The Crying Wolf Chronicles: Forbidden (Book 1)

The Visit and The letter: October 25th, 2011 - Present

This morning's coffee taste was a bit off. It was abnormally bitter and watered down. The sour tinge in the back of my throat made me gag every time I drew a deep breath. It ruined the normal sweet milky taste of it. I sat the cup on the table in its saucer and leaned back in the kitchen chair. The cup's dark brown liquid sat still in its place. The usual coffee scent reminded me of mornings back at the mansion. The days I spent with my mother and father at the kitchen table. Mother would be drinking coffee as black as night and father would be reading the daily newspaper from the busy corner of our small town. I would be enjoying my little bowl of oatmeal and bananas. The tiny local birds would be chirping softly outside our window, and the sun would shower them.

The memory faded when a crunching pain slithered between the crevices of my spine. It wrapped around my waist causing me to hardly breathe or speak. I knew it was happening again. I knew that it was apart of me. I've tried to escape the searing pain, but it was nearly impossible. My rosy cheeks suddenly flushed a painful, burning red. The burning shimmered down my neck and chest. My body started to feel like it was soaking in a continuous raging fire.

My legs picked up as I rapidly ran to the bathroom. I nearly tripped over the bath mat to turn on the shower, and run the water cold. Slowly, my body's temperature increased even more. I was sure that it was at least one hundred and five. I stripped down to nothing but my underwear. A hot tear trickled down my face. My face was red, and my eyes were bright blue. Blue as the sky. All I could do was stare blankly at the hideous, but beautiful image of my reflection. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This didn't look like the olive skinned, hazel brown eyed me.

After a few unbelievable moments, I tore my bright blue eyes away from the mirror. I was naked and very terrified of hypothermia. I stepped into the shower, allowing my body to submerge in the cold. The cold water soothed the stinging heat of my skin. It was like cooling metal immediately after it has been heated. The water covered my face entirely, then ran through my hair and streamed down my back. The burning of my cheeks were gone. I was normal again. Sort of.

My eyes returned to their natural color. The same familiar shade like my mother's. I began to dry my silky chestnut hair. My features were all the same. My small nose, full nude lips, rounded jaw, creamy olive complexion, and straight teeth. Yep, all there. My hair was still dripping wet. I threw my clothes into the laundry basket, and picked out fresh ones. A pink and black jogging outfit. Something that was very comfortable and refreshing after my little episode. The door bell rang before I even had a chance to wear the outfit. It was odd that anyone wanted to visit me at this time of the day.

Barefooted and naked underneath my robe, I walked swiftly and quietly across the living room. The burning sun beamed across my face. I made a visor with my hands to shield my eyes. My vision instantly became dimmer. A figure dressed in all black attire stood directly in front of me. Words were caught inside of my throat. All I could do at that moment was breathe silently, frozen with my hand clutching tight on the door knob. The slim hourglass curves clearly shown underneath all of the black. I couldn't see its face. It was covered by a scarf and dark sunglasses.

It sighed before finally inhaling to breathe a word.

"Come on, cuz." It said. "Could you let me in? I'm cooking out here."

A sigh brushed past my lips at the sound of who it was. My cousin, Colleen Grimaldi. The cousin I haven't seen in years. Maybe even longer.

"Hi." I smiled softly. "I'm sorry. Come in."

I stepped aside so she could walk past me. The strong scents of brandy, raspberries and someone unknown wrapped around my nose. I closed the door, and walked past Colleen while she stood relieving herself from her black armor. I hurriedly dressed myself with the outfit I had left. My hair hung over my shoulders in damp dark chestnut ringlets. My face was deprived of make up. All natural. To my surprise, Colleen was sitting on the sofa comfortably.