Our Fated Tail

Seren

Seren

Aiden was sleeping in Lena’s old room as the rest of us were sat around in the living room. Lena was sprawled out on the loveseat with her head in my lap as she held her cards up. Andy and her father were playing a game of cards with her and she seemed to be winning, if the pile of coins and dollars on her side of the coffee table was any indication. I ran my fingers through her long white hair as her mother handed me a glass of water.

“How did you get so good at this?”

She laughed as her father groaned. “I learned from the best, daddy.”

They continued to bicker back and forth until she finally won the game. Andy flopped back on the floor and smiled at Lena. “So what are you going to spend all your hard earned money on?”

“Maybe I’ll put it in my account for Aiden.”

I looked down at her confused. “What is he going to need it for?”

She gave me a challenging look. “What if he wants to go to school on land when he’s older? At least then he’ll have something to do for the hundred-something years that you’ll be ruling.”

I didn’t want to argue about this with her and I knew she had a point. So I just shook my head and kissed hers. As soon as I relaxed into my spot on the loveseat, Aiden started crying upstairs. I excused myself and went up the stairs slowly opened the bedroom door. Aiden was hugging one of Lena’s old stuffed toys and whimpering. I turned on the lamp next to the bed, casting the room in a low orange light. When he saw me, he lifted his arms. I sat next to him and pulled him into my lap brushing back his hair. Wiping the tears from his emerald eyes, I frowned in concern.

“What is it AJ?”

He smiled at the nickname his mother detested but quickly bursted into tears again. “M-monsters, daddy!”

“What kind of monsters were they?”

“Big and slimy. Like eels!”

“Well,” I said with a stern voice. “Those monsters won’t get you here. Know why?”

He looked up at me like I had the answer to life. “What daddy?”

“Mommy and daddy will keep you safe.”

He smiled and threw his little arms around my neck. “Thank you daddy.” He pouted up at me and I smiled. He looked so much like me but still like Lena. “Will you stay with me ‘til I fall asleep?”

“Do you want me to tell you a story?” He nodded eagerly. “What kind of story?”

“Angels!”

I moved him back under the covers and he clutched the old stuffed rabbit in his arms. I settled down next to him and he curled up in my side looking up at me. I smiled at him as I reached to shut off the lamp. The light from the hallway shined through the crack in the door. Aiden yawned impatiently.

“Once upon a time, there was a man. This man was a strong and powerful king that had everything anyone could want. He had a palace and money and the ladies loved him and begged for his attention.”

“What was the man’s name?”

I looked down at him. “What should his name be?”

“Charlie!”

I laughed and nodded ruffling his hair gently. “One day, Charlie was in his palace with a princess. But what Charlie didn’t know was that this princess was a monster princess.” Aiden gasped in horror. “She wanted to kill Charlie and take his kingdom and his money. Charlie was taking her to the gardens to ask her to marry him when he ran into someone. This person was incredibly beautiful. She had long brown hair and pretty green eyes.”