Once Upon a Midnight: Wanted

Chapter Eleven

"Geoffery, is eating all you think about?" Casper said with mock exasperation. He laughed afterward, shaking his head.

"Seriously." Isabella added, rolling her eyes. "What is wrong with you?"

"Wha-I just--!" Geoffery heaved a sigh, crossing his arms. "Casper just disappeared is all. He never came hunting with us so I assumed he ate the human."

"He could have turned it in to the Council as well." Isabella said. "It is what you are supposed to do."

"Well...yes I suppose you are right. I did not think about that."

"Of course not." Isabella began pushing Geoffery away, waving at the other three.

That just left the last girl, who was staring at Aeryn with her arms crossed. She was pretty; incredibly so. Her skin was slightly tanned, as if she'd been out in the sun, though Aeryn knew that was not the case, and freckles littered her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Standing close to Casper showed she was not that much shorter than him, just slightly taller than Clauda and a good deal taller than Aeryn. Her hair barely brushed her shoulders, and it was extremely curly, though nowhere near frizzy, and she has one side pinned up. The color a pale red, with blonde highlights throughout it. Her eyes were bright blue, almost piercing, especially in the way they watched Aeryn.

Her outfit seemed to match the theme Aeryn had noticed throughout the Rakhtar. It was black in color. Her top was a tank top, form fitting, and tucked into the band of a high waisted pleated skirt. She had on gym shoes and ankle socks, both black as well.

"Casper."

Aeryn remembered where she heard the voices. They were the same three who'd been with Casper when he had found Aeryn. Geoffery had wanted to eat her then too. She shivered at the thought.

"Kristianna."

"Care to explain?" She gestured toward Aeryn, who shrank away from her.

"Not particularly. Have a good evening, Kris."

When Casper tried to brush past her Kristianna grabbed his arm, clicking her tongue. "I hope you didn't think that would actually work. Come now, Casper. You already told me you would bring her to Claudia, and I can clearly see that you have. May as well explain the rest to me."

Casper offered a small sigh, and then complied. And as he talked, he had a growing uneasy feeling at the look on Kristianna's face.

The other Rahktar didn't respond for quite some time, and then she said, "I've decided. I will join you."

"What? No. A small group is fine enough. We are not in need of you help."

"I was not asking." Kristianna rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Her curls bounced with the action. "I am coming with you. Nothing exciting ever happens, and the one chance I have you wish to crush it?" She rolled her eyes, and her hands moved to her hips. "I obviously need to get my cloak if we will be traveling during light hours. Wait here, I will be back momentarily." With that she moved past Casper, a smile plastered onto her face.

Casper watched after her for a moment, and then turned to Claudia.

The twin simply shrugged, going to a fallen log and sitting on it. She crossed her ankles, arms still crossed over her chest. "We may as well let her join us. It does not seem she is going to take no for an answer, and she may prove to be useful."

Casper only groaned, going to the other side of where Claudia sat and plopped onto the ground next to her. "Yeah, I guess."

"And she has been your friend forever. She will not betray you, or Aeryn."

"I know I know." Casper said with another sigh. Something else seemed to be troubling him, but didn't continue talking, instead dropping his head back against the log.

Aeryn chewed on her lip before walking over to Claudia. "Um," she started before lowering her hood. Her hair had grown more, and it sat so it brushed against her shoulder blades. "While we are waiting, would you mind cutting my hair for me?"

Claudia looked up at Aeryn, a frown on her lips. "You wish to cut your hair?"

"Well, it grows at an annoyingly fast pace. I used to get it cut once a week but I haven't been able to for...obvious reasons. And if I don't it's gonna be down to my butt by the end of the week."

"How fascinating." Claudia said a bit under her breath. "Come, sit." She gestured to the spot right in front of her, and waited for Aeryn to follow her instruction before running her hand through the girl's hair. "It is thick. I do not have the tools to cut it, but I can make it so it is less unruly until we get to Downtown where I will be able to properly cut it for you."

Aeryn nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"Aeryn." Casper said then, raising his head a bit to look over at her. When she grunted a response he continued. "Why did you run from your village in the first place? I would think you would be safer among your own kind."

"You'd think. The people in my village have always hated me because of my eyes, and the fact that my senses are better than theirs. The only thing that kept them from actually hurting me was my adopted mom. When she died, that's when Maira led the attack against me. Me and Raleigh jumped the wall, and that's when you found me."

"Are you sure you are human?" Claudia asked.

"Why do you keep asking me that? How could I be anything else?"

"Because it does not make sense." Casper answered. "If you were fully human, you would not have yellow eyes, or Shifter attributes."

"But I've never shifted before." Aeryn huffed lightly. "I would know if I've shifted."

"Where were you born?" Claudia then asked.

This time Aeryn shrugged before answering. "I was found wandering my village when I was young. I don't know who my parents are, or where I came from."

The twins shared a look, but before either of them could comment further, footsteps alerted them to Kristianna's return.

"I am finished." Claudia said to Aeryn as Kristianna came into sight.

Aeryn stood then, touching a hand to her hair. Claudia had put twists in it that brushed against Aeryn's neck and framed her face. She smiled a bit, thanking Claudia as she pulled her hood back over her head.

"Alright, where are we headed to?" Kristianna asked once she was within hearing range.

"We were headed to the Neighborhoods to see if Raleigh managed to get home." Casper explained as he stood and brushed his pants.

"Raleigh...I know that name. I know her brother actually, Raphael. He could help us. Follow me."

As Kristianna began walking, Claudia gently bumped her shoulder against Casper's with a small smile. "See? Useful."

"Yeah yeah."