Chapter 30

Be on guard.
CHRISTOPHER'S POV
I stood outside for a while after everyone else had gone inside the building. The wind was blowing so fast and it brushed through my skin. The feeling was refreshing and I just stood there smiling at the sky and its wonders.
"It seems like it's going to rain." Emily said to me as she walked towards me and hugged me from the back. As soon as she held me, the feeling I had was something I have never felt in a long time.
I felt genuine love and care and the fact that it was coming from no one else but my sister made it more beautiful.
I held her both hands as they wrapped my waist and pulled her from the back, making her stand in front of me.
I held her face in my hands for a while, looking at her pretty face and lovely eyes. In her eyes I saw my brother. They looked more alike, I was beginning to feel more emotional than I had ever been so I pulled her closer and hugged her.
It's been a long time since I held my sister in my hands. This moment was priceless. We stood there in each other's arms listening to our heartbeats and counting how many breaths we took.
"I love you Emily." I spoke directly into her ears and I felt her smile as her cheeks pressed my neck.
"I love you too Chris." She responded and I rubbed her back.
"I would love you to be very careful Emily. I really don't know what is going on but I feel there is an impending danger." I said to her as I pulled her out and looked at her face.
"I think you are the one who should be very careful Christopher. I mean you have been acting funny lately." She said to me and I really felt very sorry for all that had happened.
"I know and I am sorry but the truth is that I really didn't know what was wrong with me. I feel so frustrated." I told her and for the first time in what I can describe as decade, my sister showed me some concern.
She held my face and stared into it without saying anything. I just kept looking at her too as we both stayed quiet, enjoying our company.
"It's all going to be alright. We just need some time and I can assure you that everything is going to be sorted out." She said with a beautiful smile on her pretty face.
"Yeah sure." I said and she chuckled. I found it funny and started laughing and we bursted out together.
"So tell me, what are your plans?" She asked, still holding my waist.
"What plans?" I asked because at this point in my life, all the plans I have to make seem to be more than my abilities at the moment.
"I mean your wedding plans with Louise." She said as she removed her hand from my waist and placed them on my chest and began to draw irregular circles on my chest.
"I haven't taken time to make any plans for it. I think Louise should take up that responsibility. I have a lot in my hands right now." I told her and she raised her eyes and gave me an indifferent look.
"You seem so unconcerned about this whole thing. Do you know what is at stake?" She asked and I gave her no response.
"So tell me what you would want me to do." I asked her as I faked a smile just so I could ease the tension that was beginning to engulf us.
"You have to be close to Louise and you both should make these plans together." She suggested and the truth was she is right but I am in no perfect frame of mind for all that drama.
"What if you ladies start the process while I concentrate on what I have to do at the moment? I mean, I trust you both can handle it." I said to her and she reluctantly agreed.
"Alright, I will talk to Louise about it." She responded I was glad she didn't stress it any further.
"So what the fuck is going on with Micheal?" I asked her and she started smiling sheepishly.
"I don't know what you are up to but I feel it is not a good idea." I told her .
"That's what is good for me." She said and walked out of my arms.
"Come on Emily, I don't want you to leave." I told her with a very soft voice but she walked fast towards the building. So I rushed after her and grabbed her hand and pulled her into my arms again.
She tried to struggle out of my arms but my grip on her was firm so she could not pull out.
"I'm sorry for getting on your nerves." I apologised but she still wore that sad look on her face.
"Emily, I said I am sorry. If that's what you want then it's fine. I'm good with it." I told her just to make her smile again but she adamantly refused.
I tried to tickle her but she slapped my hands away and I just kept laughing at her childish behaviour.
"Maybe I will get you a bowl of ice cream and a bouquet tomorrow. Just to say I am sorry." I said to her and she let out a little fake smile.
"Let's go inside. I'm tired of standing here." She complained but instead of going in with her, I carried her up just so her feet would stop hurting.
"What are you doing Christopher?" She said amidst laughter. I can bet she is surprised I carried her up the way I did.
"I'm just making sure your feet don't hurt anymore." I told her and her laughter increased.
Almost immediately, I felt some raindrops on my forehead. She also said some touched her face but I insisted we would both stay under the rain.
"It's been a long time since we spent time together so this night is for us." I said and all she could do was laugh at everything I said.
The rain was becoming worse and she started hiding her face from the rain.
"Alright, I promise never to be far again. Let's just go in." She said and those words sounded funny so I started laughing and she joined me.
While we were busy laughing and planning on how best we would look after each other, Micheal and Louise stood at the veranda watching us. We only noticed their presence when Louise called my name.
I lifted up my face which was fixed on my sister and asked Louise what the matter was.
"Aren't you guys going to leave the rain?" She asked and I turned to Emily.
"Are we leaving the rain?"
"No we aren't." She responded and we laughed out again.
"We have to look out for each other Emily." I said to her as I adjusted her in my arms while she tightened her grip around my neck.
"Tell me what are your fears." She asked and I took a deep breath.
"It's Michael, he has changed. I don't think he is dedicated to this course anymore." I told her as all my fears and concerns seemed to fall on me again.
"You think he has other plans?" She asked and I nodded.
"Just stay calm and play along, I'm sure we will figure things out." She replied and I started moving towards the building.
As we got to the veranda, Micheal and Louise created space for us to stand because we were completely drenched by the rain.
"Siblings time right?" Louise asked as I kept Emily down.
"It's the best moment I have had in a long time." Emily responded as she ran into the mansion.
I walked after her, leaving Micheal and Louise behind thinking they would come after me immediately but they didn't. So I stopped at the living room and turned back to the veranda and pulled Louise's hand.
She immediately followed me inside and Micheal came after us.
I had her settle on a couch in the sitting room before going upstairs to change my wet clothes.
By the time I got back, Emily was already down and wrapped in a duvet.
"Are you cold?" I asked her as I sat down beside Louise and pulled her into my arms.
"All thanks to you brother. You should get me a cup of tea or coffee." She said very fast and I called a servant to get it for her.
"You have to get it yourself Christopher." She chuckled and I pretended not to hear her.
"I hope you are good?" I whispered to Louise and she nodded.
"Where is Micheal?" I asked because I left him in that living room with Louise.
"He should be in his room. He was behind you." Louise said as she adjusted in my arms.
"That's okay." I responded and concentrated on the news.
"This can't be true." Emily said and made me panic.
"What can't be true?" I asked in so much hurry.
"The news," she replied and I felt like beating her for making my heart skip.
"There is no big deal about this. It's something that happens on a daily basis." Louise replied.
"I don't think I am familiar with the trend." Emily said and everyone was quiet again.
I was really tired. It has been a long day and it seems the day doesn't want to come to an end. I needed to sleep and get prepared for the meeting with the council of elders tomorrow.
I am sure the subject would be my marriage with Louise. Her head was in my chest so I bent my face and looked at her while I wondered if I was really going to do this with her.
I have so many mixed feelings about the whole thing and I wished it never happened in the first place. I cannot change it so I must live with it, although I wished I had some powers that could make all of it a lie.
I have been trying so hard not to regret my actions but it seems to be the most difficult task I would ever take up. I beat myself every other day and it only gets worse.
I am sure forgiveness will be far from me because I cannot forgive myself either.
I turned to look at my sister and I saw so much peace on her face. I wished I had a little bit of what she had but all that has eluded me and it was never coming back.
"I have to go to bed now." I said and Louise got up from my chest.
I took a while before I was able to stand up from the couch. It seems I was glued to it.
Louise stretched her hand and I took it. She helped me stand up and I thanked her.
"Good night." I said under my voice as I walked towards the stairs.
"Good night." Emily and Louise chorused as I walked away.
On my way up, I heard a voice coming from Micheal's room. It sounded like a lamentation and expression of pain and sorrow.
I stood for a while to listen to what he was saying but I couldn't hear a word.
I thought of entering to ask him what was going on but I felt I should give him some space.
"Everyone has a demon to deal with. Let me go deal with mine." I said to myself as I walked to my room.
I opened the door and the room was just as disorganised as I left it.
"What do I pay these servants for? " I said angrily because I was disappointed at the sore sight I saw in my room.
I just tried as much as I could to ignore it and laid on the scattered bed. As I laid down, my mind raced through all that happened today and I just smiled at it. Just then, I started hearing a song. I did not know the song and I was so sure I hadn't heard it before today but I enjoyed its rhythm.
Whoever was playing the song kept on repeating it and I kept moving my fingers to the beat of the song until I slept off.