Chateau de Grimm

The Bear and his Daughters

Jo

I tried to steady myself as I felt him follow me into the living room. My father told both me and Una to be on guard this week. He hated the evil creatures we were visiting, he didn't trust them as far as he could throw them. 

Sato, the man in black, there was something about him. I sensed rivalry from him, my instincts triggered my immediate dislike of him as well as something else, jealousy was it? Maybe bitterness. I wasn't sure. I'd never met the man. I somehow wished I never had to look at him again. I couldn't explain it.

I was secretly relieved when my father turned back to his first body. That's what our "human" form was called, although it wasn't human, Shapeshifters lived much longer lives than humans, we aged slower and were much stronger. Many thought we were the same as werewolves. But we were nothing alike. A shapeshifter could have a wolf as their second body, but werewolves were individuals that formed clans and were either cursed or had a genetic mutation. We were families with abilities passed down from ancient ancestors. Our gift was part of our culture, our history. Plus the wolves smelt like dogs. That may sound cruel, they weren't that bad really. My kind would side with them any day. Once upon a time, during the Dark War, that's exactly what we did.

I found myself sneering at the sheer audacity of the mansion we were walking through. It was bold, grand and lusciously decorated. 

I hated it.

As we entered the large living room, I spotted the seers. Two women. They looked a bit overwhelmed. I felt sorry for them. They didn't really need to be here. My father said humans were always more of a hinderance to these meetings, seers rarely had much to contribute unless they envisioned something important or dangerous, which wasn't very often. They were a distraction for the vampires as it was mortal blood they craved the most. Henrik, the blonde seemed comfortable enough around them. But I didn't know how many other bloodsuckers were lurching in the dark corners of this hellhole.

My father wasn't allowed to tell me and my sister what was discussed at the last two meetings, it was one of the rules, to stop bias or judgement in new attendees, but he said one of them ended badly. It was just before the War, and the rumour was that someone killed a member of the vampire's clan. In reality it was all but a mystery to everyone except a select few, most of which would probably be attending this meeting too.

Henrik introduced us to the two humans. Morgan, the younger, seemed a similar age to me, although in human years I would be much older. I sat next to her, she seemed sweet. I leaned over to her as I sensed her nerves. I spoke to her quietly as Henrik poured everyone tea.

"Don't worry, with all the others here, they won't seem so scary." I winked at her and she smiled. She was cute, her brunette bob and round glasses made her seem like a lost student who unintentionally wound up here whilst looking for a library.

Sato must have heard me because he glared in my direction before bowing and leaving the room.

"What's with him?" She whispered back.

"Probably jealous that he can't have a slice of that." I glanced down to the big slice of cake on a plate in her lap. She giggled cheekily.

"Makes sense." She said as she took a bite.

"There's no signal." Una whined as she moped around the room, holding her phone up to the sky.

Henrik looked to her, he seemed amused, "There is wifi and phone signal in the kitchen but nowhere else I'm afraid. Perhaps later I could take you-"

"That won't be necessary. Una! Put your phone away." My father snapped, cutting him off.

Henrik nodded in defeat. Una reluctantly did what he said and I took her arm as she wandered past me, dragging her onto the couch.

I peered to my father who went back to his conversation with Emma, Morgan's mother, as Henrik took the tea tray out of the room.

"Stop acting like a child, this isn't a joke." I hissed at her as she slumped into the soft cushions.

"You're too high-strung Jo. They won't try anything. Not when the others get here, especially the witches." Una smirked and looked over at an old painting. I rolled my eyes and sighed. She was always fascinated with witches. We'd never met any but their reputation spoke for itself. They were known as the fiercest out of all magic creatures. And the most dangerous. If you were afraid of a vampire, a witch would surely petrify you immediately. That's what we'd heard anyway. They were probably just scary tales.

"So you guys have heard the same stories?" Morgan sat up with more confidence.

"She's obsessed." I nodded over to Una. "But I'm not looking forward to it."

"Speak for yourself." Una replied.

"Not going to lie, I'm equally excited and terrified." Morgan uttered quietly. Her mother eyed her, telling her not to keep going with this line of conversation as she placed her teacup on the coffee table, before resuming her talk with my father.

I shook my head, "You two have no idea what you're talking about. They're going to suck out both of your pitiful souls." I sighed and sat back while the two girls either side of me had a gleam in their eyes.

"I'm not joking." I reasserted.

"Alright, alright, just because you automatically hate everyone doesn't mean we have to." Una exasperated sitting back too.

She smirked at Morgan, who smiled back, before retreating into the plush cushions too.

After we had tea, Henrik escorted us to our living quarters for the week. Me and Una had a shared room attached to our father's. We were staying in the same wing as the Seers and had a communal living area. Our room was ridiculously huge. It had a blazing fire and an assortment of plants and golden ornaments. The four poster beds had what looked like hand knitted quilts layered over puffy pillows and the walls housed intricate and colourful tapestries. I recognised one that was definitely from China. My face scrunched with anger as I noticed the depiction of a shapeshifter with a tiger as a second body. The figure was beautiful and empowered. I didn't know where or when they attained the artwork, but it made me distrust them even more.

"This place is so cool. I could get used to this bed." Una said as she jumped onto her bed and pondered on the tapestry from the other side of the room.

"Where the hell did they get this? They have no right to display it." I pointed in offence.

"Chill out. Jeez you're so spiteful. It's nice." She sighed, taking out her phone.

"It shouldn't be in a place like this." I sneered and slumped down on my bed. I took the one closest to the door. I wasn't taking any risks this week. Una was only young, she seemed so unbothered by the whole situation, her guard was down, which would make her an easy target if someone wanted one.

As I laid back into the annoyingly comfortable pillows we suddenly heard a large thud coming from directly above us. We jolted before looking to each other and simultaneously sitting up. A heavy dragging sound came next, starting from one end of the room above and our eyes traced the ceiling as we followed it to the other. It was slow and creepy. I shivered involuntarily. This whole house felt cold, even with the fire dancing in front of us.

"What's going on up there?" Una whispered, I could sense she was uneasy. I was too.

"Nothing good I bet." I turned on my bed to face her. "Stick with me this week ok? Remember what dad said, we trust no one. Right?" I raised my eyebrows. She nodded to me innocently before looking back up to the ceiling.