My Say

19

"You will address me as Elder Martha. I am a member of the Elder council."

"Amelia, where's..."

"Interruptions will not be tolerated."

"Not tolerated? Ooo, what are ya gonna do whip me?" Crossing my arms and leaning back, she has just ticked me off.

"There is more than one way to skin a wolf." Her smirk tells me she knows how to give out pain. But she's never dealt with me.

"Amelia"

"All comments will be directed to me, Amelia has duties to perform and will not be staying."

"Amelia, where is Elder Elizabeth?"

"She is not here, I am. Get up we're leaving!" The order is clear, but she seems to have missed the whole, I don't respond well to orders section of this saga.

Just as Amelia reaches for the door knob it swings open to reveal a tall willowy female, see I remembered. As she pulls her hood off, recognition sets in, "Professor Graves?"

"Oh you're here already. So sorry, I meant to greet you personally. I see you've already met Elder Martha Baskup." She rushed around hanging up her cloak, arranging her basket, moving to retrieve papers from her desk. "I must apologize, when I learned of your arrival I intended to rush home to help prepare you. Unfortunately a situation waylaid me." She flops into a chair at the table, plopping the papers down in front of her. "But it's water under the bridge. I arrived home last night so that I may begin educating my new daughter about her role in our pack." Her smile is bright and she is such a sight for sore eyes I nearly missed her last few words.

"Excuse me, Professor. Did you say new daughter?"

"You may be Luna", the righteous sniff and pompous attitude of Martha was overwhelming. "But you will refer to her by her proper title, Elder Stone."

"Martha that is enough. You know I don't put any stock in titles, we're all pack here." Elder Martha Baskup looked as if she would explode. She was literally fit to be tied. "Please call me Elizabeth and I hope that one day you feel comfortable enough to call me mom."

My heart nearly stopped. If she had known how long I had yearned to hear someone say those words. For them to be said by someone I so respected and trusted felt, beyond words. If only her spawn hadn't been who he was. "Thank you for that, but I don't think that will be possible."

"Why not dear?"

"I want to break the bond and leave." The effect is immediate. Elizabeth's cup shatters upon impact with the table. Martha hits the floor in a faint. Amelia begins to sob. Within moments Red has stomped into the room shooting me hateful glares as he gathers up his mate running his hands over her to ensure I haven't damaged her, again.

"I should have known", the demon king has arrived. "Mother, care to explain?" His gaze sweeps the room taking in the shattered cup and Martha sprawled on the floor. He returns his gaze to me with a raised eyebrow. I shrug.

"You know how dramatic Martha is. Paton says one thing and Martha goes all 19th century vapors on us. Sad really."

"And your cup?"

"Martha faint and I dropped it. Such a shame I liked this set." She tuts but a grin is emerging.

"What do you have to say about Amelia's tears?"

"First pregnancies are often a bit dramatic." Her words freeze the world.

"What?" Red drops Martha back to the floor, good thing she's still out cold or the screams would have been brain raking. "Why didn't you tell me?" Red asks Amelia as he cuddles her close.