The door shut behind me with a click, my the wood below me creaking as I stepped.
I noticed the faint smell of boiled vegetables lingering in the air, reminding me of the produce bag I had been carrying around.
My house was place right in the coastal area, the beach just a small walk downhill from my doorstep.
We kept one of the windows open at all times for that fresh beach air to enter the house.
I must admit, it cleans your nostrils and your mind.
Along with the faint echoes of the waves splashing around as they meet the sand.
The house was made out of wood, copper pipes ran through the walls, adornated with windows on all sides, some with blinds but most of them open, as the housing density around this area was scarce.
We picked this house when we moved mostly for that.
While having neighbours makes you feel part of a community, of something bigger, we reptiles prefer not having many people around, especially strangers.
So there was no concern of having creeps spying on us through our windows.
The wood was dark, some of it had swollen up from the humidity, but we were careful with applying the protective coatings every so often, as long as the structure didn't collapse we were fine.
I set my boots by the wall, the floor was cold through my socks, a sharp contrast to the rather warm ambient.
"Farsi?"
My mother's voice came from the kitchen.
"I'm back."
She stepped into the hallway, wiping her hands on a cloth. Her eyes dropped to the bag in my hand.
Her sleeves were rolled to the elbow, wearing white fabric, thin and word.
A red scarf was rolled around her neck, it hung from behind her, a cautionary measure so it didn't catch fire, I assume.
She was a corn snake, her body had a nice orange base with red spots along it.
"How were things at the workshop today?"
I set down the bag on the table and took off my coat as I spoke.
"The usual... had Bendrik come around to fix his arm, and Marlo asked me to repair an antique gun of his."
"Marlo? Oh, we haven't heard of his mother in quite some, did you ask him if she was fine?"
"No, I didn't, has something happened to her?"
"I must've forgotten to tell you, she passed out last night and she's been hospitalized since."
My eyes widened with surprise as I finished hanging my coat on the coat hanger, looking back at my mother.
"Why did she pass out?"
"The doctors said it was due to an arrhytmia, poor her, I've meaning to go to the hospital to check on her, but with your siblings and their education and hobbies, I've been too busy to do so."
"Speaking of, how have they been doing?"
I began taking off my gloves and setting them aside. I hadn't asked about their school performance in a while.
"Oh, they've been doing amazing! Jiran got the best performance in maths in his entire generation, and Misha has been assigned to the student council."
Smiling with pride, I looked back at the produce bag.
"I got the cabbage and tomatoes like you told me. I managed to snag a good deal, only 3 Skirlias for all that."
Mother took a look inside the bag, I could notice a smile forming in her face.
"And how many Skirlias were you carrying around? I told you, I could send you some so you didn't have to use your own."
"Its alright, I was carrying 4 around, in any case I have some more stashed around the basement."
"That's great," my mother said, picking up the bag, and taking a few steps back towards the kitchen, "Don't go out, dinner is about to be ready, just give me a moment to add these to the soup."
Soup... My belly was rumbling with hunger, I closed my eyes and imaged a hot, steamy bowl of soup, with lots of vegetables and its savory aroma, and umami taste. Accompanied with some fresh bread with powder still on it.
Without noticing, I had closed my eyes and stuck my tongue out as I got lost in thought.
Snapping back to reality, I remembered I hadn't greeted dad yet.
Due to his illness he spent most of his days inside the room he shared with mother.
His heart issues were a serious problem, my poor old man could barely stand up for more than a couple minutes at once.
I walked to the living room, which also acted as a sort of main hub between all the rooms, the storage room, my siblings' room and my parents' room.
Taking a turn towards my parents' room, I gently opened the door, careful not to make it creak, as my dad could be asleep, and I wasn't mean enough to wake him up in case he was.
To my luck, he was awake.
Scrolling on his watch, the hologram emitting a faint cyan light across the shadows of the dark room.
"Why is the light turned off?"
I spoke out, noticing the blinds were also shut.
"It was bothering me when I was asleep."
He turned off his clock and pat the spot besides him, he was laid down on the bed.
Father was an asp viper, when I was young he told me stories about being an outcast due to his venom. Venomous Hir-Sogers were never accepted in society, even if they weren't aggressive, people just feared them.
I was born a rat snake thanks to mom's genetics, so I never had to endure that.
If I hadn't been lucky I'd be even more of an outcast than I already feel like I am.
Father's body was a rather dull color.
According to old pictures and description from my mom, he used to be a stunning white color, making his black spots stand out.
But now that white had dulled out into a gray color, and the black spots had begun to blend in with the base color.
His outfit was a simple one, consisting of a white shirt and black pants.
Mother always said my face was exactly the same one as my father's.
When I was young I refused it, but now I could see the resemblance.
Especially our eyes, we both shared piercing red eyes, while mother's were an amber yellow.
A color my siblings also inherited.
"Has the workshop been paying on time?"
"Yes. I've been managing my finances, I should be able to pay my taxes, rent and other bills without issue.
"Good."
"And, I got some good news..."
I could notice my father's red eyes widening as he turned his face towards me in curiosity.
"What is it?"
"I made a deal with some guards, your medicine will be arriving during the next ration distribution."
Father nodded and smiled, it was all he could do to express his joy without straining his body.
"You've done well, son."
He stopped nodding after a bit.
"But how did you strike the deal?"
I put a hand to the back of my neck. "I guess the wards were just feeling generous."
"No, that can't be it, those guards are stubborn, don't lie to me, I can handle truths."
With a sigh I looked down, avoiding eye contact with him.
"I had to show them the mark..."
"Farsi. Son..." father, looked away almost in disappointment, "what have I said about using the mark?"
"I'm sorry, dad... I just wanted them to already give you your medicine, I can't stand seeing you like this."
"But I can stand myself being like this, I'd much rather stay bedridden than you seeing yourself forced to use that mark."
He reached out to grab my right hand, the one with the mark at the underside of my wrist. "I know how much it truly affects you to have to wear that mark for the rest of your days, and when you were born I promised I'd never let you, or any of my children suffer for me."
"I'm sorry..."
With a sigh, father let go of my hand. "Don't worry about it, the past is past..."
I stayed there for a moment, my mind wandered off to my father's breathing, shallow but steady.
One... Two... Three.
I counted every rise of his chest without meaning to.