Shadow-Wolf (*ON HOLD*)

4. Monster

"What was that?" Julie asked nervously, directing those lovely blue eyes at Auroria.

"To be honest, honey, we have no clue," Auroria told her regretfully. "But there is..." Her heart upped its tempo. "...There is something I should tell you."

"Auroria," said Uncle Dean, who had sat back down on his armchair, frowning, when Byron had led the others from the scene. "A word."

'Can't it wait?' thought Auroria, irritated. She was kind of in the middle of something delicate here.

She gently squeezed Julie's hand and kissed her cheek, which, unfortunately, wasn't enough reassurance for her. She looked a little pale, Auroria thought. She stood up and walked over to her uncle.

"What is it?" she demanded, not caring if she was being rude.

"I can make her forget," he said in an undertone.

It took Auroria a couple of seconds to process that. She was surprised, having not realised that Astrals had that kind of power, and faintly horrified, wondering if he had ever used this power on anyone. She was reviled by the idea of him using it on her girlfriend. Julie's mind was not getting messed with, not now, not ever.

"No way," she muttered, turning back to return to Julie, who Paige was reassuring.

"Auroria. Think about it. It could be the best way."

"There's nothing to think about."

"Well, don't blame me if you lose her."

Bastard. Auroria didn't know how her cousins put up with him. She was so glad that her dad, his brother, was completely different.

She sat next to Julie and took her hand in both of her own. She took a deep breath.

"Me, my cousins, my uncle and those other people we just saw, ... we have these weird... abilities." She internally growled at herself for being so afraid of Julie's reaction. If Julie couldn't see that this changed nothing about their relationship, then she wasn't worth dating.

But her heart was pained be the idea of losing Julie. They hadn't been dating long but Auroria had fallen hard for the young woman with the crystal-like blue eyes and the big heart which she wore on her sleeve, who kissed her and touched her so tenderly or passionately, always engaged to an intense degree.

"We get these visions, visions of something going on at the time, but possibly far away. And we can make astral projections and travel around in this spirit form, usually invisible except to other Astrals - that's what we call ourselves - but visible to other people if we wish."

Julie looked... betrayed.

"Really? Something creepy as shit happens and you give me some bullshit about 'astral projections'?" She tugged her hand out of Auroria's, rising to her feet. "I'd like to go home now." Her cheeks were flushed like she was about to cry.

Auroria's insides twinged painfully.

"No, Julie, wait! I can prove it."

Julie shook her head.

"Don't even bother trying to keep it up." She looked to Uncle Dean. "Thank you for having me, Mr Woodrose. Is there a B 'n' B nearby where I can stay the night?"

"Yes, there's one in Arrowcross. Our chauffeur can take you there."

"Uncle," said Auroria, angry and hurt, although that was the one lapse in concentration she allowed herself as she tried to relax, tried not to think about Julie walking away. Her eyes were closed and her mind was mostly blank. Mostly. But she could feel the tension in her shoulders, the aching inside her.