Mysterious

Chapter 3: Shape-Shifter

 We sneak into the house and my mother is waiting for us, eyes red and puffy from crying. "Oh! Thank goodness you two are safe! I was so worried!" She cries and rushing to my Tess and I. "No permanant harm was done to either daughter. I can assure you. But there is the pressing issue that Darrel was the Prince, and likely isnt going to give up until she is his... She can't stay here. Im sorry Clarissa. I think she should come with me." He says gently looking at me meaningfully. "I... I understand. Lelia, let's go pack some stuff for you dear." She chokes back a sob and pulls me upstairs behind her.

 "Honey, I'm sorry! I don't want you to go!" Mom sighs and goes back to packing my clothes. "I don't know why I'm packing all of these, they probably wont let you wear them.." "What? Why won't I be able to wear them?" I ask confused. Just where is Breandon taking me that I won't be able to wear my own clothes? "Maybe... Breandon should tell you sweeti." She says and hands me a duffel bag filled with my belongings. "Did you get my picture?" She smiles sadly, "yes hon, I did. Just dont forget about us okay?" "I Promise." She hugs me just as Breandon enters the doorway. "I'm sorry  Lelia." He whispers almost inaudibly. He clears his throat and straightens his back, and broadens his shoulders. "Are you ready to leave?" I nod and pull the duffel bag over my head and put in on my shoulder. He looks at me oddly and holds his hand out. "Give me the bag, Lelia." He says simply. When I shake my head he comes over and pulls it over my head and puts it on his shoulder. "Breadon? May I have a moment with you?" He looks suprised by the question but wordlessly nods. "Lelia? Go downstairs to wait please... Say...Goodbye to your sister." I look at Breadon and he nods. "Yes ma'am." I head out the door and close it, taking one last glance at him, not wanting to leave. "Where's -" "Talking with Mom." I cut off Tess. She pulls me to the couch and leans against me. "What am I going to do without my big sister to lean on? I'm going to miss you." "I'm going to miss you too Tessa, I don't want to go... But-" "But you want to because of Breandon. Right?" I feel my face flush and nod slightly. "Do you think he's supposed to be your... Let's call it a mate. Would you be willing to become a shape-shifter for him?" I glance behind me at the stairs and listen to see if he's coming. "He isn't just going to appear and save you from answering, if thats what you're thinking." I look at her. "Of course not!" I snap and smile. "Just making sure he wasn't listening. I do believe he was meant to me mine, and I would start shifting, just for him. But I dont know that I love him yet. I just, deep down I know that I could love  him. " Tessa smiles at me sympathetically. "You're just cursed to fall in love all the time, you know that?" I blush again and hear the stairs creak. "Lelia? Are you ready?" Breandon asks again, more softly this time. "Just let me say good bye to my mother, and Tess." "Oh yes! Of course... I'll wait outside." He takes one more look at me and gives Tessa a once over before heading the rest of the way down the stairs and out the door. "Lelia?" I watch my mom gracefully descend the stairs and I stand. "Mom? What did you say to him?" "Just about how you were going to get to his home.." I let out my breath. Tessa pulls me to her. "Mom? I'm going to miss you." She smiles sadly at me and pulls me and Tessa into a hug. "We're going to miss you too sweeti." I pull away and look at my broken family. "Good Bye" I whisper as i close the door. "Lelia? I'm really sorry you have to do this." He puts his arm around my shoulders. "I think that I'll be okay." He nods, "well You can talk to me if you need to." "thanks Breandon..." i lean against him and crawl into my Mom's car. He drives, and I look out the window until we leave the city lights, and he turns on the radio to some station with pop songs. "Lelia.." I look at him, "You're supposed to be my mate aren't you? That's why you care so much that I'm sad." " I don't... I don't think that its that easy to explain.. Lelia, I knew you before you even knew about me. I grew up seeing you in my mind, drawing your face, singing songs about a mystical beautiful girl that would someday be mine...... It goes farther than being Shape Shifter Mates.. I think that you were meant to be my soul mate.. The moment I saw you with Derrek, i wanted to rip his head off.. I was too jealous for you to be just my mate Lelia." I gasp and feel my face heat up. "Are you serious Breandon?" His eyes are gentle but his face completely serious. "I would never joke about you Lelia. Never." A warm tear slides down my cheek and he softly grabs my hand, as if asking if it was okay. I squeeze his fingers and lean across the threshold and onto his shoulder. "How come I never had any of that when I was growing up?" I turn my face up to his. "Because you arent a shapeshifter. You feel a pull towards me, but you can only feel what I am if you decide to shift." I nod and we both stay silent. After a while, his hand starts tracing circles onto my hand, and I start to drift off to sleep.