#old chapter

Because this scene tears my heart out even now.

Regulus sat at his desk. He scribed the letters carefully, etching each line with intent. Voices stirred two floors below him. He placed his quill gently in the ornate stand and turned in his chair. The door of his bedroom was open, allowing the voices to waft up the stairs and into his room. A glass shattered. Regulus rose from his desk and made his way silently to the doorway.

Footsteps thundered up the staircase. Sirius flew past Regulus into the room adjacent, slamming the door behind him. Regulus shifted on his feet, unsure of what to do. After a moment, he pressed out of the room and down the landing. Two short knocks. He was met with no response but opened the door nonetheless to find Sirius tearing apart his room. Sirius stood with his back to the door, he was throwing everything in arm's reach into a trunk that lay open on the bed.

Regulus spoke from the threshold, "You're not leaving." He wasn't sure whether it was a question or a statement.

Sirius's shoulders slackened. He didn't respond. He picked up a small, rectangular mirror from his bedside table and slid it into his pocket, nestling beside his wand. He clicked his trunk shut, grabbed the handle roughly and made his way out of the room. He stopped, and half turned towards Regulus, avoiding his younger brother's eyes.

"You know I have to." Sirius's voice was small.

Regulus shook his head, lips pressed in a tight line.

"Then come with me," Sirius offered.

"I can't—"

"Yes. You can."

"Sirius, I'm not leaving. And neither are you."

Sirius's eyes prickled, "Goodbye, Reg."

Regulus tried to block Sirius's path, but his small frame was much weaker than his brother's, who pushed past him easily. The trunk thumped rapidly down the stairs. Regulus stood, frozen, listening as the front door swung open.

"I won't have you back here," Mrs Black's cold voice menaced.

Regulus winced as the door slammed in response. His throat tightened. He hurried into his room, throwing aside the emerald drapes concealing the window and searched the street below.

In writing ‘Children of Athens’, a novel set in ancient Greece, there have been some casualties along the way, some of which I knew I needed to let go because while they rounded out the world and community I had created, they weren’t adding to the story much more than that. 

Enter ‘Gaia’, a slave woman raising two children to rich Athenian parents. Gaia was one of my favourite to write, she was trapped in essentially being the real mother figure in this story but not being recognised as such or not being given any consideration either. I found that conflict fascinating. 

On reading it back, there are things I would immediately change about it, a sense of place and grounding it where they are is definitely needed. Even though it’s not too short, it’s a little too sparse as well. That’s ok though, this piece is five years old so I’m giving myself some leeway.

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(WRITTEN 2015)

GAIA

Little Eirene had been crying for over an hour now and it wasn't like the infant at all. It had sapped Gaia of all her patience and with every passing moment the aches in her knees and and wrist grew.

After minute upon minute of soothing, trying to feed her or sing to her, Gaia settled on letting the poor child cry it out on her bed. Eirene was reduced to just gulping air and whimpering.

Despite wanting nothing more than to massage the pain out of her limbs, Gaia managed to brush Eirene's dark curls and wipe her face before her parents arrived back from the agora. She heard them enter the forecourt downstairs and a sudden chill stilled her from the inside. Her ears were alert to the sound of footsteps, trying to work out if three of the family had returned or just two.

Gaia closed her eyes, pressing a hand to her neck, praying. She wished now that she had prayed more fervently over this last hour, the very terrible hour that had passed in the agora but Eirene had taken up her time.

"Mama," Eirene breathed, sobered now but still looking despaired, her wide eyes dewy. "Baba's back."

Gaia nodded to her, all smiles though her stomach was still aflutter. "Yes, darling, mama and baba are back."

Eirene slipped off the bed, plodded forward once and then looked up at Gaia questioningly. "Teo."

The child hadn't learnt how to pronounce the 'Th' of her older brother's name and still dropped the end 's'. Gaia wasn't sure whether to reply but she managed to say "I'm sure he has come back with them too."

The commanding tones of the lady of the house, Philona, rang out as she ordered a slave downstairs. Gaia's heart skipped a beat, for if her mistress was in a bad humour, then that could not bode well. Gaia then reminded herself, in all the years she had served this family, Lady Philona was not someone who would generally be in good humour.

The low tones of Philona's husband were too quiet to hear but Gaia could infer that he was chastising his wife. Her entire being was alert, trying to work out if the rising dread bubbling in her stomach and chest was indeed founded.

Gods, I cannot hear the boy's voice, his footsteps, she thought.

Eirene whined behind her, wanting to be taken to her parents. She walked over to the door and Gaia held her a moment, soothing her. "It's all right, little one."

"Teo."

An instant later, Philona swept into the room. As soon as she saw her daughter, she went to clasp her so that Gaia was forced to move away quickly to allow room for mother and child. Philona breathed in, holding Eirene tightly, her eyes closed. Gaia had not seen this level of affection from her mistress in all her years - in another life it would be something to be thankful for - but now the nursemaid knew it to signal something else.

Eirene's face crumpled and she began to cry and squirm.

Philona pulled away, irritation flashing across her otherwise pretty face. "Why does my child cry? Has she not been properly tended to, Gaia?"

"My lady, she is not herself," Gaia began, cheeks burning. She bit down on her lip, desperately overcome with the need to ask her urgent question.

"Then you comfort her," Philona snapped back. "Why can I not return to a child that is quiet and well-behaved?"

"Forgive me, my lady."

Eirene was still crying and held out her small arms to Gaia. The nursemaid went to hold her just as Philona was about to speak again but her mistress stopped.

The master of the house, Dromeus, stood at the doorway, his kind face all frowns. "Philona, keep the peace."

His wife stood, her lips quivering - Gaia thought she might answer her husband back. It was then that she noticed her mistress's eyes were puffy and that her perfect robe of deep red was marked with streaks of dust and dirt. A second later, Philona strode from the room, calling to one of her attending slave-girls.

Dromeus stood silently, his gaze on his daughter but it did not seem as if he noticed her fully. His robe too was marked by dirt stains.

"My son is bound for Krete. I wish to put together a small package of his favourite items before he leaves."

Gaia stared, the earlier chill that had stilled her now overcame her entirely, so much so that when Eirene pulled at her robe to be held, the maid did not respond. Her earlier dread turned into acidic nausea rolling in her gut.

No.

"Gaia?"

She blinked, swallowing, only then registering what her master was asking her to do. "Yes. Yes, sir."

"Thank you." Dromeus went to say something else but he glanced at Eirene who looked at her father expectantly at first, then shrunk a way back with a sense of intimidation and desperation in that small face. Still, her father did not go to her.

When he left, Gaia found her way to the bed, lowering herself down onto it gently, for her knees could not hold her upright. Eirene was silent too, sitting aimlessly in the middle of the room.

The nursemaid closed her eyes briefly; there was a sharp pain in her chest and throat. She breathed through it but it did not subside. It was as if the pain was working its way through any part of her that was substance, ready to collapse her from within. She shook from the exertion of keeping it all at bay. A small gasp escaped her lips.  

A small hand touched hers.

Gaia opened her eyes to see Eirene looking at her. The little girl clambered on the bed and stroked Gaia's cheeks. "Don't be sad, Gaia. Teo doesn't like you sad."

Adligate – New Blood, Old Chapter - #alternativemetal #groovemetal

Gli Adligate possono essere una buona alternativa ai gruppi più famosi in campo alternative metal.

Honey Bones- Katamine

Honey Bones is a duo made up of David who provides the vocals and produces and Ivan who plays guitar and bass. Ivan lives in California while David lives in Idaho and they send their music back and forth till completion. Though they're apart they sound as in unison as ever musically. Old Chapter is the second EP from the indie-pop/electronica duo. With their last self titled project being a great mix of upbeat and chill indie pop songs I was very excited to hear what they had cooking up for their next EP. Turns out they've don't nothing but get sharper.

    This project is slightly different, in that the tone of these songs are a bit slower and more down tempo. These tracks are a bit cleaner and overall a more relaxed  listen. Old Chapter is definitely a step up as far as vocal performance and production as David really puts some emotion into these tracks that seem a tad more personal this time around. You'll hear lyrical themes of going through changes and dealing with relationships.

   The sound of the record is a little more chillwave and R&b influenced. These tracks are just smooth from front to back and are definitely meant to be chilled out too. F5 is a great instrumental that features detailed and layered electronics. It's a good groove.  Loner is another highlight I love the guitars on this track that boarder on sprawling toward the end. The string section coming in the end was a good touch as well. While the first EP was slightly summery and brightly textured(Dragg, shutter). This EP is decidedly more autumn and moody in tone which shows good range for this duo.

    Once again Honey Bones releases an impressive five track EP that is worth repeated listens.  I'm  hoping for a full length from them. If you're into electronic/indie pop music with some chill r&b influence I'd definitely give this a try.

Listen here------->http://honeybonesmusic.bandcamp.com/

Rating: 8.5/10