Blood Kin: Chapter One

Another town and another Air BnB.

The cabin had two bedrooms and was in a very chic Scandinavian minimalist design. The organic woods and glass blended seamlessly together and gave spectacular views of the mountains and forest. In fact, it was perfect for Ariella’s painting.

Ariella loved to be in nature. She felt very in harmony with the woods. Her last art teacher said she had natural talent. Ariella’s work was beyond pretty pictures.

That was one of her fondest memories of being in school…when she still went to a real school.

In the last two years, 15-year-old Ariella has been exclusively homeschooled online. Unfortunately, this made her world even lonelier than before.

Ariella’s mother, Lydia, was a travel nurse. She made perfect money and was in high demand. Lydia specialized in hematology (blood disorders). Ariella has seen her mother being begged to take a permanent position in many places. However, Lydia always refused, saying that she felt her skills were best put to use traveling around the country.

In fact, when they traveled. Lydia tried to attract as little attention as possible. As a result, Ariella often felt that her mother and she were ghosts of polite society and really had no actual existence.