Chrysalis (Book 1.5 in the Wolfen Brethren Series)

Fly

14 years young
Octobe

"Vanya, can you please hold Roarke. You seem to be his favourite."

Her mouth spread wide as she handed her precious bundle to me. What a handsome little baby he was. Even with all his little wrinkles I could tell he would be a looker. Staring into his deep brown eyes I could almost drown out the noise, almost but when little Reina wanted to be heard she would be.

She was a spoilt little madam, being the youngest and all.

Neema's mouth tilted downwards as she bore holes into the little trouble maker in her arms, for twins they were very opposite little babies. Roarke was a calm baby, rarely crying unless he was hungry or needed a change and even then it would be this short little wail with crackles innit. As if he wanted to be heard but he didn't want to disturb your day, not Reina though. The princess had no care to anyone else not even her older brother.

"You listen here little lady I have about had it with your crying" groaned Neema, eyes heavy with the bags of her sleepless nights. Some nights they cried in synchronisation. I could hear them all the way down the hall.

"You don't want any milk, you don't need to be changed and you don't want your toy" her eyes rolling to the ceiling as she walked up and down, rocking the child in her arms.

"What do you want? except to drive me to my grave early" poor Neema was having a rough time with motherhood. It was difficult dealing with twins especially when you had 2 other children to deal with. I helped whenever I could. Which was often now that I was allowed to roam freely. I loved this new home of theirs, I had my own room and could go outside whenever I wanted. It was bliss. Even when Reina was driving us all up the wall.

"Stop crying, I need to finish decorating the hall for Vanya. Don't you want Aunty Vanya to have a nice birthday" she cooed in that weird baby talk, eyes blowing wide with animation as her voice went unbearably high pitched.

I looked down at Roarke, his mouth wide with mirth and his little pink gums on display. "Isn't your mummy weird" I whispered my fingers tickling under his fat chin. Drool dripped from his mouth as he gurgled in happiness. He wasn't old enough to start laughing yet but I knew he would be the first out of the two. He was the happy baby.

"How about we read my book the hidden life of trees" I whispered into his fat cheek before picking up my book with my free hand and finding my page. I had become a master at holding a child with one hand in no time.

My voice drowned out the sound of Reina's wailing. The soft tones of my voice lulling him to sleep. His dark lashes fluttering closed on his deep brown skin. He was the image of his father, soft wispy hair a contrast to his dark brown skin. The colour of cocoa so rich and soft. His face snuggled into my chest as I placed my book down on the table.

"You always manage to get him to sleep" chuckled Neema, her hair frazzled as she bounced the still crying girl in her arms.

"I think my books bore him" I joked, I was becoming good at those. In the 7 months I had been with this family I had begun to change. Not too much but I noticed that I made little jokes that had Neema laughing or that it was a bit easier for me to express my feelings.

My old friend still waved her black cape at me, the ends of her robe swishing as she tried to entice me to dance. I threw her in the corner where she belonged. Loneliness had no place in my life, not when I was surrounded by so many people.

"What is all this noise about, is my little princess missing her daddy" cooed Khan as he charged into the room. His presence larger than life. It was weird to see the stoic man show such emotion to his children, to just goof about. It was endearing really. It gave me hope. That persistent emotion always at the forefront of my thoughts.