Eliezer’s Ange by Eden Auclair

XV

cassiopeia is twenty

she is a first-year masters in university

“Cassiopeia!” Her mother, Aurora, exclaimed as she pulled open the door to their dainty two-story house. Cassiopeia had a blinding smile etched on her face and her mother didn’t bother hiding her surprise and teary eyes.

“My baby!” She cried, throwing her arms around her daughter’s figure and hugging her tightly. Cassiopeia dropped her duffel bag and backpack on the porch and returned the warm hug.

“Mãe!”Her voice was muffled from her face being buried in her mother’s neck.

“Darling, who’s a-

“Cassiopeia!”

“Pai!” She pulled away from her mother and ran to her father’s open arms.

“What a surprise!” He laughed heartily, picking her up off her feet and spinning her around.

Her mother smiled. Her eyes crinkling in the corners. “A beautiful surprise,” she whispered in her mother tongue, Arabic.

“It’s been quite a while Cassiopeia, we were beginning to think you forgot about us,” her father, Levi, chuckled teasingly.

“I’m sorry,” Cassiopeia murmured, looking down at her feet as a blush rose on her cheeks.

“I’m messing with you, kiddo, don’t worry,” he said in a softer tone. Blinking back tears as she felt the guilt consume her, Cassiopeia picked up her head and giggled shrilly with a small smile.

“Sweetheart, you didn’t tell us you were coming, I have no dinner prepared,” her mother frowned, picking up her bags and closing the door.

“Mãe, don’t worry, we can prepare something together.” She smiled, hoping to soothe her mother.

“Nonsense! Your father and I will prepare dinner, you just go and get settled in your room and find your devil spawn of a brother.”

“Hey, Slater is an angel!”

Her mother snorted. “If that’s what you believe, love. But you must be exhausted from the drive and God knows Slater’s missed you.” She shoved her daughter in the direction of the stairs, making her stumble slightly and screech.

“Okay, I’m going, I’m going, call us if you need help with-”

“I think the only help I’ll be needing is getting you to your room,” Aurora snapped playfully. “Levi, throw her over your shoulder won’t you, I’ll get her bags,” she said enthusiastically as if she had just come up with the most brilliant plan. Levi’s eyes flickered between his daughter and his wife as he stifled his laughs and Cassiopeia looked purely horrified.

“I’m going, I’m leaving, goodbye!” She nearly squeaked, snatching her bags from the ground and sprinting up the spiral stairs.

“We’re having seafood stuffed salmon filets with broccoli and parmesan and sauteéd carrots and Brussel sprouts. And then cherry bruschetta later!” Aurora yelled, laughing at her daughter.

“Wonderful sounds delicious, good-

“Ouch, Christ!” Cassiopeia yelped and both Levi and Aurora burst out laughing, knowing very well she stumbled on the stairs.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Aurora yelled, feigning a worried voice.

“I’m alive!” Cassiopeia snapped before picking herself up and huffing in frustration. Levi and Aurora shared a look, falling into a fit of laughter once more before heading into their kitchen.

§

Entering Slater’s room, the boy was laying in his bed with his music blaring terrifyingly loud through his Airpods with his arm draped across his eyes. A devilish smirk curved the ends of her lips from the thought that crossed her mind.

She threw herself on him.

“Holy fucking shit! Jesus fuck-” Slater’s string of expletives were drowned out by her mellifluous laughter. His Airpods were snatched from his ears and his hand found its way to his heart.

“Cassiopeia.” Slater breathed, sounding confused as his chest rose and fell rapidly.

“Slater!” She said cheerily with a Cheshire grin.

“Cassiopeia, you’re such a-”

“Queen, yes, we know.” She smiled proudly and turned on her stomach to lay beside him. She rested her chin on her upturned palm. Their eyes met and he scowled.

“We still wonder how you’re the older one,” he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

“I did come out of mama’s honey pot first, did I not?” She asked rhetorically, giving Slater a triumphant look.

“And you couldn’t just say vagina, why?” He smirked as her face fell.

“Hush! You’re still young and innocent, you’re not allowed to say words like that.” She bit her lip as she stifled her laughs and he scoffed before bursting out in laughter.

“But at the end of the day, I’m still taller right?” He said smugly.

“I didn’t choose to stay at 5’0, jackass.” She glared.

“And she couldn’t say vagina,” Slater tutted, chuckling.

“Shut up.” She swatted at his chest as they both continued laughing. After they calmed down, she curled up by his side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her close.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming home, Cass,” he said amidst the silence.

“I didn’t tell mama and papa I was coming either,” she admitted quietly. “I didn’t plan to come home yet, I was waiting for another two weeks when we’d be on uni break, but...” She blushed.

“But?”

“But Eliezer sent me home.”

“Oh?” Slater suddenly smirked. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes.

“There have been a few times where I might’ve broken down and Eliezer happened to be there. This time, I guess he had enough, he snapped and only gave me one choice—to go home. This time, I just fell apart when he held me and I just told him everything and-”

“Tell me you told him your feelings,” Slater pleaded with a pout, looking down at his sister.

“Feelings? What feelings?” Cassiopeia asked dumbly.

“Cassiopeia,” he said exasperatedly.

“Yes, Slater?”

“I hope you know Niccolò and Starlie tell me everything.”

“Starlie?” Cassiopeia gawked.

“Niccolò introduced her to me,” he said nonchalantly.

“They’re sort of cute, don’t you think?”

“As much as I’d love to play matchmaker for those two, they’re not going to get together, they’re just using each other for pleasure to get through their long days,” Slater deadpanned as her jaw fell. He cut her a glare, “We’re talking about you and Eliezer, Cassiopeia,” he said flatly and she groaned.

“So, about you and your feelings for the one and only-”

“They’re nonexistent.”

“Must I remind you that Niccolò and Starlie tell me everything?”

“Like Ansel used to?” Slater rolled his eyes.

“Jesus, lady, you are stubborn.”

“I know, it’s where you get it from.” Slater blew out an exaggerated breath.

“Cassss,” he dragged out her name, “tell me!”

“You’re wild for even thinking I dare to tell Eliezer an ounce of what I’m feeling.”

“So you do have feelings for him!”

“Fine,” she hissed under breath, “yes, I do, but do I need to remind you he’s my boss,” she grated and Slater grinned wickedly.

“Potato, po-ta-to, was that so hard to say?”

“Only the hardest.” She grinned cheekily and he rolled his eyes.

“So, what are these feelings you speak of?”

“I think I like him,” she shrugged, “but nothing is going to happen, Slater.”

“You think?” Slater scoffed and gave her a pointed look. “We didn’t come all this way for nothing. Now say it with me, ‘I like Eliezer.’” Cassiopeia pinned him with a glare and he nodded enthusiastically as if to encourage her.

“I could kill you,” she muttered and then sighed. “I like Eliezer, okay?” Her voice turned shy and her cheeks burned crimson.

“Good job, princess!” Slater clapped and Cassiopeia scowled, “now, ‘I love Eliezer.’”

“I lo-

“Slater shut the fuck up!” She screeched and he laughed obnoxiously at her wide eyes and pale face.

“So close.” The pad of his thumb sloshed the tears from the corners of his eyes as he laughed. “But it’s okay, I can still tell Starlie and Niccolò you admitted you liked him.”

“Slater!”

“With your permission to tell them of course,” he chuckled nervously.

“Even if I told you not to tell them, you’d do it anyway,” she said flatly.

“Aw Cass, you know me so well, I’m flattered.”

“Jesus.”

“I’m so honored you think of me with such superiority,” he fawned, and Cassiopeia face-palmed.

§

Slater and Cassiopeia spent the next hour and a half talking—about her feelings, much to her dismay, Eliezer, also much to her dismay, her classes and work, and his AVM—until their parents called them downstairs for dinner.

“Christ mãe, you went all out for dinner tonight,” Cassiopeia murmured as she eyed the table and all the food set out.

“You haven’t come home in quite a while baby, we haven’t had a proper family dinner since the last time you visited. I know you tell us not to worry and that you’re taking care of your loft and your classes, but still.” Her mother’s tone was not one of hostility, but one of love and gentle warmth. Slater arched an eyebrow while Cassiopeia shrugged hopelessly before giving her mother a smile. “We worry, always, so of course, I went all out.”

“Thank you, mãe and pai, I love you both.

“And I love you, Slate.” She tip-toed and ruffled his hair while he playfully frowned at her. The four of them took their seats and held hands, giving thanks before devouring their feast and falling into easy conversation. Cassiopeia shared some of her university experiences thus far with her mother and father. She felt refreshed, utterly happy, surrounded by her family. The only thing that dulled her for just a moment was the concept of the anonymous checks that were brought up for a slight second in time and she went still and quiet. After dinner, they played Monopoly, Cards Against Humanity, and Exploding Kittens—though none of them were too excited about actual cats—before calling it a night.

Cassiopeia brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into a pair of cotton scallop shorts and one of Slater’s t-shirts that were two sizes too big for her. Grabbing her fluffy slate-colored duvet from her bed, she climbed through her window and sat on the little porch on the roof outside, staring into the night sky. And she hoped with all she had, Eliezer was staring back as she sent her million and one thank yous to him for sending her home.

In the sky full of stars, she thought she saw him.