"How long am I expected to stay for?"
"It runs very differently from a normal college. It’s literally twelve months Luna, that’s all. You’ll still get a few holidays off campus too, like you would anywhere. The classes will be preselected for you based on what is suited to your family line.”
Twelve months? They want me to stay a whole year?
I look around the SUV, for what I don’t know. Back up? I’m not going to get it off these men, they don’t even care for our interaction. Apart from the two upfront, two of the guys are on their mobile phones whilst one is asleep, and we’re definitely not being quiet.
Are they joking? The resignation in Rafe's eyes tells me he's definitely not joking. How are they expecting me to attend somewhere I don't want to be for the next fucking year? What's to say, come Fall Break, I run?
The thought is barely a blip in my mind, when I see my mother is still holding her gun to Rafe’s head. As though they weren't apparently connected through my father in some way, like she didn't pass her child over to him without a care.
Something tells me there is no running, based on what both Rafe and my mother have said. So, I'm stuck with this lifestyle, and I didn't even get to create it myself. Running my brain over the slithers of information being drip fed to me, I know what I need to ask next.
"If what you're saying is accurate, what is it I'm supposed to be learning whilst I'm there?" I instantly regret it the second I see my mother’s face brighten with the information she holds.
"Well, seeing as both of your parents are descendants, I have been able to place you for both paths, with your father’s being the most prominent of course. Featherstone is also aware of your living arrangements, so I was also able to add a few of Raphael's skill sets to your schedule."
She's almost clapping with glee, trying to create suspense with the details she holds. I don't look at Rafe, but I saw him stiffen the instant she mentioned his name. I won’t rush her. I can show patience. She wants me to goad her to say it, but I can sit here all day long maintaining eye contact. She rolls her eyes at me knowing I'm not rising to her antics.
"Fine, my skills as a Hindman are infiltration of legitimate businesses and corrupting law officials..." she pauses, expecting a round of applause or something. Who knows, but she isn't getting a reaction out of me, or her lackeys, so I’ll take that as a win for me too.
She continues, not fazed by my blank expression, "Raphael's skillset is weapons and combat."
Well that makes quite a lot of sense. Although it has me wondering if he was actually in the armed forces, or if his so-called sniper skills were used for other purposes. The look on his face tells me I am right, do I even know him anymore?
"And finally, your father's bloodline specializes in robbery, more specifically looting high value, sought after items and well, Featherstone would like to thank you for your assistance so far. You have made quite the impression. Like father, like daughter they said. Isn't that right Luna 'Moon' Steele."
Oh shit.
CHAPTER FOUR
After that, the car is silent. It seems everyone in the car knows who I am, what I’ve done, and that includes Rafe. They must be able to tell from the look on my face that I’m a ticking time bomb, and I need to calm down before I can continue any further conversation or gain any new information. I’m trying to understand how this is all happening, how they know.
Staring out the window, I take in the darkness around us as we coast down some highway to fuck knows where.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have an eye for shiny objects, but have I been that obvious? As a child anything with a shine attracted me to it, like a moth to a flame. Over the years that evolved into what was wanted by paying customers, and how much they were willing to pay.
Now that I understand where this desire came from, the items don’t seem as shiny anymore. Well, not in the shimmering eye-catching way like they were, but more for their price tags.
When in my life could I have found myself under their spotlight?
The whole thing could have been a test from the beginning. Veronica mentioned ‘like father like daughter’. Was it because of my father? Rafe?
I try to think back as far as I possibly can to my first memory of taking something that wasn’t mine.
I feel a vague memory return to the surface. Usually if it's pre-Rafe I will force the thoughts back down, unwilling to take a trip down memory lane.
Now, I know I may need to remember if I plan to understand anything that’s going on right now, but that thought has fear clawing up my neck.
Closing my eyes, I try to relax myself, pushing past the panic inside, and encourage more of the memory forward.
Slowly, I try to take in what my mind is willing to give me. It feels strange, I don’t feel the red haze taking over as strong as usual, is it because I’m choosing to remember?
I can feel a sea breeze on my face, and blowing through my hair, as I’m running as fast as I can. I don’t recall where we are, but it feels familiar. I’m dashing through the grass bank, sitting above the beach below, no shoes on, loving the feel of the grass in between
