EPISODE THIRTY FOUR
THEME: Self Control
MOON STONE FORTRESS
IN THE PACK HOUSE
Meagan paced the dining hall uneasily, barking out orders for the workers to follow. The dining table looked like they were having a feast and it isn’t just her family that are invited.
Checking the time affixed on the wall, she bit on her lips knowing they would all start showing up. Her thoughts had no time to settle yet when Gabriella wheeled Carl into the hall.
“Hmmm.” Gabriella raised her nose in the air. “This room smells heavenly.” She commented.
Carl chuckled. “Trust Meagan to cook up a storm when she is in the mood.”
Helping him to the edge of the table, Gabriella moved away to take her own seat on his left hand side while Meagan settled into the chair on Carl’s right hand side.
“Didn’t you tell them dinner is by seven?” Gabriella inquired.
Meagan shrugged as she stares around. “I did tell them. And I hope none of them is trying to bail out on us.”
As soon as she said her piece, Jaylen and Claire walked in.
“Hey daddy!” Claire uttered as she jogged towards her father. She hugged him tightly. “I missed you.”
“I doubt if you did.” Carl taunted, patting her cheek.
Claire pouted. “You do know you mean a whole lot to me.” She kissed him before moving to meet her mother and grandmother and she kissed each of them on the cheek.
Jaylen stood awkwardly at the back of the chair. “Hi.” He whispered softly.
“Hey baby.” Meagan called out to him with a light smiled on her face.
“Hi mom. How are you dad?” He eventually found his voice.
“I am very good and healthy.” Carl answered.
They all chuckled lightly. Jaylen settled into the seat next to his mother and opposite his grandmother. He hoped Jayden wouldn’t result into sitting so close to him. Claire sat next to him.
The footstep of Jayden walking into the hall got all of their attention and a definite silence fell upon the room. Feeling good about the resonance of his presence, he applied more gait to his movement.
“Hey.” He nodded towards his parents and grandmother and paid no mind to his siblings.
“Courtesy demands saying hello to everyone you meet in the room.” Claire snickered.
Jayden threw her a stern look. “Must you say anything when you see me? Can’t help to wag your tongue right?”
Claire gritted her teeth attempting to give him a vicious response when their mother cut in.
“You both should have some respect for the table. This isn’t your play ground.” She told them sternly.
Grumbling some incoherent words, Jayden took a seat next to Gabriella.
“How are you?” Gabriella ran a hand through his hair.
“Grandma!” Jayden whined, smoothing out the ponytail he had packed his hair into. “That took me so many hours to arrange. After all of the greasy heat in that fucking dungeon!” He spat bitterly.
Gabriella gave him a painful pat on the back. “We don’t cuss here young man.”
Carl and Meagan shared a look laughing quietly, as they watched the exchange between Gabriella and Jayden.
Looking towards Jaylen, Carl noticed his discomfort as he was trying to keep his eyes glued to his phone.
“We should eat now. I’m famished.” Carl let out.
“Oh yes, let’s dig in.” Claire rubbed her palms together.
Each person’s plate gets filled as they sat to eat. Jayden watched everyone with a side stare, his eyes looking through Jaylen most especially. It has been ten years since he sat so up close to his twin brother. Having him about one feet across him made it more uncomfortable.
“What’s your plan now that you are here?” He asked, directing his question at Jaylen.
Jaylen wasn’t expecting his brother to talk to him at all. He had sat down with one foot in his mouth and with the hope that dinner would go on with no drama in sight.
Jaylen gulped hard before staring at his brother directly. His heart missed a beat when their eyes met. He had almost forgotten what his eyes looked like.
“I don’t know yet. Just here for dad.” Jaylen responded with his face rigid and not giving off any emotions.
Jayden scoffed. “Looking at you from here, you have really grown a tough skin, I see.” He muttered, pissed at how Jaylen was bold enough to look him in the eyes with his expression unreadable. He wasn’t comfortable with Jaylen’s presence and he could feel it in his depth that trouble was looming.
“Can you not do this right now?” Meagan pleaded in a soft tone.
Controlling his anger, Jaylen strangled the steak in his plate with the cutlery in his hand. Jaylen was trying so hard to not give Jayden the satisfaction he desires in getting on his nerves.
Jayden snickered as he chewed on his meal with a side teeth. “You can’t talk now?”
“Do you mind not causing trouble, Jayden?” Claire whined, worried the table might become a temporary boxing ring. Her words earned a glare from her brother.
“You promised me, Jayden.” Meagan repeated, her heart constricting with the vicious sneer Jayden had on.
“I am only asking a simple question and you all are trying too hard. Is there something you all aren’t telling?” He glared.
Carl bit on tongue hard, trying to prevent himself from saying something he might regret. Jaylen took a deep breath deciding on what to do next. It was obvious Jayden wouldn’t let him off the hook so easily and he wasn’t in the least prepared for his drama. Not bothering to announce his move, Jaylen stood up and shifted the chair to the back with the legs screeching on the marbled floor. Cleaning up his mouth, he left the dining hall without a word.
“Too much of a coward.” Jayden muttered as he focused on his food. He had tried hard to keep to the promise he made to his mother to not do anything silly while the family ate. But the irritation he felt was something he couldn’t hold back on.
“He is your brother! And I think I persuaded you well enough!” Carl blurted with his weak face scrunched up in a distasteful frown.
“I am so disappointed in you, Jayden!” Gabriella snapped. “Shouldn’t you have respected your parents and I by keeping your emotions at bay?”
Staring down at all of them, Jayden stood up too and he walked out on them without sparing them a glance.
Meagan placed her head on the table, trying hard to stop the tears from coming. Claire leaned towards her mother and tried to console her.
Carl tightened his lips. He stared into space wishing it would all just end already.