got involved, but stole from
them.”
“He is your
brother. How dare you get up onto some kind of high horse and imagine you’re
better than him.”
I spun on
her. “I am. I’d never put myself into the situations he does. And, if I did, I
wouldn’t run to my mommy and expect someone else to take care of them.”
Her hand
slashed out and caught me across the face. My cheek stung, but I didn’t press
my hand to my face. I didn’t move. I just watched her for a long moment.
Finally, I spoke.
“If you hit
me again, it will be the last thing you ever do. I promise you that. And, from
this moment, he’s not my brother, as you aren’t my mother.” I held up my hand
as she opened her mouth to speak. “I will do this one last job because Georgi’s
idiocy has put a taint on my reputation in the city. Once I complete it, I am
done. I’m done with you and I’m done with him. Never, ever, approach me again.
Do you understand?”
“How dare
you speak to me like that?”
“I will
speak to you any way I wish. Now, do you understand and agree to leave me the
hell alone if I do this job? Yes or no.”
“Yes,” she
said, through gritted teeth.
“That’s
good. Now go and let the Semenov’s know I’ve agreed.”
She turned
and without another word left. I knew she would. Georgi was her golden boy. No
matter how many fuck ups and how much trouble he got into, he could do no
wrong. And, once this job was finished, I was done with him and her. Of course,
that was contingent on me living. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone in
the Guild willingly attempting to steal from a dragon. I apparently was the
first and, possibly, the last.
I stared
across the lake at the mountain that was my objective. If I was going to do it,
I needed to get ready. No sense putting it off. Turning, I walked back toward
my small house, knowing, in my gut, that my life was going to change.
Now, go and see what Bronwyn, Kris and Siobhan did with it.
