Be Still

Carter let out a shaky breath as she raised the mascara brush to her eye, her hand trembling the whole time. She hastily put the brush back in the tube, dropping it and putting her face in her hands.

"Mom-"

"We'll talk later, Carter."

"You said that last night in the woods, the again when we brought Jade home." Carter countered, crossing her arms. "When are we going to talk?"

"Don't act like you don't know what's coming." Her mother snapped, narrowing her eyes. "It's the code."

"She's just a little kid." She argued, her voice coming out weaker than she had hoped. "We can keep her locked up, teach her to control it on the full moon. Dad?"

Her father just looked down, making her scoff. "Right. Mom's been making the decisions for a while now."

"That's how this family works. The women are in charge, just like you'll be one day."

"I don't think I want to be part of this family anymore." Carter said softly, setting the silver bullet she had crafted two years earlier on the table and starting towards the stairs.

"We do it tonight."

"Carter." She looked up to see Jade standing in the doorway, her arm bandaged and in a white dress too large for her tiny frame. "It doesn't fit."

"I was a lot taller than you are." Carter sniffed, giving her a small smile. "I'll hem it before we leave, alright?"

"Can you do my makeup?" Jade asked softly, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Mom never let's you do it, but I really want you to."

"Come here." She let out a short laugh, getting up from the vanity. Jade pulled up the long dress and waddled over, sitting in the chair. "I'll only do a little bit, though."

"That's okay." Jade nodded, watching as Carter pulled out one of her lighter eye shadow pallets. They sat in silence for a few moments as she applied a light shimmer pink that the younger girl had pointed to. "Are you leaving?"

Carter looked back at the luggage on her bed, biting down on her lip and facing her again with a shrug. "I don't really know. I kind of did it really quickly."

"Promise me something." She whispered, making her lower the mascara. "Don't cry when I die. I don't want you to be sad."

"I wish I could promise that, I really do."

● ● ●

Carter stood at the clearing with her hands behind her back, the cold wind pulling at the hem of her dress as Cooper stood beside her in the same fashion, along with all their family. Jade stood in front of them, her long hair twisted up into a complicated bun and her dress hemmed to fit.

"Jade Amelia Bradburry, are you aware of the code?"

"Yes."

"Are you aware of what happens when one of our own has been tainted by the moon?"

"Yes."

"Do you except your fate?"

"Yes, I do." Jade nodded, keeping her head high. She made eye contact with Carter and mouthed "I love you."

"être encore." Her mother spoke the French words as she raised the pistol, used specifically for these ceremonies. "Be still, my dear."

"No." Before any one could react or stop her mother from pulling the trigger Carter ran in front of Jade.

She heard the shot ring out before she felt the sharp pain in her shoulder, followed by the shriek of her younger sister. The shriek was joined by another shot, silencing Jade just as quickly.

Katherine Bradburry froze as she realized that she had shot not just one, but two of her daughters, her pistol falling to the forest floor.

"Carter, are you insane?" Copper yelled, falling on his knees next to her, his hands covering the wound as blood seeped from it. Carter winced as her free hand searched the grass, coming in contact with Jade's.

A single tear fell from the corner of her eye as she clutched her sister's hand, staring up at the stars.

________________________

Not edited.

CHILL CARTER ISNT GOUNG TO DIE I PROMISE

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